After playing the Grizzlies, the Clippers finally ended their long and grinding road trip and could go back to Los Angeles to take a good rest.

They then had two full weeks to stay in Los Angeles for the game.

Although there is an away game, it is the Lakers who play away and still stay in Los Angeles.

On March 16, after a day of rest, the Clippers hosted the Philadelphia 76ers.

In the afternoon, the whole team had a warm-up session at the Staples Center.

Kerr approached Coach Mike Dunleavy to talk to him about the team's challenge to finish eighth in the West.

Unexpectedly, Dunleavy listened to Cole's narration and said, "Really? OK, no problem, then let's play the first game well, and the last few games will depend on the situation, and we can control the record. ”

Cole was surprised: "Is it so decided?" Are we going to pick opponents as a team in the bottom half? ”

Dunleavy said, "Yes, because it was Smart's decision, and no one on the team could disobey his decision. The reason why he came to you first was because you hadn't gotten used to his style of acting, and he would talk to you first. For us, execution is all about. ”

After two seasons of "tuning", the Clippers coaching staff has been very obedient.

Kerr will need time to get used to the unique atmosphere of the Clippers.

"Mike, what do you think, what is this decision? Pick the Spurs as the first-round opponent. ”

Dunleavy thought for a moment and said, "Actually, it's not bad. Spurs aren't as strong as they seem, and to be honest, they're a bit of a void. ”

Cole nodded in agreement and said, "Yes, it's a bit false, so Mr. Smart's decision is not all nonsense and unreasonable, that's why you obey him, right?" ”

Dunleavy said: "I want to correct your statement, Mr. Smart's decision is not only not nonsense, but on the contrary, his decision is far-sighted and correct, so we are willing to obey him." Including his decision to let you come to the team as an offensive assistant coach. ”

Hearing what Old Deng said, Cole smiled.

Yes, if a leader always makes bad decisions, who will listen to him?

On the contrary, if what he does is always right and reasonable, who wants to oppose it.

It's not good to obey him and do things with peace of mind.

Thinking about this, Cole also decided to use his brain less in the future.

Focus on the team's offensive tactics.

He's not management anymore.

On the other hand, Min Congda has a new demand for personnel in the management department.

After returning from Memphis, Min reached out to former Hornets general manager Jeff Ball.

The brother resigned from his position as Hornets' general manager in September last year and has been working at home since then.

No team will invite him to work in a short period of time, after all, the Hornets are bankrupt, and he is to blame as the general manager.

His work plan is to return to work on the Marist College basketball team, where he began his basketball dream as a young man.

He worked there as an assistant coach for the team in the '90s, tapped Dutchman Rick Schmitz, and later came to work for the Hornets.

He's been with the Hornets for over a decade, almost as old as this team.

Baron Davis was chosen by him and brought to Charlotte.

Ball didn't expect an NBA team to call him so soon to get a job.

And this person is also the "red man" of the league today, Clippers general manager Smart Min.

Min Congda got straight to the point and invited him to come to the Clippers as vice president of operations.

Min Congda is very interested in the fact that Ball bankrupted the Hornets operation.

Unfortunately, he couldn't talk in detail on the phone, and on March 16 he invited Ball to Los Angeles for a talk.

Bauer hesitated for a night, and his wife told him, "This is a good opportunity for you to wash away your stigma and prove yourself, isn't it?" ”

So, Jeff Power traveled from Pennsylvania to Los Angeles to meet Min Congda.

Min Congda set the meeting place at the Red Boots restaurant in the Stamp Center.

As soon as the two sat down, Christopher said, "Mr. Smart, congratulations, you're back with the Eighth in the West!" ”

Min Congda smiled reluctantly and said, "Two beers, some onion rings, and fried chicken nuggets, I'm a little hungry." Give Mr. Ball a steak, how ripe do you want? ”

Bauer said, "Oh, I... I want it to be fully cooked, I don't like to eat steaks with blood on them. ”

Preferring a well-cooked steak means being conservative.

Min Congda likes conservative people.

In this era, conservatism often means backwardness, and backwardness means elimination.

You see, the Hornets are eliminated, bankrupt, and behind the times.

For such talents, of course, Min Congda must make good use of them.

Min Congda was also too lazy to talk nonsense, and put forward conditions for Ball while eating: "As the vice president of operations of the Clippers, the salary is the same as when you were the general manager of the Hornets, a lot of points." ”

"Thank you, Mr. Smart, thank you for giving me this opportunity," Bauer asked, "Mr. Smart, but can I ask, why?" To be honest, before you called me, I was already ready for three years when no one gave me a chance to work. I've already found a position at the university where I worked and go back to work as an assistant coach. ”

Min Congda said: "Life inevitably has ups and downs, because the success or failure of one thing is wrong to deny a person. The wasp has had glory, and that's your credit and shouldn't be erased. I think your experience has helped me a lot to accomplish what I wanted to achieve with the Clippers. ”

Min Congda's words are completely fine, and inviting Bauer to come is to speed up the completion of the goal.

It's just that the goal is to go bankrupt.

Bauer was quite moved by Min Congda's words, and said: "Mr. Smart, I have always heard that you are magnanimous and have a kind and tolerant heart, and I have really seen it today, which is really admirable. ”

Min Congda heard a lot of this kind of words, and the smile in his heart passed, how can you say what you like.

Anyway, no one can shake the goals and dreams that are firm in my heart!

After some discussion, Bauer decided to accept the olive branch thrown by Min Congda.

Min Congda applauded in his heart, he thought: "Wolong is not good anymore, so there will be no problem with the phoenix chicks, right?" He bankrupted the Wasps, but it was the perfect job for me! ”

"Mr. Smart, can I understand the main content of my work?" ”

Min Congda said: "Uh... In fact, now that we have people in charge of all aspects of the team, we are not ready to open up new departments. But as Vice President of Operations, I'm going to give you a daunting task. ”

"Your job is to oversee me!"

"Overseeing you?"

"That's right."

"Anything I make in the future, especially with a player, a signing, and a draft! Especially in the draft, you have to supervise and remind you of this kind of operation. If you think there is something wrong with what I did, remind me, and you can even veto it with one vote! As long as you feel that there is a problem, veto! ”

Bauer thought to himself, this is the power to supervise the general manager, how can anyone put shackles on himself?

In the face of Bauer's incomprehension, Min Congda said earnestly: "Recently, there have been a lot of rumors outside, saying that I, Smart Min, are engaged in a dictatorship in the Clippers, and I want to take the ownership of the Clippers. In order to curb the spread of this rumor and establish an atmosphere of integrity within the Clippers, my power needs to be restrained. ”

"Isn't the United States engaged in some kind of separation of powers? We have one with the Clippers, you're Jeff Ball, that's my Smart Min's fuse. Remember, be sure to remind me, got it? ”

Min Congda thought that the season was over, and the 2011 draft was coming again.

The mistakes of the previous two years are vivid, and this year, in order not to make mistakes, you can't find someone to cover yourself!

(End of chapter)