Chapter 571
Los Angeles Clippers .
Assistant Coach Cassel glared at the head coach's office . He whispered to himself, "Nepotism got you this position . If you weren't dating the boss's daughter, there is no way you would have become the head coach . That room should be mine . "
Cassel cursed in his head . He calmed himself down and knocked on the door of the office .
Dai Li was inside . This was his first day as the head coach of the Clippers . When he saw Cassel, he smiled . "Coach Cassel, do you want something to drink? I have coffee and tea here . There's also some whiskey . "
"Coffee is fine, thank you . " Cassel was very cautious .
Dai Li poured a cup of coffee for Cassel . As he was pouring, he said, "Coach Cassel, from now on we are colleagues . I hope we can cooperate and work well together . "
"Of course . It is my pleasure to cooperate with the Coach of the Year . " Cassel gave him a compliment . He did not express his dissatisfaction to Dai Li's face .
Dai Li handed a folder to Cassel and said, "Look at this . "
Cassel opened the folder and saw that a new contract was inside .
"This is . . . " Cassel looked at Dai Li doubtfully .
"Look at the numbers on the back first," Dai Li said .
Cassel turned to the back and saw the number at the top . It was 50% more than his current salary .
"Coach Li . What is this for?" Cassel asked, puzzled .
"What do you think? Aren't you satisfied with this new contract?" Dai Li asked .
"New contract? Is this contract for me?" Cassel couldn't help but be excited by a 50% bump in his salary .
"Normally, a team's manager should sign an assistant coach . This is a little bit outside my jurisdiction, but I've gotten the okay from the team's management . After all, my relationship with the boss is no secret . Coach Cassel, you are a smart person . You should be able to understand my intentions," Dai Li said .
Obviously, Cassel understood Dai Li's intention . Dai Li, the head coach, had given him a bump in his salary to show Cassel who his "boss" was .
Dai Li said, "Coach Cassel, I recognize your ability and I think that you are an indispensable member of the team . I suggested management give you this raise . I hope that you can continue to perform well for this team . Believe me, this is just the beginning . You will get more in the future . "
Dai Li was subtle, but Cassel fully understood him . Dai Li was, without a doubt, saying that, if Cassel was loyal to him, Cassel would make a lot of money .
Cassel looked at the contract in his hands and thought about the salary . Cassel's dissatisfaction with Dai Li disappeared .
Cassel really wanted to be the head coach, but he also wanted to make money . Compared with the position of the head coach, making money was more practical .
Dai Li is the future son-in-law of the new boss . He is also the boss of the team . I can't compete with him for this position . It is better to earn money while he is willing to recruit me . Right now, they need an assistant coach who is familiar with the team . If I stand out, I might be able to sign a multi-year contract with the team . That way I won't struggle to put food on the table for the next few years .
The more Cassel weighed the pros and cons, the more he saw that accepting Coach Li's kindness was his best option .
. . .
Several other coaches and staff members also got their salaries increased
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Dai Li knew that, when a team got a new boss and head coach, the most important thing to maintain was morale . The easiest way to do this was to throw money at them . When faced with more money, complaints tended to disappear .
The offer of new contracts was a way to communicate to the team that no significant changes were going to be made . They would keep their jobs and could work for the new boss with peace of mind .
This generosity solidified Dai Li's place on the Clippers . His next step was to exercise his duties as the head coach .
Dai Li did not intend to change the strategy of the Clippers . In fact, a coach like him wouldn't have anything practical to contribute . Thus, the Clippers tactics would remain the same .
The Clippers' strategy this season was to quickly switch between fast attacks and defense .
This season, many teams were using this style of play . There were not many teams that were using conventional tactics . Therefore, the Clippers seemed to be merely following the trend of the NBA .
The Clippers were weaker than the other teams . Their frontline was not up to par because they had no first-rate offensive players . On top of that, the team's defense wasn't very efficient . Most of their points came from players that were only occasionally good . They were not good enough to win using conventional tactics . They could only score by quickly switching between fast attacks and defense .
Dai Li would hand the responsibility of strategy over to Cassel . Dai Li observed from the sidelines . This was a learning process for him .
As for the team's training, they each had their own professional coaches . The coaching staff of the team was relatively well-equipped . Some coaches were responsible for the offense . Some coaches were responsible for the defense . There were special coaches that handled shooting and rebounding . The head coach need not worry about them .
For example, if a player's free throw accuracy got worse, the player would have to work on free throws . The shooting coach would be responsible for the player's free throw training . The head coach only needed to arrange the training, instead of having to coach the player himself . Of course, if the head coach was very good at free throws, or had a particular preference for this player, it was possible for the head coach to step in .
Dai Li was obviously not skilled at basketball . He could not get involved in any of the tactical elements of the game . The only thing he could take charge of was the physical training .
Dai Li was considered to be the best in the United States when it came to physical training . No one could challenge that . Track and field coaches were inherently good at physical training . Dai Li had led the American track and field team to create miraculous results . Naturally, no one would question his ability in that field .
It was currently the middle of the season . The turbulent Clippers lost two games before Dai Li joined them and their record became 16 wins and 32 losses . According to the schedule, the Clippers had five days without a game followed by four away games .
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Before Dai Li was familiar with the team, he had to board a plane and start this four-match journey
The first stop opponent on this journey was the Portland Trail Blazers . The Blazers had made it into the playoffs the last five seasons . Considering that the competition in the Western Conference was fierce, reaching the playoffs in five consecutive seasons was an impressive feat .
The Blazers' current record was 34 wins and 15 losses . They had won close to 70% of their games and they were ranked third in the Western Conference . They were regarded as a strong team . It was almost impossible for the Clippers to beat them .
A betting company gave them odds that confirmed this . The Blazers had 14 . 5 points, and the odds were 1 . 75 . With such odds, no one thought the Clippers could win the game .
. . .
In the visiting team's locker room at the Moda Center, the Trail Blazers' stadium, the Clippers players were talking and laughing . They seemed very easy-going .
Dai Li could feel that this was not confidence but a lack of focus . The players didn't seem to be thinking about the upcoming game .
Their opponent was a strong team playing at home . Even the NBA's reigning champion couldn't hope to win without giving their attention to the game . The Clippers were inattentive, however, because they knew they were not good . They thought that their loss was inevitable so there was no need to put up any sort of resistance .
In fact, the Clippers record was terrible . They had just experienced a six-game losing streak . Coupled with the turmoil caused by the change in leadership, the players had forgotten what victory felt like . They were no longer eager to win .
For them, being weak is not scary and losing is not scary . The scary thing is that the players have lost their desire to win . Dai Li felt helpless .
In this case, I can only gamble . Whether we win or lose depends on God's will . Dai Li shook his head and equipped "Evenly Matched . "
. . .
As the game had not yet begun, the two commentators were talking about the two teams .
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"In the previous four games, the Clippers were led by the assistant coach Cassel . Under his leadership, the Clippers lost four games in a row . I heard that a new coach will lead the team in this game . I don't know what he will bring to the Clippers," said a commentator .
"I think we won't be seeing much change in the Clippers . Their new coach has just taken over and he doesn't have any basketball experience . He will definitely follow their old strategy and not make any adjustments . With their current lineup, there isn't any room to adjust," another said .
"The key to the Clippers' current strategy is Ronny . He has improved a lot this season, but he still can't carry the team . They would be doing even worse if it were not for Naismith's occasionally outstanding performances .
"In this game, the Clippers face the Blazers . I am afraid they will have to swallow a bitter pill . The Blazers normally win at home and the Clippers aren't a strong team, so they are unlikely to beat the Blazers . "
During this conversation, the player's walked onto the court .
. . .
The Blazer's head coach, Terry, came to Dai Li's side . With a smile on his face, he gave Dai Li a hug . He looked sincere .
"Li, welcome to the NBA!" Terry said .
Dai Li did not feel welcome based on Terry's tone . He looked at Terry's smile and remembered the smile of the wolf that tricked Little Red Riding Hood .
Terry may be welcoming me, but I am afraid he is thinking of ways to destroy me!" Dai Li thought . Out loud, he said, "Terry, this is my first game in the NBA . I hope the Blazers can be merciful and don't make me lose by too much . "
At least you know how to behave, Terry thought, the smile on his face getting bigger . "What are you talking about Coach Li? The Clippers have always been a strong team . We will need to go all out . "
The broadcast footage was on the two of them . The two did not show any arrogance, and they seemed cordial . This disappointed the reporters .
Terry returned to the Blazers' bench and called the players to his side .
"In this game, your opponents are the five Clippers players on the court . My opponent is the head coach of the Clippers . He is a coach who has no basketball experience . He is a layman! I want a big win today! I hope that you crush your opponents!" A spark of color flashed in Terry's eyes . "I am your head coach, and you are my players . I hope that you tell the world through your actions that I am far better than this layman!"Please download our sponsor's game to support us!