Behind the scenes.
Nets, Nets, and the Network.
" Hey, Boone ! Pass me the gatorade ! " - Lue shouted from one side of the locker room to the other.
* Throws it. *, " Here ! " - Boone answered.
Everyone was working, training and all, actually some were just chatting around and having fun, until Lawrence Frank came in the room.
" Hey ! Guys, listen up ! " - he told.
Everybody stood quiet and stared Frank.
" We're 2-2, we won the Celtics, Knicks, but we lost to the Pacers and Bucks. What's wrong ? We have a game against the Magic coming up, we need to be over .500, right ? We finished with 7th seed last year with a .500 record, exactly. So, we need to be over it, don't tell me we haven't gone better. Have we ? "
" We are better ! " - whole team shouted together.
" So.. What's wrong ? I guess nothing, but we need to get some things better. Between us, it's all good, you think our chemistry is good when we can get along off the court, right ? " - the coach asked.
None answered.
" Well, I have to tell you ALL your roles, what everyone does, who is who and who is the captain, co captain, and who is the underdog, whatever, now you are here to roleplay, alright ? "
" Yeah, alright ! " - the team shouted together, again.
" Bogut, come here ! "
Bogut: " What up, coach ? "
" We'll, tell me, what do you think is your role on our team ? " -Frank asked.
" D ? Grab rebounds, pass the ball to scorers when possible, and score when possible ? " - Bogut gave a guess.
" Bingo ! But why do you sometimes take attempts on primary, -long range jumpers then ? " -the coach asked.
Bogut stood without saying a word, looking down.
" Well, from now on, you are the D-fender, can I call you so ? " - the coach asked.
* Everyone laughed a little, in the room. "
" Yes, sir. " - Bogut answered.
" Calm down, but to your role. What you do, is grab the rebound when the ball doesn't go in, you make huge screens, you're the wall ! If you have the offensive rebound, then you look to lay the ball in, if it's hard enough, we can all trust you, to pass the ball out as quickly as possible and get out of the paint, but stay ready for it. You are the key to the inside-, outside game. Okay ? " - Frank asked.
Bogut: " Roger that. "
Frank: " Krstic, get here ! "
Krstic stood tall next to the coach with a listening, wise face.
" You have actually done good with your role, you had 6 offensive rebounds last night against the Bucks, I like it, good job. " - the coach told.
" Thanks, coach. " - Krstic responded.
" Well, but that's not enough. You aren't the C anymore, you're a tall PF, I wanna see you.. Like Nowitzki. We all know you can shoot, and that's what we are going to work on, any questions ? " -Lawrence Frank asked.
" No, coach. " -he answered.
" Captain ! "
None came.
" Captain Carter ! " -the coach shouted again.
" Oh, hey coach. " - Vince told with a little laugh on his face.
" I've seen you.. doing great, is that it ? " -Frank asked.
" Yeah, thanks. " -Carter replied.
" Wrong. You average over 20 a little. Do you want to average 30 ? Don't take all those shots, take the easier ones, but hey, you're the most explosive guy in the history of NBA, sounds nice ? Well, you must attack the defenders, I want to see you doing your dunks, and what you did as a Raptor, can I see it ? " -the coach asked.
" Yeah, for sure coach ! " - VC answered.
" Eellliiis, are you sleeping or what ? " -Frank asked.
" No no, absolutely not, tell me. " Monta replied.
" Well, you have done great, just like Krstic. I'm proud of you. You have worked on your 3pt shot a lot, and you're getting much better. Only one thing, you're not so effective defender, you gamble a little bit too much. So, try to stay calm on defense, don't leave your team alone, Bogut isn't there to block the shot always, " *Krstic coughed* " neither is Krstic. " -Lawrence told.
" We'll, I'll try to do what I can. " - Ellis responded.
" Say what ? You do what you can, none here is trying to win the championship, we are giving our 100% to win it ! Sit down. " -Frank told.
When Ellis moved from his position, Rey was already behind him, and everyone in the room started to laugh.
Coach: " And what's the excuse for you, young fella ? "
" Uh.. I don't know. " - Felix Rey answered.
" Uh.. You don't know ? Come on, you had just 1 assist in the first quarter last night, next to 16 points ! You were compared to Iverson in the draft, who still doesn't have a ring, you want one ? " - Lawrence asked.
Rey: " Ofcourse I do. "
" We'll, then you are the one that sets up the plays ! I trust you, you will have a chance to set up your own plays against the Magic, show me what you have. If you fail, then Lue gets your position. Go to others. "
Rey went to others looking the ground, he was quiet most of the night.
The teaching of roleplay continued, everyone knew their roles. If Frank ended, someone came into the room with a black cap hiding his face. If the guy took his hat off, everyone knew the person, it was Mason, Desmond Mason.
" What do you want !? " - Frank asked.
" I want to practise with you.. For the next year, I wanna watch all the games the team plays, I want to say sorry. " - Mason said.
" Are you kidding me ? You owe the team something ! " - Frank told.
Frank looked at the cleaners from the window between the locker room and the resting room.
" You are going to clean after the team for the next week, and we are not going to opt out your contract next year ! " - Frank continued.
Mason: " Say what !? Me ? Clean after this team !? "
Frank waved with a smile on his face.
" Bye, maybe next time when you feel okay to clean after this team, for two weeks. " - he said.
Whole team looked after Mason, who left the room without looking back, with the cap's shadow on his face.