Jake's words left Malone stunned into silence. Even after the game, Malone seemed downcast, barely touching his food before heading back to his room for the night. Chip, noticing Malone's mood, looked curiously at Jake as he munched on his dinner. "Hey, Jake, what did you say to Malone?" Chip asked, amused. Only Chip dared to call Jake so informally; he'd taken Jake under his wing when Jake first joined the organization.
"Nothing much. Just a reality check," Jake replied, stretching his neck and taking another bite of his sandwich. "It's tough when you're new. I remember just making it to the playoffs felt like an achievement. Now, it's championship or bust—no wonder he's rattled."
Just like rookie players, rookie coaches often face a "wall." In a fast-advancing team like the Kings, rookie coaches sometimes struggle to adapt to the pressure and demands. "Yeah?" Chip's curiosity grew, scooting closer to Jake. "What does that wall look like? I've heard about it, but never seen it firsthand."
It made sense that Chip was unfamiliar with this—his entire career had been spent alongside experienced partners like Popovich, so working with a novice head coach like Malone was new territory.
"Don't worry; he'll adjust," Jake assured him, patting his chest and gulping down his drink. "But can we get something less dry next time? This stuff is rough."
"Dry? Tastes fine to me!" Chip chuckled, glancing at the food.
"Ah, it's impossible to explain to you old-school types who don't know how to eat!" Jake teased, hiding a harsher thought. If Malone couldn't adapt, Jake wouldn't hesitate to find someone who could keep up. He needed a leader who could stay on pace with the team's ambitions.
In his hotel room later, Malone sat in silence by the window, letting the cold Milwaukee air clear his thoughts. Jake's words had been a wake-up call. The team was moving forward smoothly, with talented players and supportive partners. But Jake's reminder made one thing clear: time was ticking. They'd kept the roster under the luxury tax this year, but that wouldn't be possible next season. And with the owner's reluctance to pay, the only way to keep him onboard was to aim for a championship.
"We've got to strengthen our tactics!" Malone realized. "Right now, our strategies are predictable. If we get shut down in the playoffs, we're done. We need stronger offensive options."
The playoffs demanded superstars with effective strategies, and while Cousins had the skills, his efficiency was too low to carry the team. In contrast, a player like Harden almost single-handedly dismantled the Kings' perimeter last season. Malone mulled over a difficult decision: "Should I move Devin into the starting lineup?"
On paper, CJ was the more organized offensive starter, but Booker's talent was undeniable, outshining CJ's skills in recent games. However, CJ had just earned his first All-Star selection, even if it wasn't a unanimous nod. Relegating him to a sixth-man role might hurt team unity. Frustrated, Malone weighed his options alone.
Meanwhile, in Sacramento, CJ was pushing himself through another grueling workout in the training room, lifting a massive dumbbell. "Alright, that's the tenth set, time for a break!" Miller reminded him from across the room.
"I'm fine. Two more sets," CJ replied, catching his breath and setting the weight down. "Just because my legs aren't ready doesn't mean I can't keep training my upper body. I can't just sit around."
Watching the team's games from the sidelines had left CJ uneasy. Without him, the Kings were holding up well, which only fueled his urgency. His position was built on his breakout performance last season and the support of Jake and Malone. But with promising young players like Booker, he couldn't afford to lose his edge.
Miller, seeing CJ about to start another set, quickly stepped in. "CJ! I get it, but this isn't the solution. Right now, you need rest and recovery. The sooner you're back at 100%, the sooner you're back in the game. You don't want to drag this out by overdoing it."
CJ paused, finally setting down the dumbbell. Miller's words resonated with him. "Alright, Miller, maybe I am pushing too hard," CJ admitted, allowing Miller to help him up. "I'll focus on recovering so I can get back to the team early next year."
"Exactly!" Miller patted CJ on the back. "We all believe in you, and in Jake too. He's got your back."
Jake, back in Milwaukee, had no idea that this late-night conversation had formed a close bond between CJ and Miller.