"I've studied your game footage carefully, so I believe you're capable of far more than this—especially when facing a double-team. You actually have plenty of good solutions for handling things on your own, don't you? But you didn't do that. I think it's because, subconsciously, you instinctively feel that passing to an open teammate is the better choice for the team in situations like this. But I think you could afford to play a little more selfishly. After all, they might genuinely have an off night, just like Jeff did tonight."
"..."
Chen Xi chose to remain silent.
"Jeff is an excellent player, and you did an outstanding job completing your own assignment. But right now, he's ultimately just a role player. His efficiency can never be higher than yours..."
"Of course, this is only my personal opinion. You don't have to take it to heart. You can just treat it as me rambling; that's fine too."
Seemingly realizing that his words had gone slightly too far and risked interfering in another team's affairs, Carlisle stopped while he was ahead and said no more.
In truth, he had no particularly utilitarian motive for saying all this. He was simply taking a shot in the dark.
He only wanted to probe Chen Xi's attitude toward the Thunder Team's current situation...
After all, compared with the teams that were aiming for the championship this season, Indiana clearly wasn't in the strongest tier.
Carlisle was naturally very clear-headed as well, and he didn't harbor any overly outrageous expectations for this season.
So his eyes had long since turned toward next season, and even the season after that.
And the purpose of probing Chen Xi's attitude was actually quite obvious.
In the League right now, anyone with a discerning eye could basically see Oklahoma's