Dumars: The only way I know you do it is by drawing a line. Either you keep that edge and you continue here, or you keep fluctuating, and I make some changes. It's not like a really confusing situation to me. Either the guys that stay here keep that edge or the ones who don't, we're going to move on. I don't think you have to go to counseling, to sit down with somebody, to talk about how you get your edge back.
Either you step out on the floor and you have it, or you don't. And if you can't sustain it for two, three, four, five games in a row, then I know you're not the person for my team because I'm not going to accept anything less than that. I'm not going to accept this roller coaster, up-and-down, play good for two good games, lull for two or three. I have no patience for that, Chad, so I refuse to sit and analyze it and figure it out and, y'know, send someone to counseling and talk about it. No, no, no...just show up and play or else.
Ford: What has been the response from the players when you give them this message?
Dumars: They know I'm a straight-shooter. I'm not going to mince words. They understand where I'm coming from. When I tell guys that, they just kind of sit and say "I know you mean business. I understand."
It's simple, if you can't bring that edge every night, you CAN'T play for me here in Detroit. There's no two ways about it. No hard feelings.
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