I think the armchair psychology here is backwards. The biggest egomaniacs - eg Michael Jordan and LeBron James, let’s say - are the most likely to adapt because adapting is what allows them to keep winning. Both players adapted their style of play at a later age - MJ with turnaround jumpers, LBJ with more three pointers - because they could not excel playing the same way as they did when they were both the athletic peaks of the league.
The best way to square the "feel like you're the best but still being willing to adapt" circle is to center your ego around being smarter and more thoughtful than everyone.
Did it occur to you that... tricks don't work at the high level?
It's a stretch of a comparison but I'm one of the top players in one of the most popular online games and a lot of "barking dog" like plays work on the lower level (<90-p players) and might even work on good ones (~99p), but at the very top levels those competing are "built differently" and will execute the correct set of actions/reaction regardless of how expected/unexpected his opponents moves are.
The Ego is the Enemy
I think the armchair psychology here is backwards. The biggest egomaniacs - eg Michael Jordan and LeBron James, let’s say - are the most likely to adapt because adapting is what allows them to keep winning. Both players adapted their style of play at a later age - MJ with turnaround jumpers, LBJ with more three pointers - because they could not excel playing the same way as they did when they were both the athletic peaks of the league.
The barking dog play should 100% happen
The best way to square the "feel like you're the best but still being willing to adapt" circle is to center your ego around being smarter and more thoughtful than everyone.
Your post was vastly better than the book
Did it occur to you that... tricks don't work at the high level?
It's a stretch of a comparison but I'm one of the top players in one of the most popular online games and a lot of "barking dog" like plays work on the lower level (<90-p players) and might even work on good ones (~99p), but at the very top levels those competing are "built differently" and will execute the correct set of actions/reaction regardless of how expected/unexpected his opponents moves are.