Rekindling the dream of becoming a star

Chapter 218 Give up fantasy and prepare for the decisive battle

Maybe it's fate, maybe it's coincidence.

The code names of the University of Southern California and South Carolina are the same, both are USC.

University of Southern California VS University of South Carolina.

In Chen Fang's eyes, it was just an extra ERN. Well, Chen Fang didn't take it to heart.

Both are dark horses, but they are competing fiercely with each other.

This tournament journey has been a blessing for USC. The round of 16 and the round of 8 were held in California, and now the semi-finals are being held in Felixsburg, Arizona, next to California.

The whole team was spared the pain of traveling. On March 31, they arrived in Felix, the home of the Suns, a veteran NBA powerhouse. However, the semi-finals were not held at the Suns' home court.

Because it's too small.

This year's semi-finals and champion were held at the Phoenix Sports Center in Arizona, which is the home stadium of the NFL Cardinals and can accommodate 6 people. After being converted into a basketball court, it can accommodate 5 people.

(This is the stadium before the renovation. In the 2017 NCAA semi-finals, the finals at the Phoenix Sports Center, the attendance for the three games was 3, with an average of 235200 spectators per game.)
As early as three years ago, the venues for the semi-finals and finals of the 16-17 tournament were confirmed.

Last year it was in Houston, bringing in at least $3 million in revenue to Houston, and this year it will be even more.

This is undoubtedly a large-scale sports event. As early as two days ago, the entire Felix has begun to host various fan activities to provide joy for fans from all over the country.

When California police cars drove to the border between the two states, Arizona welcomed them with even higher standards.

Along the way, twenty-two police cars escorted the USC bus from front to back and left to right as it drove into Felix.

The entire highway was closed. When we arrived at the edge of the city, we saw huge flags of the Nanjing University logo on both sides of the street. At the hotel where we were staying, tens of thousands of fans were madly crowded on the side of the road. The huge crowd and the continuous shouting made people feel like they were in a dream.

No wonder everyone is going crazy and every player is dreaming about the championship, even giving up the draft and playing another year.

Just like North Carolina, which was defeated last year, in order to get revenge and win the championship, all the main players chose not to participate in the draft and fight for the championship again for a year.

And they are almost there, now they will compete with Kansas for another ticket to the finals.

The moment Chen Fang walked off the court, the entire street erupted in the loudest cheers so far.

"Chen, Chen, Chen!"

The fans expressed their recognition and respect for Chen Fang by simply shouting his name.

Chen Fang did not leave immediately. Instead, he waved to the fans around him like a superstar.

When they walked into the hotel, everyone's expression was one of twisted excitement, the kind of excitement that was beyond words. It was a truly grand scene. No one could control their anticipation when they thought that nearly 40,000 people would be there cheering for them and applauding for every goal.

Elijah was trembling. Chen Fang hugged him and said with a smile, "Did you pee your pants?"

"Of course, of course not, I, I'm just a little excited!" Elijah defended.

But he leaned his body on Chen Fang, letting Chen Fang support him.

"Look at what you have accomplished." Seeing his legs go weak, Chen Fang laughed.

Arriving at the hotel is just the beginning.

The team has a lot to face, including taking individual photos and VCRs before the game, interviews, adapting to the venue and undergoing physical examinations.

Soon, an interview with Chen Fang was about to begin.

The host was Walton. As the first person to affirm Chen Fang and declare that USC would go far, old Walton was proud of himself, washed away his previous nickname of "Bright Light", and transformed himself into the most insightful commentator in the NCAA.

"I'm sorry again that you didn't come to UCLA." Old Walton's first sentence made Chen Fang laugh.

"Fate has already determined many things in the future. Looking back now, we are not destined to be together." Chen Fang replied.

The two sat down and chatted while waiting for the equipment to be debugged.

"This is your first year in the NCAA, and maybe your last year. What do you feel you have gained?" Walton Sr.'s words sounded more like an interview.

"The gains are huge. I feel like I have grown from an ignorant teenager to someone who finally dares to step into the NBA."

"You finally admit that you want to go to the draft?" Walton Sr. laughed.

"Yes, what is coming will come, and you can't avoid it."

"What if there are regrets? Will you choose to fight again like some players?" asked Walton Sr.

Chen Fang saw the staff member next to him quietly making hand gestures, and knew that the old man was very bad and had actually started recording, but it didn't matter. He said: "First of all, accidents and regrets will always exist. People can't pursue perfection in everything. If there are, it is also a part of life."

Chen Fang's words made old Wharton thoughtful. He did not respond but waited for Chen Fang to continue.

"I will only pursue her with all my strength. It's actually the same as pursuing a girl. I like her very much and I want her very much, so I take action and make efforts. But if I fail and still keep pestering her, that's not my style."

"Will it be the same in the NBA?" Walton's words were sharp.

Fortunately, Chen Fang was prepared. He shook his head and said, "If it were in the NBA, this metaphor wouldn't be appropriate."

"NBA is more like a big workplace. You work hard to get a promotion and a raise. If you are fired by your boss, you can find another company. If no company wants you, you can only go back to the farm and do farming yourself."

"Haha, that's very vivid." Walton laughed and nodded. "That's right, get a promotion and a raise, change jobs with a high salary, or even start your own business and build a team."

"Yes, because it involves money, survival, family and so on."

"But in the NCAA, there is none of that. It's very pure here. We only have one goal, which is to pursue our desires."

"Very good. Before I came here, I had a great interest in you. I had a lot of questions I wanted to know, but after meeting you in person, I felt that there was actually no need to ask many questions."

"Then what problem is left?" Chen Fang asked with a smile.

"There are still many things I want to know, why you are like a veteran in your first year playing in the NCAA and why you are never nervous."

Chen Fang pondered for a moment. This question was indeed difficult to answer. If he answered perfunctorily, others would not be satisfied. But he couldn't say that he had actually played basketball for more than ten years and had some experience.

"I am an extrovert and I like new things. I was curious about the NCAA game. When I came into contact with it, my first feeling was that it was great and I wanted to play another game."

“Also, I don’t think I’m afraid of failure, just like some people who are not afraid of death are afraid of dying.”

“And I’m not afraid of failure.”

"If you fail, just try again. This kind of thing can't defeat me."

Everyone can say polite words, but it is rare to say it as frankly as Chen Fang, making people believe it involuntarily. But the old man didn't take it seriously. He asked, "Then what are you afraid of?"

"Afraid of death!" Chen Fang said.

"Oh, haha, you really refreshed my old-fashioned impression of Chinese people." Old Wharton laughed heartily, it was really funny.

Then they talked about the next opponent. Walton asked, "South Carolina is also known as this year's dark horse. Now it remains to be seen who will be the dark horse."

"First of all, I don't think we are."

"We didn't win by luck. In every game we advanced, we had enough margins to win." Chen Fang first clarified a fact.

"And South Carolina eliminated Duke in overtime, which was a great feat. From then on, they believed they could defeat any opponent because of Duke's historical status and immediate combat power."

"The coaches, players and fans were all full of confidence, so they made it to the Final Four."

Walton Sr. had a feeling that this wasn't an interview so much as an analysis show, but he thought that was better, so he got into character and asked, "What are their weaknesses?"

“Everyone has weaknesses, but the key to success is how to hide and protect them.”

Chen Fang naturally wouldn't say that. His answer was very official, but it was also a reasonable statement.

"Did you find out?" asked old Walton.

"Whether it's South Carolina or us, everyone has seen a few points, but whether it is feasible or not will only be clear when we get to the stadium." Chen Fang glossed over it.

"Are you confident enough to win the championship?" When Walton's first plan failed, he came up with another one.

"Every team and every person in the semi-finals will be eager to win the championship, but no one is sure. I believe in myself, my teammates, and this team. This is enough. The rest is up to God to choose."

"Yes, God will make a fair choice." Old Walton looked serious.

"Compared to the championship, many people are concerned about which NBA team you prefer." Then, it entered the draft stage.

Talent show, a topic that cannot be avoided.

Chen Fang also knew this, and he felt that he should say something to get everyone busy. "In fact, in my opinion, the No. 1 pick, the No. 2 pick, and the No. 3 pick, in a sense, are just different teams that have chosen their own team building needs, and the ranking does not represent anything."

"Oh, is this your understanding? You don't care about the ranking." Old Walton was interested. He knew that this was the hot topic of the interview.

"I don't care." Chen Fang admitted decisively.

This is the idea he conveyed. He said: "The draft position can only represent your first contract, whether it will be more or less, and how patient the team will be after you join the team."

"That's the point of the draft, but in my opinion, if you don't adapt to the NBA and don't meet people's expectations, the draft will only put more pressure on you."

"Are you afraid of pressure?" old Walton asked immediately.

"Of course I'm afraid. No one likes to carry a heavy burden. I'm not hypocritical enough to say that I'm fearless. I like challenges and I have full confidence in myself."

"Of course I have these words, but it's meaningless to say them. The key is how to realize them."

"It's better to score that crucial goal than to say a thousand words."

"Yes, but I noticed that you are beating around the bush again. Come on, tell me like a man, which team do you like!" Old Walton was not so easily fooled. He immediately brought the subject back.

Chen Fang shrugged to express his helplessness. He smiled bitterly: "What a stubborn old man."

"Okay, I admit that I am a person who likes to break through myself and the status quo. I prefer to start from scratch in a place without glory."

"I am willing to work with my team to turn a barren land from nothing into a rich land. This sense of accomplishment is unparalleled. At least in my opinion, I prefer this kind of career."

Old Wharton's smile froze; he understood what Chen Fang wanted to express.

"You don't like big clubs, and would rather start from scratch in a place that has never won a championship?"

"Yes, you can think so, but the draft is not changed by the will of the players. I accept any result, but I will not hide my true thoughts."

"This is a big ambition. Do you think you have the ability to match it? The NBA and the NCAA are not on the same level."

"I know that challenges are the most valuable thing in life, and this kind of life is a rich life. I accept all the challenges I face after making this choice. Even if I fail in the end and I don't have the ability, I have no regrets."

"If you compare the NBA to a mountain, the smallest area is the top of the mountain."

"If there is no place for me, then I will enjoy this charming scenery from a distance." Chen Fang's smile made the old man stand in awe.

But the old man didn't know that Chen Fang was thinking in his heart at this moment: I would rather kick and push down all the masters who are now on the top of the mountain one by one.

"I am very satisfied with this interview. This kind of display is worth looking forward to by many people." Walton Sr. made his final statement facing the camera.

It always happens by coincidence that on that day, ESPN, DraftExpress, and SB Nation draft websites all updated the latest draft rankings.

Chen Fang dominated the draft stock list for the first time, and his star template was finally revised to McGrady.

First of all, their body shapes are very similar, and their playing styles are both elegant. Most importantly, their scoring abilities are very outstanding. They are the type of players who can score without any reason and can make a shot whenever they want.

Chen Fang's scouting report is as follows:
基本 资料
Name: Chen Fang

Height: 6-7 (about 2.01 meters)
Wingspan: 6-13 (about 2.15 meters)
Weight: 200 pounds (91 kilograms)
Birthday: 1998-8-7
Nationality: Chinese

Team/University: USC Trojans

Number: #21
Position: Small forward
Mock draft: nbadraft.com: 2017 Round 1, No. 1 overall
Draftexpress.com: 2017 Round 1, No. 1 pick
Espn.go.com: 2017 1st round, 1st pick
Template: Tracy McGrady.

Total score of 12 items: 103 points (out of 106 points)
Scouting report:
Draftexpress version:
advantage:

A powerful weapon for positional warfare. A versatile wing player with a tall and long arms. He is very smooth in his movements on the court. He is especially good at using his height and wingspan to shoot over defenders. His wingspan advantage on the defensive end can also interfere with shots.

He has the potential to be a master shooter. He is very good at combining dribbling and shooting. After receiving the ball, he can turn around, step back, or fade away. He is particularly good at 3-point shooting, with a hit rate of 54%. He has many hot spots in his attack. He is also good at dribbling and has a wide field of vision. He can create offensive opportunities for himself by dribbling. At the same time, he is committed to getting his teammates involved to make the whole team better.

A master of assist defense, he is very good at cutting into the ball handler's blind spot to double-team him, and he averages 1.3 steals per game.

A veteran in mismatch. When facing defense, he can use his height, wingspan and strength to bully smaller players, and he is also good at using his speed, flexibility and skills to play with bigger players. On the defensive end, he can also defend multiple positions.

Good rebounder. One of the top offensive/defensive rebounders in his position, with very accurate prediction of placement and timing.

He has leadership qualities and rare leadership skills among young players on the field, and has strong mental attributes.

Things to note:

A skinny young man. He lacks the physical confrontation that corresponds to the high-level league. He needs to gain more weight. He often suffers from not being strong enough during fast breaks.

His form has been fluctuating. He has indeed played some outstanding games, but his overall score has fluctuated greatly, and his shot selection is unreasonable. He often makes unreasonable forced shots when there is plenty of offensive time.

Not three or one. After entering a higher-level league, how to position himself will become a problem. If he plays the 3rd position, his relatively mediocre physical strength will limit his personal offense. His height and confrontation disadvantages determine that he has difficulty dealing with the league's orthodox heavy guards.

Supplement: Since the start of the tournament, Chen Fang has led USC to a run of victories with no rivals. His scoring has continued to explode, and he has a strong leadership temperament, possessing the qualities to be the cornerstone of a rebuilding team.

ESPN version:
Standing 6-foot-7 with a wingspan of 6-foot-13, he has a body that "will definitely grow stronger with time and training methods." Coupled with his proficient offensive skills and the potential to play the forward-guard position, USC rookie Chen Fang has attracted much attention since the start of college basketball and has long occupied a top position in the annual draft rankings.

Chen Fang's selling point is his superb scoring ability. He can score with a jump shot at any location and in any situation. Most of his opponents who defend him are not as tall as he is, or as fast as he is. They are not inferior to him in height and speed, but do not have his offensive skills. This makes him rarely rivaled in the NCAA.

Among players of this height, Chen Fang is very agile. As long as he gets the ball, he can do all kinds of tentative steps, back turns, turnaround jump shots, fadeaways, dribbling away, and footwork under the basket. He is proficient in all the moves you can think of, especially when facing inside players who are a beat slower than him. Can you imagine that he is not even 19 years old?
He is still improving his arsenal, and his outside shooting is improving. He averages 8.3 three-pointers per game and has a three-point shooting percentage of 56.2%.

He has a very terrifying shooting touch, and his three-point shooting percentage has always ranked first in the league.

His open shot percentage is 65.5%, most of which are three-pointers, but only when there is sufficient shooting space.

When he faces a defensive attack and has to quickly adjust his shot in a short period of time, his catch-and-shoot percentage drops to 42%. Considering the faster rotation pace of the league, this percentage will drop further, but it is enough to prove that Chen Fang is an elite shooter.

Chen Fang is good at and likes to finish by dribbling, especially at the top of the arc, with a hit rate of 74.3% when shooting from the front.

But this is also a double-edged sword - sometimes he likes to force shots and shoot those ultra-long three-pointers against defense. Almost 60% of Chen Fang's non-fast break shots come from three-pointers, but his hit rate is only 46.2%.

His obsession with shooting may lead to setbacks in his future.

Sometimes, due to tactical arrangements, Chen Fang can also be used as an inside player to attack the low post. He has excellent footwork when attacking from the outside, and he is not inferior when transferring to the inside. He has mastered the rotation of both shoulders. After the back, he can choose to turn around, turn to face the basket, or fade away. The 18-year-old has amazing performances.

The low-post attack will most likely no longer be used after entering the league, but having these abilities will undoubtedly be a huge addition to the team's tactical options.

Chen usually plays the No. 3 position in college, and will become the No. 1 position in the fourth quarter.

He is more likely to confront the opponent's small forward on the wing, and then use his flexibility to shake off the defender to attack the basket. This trick is effective in college basketball. However, facing the higher-level NBA, it is hard to judge how much discount this trick will have, but it will definitely not be as smooth as he used it in college.

Chen Fang's explosive power is already at a super level by NBA standards.

His first step allows him to have amazing results when he attacks the basket with the ball. After entering the league, his explosiveness may bring unimaginable returns to the market.

His various offensive skills are instant combat power compared to the NBA. He can dribble and then shoot, especially this move can become his killer weapon when combined with pick-and-roll.

His catch-and-shoot skills are a reflection of his high basketball IQ, and his smart positioning can get him a lot of open shots. However, his shooting percentage plummets when facing fast defense. He dribbles well, but when facing fierce defense, his offense is often interrupted.

Passing is another option that Chen Fang deserves extra points for. In many games, his assists often have a high assist rate, with 3.5 passes to get one assist. His vision is very wide, which makes it difficult for him to miss.

Because even if there are fluctuations in his scoring ability, his assists can help the team win.

Theoretically, Chen Fang has the physical conditions to defend 1-4, four positions, but his defensive skills have yet to be developed. He can use his height and wingspan to interfere with shots, block passing routes, and pressure the ball handler from the outside.

He is very fast when defending shots, but his positional sense is not good when he is holding the ball on the outside. He struggles a lot in low-post defense, he cannot face strong inside players, and more often, he needs his teammates to defend him.

Strictly speaking, his best position is a forward-guard swingman, an excellent help defender. He may not be a wing 3D or a top-of-arc defender.

Of course, if Chen Fang can strengthen his core and lower body strength and adapt to the league's No. 4 position, then it will become interesting. After all, he can grab 30 defensive rebounds and send 5.6 blocks per 1.7 minutes.

Chen Fang, who builds strength and gains 5-10 pounds, can be used as a ball-handling, face-to-frame attacking No. 4, and then he can use the offensive routines that made him famous in college. If he can develop a stable outside shot, it will be more in line with the current trend in the league where the No. 3 and No. 4 positions are increasingly attacking from the outside.

Conclusion: From dynamic and static talents, team performance, words and deeds on and off the court, Chinese player Chen Fang possesses all the qualities of a No. 17 pick. is a big year for the draft with many stars, but Chen Fang, Tatum and Fultz are the three best players in this draft.

(This draft report is really difficult to write. I read a lot of historical draft reports of stars, and then combined the templates and past performances, and wrote it in the tone of a commentator, just hoping to make it seem more realistic.)
No matter what waves the interview broadcast that night caused, Chen Fang had already started training the next day.

The whole team has been trying to break through the pressure under the intensity of double-team defense these days, and there has been great improvement. Andy has become more confident after training.

"Thank you for not slacking off, boys. Let us put a perfect end to this journey of miracles and courage."

Finally, Andy asked Chen Fang to summarize.

Looking at the entire team, including the uniform staff, dozens of people were staring at him, and Chen Fang said something.

"Give up your illusions and prepare for a decisive battle!"

(End of this chapter)