Rekindling the dream of becoming a star

Chapter 234 I look forward to it

Las Vegas.

Thomas and Mack Arena.

NBA Summer League Finals.

Clippers vs. Lakers.

It felt a bit like fate that the two sides, who had faced each other for the first time, finally met in the final.

In fact, it makes sense if you think about it carefully. The Clippers have Chen Fang and the Lakers also have Ingram. Their strength level in this league is naturally stronger.

Compared to other rookies who are still in the running-in period, Tatum's summer league performance was a bit struggling, averaging 17.8 points per game, which is not very impressive, while Fultz's is 20.3 points. Among the three recognized as the best this year, Chen Fang stands out from the data.

He dominated the summer league with an average of 25.7 points per game and was selected to the All-NBA First Team. His dazzling performance also suffocated other rookies. As Chen Fang's old rival, Ballonzo made the Suns very happy with his all-around data of 16.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, 9.3 assists and 2.5 steals, but there is still a clear gap when the two data are compared.

Perhaps at this moment, these old friends must be feeling sad. Chen Fang has been suppressing them since college, but they didn't expect that they would still be suppressed by him in the NBA.

Tatum simply didn't watch the live broadcast, but Ainge called him and asked him to go back to the room.

On the phone, Ainge said to Tatum: "You should feel honored. You are so lucky to have a competitor by your side. This is a gift from God. It is because of Chen Fang that you have greater motivation. As a teammate, opponent, and friend, you must also face it bravely, put aside distractions, and look for opportunities to win."

"The Celtics are in the East, the Clippers are in the West. Maybe one day you'll meet in the Finals. At that moment, are you still going to run away?"

So Tatum and Mike Zarren, the team's vice president of operations, sat in front of the TV.

"There is no positional competition between you, but there are some areas where you need to learn, such as Chen's passing options in transition, offensive options, and rhythm control."

"The NBA now has a very fast pace. Traditional positional warfare has reduced its proportion in 100 offensive possessions. Semi-conversion will become the mainstream, with positional warfare and fast breaks forming the main scoring component during the game." Mike Zahren said to Tatum.

"I know, sir. I'm still getting to know you guys, and I feel like I'm a little bit stuck." Tatum explained his performance in the summer league.

"It doesn't matter. Summer League is to let you experience the rhythm and intensity of the NBA. The results are meaningless. Even if the Clippers won 100 summer league championships, it would not help them make the playoffs at all."

"However, Chen Fang's performance has accelerated their rebuilding plan. Perhaps they are still in the process of trying each other out. As long as Chen Fang can produce half of his current numbers in the regular season, the Clippers will be tempted and act quickly."

"Generally speaking, it takes about two years for a rookie to be judged by the team as a cornerstone or puzzle piece. That's why there is a team option in the third year of a rookie's contract."

Tatum's face was solemn. He knew that Mike Zaren was actually reminding him, not just talking about Chen Fang.

"Look, he's coming!" Mike Zaren suddenly pointed at the TV and said.

In the picture, Chen Fang appeared and the camera gave a close-up. He walked to the first row and several friends came over to show their support.

DeRozan, Nick Young, and other California native stars would show up uninvited to such occasions.

Chen Fang exchanged a few words with them, then glanced at Kobe who was sitting next to the Lakers bench. This guy was obviously there to cheer for the Lakers. He was talking to Ingram and kept making movements with his hands, looking like he was giving instructions before the game.

Chen Fang gritted his teeth secretly. He believed that Kobe would not keep anything to himself and would definitely tell Yingge all his judgments. Since Yingge had made such harsh remarks before the game, it was reasonable for Kobe to help.

But he really got annoyed by the fact that he didn't take Chen Fang's feelings into consideration at all.

But Kobe is just that kind of person. He is harsh and strict about the game. He really uses his own way to urge Chen Fang and Yingge to improve.

At the same time, Kobe also saw Chen Fang, but he didn't say hello. He turned around and continued to say something to Yingge.

Well, it looks like today is not going to be an easy day.

Chen Fang immediately calmed his mind and began to warm up.

Warming up before a game has always been a very interesting part, especially for players, especially star-level players.

For players like Durant, Curry, and James, everyone's eyes are often on you, and your every move will cause exclamations. If you were an ordinary person, you would definitely be stage fright, but this is the basic psychological quality of a star. You have to continue as if no one is around and ignore all off-field factors.

Chen Fang kept shooting, catching the ball, dribbling, moving, and shooting, repeating this operation. Every time Chen Fang made a shot or missed it, the fans in the front row who had arrived at the scene would exclaim in surprise.

During the off-court commentary, Ke Fan, who was already prepared, said to Duan Ran, "He really has the aura of a star player."

"Yes, his features have started to mature. He looked like a child last year, but now he looks like an adult." Duan Ran also sighed.

"Brother Duan, what sparks do you think Chen Fang and Yingge will create today?"

"It's hard to say. I guess there will be a lot of matchups, and they will attack and explode each other." Duan Ran judged.

"After this game, if we want to watch Chen Fang's game, we have to wait for the preseason." Ke Fan was reluctant to leave. These ten days had been a particularly fulfilling time for him. The anticipation alone made him full of energy.

Every time he opens his eyes, he wants to watch Chen Fang's game. It has become his biggest thought.

"Yes, by then, Chen Fang will be even more powerful!" Duan Ran was full of confidence. He had been chasing Chen Fang for almost a year and had attended every competition in college. Chen Fang's progress was visible to the naked eye. His understanding and control of the game were increasing day by day. Duan Ran had a feeling that Chen Fang might have reached his peak as soon as he debuted, with almost no incubation period. His self-discipline and talent, the combination of the two was too terrifying.

After the warm-up session, players from both teams went back to the locker room, changed into their game jerseys, and listened to the coach's final pre-match instructions.

The court is handed over to the cheerleaders and the atmosphere group, who will keep the heat on the court and prevent the spectators from getting bored. There are also interactive games, including random camera switching to kiss moments, mascot pranks, and drawing lots to invite spectators in lucky seats to shoot and win the shooting prize.

In the locker room, Brian reminded Chen Fang: "I think the Lakers will let Ingram match you. Last time, their guards were too short to limit you, but this will not be the case this time."

"Yes, I understand."

"I'll set up an early pick-and-roll for you on either wing. After you quickly get out of the way, you can pass the ball to your teammate who's rolling down the pick-and-roll. Then, depending on the defense, you can cross the middle and return to the top of the key to run a variation of the Stagger tactic, or run a high pick-and-roll with Zubac."

Chen Fang nodded and stared at Brian drawing a roadmap on the tactical board, while the other players listened carefully. The current Clippers' summer lineup has confirmed the offensive and defensive style of play with Chen Fang as the core, and all tactics are centered around the Chinese.

"Guys, today is the finals. If you win, we'll share the prize money. If you lose, you'll leave quietly. There is no third option. For your family and dreams, please give everything you have!" NBA pre-game mobilization is not like campus basketball, which talks more about survival and money.

This is the most intuitive adjustment. There will be chicken soup, but the real truth is to serve hard dishes.

Ten minutes later, Chen Fang returned to the court. He was ready to go. He stood on the court and stretched his hands and feet. He glanced at Kobe not far away. Their eyes met, and Chen Fang read a hint of cunning.

It seems that Kobe must have given Ingram some advice. It's really troublesome.

Chen Fang never expected that the first victim of Kobe's "Weak Points" would be himself.

Soon, Chen Fang understood it.

At the beginning of the game, the Clippers got the ball. Chen Fang was holding the ball and was about to go to the wing under the cover of his teammates, but Yingge quickly got close to him without any physical confrontation. Instead, he used his arm span to make a short hug-like shackle. After touching Chen Fang's body, he immediately pulled away.

But Chen Fang's dribbling and movement were disturbed, and the next second, Yingge used his body to confront Chen Fang, forcing Chen Fang to retreat back to the area near the center circle.

Fortunately, shooting guard Thornwell came to support and avoided the possibility of being forced by Yingge. All actions in the center circle are extremely dangerous, and the players will be under great psychological pressure. Because they are afraid of half-court violations, they take more drastic actions to avoid it.

This is Midfield line oppress, or MLO for short.

Chen Fang understood that this must be what Kobe taught him. Kobe must be aware of his weaknesses. If he used physical confrontation from the beginning, he would be able to avoid it. But if he forced himself to slow down first and then confront, he would feel very uncomfortable.

This offense, due to Ingram's successful defense, resulted in insufficient offensive time and ended hastily with Kuzma's strong shot.

The Lakers' offense did not choose a quick transition today because the Clippers have shown their efficiency in retreating defense. They would rather use efficient positional warfare to face the Clippers.

A half-3, half-4 inside player like Randle can actually work wonders in positional battles. Plus, his opponent is Nance Jr., who was his substitute when he was with the Lakers. So Randle has a psychological advantage.

Randle scored 6 points in a row through continuous penetration to get opportunities to attack the basket, widening the score at the beginning.

Yingge seemed to have given up on attacking and focused all his attention on defense. He even defended Chen Fang in the midfield. This was the first time Chen Fang encountered an opponent who was taller, had a longer wingspan and was stronger than himself.

At the end of the first quarter, Chen Fang scored 5 points with just an open three-pointer and free throws.

The Clippers also trailed by 24 points at 31 to 7.

The biggest beneficiary was Kuzma. Without Ingram's care, he got a lot of open shooting opportunities. It was also because of his 9 points that the Clippers did not fall behind by double digits in the first quarter.

Sitting on the bench and gasping for breath, Chen Fang was very angry because he saw Kobe high-fiving Yingge to celebrate his successful defense in the first quarter, and his inner dissatisfaction overflowed.

Brian made arrangements for Chen Fang: "I will let Zubac follow you into the frontcourt, and then Nance will give you a second screen at the top of the arc. Thornwell will hold the ball on the wing. After receiving the ball, you can face the basket and choose to attack or pass."

"Okay, I know." Chen Fang nodded breathlessly.

In the commentary booth, Duan Ran and Ke Fan were talking. Ke Fan asked, "Has Chen Fang's weakness been discovered?"

"That's about right. Chen Fang didn't gain weight in college. His playing style has always been more roaming and agile. Frequent confrontations will make him lose mobility, thus weakening his organizational efficiency."

"If the second quarter continues like this, today's game will be very difficult." Ke Fan worried.

"That won't happen. I've followed Chen Fang for so long, and he always finds a way out of difficult situations. I believe the situation will improve in the second quarter." Duan Ran seemed full of confidence.

At the beginning of the second quarter, Chen Fang showed an attitude of wanting to save face from Yingge. After receiving the ball on the left wing, he suddenly stopped, stood up straight, grabbed the ball with his right hand and put it behind his back to protect it, waved his left hand to signal his teammates to move away, then changed from standing sideways to facing Yingge, and then used a three-threat posture to continuously mobilize Yingge's defense.

His three-threat attack did not have Kobe's drastic left-right center-of-gravity swing to mobilize the defensive player, but focused on moving the center of gravity up and down. After lowering his hips and shoulders, he pressed Yingge's center of gravity completely on his ankles. Then Chen Fang suddenly jumped up and shot a three-pointer.

The ball went cleanly through the net. Seeing the ball go in, Chen Fang didn't look at Yingge. Instead, he shrugged and shouted at Kobe, who was sitting comfortably in the first row just a few meters behind him, "He can't handle me. I'm sorry to disappoint you."

Kobe raised his eyebrows. Facing Chen Fang's provocation, he remained magnanimous and simply waved his hand dismissively. Not only the audience, but even the commentators in the commentary booth noticed this little incident.

ESPN commentator David laughed heartily: "It is said that Kobe and Chen Fang have a very good relationship, both as a teacher and a friend. This greeting is a testament to that."

Ke Fan was very excited: "It's unimaginable that Chen Fang was talking directly to Kobe. His peers may have dreamed of seeing Kobe in person and getting an autograph, but for Chen Fang, these are completely non-existent."

"They were provoking and bickering with their friends. It was a very touching scene."

"When you reach this level, it's naturally very different. It is said that on the day of the NCAA finals, Chen Fang defeated North Carolina, and Jordan felt very regretful afterwards. If Chen Fang had not been injured and in shock, I believe he would have come face to face with the God of Basketball that day." Duan Ran also echoed the previous sentence.

As Chinese media professionals working in the basketball industry, they see Chen Fang interacting with superstars on an equal footing and feel proud of it. They also know why Yao has sparked a basketball craze in China. It is because Yao is interacting with NBA superstars on an equal footing.

The sense of immersion made Chinese fans stand up straight.

After Yao retired, the enthusiasm for basketball in China has been declining, and many media people are worried. Now, Chen Fang has appeared and filled this gap.

Moreover, the placement is more important.

As we all know, the face of the NBA can only be chosen from small forwards and guards. Compared with other positions, the small forward's skills can perfectly show the beauty of basketball. He is the best candidate to promote this sport and continuously capture the new generation of young people.

Therefore, from an operational perspective, Chen Fang has greater brand promotion value than Yao. Whether in China or North America, the significance of his existence is greater than that of Yao.

Now, everyone who makes a living from sports has reached a consensus.

As long as you can get in touch with Chen Fang, it means a lot of money will flow into your pocket.

At present, Duan Ran is the biggest possibility. His weight has also been raised to a higher position by TX. He is fully responsible for NBA North American affairs and a team has been formed for him. Once Duan Ran obtains the cooperation relationship between Chen Fang and TX, the money generated will increase by billions.

It is not an exaggeration to say that whoever owns Chen Fang has the final right to interpret the discourse of Chinese basketball media.

But now, he couldn't show impatience. Duan Ran knew very well that Chen Fang attached great importance to boundaries. Crossing the line would only lead to estrangement. There might only be one chance.

He turned his attention back to the court. Chen Fang gained more confidence after the one-on-one match. Under Zubac's cover, Ingram had to reduce the intensity of his defense against him. Although Nance Jr. was not a good pick-and-roll player, he was enough for Chen Fang's point guard skills.

The continuous passes from the top of the arc made the Lakers call a timeout. The score had been caught up and adjustments had to be made.

Before Chen Fang came on the court, he glanced at the score, 38 to 40, the slump had been reversed, and now it depended on how the Lakers responded.

Sure enough, when the game resumed, the Lakers used an 1121 high-post zone defense tactic.

This is a stranglehold specifically aimed at the point guard, with one person pressing the point guard in the high post, while another waits for an opportunity to double-team him. Two inside players go to the free throw line to fill in the positions layer by layer, and finally the highly mobile guard makes the final rotation.

The point guard who sticks to the ball may be triple-teamed, which can create a large number of transition fast break opportunities.

Chen Fang did not force it. He called for Thornwell and Kuzma, and the three of them formed a triangle position in the high post, using Zubac as a fulcrum, and then they had a tactical confrontation with the Lakers in the high post. (The two corners of the top of the three-point arc and the logo area in the middle circle, and finally the top of the arc, this is a typical four-person position for high-post screen and pick-and-roll coordination, and the last person goes to the bottom corner to completely empty the restricted area in the interior!)

As a result, the two sides entered a melee stage, and the intensity of the game was so intense that the commentator exclaimed that it was almost the intensity of the playoffs. Fouls, free throws, the game became fragmented, but Chen Fang enjoyed it.

His excellent vision allowed him to seize several opportunities and he made three assists in a row, which immediately reversed the score and widened the gap.

Even Kobe, who was sitting there, felt helpless. The Lakers' performance was already excellent, but the Clippers' response was even better.

He praised DeRozan next to him: "Chen, your reading of the game is not like that of a rookie at all."

"He is very adaptable. Any teammate can score with his help."

"It's a pity. If he had been with the Lakers earlier, it would have been much easier for me."

Kobe sounded somewhat dejected as he spoke. He felt that he still had some energy left, but he could no longer help the team into the playoffs. This result was worse than killing him. After several attempts, he had no choice but to retire.

DeRozan didn't dwell on it. He was simply happy for his junior. He understood the importance of factions. The better the talent, the more USC would produce NBA players. It was a virtuous cycle that would benefit both sides. In the league, sticking together was a common understanding. (A strong NCAA team, as long as it consistently produced players for the NBA draft, would attract more four- and five-star players from US high schools. If those rookies made a name for themselves in the NBA, it signified the NBA's recognition of the development system, which in turn earned the trust of future juniors. Conversely, if it frequently produced duds, it would become a vicious cycle.)
Yingge was still pressing Chen Fang, but Chen Fang, who had adapted well, gradually gained the upper hand with better movement and variable footwork.

In the last three minutes of the first half, he first used a hesitation step after a pick-and-roll on the wing to get rid of Yingge's defense and hit a mid-range jump shot. Then in the next round, he ran to an open position in the corner and made his third three-pointer of the game, bringing his score to 13 points.

Afterwards, Brian replaced Chen Fang. The Chinese player's playing time was still strictly controlled and exceeded the first half.

During the halftime period, reporters interviewed Kobe and asked him to comment on the first half of the game.

Kobe Bryant: "The Lakers need to position themselves more tightly, rotate more frequently, and the Clippers, led by Chen Fang, are very efficient in offense. If they want to win, the young players of the Lakers need to work harder."

Afterwards, the reporter asked about his relationship with Chen Fang.

Kobe Bryant replied seriously: "I admire his wisdom on the court. He will make a name for himself in the league, but there are still many problems ahead. As for our relationship, at least for today, we are opponents. It's a matter of stance."

In the locker room, Brian was arranging the tactics for the second half. The first half of the third quarter was the Clippers' window period. Chen Fang would not play. The Clippers, lacking organization and connection, were at their weakest.

The Lakers will not give up easily, and the third quarter will be a very difficult stage.

Sure enough, as Bryant predicted, in the third quarter, the Lakers started playing small ball. Ingram was particularly serious today. He almost did not rest in the first half, but he continued to be on the court. Under his leadership, the Lakers made a small climax of 9:2 and overtook the score.

Brian immediately called a timeout, adjusted the tactics, and let Chen Fang play early.

Chen Fang did not disappoint everyone. He planned an exquisite tactical cooperation as soon as he came on the court. He hung in the corner of the elbow area, attracted a double-team, and then made a half-high throw to feed the ball to Zubac who was running fast.

Then he made some moves on the wing and cooperated with Kuzma. In a small area, the two took turns to screen and cover each other, passing the ball hand to hand, tearing through the Lakers' defense. Finally, with Chen Fang's back screen, Kuzma scored his 18th point of the day.

Even Kobe felt that Kuzma was pretty good. He sighed, "He was a good player, but unfortunately, he became a bargaining chip and was traded away."

The head coach of the Lakers Summer League is Byron Scott. He stood with his hands on his hips helplessly watching the changes on the court. He and his coaching team have paid great attention to curbing Chen Fang, but the Chinese adjusted quickly and Brian's reaction was also fast. The two cooperated with each other and offset his two days of careful arrangements.

Yingge did a good job, but Chen Fang was better. He deserves the second place. I never expected that China could produce such a level of player in basketball. It is said that Chen Fang has only been in the United States for two years.

The hope now is to wear down No. 21's physical strength and keep the score close. Maybe there will be a change in the fourth quarter.

But to his disappointment, in the fourth quarter, Chen Fang not only did not show any physical problems, but repeatedly displayed his terrifying one-on-one skills. Facing Yingge, he made 4 of 3 shots, which almost made Yingge's mentality collapse.

During a breakthrough, Ingram couldn't help but give a push, and Chen Fang flew out of the court. This aroused the dissatisfaction of Nance Jr., who directly faced his former teammate Ingram and started talking trash.

"Hey, what are you doing? Are you so manly?"

Ingram was surprised by Nance's reaction, and Zubac, who has always had an honest image, had a dark face and shook his head at Ingram: "Hey, brother, you're out of line."

"No need to say anything, just focus on the game." Chen Fang climbed up without showing any anger. Instead, he shouted them away without even looking at Yingge.

The minds of black people are not that mature. They reach adulthood at least ten years later than other races. Yingge's behavior is normal for her to still act like a boy in her thirties.

This small conflict caused both sides to get more aggressive. Brian wanted to call a timeout to let the players calm down, but he found that Chen Fang took advantage of the free throw break to gather the other four players and hold a brief meeting on the court.

Although I don't know what they said, the five people on the field obviously calmed down after they separated, and their actions were no longer out of line.

This refreshed many people's cognition, and head coach Brian was surprised to find that Chen Fang had become the team leader without realizing it, and naturally took on the leadership responsibilities.

Kobe Bryant frowned off the court and shook his head at DeRozan: "Unbelievable, he fits in faster than I thought."

"To be honest, if I came to the Clippers, I might have to listen to him." Although DeRozan was joking, Kobe could tell that he was serious.

Every team can only have one leader. There is no room for two tigers in one mountain. Although there is no such idiom in the United States, it does not mean that the meaning is unclear.

This was what Kobe and O'Neal argued about. In the end, the Lakers management had no choice but to send the Big Shark away.

So, Kobe immediately thought of more.

The more unexpected Chen Fang's performance is, the sooner Griffin may leave.

The Clippers may really push Chen Fang to the leadership position in a very short time, and start matching supporting players to build the championship puzzle.

The rebuilding of a team was happening right under his nose, which made Kobe feel sincerely emotional.

Although he was dissatisfied with Chen Fang's sometimes weak sense of honor, once he was on the court, he could still see his own shadow in Chen Fang, the kind of arrogance that only wanted to be above everyone else and not to be inferior to anyone.

"Oh oh." DeRozan suddenly shouted, bringing the distracted Kobe back to reality. Kobe looked up and saw Chen Fang falling from the basket, so he looked up at the big screen, looking for a reply.

It turned out that a few seconds ago, Chen Fang took a continuous step forward, using the rhythm changes of up and down steps and hesitation steps to break through Ingram. The Lakers only gave him a gap of less than two meters, but it gave Chen Fang the space to speed up and leap. He jumped forward, and before Randle could come over to protect the rim, he jumped up with a faster speed, actively exerted force with his arms, and before the center Thomas Bryant who was protecting the rim from the side could block him, he shot the ball with both hands.

The crisp sound of the basket is distracting. Chen Fang is known for his speed. He changes his rhythm a lot but never loses speed. His skills are sophisticated but make people feel simple. His shooting is crisp and sharp. While his hit rate is high, he also maintains a low shot rate.

These newly disseminated scout certifications have gradually become 21's label.

And today's game is another representative work of the Chinese label. Kobe knows that the Lakers can't win today. Ingram is still too young. There is no one who can deal with Chen Fang in the summer league.

Well, let's see how far you can go. Looking at Chen Fang playing freely on the court, Kobe felt anticipation in his heart.

He hopes not to be lonely for the rest of his life, just like Jordan expected the same thing after his retirement. Now, it is his turn to look forward to it.

I expect the league to become more competitive, as it has become boring, and Chen Fang's appearance is just right.

(End of this chapter)