Rekindling the dream of becoming a star

Chapter 248: If You Don't Succeed, You Will Die

The postponed CBS interview finally began.

David Phillips, the white commentator who became famous for commentating on Chen Fang's NCAA Championship, took advantage of Chen Fang's second pick and naturally entered the NBA commentary.

This year was a time of great success for him. In every aspect, his attitude towards Chen Fang was probably the most positive in the United States.

But what no one expected was that the questions he prepared today were full of attacks and traps.

After the opening greetings, David's questions came.

"You have achieved incredible results in the NCAA. As a freshman at FR, you led USC, which had never won a championship, to a historic breakthrough. Your sculpture is already being planned. I want to know, will such achievements make you ambitious in the NBA?"

Chen Fang laughed out loud: "I think anyone who can enter the NBA has ambitions. In my opinion, there are many role models to catch up with. I don't think there is a problem with this."

"Role models? If we're asking you quickly, please tell me who are the top three in your mind?"

"Kobe, Harden, Wade." Chen Fang said without hesitation.

"reason?"

"Kobe's Mamba mentality, Harden's tactical art, and Wade's game style."

"OK, if you were given a choice, who would you want to be your teammate?"

"Haha, this question is too difficult. This is not an easy choice." Chen Fang covered his face with his hands and made an embarrassed expression. Then he thought for a long time and answered: "Harden."

"Why?" David asked.

Then he continued to expand his doubts: "I want to ask ten people, nine of them will choose Kobe or Wade, they both have championship rings and FMVPs."

"Yes, I don't need to elaborate on their greatness. Their era is also the best NBA after Jordan." Chen Fang nodded in agreement, and then he changed the subject: "But I still want to choose Harden."

"The reason, I want to know, and I think a lot of people are interested, it's so confusing."

"Because times have changed." Chen Fang's words were shocking.

"I am in the era of change in the NBA, with moneyball, small ball, faster offense and defense, and a rising salary cap. The Big Three has become standard, and the armaments of each team have made the strength and weakness more obvious. I think there will be more teams that tank in the future, and the teams competing for the championship will not be the three or four teams in the past."

"Harden has a system. Under his system, he can adapt to various tactics. He can make an excellent player better, make the ordinary become moving, and inspire the functionality of role players."

"Kobe, Wade, don't you have these?" David asked sharply.

"It's not the same type. I just said that the times have changed. The previous tactical rules have changed. Players entering the league are taller, faster, and more focused on shooting. Now the total score of a game can easily exceed 220. This is not only because the defensive scale has changed, but more because there are more three-pointers."

"Can you imagine letting Kobe and Wade take 15 three-pointers in one night?" Chen Fang asked.

“Oh, this is a scene that many people don’t want to see.”

"Yes, in the post-Jordan era, top shooting guards paid more attention to balanced shooting areas, but now, it's different."

"The three-point shooters on the wing, the three-point shooters at the top of the arc, the three-point shooters in the corner, maybe all five on the court can shoot three-pointers. The old scoring model has been broken, so if you let me choose who to be teammates with now, my first choice is Harden."

"It's not just his three-point shooting percentage, but also his extreme pulling of space, which will give his teammates more three-point shooting opportunities."

"The way you spoke made me feel like I wasn't talking to a rookie, but to an NBA coach who has been in the industry for many years."

"Please don't say that. Many seniors have had similar discussions. I just added some of my thoughts."

"Based on your explanation, can you tell me what you think the future of the NBA will be like?"

"Data explosion." Chen Fang answered quickly.

"Data explosion?" David repeated. He asked, "What do you mean?"

"There will be more triple-doubles, and it won't even be just Westbrook averaging a triple-double."

"Wow, there will be a second Wick?" David shook his head in disbelief.

"Maybe, a hundred rounds of competition for a single team will become a normal phenomenon."

"The offense and defense are speeding up, the points are increasing, and the data will naturally increase."

"Do you think there will be more high scores in the future, and even Kobe's 81 will be broken?"

Chen Fang shook his head: "There are more high scores, but I think it will be hard to break Mamba's 81."

"You, you are known as a high scorer, what do you think your limit is?" David asked.

"Me? I don't dare to think about it. Sometimes when I'm in the right mood, I can get high scores. I don't want to brag about it. It's too stressful."

After listening to this, David asked another sharp question: "According to your prediction, will the viewing value of the NBA decrease or increase?"

"This question needs to be viewed comprehensively. It's the same as the previous dish. Some people like it and some don't. I can't make a judgment."

"What about you personally?" David had no intention of letting this go. Seeing this, Lindsay, who had been watching from outside the camera, wanted to step forward and make a gesture to David, but she saw Chen Fang looking at her.

She understood the look in his eyes, which was telling her not to interfere.

Chen Fang smiled and said, "If it were my personal preference, I might not like it."

"Oh, what's not to like?"

"I grew up watching basketball in the post-Jordan era. I like the style of that era. If there are more three-pointers in the future and fewer positional battles, with constant fast break three-pointers and jump shots, I think not only me, but many viewers will find it boring."

"I think I understand what you mean. As a commentator, my dream since childhood is to commentate on NBA games, confrontations, conflicts, extreme shots, incredible goals. If all I see in the future are three-pointers, I don't think I will be happy either."

"I feel like we've strayed off topic. The topic just now was too heavy."

"Yes, I think this interview will be criticized and criticised a lot after it comes out."

"If you know that, why are you saying it? You need me to edit it for you, so we can start over."

David's humor made Chen Fang laugh. He explained: "Today I am just talking as a fan. I think everyone will understand."

"Okay, let's continue."

"OK!" Chen Fang nodded.

"Let's get back to the point. Let me get straight to the point. What are your expectations for your rookie season?"

“Can you be more specific?”

"Best Rookie? First Team Rookie, Second? Points per game, making the All-Star Rookie Game, etc., you can say that."

"Then I want to test you. Can I ask you a question in reverse?" Chen Fang said.

"No problem, come on, my NBA knowledge is beyond your imagination." David was eager to try.

"In history, which rookie achieved the most outrageous honors in his first season?"

David thought for a moment, and then he said, "I can think of a few, but I don't know the standard for measuring outrageousness. Can I tell you all?"

"of course."

"Players like Larry Bird, David Robinson and Duncan were selected to the All-NBA Team in their rookie season. Does this count?"

"Of course it counts. It's an exaggerated achievement."

"If you put it that way, I think there is someone who fits the bill the best."

"Magic Johnson helped the Lakers win the championship in his rookie season and won the Finals MVP."

"Are you sure?" It was Chen Fang's turn to be surprised. He actually didn't have an answer, but he was shocked after hearing it.

"of course."

"It's too exaggerated. It's not a mountain anymore, it's space. It's an insurmountable achievement." Chen Fang exclaimed.
"Come on, tell us about your rookie expectations."

"I hope to help the team get into the playoffs, I hope I can average more than 10 points per game, and I also hope I can win the Rookie of the Month award."

"That's all?" It was David's turn to be incredulous.

"Too low?" Chen Fang asked.

"Of course, your summer league and preseason performances don't support what you want. Didn't you look at the pre-season predictions? Your probability of winning the Rookie of the Year is 35%, the highest."

"And it's inevitable that you'll be selected as an All-Star Rookie. Some even think you can win the Most Valuable Player award in the Rookie All-Star Game."

"The probability of being selected to the All-Rookie First Team is 27%. The probability of being selected to the Second Team is 74%."

"I didn't feel any pressure at first, but after hearing what you said, I feel like it's a little hard to breathe." Chen Fang said with a smile.

"Man, being modest can be seen as a lack of confidence, even though I know in China, modesty is a virtue."

"Well, I think I have thought about what you just said, but seriously, the playoffs are the first goal. I don't want the Clippers' streak of consecutive playoff appearances to be interrupted."

“It’s important to give it our all to get to the playoffs.”

"Then let's talk about the current situation of the Clippers. After losing Paul and you coming, do you think the Clippers have become stronger or weaker?" David's question was indeed very sharp. His operating style is the kind of person who tries his best to attract traffic. Either you make a fool of yourself and the whole United States knows about it, or you succeed and the whole United States admires you.

In short, as a media, he took media practices to the extreme.

"I'm faster, I can make some difficult shots, and my help defense can prevent some points from being lost. But losing Paul has inevitably made our team lose stability. As a rookie, I'm still learning more, and being able to come to a playoff team is a kind of pressure in itself." "The entire coaching staff is very supportive of me and gives me help. I was able to integrate into the team so quickly. I want to thank everyone in the Clippers."

"In my mind, the team's performance is the standard for measuring the value of every player. This season, the biggest test for me is whether I can perform stably and not drag down the team's overall performance."

"I think my teammates think the same way. This season is very important for me and the Clippers."

“Getting into the playoffs and breaking through every time is something to look forward to.”

"OK, one last question."

"Please tell me, what is your attitude towards the NBA?"

"Oh, David, your words always make me feel like I'm falling into a trap. This question is too general. Can you be more specific?"

"Well, I'm a newbie too, you and I both need to understand each other." David explained awkwardly, and they both laughed.

“Is this considered a fight between rookies?”

"I think so. I hope this interview won't cause too many jokes."

"Actually, I want to know what plans you have for your NBA career."

"Go big or go home." Chen Fang said solemnly.

This answer stunned Lindsay who was standing next to him.

David spread his hands to ask for confirmation: "Either succeed or go home?"

"Yes, there is a similar saying in ancient China, which goes, "If you don't succeed, you will die." Chen Fang repeated it in Chinese.

"I came to the NBA to do something big. I will compete hard and compete with the best players on the planet one by one without any regrets."

“Is this a challenge to everyone?”

"No, this is me, Chen Fang, speaking to the NBA."

After the interview, Chen Fang and David fist-bumped and hugged each other. Chen Fang complained, "Today, you are sharper than the superstars on the court. It's hard for me to resist."

David was very happy with Chen Fang's flattery. He said, "But this interview will be very popular."

"is it?"

"Yes, from my professional perspective, it will cause widespread discussion and even have a long-lasting impact. Maybe it will be brought up again in a few years."

"Your voice will either be admired or ridiculed. Are you mentally prepared?" David asked seriously.

"Go big or go home!"

"NICE!" David saw his colleagues got into the car, so he stretched out his hand and shook hands with Chen Fang.

"Good luck. Come on, rookie!"

"You too, rookie!" Chen Fang replied.

After watching the CBS interview car go away, Lindsay finally spoke. She sighed, "You'll become a laughing stock if you don't perform well in your rookie season."

"Then why is it not good?" Chen Fang asked back.

"Then just let it continue to excel!" Chen Fang planned to do so from the beginning. When he came to the NBA, his dream had already come true. From now on, all the gains and losses will be gifts.

He doesn't care about gains and losses, he just wants to do what he wants.

On October 10, Chen Fang returned to St. Louis and witnessed the historic moment when the No. 18 and No. 21 jerseys were retired together at Chaminade together with Tatum.

It’s been two months since I last saw my former teammates, and meeting them again brings a lot of emotion.

Walking on the campus, Tatum asked about Chen Fang's situation. Chen Fang said, "I have initially established myself. Everyone is very friendly to me. How about you?"

"I, I'm a little stressed." Tatum sighed.

"Tell me, let's figure it out together!"

Tatum looked at Chen Fang with gratitude. He really admired Chen Fang's broad-mindedness. He would not be perfunctory or evasive, and he could clearly distinguish between what was on and what was off the court.

"The team has Irving, Haywood, Horford, and Brown ahead of me. I feel like my shots and playing time are very few."

"Playing time is crucial." Chen Fang nodded.

"It is really difficult to find your role in the limited playing time and tactical position."

"I watched your preseason games. You were placed on the wing 3D. Your role was basically to check for gaps around Irving and Brown. On offense, you ran and cut, and shot open shots. On defense, you rotated and helped defend according to the system..."

Tatum's eyes widened in horror when he saw Chen Fang knew everything about him.

Chen Fang stopped talking and looked at Tatum strangely.

"How do you know so well?"

"Are you surprised?" Chen Fang said with a smile, "Excuse me, I spend all my time every day watching videos and analyzing them. I'm either training or watching videos. Don't you know it very well?"

"But this is also exaggerated. You are not going to analyze everyone in the NBA, are you?" Tatum was still shocked.

"That's the idea, but there's not enough time. Let's accumulate slowly. Maybe I can do it in a few years."

"Monster!" Tatum screamed.

"Do you still want to talk about your difficulties?" Chen Fang hugged Tatum.

"Go ahead, Master." Tatum immediately changed his expression, looking very pious.

“先往完美的3D侧翼方向去，朝180俱乐部目标走（总投篮命中率+三分命中率+罚球命中率各自大于或等于50%、40%、90%，俗称180俱乐部。），让自己的回合使用率从现在的16%提升到20%以上！”

"16? You counted it?"

"Well, forget it, but I'm counting you, not others."

"Fuck, I'm so scared of you!" Tatum crossed his arms.

"Be serious!" Chen Fang snorted, "The Celtics system needs a 3D wing. You are the best fit. No one else can do it. That's why Angie must have you."

"The Celtics system was planned at least five years ago. Brown is also an important part of this system, but the most important thing is the wing 3D. Your height, wingspan, movement speed, confrontation intensity, and understanding of defense perfectly give this system the greatest probability of advancing to a championship lineup."

Tatum looked at Chen Fang who was talking as if he was looking at a god.

"Your defensive coverage and the diversity of your shooting hot spots give this system great scalability. Remember, scalability is the most important quality of a championship system."

"The Celtics' expectations for you will be divided into several stages. The first is now. They hope you can become a 3D wing, then the initiator and terminator of the offensive weight, and finally the axis of offense and defense."

"This is my judgment. You can slowly verify it. As for the group of people you mentioned, they are only serving you. Of course, they are also your whetstone now, so don't worry about it. Just work hard to become stronger."

Tatum nodded: "I believe everything you said, I will do it."

"You will be the king of the Celtics sooner or later, within five years." Chen Zhang made a prediction.

In his opinion, Tatum is getting stronger every year, as if he has no bottleneck. In the end, it was the Celtics who held him back.

His scoring skills are completely different from those of Fox, Fultz, and Mitchell. He is more like a veteran scorer who learned the style of play from Pierce.

But he has better structure and skills than Pierce. It can be generally said that Tatum is the selected version of Pierce.

Moreover, he is not a pure 3D player on the wing, but just a ball-holding core in this skin. It's just because his offense starts from the wing, so there are some misunderstandings.

As he strengthens and improves his versatility, Tatum will bring the wing 3D position to an unprecedented height, and it will be the template for all future 3D pursuits.

But it is obvious that it is completely impossible to expect Tatum to compete for the best rookie of the season. His future is three years later.

And the story of Chen Fang, who is trying to reach the pinnacle of his path.

"You know so much, then tell me about your position in the Clippers!" Tatum was curious.

Chen Fang glanced at the curious Rex Rabbit and chuckled, "Secret!"

"Fuck!" The rabbit was annoyed.

"The future is yours." Chen Fang touched Tatum's head.

"Tell me about this joke!" Tatum was anxious. The two chased each other on the campus, and their laughter echoed in the campus.

Not far away, Frank Perez had a kind smile on his face.

"The future of the NBA will belong to them, and this is also our glory!"

"I believe that the time will come soon when I will be satisfied with my life."

"I am looking forward to the start of the NBA regular season more than ever. I can't even wait, even if there are only two days left!"

"Frank, everyone is like this, don't worry, NBA, it's coming!"