Rekindling the dream of becoming a star

Chapter 265: The stronger the wind, the faster the ship will go!
Chris Paul has been very upset recently.

He was being stepped on in the assists list, was far behind in the team rankings, and was losing in the head-to-head matches. From the early summer of 2017 to the end of the year, he did not have a single day that went his way.

But now, seeing that all his former Clippers brothers had rebelled and surrounded that kid, the frustration in his heart made him feel sick.

"Just wait and see." Paul returned to the locker room with a dark face.

The Lakers coach began to arrange tactics for the first quarter. The main defensive strategy was to cut off the connection between Griffin and Chen Fang, and the focus was on curbing the Chinese's scoring in the high post.

"We didn't do well every time. I'm telling you now, put aside your pride and seniority. We all lost when we played against the Chinese. This is unforgivable!" Walton shouted in the locker room, scolding the entire team.

"Be tough, be resolute, and win this damn derby without reservation."

Chen Fang had just walked out of the locker room. He came to the player tunnel and performed the pre-match tunnel ceremony with his teammates.

It is very complicated. Every teammate has his or her own ritual totem, and they respond with body language and gestures. To be honest, Chen Fang is only just getting familiar with it now, and it is very slow. He or she also needs to look at the other party to follow.

But this is already the best I can do. Chen didn't even study in college.

In the NBA, he realized that respecting everyone would earn him greater respect from others.

If you want to be the boss, you have to adapt, integrate into the community and respect the culture here.

Finally, it was time for everyone to stand in two rows. Chen Fang faced them, then stood in horse stance with the golden sword, and slowly handed it out with one palm.

"Please teach me!" Following Chen Fang's voice in Mandarin, everyone followed suit and stretched out their hands, shouting out in an identical manner.

Chen Fang did not do any somersaults. This was really unnecessary, so it was omitted.

After turning around, Chen Fang shouted, "Let's go!" and led the way out.

The Lakers' home court is always full of celebrities. It is located in Hollywood, with beautiful mountains, rivers and scenery. If you divide the celebrities who come to the Staples Center to watch the game into 100%, then only 20% are here to watch the Clippers, and the remaining 80% are at the Lakers' home court.

Only when the Lakers face the Clippers at home, will it be 100% certain.

Chen Fang didn’t recognize many celebrities. In his previous life, he didn’t like watching American TV series. Except for a few international movie stars who looked familiar to him, he was unfamiliar with the rest.

But just look at the person sitting in the front row, dressed brightly, even out of season, he must be a star.

Some players could be seen greeting those in the front row, but Chen Fang ignored them and sat cross-legged near the top of the arc, waiting for the game to begin.

The Lakers are the team Chen Fang is most familiar with, not only because they have played against each other the most, but also because they have left a deep impression on him.

It was the first game of the regular season, it was the end of November and December, and it was the last game of the regular season.

This arrangement is like reminding Chen Fang that a certain stage has ended.

It feels very different.

With so many celebrities watching the game on site, Chen Fang was particularly interested in playing against the Lakers.

At the beginning of the first quarter, Chen Fang felt the pressure. Yingge and Clarkson double-teamed him very fiercely and tried physical contact as soon as they crossed half court.

However, Chen Fang was fully charged today, and his ideas about the game had also changed, which actually helped him in a disguised way.

Chen Fang passed the ball early, positioned himself on the wing, and made decisive breakthroughs, using his skills and vision to help the Clippers establish a score advantage within the first three minutes.

Griffin and Chen Fang responded very well. Before the game, Chen Fang specifically pulled Griffin aside to discuss some ideas.

"When you are in the best physical condition, shooting more baskets may be a more efficient way."

"No need to attack, leave the inside to me. The Lakers' inside movement and double-teaming can't keep up with me."

As a result, the 20,000 fans in the stadium saw a Clippers team that was beyond their expectations.

Chen Fang passed the ball to DeAndre Jordan at the top of the arc across half court, then went to the wing for a single play. After breaking through, he passed the ball to Griffin at the free throw line or Rivers in the corner.

If the wing is double-teamed, Chen Fang will switch positions with Rivers Jr. and stand in the bottom corner, trying to attract the Lakers' defense and forming a strong and weak side of 4 against 3 for the Clippers.

So, Griffin made three consecutive shots at the start, and Rivers Jr. made a three-pointer.

The start was 9:3.

On the Lakers side, Paul has performed the point guard function very well, but today the Clippers let Chen Fang defend him, which made it very difficult for Paul to pass the ball or break through.

This undoubtedly curbed him, causing the Lakers to rely only on a three-pointer made by Ingram when attacking.

Lakers coach Walton is in a difficult situation. The Clippers have many problems, but each card can restrain the Lakers.

The Lakers have nothing now. The inside and front lines are a mess. Ingram and Clarkson, who were highly expected, are not mature enough. The only strong point, Paul, was switched on by Chen Fang, who is 201cm tall.

During the first official timeout, Walton had no choice but to adjust the offense and defense, allowing Randle and Lopez to move out more and do pick-and-roll in the backcourt. On defense, Ingram still had to guard Chen Fang.

But now the Clippers' system has been completely controlled by Chen Fang. His teammates' running and screening all revolve around him. No matter where Chen Fang is, there will be three people around him forming a diamond formation with him, and they will follow his movements whether it is screening or cutting.

Even the Lakers' live commentator, Bill McDonald, an Emmy Award winner who has been commentating on the Lakers for 12 seasons, lamented that Chen Fang has an organizational talent that is visible to the naked eye.

His partner is Sturantz, a veteran of the Lakers and a Lakers analyst. This is his 38th season commentating on the Lakers.

After hearing McDonald's praise, he said: "The Clippers have abandoned the previous rhythm-controlling positional warfare and quick counterattacks. With Chen Fang, they can play a triangle-like tactic. In front of Chen Fang, on his left and right, there are always three teammates to support him."

"Even if you want to cut, the Chinese people's speed and offensive skills are always difficult to work, and it will bring about a difficult situation of 3 defending 4."

"Unless you have a pure 2-meter defender who can constantly disrupt him throughout the game, this can only bring about an effect."

"Are the Clippers invincible?" McDonald asked.

"Of course not. The Clippers have a lot of problems. They don't have a reliable rotation point guard, they don't have a trustworthy defense, and the Chinese are doing four tasks on the court."

"Point guard, shooting guard, small forward, sweeper behind." Sturantz counted on his fingers and listed them. "He dribbles across half court, then goes to the wing to be the point forward. If he is double-teamed, he switches to being a shooting guard without the ball. Most of the time, he is the fastest person to retreat, acting as a sweeper for quick counterattacks, hindering the opponent's offense and defense transition."

“Surprisingly, he did a great job in all four jobs.”

"The only problem for the Clippers now is that when Chen Fang comes off the court, their offense and defense will drop sharply by two levels, with the offense and defense efficiency dropping directly from 1.2 per round to 0.85."

"The data doesn't lie. Chen Fang's plus-minus is third in the league, which is very telling. He has much more to do than Gordon. Only Harden has the same scope of work as him."

"The Clippers had no other options. Walton could only use a lot of consumption to send the Chinese off the court as soon as possible to rest. Other than that, he had no cards to play."

Faced with Sturrantz's analysis, McDonald could only smile bitterly: "Well, after listening to your analysis, I feel that we have already lost."

"As long as the Clippers are in good form, they will be hard to beat. In the regular season, a few cards are enough to win the game."

"What about the playoffs?" McDonald asked.

"That will be a competition on another level. Any weaknesses will be targeted infinitely. As for strengths, killing tactics will be used again. After all, the referees in the playoffs are much looser than those in the regular season." Sturants smiled as if he saw through the truth.

The facts were as he judged. Walton used rotation role players such as Josh Hart, Corey Brewer, and Pope to continuously attack the Clippers' weak backcourt, but Rivers' response was simple.

Thornwell, Evans, Wallace, and CJ, the four of them kept playing as shooting guard and point guard, changing positions almost every two minutes, and they only had one mission.

Anyone who attacks Chen Fang, you should fight back.

In this regard, Sturantz summed it up in one sentence: "Doug is applying football defense to the basketball court. Any behavior and action that intends to consume the invading Chinese will be met with a resolute counterattack by Chen Fang's sword-wielding guards."

"As long as Griffin and Kuzma are on the court, the Clippers' offense will not be interrupted. Doug uses two quotas to offset the counterattack. This move is worthy of the confidence of a championship coach."

The old man mentioned Kuzma casually, his tone was frustrated and admiring: "Great Jerry, his vision is so sharp that he will not miss any rough diamond."

"The fact that he dared to trade Paul for Chen Fang was already an amazing move, but he was even more audacious to use the word 'not enough', which made the Lakers management feel that they had taken a huge advantage, and they took the initiative to offer the Lakers player list for them to choose from to meet their satisfaction."

"So, Zubac, Kuzma, Nance Jr., these players with great potential, were all picked by Jerry."

"Half of the playing time for this Clippers team is occupied by Lakers players."

"I have no intention of mocking the Buss family, but if old Buss were still alive, Jerry would not be able to succeed in this kind of deal so easily, and he would not even be able to take the first step to achieve it."

Sturrantz certainly has the qualifications. When Magic Johnson was still a rookie, he was working as an analyst on the scene. "We overestimated Paul's value. If he had come five years ago, when Kobe was still around, it would have been a good deal. But now, the rebuilding Lakers can't match Paul's on-court value." McDonald echoed.

Throughout the first half, the Lakers were suppressed by the Clippers. Chen Fang scored few points, only 11 points, including 4 free throws.

He made two mid-range shots and also hit a three-pointer in the corner.

But what shocked the audience was that behind the 11 points, there were 11 assists.

Half of the Clippers' 65 points in the first half were related to Chen Fang.

The data of 11 points, 11 assists and 4 rebounds was clearly displayed on the scoreboard of the Staples Center, which was dazzling to all the Lakers fans in the stadium.

The Lakers' 51 points were even more eye-catching.

Even the most die-hard Lakers fans have to admit that the current Lakers can no longer compete with the Clippers.

At the beginning of the second half, Chen Fang suddenly changed his playing style. He held the ball and started his personal mode at the top of the arc. Two three-pointers directly widened the score difference to 20 points.

This pace made Walton anxious, but his lack of experience made him be predicted by Rivers. When he replaced a group of forwards and played the Warriors' death five, he found that Rivers also played a five-small lineup.

Chen Fang, Kuzma, Wesley, Blair, Griffin.

These five players are one level higher in height and strength than the Lakers' small lineup.

It's like a gangster meeting a special forces soldier, and he doesn't say a word when he is beaten.

After three quarters, Sturantz shouted directly: "It's spent, it's spent."

McDonald was unable to utter a word and could only watch the Clippers' men wantonly trample the Lakers.

This Los Angeles derby on the last day of December was beyond everyone's expectations.

131:98.

The Clippers slaughtered the Lakers by 33 points, bid farewell to 2017 and welcomed the arrival of 2018.

Chen Fang played out statistics that even someone with obsessive compulsive disorder would fall madly in love with.

22分22助攻12篮板2帽2断2失误。

One water two.

The Los Angeles media exclaimed that the Clippers completed the reconstruction in half a season, which was the fastest reconstruction in history.

During the interview in the locker room, facing Ron, a reporter from the Los Angeles Daily News, Chen Fang showed his true colors for the first time.

"We are ready to go. This is not a fluke. Our entire team is not only a family, but also a special forces team."

Special forces are synonymous with clear discipline, resolute implementation of tactics, and the whole team working as one.

In response to Chen Fang's description, even the reporters who were interviewing other people turned their recorders around and gathered around him, and his teammates also fell silent. They rarely saw Chen Fang talking to the media so seriously.

"January is the time for us Clippers to sprint. We are not afraid of any opponent. No team in the East or the West can have it easy. We will go all out in the 1 game days. Wish us good luck and wish the league good luck."

Ron was excited. He asked, "What is our goal?"

"The top four in the Western Conference will get a better playoff spot, and we have to start securing a spot," Chen Fang replied.

"Can you give a code name for the Clippers' plan for January?" a curious reporter interrupted and asked.

Chen Fang took a look and found that those who could enter the Clippers were all media that favored the Clippers. This person was a reporter from a Southern California community newspaper and also an old friend of the Clippers.

Bert Whiteman, a crazy white reporter.

"Hurricane!" Chen Fang said without thinking.

"Wow, very exciting code name. I think today's topic will keep us busy until midnight." Bert Whiteman said happily.

After the reporters left, Chen Fang looked at his teammates who were deep in thought.

"Tyrone, close the door and make sure no one is outside!" Chen Fang stood up and ordered Wallace.

After the door was closed, the locker room suddenly became quiet. Even the old guys like Griffin and Jordan looked confused.

"Hey, guys, I think it's time to speak from my heart." Chen Fang said to everyone.

Usually the players' locker seats are arranged in an E shape along the door, with the main player at the innermost and Chen's position ranked third, only after Griffin and Jordan Jr.

This is also the unspoken rule of the locker room. In fact, when you walk into the locker room, you can tell the status of each player by looking at their seats. Those at the door must be marginal people.

Chen Fang's position was just right for the whole team to look at him without their vision being blocked. After looking around, Chen Fang slowly said, "Everyone knows what day February is."

When these words were spoken, everyone's face changed.

"Yes, I am not exaggerating. We need better performance to get out of this situation. I don't want anyone to leave, not even one."

"So starting from tomorrow, we will enter the playoff state. I will go all out with everyone to win as many winnable and difficult games as possible."

"We want the management and all the media to think that we are indispensable and invincible, and we are afraid that any action will destroy this atmosphere."

"This is why I value January so much, Blake. I know your attitude, and I think we have the same idea." Chen Fang said to Griffin.

"Yeah, of course," Griffin nodded.

Then Chen Fang looked at Jordan, who raised his hand and said, "Da Falcon, you are absolutely right. February is a time that makes everyone uneasy. I am usually anxious in February and even have trouble sleeping."

With the support of the two elder brothers, others raised their hands to express their opinions.

"Come on, let the hurricane blow the Clippers and let them gallop across the beautiful country of North America!" Chen Fang called on everyone to come closer.

Everyone put their hands together. Chen Fang stood in the middle and said to everyone, "See you in the playoffs! No one can be left behind!"

Undoubtedly, these are the simplest yet most inspiring words.

"See you in the playoffs!" the whole team roared in unison.

Chen Fang clenched his fists. The key to growing in status is not just about taking advantage of the situation, but also about following the trend.

And matching it is the strong support of strength.

On January 2018, 1, the Clippers will have five home games.

In order, they are the Hornets, Grizzlies, Thunder, Warriors, and Hawks.

Then they will return to San Francisco and face the Warriors again.

These six games are crucial, especially the two against the Warriors and the one against the Thunder.

If they miss three games, this hurricane will become the wind that mocks the Clippers across America.

If we can get through this, the remaining four levels will be the Rockets, Celtics, Nuggets and Jazz.

There are 16 games, and Chen Fang’s goal is to ensure 12 games.

No matter what others think, he must first use trades to encourage the whole team to have the same ideas and keep their fighting spirit.

Therefore, Chen Fang resorted to threatening words and used external pressure and internal combustion to completely ignite the Clippers.

There is no way out. Men just have to be harder on themselves.

I have already adapted to the NBA, now I should let the NBA adapt to myself.

Holding a core position and with more than a dozen men under his command, Chen Fang is ambitious to stir up a storm in the alliance.

The wind is strong, the boat can go faster!
(End of this chapter)