Rekindling the dream of becoming a star

Chapter 287 The Mark of Los Angeles
TNT Studio Hall.

Shaquille O'Neal and Charles Barkley's daily trash talk.

The topic of today's debate: Can the Clippers win Game 2?
Barkley thought it was impossible, but O'Neal thought it was possible.

The focus of the discussion was naturally on Chen Fang.

O'Neal listed many issues, including the Warriors' problems. For example, they can handle switching and double-teaming against most star players, but they don't have a good solution against players like Chen Fang who can break through quickly and have the ability to attack the rim and shoot.

But Barkley believes that Chen Fang can't keep playing exceptionally well forever. The Warriors have the best lineup of defensive wing players in the league and have played the entire season, so they already have a good understanding of how to defend Chen Fang.

During the argument, they gradually steered the conversation toward the Clippers' current problems.

The discussion covered scoring opportunities, defensive weaknesses, and so on. Finally, Kenny Smith smoothed things over by asking the two men a question.

When will Chen Fang be considered for MVP?

“Next year, I’m pretty sure that as long as he improves his physicality and stamina, the Clippers will immediately be one of the best teams in the West,” O’Neal replied without hesitation.

"He's someone you'd be hard-pressed to find in the league who the Warriors fear. I'm good friends with some people on the Warriors, and I wanted to invite him to dinner, but he declined. 'I'm busy, sorry, let's get together after the series,' Barkley revealed."

"So I was very surprised. Why? Don't they even have time for a meal?"

"He replied, 'Yes, man, our entire coaching staff hasn't left the hotel since the day we lost. We've been analyzing and assessing the game over and over again. We can't afford to lose a second game; it would be a disaster.'"

“So, I know who they’re bothered by!” Barkley spread his hands.

"Everyone on the Warriors is doing their best to deal with Chen Fang. It's an unbelievable conclusion, but it's true, it's really happening," Barkley said, banging on the table with a very serious expression.

"Let's put ourselves in their shoes. If you were Kerr, Ron, Green, or Curry, how would you face a 2.01-meter player who has virtually no shooting weaknesses, can take off anytime, anywhere, and has a 95% free throw percentage?"

"It felt like when we were facing Jordan in the Finals. I was with the Suns, and the whole team was thinking, OMG, how are we going to defend Jordan? Damn, my mind was a complete mess. We didn't know what to do."

"I think the Warriors are now thinking about how to deal with Chen Fang."

"This is the current situation. There's still an hour left. Let's see what happens in Game 2 between the Warriors and the Clippers!"

Compared to TNT's top-tier commentary team, domestic commentators tend to focus on data, with several guests trying to tell the audience how strong Chen Fang is and how many of his teammates are from the CBA (Chinese Basketball Association).

Finally, Yang Yi asked Su Qun, "Besides Chen Fang, what else did the Clippers need to beat the Warriors?"

Su Qun remained silent, unable to utter a coherent explanation after a long pause.

The anxiety shown by the two studios across the ocean regarding the upcoming second event is actually the same.

Everyone wants to see the Clippers win, but it's hard to find a reason to be confident.

Not only them, but the Clippers themselves, the coaching staff, and the players are all like this.

Only Chen Fang remained full of fighting spirit.

His physical body had almost fully recovered, but in terms of spirit, he was the first to reach perfection.

For a person to achieve a high level of mental well-being, they must first achieve a higher level of intellectual development.

Thinking in reverse can be a great approach.

Chen Fang's thinking was simple: since he would have a group of very strong helpers in the future, the difficulties and pressure he would face in the competition would never be greater than they were now.

The more difficult things are now, the more they can become a valuable asset in one's life.

I'm only 19 years old, I have so much youth to gamble on!
Chen Fang was no longer concerned about losing the game, nor did he care about being mocked in the face after the match; he remained completely unmoved.

However, his expression, which was as still as a deep well, was interpreted by the media as serious.

"The Warriors will not lose the second game. Today, Chen Fang will face even greater defensive pressure, which will be a huge test," Duan Ran said with a heavy expression.

Standing on the court at Chase Center, Chen Fang stretched his arms and legs slightly. He wasn't wearing any protective gear today, which made him look much more refreshed.

Curry was dribbling and warming up with the help of an assistant coach when the ball hit the outside of his foot and rolled across the center line.

Curry then followed the direction of the ball and saw Chen Fang.

He lifted the ball with his foot, caught it with one hand, and tossed it back.

Curry caught it without saying anything, but just glanced at him.

I didn't notice anything special, but I felt that Chen Fang was very gentle today.

Curry couldn't figure out why he felt this way.

The Warriors are still using their small-ball lineup.

Curry, Klay, Iguodala, Durant, Green.

The Clippers' starting lineup has been changed again.

Chen Fang, Kuzma, Harrell, Richon, Zubac.

This is a lineup primarily suited for positional warfare, with almost no mobility. Relying on Chen Fang and Kuzma to initiate a conversion attack is unrealistic.

The commentators have already started their analysis, but only David has hit the nail on the head.

"Dragging the game into a positional battle is the Clippers' only chance."

This is the Clippers coaching staff's strategy: focus on fast breaks and transition offense. No one in the league can beat the Warriors. In half-court sets, the Warriors' lineup might not be able to defend against them.

The only weakness is that switching on defense will be very bad, but the Clippers have no other choice. This is the only card Rivers has to play.

The key now lies in whether Chen Fang's ball control ability can unleash the Clippers' maximum damage potential.

After a successful jump ball, Chen Fang dribbled the ball across half-court. Facing Iguodala's defense, he did not choose to break through, but instead relied on his dribbling skills to advance to three meters outside the wing.

Zubac came out to set a screen, drawing Green out of the way.

Chen Fang paddled free from Iguodala's arm interference, accelerated laterally, and then launched a half-high ball to Zubac, who was making a run down the court.

Zubac merely acted as a transit point, receiving the ball and finding a brief open area in front of him. He dribbled briefly before choosing to drive to the basket for a layup.

Durant's help defense was ineffective, and Zubac banked the ball in.

The Clippers took the lead.

2: 0.

This lead didn't even last ten seconds. The Warriors created a three-man high-pressure situation at the high post. Curry drew Chen Fang out with the ball and then passed it to Klay on the left wing.

Klay received the ball, dribbled sideways, avoided Harrell's defense, and hit the Warriors' first three-pointer of the game.

2: 3.

This round almost set the tone for the entire match.

The Clippers relied on Chen Fang to orchestrate their offense. Zubac and Harrell took turns setting high screens for Chen Fang, who would then make his move depending on the situation.

He passed the ball 7 times, took 5 shots, and scored 8 points, 3 assists and 2 rebounds.

The Clippers' starting lineup scored more points than in the previous game, but their situation is undoubtedly more precarious.

Because the Clippers couldn't contain the Warriors' small-ball lineup, both sides adopted an offensive-offensive strategy, with Curry, Klay, and Durant all delivering outstanding performances.

Klay Thompson, in particular, seemed to be blessed by Buddha today, hitting three three-pointers in the first quarter alone.

28: 40.

At the end of the first quarter, the Clippers trailed by 12 points.

Various media outlets are taking advantage of the short break to analyze why the Clippers made such a suicidal strategy, but Chen Fang nodded to Rivers: "I think it's okay. The Warriors can't stay on fire forever, and we'll gradually get a better feel for the game as we play."

"Do your best, and be careful to protect yourself." Rivers was referring to the Warriors' resolute double-teaming of Chen Fang today, which resulted in a high foul rate after his drives. Of his eight points in the first quarter, four came from free throws.

"I know!"

The rest period ended quickly, and Chen Fang continued to play as point guard after playing the entire first quarter.

Rivers replaced Harrell, moved Kuzma back to number 3, and Lou Williams played shooting guard.

For the Warriors, Iguodala was replaced by Livingston, Curry went out, Zaza Pachulia came in, and Green took over as the frontcourt point guard.

Both sides made adjustments, and the Warriors' head coach realized that the decisive battle was in the second half, so he now needed to make more rotations to conserve the players' energy.

Chen Fang dribbled laterally, then suddenly made a behind-the-back dribble followed by a crossover dribble to break through. He used this move very skillfully, and could use it to get rid of the opponent if they followed.

But the Warriors' help defense came quickly, with Green coming up from the side. He took long strides and accurately blocked Chen Fang's breakthrough route.

Chen Fang couldn't stop in time and crashed into Green's arms along with the ball.

The whistle blew, and the referee called an offensive violation on Chen Fang.

The two were still entangled. Chen Fang tried to get up, but his arm was caught by Green. With a forceful swing, Green rolled twice on the spot, just like a spinning top he used to play with as a child.

The fact that Chen Fang and Green had physical contact was already considered high-risk behavior, and both of them immediately surrounded them upon seeing this.

Chen Fang didn't speak, nor did Green, who had gotten up; the two didn't even exchange glances.

A false alarm.

Kerr breathed a sigh of relief. Against a player like Chen Fang, the best approach was to play the game peacefully. Provocation would lead to unpredictable tactical changes. He missed the tranquility of the first quarter.

But a dozen seconds later, Cole gave a bitter smile.

Green controlled the ball, pretended to hand it off, but then turned and drove into the Clippers' basket to attack the rim. This was his usual scoring method. But someone suddenly appeared from the side and blocked his path, causing him to collide with someone.

It's Chen Fang.

The two did not fall together, but lay side by side on the floor.

Chen Fang heard the whistle, turned his head to look, and saw that after the referee called an offensive foul on Green, he got up and clapped to show his approval.

If it were anyone else, Green would definitely be furious and demand an explanation, but this time, he unusually remained silent, simply taking a few steps with the ball before throwing it out of bounds.

Within half a minute, the two old rivals each put on a show, making the commentators laugh.

"They're all players with high football IQs, and it's really exciting how they set traps for each other."

The game continued, and Lou Williams started to perform well because Chen Fang kept encouraging him to take the shot, as did Kuzma.

With no other options available, Chen Fang used more words and gestures to boost morale.

Despite this, they were still trailing. 47:58.

The gap remains at 11 points.

As the halftime whistle blew, the commentators offered conflicting accounts of the first half's performance.

Su Qun felt that continuing to play like this would be a slow death, while Yang Yi reminded fans from past data that Chen Fang often fell into a short slump after scoring high points.

He even used graphs to support his claim.

"16 points and 5 assists, these stats have already surpassed Chen Fang's historical records." Yang Yi keenly observed some of Chen Fang's hidden problems.

Whether Chen Fang was giving his all or holding back was a question that puzzled not only the commentators and fans, but also the Warriors coaching staff.

Cole found Ron.

"Based on the data, Chen Fang tends to score low or take a break after scoring high in the previous game, but I don't see it as a result of his physical condition."

"He didn't even rest during the entire first half, playing the full 24 minutes."

Ron's words confused Cole even more. He thought for a moment but couldn't figure it out.

At the start of the second half, Chen Fang did not continue to play, but replaced Lu Wei after three minutes. At the same time, Sanwell replaced Kuzma.

This phenomenon immediately put Cole on high alert.

Don't underestimate an NBA-level coaching team; they will record every little detail.

Sandwell's only function is to provide better cover for Chen Fang.

Sure enough, Chen Fang bypassed the cover and fired.

Even though he missed, Cole was still terrified.

He blew a whistle to warn Iguodala, but Cole was still worried and substituted Clay for Livingston.

To suppress Chen Fang, two people are needed; one person alone is simply ineffective.

This is a consensus among the Warriors' coaching staff.

The Warriors' offense was very sharp. Curry and Durant were on fire today. One played off-ball, and the other solved tough problems after the tactics failed.

The Clippers are hard to contain, and the Warriors' score is visibly improving.

Even so, Cole did not let his guard down; he did not see any sign that Chen Fang intended to give up.

After Chen Fang made a breakthrough, he passed the ball to Richon, who missed the layup. Kerr suddenly felt a pang of regret.

“If my teammates weren’t so bad, the score wouldn’t be like this!” he said to Ron.

“Yes, but you have to see that he has no complaints and remains the same as always. I’m very curious to know what he’s thinking!” Ron paid close attention to Chen Fang, partly as a rival and partly as someone he admired.

He discovered qualities in this young man that many players lacked.

The game continued, and the score continued to widen.

At the end of the third quarter, the Clippers trailed 70-84, down by 14 points.

"The Warriors played exceptionally well in this game. Klay, Curry, and Durant all had outstanding performances. By the end of the third quarter, Curry had 21 points, Klay had 18 points, and Durant had 24 points."

"Chen Fang was very versatile today, but his teammates wasted too many opportunities. Even so, he still managed to score 25 points, 7 assists, and 8 rebounds." Duan Ran said heavily. As the commentator, he felt extremely uncomfortable seeing the Warriors' slow and ruthless performance.

"Chen Fang didn't attack much today; 10 of his 25 points came from free throws. The Warriors restricted him a lot, double-teaming him was the norm, and he was frequently fouled when he drove to the basket."

"But you can see that Chen Fang still appears very calm and composed. I have commentated on many of Chen Fang's matches, and today's Chen Fang showed me a more mature side of him."

Duan Ran was genuinely praising them, believing that if the Clippers players had been playing better today, the score wouldn't have been so wide.

At the start of the fourth quarter, the Clippers continued to slow down the pace and play a half-court game. The score between the two teams was also at a new low today, and the Warriors reduced their number of possessions significantly.

If it weren't for the outstanding performance of the Big Three, Rivers would have actually made the right bet today.

With five minutes left in the game, Chen Fang suddenly exerted his strength.

He passed the ball to Lou Williams across half-court, and with the help of Samwell, he quickly retreated to the left wing three-point line without the ball. Lou Williams shook off Curry and passed the ball over.

Catch the ball and shoot; the ball swishes through the net.

86:97.

Before Cole could even react, Green's pass was intercepted by Chen Fang, who then drove the length of the court and scored a layup, bringing the point difference to 9 points.

Kerr immediately called a timeout and made adjustments.

In the past, he trusted Curry and his teammates.

But now, he chooses to believe Chen Fang.

Chen Fang, who returned to the field, was double-teamed by Livingston and Iguodala, who double-teamed him as soon as he crossed half-court, giving him no space to receive the ball.

Despite this, Chen Fang used his excellent off-the-ball movement skills to break through the number of players in the penalty area, and with the help of Zubac, rushed to the top of the arc, received a pass from Lou Williams, and scored again.

91: 97.

Not only Kerr, but all 20,000 Warriors fans at Chase Center looked panicked.

"Chen-style scoring spree, it's here!" David shouted excitedly.

Duan Ran couldn't contain his excitement either. If they could win this game, the Warriors' confidence would collapse.

Just when everyone was filled with fear, Curry stepped up.

He faced Lou Williams one-on-one at the top of the arc, broke free, and took a last-second shot, hitting a three-pointer from three meters out.

Then, he copied Chen Fang's move, accurately predicting Chen Fang's passing target the moment Chen Fang broke through and passed the ball, and intercepted it.

In the transition between offense and defense, he drove into the Clippers' half of the court, threw the ball into the air, and Durant caught it on an alley-oop.

Five stars!

91: 102.

The point difference instantly returned to 11 points.

Chen Fang was very helpless. He put his hands on his hips and reflected on his mistake. He knew that the opportunity was only once, and it would be difficult to succeed if he missed it.

Sure enough, from then on, the Warriors kept a close watch on Chen Fang, even resorting to fouls to stop him.

Duan Ran couldn't stand it any longer: "The Warriors' defensive strategy is too ugly. It doesn't show the Warriors' strength, it just highlights your shamelessness!"

Rivers substituted Chen Fang in the last two minutes of the game.

Chen Fang walked slowly onto the field. He played for 43 minutes today, the longest he's played this season.

Although he walked slowly, the referee did not urge him on, and even the fans in the stadium applauded.

The Warriors players watched Chen Fang leave, and the heavy pressure in their hearts suddenly disappeared.

Durant was the calmest; he glanced at Green and noticed that the latter even showed his first smile of the game.

Hey!

Durant smiled too.

"This is very unexpected. The demanding Golden State fans are applauding Chen Fang."

Chen Fang was also surprised. He returned to the bench, but instead of sitting down, he waved in four directions.

A close-up shot reveals red marks on Chen Fang's arms and bare thighs, and obvious brown bloodstains on his blue jersey.

"33 points, 9 assists, 10 rebounds, and 3 steals—that's Chen Fang's stats today. His near triple-double proves he did his best!" Duan Ran exclaimed with emotion upon seeing him like this.

When the final buzzer sounded, Chase Center erupted in jubilation. Never before had Warriors fans felt such joy at the victory.

Clippers players should leave the court immediately; for the losing team to stay even a second longer is simply asking for trouble.

However, he couldn't escape the post-match interviews.

In the locker room, when interviewed by a Clippers beat reporter, Chen Fang replied, "It was a great game. My teammates and I gave it our all. We had opportunities, but we didn't capitalize on them."

"Back in Los Angeles, we'll do a thorough review."

Are you confident of winning the next two home games?

"It has always been true. Basketball is not just about roster strength. I believe in my teammates and I believe in myself."

See you in Los Angeles!

That evening, the Los Angeles Times published an article by Ron Murray.

This reporter, who was a die-hard hater of Chen Fang at the beginning of the season, changed his identity in the middle of the season and is now the most Chen Fang-loving columnist in Los Angeles.

We didn't lose; the warriors lost.

Before the series, no one could have imagined that the Warriors were so afraid of us.

I hope every Clippers fan can be there for the next two home games and cheer for the team with all their heart. Eliminating the Warriors is definitely not a dream!
His article immediately gained widespread recognition in Los Angeles, and tickets sold out long ago, with prices reaching astonishing levels.

As Ron Murray said, the Warriors' double-teaming of Chen Fang in Game 2 actually highlighted their fear, and this defensive strategy of showing weakness boosted the confidence of Clippers fans.

Los Angeles fans are confident that the Dragon will not disappoint them in their next two home games.

Meanwhile, large posters of Chen Fang began to appear on major traffic arteries in downtown Los Angeles. Just as Kobe said, the playoffs are the best starting point to conquer a city.

As the focus of the entire series, Chen Fang has quietly returned home.

He prepared a sumptuous dinner to reward himself and to comfort Wu Zi, who had been sleeping alone for many days.

At the dinner table, Chen Fang pointed to the braised beef and potato stew he had made and said to Wu Zi, "Playing ball is the same as cooking. Sometimes you need high heat, sometimes you need low heat. It doesn't matter if you lack seasonings, but the heat is the most important thing."

Wu Zi seemed lost in thought, and she rarely asked about the upcoming matches.

Chen Fang simply smiled and said, "Everything will be alright, let nature take its course."

"I believe that after this series, my name will definitely be etched in Los Angeles."

(End of this chapter)