Rekindling the dream of becoming a star

Chapter 298 Clippers Culture, Pirate Style!

Qin Changzheng's layup after the confrontation, even though the opponent was a big black guy and was holding a cushion, was still bumped by him and stumbled a few steps.

Seeing him steadily tap the ball into the net, the big black guy shouted, "Nice ball!"

The boy exhaled a breath of stale air and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

He looked around and saw not only his compatriots who had traveled across the ocean with him, but also a group of foreigners of similar age.

The Super God U16 Training Camp held here is a super-large training camp with more than 100 participants.

Rockstone employs a mixed-student strategy, training Chinese students alongside American high school students to stimulate training intensity through the environment.

The vast majority of Chinese trainees were at the bottom of the class after the training camp started, not only in training subjects but also in competitions.

However, there are exceptions, such as Qin Changzheng. After a brief period of adaptation, Xi Shilun also gradually showed his advantage in terms of refined technique.

The Zhaoqing Double Gun team can still shine in North America.

On the next court was Xi Shilun. Although he lost his balance during the confrontation, he skillfully tossed the ball high and scored.

As Xi Shilun fell to the ground and slid backward, he was caught by a pair of large hands. Qin Changzheng joked, "Old Xi, are you practicing skateboarding?"

"Are you practicing Iron Shirt?" Xi Shilun retorted.

They both burst into laughter and gave each other a high five: "Keep it up, keep trying!"

At this moment, Chen Fang had arrived at the training camp, and he could see the entire training ground clearly through the glass.

Carl reported from the side: "Currently, in the points rankings, five people have entered the top thirty, and only Qin Changzheng is in the top ten."

"Overall, Chinese trainees have problems such as poor combat skills, low speed, slow reaction, and limited language communication."

"Make them be assigned to different dorms and force them to take the language test! Tell them that if they don't want to study, they can leave now!" Although he had anticipated this, he was still angry when he heard it, and Chen Fang gave the order without hesitation.

"How is your attitude towards training?" Chen Fang asked again.

“They are all very good and very hardworking,” Han Nong replied.

“Very good, then gather them together, I’ll give them a public lesson!” This was also Chen Fang’s purpose in coming here, after all, this was a training camp set up in his name, so he had to at least give a lesson himself.

Five minutes later, all the students sat on the ground around one half of the field. Most of them were students from the California area who were qualified to come here only after receiving recommendation letters from the school's coaches.

Although they haven't reached the age for star rating yet, three-star and four-star ratings will be born here in the second half of the year.

As for the 50 students from China, they almost entirely comprised the best students on campus. They came here to strive to become American high school students and start a new chapter in their lives.

First, Chen Fang welcomed all the students and shared his insights on American high school.

"In the rest of your high school career, you will encounter all kinds of opponents. Their playing styles and behavior will all affect you. Just like right now, you are facing hundreds of opponents. How to break into the top ten and get a full high school scholarship is your goal here."

"The path of basketball is fair."

"Some people start very high, born tall and strong, which gives them more advantages in the game, and these are usually things we can't resist or overcome."

Seeing many students nod in agreement, Chen Fang continued, "This is actually a good thing. Instead of running away, we should face it positively, think about the opponent's weaknesses, think about our own strengths, and see if we can find the answer to defeat the opponent."

"If the opponent is tall, then his chassis is also tall, and he will be noticeably sluggish when faced with frequent footwork."

"If the opponent is strong, then moving up, down, left, or right will be slow. You can use large-scale movements to maneuver the opponent."

"What if the other person is tall and strong?"

Chen Fang posed the question to the students, emphasizing that classes should involve interaction and not just one person talking.

Some students raised their hands, but none of their answers were correct. Finally, Qin Changzheng was asked the question.

Qin Changzheng replied in broken English, "Get some men, let's take him down together!"

This answer drew laughter from the entire audience, but Chen Fang surprisingly nodded: "That's right, that's the correct answer."

"When we face someone really strong, if we don't want to admit defeat, we should actively call on our teammates and defeat them through teamwork."

"Did the other side call for backup too?" a white teenager asked.

"Then let's call more people."

"If it's a five-on-five situation, how do you beat such an opponent? It's about trusting your teammates more broadly and using passing, screens, picks and rolls, and positioning."

"This is the secret to why individuals and teams need to be connected."

After explaining the team's logic in a simple and easy-to-understand way, Chen Fang called over his sparring partner to begin the next segment.

"We can't talk too much nonsense. The reality is that we often have to face very strong opponents and fight hard. How can we defend effectively when we are not strong enough in terms of physical strength?"

After looking around at everyone, Chen Fang said, "Learn to control your power."

He beckoned over a colossal figure. This sparring partner was over two meters tall, with a mountain of flesh and an estimated weight of at least 300 pounds. His appearance caused the trainees to gasp in astonishment.

"What if he comes and hits me from behind?" Chen Fang, who was originally quite well-built, suddenly looked very thin and small standing next to his sparring partner.

“Hey Megan, go all out against me. We can’t play games in this class today.”

“Yes, sir, you need to be careful,” Megan replied gruffly.

The two players were positioned just outside the penalty area, in the high post of the short corner, a classic back-to-the-basket position.

When Megan dribbled the ball, Chen Fang, who was originally behind her, suddenly turned to the side. Megan then shifted her position accordingly. And that wasn't the end of it. Chen Fang quickly switched his footwork, using his foot to block Megan's lower foot, while simultaneously reaching out to cut the ball.

After knocking the ball away, Chen Fang turned around and came in front of Megan, taking control of the ball.

“Damn!” Megan was really frustrated, and at the same time, she knew very well that she had failed.

The camera position then displays the entire process on a large screen.

The student witnessed the entire process, and Chen Fang began to explain: "First, you need to stick to the other person and be able to feel the direction of their power."

"So you can sense when the other party exerts force."

"At this time, use your own strength to guide the opponent and change the direction of their force."

"At this moment, the other party will experience a brief loss of balance, and then see what I do?"

"Yes, I went to his ball-handling area and used my hand to interfere with and disrupt his dribbling. Even if I couldn't steal the ball, I could still cause a dead ball situation."

"Remember, when the ball is dead, its power is greatly reduced. At the same time, I use my foot to block the opponent's pivot foot, preventing him from turning."

"If the opponent wants to move, he will definitely make a hand movement. We can try to fall to the ground to avoid injury, and at the same time let the referee decide whether the opponent has committed a foul."

"Don't try to fight the other party with your own strength. It's foolish, even if the two sides are evenly matched."

"Learn to sense the opponent's force, guide its direction, and take advantage of the opponent's imbalance to achieve the defensive objective, delay the game for longer, and allow teammates to double-team."

"This is also the homework I'm leaving for everyone. I hope that everyone can learn to fight and learn to defend with their brains."

A student raised his hand, and Chen Fang asked him to speak. It was a black boy with dreadlocks. He asked, "Sir, how can someone who is strong fight an opponent who can lead the fight?"

"It's very simple: remain unchanged amidst all changes!"

"All the problems stem from the instability of one's own center of gravity. Learning to stabilize one's center of gravity has always been the most basic thing for us basketball players."

"When you can control your center of gravity, it means you can control the direction of your power. You can control your strength and release it at will, and only then can you advance to the elite level."

Then, Chen Fang looked at all the trainees and said solemnly, "In the Super God Training Camp, I hope that everyone will master the skill of playing with their brains, not their bodies. There are even higher mountains behind the mountains."

"If you gain an advantage and win games now because of your strong physique and tall stature, it won't help you achieve more in the future!"

"Why are many American high school players so good in high school, but just average in Division 1? Similarly, why is it that players who average 20-something points per game in Division 1 find it very difficult to score double digits in the NBA?"

"One of the biggest reasons is that they haven't learned to play with their brains. You can't go far with just your body, and that's the theme of my lesson today."

"Your brain is your most powerful weapon!" After class, Chen Fang took a group photo with all the students and gave each of them a Clippers fan-signed jersey, which was also a surprise gift for this open class.

Back in his room, Chen Fang looked at Qin Changzheng, whom he had called over, and asked with a smile, "How are you feeling?"

"Great, just as I imagined, there are many capable people here!" Qin Changzheng replied with a smile.

I really like the boy's optimistic smile; it really has a healing effect, and Chen Fang's mood has improved a lot.

"Your goal is to be in the top three of the training camp and then pass the language barrier. Can you do that?"

"Of course!" Qin Changzheng patted his chest and assured him.

"Very good, are there any other difficulties?" Chen Fang asked casually.

"It's just a small problem!" Qin Changzheng said, a little flustered.

"Tell me, why are you suddenly so timid? That's strange!" Chen Fang said, unusually surprised.

"Yes, the coach said that we need to be noticed by others in order to have a chance to play in an American high school, is that right?"

"That's roughly the idea. Next week is game week, and many high school coaches will come to watch your games and select the players they need based on their own requirements."

"So that means it's going to be difficult for us to be on the same team?" Qin Changzheng felt a chill in his heart.

"Yes, you must learn to face difficulties independently, not only now, but even more so in the future!"

"What, are you scared?" Chen Fang asked deliberately.

"No, I, I just wanted to..." Qin Changzheng couldn't finish his sentence.

Strangely enough, it's been almost five months since they met, and he and Xi Shilun have never been on the same team. He had hoped to be on the same team at American High School and play basketball together, but that seems to be a distant dream now.

Chen Fang knew that he couldn't spoil her too much at this stage, as it would easily breed arrogance and make her difficult to discipline later. So he waved his hand with a stern face: "These are not things you should think about. Just remember, improving yourself steadily is more important than anything else."

"Understood!" Qin Changzheng lowered his head.

After the boy left, Chen Fang instructed Karl: "Try to make up for his weaknesses."

"He's mainly good at teamwork; he knows nothing about tactics," Karl replied.

"There's no rush. Once he goes to high school, he'll have plenty of time to study. His basketball IQ won't be low," Chen Fang said with confidence.

After finishing the training camp, Chen Fang went to the Clippers training center. It's September 15th now, and he will be training with the team for the next two weeks to get used to each other.

Before leaving, he instructed Carl and Hannon: "We need to analyze where each player goes. Some high schools and some coaches are not suitable. We need to be discerning. In particular, we should not invite those who are arrogant or have racial biases."

"Don't worry, we are well aware of these things. We will make proper arrangements for these fifty people."

Ilya, who was now essentially Chen Fang's personal driver, asked with dissatisfaction, "Where's your Cullinan?"

"Gas is so expensive, I can't afford to drive! I'll just hitch a ride if I can," Chen Fang said shamelessly.

They could only shake their heads with wry smiles. Half an hour later, the two arrived at the Clippers Center parking lot.

There was one training session every day, usually in the afternoon, leaving the mornings to the players to arrange as they pleased. Chen Fang arrived early; he greeted the staff one by one and then saw Dillon in the locker room.

"My dear buddy, you've gotten even paler. Do you never go out?"

Dillon didn't retaliate when Chen Fang teased him. He was very frustrated because he was doing well with the Grizzlies and was about to make a name for himself when he was traded to the Clippers.

The Clippers have a wealth of talent on the perimeter right now; there's no end in sight.

Thinking about these things makes Dillon sad.

"Hey, who bullied you? I'll avenge you, you're my good brother!" Chen Fang didn't let Di Long off the hook.

"Get away, I don't want to talk!" Dillon said gruffly.

"Heh heh, that's more like it, that's the kind of thug I know." Chen laughed loudly.

“You are the good person, I am the good person!” Dillon retorted.

As the two bantered and changed into their training gear, on their way to the training field, Chen Fang suddenly said, "I know what's bothering you, but I have my reasons."

"The Clippers need a culture of their own."

"Only you can shoulder this heavy responsibility!"

"Don't make empty promises. I'm just a sophomore like you." Dillon clearly didn't believe it; he'd known for a long time that there wasn't a single truth in the mouths of Chinese people.

“I’m serious. I’m communicating with you now as the captain and leader.”

Ti Lung had no choice but to stop and turn around to look at Chen Fang after being told that.

"To compete for the championship, a team needs a strong team culture. If you want to be surrounded by the style of Brunson and his Villanueva, I don't mind."

“I like your personality, and I think you are a great fit for the current Clippers. Use your personality and style to create a unique style for the Clippers.”

"Pirate style!"

"Pirates? A generous gift, thank you!" Dillon was stunned. He stared at Chen Fang intently, trying to make sure he wasn't joking.

“From now on, you will make demands on everyone. I want you to be my first mate, and I also want you to be the locker room leader,” Chen Fang continued, dropping bombshells.

Dillon's heart was pounding, and he felt a little dizzy.

Chen Fang had great faith in Ti Lung's abilities. After all, the Rockets in his previous life were completely transformed after Ti Lung joined, and he was the only team soul among so many talented players.

"So, are you interested in managing this Clippers team with me?" Chen Fang smiled and extended his hand.

Dillon took a deep breath and resolutely reached out his hand.

"It's an honor!"

The two held their hands tightly together.

Chen Fang was relieved, knowing that letting Dillon manage the team would avoid many problems.

Brunson, Jaren, Thornwell, and Zubac were with him, while Lou Williams, Harrell, and Beverley formed another group.

Dillon was alone.

He is the best choice.

Beverley originally had a chance, but his big mouth wasn't suitable, and he's also rebellious. Chen Fang always treated the three Rockets players as transitional players.

As for the others, they would automatically gravitate towards Dillon.

In this way, the overall situation is completely in Chen Fang's hands. No matter what Dillon does, it will only make the team more aligned with him.

"Establish authority, standardize daily training, and build a winning culture. These are all things you will do, and I will fully support you. No matter what happens, whether it's the management or the players, I will always be there for you!" Chen Fang promised Di Long.

"I believe in you. Even though you sometimes don't tell the truth, the things you do are always reliable." Dillon's words made Chen Fang feel ashamed.

This guy is really something, unlike the others who are so easy to fool.

"There are still two weeks until the preseason. Do you think that's enough time?" Once they had reached an agreement, Chen Fang began to set goals.

“No problem. I know how to be a good captain from my time with the Duck Team. Nobody can act like a big shot in front of me.” Dillon said confidently.

"Then let's wait and see!" Chen Fang said with a smile.

Once Dillon takes control of the situation and establishes the Clippers' pirate-like style, many problems will be easily solved.

This is why Chen Fang insisted on bringing in Dillon; the Clippers even added some cash to balance the salary gap.

Hopefully, it will all be worth it.

(End of this chapter)