Rekindling the dream of becoming a star

Chapter 307 The Clippers are the best team in the league.
Normally, the players from both sides do not meet before the game, but Harden and Chen Fang acted as if nothing was wrong and made a joint appearance at a nightclub in Los Angeles the night before the game.

Great people don't concern themselves with trifles.

Chen Fang booked an entire private area, bringing along Ilya and several trainers from Rock, along with Harden and his friends, and partied until after 10 p.m.

Because the game starts at 9 a.m. tomorrow, we really can't go too far. When Chen Fang suggested withdrawing, Harden immediately agreed.

Normally, Chen Fang would never have any social activities on the day before a game, let alone drink alcohol, but considering it was Harden, Chen Fang made an exception, which was reasonable.

First, this agreement was made a long time ago. Second, it was to repay Harden for taking a day to support him when he came to China for an event, and for not asking for any payment.

If you're too principled about this kind of dedication, it will backfire and you won't earn respect.

Before leaving, Chen Fang jokingly grabbed Harden's hand and said, "Brother, don't say I used tricks. If you underperform in tomorrow's game, don't blame me for being too cunning."

"Of course not, I sober up in half an hour!" Harden replied, shaking his head. Then he countered, "I can build up more energy in nightclubs, which makes me more excited for tomorrow's game!"

Chen Fang just smiled at these remarks and didn't argue.

Harden didn't gradually break his habit of going to nightclubs until 23, and he has a collecting habit, making sure to visit local trendy bars and nightclubs during every away game.

The media has always been critical of his fluctuating performance on the court, believing that Harden is unprofessional and lacks the pursuit of honor and victory.

But Harden went his own way. He didn't have the same hunger for honors as some superstars, but as he entered the second half of his career, anxiety and constant criticism led him to make changes.

But right now, it's still a long way off.

Chen knew perfectly well what was going on. He waved and left the nightclub.

In the car, Chen Fang would occasionally check his phone and see a media push notification he had subscribed to.

After clicking on it, the title was very jarring.

The first showdown between Harden and Chen Wang is finally here!

The title is clear, and so is the content.

The author details many so-called secrets between Chen Fang and Harden, which, in the eyes of those involved, are pure conjecture, but more or less, they still guessed some things correctly.

For example, Harden is Chen Wang's mentor and also his closest friend in the league.

As for the others, they are all just rumors.

For example, Chen Fang traveled at different times to play against the Rockets last season, which was obviously out of fear. Even more outrageous, some people speculated that many of Chen Fang's skills were taught by Harden, so he naturally had no chance of being suppressed.

Chen Fang treated these as jokes and didn't care, but the last few sentences of the article still made him raise his eyebrows.

The Rockets' strength comes from the run-and-gun system that D'Antoni transplanted from the Suns. Under Harden's leadership, a group of forwards and guards with shooting skills possess great offensive and offensive power.

The Clippers' so-called strength is built on Chen Wang's individual offensive prowess. If every team in the league treats Chen Wang like they would Harden, the Clippers will obviously suffer a fatal blow.

The Rockets have a group of skilled players who can effectively contain Chen Wang. Last season, the Clippers lost all four games against the Rockets, and it's believed they will continue to lose in the four games this season.

This was written by a typical Rockets reporter. Chen Fang sneered. He looked towards Los Angeles, which was officially entering its nightlife phase, and his fighting spirit grew stronger and stronger.

This city will go crazy for him sooner or later.

※※※

At 5:30 a.m., Chen Fang's biological clock naturally woke him up.

I got up and washed up easily, then headed out to the training center.

When he arrived, he was the only one on the entire stadium. Chen Fang was already used to this. Even on match days, the team did not require players to arrive at the stadium early in the morning.

But for Chen Fang, this is not only an example, but also a habit.

Half an hour later, after he finished warming up, his training partner arrived at the court.

This is a special treatment the team gives him: he has three dedicated training partners who work according to his training schedule.

With the arrival of the sparring partners, some more complex training could begin. Chen Fang focused on practicing dribbling and shooting while moving with the ball. It wasn't until 9:30 that the second player arrived at the court.

It's Brunson.

The two exchanged a glance, then Chen Fang turned back to continue training.

The relationship between the two has long been reversed. Chen Fang is no longer the little brother he used to be, and Brunson can no longer act like the big brother.

Regardless of their previous status, once they are all on the same team, their roles are redefined based on their position within the team.

Training grounds, match fields, locker rooms, and dinner parties are all conducted according to team status.

Everyone in the Clippers knows Chen Fang's rules.

During individual training, there should be no horseplay or talking; one should concentrate fully on the training.

So Brunson waited until 11 o'clock, when Chen Fang finished all the training exercises and sat down to rest during the break. Brunson went over to him.

"Hey, Chen King!" Brunson greeted him. No one on the team would call him by his first name now, and the other nicknames were a bit limiting, but "CHEN King" was quite fitting.

"Hey, bro!" Chen Fang still addressed him that way, which initially made Brunson a little embarrassed, but he's gotten used to it now.

"I have some thoughts about tonight's show," Brunson said frankly.

"Tell me!" Chen Fang was very interested. He knew Brunson was a man of great potential and respected him greatly.

“I can beat Gordon and Tucker! They’re physically strong, but they’re terrible at defending left-handed players!”

"Reason?" Chen Fang didn't refute, but instead pressed for an answer.

"I've watched a lot of their defensive videos, and their lateral movement isn't enough, but I'm confident!" Brunson tried to appear more confident.

Chen Fang understood; it seemed his older brother was about to get his turn to play.

"When you come on, I will give you a chance to play one-on-one, and you have to seize it!" Chen Fang knew very well that Brunson was the kind of player who could perform well if given the opportunity and playing time.

Despite being a rookie, Brunson is physically and technically qualified for the league. His only weakness is his lack of confidence. If he can perform well in the regular season, it will undoubtedly be very helpful for his future goals.

At 4 p.m., Chen Fang left the training center. He was allowed to go to the home game alone.

Leonard once chose to take the subway to Staples Center.

It's not about saving money, but the traffic jams during rush hour in Los Angeles really affect my mood.

Chen Fang went ahead of time because he was worried about getting stuck in traffic.

Upon arrival, Chen Fang saw the Rockets' team bus pull in. Instead of waiting for Harden, he headed straight to the court.

The two teams will not warm up on the court at the same time. Generally, the home team will play first and the away team will play second. For Staples Center, the Clippers players will always be unfamiliar.

Because every time they have to cover up the honors hanging there, it is a very laborious and expensive thing. According to the assessment, the Clippers need to spend millions of dollars in materials and labor costs every year to change the decoration of the arena to match their home colors.

It's not that I'm worried about the money, but often the coverings fall off due to work oversights, revealing the Lakers' impressive historical record, which is a blatant slap in the face.

The game against the Rockets is already well-planned. Harden, as the best ball-handling core player in the league, is so powerful that he seems to have unlimited strength.

When the Rockets have a full roster, he scores 20+ points. When one of their key players is missing, he scores only 10 points. When Harden leads the bench, he can put up a super score of 50+ points.

That's Harden for you; he's improved passively.

And the improvement lies not with the other party, but with oneself.

Therefore, Chen Fang believes that the Rockets, with their complete roster, are easier to control, as Harden will generously share the ball with suitable teammates.

When playing against the Rockets, we need to focus on comprehensive defense, switching on defense frequently while avoiding excessive pressure on Harden.

In his previous life, Chen Fang once read a post on Zhihu that analyzed Harden in over 10,000 words, covering everything from his skills to his mentality, from his childhood environment to his team environment.

He astutely pointed out that Harden's favorite time to play was with the Thunder.

He genuinely enjoyed playing under the wing of his older brothers. He never sought to be the team's leader. In Oklahoma City, no one criticized or made demands of him. If the sky were to fall, Durant and Westbrook would be there to hold it up.

This explains why, after the Rockets' failure, despite being the team's leader, he was willing to go to the Nets to continue being the third option alongside Durant and Irving.

But the reason he left the Nets was because of Irving's vaccine issues and Harden's realization that Durant was no longer the big brother of the Thunder.

During his time with the Nets, Durant placed too many demands on Harden, making him the team's anchor and requiring him to do more. This made Harden unhappy, as he had come to the Nets seeking an easier path, only to suddenly find himself expected to shoulder all the responsibilities. Ultimately, he broke with Durant and requested to go to Philadelphia.

Finally, still unhappy in Philadelphia, Harden accepted his fate. So, looking back, Harden gradually built a strong inner spirit while with the Clippers.

As for Harden in 18, Chen Fang doesn't think Harden can cause him any trouble.

As long as they don't belittle and provoke Harden like the Warriors did, Harden is a good opponent, even if he's just an opponent, one you can sleep soundly against.

After warming up slightly, Chen Fang sat under the basket and passed the ball to his teammates, which was also a rule.

Having the team leader serve the team is itself a form of motivation.

After a while, seeing the Rockets enter the arena, Chen Fang went to greet them. He first went to find Austin Rivers and asked him how life was in Houston. The latter laughed and said, "Although it's not as good as Los Angeles, everything is still satisfactory."

“You look much happier!” Chen Fang’s words had a hidden meaning, and Rivers understood it.

"Playing under my dad's tutelage always felt a bit stifling."

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Chen Fang walked over to Wesley, and Wilson also came over.

"I never expected to meet you on the court again." Chen Fang said with some emotion, but Wesley comforted him, "That's what professionalism is. You're playing great right now, and I'm proud of you."

"Thank you!"

Back on the bench, seeing Beverley return after exchanging pleasantries, Chen Fang asked with a smile, "Did you suffer any losses?"

“Of course not!” Beverly said smugly.

“I told them I was very comfortable here!” Beverly chuckled.

Although he plays in the third unit, Beverley has always held a very important tactical position in the team, serving as Dillon's partner, Jrue Holiday's replacement, and a defensive stalwart in the backcourt.

Moreover, he is the most important part of the tactics today.

Fifteen minutes later, the starting lineups of both sides were already facing each other.

Clippers: Chen Fang, Beverley, Jrue Holiday, Dillon, Jaren.

Rivers has once again introduced a completely new lineup, targeting the Rockets' bench players and their two superstars.

Rockets: Harden, Ennis, Anthony, Tucker, Capela.

Give Ennis a closer look; this is what D'Antoni hopes can help him control himself. This athletic winger is incredibly fast, can shoot threes, and has a good defensive attitude.

He's Ariza's replacement, but how much he can actually do is anyone's guess.

Without Chris Paul from his previous life, the Rockets have had Harden play more of a playmaking role, which means that Harden is getting used to the important task of being a ball-handler and playmaker in advance. So far, Harden seems to be doing a great job.

The main highlight today is the matchup between Harden and Chen Fang.

In some ways, the two are similar types of players.

"Hey!" Rivers waved to Chen Fang, and the two exchanged a few words on the sidelines.

"You need to maintain control of the ball!"

"Understood. Let me first see the Rockets' true colors today."

"Note that I will make frequent substitutions, which is also part of the task for this game. I need to see the Rockets' resilience."

"understand!"

The Rockets are undoubtedly the Clippers' main playoff opponent, and every matchup has multiple objectives.

At the opening tip-off, Xiao Jialun won the ball, and Chen Fang, after controlling it, waved for his teammates to take their positions.

He slowly crossed the halfway line by himself. Ennis had already come out to defend, and now he was defending Chen Wang. It was a consensus that he should be in the lead and defend him. Letting him be in the high position without pressure was no less terrifying than having a gun pointed at his forehead.

Without getting bogged down in the details, Chen Fang passed the ball to Jrue Holiday, who was there to receive it, and moved to the high position on the wing to maintain contact with his teammates.

Jrue Holiday's presence effectively gave the Clippers more room to relieve pressure, allowing Chen Fang to switch freely between off-ball and on-ball situations without worrying about being squeezed out.

Dillon came up and set up Chen Fang for an off-ball play, which was a common tactic used by the Clippers. Dillon's off-ball screens were very aggressive, allowing Chen Fang to easily find the next open shot.

If the opponent continues to double-team Chen Fang and leaves Dillon free, the latter can punish the opponent's defensive strategy with three-pointers and drives to the basket.

This tactical approach hasn't received widespread attention yet, but it's believed that as the Clippers' record improves, it will gradually reach the level of Curry and Klay + Green.

Chen Fang moved laterally to the free-throw line, and Jrue Holiday passed him the ball. He caught the ball and jumped up. Chen Fang never missed a shot from this half-court layup at the free-throw line.

The Rockets' offensive possessions didn't push the pace quickly. After Harden crossed half-court and waited for his teammates to get into position, he started dribbling more to initiate plays.

The Rockets' tactical system relies on Harden's individual ability; he pioneered a new model.

For other players, the crossover dribble is just a fancy move, but for Harden, the one-sided crossover dribble is the starting point for his offensive plays.

If the opponent lets him retreat, he will pass the ball; if they press, he will break through, and then the Rockets' wings and center Capello will immediately move to get the easy basket.

Harden always forces his opponents to make a choice: press him or let him run free.

The result was that he would easily score a step-back three-pointer, or connect with the opponent and make an assist.

The Clippers, however, have their own defensive strategy against this.

First of all, Beverley relentlessly pursued Harden, pressing him wherever he went.

Then, to deal with the invasions from the flanks and bottom corners, Jaren, Dillon, and Julius Erdogan will all retreat to completely block the paint area.

As a free agent, Chen Fang assessed the situation and made the right choice.

The league now has a clear understanding of Chen Fang's ability to double-team and help defend. If the Chinese player is willing, he will definitely be the league's best double-teamer!
Harden was disrupted by Beverley, but he didn't seem bothered. His strong physique, skillful ball handling, and the league's best floor-bound style of play could leave even the best pressure players helpless.

Harden dribbled between his legs, and as the ball came to his right hand, he pushed off with his back leg, easily leaving Beverley half a body length behind.

This kind of player follows the ball closely, and starting with a shot from zero frames is Harden's signature move; half a body length is already an insurmountable barrier.

He wasn't fast, but he kept Beverley from catching up. Harden quickly scanned the area and immediately judged that his teammates had no chance. He used a behind-the-back dribble and a step-back to shake off the catching-up Beverley and then took a mid-range jump shot.

hit!

Both teams' key players scored their team's first points.

As expected, Chen Fang did not have the ball but entered the frontcourt without it. He was entangled by Ennis, but Chen Fang brought him closer to his teammates. Jaren ran a center pick-and-roll with him, and Chen Fang made a back run, but only took one step before pulling back again.

Ennis was left a few steps behind, and at that moment Jrue Holiday had already dribbled the ball across half-court. Chen Fang went up to receive the ball, and after receiving it, he immediately adopted an attacking stance, dribbling the ball and driving straight towards the Rockets' three-point line from the high post.

The Rockets reacted efficiently, and Tucker immediately filled the gap. As a small tank who can play both offense and defense, Tucker's ability is limited by his height, rather than his skills.

Round-faced Gordon and shoe king Tucker are Harden's best helpers.

However, they were limited by their height and athleticism, which is why they couldn't provide Harden with more on-court support.

Just like this play, even though Tucker had already gotten the ball, Chen Fang used a moving push to subtly move Tucker's defensive footwork and posture. The next second, he connected with a pull-up turn, smoothly moving from in front of Tucker to behind him.

As Capela rose to his feet, he jumped, but Chen Fang dodged the downward block with a half-turn in mid-air and scored with a reverse layup with his back to the basket.

"Incredible, incomprehensible hang time! OMG, I feel like I'm seeing Jordan come back to life!" David was really excited. Chen Fang drove all the way from the top of the three-point arc, turned and jumped, then turned in the air and scored with a reverse layup.

This kind of spectacular goal, which ignited the passion of the entire stadium, is simply a work of art.

Chen Fang shrugged and spread his hands at Capela as he walked along the baseline, shaking his head slightly. The spectators at the baseline all raised their hands and stretched forward, trying to touch the Clippers' king.

After patrolling half the street, Chen Fang returned to the court and went to the free throw line, determined to maximize the value of this 2+1 play.

As he prepared to hold his breath and shoot the free throw, the Staples Center erupted in chants of "MVP!"—not sparse, but remarkably unified, a roar like a tidal wave that reverberated throughout the arena.

"He's already a superstar!" commentator Duan Ran excitedly told Ke Fan.

"Of course!" Ke Fan had long regarded Chen Fang as his biggest idol, and he was delighted by everything his idol said and did.

Harden didn't let the MVP chants linger for long. In the next possession, he faced Beverley and executed a series of crossovers, followed by a step-back jumper, before sinking his first three-pointer.

5: 5.

"A fantastic matchup! This game, which we've been waiting for all year, between Harden and Chen Wang, was just as exciting as we imagined. In just the first three minutes, both sides delivered outstanding offensive performances!"

Just as the commentators had hoped, the Rockets and Clippers focused entirely on offense and defense around Chen Fang and Harden in the first quarter. When the final whistle blew at the end of the first quarter, the stands erupted in enthusiastic applause, with fans shouting that it was worth the ticket price.

31: 34.

Both sides put up a strong offensive effort in the first quarter, delivering highly efficient attacks.

Chen Fang scored 18 points, and Harden scored 15 points.

Chen Fang had 4 assists, while Harden had 3.

Chen Fang's five rebounds overshadowed Harden's one rebound.

"That's Chen Wang's confidence. Even Harden, the league's best scorer, would have a hard time getting the upper hand!" Duan Ran said bluntly. "All of the Clippers' offenses involved Chen Fang, while Harden dominated most of the Rockets' offenses."

"Judging from the current situation, it is difficult for us to predict who will have the last laugh, but one thing is certain: today's match will definitely be the most exciting of all the matches played today!"

During the brief rest, Rivers quickly devised tactics for the second quarter.

"The second unit needs to play more aggressive defense. Harden slowed down the Rockets' pace, so they won't adapt as quickly in the second quarter."

"More outside shots, tougher rebounding, and a more resolute half-court press." Mazura had already begun to take over the in-game duties from Rivers and Brian, glaring fiercely at everyone.

"Show us your defensive attitude! I want to see the results of our training!"

During this period, Mazzula's ruthless attitude towards his family and his impartial treatment of Chen Fang earned his team widespread respect.

His ability and personality are not the problem. His departure from the Celtics was not due to his skill level, but rather because he did not receive core support.

But with the Clippers, Chen Fang's unwavering support is the foundation that allows him to fully unleash his potential.

Five minutes later, D'Antoni was both angry and confused as to why the Clippers' second unit was behaving this way.

A suicide squad?
How many fouls have they committed already?
Harden simply couldn't get inside; if he did, he'd be met with a vicious double-team and fouls that would take both the ball and the player.

Even though they gave the Rockets seven free throws, the score gap widened.

The old man turned his gaze to the young defender.

Brunson.

Both are left-handed and play the same ground-based style, but he saw something in Brunson that Harden didn't have.

It's all about attitude!

Cherish every attack with a do-or-die attitude.

West is really something; this second-round pick is a real gem.

If he were on the Rockets, Harden would have a perfect replacement, and if the two were on the court at the same time, their combined strength would be even greater.

"Boss, we need to make some adjustments!" The assistant coach's shout pulled D'Antoni out of his reverie.

"Let Gordon play, let all the substitutes play!" D'Antoni said helplessly.

This is the Clippers' predicament, but the Rockets have to deal with it this way.

Such a fierce defense can only be countered by using sacrificial lambs, which results in a decrease in scoring efficiency.

If the first quarter is an exhibition hall of basketball art, then the second quarter is a brutal history of street basketball.

Dillon, Beverley, Brunson, DiVincenzo, with Richon as a rim protector.

The five players turned the game into a muddy mess; any breakthrough or dribble was met with interference, forcing players to resort to shooting to finish offensive possessions.

When the Rockets called for their substitutes, the Clippers immediately made the same changes.

Zubac, Harrell, Bridges, and Thornwell all made their appearances, and the Clippers made a four-in-four-out move, leaving the outstanding Brunson on the court.

This scene prompted the commentator to shake his head: "The Clippers' current bench depth is terrifying, and this is a completely new lineup. Let's see what kind of power they have."

Sure enough, in the last few minutes of the second quarter, the Clippers suddenly reverted to their strategy from ten years ago, playing the classic center tactic.

Harrell and Zubac took on the majority of the offensive tasks, Bridges and Thornwell provided good perimeter defense, and Rose controlled the ball.

This was undoubtedly another completely new change. D'Antoni had no choice but to bring in Harden and take Anthony out as the point difference grew to 12.

Anthony was cursing under his breath. He was supposed to be part of the rotation and do his job of scoring, but the opponent didn't give him any chance to perform, and his signature jump shot was off.

He only managed 6 points in the entire first half, which was a disastrous performance.

Seeing Harden enter the game, Chen Fang looked at Rivers, who shook his head, refusing his offer to play.

"Trust your teammates."

Harden started his show as soon as he entered the game. He first drove to the basket and fed Capela a layup, and then hit another three-pointer through a screen.

Just as the fans were exclaiming in surprise and starting to worry, Brunson hit a three-pointer to calm the team down.

He then made a squeeze drive, turned and drove into the Rockets' paint, and scored with a step-back layup.

"The situation has suddenly become interesting. Two left-handed players have started an unusual duel." David laughed heartily.

Harden looked at Brunson with curiosity, but the latter glared back without fear.

Unfortunately, the match lasted very little time; the buzzer sounded after only one and a half minutes.

At halftime, the Rockets immediately set up tactics. D'Antoni realized that the Clippers had multiple combinations to attack, and he had to react more effectively.

He thought for a moment and revised the starting lineup.

Harden, Gordon, Tucker, Anthony, Capela.

It's a very well-designed small-ball lineup. The only question is whether Anthony can perform his duties well.

At the start of the third quarter, D'Antoni's mood improved, and the Rockets' small-ball lineup proved to be a formidable force.

Tucker and Gordon hit three-pointers in succession, Harden orchestrated the offense from the high post, Anthony took the initiative to post up in the short corner, and Capela made full use of his experience and speed to stretch out to the perimeter.

The Rockets once narrowed the score to 4 points.

Just as fans were starting to worry, Chen Fang stepped forward.

He first called out Tucker at the high post, and then responded with a three-pointer.

Then, in a double team situation, he blocked Anthony's shot and quickly transitioned to an alley-oop for another two points.

Taking advantage of the close defense against Tucker, he anticipated the pass from Harden, intercepted the ball, and scored on another fast break.

34 seconds and 7 points, in the blink of an eye, the Clippers trailed 74-63, down by 11 points again.

Harden was frustrated. He tried to switch to his own mode, but Mazura blew the whistle from the sidelines, so Dillon and Beverley started a double-team defense.

The Rockets can only organize their offense through Gordon, which effectively cuts off support for Anthony.

Meanwhile, the Clippers were making substitutions, with Bridges and DiVincenzo replacing Jrue Holiday and Richon.

The two forwards strengthened the Clippers' wing offense, and with Chen Fang drawing most of the attention while holding the ball, they racked up three assists for him in a row.

"Unbelievable! A highly anticipated clash between two titans, who would have thought it would turn out like this?" David mocked the Rockets without holding back.

"After three quarters, the score was 93:72."

"The Clippers are up by 21 points, it's a massacre!"

"Harden played well enough, but today, apart from him, no one else on the Rockets stepped up."

"Gordon's 9 points, Tucker's 11 points, Anthony's 8 points, and Capela's 12 points are simply not enough to offset the Clippers' overwhelming offensive onslaught."

When David saw that Chen Fang did not play in the fourth quarter but instead sat there in his training uniform, he laughed and said, "A familiar scene. He opened up the game in the third quarter. Yes, the Clippers' current roster is too strong. They don't need Chen Wang to work so hard for the entire four quarters."

"32 points, 8 assists, and 10 rebounds, achieved in just over two quarters and 26 minutes, Chen Wang is now the most efficient scorer in the league."

"Harden is good, but 28 points, 7 assists and 3 rebounds is really not enough!"

"He has to do better, forty or fifty points, to offset the Clippers' strength!"

"Look at the Clippers now, they're just like last year's Rockets. In this year's Western Conference, the Clippers will be the object of fear for all teams in the league."

"Okay, now it seems that our only remaining hope lies with the Warriors!"

"On November 12th, let's wait at Staples Center for the Clippers' true rival, the Golden State Warriors."

David's arrogant declaration of war became the focus of media coverage after the match.

The Clippers' ultimate rival: the Warriors!

The Los Angeles Times, with a huge headline, tells fans who the king of the league is now.

Chen Fang gave two interviews today: one as the best player on the field, and the other in the locker room.

As the leader, Chen Fang generously beckoned Brunson over and told the reporter, "Interview him; he is the key to our victory today."

21 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals.

Brunson lived up to his pre-match promise to Chen Fang, playing 31 minutes and achieving a highly efficient offensive and defensive ratio with a plus-minus of +14.

Brunson's reaction demonstrated his high emotional intelligence; he praised Chen Fang highly in front of the camera.

"Thank you for the praise, Mr. Chen. He was the key to the team's victory. We built the best offense and defense around him. Winning against the Rockets means that we are strong enough to meet any challenge."

"Chen Wang's confidence awakened us and made us realize that we are a strong team in ourselves."

Chen Fang smiled to the side, then saw DiVincenzo and Bridges bringing over ice water, and knew what was about to happen.

The camera then captured Chen Fang taking the initiative to bring over ice water and pour it over Brunson's head.

Soaked to the bone, Brunson could only run away with his head in his hands, while his teammates chased after him and cheered him on.

The camera then focused on Chen Fang, who said, "I believe the team has a second Brunson. This is a team full of potential, and everyone here has an amazing future."

"I can guarantee that!"

Back in the locker room, Chen Fang, fresh from showering, once again made a startling statement in front of reporters.

"We're hard to lose, just you wait and see."

"The Rockets? Yes, Harden challenged me after the game, and we'll see each other again soon."

"Who will win? Of course it will be us!" Chen Fang said without hesitation, and then he continued to comment on this hellish schedule.

"I like this starting court; it's tough enough, so it's a better fit for our Clippers."

"Because the Clippers are not the Clippers they used to be, and I will prove that time and time again until everyone knows it."

"The Clippers are the best team in the league!"

(End of this chapter)