Rekindling the dream of becoming a star

Chapter 308 The Birth of the Clippers' Second-in-Command
Welcome to today's sports news!

"In an NBA game this morning, the Clippers, playing away, lost to the Houston Rockets 118-126."

"In this game, Houston Rockets' core player James Harden scored 19 points in the first quarter, leading the Rockets to an early lead over the Clippers."

"Our player Chen Fang went on a scoring spree in the second quarter, racking up 28 points and turning the score around."

"In the crucial third quarter, the Rockets' Gordon, Tucker, and Anthony all stepped up, and the Houston Rockets put up an efficient offense in this quarter, scoring 42 points in the quarter alone."

"In the final quarter, Chen Fang led the Clippers in a valiant comeback, narrowing the gap to 3 points with 1 minute and 27 seconds remaining."

"At a crucial moment, Jon made a fatal mistake for the Clippers, was stolen by Harden, and scored a 2+1, widening the gap back to 6 points."

"Chen Fang attempted a one-on-one play to save the team, but was double-teamed. During the pass, teammate Dillon clashed with Tucker and both were ejected from the game."

"In the end, the Rockets, playing at home, had the last laugh, and the Clippers' four-game winning streak came to an end. After this game, the Clippers have a record of 4 wins and 1 loss, and are ranked second in the Western Conference."

"The Warriors remain undefeated at the top of the Western Conference standings, with the Rockets close behind in third place."

Wang Zhen turned off the TV and looked out the bright sunshine. He considered making a phone call, but thought everyone should be asleep by now.

Others might not notice, but he really did.

Chen Fang is angry, extremely angry!

Back when he was studying at Dong Sheng, Chen Fang had a little slip-up.

If he is really unhappy, his nostrils will flare rapidly, his eyes will droop, and he will stare intently at the ground.

In the sports news report just now, there was a close-up shot, and Wang Zhen clearly saw that Chen Fang had this expression.

Usually at this point, his emotions are about to explode, and this is how his face will look.

Wang Zhen's assessment was correct, but there was one thing he hadn't anticipated.

Chen Fang is not asleep!

The entire Clippers team stayed up all night!
Everyone was in the hotel's conference room, watching the replay of the game.

The video analyst was Mazura, who explained and analyzed each offensive and defensive play, pointing out every mistake in both defense and offense.

This was a video analysis meeting that Chen Fang had forced upon them. It was the first time anyone had seen Chen Fang with such a gloomy face and a resolute attitude.

The analysis lasted an hour. After Mazura finished speaking, he glanced at Chen Fang and then gave a summary.

"Our problem wasn't the final mistake, but that we were dominated by the Rockets' momentum throughout the game, especially in the third quarter. The Rockets' offense threw us into a panic. Even though the coaching staff called two timeouts and made defensive adjustments, we still couldn't solve the problem once we got on the court."

"In my opinion, the core problem with losing to the Rockets today is that we failed to react in time when faced with difficulties."

Rivers stood up, positioned at an angle to the projector screen so he could observe the expressions on each player's face.

Chen Fang's anger ultimately stemmed from his dissatisfaction with some players who, like last season, lacked the willpower to fight tough battles.

"Chen Fang, you scored 39 points, had 6 assists, and grabbed 7 rebounds today. Do you think you did enough?"

"What good is it if I get 50 points if no one steps forward?"

"No one can get 100 points. The more you get, the more frustrated your opponents will be, and the more frustrated your teammates will be!" Chen Fang's voice echoed in the conference room. The calmer his tone was, the more the others felt that a storm was about to break.

"Today's video analysis meeting is just to remind everyone not to pretend that you've tried, because results don't lie!"

He stood up and faced everyone.

"Perhaps some people think that it's because I made a boast and got slapped in the face, so they are angry and embarrassed."

"Perhaps he's thinking, why should everyone have to work so hard because of my ideas?"

"If anyone has such thoughts, I can explain today, but once you step out this door, I hope that no one will ever have them again!"

"My explanation is very brief, just one word!"

"champion!"

Because it was a projector, the room was very dark, and it was difficult to see everyone's faces clearly. This was intentional on Chen Fang's part; he wanted to leave everyone with some psychological leeway.

"For us Clippers, the regular season is a place to hone our will and cultivate our courage."

"Of course I can accept defeat, because there will always be some opponents who are in top form, and there will always be some referees and off-field factors that interfere with us."

"But these should not be reasons for our defeat."

"The Rockets did a great job today. They did an excellent job of what they planned before the game, and made me, who was full of confidence, question my existence."

"I don't care about the media's ridicule tomorrow; what I care about is what everyone has gained after this."

"Each of us should think carefully about how much we truly crave honor, dignity, and the championship."

"Do we have so much that we completely surpass others? If not, what should we do?"

"Next we'll be playing the Wizards, Thunder, 76ers, Magic, Timberwolves, Trail Blazers, and Bucks."

"After these seven games, we will face our old rivals."

"After we finish playing the Warriors, we won't face them again until December 23rd."

"Yes, you heard right. In the regular season, we only have one opponent, and that is the Warriors."

"Although the other teams are great, we have enough strength to win."

"Please cheer up. We should treat every game as a test of our will. When the regular season ends, we will begin the real battle. And when that moment comes, I hope that each of us will be confident and brave enough."

After finally finishing speaking, Chen Fang looked at the head coach, who clapped his hands, signaling the meeting to adjourn.

But Chen Fang didn't leave. When everyone else had left and only the two of them were left, Rivers spoke up.

“You’re putting pressure on everyone!” he said.

"That's just my style!" Chen Fang answered frankly.

"Some work is done in advance. The ultimate goal of a winning culture is to ensure victory in tough battles!"

Rivers was certainly aware of this, but he had concerns.

"You still need to communicate more; nobody likes playing ball when they're not happy."

“I don’t think there’s a conflict. I want to see attitude, not cowardice.”

Suddenly Chen Fang became agitated: "I played so hard in the second quarter, but in the third quarter no one dared to take a shot. Everyone was hoping I would! This hurts me more than losing the game. I even doubt whether my previous assumptions were wrong?"

Rivers came over to comfort Chen Fang, patting him on the shoulder: "No, it's just that they don't know you well enough. Everyone thinks you're going to continue working alone. You're not communicating enough with the team."

"It's not a smart way to handle things; you have to make things clear on the spot instead of saying you're wrong afterward."

Chen Fang was taken aback upon hearing this.

“From now on, I’ll talk about it. I should do more!” Rivers continued. “Not everyone is as precocious as you. Your teammates are still young. There has never been a roster this age in the league when it comes to contending for the championship.”

"What you need to do now is to be patient and tolerant enough, not only as an example on the field, but also in life."

"This isn't a job; it's a pursuit in life. You can't expect your teammates to crave honor as much as you do."

"Furthermore, your handling could easily cause hidden conflicts. It takes a lot of work to make a team a cohesive unit."

"Go and rest." Rivers didn't intend to let Chen Fang speak, but instead gave him a push.

After seeing Chen Fang off, Rivers rubbed his temples. He realized that his job now wasn't as a head coach, but as a coordinator.

The primary issue became how to unite everyone closely.

Chen Fang was very anxious. In fact, if he played steadily for another two years, none of the problems would be problems.

But Rivers discovered that Chen Fang seemed eager to compete for the championship this year, so his actions were too hasty. It might work once, but if he puts too much pressure on the team after a loss, it will definitely backfire.

However, at the same time, a championship-contending team needs a leader with the same winning mentality.

Back in his Celtics days, Garnett was the leader, and Rivers only needed to manage Pierce.

In this team now, no one can be Pierce, there is no second option, only the most dominant Chen Fang.

Even as a former Laker, Kobe at least had Gasol to take care of him and quell his willfulness and domineering nature.

The departure of Griffin and DeAndre Jordan somewhat emboldened Chen Fang, leading to unrestrained words and actions.

Therefore, the most urgent task is to find a second-in-command for Chen Fang.

Who could it be?
Rivers fell into deep thought.

※※※

“Me?” Dillon was dumbfounded. “Yes, only you!” Rivers said sternly.

"You mean you want me to be Chen Fang's mouthpiece?" Dillon felt an itch on his head.

"Strictly speaking, he's the second-in-command!"

These words immediately lifted Dillon's spirits. He thought for a moment, but was still somewhat uneasy: "But why me?"

"Think about it, why can't it be you!"

Dillon did think about it for a while, but couldn't find the answer.

"You're the person Chen Fang specifically requested to make a deal with. Didn't he tell you beforehand?"

Dillon immediately recalled what Chen Fang had said to him half-jokingly during the Rising Stars Challenge.

"It seems so!"

"So, he values ​​you highly and believes you can be of help."

"Okay, Coach, what do I need to do?"

"Everything is as usual. You just need to keep communicating with Chen Fang, take the initiative to relay messages, and do so promptly."

Dillon understood, and he hesitated for a moment: "Coach, I don't know if I can do it well, but I want to try."

“Then let’s go. We can go talk to Chen Fang now and tell him what I think.”

Ten minutes later, Dillon found Chen Fang practicing left-hand dribbling and shooting on the training field.

Shooting with your left hand doesn't mean using your left hand to shoot on the court, but rather finding your balance through shooting.

Especially when it comes to the power of a jump shot, shooting with your left hand makes it easier to smoothly generate power.

"Prince Chen!" Dillon called out, forcing himself to be brave.

"What?" Chen Fang threw the ball, and only turned his head after seeing that he missed.

"So, the coach wants me to be the second-in-command, do you think that's true?"

"Second-in-command?" Chen Fang laughed, but after a few laughs, he suddenly stopped.

He realized that things weren't that simple.

"What did the coach just tell you?"

After Ti Lung finished speaking, Chen Fang frowned and thought for a moment.

"You need to pay more attention to me in future matches."

"We communicate at any time."

"Of course!"

"Is there anything else?"

"Gone."

"Then I'll continue!" Chen Fang waved his hand and returned to his half of the court to continue training.

But inside, things were churning.

All I can say is that Rivers acted swiftly, and finding Dillon was the most suitable choice.

Making Dillon the team's second-in-command seems problematic, but upon closer examination, it is indeed the best option.

In his previous life, Dillon played for the Rockets and did very well. He was essentially the second Green, except that the Rockets didn't have a superstar like Curry.

Of course, he didn't have the same tactical status as Green, but in a Rockets team full of stars, Dillon was the only one who could keep the whole team in check.

This is very similar to the Clippers now. Thinking of this, Chen Fang couldn't help but admire Rivers.

A difficult problem seemed to be solved after choosing Dillon.

On December 28nd, the Clippers will host the Wizards.

Staples Center was packed with people; all 20,000 seats were occupied.

The Clippers' strong rise is evident to all, and the team is heading towards a new peak. As fans, we should naturally give them our full support.

The Wizards' roster on paper is really strong.

Bill and Wall, this duo, are the undisputed pioneers of the East.

Ariza, who was just acquired in a trade, is still one of the best 3-and-D forwards in the league. The roster also includes other talented players such as Howard, Otto Porter Jr., Jabari Parker, Jeff Green, and Markieff Morris.

The Wizards have no shortage of talent in terms of outside players.

In reality, having people doesn't necessarily mean being powerful; the key lies in the leader.

Chen Fang's outburst a couple of days ago put the entire Clippers team on edge. Facing the Wizards, the Clippers went all out from the very first minute.

Nobody wants to be publicly called out in the post-match video analysis meeting for making mistakes on the field. Technical issues are secondary; the key is being told that there's an attitude problem. If that happens, they can just wait to be kicked out during the February trade window.

Rumors are circulating that Chen Wang's method for dealing with those who don't take the competition seriously is simple: send them away.

Bill hadn't even recovered from Chen Fang's sweet words when he was hit with a three-pronged attack from Chen Fang.

One was a three-pointer after a pick-and-roll at the top of the key, another was a pull-up three-pointer from the wing, and finally, a layup after going around a screen.

Eight points was just a blink of an eye, and Bill realized that this little brother of his was much more ruthless than his own brother.

Brunson has maintained his strong performance, successfully bringing his playing time to over 20 minutes, surpassing Rose's.

In the latter part of the quarter, he replaced Rose in the starting lineup and played exceptionally well.

Not only did they organize well, but they also created an attraction at the top of the arc.

Zubac was also in the paint, and he played well against Howard. Howard, whose back injury will never heal, has fallen to the bottom and has become a third-rate center. Now, apart from protecting the rebounds, his offense is unreliable.

But the Clippers' most outstanding player wasn't them, but Dillon.

Even those sitting in the second half of the show could hear Ti Lung's loud voice.

He kept calling for substitutions, defense, and cover, as if he were the team's leader, and even Chen Wang had to obey his commands.

To the reporter's surprise, Chen Wang obeyed.

However, observant reporters noticed that whenever there was a spare moment, Chen Fang would beckon Di Lung over, and the two would whisper a few words to each other. The latter would nod repeatedly and gesture with his hands, appearing to be actively communicating.

"Today, the Clippers communicated a lot. Every time they went to the free-throw line, Dillon would call over the players on the court and say a few words."

"Furthermore, whenever a problem arises, Dillon is always the first to go up and explain things."

"It seems the Clippers have gained a leader, which is a good thing," David analyzed. He continued, "The Clippers need someone to take responsibility; they can't let Chen Wang handle everything alone."

Throughout the game, Dillon repeated this tactic until the final four minutes, when the Clippers led 117-101 by 16 points, and Rivers substituted him and Chen Fang.

The two walked side by side, and many reporters, moved by the scene, pressed their shutters.

The two sat on the bench, and Chen Fang sincerely handed Di Lung a towel.

"Great job today!"

“I’m still adjusting, but it feels great, like I’m back with the Ducks,” Dillon grinned.

"You'll be an exceptionally good second-in-command, and sooner or later, we'll appear together at the All-Star Game!" Chen Fang said earnestly.

"Really?" Dillon was delighted.

"But first, you have to become the second Green."

Dillon's smile remained undiminished. He arrogantly declared, "Green is nothing! Just wait and see how I deal with the Warriors this time!"

After the game, when asked about Dillon by reporters, Chen Fang replied, "His mental attributes are impressive, and the whole team really likes having a teammate like him."

"Yes, of course, we will continue to win."

"Losing to the Rockets last time was embarrassing for me, but I'm happy because every time we lose, we become a little stronger than we were before."

Facing the camera, Chen Fang continued to maintain this speaking style.

"We will keep winning. Sooner or later, your reporters will start asking, 'Who will beat us?'"

(End of this chapter)