Rekindling the dream of becoming a star

Chapter 310 I am at the peak, you are not alone
Revenge has always been the most important plot theme in the West. Whether in movies or TV series, revenge is the most attractive clue that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats and creates anticipation.

When Chen Fang expressed his desire for revenge, the resulting sensation was enough to excite the entire league and NBA fans.

A compilation of Clippers-Warriors rivalries created by a Clippers fan on Facebook further amplified the theme of revenge.

The video details the entanglement between Chen Fang and the Warriors last season, with its fiery words and conflicting scenes, stirring up the blood of every fan who watched it. The desire to see the game and know the result was extremely strong.

The Clippers' and Warriors' bases were packed with reporters eager to interview key figures and hear their thoughts, adding more color and hype to the upcoming Clippers-Warriors revenge match.

To their disappointment, both the Clippers and the Warriors were given an interview ban, and even staff members kept quiet.

Left with no other option, reporters and media outlets had to interview fans to gather material.

The fans of both sides were almost identical in their words and actions, talking nothing more than about a bloody humiliation and an easy victory, with nothing new to say.

In the end, columnists, NBA hosts, and commentators became the main characters.

ESPN's guest commentator and former NBA head coach, Scott, expressed a very clear opinion, publicly discussing the Clippers' current situation on his show.

"Although the Clippers are currently ranked first in the league with a 10-1 record, it is worth noting that the Clippers' playing style this season has been advantageous."

"The Clippers used novel ideas in both offense and defense, which is really great, but it's not a system, it's just a tactic."

"On defense, we employ a high-pressure, high-post defense, endless switching on the wings, and a collapse in the paint. Any opponent who tries to attack the Clippers will face heavy fouls, but the Clippers don't care because they have a lot of players."

"Offensively, I have nothing to say. Chen Wang's strength and his status as a sophomore seem so abrupt." At this point, Scott couldn't hide his admiration. He praised, "His shooting range in the half-court is so wide that it can break through any defensive system. His flexible role switching in the transition between offense and defense can bring efficient scoring, whether it's a positional game or a transition."

"Any team that gets Chen Fang has essentially completed its rebuilding process. Looking back, it's amazing that they got Chen Fang with just Paul, especially since it wasn't a one-for-one trade."

"Praise be to Mr. West!"

"However, the Clippers still can't beat the Warriors. I know they did very well in last season's playoffs, but the 4-1 score says it all. When the Warriors get serious, it's hard for any team in the league to challenge them."

"It's clear that Chen Fang's revenge remarks have provoked the Warriors, and they will definitely treat this game as a life-or-death battle and a battle for honor."

"As long as the Big Three perform normally, the Clippers' roster and rotation shouldn't cause any trouble."

In contrast to Scott's overwhelmingly positive view of the Warriors, TNT's "NBA Insider" added a special special edition for this quick revenge game between the Warriors and O'Neal, inviting Shaquille O'Neal and Charles Barkley to provide analysis.

O'Neal appeared very excited, loudly expressing his attitude: "I like the Clippers, really, almost more than the Lakers. Because I found a long-lost old-school style in the Clippers, decisiveness, ruthlessness, and ferocity, these factors fascinate me."

"Chen Wang, really, I've been following him since his rookie season. I hate the Lakers' management. They could have easily rebuilt, just like when they acquired Kobe, which directly laid the foundation for their dynasty."

"I can't say what the Clippers' outcome will be this season, but they are really, really close to their first championship trophy."

Barkley immediately retorted, "Hey, man, you're dreaming."

"The league is not what it used to be. The officiating standards and the stars that the league is promoting are still in their early stages. Why would a new generation surpass them? This is simply intolerable to the league."

"The league won't let the Clippers continue with this kind of approach. Maybe this game will show the Clippers how tough the league is."

"I really like the Clippers, but I think Chen Fang's proposal for revenge at this moment is just blind confidence."

"The Warriors will have a lot of strategies to limit him, cut him off, and force him into isolation plays, just like in the previous playoffs, where he scored a lot of points but lost the game."

Chen Fang turned off the TV. He was in the home team's locker room at Staples Center. He turned to look at everyone and said, "Cutting is the only way for the Warriors to win. Although they will still try to destroy us with their offense, we are not afraid."

"In this match, let all those who doubted us see whose sword is sharper!"

Encouraged by Chen Fang, the Clippers' morale clearly rose, and Mazura began to set up a defensive strategy, mainly targeting Curry.

"Curry is the initiator of the tactics. In the past few years, teams in the league have used close defense to limit him, but Curry's off-ball movement is top-notch. Often, in the end, they can't maintain it and his ghostly three-pointers take away the game."

"So today we need to play a switch-everything defense. Everyone on the court needs to defend and contain Curry immediately, no matter who he's with."

"But please remember that our lineup must always form three lines of defense: high post, flanks, and the penalty area. Each line of defense needs at least two players to suppress the opponent. We must pay attention to the orientation of the strong and weak sides."

“The Warriors are a team that is very good at switching between the strong and weak sides, and they achieve this through Green’s playmaking. So our second priority is to let Green receive the ball more and take the initiative in attacking.” Mazura’s next sentence stunned everyone.

"Don't be so surprised, you heard right. We need to let Green consume the ball. His playmaking threat is much stronger than his offense."

"When Green has the ball, we need to focus more on cutting off the connection between the rest of the Warriors, especially Curry."

"Coach, shouldn't we be handling Durant and Klay?" Jrue Holiday asked, puzzled.

“We need to manage them, but with different focuses. Klay and Durant will both be within our three-layer defense, so we need to pay attention to the open opportunities they get from their pick-and-rolls. Also, the three-point line area is a place we need to pay special attention to. The Warriors' ability to drive to the basket is not enough, so we need to let them in boldly and let the interior players block them.” Mazura explained patiently until everyone understood what they needed to do.

Finally, it was head coach Rivers' turn to give a summary. He started by clapping enthusiastically and shouting, "Hey, today is the highlight. The eyes of the whole country are on you. Think about it, you only get a few moments like this in your life."

"Once we build an advantage, speed and bravery will become the new theme of the league, which will undoubtedly make us go down in history."

"All arrangements are in place. The stage is set up now, so let's watch your performance."

A bowl of chicken soup made the entire Clippers team cheer and get excited. Chen Fang went to the center of the locker room, raised his hand, and everyone surrounded him, extending their hands.

"Beat the Warriors, and everyone in the league will have to take us seriously. Come on, brothers, let's go for it!"

"Let's go all out!" The voice in the locker room roared.

Chen Fang's eyes were bright. He took the lead and pushed open the door, followed by his teammates in single file. At this moment, Chen Fang's demeanor was just like that of a leader. He led the whole team to the players' tunnel to prepare for the final stage, which was the players' ceremony.

After doing all this, Chen Fang turned his gaze to the end of the passage, to the light screen.

Today, in a past life, the Alliance experienced a profound event that would significantly impact the overall situation.

The Clippers won against the Warriors in overtime because Green's reckless dribble across half-court on the final possession of regulation prevented Grant from getting the ball and completing the final play.

A heated argument broke out between the two sides in the player tunnel, during which Green blurted out, "We were champions before you came."

Green's original words were: We don't need you. We've already won the game without you. You can leave.

The impact of this incident is that KD began to seriously consider his future, instead of remaining ambiguous about joining forces with Irving on the Nets.

Actually, the signs of this had already appeared at the beginning of the season, with Green repeatedly asking KD whether he could re-sign after becoming a free agent this season.

However, KD never gave a direct response, and Green was also in the process of renewing his contract, so there was a conflict of interest between the two. But according to later revelations, Green's original intention was to negotiate amicably with KD so that his salary would not exceed the salary cap, and he could stay with the Warriors to build an even stronger dynasty.

But in KD's mind, under the heavy pressure from the media, he needed to go somewhere to prove his historical status and his ability to lead the team to a championship, so he hesitated.

If he goes to the Nets, he will definitely be the leader; if he goes to the Warriors, he will always be Durant's second-in-command.

Chen Fang was very clear about these things. The reason he uttered that word of revenge was not simply to defeat the warrior, but to cruelly destroy him.

Today's defensive strategy, for example, was meticulously designed for this purpose.

Killing someone by destroying their spirit is too lenient; eradicating them completely is the true way.

※※※

(Curry was injured in this game, but to keep the game suspenseful, he started as usual in this timeline.)
When the Clippers entered Staples Center, the arena erupted in deafening cheers, but when the Warriors came out, it was met with a chorus of boos.

Instead of the usual handshake and conversation at the center line, the atmosphere in the game was one of fierce rivalry, and no one was willing to back down at this moment.

The referee for this key game was Tony Brazier.

When this person appeared, both coaches and players felt a tightness in their chests.

Referee Tony focuses on penalizing unclear physical contact, applying a "ruthless" and strict standard to players' confrontational behavior, and is particularly adept at managing the pace of high-intensity matches.

His style is essentially to maintain order in the game by taking a tough stance, but his high-pressure rulings have also made him a representative referee who is both controversial and professional.

He is also considered one of the NBA's worst referees by players and coaches. His key calls often determine the outcome of a game. For example, in Game 1 of the 2018 NBA Finals, he reversed the game by overturning a defensive foul by LeBron James, which caused a huge controversy.

He is often accused by the media of excessive interference in the game, and his professional reputation is polarized, with players and coaches questioning him, but the league recognizes and protects him.

So when they saw Tony, both of them felt that today would be somewhat difficult.

Chen Fang glanced at Ti Lung, who happened to look over at him. Their eyes met, and Chen Fang nodded to him. Ti Lung also nodded to indicate that he understood.

To some extent, Ti Lung actually understands Chen Fang the best, which is quite remarkable.

Tony didn't bother to explain anything to the leaders of both sides. He simply walked to the center line with a blank expression, waited for both sides to get into position, and then tossed the ball over.

For him, revenge matches and crucial battles were just ordinary games.

Clippers starting lineup: Chen Fang, Jrue Holiday, Dillon, Bridges, Jaren.

This lineup was conceived by the coaching staff after much deliberation, specifically designed to counter the Warriors, and has a remarkable effect on countering off-ball movement.

The Warriors' starting lineup also has a deeper meaning.

Curry, Klay, Green, Durant, Iguodala.

The pure death five, three of whom can lead the defense and suppress Chen Fang.

This is also a consensus within the league: to beat the Clippers, the first thing to do is to address Chen Fang's scoring ability; otherwise, it's impossible to contain the Clippers' offensive onslaught.

With the very first basket, Chen Fang gave the Warriors a very clear signal.

I'm going to kill you all!

Chen Fang, who received the ball on the wing, paused for a moment, and then pulled up for a jump shot after Iguodala had settled down. This move really caught Iguodala off guard, because his teammates were already calling for attention to the screen and to push for the screen in advance.

But Chen Fang played a trick on him. While Iguodala was focused on the upcoming cover, he suddenly made his move.

The ball swished through the net, earning thunderous applause from the entire audience.

Chen Fang stepped back and shook his head, then shouted to Iguodala, "Brother, you're in for it today!"

Iguodala remained calm in the face of the provocation, fully aware of his responsibilities today. The Warriors advanced, with Curry dribbling high and waiting for his teammates to get into position before passing to Green and initiating an off-ball play. However, two seconds later, he was surprised to find Green completely unmarked; the area from the three-point line to the paint was deserted.

Green will naturally take the shot; he has the ability to do so, and historically, his three-point shooting percentage from the top of the arc is as high as 38%.

He took a decisive shot, the ball hit the back of the rim. Green's shots are often very powerful, the ball bounces high into the air with great elasticity. Jaren leaps high, but someone is faster than him.

Chen Fang leaped out from the side, grabbed the rebound first, and started accelerating as soon as he landed. Little Ja Lun missed and had to chase after him with all his might.

But Chen Fang's figure was rapidly receding into the distance. After a few steps, Xiao Jialun realized that he should be prepared to be countered by the opponent, so he stood still in the center circle.

At this moment, Chen Fang had already taken off. He ignored Durant coming to cover from the flank, and didn't even look at Iguodala chasing behind him. In his eyes, there was only Green in front of him.

As Chen Fang crossed the free-throw line, he suddenly exploded into action. David, the live commentator for the game, perfectly timed Chen Fang's movement, shouting "Falcon, take off!" the moment he took off.

Before the words were even finished, his eyes swiftly scanned everything he saw in his mind at the speed of light, analyzing the lines as quickly as possible.

"A dunk of death! Green was completely unprepared; he was like a cypress tree that was felled!"

"Chen Wang was hanging from the frame with one arm, and he pointed with his left hand at Green, who was lying on the floor!"

"No need for further words, this is the king's contempt!"

"When Chen Wang charges forward, the most rational choice is to clear the runway. Please don't be foolish enough to try and stop him!"

Many commentators on site shouted out their first reaction.

Rivers shook his head at Brian and sighed, "Today, Chen Fang is going to make a big splash!"

“Pray for the Warriors!” Brian replied playfully.

As he said, Chen Fang's killing intent was fully unleashed after that dunk.

He first set a screen at the top of the key, then ignored Klay Thompson's help defense and hit his first three-pointer.

Then, during the defensive transition, he tightly controlled Durant, who was eager for the ball, resulting in a steal and a fast break for two more points.

Within two minutes, Chen Fang scored the Clippers' first 7 points, putting the Warriors on a 7-0 run.

Curry's inherent pride was also unleashed. He received the ball on the baseline, advanced past half-court by himself, and faced Jrue Holiday's defense. He used a series of crossover dribbles and a moment of hesitation to mislead his opponent and shake him off.

Take two steps forward, no need to adjust, strike quickly, and kill with a single sword strike.

A three-pointer broke through the net, turning the tide.

4: 7.

The Warriors' bench stood up and cheered, but then their cheers turned into gasps of surprise.

Because they saw Chen Fang dribbling the ball straight from the sideline to the corner, just a meter away from them, and the gust of wind he brought was chilling.

Chen Fang was too fast today, Klay had no chance to help, and the Clippers' offensive and defensive transitions tore apart their defense in an instant.

Driving along the baseline towards the basket, Chen Fang showed no fear despite Green's high-speed run up from the free-throw line. He took off from outside the restricted area and slammed the ball into the basket with one arm before Green could block it.

The next second, Chen Fang's body was bumped by Green, and his head hit the backboard.

With a protective release, Chen Fang landed and immediately pressed towards Green.

Without saying a word, he pressed his head against Green's forehead, his eyes pressed directly against Green's.

The palpable chill made Green forget he was being provoked. He took two steps back before realizing what was happening and charged forward in a rage.

But Dillon had already rushed forward and blocked his way.

"Fuck, do you want to fight? Come on, fight me!" Dillon roared, opening his mouth wide as if to swallow Green whole.

Iguodala joined the fray, and then both sides charged forward.

Durant stood outside alone, rubbing his head as if he sighed.

Curry resolved the situation by pulling the players out one by one, and finally said to Chen Fang, "That's enough, let's focus on the game."

"Keep your men in check and go watch the replay. If there's a next time, your presence won't help!" With that, Chen Fang turned and left.

As soon as he finished speaking, a chorus of boos erupted. The large screen in the center was playing a replay, which clearly showed Chen Fang being knocked headfirst into the backboard by Green.

Clippers fans were furious and started shouting curses.

Curry saw it too, and he wanted to explain, but no one from the Clippers paid any attention.

Tony showed his ruthlessness, giving Chen Fang a technical foul and calling Green aside to warn him to be careful with his defensive approach.

"If I see you cross the line again, you're finished this round. Don't blame me for not giving you a chance!"

Green's face turned ashen. He didn't even bother to explain himself. He put his hands on his hips, turned around, and stormed off.

The game continued, and this brief conflict was not the end, but only the beginning, as many people, including fans watching on television, had a premonition.

Curry started to take the initiative in attacking with the ball, and Klay was setting up him by drawing defenders. He was in a good shooting touch today and had already made two shots, forcing the Clippers to divert their defensive attention.

The court is characterized by constant switching and pick-and-roll defense on the wing of the arc, with both sides committing significant resources to contest for a shooting opportunity that is less than half a meter wide.

With the first quarter nearing its end, the Warriors made their first substitutions, replacing Curry with Cook and Iguodala with Livingston.

The Clippers immediately made substitutions, with Brunson coming into an open position, Jrue Holiday being replaced by Beverley, and Bridges being replaced by Richon.

The Clippers retained Dillon and Beverley, strengthening their perimeter offense.

Surprisingly, Chen Fang did not leave the field; he remained on the court.

Duan Ran remarked, "Don't try to guess. Just look at how long Chen Fang played; you can tell how much he wanted to win today."

With Curry out, Durant became the primary ball-handler and took over the offensive reins. He repeatedly backed down Dillon on the wing, then used his height to squeeze laterally to the free-throw line and hit two mid-range jumpers.

"I'll do it!" Chen Fang pulled Di Long aside.

Thus, in the final minute of the first quarter, fans witnessed a rare showdown between Chen Fang and Durant.

The Warriors had possession of the ball. Durant went to the wing beyond the three-point line and leaned against Chen Fang. Don't let his thin appearance fool you; if a skinny guy is strong, whoever he leans against will feel like they're being poked by a sharp object.

Chen Fang had a novel feeling, and he could only tense his muscles to resist it.

Durant moved, he still dribbled towards the middle, but this time, on his second dribble, he turned around, pulled back, and made a turnaround jump shot.

Chen Fang was completely thrown off, lying on his hands on the ground, looking utterly disheveled.

As he stood up, he saw that the ball had already gone in.

Without considering how many times this scene would be played in the future, Chen Fang launched the Clippers' offense.

He looked up at the opponent's half of the court, where the countdown on the backboard clearly told him that there were 12 seconds left in the first quarter.

The score is currently 28-32.

The Clippers lead by four points.

After passing the halfway point, Chen Fang waited at the logo, his legs slightly apart, ignoring Livingston a few meters away, casually dribbling the basketball in his hands.

The entire audience held their breath, waiting for the final few seconds to arrive.

As the meter reached its final five seconds, Chen Fang began to move forward. Livingston hesitated for a moment before taking a step forward. Just as he took that step, Chen Fang suddenly accelerated. Using a quick step, he strode past Livingston's left foot and thrust forward.

It was so sudden, so fast!
That's how Livingston felt; before he could even react, Chen Fang had already passed him by.

The countdown has reached its final two seconds.

As Chen Fang caught the ball, he took a step and jumped up, while Durant also jumped high, stretching out his slender arms to try to block and interfere.

Anyone else would be moved, but Chen Fang is like a rock that has been battered by waves for thousands of years, completely unmoved.

Extend the arm, press down the wrist, and flick the fingers.

The moment the ball went out, Chen Fang felt the feedback from his fingers, a feedback that was so familiar and reassuring.

Upon landing, he didn't check the result, but instead hugged Durant who rushed towards him.

“Hey KD, you know what?” he shouted.

Durant was still looking at the result when he heard the sound and saw the ball swish through the net.

He turned his head, looking at the Chinese man who was less than twenty centimeters tall in front of him with a mixture of doubt and lingering surprise.

Chen Fang looked him in the eye and said, "In terms of scoring, I'm at my peak!"

"Just like you, on the same mountaintop!"

Durant was initially confused, then somewhat angry, and then quickly turned bewildered.

"You should be happy. You're not alone at the top!" Chen Fang said proudly as he walked toward the bench.

He not only wants to get back at Green for the trash talk from last season, but also wants to prove to Curry that he is Curry's biggest rival.

More importantly, we need to let Durant know that I am also at my peak in this league.

There are still three quarters left, let's take it slow!

(End of this chapter)