Rekindling the dream of becoming a star

Chapter 321 On the Eve of the Derby
After a secret stay in San Francisco for a day, Chen Fang and Lin Na returned to Los Angeles to prepare for Christmas.

"You focus on the competition, I'll handle these things. Please rest assured of my professional abilities," Linna said as they parted.

"Of course, but please keep me informed of the progress of the preparations."

“Okay!” Linna paused, then said solemnly, “I’m glad to see you dedicate yourself to public welfare. It’s the right choice, especially since it was your own initiative.”

"Thank you." Chen Fang smiled faintly.

Back home, Wu Zi naturally knew that Chen Fang would report his whereabouts. However, after their tender moment, Wu Zi felt inexplicable pressure when faced with Chen Fang's request.

"Let me be the chairman of this fund?"

"Yes, it's standard procedure to have Madam come. Don't worry, whether it's nominal or actual control, it depends on your opinion."

"Can I do it?" Wu Zi asked hesitantly.

"How will you know if you don't try? I have faith in you."

Encouraging Wu Zi to participate in more public affairs is also a long-term consideration. Chen Fang believes that it would be very selfish to simply let Wu Zi be a stay-at-home wife.

And deep down, he believed that Wu Zi was an exceptionally outstanding girl, and that in his previous life, he was not worthy of her at all.

They weren't particularly interested in foreign holidays, so the two of them stayed in the backyard chatting away. For professional athletes, time to spend with family is always scarce.

The two had endless sweet nothings to say to each other.

“It seems like we’ll be spending Christmas in America for many years to come,” Wu Zi suddenly said.

"Yeah, another year proves your husband is still in the NBA!"

On December 26, in a home game against the Sacramento Kings, Chen Fang played for 26 minutes. Facing the rebuilding Kings, the Clippers handled the situation with ease.

Brunson had another outstanding performance, and the backcourt duo of him and Lou Williams scored 51 points, overshadowing the opposing Fox.

Fox is already excellent, but compared to Chen Fang in the same cohort, he seems quite ordinary.

Compared to the fallen geniuses Fultz, Bauer, and Jackson, he was fortunate.

The 17 draft picks are already showing signs of decline in their second year.

Chen Fang, Tatum, and Mitchell are the most dazzling players; they have become the core of the team.

As for Fox, he is still struggling to prove himself.

The league is ruthless. After the game, Fox took the initiative to come up to Chen Fang. The two exchanged a few pleasantries, but since their relationship was just so-so, they said goodbye in a hurry. Watching Fox's back, Chen Fang felt a little emotional.

Before entering the league, everyone in the lottery carries the hopes of countless people, but as the season unfolds, disappointment becomes the theme.

Patience gradually faded, leaving only the pondering of the nascent transaction.

The vast majority of players will have to face this inevitable process.

Reality always tells you, in a cruel way, that the essence of life is survival of the fittest.

Fortunately, Chen Fang didn't dwell on it for long; he threw himself into training the very next day.

It's supposed to be an away game against the Lakers, but it's actually the same old venue.

In the afternoon, Chen Fang arrived at the Panshi training camp, which was also part of his daily work.

Listen to more advice, adopt the best strategy, and achieve the best results.

“Don’t worry about James, just focus on getting back on defense.” Karl seemed relaxed, shaking his head. “In the eyes of video analysts, James is the easiest target to analyze.”

"He won't take shots he's not confident about. He needs an open paint area. He likes to pass the ball from the top wing. Once he drives, just protect the rim."

"He won't pass any easy ball to someone else."

"In every offensive and defensive transition, he sprints ahead to get an excellent layup experience."

"If it's a 3-on-3 fast break, focus your attention on him. As soon as he makes a fast break, you have to pass him the ball, otherwise your teammates can expect his questioning."

It was more like a tea party, with everyone chatting and laughing as if they were just having a casual conversation, clearly explaining their strategies for tomorrow. Chen Fang listened with a smile.

"The combination of Paul, James, and Ingram hasn't met expectations so far." Han Nong handed the analysis report to Chen Fang. Ever since Sun Lexian went to work as an assistant coach, Black Brain has absorbed the core members of Pan Shi, and everyone has found new fun on this forum.

"Ingram's usage rate was actually reduced, while Paul's shot attempts also increased strangely."

"I watched the Lakers' wins and losses this season and found something very interesting."

"In the winning games, James played 3 minutes less than in the losing games."

“Starting in December, the Lakers’ record fluctuated greatly. James’ playing time increased, but the record was worse than in November.”

“From December to yesterday, James’ usage rate fluctuated, reaching a high of 36.2%, which shows that he has taken on a lot of offensive responsibilities in the team. You could say he’s a bit anxious.”

"I believe James will be very eager for tomorrow's game, and we may see a full-strength James."

Chen Fang listened quietly the whole time. To be honest, Chen Fang didn't feel any pressure. Everyone knows what kind of person James is, both on and off the court.

However, James has not yet revealed his obsession with being number one, and is far less confident than he was 22 years ago.

This is certainly related to the 20-year championship in the bubble, but now he is still working hard to build a good reputation with the Lakers and erase Kobe's influence.

“Here I’ve listed James’ advanced stats so far, which clearly show his contributions on the court,” Karl said, handing over a piece of paper.

进阶数据使用率（USG%）：29.5%（10月11日至12月1日）；32.4%（12月1日至12月26日）
Offensive rebounding percentage (ORB%): 2.8%
Defensive rebounding percentage (DRB%): 20.7%
Total rebounding percentage (TRB%): 11.7%
Assist percentage (AST%): 41.2%
Steal rate (STL%): 2.2%
Block rate (BLK%): 1.7%
Error rate (TOV%): 12.9%
Offensive Victory Contribution (OWS): 4.8
Defensive Victory Contribution (DWS): 2.4
Victory Contribution (WS): 7.2
Victory Contribution/48 minutes (WS/48): 0.162
Player Efficiency Rating (PER): 25.5
"It's very clear that James's stats are still quite good. According to Hollinger's formula, James's current PER is between All-Star and MVP."

(The Hollinger formula uses PER values ​​to clearly define the roles of all characters in the league.)
"Although it looks good, James actually exploited a loophole in the calculation rules."

"The PER calculation rules favor shot attempts; the more shots you take, the higher the probability of a positive PER. In addition, this calculation formula is unfair to defensive teams, especially those that play both offense and defense."

“James has consistently led in efficiency ratings, but in reality, his dominance is quite poor,” Wick interjected.

"Let's not discuss this. James is ultimately a great player, while I'm just a second-year student. I have no right to mock him here," Chen Fang suddenly spoke up, making everyone stop smiling.

"I understand the general situation, and I believe the coaching staff has corresponding tactical arrangements."

"Alright, I need to start training now. Thank you all for your help."

Chen Fang really didn't want to discuss James because it was unnecessary. In his opinion, being able to maintain the same level of performance for twenty years is respectable. Although James's shady moves are disgusting, it doesn't stop him from being brought up to discuss his historical ranking.

Today's training in Panshi mainly focused on moving and shooting after getting rid of the ball. After three hours, Chen was lying there covered in sweat, letting the masseur do rehabilitation for him, with Karl standing next to him.

"Your shooting with the ball, while not as accurate as before, has returned to a normal level."

“I’m referring to your own level,” Carl emphasized.

Since gaining muscle, Chen Fang's touch has started to decline, which is unavoidable.

This is one of the reasons why it's been difficult to score high points this season.

Strictly speaking, Chen Fang still has confidence in his shooting, but the results always seem to be a blow to his confidence.

His increasingly strong physique led to a decline in his shooting accuracy. Everything comes at a price, and it's normal for his shooting percentage to drop after adapting to high-intensity competition.

"There are no shortcuts. You have to do a lot of shooting practice to enhance muscle memory and you can't slack off. You have to maintain your daily training."

“Maybe you’ll need a week to recover, and a month to get back to your old ways,” Karl blinked. Chen Fang sighed. Shooting is like rowing against the current, just like dribbling. In basketball, fundamental skills are deeply intertwined with daily practice.

Like Curry, even during offseason business activities, he maintains a basic training volume to build muscle memory for this.

※※※

Since LeBron James moved to the Lakers, a large portion of sports news in Los Angeles has revolved around the Lakers, while the Clippers have remained aloof.

James' arrival also brought new trades.

Hours after James signed his contract extension, Lance Stephenson, a well-known James fan, agreed to a one-year deal with the Lakers to become James' teammate.

The next player to join the Lakers was JaVale McGee.

Michael Beasley was the one who ultimately signed with the Lakers.

Okay, so here's the problem.

Building a team around LeBron James requires a group of shooters; the joke about "one star and four shooters" is more or less true.

But the Lakers' management brought in a bunch of bombs: Stephen, Beasley, and McGee were all troublemakers.

Even with the old-school Paul, it would be difficult for someone as strong as James to handle them.

James intervened, but the Lakers are now owned by Magic Johnson, who expressed his opinion back in the preseason.

"You can't beat the Warriors the way the Golden State Warriors do it." In the nearly 20-minute interview, Magic Johnson said, "Everyone is saying 'the Lakers don't have shooters.' Oh, we did think about stockpiling shooters. But we witnessed in the playoffs how teams with shooters were eliminated one after another by the Warriors."

In Magic Johnson's view, the team needs to establish a relentless offensive rhythm, bringing in more playmakers and scorers to maintain a high level of offensive and defensive intensity, whether James is on or off the court.

But the result was obvious: the magician's tricks were really outdated.

In addition, the Lakers' handling of James also has huge problems.

The seemingly outlandish idea of ​​having LeBron James, the ball-dominant core player, play off-ball has actually come true.

An uncoordinated roster coupled with Walton's haphazard tactics have plunged this Lakers team, which on paper had championship potential, into the embarrassing situation of being placed in the lottery.

As the team's record plummeted, Magic Johnson publicly berated Walton and the coaching staff, which intensified the infighting within the Lakers.

The promised tactical rest has also fallen through. If you had to say who is the most frustrated player on the Lakers right now, it would be LeBron James.

Furthermore, Magic Johnson has publicly expressed his stance: he doesn't want the current Lakers to become like the old Cavaliers. He believes the Lakers shouldn't follow others' lead, and this powerhouse should have its own principles and not change because of anyone's arrival.

James didn't mince words and immediately told The Athletic, "I disagree with Magic Johnson's statement because the Cavaliers' 'four consecutive Finals appearances' speak for themselves."

This internal turmoil loomed over the Lakers at the beginning of the season, and with James giving his all, the Lakers' performance before mid-December was nothing short of phenomenal. Although Ingram missed a few games due to a minor injury, they won 6 out of 7 games before the wave of injuries hit.

The Lakers team atmosphere had finally calmed down, but with the arrival of the first Los Angeles derby, restless commotion began again.

Of course, many people in the industry knew that the Clippers would win this highly anticipated Los Angeles derby without any surprises.

Given Chen Fang's sharp personality, he doesn't care about anyone's feelings. Moreover, given his relationship with Kobe, he's the least likely person to be willing to kick the Lakers, who are already crippled.

This viewpoint reached its peak before the competition.

After the final training session, the team's media relations department arranged a public press conference.

This is standard procedure; it will be used in all key matches. Of course, we also need to listen to the coaching staff's opinions.

Rivers brought Chen Fang to the press conference.

Chen Fang seemed to be practicing Zen of silence today, with Rivers doing all the answering. The reporter couldn't stand it anymore and took the initiative to press the issue.

Yesterday, LeBron James said that there is no difference in strength between the Lakers and the Clippers. What are your thoughts on this?

"We will not underestimate any team in the league," Chen Fang said shrewdly, making the reporter roll his eyes.

"Paul declared that he wouldn't let the Clippers take the victory in this game." The reporter, unwilling to give up, raised the controversy again.

"Many people have said this, but in the end they were disappointed."

"Can I understand that the Clippers' winning streak will continue in tomorrow's game?"

"We're in great form, the team is united, and I see no reason to lose." Chen Fang shrugged, tapped the table, and decided that since he couldn't avoid it, he might as well be straightforward. After all, no matter how low-key he was, public opinion would eventually be manipulated.

It's better to do it yourself.

"First of all, James is a great player. At this age, he is still very competitive, and that alone deserves respect."

"But the competition in the West is so brutal. Playing three or four games against eight or nine very strong teams is a very difficult process."

"This is James' first season in the Western Conference, and there are many things he needs to adapt to."

"A while ago, LeBron James expressed that it would be great and wonderful to play alongside Anthony Davis. Do you think James's move to strengthen the team before February poses a threat to the Clippers?"

Chen Fang nodded: "If Davis comes, the Lakers will indeed be very strong."

"Davis is one of the best big men in the league today. His all-around game is on par with Antetokounmpo and Towns. Any team that gets Davis will have an infinitely greater chance of winning the championship."

"So, are you worried?" the reporter asked.

“Worried! But it’s pointless.” Chen Fang shook his head in denial.

"I'm not interested in this kind of upgrade-complete and mature reinforcement that's being searched all over the world."

The reporters were agitated; this was the first time Chen and Wang had expressed their views on forming alliances.

"No one can stop this kind of reinforcement. There are many roads to Rome. We will each choose one and rely on our own abilities," Chen Fang said decisively, with a smile on his face.

His smile was interpreted as contempt, and reporters raised their hands one after another. Chen Fang glanced at the worried Rivers and gave him a look that indicated there was no need to worry.

"What does being a champion mean to you?" The reporter who was called upon to speak immediately posed a pointed question.

"It means that the team is united as one and has withstood the challenge." Chen Fang's answer surprised the reporters.

"Some champions are not of high quality, so they cannot form a dynasty!"

“Some championships can be won and then won again. In my opinion, that’s what makes a great career.”

"I don't want to broaden the scope. Everyone has a different interpretation of success. I'll just do my best."

After Chen Fang finished speaking, he stood up, and Rivers also stood up immediately, while the security guards stopped the reporters who wanted to catch up.

Once they were alone, Rivers said with some surprise, "You haven't made such a statement in a long time."

"Looks like you have some opinions about LeBron James."

Chen Fang quickly waved his hand: "Coach, don't put it on me randomly. I just want to use this to tell my teammates that what we need to do hasn't changed."

“This is what a leader should do.”

"More than the outcome of tomorrow's game, I hope to bring the Clippers' winning culture to the fans in Los Angeles."

(End of this chapter)