Rekindling the dream of becoming a star

Chapter 322 Who is the Lakers' father?

Chen Fang's remarks have gone viral.

His understanding of the championship has surprisingly gained the approval of many veteran players and media figures.

Of course, the more one is recognized by one faction, the more one is disliked by the other.

Especially considering Chen Fang's status as a second-year student, he's not qualified to comment on the champion.

This viewpoint received widespread praise.

James was forced to respond, and his words were clearly polished by professionals, sounding both mild and sharp.

“When I was in my second year, I also had different opinions about many of the older generation of players, but I knew very well that respect is earned through accumulation and one game at a time.”

"A champion is a champion, its quality is like gold and will never fade. Big Bird's remarks hurt many champion members. It was a thoughtless statement, but I believe that one day he will realize his mistake."

"I like the atmosphere on the Lakers right now. Everyone is hungry for more wins. We are hungry."

"The Clippers have played a lot of good games this season and have beaten some very strong teams, but that doesn't mean they can look down on the Lakers."

"We will wake up the Clippers at home, with 20,000 fans cheering us on."

"Los Angeles is Lakers territory."

James's tough statement immediately garnered hundreds of thousands of likes, and the interview video received tens of millions of views that day. While fans applauded James's magnanimity, they also sneered at Chen Fang's clownish behavior.

"I really don't understand, where does a player without a championship get the confidence to evaluate three championship rings and the Most Valuable Player award?"

"This is ridiculous, this is the work of a clown."

Other Lakers players also stood up to support James.

Ingram, Stephenson, McGee, and Beasley were among them.

But what's puzzling is that Paul remained silent throughout.

When reporters pressed him on the matter repeatedly, Paul smiled and shook his head: "Winning is more important than anything else. We should talk about that after the game, not now."

But who can understand Paul's good intentions?
The media remains in a state of high excitement.

The core members of both sides got into a heated argument, causing a surge in traffic and breaking the record for the number of reporters who signed up for the event.

There was no interview space available before the match, but reporters still tried their best to find opportunities. When they saw Chen Fang get off the bus, they shouted questions at the top of their lungs.

Chen Fang ignored them and walked calmly through the media corridor.

During the warm-up, a large number of reporters were watching intently. Chen Fang practiced shooting for a while and then returned to the locker room.

Half an hour later, the pre-match meeting began.

"Everyone relax, clear your mind, and focus on the game," Rivers warned the players.

"This is the first time we've played the Lakers this season, so don't judge their strength based on their record."

"The Lakers' roster is actually quite good: Paul, Stephenson, Beasley, Pope, Ingram, Josh Hart, McGee, Caruso, Wagner, McGee, and Jonathan."

"These are all Lakers' rotation players, plus James, making a total of 12."

"Their starting lineup is not bad."

"Paul, Pope, James, Ingram, Chandler."

“Their rotation is good: Beasley, Stephenson, Hart, McGee, Caruso, Wagner.”

"The advantages are fast transition, strong impact, and quick switching between defenses."

"The disadvantage is the lack of a three-pointer and a low shooting percentage."

"But they get a lot of free throws, not just James, but 26 per game, second only to the 76ers in the entire league." (The actual number is 23.2, but considering Paul's presence, it's included, dropping the second-place Rockets by two places. Chris Paul's ability to draw fouls is no worse than Harden's; Alexander's ability to draw fouls was taught by Paul himself.)
"Therefore, our defensive focus in this game will be on protecting the rim and defending against fast breaks."

Mazura gave a detailed explanation of the defensive tasks, and then Brian discussed the offensive strategy.

"The Lakers' switching defense is average in the league, and they have weaknesses on the wings and in the corners."

“Especially in the area guarded by James, there are plenty of open shots and driving opportunities.”

"We need to exploit these weaknesses, take decisive shots, and force the Lakers to change their defensive strategy and commit more defenders to cover for James."

"Three-pointers, the offensive theme for this game is three-pointers."

"Once we get our three-pointers going, we'll add some drives to the basket. In the second quarter, we'll decide whether to increase the intensity based on what happened in the first quarter."

"Then in the halftime phase, we need to decide whether to take the game away in the third quarter."

“This is my plan!” Rivers suddenly spoke, walking to the center of the locker room.

"Let's use a resounding victory to wake up the fans who blindly believe in LeBron James and tell them that the times have changed."

Chen Fang looked at the head coach with surprise. He didn't expect Rivers to change his usual style and make such a strong statement.

Every sentence, though not mentioning the pre-match grudges, was a prelude to it.

Almost simultaneously, everyone looked at Chen Fang after the head coach finished speaking.

“Los Angeles doesn’t belong to the Lakers anymore. Maybe it used to, but times have changed. It’s our turn to wake everyone up.” Chen Fang stood up and said calmly, then was the first to leave the locker room.

A large group followed behind, filing out of the locker room in single file.

There is always an entrance ceremony at the start of the game. The away team usually has a simpler ceremony and arrives first, which is the rule for home and away teams.

When it was the DJ's turn to call out Chen Fang's name, a huge chorus of boos erupted from the Staples Center. Chen Fang calmly stood up, didn't wave to anyone around him, and went straight to his teammates, giving them high-fives one by one.

Soon, it was the Lakers' turn.

James was, of course, the headliner. Amidst the DJ's passionate shouts and under that long list of titles, James rose from the bench like an emperor, and the whole arena erupted in thunderous cheers.

To be honest, the scene was quite shocking.

Chen Fang, who had already returned to the bench, didn't seem to care. He jokingly said to Dillon, "You'll be guarding James later, so be careful not to get booed."

“No big deal,” Dillon said nonchalantly. “Being booed is a sign of respect.”

Dillon offered his interpretation.

"Watch out for his breakthroughs; don't jump if he doesn't jump," Chen Fang gave a little tip.

After all, nobody understands James's footwork. If you jump based on instinct, you'll be surprised to find that James has already run past you.

“I know he walks a lot, I’ll keep an eye on him,” Dillon grinned.

Actually, you can't blame others for being disrespectful. In the NBA, technical exchange is the key between players. Physicality, skills, and basketball IQ are all measured by the same standard.

If you don't, it will be ridiculed.

The reason why Haliburton is always considered one of the most overrated players is actually largely due to his playing style.

Shooting form, dribbling, and physical contact are all easy targets for opponents to make fun of and laugh at.

Most people are superficial and only judge by appearances, and the NBA is no exception.

A player's shooting style is impressive, their dribbling is skillful, and their passing is unpredictable; these qualities are what earn them high praise.

Not just fans, the players themselves would see it that way.

Therefore, James can only rely on statistics and a large media presence to help him. Coupled with his freakish physique, anyone else who has played for twenty years and has so many honors would already be respected.

From a technical standpoint and in terms of appearance, it's difficult for LeBron James to gain widespread recognition, which is why other superstars don't spend money on media relations, but James absolutely must.

When playing card or board games, sometimes when you're clearly doomed to lose, you're forced to find ways to win.

These thoughts swirled in Chen Fang's mind, and it was time for the opening.

Standing on the court, looking at the familiar faces on the other side of the center line, Chen Fang's lips curled up in a smile.

We're all old friends, let's have a blast today!

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

Lakers starting lineup: Paul, Pope, Ingram, James, Chandler.

James's gaze met Chen Fang's. Neither of them looked away. A few seconds later, James pretended that someone was calling him and turned his head.

The referee came to the center of the court, holding the basketball.

He didn't say much, but just glanced around, indicating that he was ready.

The ball was tossed up, and Zubac, being young, managed to snatch it from Chandler.

The ball was quickly passed to Chen Fang, and the first boos from the crowd began as Chen Fang dribbled the ball across half-court.

The Los Angeles Lakers' home game against the Los Angeles Clippers has begun.

As Chen Fang crossed the halfway line, Ying Ge came up to meet him. He was the only player on the team who could match up with Chen Fang.

Place your hand on my waist, stand at an angle, and bend over.

Standard defensive stance.

Chen Fang waved his arm to make Yingge release him, then suddenly took a step and accelerated. Yingge reacted quickly and immediately retreated.

But Chen Fang pulled the ball back, and after gaining enough space, switched hands in front of his body and drove straight down the left side.

The two were already on the same level. Yingge approached by sliding, but Chen Fang had no intention of getting entangled with her. Di Long came over to help, and the two handed each other their hands.

Chen Fang, without the ball, did not stop, but retreated to the left wing.

Dillon passed the ball to Jrue Holiday on the right, who lobbed it into the paint.

Jaren received the ball, immediately turned around, and drove onto the perimeter into the penalty area.

Chandler raised his hands to protect the rim, while Jaren, after making contact, judged that the chances of scoring were not high and immediately looked for a passing path.

Chen Fang had anticipated this, so he made a run to leave Yingge behind, then dashed in diagonally and received a pass from Xiao Jialun outside the penalty area.

Chen Fang, who got the ball, didn't dribble. Instead, he took three steps. Chandler dropped Jaren to cover the rim, but Chen Fang jumped into the air, did a 270° turn, and circled around Chandler to his side.

A jelly-like reverse layup, spinning the ball into the basket.

The gasps from the stands were because the move was beyond their wildest imaginations. Chen Fang didn't give Jia Lun a friendly look after landing.

Why not fight?

"I won't clean up your mess next time."

He insulted two people with just two sentences.

Jaren's face turned red, while Chandler looked sullen.

"The Clippers have scored the first point again, and it's Chen Wang again!" Clippers commentator David started talking: "The data tells us that if Chen Wang scores the first point, the Clippers have a 70% chance of winning this game!"

Before the words were even finished, the Lakers had already advanced to the frontcourt.

Paul called for a pick-and-roll with the ball, and James stepped up to screen Jrue Holiday. Instead of cutting to the basket, James stood at the top of the arc and watched Paul drive into the paint.

Paul's drive was dangerous, and Jrue Holiday chose to follow, allowing Dillon to switch onto James.

But Paul simply paused to stop the ball, turned and passed it back. During this process, James used his body to block Dillon, and although the latter fought hard, his strength was suppressed.

James received the ball and immediately started his run, driving straight down the sideline of the paint towards the basket.

Facing Zubac coming over to help, he moved the ball sideways, which was a jump step, but James used it more skillfully. It wasn't a simultaneous two-footed touchdown, but a smooth layup step.

Zubac dodged the shot, then turned to watch James drive up for a reverse layup and score.

It's hard to tell if it's a traveling violation. This is James's usual driving footwork. After scoring, James ran while looking at the referee on the baseline and made a gesture as if his hand had been touched, telling the referee that he had been interfered with.

The referee ignored it and instead followed the Clippers' quick baseline inbounds pass, running towards the frontcourt.

Dillon set a center screen for Chen Fang, who had the ball in the middle, and then spread out laterally. Sure enough, the ball came over. He watched as Chen Fang took away Inge, who was chasing him, and then dribbled and accelerated towards the inside.

Dillon's intention drew a double team from the Lakers, but when he got near the free-throw line, he passed the ball to Jrue Holiday, who was in position.

The latter attempted a three-pointer, but the ball bounced off the rim.

James grabbed the rebound as he returned and, relying on his experience, launched a fast break. He accelerated into the Clippers' half of the court. Zubac was lagging behind and was retreating, but James was unmoved and instead actively stuck to him.

He held off Zubac on the first touch, then surged into the paint with unstoppable momentum, finishing with a side layup to take the lead.

"A spectacular fast break, a historic level of offensive and defensive speed," exclaimed Lakers commentator Michael Thompson. As a veteran Lakers player, he has an extraordinary fondness for LeBron James.

His partner, Lakers' lead commentator Stu Lands, also commented: "The Lakers have enough counter-attacks, and if the Clippers continue to shoot like that, it's practically making the game easier."

"Keep trying!" But on the field, Chen Fang was telling Julius Erdőr.

The Clippers continued their pre-game tactics, using pick-and-rolls at the top of the key to draw double teams from the Lakers, then passing the ball to the wings or corners. However, they were on a cold shooting night, with Dillon and Chen Fang missing their three-point attempts one after another.

The Lakers, however, seized every rebounding opportunity and launched fast breaks.

James displayed a level of offensive and defensive transition that is historic in the league, with three fast breaks scored thanks to Paul's accurate long passes.

8: 2.

For a moment, the Staples Center erupted in cheers.

"Let's show you pirates what the Lakers are all about!" a fan wearing a LeBron James jersey with the number 23 shouted angrily.

"The terrifying LeBron James scored 8 points on his own. This is what happens when you anger the King of LeBron!" The Lakers commentator's joy was palpable.

"If they continue playing like this, the Clippers will constantly face the Lakers' fast breaks, and they need to make adjustments!" Duan Ran said worriedly.

Chen Fang and Dillon executed another pass at the top of the arc. James's switch was a bit slow. He glanced at Dillon cutting down to the basket, then turned back to keep his eyes on Chen Fang, who had received the ball at the top of the arc.

Chen Fang, who received possession of the ball through a handoff, did not dribble but instead held the ball above his head, making a passing gesture.

James didn't even raise his hand, but the next second, he saw Chen Fang jump up and shoot a three-pointer.

James didn't think his shot went in, even though he hadn't even completed the full shooting motion. But before he could turn around, he heard gasps from the entire arena.

"Got it?" Surprised, he turned around and saw Chandler holding the ball at the baseline, ready to serve.

The Clippers completed their first full defensive retreat, establishing a positional defense.

Paul dribbled past half-court and called for Ingram to set a screen. He moved slowly to the left wing, and Jrue Holiday did not guard him, but kept a distance of about two meters.

Switching on defense indefinitely is something the Clippers are extremely adept at using in their current defensive system.

Pope came up and set another screen for Paul, but the Clippers immediately switched their defense. Paul tried to drive but was blocked by Dillon.

When Chen Fang switched onto James, he didn't try to outmuscle him. Instead, he moved in front of James to defend him. With Zubac in the paint, he wasn't worried about getting lobbed passes.

James held off Chen Fang and raised his hand high in a gesture of support.

But Paul struggled to make accurate lob passes under Dillon's pressure, and based on his experience, he didn't think passing in would be effective.

Ingram circled around to the top of the arc from the right to receive the pass. Paul passed the ball to him. Time was running out, and Ingram decided to go one-on-one.

He received the ball and immediately focused his mind, accelerating to get away from Jrue Holiday at the top of the arc. However, the latter's All-Defensive First Team title was well-deserved; he used only his footwork to firmly stick to Ingram.

Time was running out, and Ingram pulled up for a quick stop, a move that wasn't his go-to for winning, but the ball hit the rim and went wide.

Zubac secured the rebound, and Chen Fang reached out to receive the pass. Chen Fang looked at the frontcourt and saw that the Lakers' retreat was a bit slow, allowing Dillon to rush over.

With a casual toss, Dillon caught the ball almost a meter beyond the three-point line. Paul had already come up to interfere, but saw Dillon dribble to the side and pass it back.

Following the direction of the ball, Paul was shocked to see that Chen Fang had somehow arrived at the frontcourt.

Catching the ball, one or two steps, a typical catch-and-shoot.

Chen Fang released his shot from about three meters outside the three-point arc. The ball flew like an arrow, piercing the net. "Three-pointer!"

"Chen Wang hit two consecutive three-pointers, tying the score!"

The commentator was incredibly surprised; it all happened in the blink of an eye.

"Both teams' key players showed excellent competitive form, making this Lakers-Fast derby feel like it was worth the ticket price."

Paul wanted to have the ball, but this time, James signaled for him to orchestrate the offense, which was one of the default tactics.

James also needs to utilize pick-and-rolls, but if he initiates them, the threat level will be much higher.

During his time with the Heat, his pick-and-roll with Wade was very smooth; after joining the Lakers, his pick-and-roll with Pope and Ingram became the core tactic of the team, and in the future, his pick-and-roll with Davis laid the foundation for 20 years of championships.

James' pick-and-roll is flexible and adaptable, adjusting his offensive approach based on the opponent's defensive strategy.

For example, when the opponent chooses to double-team, he can quickly pass the ball to the shooter on the outside; when the opponent chooses to switch, he can take advantage of the mismatch to attack the basket directly.

In addition, he can initiate pick-and-rolls from almost anywhere on the court, such as at the top of the key, on the wing, or even near the baseline.

But Mazura has done a detailed analysis, and what the Clippers need to do is tighten up their interior defense and allow shots freely.

Regardless of who is on the right side, try to disrupt and delay them, preventing them from entering the restricted area as much as possible.

After trying once, James did not give up and continued to set screens at the top of the key. This time, both Dillon and Jrue Holiday gave up on him, leaving him wide open at the top of the key.

James had no choice but to shoot; he couldn't pass up such an open shot, which forced him to make a decision.

Mazura has already shown the players through data that they average 9 three-point attempts per game with a 33.9% success rate.

"It's not bad, but James isn't a pure shooter. He needs to adjust, not just his movements, but also his mentality."

"In the end, even if we short, he can't kill us, so guys, you need to be bold and short."

"The Lakers' three-point shooting is generally average. The best player is Caruso, but his tactical role is very low, so he doesn't need to be considered."

The Clippers are slowly becoming a disciplined team, strictly adhering to their tactics, and even Chen Fang is no exception.

Throughout the first quarter, the Clippers opted to fire more from the perimeter and tighten their defense to counter James's attacks.

This strategy is effective, as the score proves.

32: 24.

James scored 12 points, but the result was not satisfactory, even he himself thought so.

"We need more shots, otherwise the Clippers will never spread out on defense," James told the head coach.

Walton nodded. As the head coach, it was actually very difficult for him to direct James, especially when James was on the court, as he was the one who decided whether to initiate any tactics.

Even Paul listened.

"Then who should we replace them with?" Walton asked.

"Pitcher, we need to make more three-pointers."

“Okay, I understand.” Walton nodded to indicate that he understood.

Mazura had foreseen all of this.

"In the second quarter, we need more flexible movement and faster switching. Bridges and DiVincenzo, you two replace Dillon and Jrue Holiday."

"Zubac out, Halil in, Jaren, you protect the backboard."

Finally, looking at Chen Fang, Mazura said, "We need more three-pointers so that we can attack the paint more easily."

Every game is a clash of tactics, constantly adjusting and eroding the opponent's strength, drawing fouls to force the opponent to make substitutions, or changing the opponent's defensive strategy through shooting.

The buzzer sounded, and the second quarter began in an instant.

The Lakers brought in Caruso and Stephenson, replacing Pope and Paul.

Walton quickly realized that the Clippers' substitutions were targeted.

Bridges and DiVincenzo are faster than Dillon and Jrue Holiday, and despite their lack of experience, their defensive switching speed is a level above.

Harrell is a physical player, and his strength is enough to deal with the Lakers' attacks on the inside. James didn't have a good solution, and the passing after the pick-and-roll resulted in either a self-shot or an ineffective pass, which was then passed back again.

On the other hand, Chen Fang's playmaking for the Clippers appears to be more threatening.

First of all, Chen Wang's strongest skill is the pull-up three-pointer, and his shooting ability forces the Lakers to double-team him.

James doesn't participate in defense, only providing help defense, which leaves the Lakers with a persistent gap in the number of players they can switch on.

Chen Fang's second major characteristic is his sharp passing. Although his assists have dropped this season, this is related to his role as a setter.

His ability to draw defenders away from open shots creates more open shooting opportunities, a result of Chen Wang's self-sacrifice that leads to an increase in the team's overall shooting percentage.

Wharton was well aware of all of this.

As the second quarter drew to a close, Chen Fang once again dished the ball to Bridges, who made the team's 11th three-pointer of the game, leaving Walton feeling powerless.

Chen Fang hit 4 three-pointers, Bridges, who had just come on, hit his second three-pointer, Dillon hit 1, Juholer hit 2, and Diwin hit 2.

Looking around, five Clippers players were consistently hitting three-pointers, which not only increased the point difference but also boosted defensive morale.

If this momentum continues, the Lakers will be in an undefendable predicament.

How can you play if the players don't know who to leave open and who to defend?
When outside shooting gets going, all opposing teams will face this problem, and right now it's the Lakers.

"This is a new change, an offensive strategy that the Clippers rarely employ." Lakers commentator Michael Thompson was also puzzled, looking at the statistics: "In 20 minutes, the Clippers have already attempted 25 three-pointers, with a 44% success rate."

"The Lakers are in trouble, the point difference has reached 16 points, 58 to 42."

"Wharton needs to figure something out; if things continue like this, the probability of a crushing defeat is increasing."

James' teammate Stu Lands tried to salvage the situation: "James has already scored 19 points, which is his best first half of the season, along with 4 assists and 6 rebounds. His stats are heading toward a triple-double."

Regarding the comments that attempted to steer public opinion toward his teammate's CBA performance, Clippers commentator David offered a scathing remark: "James took half of the team's shots; he made 2 of 7 three-pointers today, an amazing efficiency."

"The Clippers gave him unlimited open looks, but James responded with a paltry 19 points."

"Yes, 19 points is a lot, but you need to figure out how many opportunities you wasted."

"Buzz!" The buzzer sounded in the middle of the court, and David continued, "61 to 42, exactly a 19-point difference."

"I don't know why the Clippers made that change, but it worked very well. This proves my pre-game assessment that the Clippers and the Lakers are not in the same league."

"The so-called derby was disappointing."

"I can guarantee that the result of this game will leave countless Lakers fans feeling frustrated."

In the away dressing room, Mazzula reiterated the defensive strategy.

"In the third quarter, we need to help defend more quickly and intentionally give up the top of the key. The data shows that the Lakers have always had a poor three-point shooting percentage at the top of the key."

"Leave the top of the key open, let them shoot and attack the paint, we'll set up a pincer movement on the flanks and corners."

"In offense, speed is of the essence. We must constantly look for open spaces and launch immediately once we find one."

Chen Fang wiped his sweat; his stats today were impressive.

23 points, 6 assists, 3 rebounds, plus one block and one steal.

Of course, it cannot be compared with last year. When the team's overall strength improves, it would be unreasonable for the core statistics to still be good.

However, the coaching staff still offered a reminder.

"You need to keep it up in the second half. It's been a long time since I've seen you score over 40 points," Rivers laughed.

"I'll try my best," Chen Fang replied.

When the game opens up and the point difference approaches 20, Chen Fang never lets his opponent have an easy time.

At the start of the third quarter, James began to frequently attack the paint, aiming for free throws and drawing fouls.

The Lakers' home-court advantage began to shift due to the point difference.

During a defensive play, James fell down in front of Dillon, and the referee immediately called a defensive foul on Dillon.

"Bullshit, I didn't even touch him!" Dillon was furious. This was his fourth foul, all of which were committed against James.

Just as he was about to rush towards the referee to argue his case, Chen Fang grabbed him by the neck.

"Go and get some rest. Why are you in such a hurry?"

In short, Dillon obediently complied, and his cursing and swearing resulted in him high-fiving Beverly, who replaced him.

Looking at Beverley coming onto the court, Chen Fang instructed, "James is yours."

James quickly realized that letting Dillon go was not a good idea; Beverley, though shorter, was more manipulative and, in particular, foul-mouthed.

In contrast, no one on the Lakers bothered Chen Fang; even Stephenson kept quiet and focused on playing basketball.

"Seventh three-pointer! Chen Wang's shooting touch is on fire today!"

"35 points!"

"Today, Chen Wang only took three-point shots. He played too easily. Today was his shooting day. He took 12 three-pointers and made 58% of them. That's terrifying!"

"Oh wow, James has also scored 30 points. This is a clash between stars, but the two teams are 23 points apart, which is really ridiculous."

David was hurling insults, while the two Lakers commentators at the next table looked worried and dared not look in his direction.

Chen Fang didn't want to keep the suspense going into the fourth quarter. He looked up at the time and saw that there were still 1 minute and 32 seconds left.

enough!
He slid down the baseline to the other side, played a cross-court game with Di Vencenzo, and then retreated to the wing. Ingram, who was chasing him, was already exhausted, but he was still trying.

As Beverley passed the ball from the top of the arc, Chen Fang quickly adjusted his posture with small steps to meet the pass, took the ball, jumped, faced the rim in mid-air, and flicked his wrist to release the shot.

The basketball drew a beautiful arc, piercing the net.

"That's the eighth three-pointer. Chen Wang is so accurate today." Duan Ran shook his head and looked at his partner Ke Fan, who was even more excited.

"Just two more points to go, and we'll be over 40!" Ke Fan shouted excitedly.

The Lakers quickly inbounded the ball; now they need to speed things up to increase offensive and defensive possessions. It's a poison pill, but they have to do it.

Lowering the number of rounds means you'll never catch up in the score, while raising it means falling deeper into a deeper hole.

Pope attempted a three-pointer, but it bounced off the rim. Chen Fang then made a diagonal leap and grabbed the rebound before James could reach it.

Upon landing, he passed the ball to Beverley, who was at the front. Beverley continued running, and Beverley immediately understood. He deliberately slowed down, causing the Lakers' defensive players to become complacent. But suddenly he accelerated, crossed the center line, and threw the ball to the right.

Chen Fang rushed over quickly, took a step forward the instant he received the ball, and with a classic catch-and-shoot stance, he didn't hesitate. He got up and shot, and while the ball was still in the air, he had already landed and turned around.

"Go home, it's over!" Chen Fang shouted to the audience in the front row as he ran.

At that moment, the ball swished through the net, leaving countless spectators stunned and clutching their heads in disbelief.

"41 points! His ninth three-pointer! Chen Wang is on fire today!"

"Turning around confidently, what is Chen Wang shouting? OMG, he's calling for Lakers fans to come home, haha, what a great celebration!" David laughed wildly.

"The point difference has reached 29 points. If I remember correctly, this is the biggest point difference in Clippers-Lakers history."

"This isn't over yet, the fourth quarter hasn't even started," Ke Fan said gloatingly.

As a more professional commentator, David shouted out as if reciting a familiar story: "The biggest point difference between the Clippers and the Lakers was on March 6, 2014, when the Clippers defeated the Lakers 142-94. This game is one of the Lakers' most painful losses in history, and it is also the Clippers' biggest winning margin against the Lakers in history."

"Let's see if the Clippers can break the record today," David laughed.

Chen Fang wasn't as clear-headed as David. He was a player, there to win, not to break records. As James' layup was disrupted by Harrell, Jaren passed the ball to Chen Fang, who then launched another fast break.

The Lakers retreated en masse with only a dozen seconds left in the third quarter, and no one wanted to see another point conceded.

Chen Fang didn't go it alone. He passed the ball to Bridges, who had caught up, while he nimbly slipped into the Lakers' paint, then turned around and ran to the opposite corner.

Bridges' drive was double-teamed, but he spotted Chen Fang in the corner and changed his layup attempt to a pass mid-air.

Upon receiving the ball, Chen Fang even waited a moment, and only after seeing that the Lakers had completely given up on closing in did he easily release the shot, completing his tenth three-pointer of the game with a volley.

"His tenth three-pointer—perhaps even Chen himself didn't know that he had broken his own three-point record today."

"In one game, he made 10 three-pointers and scored 44 points in three quarters. His scoring ability is terrifying. He is undoubtedly the best player of the game."

"A 32-point deficit, what's the biggest comeback in NBA history?" Ke Fan asked.

Meanwhile, the knowledgeable David explained to the watching fans remotely: "The biggest comeback in NBA history is 36 points. This record was set on November 28, 1996, when the Utah Jazz were down by 34 points at halftime against the Denver Nuggets. The biggest point difference in the game even reached 36 points, but the Jazz eventually completed an amazing comeback."

"Sorry, it's been 22 years, I don't think the Lakers can do it."

"Perhaps we should be more interested in whether the 48-point record will be broken," David laughed heartily.

Walton didn't realize that when he realized it was impossible to win today, he directly substituted the starters in the fourth quarter, but James insisted on continuing to play, and he did not object.

So, in the fourth quarter, a funny scene unfolded on the court.

Chen Wang sat on the bench chatting and laughing, while James led the substitutes on the court, frantically chasing points.

This is understandable, but the gap has not narrowed; in fact, it has widened.

The Clippers' bench players, led by Brunson and Lou Williams, are playing even more wildly and aggressively.

Three-pointers rained down. In the seventh minute of the fourth quarter, James assisted Caruso to hit a three-pointer, bringing his assist total to ten. He then chose to leave the game.

42分10助攻12篮板，外加2封盖2抢断。

The Lakers didn't lose, and LeBron didn't lose!
This was the first thought that flashed through Chen Fang's mind after he looked up and saw James's stats.

Chen Fang smiled and shook his head.

Without bias, LeBron James's playing philosophy is ahead of the league by many years; it's just that Chen Fang himself can't replicate it.

Furthermore, it won't stop him from praising LeBron James after the game.

"Incredible. To be able to put up a triple-double at this age is something I feel I could never do at my age," Chen Fang praised.

Chen Fang isn't stupid; he's already completely offended James and his backers. He's just taking advantage of the situation and acting innocent to make himself seem smart.

"We had a good shooting night today, but unfortunately the Lakers were having a bit of a run."

"Point difference? Oh, we never thought about breaking the record. 41 points is already amazing. I need to remind my teammates that we need to adjust our mindset and take the remaining games seriously."

"It was just an accident, the Lakers are just injured!" Chen Fang shrugged to express his condolences and walked gracefully towards the locker room.

"He's a gentleman," a Lakers beat reporter remarked.

Little did he know that a few minutes later, the gentleman he had described stood in the center of the locker room, facing his celebrating teammates, and yelled, "Who's Lakers Daddy?"

"Clippers!"

Everyone shouted in response.

"Remember this feeling, and we'll continue to beat the Lakers like this next time!" Chen Fang instructed with satisfaction.

This scene thrilled Clippers owner Steve Ballmer at the door; Chen Fang's words hit him right where it hurt!
He immediately told Lawrence, who was standing next to him, "Order me a batch of watches; I want to treat the whole team."

“Give Prince Chen the best watch; he deserves it,” she added.

"Boss, but watches can cost tens of millions too!" Lawrence thought Ballmer was getting carried away and quickly reminded him.

“Okay, but it can’t be too low. The standard is 500,000, just like the price we gave away the car last time.” Ballmer looked at Chen Fang, who was still giving feedback and encouragement to his teammates, and affirmed, “Without a doubt, he is the best, I can be sure of that!”

(End of this chapter)