Rekindling the dream of becoming a star

Chapter 324 The more difficult, the more resilient

The Northwest is in complete chaos.

Fans in California and Houston were celebrating wildly, everyone felt the championship was within reach.

Clippers fans, whose audience is already relatively small, are clearly not one of them.

They waited for King Chen's response, but the speedboats moved silently ashore and ashore.

The press officer simply said in a lukewarm tone at the routine press conference, "Congratulations to the Lakers, all your wishes come true."

Chen Fang's expression was grim, but not because of the shocking deal that had stunned the alliance; rather, it was because he was once again feeling the power of misfortunes piling up.

During the afternoon's routine practice game, Dillon and Beverley were fighting for a rebound and both fell to the ground.

Beverly sprained her ankle, and Dillon twisted his left shoulder.

The team doctor gave a bad answer after examining the patient.

Beverley was sidelined for two weeks at the start, while Dillon was sidelined for two months at the start.

It's really upsetting; not only Chen Fang, but the entire coaching staff looked sullen.

Who should be blamed?
Dillon and Beverley are both vying for the position of team opinion leader, so they naturally need to lead by example. During training, they are the most proactive and have the most positive attitude.

Otherwise, how could he possibly reprimand his teammates?

So, this is the unsolvable frustration.

"We're playing the Warriors tomorrow, is God not going to let us break the record?" Brian said, his frustration palpable.

“When Bridges replaces Dillon, DiVincenzo will rotate in for Beverley.” Mazura had a plan.

It's simply a matter of mixing the second and third teams and replacing them one by one.

Chen Fang had no choice; injuries are something that cannot be avoided during operations.

Rivers was the calmest; in his coaching career, there have been far worse things than this.

“Release it before the game; keep the news under wraps for now,” Rivers suggested to Lawrence, who had rushed over.

"Yes, we can't let the Warriors react in advance." Lawrence naturally understood.

Finally, everyone looked at Chen Fang.

"It's just a regular season game. Besides, we won it last year too." Chen Fang's words at least made everyone's expressions a little better.

※※※

Twenty-eight hours later, Chen Fang slumped in a chair on the bench, recalling those words, and a bitter smile appeared on his face.

Yes, you can defeat the warriors, even deliver a fatal blow, but that doesn't mean they'll let you run rampant forever.

Today, Chen Fang is the Warriors' number one enemy. Even an ordinary employee at Datong Center knows that it would take two people to deal with Chen Fang.

Losing Beverley is not a problem.

It's not a big deal if Dillon isn't there.

But Dillon was the most important link in the defensive system built by Mazura.

He needs to defend against the best players, attack from the wing, receive the ball immediately when Chen Fang double-teams him, and act as a setter to maintain the ball's movement.

He is an indispensable part of the Clippers' tactical system.

The Clippers have made changes to their starting lineup.

Chen Fang, Julius Bausch, Bridges, Richon, and Jaren Jr.

The experienced Cole immediately adjusted the starting lineup after learning that Dillon was out.

Curry, Klay, Durant, Green, Iguodala.

This lineup sacrifices the interior presence and strengthens the perimeter defense.

In the very first second of the game, the Warriors unleashed an unprecedented triple-team strategy.

Iguodala led the defense against Chen Fang the entire time, Klay Thompson double-teamed him from the center, and Durant made the final help defense.

They completely cut Chen Fang off, whether he had the ball or not, he faced the Warriors' suffocating defense in their absolute territory.

On offense, Durant and Klay Thompson took turns attacking Bridges in mismatches. As a young rookie, Bridges struggled to compete against this group of championship-caliber starters.

Although he was far superior to Dillon in physical ability, he was far inferior to Dillon in defensive experience and mental willpower.

After being completely outplayed, Rivers had no choice but to move Brunson to point guard and Chen Fang back to the small forward position.

So the Warriors changed direction, with Curry and Durant holding the ball at the top of the arc, and slamming it down on Brunson, who is 185cm tall.

Use offense to compensate for major defensive weaknesses.

Kerr willingly employed a three-man double-team on Chen Fang, leaving Curry, Green, and Durant to support the flawed defensive system.

But without Chen Wang's dominant offense, the Clippers found themselves in a dilemma.

Who will take over the offensive command?

Brunson?
Rivers and Mazura both hoped for this, but the result left them frustrated and disappointed.

Brunson's problem still lies in his height. No matter which Warriors player he faces, he needs to use a lot of force to complete the shot, and he has already exhausted a lot of his energy on defense.

Jrue Holiday can only take on the responsibility of organizing and attacking, but the problem is that his offensive skills are not enough to play with the ball.

Throughout the first half, the Clippers' offense and defense were a mess, while the Warriors relied on aggressive triple-teaming to score the biggest point difference in Clippers history at the Clippers' home court.

72:51.

In recent years, the Warriors have never led the Clippers by 20 points at halftime.

At halftime, the Clippers' locker room was filled with immense confusion and frustration.

The coaching staff also realized an overlooked problem.

Without Chen Fang and Dillon, the entire system had a huge flaw.

Who will be the third strong ball-handler?
Brunson wasn't enough, and the seasoned Beverley wasn't there either.

Rivers then made adjustments.

Lou Williams and Derrick Rose are highly anticipated.

Five minutes into the third quarter, Rivers let out a deep sigh.

Lou Williams and Derrick Rose did improve the Clippers' chaotic offense by controlling the tempo and scoring, but their poor defense kept the Clippers bleeding.

The 20-point difference remained constant.

Chen Fang has had a hard time getting the ball and has already committed two turnovers. Despite Rivers' best efforts, including numerous double pick-and-rolls, in an attempt to free up Chen Fang, the team has been struggling.

But the Warriors were single-minded today, only focusing on shutting down Chen Fang, while the others could shoot freely.

Kerr told everyone that we could make up for the points we lost, and we could be beaten by anyone, just not Chen Fang.

"Against a team like the Warriors, once they fall behind by a large margin, it's very difficult," Duan Ran sighed from the commentary booth. These were all experienced commentators, and they could tell at a glance that the game was going to be tough.

David explained: "This gambling-style defensive strategy is difficult for both Chen Wang and the Clippers to adapt to."

"Of Chen Wang's 11 points, 7 came from free throws."

"Iguodala is sticking to King Chen like a shadow today."

"After losing so many times, the warriors finally understand how to deal with King Chen."

As the final buzzer sounded, Chen Fang calmed himself down, stood up, and walked towards the Warriors' bench.

“We’ll pay you back,” he told Curry.

"That's for the future," Curry said with a smile.

Durant walked over: "Relax, it's post-game now, it's your turn to treat me."

Chen Fang could only smile wryly when KD returned his previous words verbatim.

"Okay, see you later."

"Why didn't you invite me?" Curry asked.

This was awkward. Durant didn't know how to respond and began to regret being so smug and insisting on speaking in public.

“Then let’s go together, but just the three of us,” Chen Fang replied quickly.

Post-match interviews are a headache, especially after a loss.

"It's embarrassing to score 11 points, but I can't avoid it," Chen Fang said frankly to the reporter.

"The Warriors won their gamble, but they can't keep doing this every time. We'll face the next game head-on."

"Your winning streak has ended. What are your thoughts?"

"It's a pity, but sometimes that's life. We have to look forward and start the next winning streak."

"Dilron, why does Beverley's absence have such a big impact on the Clippers?"

Chen Fang frowned in thought. He could have given a more tactful answer, but he didn't want to.

He needs to tell every teammate that they are all important. "Dillon and Patrick are very important to us; they are an indispensable part of the Clippers' winning streak."

"But injuries are something no team can avoid. A great, championship-contending team has to face this situation at any time."

"Now is the time to test the Clippers. I believe they will be even more formidable when they return."

"This is a bad thing, but a good team should have the ability to turn a bad thing into a positive development."

After answering the question, Chen Fang politely got up and went to the shower room to take a shower.

There are still two people to entertain in the evening.

Chen Fang now keeps his competition and life separate. Although losing a game is unpleasant, he thinks about how others should smile at him when he beats them.

The place arranged for Harden wasn't quite suitable for hosting Curry and KD, but Chen Fang knew that Curry enjoyed drinking red wine, and coincidentally, his partner Edward owned a winery.

Edward readily agreed to the request with just a phone call, granting Chen Fang the highest authority to do whatever he wanted.

In a several-acre estate in a county south of Los Angeles, Chen Fang, KD, and Curry were enjoying a highly private gathering.

"To be honest, your invitation surprised me."

“I was just saying it offhand,” Curry shrugged, took a sip, and praised, “This red wine is really good.”

"Take some if you like. I know you won't let me suffer a loss," Chen Fang said with a smile.

"Of course!" Curry didn't refuse. At this level, being decisive is often the best policy; hesitation only makes you look bad.

Durant was very quiet today, which is typical of him. Even with a teammate, he automatically becomes more introverted.

After a few rounds of drinks, it was time to get down to business. Let's leave Chen Fang waiting; Curry spoke first.

What's your take on the trading two days ago?

As expected, this was the reason. Chen Fang chuckled inwardly, but said seriously, "Many things have changed: plans, strategies, and even relationships."

Curry empathized deeply and strongly agreed with Chen Fang's words: "Yes, with Paul going to the Rockets, Harden will definitely be even more explosive in scoring."

"As for James, well," Curry said with a wry smile.

Chen Fang interpreted this as a mixture of contempt and anger, since James's actions largely dictated the direction of this trade.

And this wasn't the first time he'd done this.

Every star player in the league is annoyed.

Of course, Curry doesn't think he was wrong to invite Durant to the Warriors.

"Howard at center, Davis at high four, Anthony at three, Pope at two, and James at point guard. This lineup..." Curry genuinely found it exaggerated.

Durant also expressed his dissatisfaction, grumbling but holding back from saying anything.

Chen Fang knew what Durant was thinking: next year, he wanted to find a group of teammates like that and show off.

"The future is going to be amazing!" Curry glanced at his teammates and muttered to himself while looking out the window.

The winter night sky is clear and cold, with countless stars, just like the idiom says.

Scattered all over.

"But I still want to win more championships!" Curry turned to Chen Fang and said.

Chen Fang nodded; he now fully understood why Curry had come.

He wanted to convey his attitude and meaning to himself, and also to Durant.

If Durant wants to leave, Curry won't stop him.

“One championship a year, there are plenty.” Chen Fang’s answer surprised Curry.

"Maintain a strong competitive spirit, face every strong opponent, and either defeat or be defeated."

"This way, we will not let down our lives or our hard work."

"Indeed, you are a poet and a philosopher." Curry smiled. He was really starting to like this Chinese man, a man whose elegance and strength were perfectly combined.

"Come on, let's finish the business and talk about things outside of basketball." Chen Fang raised his glass.

※※※

After losing to the Warriors, the Clippers embark on an away game.

Spurs, Mavericks, Heat, Bulls.

Two from the West, two from the East, what an exciting away game!

The whole team visited San Antonio, but unexpectedly, they were met with a brutal attack from their brother.

Mr. Popovich, without being ashamed to ask questions, learned from Kerr.

DeRozan, Rudy Gay, and Derek White.

The three men surrounded Chen Fang, and without any regard for the consequences, they encircled and cut him off.

Compared to the Warriors' three defenders, Chen Fang felt a greater intensity. Gay's defense, White's close defense, and DeRozan's veteran pride all contributed to an extreme level of defensive intensity.

The Clippers faced the same problem as in the previous game: who should be the third ball handler?

Lou Williams stepped up, forming a starting lineup and rotation with Rose, taking turns on the court to stabilize the situation.

Adriano was like a tiger unleashed from its cage, unstoppable. Jaren already had a psychological disadvantage against Adriano, and today he was completely stunned by the beating. Zubac was also toyed with.

The Clippers' entire interior backbone collapsed, turning them into cash cows.

Brunson was also uncomfortable, and Mills used his experience to teach the rookie how to play a ground-based style.

Bridges was in terrible form. He didn't seem to have recovered from his poor performance in the previous game. He made passing errors, missed his man on defense, and airballed shots. Rivers couldn't hold back his bizarre plays and he was disqualified after only eight minutes on the court.

DiVincenzo's physical disadvantage was magnified. Any Spurs player guarding him would use a squeezing style of play. He picked up 3 fouls in a single quarter and sat on the bench with Bridges, looking frustrated.

Brothers in misfortune.

Chen Fang was really frustrated. Every time he broke through, he was fouled early. His feet were several meters away from the three-point line, and he could no longer break through.

There are always people blocking his way from three directions: left, right, and front.

Going inside, they still get frustrated.

Forget about receiving the ball, you can't even stand still. Trying to fight a center is tantamount to suicide.

Two consecutive losses!
Chen Fang didn't want to give any post-match interviews, so he had to leave it to the head coach.

"It's my problem!" Rivers declared, taking the blame for everything.

"Chen Fang is facing a new problem. Yes, 14 points is unreasonable, but I believe in him. Sooner or later he will adapt to this intensity."

“But I have to complain a bit. Three people surrounding you shouldn’t have been like this,” Rivers said, shaking his head and sighing.

On January 22, the Clippers traveled to Dallas to face the Mavericks.

Finally, there's a perk! Carlisle really wanted to replicate his two colleagues' brilliant moves, but unfortunately, he didn't have a suitable candidate at his disposal.

Chen Fang is finally free.

42 points, 5 assists, and 8 rebounds.

I've finally released my anger.

Despite feeling refreshed, Chen Fang declined the interview, knowing full well that this happiness was only temporary.

If every team in the league targets him like this, it's really not a good thing.

“I must find a solution as soon as possible,” he told Mazura.

"I know that the top priority for the entire coaching staff right now is figuring out how to break the triple-team, but that takes time," Mazura said, looking extremely anxious.

"I hope this time doesn't come too late," he prayed to heaven.

But God did not hear, and instead intensified the abuse.

Harrell's back injury has recurred, Rose has sprained his knee, and Zubac is suffering from a severe cold and is physically weak, so he needs to rest.

When Chen Fang found out, he was completely stunned.

A wave of injuries has arrived.

He looked at the coaching staff and comforted them, saying, "Coming early is better than the playoffs."

"These are difficult times, and I think this is a good opportunity to train the team."

Rivers was pleased; he had discovered Chen Fang's qualities.

The more difficult it is, the more resilient we become.

Chen Fang laughed heartily at this.

"This is a characteristic of the Chinese people, not something unique to me!"

Now, let the League take a good look at what it means to be a descendant of the dragon!

(End of this chapter)