Rekindling the dream of becoming a star

Chapter 342 The Gaze of 16 Billion (Part 1)

"I feel myself trembling!" Meng Chao said excitedly to the camera, holding the subject in his hand.

"Today, Staples Center is filled with stars, including Denzel Washington, Jack Nicholson, Chris Pratt, Andy Garcia, Guy O'Connor, and many other Hollywood celebrities."

"Nicholson even made an exception by appearing in an away game, breaking the convention that he would only appear in Lakers home games."

"The most eye-catching thing is Kobe, which is also his first time appearing at the Clippers' home court. Although the Lakers and Clippers share the Staples Center, Kobe has never watched a Lakers game on the road."

"With so many celebrities and stars, this Los Angeles derby is undoubtedly the most watched regular season game in history."

"According to statistics, this match garnered a staggering 16 billion views, far exceeding the viewership of the finals."

The two teams were warming up at the moment, with security personnel standing around the center line. The Lakers, wearing blue and gold away jerseys, and the Clippers, wearing white and blue home jerseys, each occupied one side.

Despite the stadium being packed with people, the camera kept its focus on two individuals.

King Chen, James.

James warmed up with shooting drills with the help of his trainer, while Chen Fang lay on the floor stretching his legs and moving his joints, accompanied by his assistant coach.

More than 50 media outlets were authorized to provide commentary and live coverage of the match. Duan Ran and Ke Fan were assigned to high-positioned commentary seats near the bottom corner. Although the view was excellent, it was too far away, and even those with excellent eyesight could only see the outlines. They could only provide commentary by relying on the monitor footage.

But Chen Fang is still easy to recognize because he wears a long sleeve on his left arm and has a unique decoration on his right arm, which makes him easily identifiable.

Ke Fan and Duan Ran waited, their hearts pounding with nervousness.

If previous matches against James could be explained by mutual restraint, then today's match was completely different.

They will inevitably fight to the death, a fight to the death.

Both sides made harsh statements before the game, saying that whoever lost would be ridiculed for life. No one expected that, despite having long trusted Chen Fang, this was, after all, the opponent was LeBron James at full strength.

At the end of the season, the Lakers achieved a devastating nine-game winning streak. Both Davis and James, the Lakers' two core players, showed excellent competitive form, while Beasley on the bench also displayed the glory of his former star player, maintaining an average of 12 points and 7 rebounds per game.

Howard seemed to have rediscovered his invincible self, putting up double-doubles.

Anthony also performed exceptionally well after getting some playing time, with 14 points and 4 rebounds, which was better than the Rockets' performance.

With the addition of Caruso, who is gradually being given more playing time, and active substitutes like Jemerio Jones and Jonathan Williams, the Lakers' overall strength has been significantly improved.

For the Clippers, Dillon's return is a huge boost, allowing them to field a full roster for this game.

No one dares to predict the outcome; the suspense will only be cleared up once the real skills are revealed on the field.

On CCTV's commentary desk, the three-person commentary team consisting of Yu Jia, Yang Yi, and Zhang Weiping also repeatedly laid the groundwork.

"James, Davis, Howard, Anthony, Rondo, Beasley, look at the Lakers' roster, these are all top-tier stars in the league," Yang Yi began sarcastically.

Since Wang Zhen's pirate ship contacted him, Yang Yi joined without hesitation, becoming a subsidiary media company under Azure. Of course, this is still under wraps, but Yang Yi has benefited greatly. Financially, he is now semi-free.

Yu Jia looked serious. Yang Yi wasn't joking. The Lakers have been too strong lately, as if they were awakened by Chen Fang's two falls. The whole team is in good form, which explains why James publicly responded to Chen Fang.

"The good news is that Dillon is back, and Chen Fang is back at point guard. He will form the strongest defensive perimeter in the league with Jrue Holiday and Dillon." Yu Jia managed to calm the fans in front of the TV. If Yang Yi had continued to say that, everyone's hearts would have been half-disheartened.

Zhang Weiping, however, remained calm and composed. He settled in Los Angeles, having moved to the United States as early as 1988. He worked his way up from a massage therapist at the University of Chicago's Department of Physical Education, earning $5 an hour, to becoming the Western Regional Manager for Barton Beer Company.

In 1997, he met Liu Yumin, then director of the Basketball Department of the State Sports Commission, and returned to China to become a senior manager of IMG Asia Headquarters in China.

After retiring, he returned to the United States and focused his attention on the education and upbringing of his grandchildren.

It wasn't until Chen Fang appeared that he began to frequently appear in the commentary booth, continuing to contribute to Chinese basketball.

He was equally excited. Compared to others, he hoped that Chen Fang could defeat James. It was an indescribable emotion, an inexplicable desire.

"Everything depends on Chen Wang's performance today. Given Chen Wang's performance this season, if he can play like he did against the Warriors, even Kobe might not have the upper hand."

Grandpa Zhang's words left Yu Jia and Yang Yi stunned.

Goodness, to be able to bring up his beloved Kobe as a comparison shows that Zhang Weiping already considers Chen Wang his favorite.

“Yes, that’s right. Chen Wang is Chen Wang. He has proven himself in many key matches. There’s no need to say more. Let’s wait and see,” Yu Jia said solemnly.

Yang Yi echoed, "Let's see how Chen Wang performs in the first quarter."

Both of them nodded upon hearing this. Chen Fang also had a terrifying nickname: the First Emperor!

To understand King Chen's inner thoughts, one only needs to look at his aggressive desires in the first section. Once he gets serious, his unstoppable imperial aura is captivating.

So the three of them looked at the monitor at the same time. Chen Fang, who was on camera, had a serious expression. He was giving instructions to each of the starting players. Finally, he returned to the bench to rest for a while.

Chen Fang was already used to the cameras always following him. This was the treatment of a star player. When you're on the field, you're constantly being watched, and all you have to do is ignore it and focus on your own game.

Moreover, with the camera on, billions of eyes are watching you.

Every word and action will be magnified and interpreted.

Mazura approached them: "Still the same strategy, focus on defense. We need to figure out the Lakers' current situation."

"It mainly depends on how James changes. If he has more offensive desire in half-court sets, that will change a lot. In recent games, his scoring in half-court sets has been rising."

"What you need to do today is to be the one who provides full-court support and covers the defense."

Listening to Mazura's instructions and watching him gesture on the tactics board, Chen Fang nodded and drank water.

"How is it?" Mazura asked, looking up.

"That's it!" Chen Fang replied succinctly.

With Dillon back, Chen Fang no longer needs to lead the defense. He will be more involved in help defense, and since Rondo is the Lakers' point guard, he will face the least defensive pressure.

Rondo's options for shooting and driving are extremely limited; he primarily focuses on passing and playmaking.

This is also a weakness for the Lakers.

However, the performances of Howard, Beasley, and Anthony will be the X-factor in this game. If they were in their prime, the Clippers really wouldn't be able to stop them.

is it possible?
Chen Fang sensed Mazura's inner anxiety and patted his mentor and friend on the shoulder.

"Even if all six of those superstars are online today, I will still kill them."

A simple sentence brought Mazura back to her composure. She gripped Chen Fang's hand tightly, hoping that these hands would deliver an unparalleled shooting accuracy today.

"Alright, it's my turn to go on stage!" Chen Fang knew exactly what everyone was expecting. He stood up, and all the cameras immediately moved back half a frame to give Chen Fang a full-body shot.

In the footage, Chen Wang appears tall, upright, and dashing.

"The competition is about to begin!" Duan Ran's heart began to race, and he felt his mouth trembling and his throat dry.

Both teams stepped onto the court, and the Clippers were finally back to full strength.

Chen Fang, Zhu Huoludi, Dillon, Little Jalun, Zubac.

The Lakers also have an all-star roster.

Rondo, Pope, James, Davis, Howard.

As the bright orange basketball soared into the air, a deafening roar echoed through the Staples Center arena.

The Lakers vs. Clippers match, broadcast live globally and watched by 1.6 billion people, has begun.

Howard got the ball and lobbed it to the backcourt.

James controlled the ball immediately and then passed it to Rondo.

The Clippers' tide receded, but not very far. Chen Fang, Dillon, and Jrue Holiday all stood two meters beyond the three-point line. This is a typical playoff intensity standard, not giving the offensive team too much space and stretching the defensive zone to a distance where there is enough room for switching and help defense.

Zubac and Jaren were standing near the free-throw line. Today, the Clippers' strategy was half-court defense with full-court pressure.

Mazura gave the inside players only one task: focus on defense and protect the rim with all their might.

As Rondo crossed half-court, Chen Fang closed in on him. Under pressure, Rondo passed the ball to Davis, who was supporting from the middle.

The biggest advantage of a center having the ball is that he can pass it from a wider angle. James pressed down, preparing to go inside, but was stuck to by Dillon, who used both his hands and feet, showing no intention of making things easy for James.

Davis looked at Pope, who was currently being partially blocked by Jrue Holiday, leaving him no space to pass the ball.

Howard ran past him, and just as he reached the top of the arc, he was blocked by Zubac.

Today is purgatory!
With just a few glances, Davis was able to gauge the intensity of the game.

He was the only one free on the court. Davis decided to take matters into his own hands. He dribbled first, then suddenly accelerated, taking two steps to reach his maximum speed, passing by Howard, facing Jaren, making an active contact, pushing aside, taking three steps to lay up, and slamming the ball into the basket with one hand.

"Wow! The Lakers score first, it's Davis! He's unstoppable, nobody's attention is on him. As a power forward, Davis's ball-handling is at a guard level!" ESPN's chief commentator Mike Breen shouted.

As Chen Fang walked back, he said to Jalen, who was preparing to serve from the baseline, "You should follow, not try to push. Use your wingspan advantage."

"Yes, I made a mistake." Jaren realized this as he came to his senses.

"There's still plenty of time, keep your head clear!" Chen Fang pointed to his head.

But in the eyes of the interpreter, there is an interpretation.

"Chen Wang was criticizing Xiao Jialun. He made a gesture, seemingly blaming the defensive choice just now."

"Chen Wang really wanted to win this game, but the Lakers at their peak were unstoppable."

Some commentators who are biased towards the lake have started to compile and edit their explanations extensively.

But the next second, their voices stopped abruptly.

Go back five seconds.

Chen Fang received the baseline ball from Jalen and dribbled forward. Pope was waiting at the center line, but when he saw Chen Fang start to accelerate, he immediately went to meet him.

Chen Fang accelerated too quickly, and with just one step he started to speed up. His acceleration immediately affected the Lakers' entire defensive retreat route.

James immediately made a forward-looking block, taking small steps closer and directing Davis to retreat into the paint to protect the rim.

In Chen Fang's eyes, all of this constituted a decision.

So what if you're a superstar? I'll take you on!

The speed has already picked up; there's no need to wait.

A push to the right and a change of direction drew James to accelerate laterally to block, but Chen Fang used his left hand to return, changing direction laterally to the left, and took a big step past James who missed his target.

Chen Fang didn't even have a chance to foul James before he crossed the three-point line in an instant.

Davis was still retreating when Howard came up from the side, creating a double-team on the front and right sides.

"I don't care about you!"

What does it mean to be fearless? Chen Fang is it right now.

The next step after crossing the free-throw line, Chen Fang touched the ground with one foot and stood up, grabbing the basketball with his right hand and hooking it around his wrist.

During the ascent, Chen Fang spreads his feet apart, one in front of the other. This posture allows him to maintain his ascent while keeping his center of gravity controlled in his waist and abdomen, thus maintaining absolute balance.

Davis didn't have time to straighten his body completely. He jumped to the side, raising his hands high, while Howard, to his side, also leaped up.

The two top centers from the two leagues attempted to use their superior height to punish Chen Wang.

"My God!" the commentator exclaimed instinctively, forgetting to continue.

Chen Fang finally raised his right hand, which was holding the ball, and lifted the basketball high. As his waist straightened, it formed an inverted C-shaped arc in the air, and his feet seemed to be walking on clouds. The next second, it changed into a running posture with his knees raised.

The basket was completely blocked and out of sight. Relying on his memory, Chen Fang roared and swung his right arm, slamming the ball hard towards the basket.

Howard's large hand narrowly missed the raised arm, and the gap between Davis's hands widened rapidly with the collision with Chen Fang's body.

The ball came and hit Davis's palm, then instantly deformed, his arm and wrist visibly bent. In Davis's sensory perception, he felt as if his palm had been struck by a giant hammer, which immediately caused him to lose his balance.

"Ooooooooo!" the commentator finally roared out.

Complete madness ensued, with countless people rising from their seats and shouting wildly.

They witnessed Davis's incredible feat of trying to stop a chariot with his bare hands, and they also saw that classic, timeless moment.

Davis fell to the floor, Howard landed with his arms still raised, and Chen Wang hung on the rim with one arm, swaying on the backboard with inertia.

His body slammed hard against the bottom edge of the backboard due to inertia. Chen Fang simply raised one foot and touched the support of the basket frame. Using the rebound force, Chen Fang let go and landed.

As soon as he landed, his teammates rushed up and surrounded him.

Every face was contorted in a ferocious grimace, while Chen Fang's blood was still surging, and his face still held a murderous aura.

Staples Center was in a frenzy; who could have imagined that the opening minute would be so explosive?

Davis dunked, and Chen Wang immediately responded with an even more ruthless long-distance run from afar to complete the comeback.

Davis got up with the help of his teammates. He should have been angry, but he couldn't muster any anger. His mind was filled with the memory of his face-to-face confrontation with Chen Fang just a few seconds ago.

Those cold eyes and ferocious expression evoked a fear no less intense than that of a vengeful ghost lunging at your face.

"Are you alright?" Howard was apologetic, but he had done his best.

"It's okay." Davis replied, touching his buttocks and finding no pain.

The large screen in the central ceiling was playing a repetitive video. Davis watched it once and immediately felt unwell, with a desire to vomit.

That's so illogical, how can a person be so crazy?
It wasn't just Davis himself; everyone present thought the same thing.

The two centers had already taken their positions, and Chen Wang, without even thinking, took off, determined to go head-to-head with them.

"The mountains dance like silver snakes, the plains gallop like wax elephants, vying with the heavens for height." Yu Jia was inspired to write poetry. He didn't care whether it was appropriate for the scene and just recited, "Chen Wang is full of courage. He once again demonstrated what absolute height is. He ignored Davis and Howard's protection of the rim and told the Lakers today with a powerful dunk."

"This is his territory, his world!"

Everyone knew today was going to be a battle of titans, but no one expected it to start so explosively. Those two dunks really got the players' blood pumping.

James took possession of the ball and, using Davis's screen, broke free from Dillon's defense and drove into the middle.

Gao He made a layup, and Chen Fang, who came over to help defend, rushed over from the baseline, but James scored two points with a faster shot and drew a foul from Chen Fang.

"You can't stop me, you piece of trash!" James seized the opportunity to hurl insults at Chen Fang.

"Oh, really? Come in and take a look again next time!" Chen Fang was not to be outdone and started a psychological battle with James.

It was too late to get the ball back, but Chen Fang still rushed in, even at the risk of committing a foul, just to give James a piece of his mind.

James didn't take it to heart. Standing at the free-throw line, he taunted Chen Fang, "I'll give you a dunk over him!"

"That's what I wanted to say to you too," Chen Fang spat dismissively.

Beside them, their teammates looked fierce, glaring at each other. There was no room for sentimentality in this game; only by understanding their own position could they continue to survive. Showing even the slightest weakness would lead to certain doom.

This scene was faithfully recorded by the camera.

The commentators didn't dare to comment; pretending not to hear was the smart thing to do at that moment.

James made the free throw, giving the Lakers a 5-2 lead.

But in the next possession, Chen Fang assisted Jrue Holiday on a three-pointer, tying the score again.

His ball-handling drew a double team from Pope and James, leaving Jrue Holiday open at the top of the key. Chen Fang immediately passed the ball back, earning his first assist.

"Come and double-team me as much as you want!" Chen shouted.

The Lakers advanced quickly. James dribbled the ball across half-court and handed it to Davis, who had pulled back. Davis dribbled into the paint and, under pressure from Jaren, passed the ball to Howard, who was coming in from the right.

Howard used his signature two-handed slam dunk to give the Lakers a two-point lead again.

Zubac was angrily berated by Chen Fang. He had been focused on helping defend Davis and hadn't expected Davis to pass the ball.

"Remember, Davis is a power forward who can pass the ball, you shouldn't be out of position," Chen Fang instructed.

Chen Fang didn't let any of his teammates' defensive mistakes slip by; he had to use the game to hone the skills of his teammates.

Nothing beats today's competition for developing skills.

The game continued, and after five minutes, the score went back and forth. Mazura said to Rivers, "If I'm not mistaken, the Lakers have adopted a completely new offensive strategy."

"Davis became the point guard, he distributed the ball at the free-throw line, James and Pope would be waiting on the wings, Rondo would be the second playmaker at the top of the key, and Howard would be left under the basket to harass and draw defenders."

“We need to disrupt Davis, double-team him.”

Rivers, keeping an eye on the game, asked without turning his head, "Are you on defense?"

"It's the usual approach. The score isn't far apart yet. They'll definitely make changes, but not now."

"Alright, let's change it. Let Harrell go. Jaren is too clean!" Rivers made his decision.

Harrell came on and immediately found Chen Fang.

"Boss, the coach wants us to double-team Davis."

"Understood, go ahead and give him the biggest trouble!" Chen Fang immediately understood and added.

“This is what I’m good at!” Harrell grinned and assured him.

Harrell's presence prevented Davis from making normal passes, so James began to take over possession of the ball, and Dillon's pressure suddenly increased.

Although James's dribbling and driving to the basket is definitely below average in the league, once he starts accelerating through a pick-and-roll, he becomes the best rim-attacking player in the league.

Dillon was giving chase when he spotted a figure, which greatly boosted his spirits.

As James jumped to challenge for a one-on-one game, hoisting the basketball high, Chen Fang suddenly appeared like a white ghost from Howard's side, who was setting a screen for him.

Before he could react, Chen Fang's palm had already slapped his face.

Take them all, ball and players!

The ball flew and the man fell, and Chen Fang took the opportunity to straddle James's legs, looking down at James lying on the ground.

"I told you, come in and take another look!"

James was furious; he was enraged by Chen Fang's practice of taking money and bribes.

He pushed himself up, ready to cause trouble for Chen Fang, but Chen Fang simply lifted his foot and swiftly moved to Di Long's side. "Brother, let's go!"

James, who had just gotten up, bumped right into Dillon.

"Old man, where are you going?" Dillon sprayed him right in the face.

"What's it to you, you damn bastard!" James cursed at Chen Fang's retreating back.

Chen Fang left the crowded area, stretched his shoulders and back, and listened to the cursing coming from inside, feeling extremely satisfied.

The referee separated the two sides, and James could only direct his anger at Dillon. He pointed at Dillon, trembling with rage, and said, "Just you wait, Joker."

“You’re the real clown! Don’t you look in the mirror? Don’t you have one at home? I’ll give you one!” Dillon grinned.

"Another conflict broke out on the court. Chen Wang blocked LeBron's layup attempt and said something, which angered James," the commentator reported.

"Dilron stopped James, he's provoking him. This Clippers' biggest villain wasn't even there in the last conflict. Looks like Dillon's going to get his revenge today," Clippers commentator David laughed heartily.

The cameras were also looking for celebrities during the stadium clashes.

Lakers die-hard fan Nicholson stood up angrily, grumbling incessantly, while Washington remained calm and even smiled.

Kobe looked somber, seemingly revealing some helplessness. He had come with his family today, and his attention was more focused on his second daughter, Gigi, explaining the game to her.

Mr. Zhang Weiping noticed this scene and couldn't help but say, "Kobe is in the most conflicted situation today. Chen Fang is his disciple, but the Lakers are his original team. I wonder what he is feeling about being able to attend today."

When asked about the old man's direct labeling of Chen Wang as Kobe's disciple, Yang Yi immediately retorted: "Disciple is an exaggeration. They just train together often and their connection was formed at USC, through DeRozan."

"Kobe greatly admires Chen Wang because the two have similar temperaments, so saying 'passing on' is perhaps a more accurate description."

Yu Jia could only try to smooth things over: "Given Kobe's attitude towards basketball, I believe he would have preferred a completely fair match, with winning or losing being secondary."

Regardless of the commentators' arguments, the Lakers inbounded the ball from the baseline. With little time remaining, James received the ball and passed it to Pope on the wing, who took a three-pointer but missed.

"Why aren't you shooting? Are you too scared?" Dillon chased after James as he retreated on defense.

"Get out of here, clown!"

"Then what are you? The King of Runaways?"

The verbal sparring with Dillon affected James, and in the following rounds, James had to focus his attention on the physical play.

Chen Fang began to find his own rhythm.

He first moved around the wing without the ball, then squeezed and contested to get into position in the elbow area, received the ball, took a step to the side, turned and jumped to make his second mid-range shot of the day.

That was also the goal that put them ahead again.

In the Lakers' next possession, Davis's shot was contested by Harrell and missed the rim. Chen Fang grabbed the rebound and charged across half-court. Just when everyone thought he was going to drive to the basket again, he boldly jumped and shot a three-pointer from one meter out of the three-point line.

This three-pointer was swift and accurate, swishing through the rim perfectly. The ball landed as the player fell.

Chen Fang, still in his shooting stance, stepped back, looked at James, and shouted, "Let me teach you how to shoot threes. I'm the best teacher."

James ignored it, which is his usual response strategy; he only yelled back when he received a pass in response.

"Eight minutes into the first quarter, the Clippers led 27-22 by five points. Chen Fang suddenly stepped up his game and has already scored 13 points. He truly deserves the title of King of the First Quarter and Emperor of the First Quarter!" Yang Yicai didn't feel ashamed at all and sang praises loudly.

Unfortunately, James didn't get his chance, and Davis responded with a three-pointer to close the gap again, leaving Chen Fang with no reason to blame his teammates.

It's unrealistic to expect that a versatile player like Davis can be completely shut down and scoreless for the entire game.

Only James has the audacity to have wasted Davis's youth.

As the first quarter drew to a close, both teams' shooting percentages began to drop, and Chen Fang was substituted for the first time, replaced by Lou Williams.

With Chen off the field, several players needed to be replaced. Bridges replaced Dillon, Jrue Holiday was replaced by Beverley, and Zubac was replaced by Richon.

This is a four-in-four-out strategy, reflecting the Clippers' confidence in their second lineup.

For the Lakers, Davis and James had to be substituted out, while Beasley and Anthony were brought in, and Rondo was replaced by Caruso.

The commentators could finally relax, catch their breath, and give their feedback on the first quarter.

"Chen Wang is very sharp; he hasn't lost his competitive edge despite not having played for almost a month."

"James was harassed by Dillon and only scored 5 points."

"Davis is the backbone of the Lakers, and his 11 points were crucial."

The two teams' substitutes traded drives and defenses on the court. Anthony showed off his mid-range shots, but Lou Williams responded with three-pointers.

Beasley drove to the basket but was disrupted by Richon. The Clippers transitioned to the frontcourt, and Bridges hit a three-pointer to further widen the gap.

"Don't underestimate the Clippers' rotation right now, which includes starters who played half of the regular season," Duan Ran analyzed immediately.

"Lou Williams' offense, Bridges' 3-and-D defense, and Richon and Harrell's rim protection in the paint are all very powerful."

"This lineup won 7 out of the 13 games during Chen Wang's suspension, which is enough to prove it."

On the bench, Chen Fang and Di Long were whispering to each other.

“Keep it up, I’ll cover for you,” Chen Fang said.

"Too many pick-and-rolls, damn it, he can't get past me at all," Dillon complained.

"That's normal. Keep chasing and defending. After I blocked his shot, he won't be so aggressive anymore."

"Let's find an opportunity to give him another shot." Dillon's eyes lit up with excitement.

Patting Dillon on the shoulder, Chen Fang assured him, "There will be plenty of opportunities."

As the buzzer sounded, Chen Fang immediately stood up to make room for the players leaving the court. He stood at the edge of the bench and saw Kobe, who was also looking at him.

Surprisingly, neither of them intended to speak. Chen Fang simply nodded to Kobe and then turned away.

"Daddy, why doesn't Uncle Chen talk to you?" Gigi asked curiously.

Chen Fang would train with Kobe in his spare time, especially during the suspension period. Both families became familiar with each other, and Wu Zi, for example, was particularly fond of Gigi.

Kobe stroked his daughter's head: "He's focused on the game."

"He's a killer, you have to stay focused," Kobe added.

Kobe was conflicted about why he attended the game, but he really wanted to see live how Chen Fang would personally kill the Lakers. At the same time, he also hoped that this game would make the Lakers management realize that James was not the savior.

The first quarter's performance convinced Kobe that the Lakers would have a tough time winning today.

Because Chen Fang's attitude and focus were just too good.

Just as Kobe was thinking, the second quarter began.

The Clippers didn't use their starting lineup and continued with their second set, while the Lakers, who were behind, switched back to their starting lineup.

James started to exert his strength, first scoring through a drive after a pick-and-roll, and then hitting his first three-pointer in an open position.

Seeing the three-pointer go in, James was very excited and immediately looked at the Clippers' bench, shouting to Chen Fangyao, "What is that? Look with your eyes!"

Chen Fang, however, pouted and said to Di Long, "Look how happy he is."

This scene was captured on camera.

"James shouted from afar, Chen Wang curled his lip in disdain, and Dillon laughed loudly." Ke Fan quickly summarized.

Although Chen Fang appeared relaxed, he knew that if the Clippers didn't come back in the next possession, he would have to play.

Sure enough, Lou Williams was stripped by Rondo, and James dunked on a fast break, tying the score.

Rivers didn't call a timeout; instead, he requested a substitution.

Chen Fang and Ti Lung both stood up.

Chen Fang responded to James on his first touch of the ball after coming on.

He and Richon handed him a handshake, and the latter took the opportunity to take Pope away, creating a standoff with Davis.

Chen Fang made three consecutive threats, shifting Davis's center of gravity downwards. He then pulled up for a clean and crisp three-pointer.

"LeBron, can he do that?" Chen Fang asked Davis jokingly after his defensive lapse.

Davis remained silent, focusing only on running forward.

But Chen Fang didn't let it go. James broke through and passed the ball to Pope, who was wide open, but was interfered with by Chen Fang who came over to cover. The three-pointer was short, and Dillon grabbed the rebound and pushed forward. Chen Fang was on his left.

The two walked together, and before the Lakers started double-teaming them, the ball was passed to Chen Fang.

Receive the ball, dribble one step, stand up and shoot.

After shooting, he left, amidst gasps from the crowd. Chen Fang spread his hands and shook his head at James, who was standing not far away with his hands on his hips, as if to say, "Can you do it?"

"Chen Fang has already hit two three-pointers in the second quarter, bringing his score to 19 points. My God, what an incredible shooting percentage, with only 8 attempts!" The commentators exclaimed in surprise, while Clippers fans began chanting in unison, "MVP."

"This is what a core member and a leader truly mean!" Duan Ran exclaimed excitedly.

"The substitutions immediately reversed the tide, widened the gap, and had a remarkable effect!"

Davis could only grit his teeth and chase. He backed down the ball and then blocked Dillon's layup on the next possession, assisting James on a fast break for two more points.

Thanks to Davis's performance, the Lakers maintained their momentum, and James also began to make his mark.

Despite Dillon's interference, he drifted in and made his second three-pointer, which immediately made him feel refreshed. He yelled at Dillon, "Look at you, you clown!"

Dillon, completely unafraid, roared back, "Then give me another one! Do you have the confidence to do that?"

The Lakers' head coach began to make substitutions, taking Pope out and putting Caruso in, then taking Howard out and replacing him with Beasley.

“I need you to interfere with Chen Fang as much as possible,” Walton told them.

One tall and one short – this is a delightful surprise that Wharton carefully prepared for Chen Fang.

As expected, Chen Fang was affected as soon as he entered the arena. Caruso anticipated Chen Fang's change of direction and blocked his way in advance, but Chen Fang reacted very quickly, changed his move and turned around, and still managed to get past Caruso.

He took a step forward and jumped, but was slapped away by Beasley, who jumped up from the side.

The crowd gasped in surprise. James was overjoyed, realizing for the first time that he didn't dislike Beasley, and rushed over to cheer him on.

Chen Fang remained expressionless, but instead smiled.

Instead of catching the ball on the sideline, Chen Fang gave Dillon a wink.

He interacted with Harrell, running into the Lakers' elbow area under off-ball screen.

Dillon received the ball and immediately passed it in, whereupon Chen Fang was immediately subjected to physical contact from Beasley.

But Chen Fang dribbled continuously, swaying left and right, with wide and sweeping steps, managing to create a distance of one and a half meters inside. Just as James came over to double-team, Chen Fang turned to the side to catch the ball, pretending to shoot.

Pointing at Beasley, Chen Fang took a step inside with the ball, and was about to hook the ball when James immediately took off, leaping high into the air.

But it was still Chen Fang's feint. His pivot foot didn't move. He quickly pulled his foot back, turned around, took a step out, and jumped with both feet at the same time.

This time, no one could interfere. Amidst the gasps of the crowd, Chen Fang used his incredible footwork to outmaneuver the entire Lakers' interior defense.

The camera instantly cuts to Kobe Bryant on set, whose incredulous expression perfectly complements the atmosphere.

"Wow, even Kobe was amazed. Chen Wang's back-to-the-basket technique has reached a state of perfection."

"Even after 15 years of playing, LeBron James could never do something like that in his entire life."

Commentators who favored the Clippers immediately seized the opportunity to stir up trouble and start mocking them.

"What graceful movements! If I were to say that Chen Wang plays like Jordan, would anyone object?" Yang Yi asked without batting an eye.

The big screen was displaying the response, and the fans in the arena were completely absorbed in it. Every Clippers fan wore an expression of pride.

This is the Clippers' own superstar, developed by themselves, and also the most handsome player in the league when it comes to backing down his opponent, all with the Clippers!

As if boosted by this play, Chen Fang stopped wasting his energy on the perimeter and started punishing Walton's mismatches.

Whether it's Beasley or Caruso, they are both far inferior to him in some aspects, and no matter who plays defense, Chen Fang attacks fiercely.

So, amidst the commentators' exclamations and the fans' cheers, Chen Fang scored 4 back-to-the-basket moves, 2 drives, and 1 three-pointer in just four minutes.

He took a total of 7 shots and achieved an amazing shooting percentage of 5 out of 7.

"Chen Wang has already scored 32 points! What an incredible statistic! He scored with just 17 shots!"

"This is still the first half, there are still 3 minutes left in the game."

"God, today King Chen is fulfilling his promise; he is going to personally kill the Lakers' playoff hopes."

However, commentators who favor the Lakers have the opposite view.

"Despite Chen Wang's amazing performance, the Lakers are only down by 7 points. Davis was in superb form today, scoring 21 points, which broke his first-half scoring record. James also had a hot hand with 16 points."

"If they continue playing like this, Chen Wang may not be able to maintain his momentum in the second half."

As if he had heard it, Rivers substituted Chen Wang, and when he left the field, he went to greet him.

"Don't exert yourself too early."

"I knew it, but I didn't expect our performance today to be so good!" Chen Fang wiped the sweat from his forehead.

Apart from Chen Wang, everyone on the Clippers seems to be cursed; they just can't make the shots when they get the chance.

Dillon, on the other hand, has already scored 12 points and is currently Chen Fang's most reliable helper.

Lou Williams was in good form, but his defense became a weakness. If it weren't for Chen Fang's outburst, the Clippers might have even fallen behind.

"Be patient, don't rush," Rivers reassured him. As a coach, he had encountered this situation many times before, and the more anxious he was, the less effective it was.

The buzzer sounded at halftime, and the fans sighed. In the final possession, Davis hit another three-pointer, tying the game.

"As you can see, the Lakers are in top form. If they win this game, they'll be in a tough spot no matter who they face in the playoffs," said Mike Breen, ESPN's lead commentator.

"It's really rare to be able to tie the Clippers, who are the best team in the league, at halftime. This season, the Clippers have led at halftime in a total of 64 games, which shows how terrifying they are."

"This is also the first time that Chen and Wang have scored 32 points in the first half without taking the lead."

The three commentators on CCTV also took the opportunity to analyze the situation.

"Davis is too fierce. He actually broke through the Clippers' interior defense in the first half, with 26 points, 7 assists and 10 rebounds. This is too abnormal." Yang Yi really felt it was unbelievable.

"The Clippers have a lot of problems themselves. They have so many open shots, but they just can't make them. Sigh," Yu Jia sighed.

"It's normal. When players are too eager to win, this happens." The old man seemed quite used to it.

Meanwhile, in the TX commentary booth, Ke Fan was chirping: "Damn, if it weren't for Davis, the Lakers would have been defeated long ago. Damn, they really know how to find a superstar. I'm impressed, they're so lucky."

Duan Ran looked around to make sure no one was there, then reminded him, "You need to change your habit of speaking carelessly."

"What the hell? I really want to criticize this actor. I'd rather quit my job." Ke Fan said this while glancing around nervously, afraid of being recorded.

"Just wait, things will get better in the second half. As long as the Clippers get their shooting touch, the Lakers will collapse very quickly."

“Because they have no leader!” Duan Ran asserted.

In the Clippers' locker room, Rivers quieted everyone down.

"Adjust your breathing and calm yourself down."

"Don't think about anything, just focus on your heartbeat."

A few minutes later, the locker room was completely silent, with the faint sound of DJ music coming from the doorway.

“Lift your heads, children,” Rivers’ voice rang out.

Chen Fang, like everyone else, opened his eyes and looked at the head coach.

"It's not a big deal. There are still countless challenges ahead. The Warriors, Rockets, Trail Blazers, Nuggets, Thunder—these teams are all waiting for us in the playoffs."

"We were just too eager to win. I have never let you down and have always trusted your skills."

"Kids, it's no big deal. In the second half, just put in all the shots you're supposed to score, and then we'll have a feast together to celebrate the Lakers' fishing success."

Rivers's words drew laughter.

Chen Fang noticed that everyone's expressions had softened and their eyes were no longer anxious.

Well, that's the power of a champion coach's language.

"Come on, we didn't do anything wrong, they were just a bit lucky."

"But their luck won't last. In the second half, that's when the Lakers will show their true colors."

After finishing his speech, Rivers clapped his hands loudly, and Chen Fang also got up and came to the center of the hall.

"So this is what the Lakers are like when they go all out," he shrugged sarcastically, and everyone laughed.

"Let's go, don't keep our guests waiting. There's still an hour left. Once we win, we can laugh at them to our hearts' content." Chen Fang pushed open the door first, leading everyone towards the stadium.

Following closely behind was Jaren, who looked ashamed.

"Everyone needs opportunities to grow. Seize the second half." Chen Fang hugged Xiao Jialun.

Do you know when I started growing up?

Little Jialun looked at Chen Fang with confusion.

"It was that match I played against you that made me realize how strong I could be."

"You can be this strong too!"

A light began to shine in Jaren's eyes.

He shoved him hard: "Charge! Let everyone see your true strength."

(End of this chapter)