Rekindling the dream of becoming a star

Chapter 347 The First Round of Conflict
On April 14, the first round of the NBA playoffs concluded.

The Thunder won three quarters at the Warriors' home court, but ultimately fell to a run of three-pointers from Curry and Durant.

Warriors lead 1-0.

In their home game against the Jazz, the Harden-Paul duo couldn't contain the Mitchell-Gobert pairing. Mitchell dominated, racking up an astonishing 48 points, 12 assists, and 3 steals, leading the Rockets to an upset victory and take the first point.

The Jazz are currently leading 1-0.

The game between the Trail Blazers and the Nuggets was the most closely contested, with the score neck and neck, going back and forth, and it was still the same in the last two minutes.

Jokic had a breakout performance, racking up a triple-double of 31 points, 11 assists, and 15 rebounds, outplaying Lillard's 42 points and 13 assists. Murray had an off night in the first three quarters, but he redeemed himself in the fourth quarter with 15 points.

It was him who, with 34 seconds left, hit a mid-range shot that sealed the victory for the Trail Blazers.

Lillard's shot at the buzzer missed, and the Nuggets defended their home court with a 1-0 lead.

The Eastern Conference remained unchanged: the Bucks easily defeated the Pistons, the Raptors beat the Magic, the 76ers cruised over the Nets, and the Celtics beat the Pacers.

All the superstars performed as expected, with Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kawhi Leonard, and Joel Embiid all showing their true level. It is worth noting that Jayson Tatum showed his superstar potential with 37 points, 12 rebounds, and 7 assists, setting a new personal playoff record.

Overall, the Clippers won the game most easily in the West, and it was also the game with the largest point difference.

Competitive sports is an industry that loves comparison. The actions of players, teams, media reporters, and fans are all driven by this.

The Clippers' easy victory over the Spurs has also sparked heated discussions.

Media reporters also provided their analysis of the issues highlighted in this match.

Los Angeles Chronicle reporter Odyssey commented: "The Spurs' problem lies in their rotation; they lack bench depth and struggle to maintain a point differential in high-intensity competition."

"DeRozan scored 26 points and Aldridge scored 28 points, both playing to their full potential, but the problem is that the Spurs don't have any other players of the same caliber to help them."

"Gay has 7 points, Mills has 11 points, and White has 8 points. The combined score of these three is only enough for a decent starter. How can we not lose?"

"On the other hand, for the Clippers, Chen Wang had 26 points, Dillon had 12 points, Jrue Holiday had 13 points, Zubac had 10 points, and 3J had 8 points. The five starters combined for 69 points, which is certainly not enough."

"But in the second lineup, you can see Brunson with 10 points, DiVincenzo with 8 points, Bridges with 6 points, Rose with 6 points, Beverley with 8 points, Lou Williams with 7 points, Richon with 4 points, Harrell with 5 points, and Thornwell with 5 points."

"All 14 players who took the court scored, for a total of 128 points, a decisive victory over the Spurs by 27 points."

"What is a team? This is the best example of a team."

"We all overlooked the Clippers' roster completeness. They have three rotations, half-court offense, transition offense, and run-and-gun offense—they have it all."

"The Clippers can field a lineup that can handle any style of opponent and not be at a disadvantage."

"The Clippers have 10 players on the wing and guard positions. They have very different styles and their own strengths. Coach Rivers has put them together and achieved the third-best offensive efficiency and the best record in the league."

"It's time to really examine the Clippers' true strength. As the team's only core player and leader, Chen Wang's all-around ability gives the team enough strength to face any opponent."

"It has become a consensus in the league that no one wants to face the Clippers in the playoffs, mainly because they don't want to confront Chen Wang."

In his closing remarks, Odyssey reiterated: "I am extremely optimistic about the Clippers' record in this playoffs. Assuming everything goes well, I believe we will know who the Clippers' Western Conference Finals opponent is in May."

"Whether it's the Warriors or the Rockets, this Western Conference Finals will be the most competitive in the last decade."

"We are really looking forward to Chen Wang's second playoff run. If he can break through the second round and advance to the Western Conference Finals, it will further solidify Chen Wang's position in the league and is also an important moment for the transition between the old and new generations."

"Whether Curry or Harden will take over the era from Chen Wang is a major point of interest in this playoffs."

Odyssey's comments have attracted widespread attention, sparking heated debate over his assertion that the Clippers will advance to the Finals.

"The Spurs, a veteran powerhouse, won't give up so easily, and Popovich won't surrender either. Don't make simplistic judgments based on just one loss."

"Even if they advance to the next round, the winner between the Nuggets and the Trail Blazers will not make things easy for the Clippers. The Clippers' biggest weakness is their interior defense, and both teams have a crushing advantage in that area."

Similar comments circulated for two whole days, only finally subsiding on April 15th with the start of the second round.

The Clippers once again displayed their strength at home.

陈王37分碾压了德罗赞的29分，祖巴茨迎来大爆发，他26分20个篮板的恐怖两双，也让阿德的31分13篮板黯然失色。

In addition, other Clippers players also had excellent performances. Rose scored 18 points, showing his youthful energy, and Lou Williams' 21 points really delighted the fans.

These four players alone scored 102 points, and the Clippers once again broke the playoff scoring record with 141 points, shocking the entire league.

"The Clippers have been hiding their true strength, and the playoffs are where they'll shine," Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich said helplessly to reporters regarding the dismal 58-point loss in the two games.

"My players gave it their all, but the Clippers' rotation remained superb, and it felt like we were playing against two different starting lineups." Popovich then defended his players.

"Now we're going home to figure out how to deal with the Clippers, this weapon ship."

"Weapon Ship" has become the Clippers' most recognized nickname because of Popovich's words.

Captain Chen Wang was also awarded the Player of the Week in the playoffs for his individual performance. His consistent performance and leadership role were widely praised.

When the second game of the playoffs was over, the situation changed.

The Thunder won at the Warriors' home court. Westbrook was on fire, putting up a triple-double with 42 points, 12 assists, and 11 rebounds, and his sharper offense crushed the Warriors.

The overall score is now 1-1.

The Rockets retained their home court advantage, with Harden also recording a triple-double of 38 points, 10 assists, and 11 rebounds, defeating the Jazz.

The score is now tied at 1-1.

Mitchell's outstanding performance in this game has earned him enough respect to become a new generation All-Star.

The Trail Blazers and Nuggets continued their close battle, with both teams evenly matched. This time, Lillard outplayed Jokic, with his triple-double of 33 points, 12 assists, 10 rebounds, and 4 steals overshadowing Jokic's performance.

The final score is 1:1.

Murray once again exposed his inconsistent performance, scoring only 14 points, which is not enough to live up to his status as the Nuggets' core perimeter player.

His poor performance greatly increased the Trail Blazers' chances of advancing, much to the dismay of Nuggets fans. In an era where other teams' perimeter stars were all thriving, Murray was instantly overshadowed.

The Western Conference's latest round of matches has also sparked a new round of discussion.

Has a triple-double become the sole criterion for victory?

Harden, Lillard, and Westbrook all used triple-doubles to demonstrate their status in the league.

On the contrary, Prince Chen seemed to be quite unconventional.

Chen Wang's assist and rebound statistics have both dropped significantly this season, especially his assists, which have decreased by 3 points. This has transformed him from an all-around player into a pure scoring superstar.

In the second game, his stats of 37 points, 4 assists, and 5 rebounds seemed quite modest compared to the others.

But no one can underestimate him, because everyone knows that Chen Wang has simply delegated his responsibilities, focusing on scoring and stealthy defense, which does not mean that he has lost his ability to assist.

This also shows that the Clippers are fully equipped, allowing Chen Wang to focus on his best skill: scoring.

The Eastern Conference remains unchanged, with the Bucks leading the Pistons 2-0 and the Raptors also leading the Magic 2-0. The 76ers and Celtics are both protecting their home-court advantage, while the Nets and Pacers can only hope to win a game back at home.

The waiting period was agonizing, for both fans and coaches.

The players, on the other hand, have it the easiest. With a playoff schedule of one game every three days, a full training session is impossible. They mainly focus on physical therapy and maintenance warm-up exercises.

The players will get a full day of free rest, but what about when they're playing away?
The players are all holed up in the hotel playing cards and video games to pass the time.

During this process, Chen Wang's complete blackout of the controller screen truly amused the entire team.

It's fair to say that when Chen Wang picked up the controller, he acted like an idiot, unable to perform even the simplest movement controls.

Chen Fang was also helpless. For Chinese people, the popularity of video games is very low. Most gamers are familiar with PC games, and most people only start using gamepads after they become adults. Before that, Chen Fang had never touched one. Unwilling to accept defeat, Chen Fang stubbornly occupied one of the gamepads, constantly causing trouble for his teammates. Both sides were in pain. Chen Fang's pain was that no matter how focused he was, his hands and brain just couldn't match.

The constant deaths caused by teammates being dragged down also greatly affected the gaming experience.

In the end, Ti Lung came up with a bad idea and invited Chen Wang to play 2K. This immediately rekindled everyone's enthusiasm, which had been low.

The stubborn Chen Fang continued to struggle with the controller, accepting all challenges, so the whole team experienced a novel experience of brutally defeating Chen Fang in the 2K game.

Beverley, known as the King of 2K, beat Chen Wang by 100 points, leaving Chen Wang red-faced, gritting his teeth, and spewing incomprehensible Mandarin.

It wasn't until evening that Mazura discovered it. Upon seeing Chen Wang's mental state, she was shocked and immediately stopped this vicious incident of collectively abusing the weak.

Rivers soon found out and called several key figures into his room for a talk. His serious attitude made the players feel uneasy.

Remembering Chen Fang's dejected appearance when he returned to his room, everyone began to regret their actions.

Just when the whole team was worried, Chen Wang scored a super 45 points at the Spurs' home court, turning the Spurs' home court into a library.

The 20,000 fans who came to cheer at the stadium were in despair. If they couldn't even win at home, then there was no hope of advancing at all.

In the sixth minute of the fourth quarter, Chen Fang was substituted off the court. His fierce expression seemed to say that he hadn't killed enough yet. This mental display made Mazura and Rivers exchange glances and quickly read each other's thoughts.

Or should we let Chen Fang continue playing 2K?

Who would have thought that Chen Fang would vent his frustrations from the game on the field? This unexpected discovery is both hilarious and absurd.

However, the media were unaware that they were singing praises, and that Chen Wang's consistent and stable output was convincing.

Of course, Chen Fang explicitly refused to play with the controller when he returned to the hotel. He realized that this talent could not be improved through training, so he gave up without hesitation.

The results of the other matches have also been released one after another.

Returning to their home court, the Thunder were dealt a heavy blow by the Warriors, losing their home-court advantage and wasting their hard-earned gains in the early stages.

Curry's 11 three-pointers shattered the Thunder's rim, Klay Thompson added 8 more, and with KD's 5 three-pointers, a total of 24 three-pointers is something no team can withstand.

Paul George had 23 points and Westbrook had 25 points, but their combined total didn't match Curry's 49 points.

The final score is 2:1.

The Rockets faced a determined Jazz team on the road. Harden, as usual, underperformed, scoring only 18 points, while Paul played exceptionally well, but his 26 points and 12 assists were not enough to help the team win.

Mitchell continued his consistent performance, recording a near triple-double with 32 points, 8 assists, and 10 rebounds, becoming the Jazz's biggest asset in defending their home court.

The Rockets, ranked third in the Western Conference, are surprisingly trailing 1-2 in the series.

Back at their home court, the Trail Blazers and Nuggets continued their close battle until the final minute when a winner was decided.

Lillard once again demonstrated his clutch killer instinct, tying the game at 105. With four seconds left on the clock, he pierced the Nuggets' basket with a three-pointer.

This also changed the overall score to 1:2.

This time, Jokic took the crucial shot, but it ended up hitting the rim.

The Eastern Conference's record has also changed.

The Pistons won at home against the Bucks, trailing 2-1 in the series.

The Raptors displayed unstoppable strength, crushing the Magic on the road and taking a 3-0 lead in the series.

The 76ers showed great resilience on the road, and the Nets pulled one back, trailing 1-2 in the series.

The Celtics also suffered a defeat at the Pacers' home court, with Tatum's mediocre performance of 18 points drawing criticism.

The overall score has now reached 2:1.

Looking at the results of this round, the Clippers and Raptors are advancing triumphantly and have an absolute advantage, while the Spurs and Magic have no hope of advancing and their only thought now is to win a game to avoid the humiliation of being swept.

The other 12 teams, especially the 6 in the West, all played with suspense, and it seemed that anyone had a chance to advance. The ratings rebounded for the first time, surpassing previous years, much to Adam Silver's delight.

A vibrant and diverse landscape is highly conducive to promotion, and the alliance also has more capital to negotiate broadcasting rights with media outlets.

Right now, everyone's attention isn't on the Clippers. And so, on April 22, the Clippers faced the Spurs in their fourth game.

With the determination not to lose their heads, the Spurs unleashed amazing power, taking the lead from the start and dominating the Clippers for the first three quarters. The Clippers, on the other hand, seemed to be fully prepared, remaining calm and composed despite being behind, keeping the score difference within 10 points.

This situation persisted until the last five minutes, when Prince Chen suddenly decided to kill him.

He first hit a three-pointer from the wing and then from the top of the key, narrowing the gap to two points.

Then, on defense, he intercepted DeRozan's pass, causing him to commit a turnover, and then went coast-to-coast for a layup, tying the game.

Popovich immediately called a timeout and adjusted the defense.

Although the arrangement was reasonable, Chen Fang, who had already decided to end the Spurs' run, continued to act coldly.

He repeatedly backed down his opponent in the elbow area, scoring against DeRozan, White, Gay, and Aldridge.

These 8 points were efficiently scored in 4 possessions, while the Spurs only managed 2 points in those 4 possessions thanks to DeRozan's post-up jump shot.

The score difference was reversed, the Spurs' advantage vanished, and the Clippers led 123-117 by 6 points.

After that, the Spurs were unable to catch up and watched helplessly as the Clippers maintained their lead until the end.

131 to 124, this is the smallest point difference between the Spurs and Clippers in this playoff series.

But that doesn't change the fact that the Spurs were swept 4-0 by the Clippers.

Popovich appeared calm at the post-game press conference, telling reporters, "It's finally over. I'm proud of my players. They gave it their all, but the opponent was just too good."

"This result is very upsetting, but life goes on. Let's prepare well for the offseason, and we'll be back next season."

Compared to Popovich's relief, Rivers seemed somewhat anxious.

"Too much success is not a good thing, but what makes me happy is that we have gained valuable rest time, which will allow us to conserve more energy to face our next opponent."

When asked by reporters about his outburst at the last minute, Chen Wang offered an explanation.

"Why was half of your 33 points scored in the fourth quarter?"

"I knew that the Spurs' will to fight back would be particularly strong in the last three minutes, so I took the shot early to extinguish their expectations before they were met."

"What does a 4-0 sweep of the Spurs mean?" the reporter pressed.

"Representative? You can't say that. We've just been more prepared." Chen Fang knew he couldn't afford to lose face at this moment, especially with his buddy DeRozan on the other side.

After briefly answering a few more questions, Chen Fang returned to the locker room.

Everyone was cheering, but Chen Fang interrupted them.

"Guys, the test is yet to come, we can't be complacent."

"The difficulty is gradually increasing. Our next opponent, whether it's the Nuggets or the Trail Blazers, will give us trouble."

"Beat the aging Spurs would give us a false sense of security, so please forgive my untimely words. Let's calm down and go home to prepare for the next round."

Rivers' eyes showed satisfaction. He needed such a clear-headed leader who could always influence everyone with the right words and actions at the most crucial moments, keeping the Clippers on the right track.

At this moment, the usually serious Chen Fang has also perfectly transformed into an outstanding leader after experiencing a perfect first round of elimination.

The team is even more determined about what lies ahead. From initial belief to unwavering trust, Chen Wang's championship dream at the beginning of the season is becoming a reality.

(End of this chapter)