Rekindling the dream of becoming a star

Chapter 348 Daydreams While Waiting
For Mazura, who was entering the NBA for the first time as an assistant coach and helped the team reach the playoffs, everything was new.

From adjusting the intensity of training to the comprehensiveness of tactical and technical preparations, to managing and controlling the players' emotions, everything is far more detailed and professional than in the D1 League.

Now he faces the dilemma of how to manage the Clippers while other teams are still battling it out, whereas they are taking a break.

Watching people fight to the death is certainly a good thing, but it also has its drawbacks.

Once a player relaxes, it's not easy for them to snap back to their old self.

What awaits the team then is a loss due to a slow start to the game.

A professional coaching team would not allow this to happen. During this waiting period, the coaching team must maintain the players' competitive state, ensuring they are not overworked or allowed to slack off.

Typically, teams maintain a half-day training schedule, with training in the morning, relaxation in the afternoon, and only time for play in the evening. This makes the players feel much better.

The training will be based on tactics, with additional shooting drills.

They usually don't put much effort into defense because, compared to offense, defense requires teamwork and coordination, and individual skills can't be improved in just a few days.

Now it remains to be seen how many games the Nuggets and Trail Blazers will play.

Using 3 days as a unit of measurement, each additional game means an additional 3 days of rest. Judging from the current situation of the Nuggets and Trail Blazers, 6 games are highly likely, and a Game 7 is very possible.

After sweeping the Spurs 4-0, the Clippers have the opportunity to have 12 days of rest.

In the NBA, the second round of the competition is solely determined by who advances. Once the two teams are decided, the game will begin in three days.

Mazura was anxious about this until Rivers appeared, and his relaxed state actually calmed him down.

"Did you stay up all night again yesterday?" Rivers asked.

"Yeah, I had too much work, so I didn't stay up all night. I went home at four o'clock."

Rivers glanced at his watch: "It's ten o'clock now, so what time did you arrive?"

"Eight o'clock!"

"Wow, you're a superman. I advise you not to do this. Don't collapse before the players do."

“No, I’m used to it, I’ve just been sleeping a little less lately,” Mazura explained, but Rivers waved her away: “Go back and catch up on your sleep. Today is your day off, let’s get started properly tomorrow.”

“This is the head coach’s order!” Rivers’s firmness made Mazura lower her head: “Okay, I’ll go take a nap, but I’ll be back this afternoon.”

The stubbornness of Mazura made Rivers laugh. This young man had too many excellent qualities, which made Rivers certain that he would stand out sooner or later and become a rising star in the league's coaching world.

"Youth is wonderful!" Rivers murmured to himself as he watched Mazura leave.

Compared to their mutual appreciation, Chen Fang felt frustrated and disappointed.

Qin Changzheng stood there awkwardly, at a loss for what to do.

It's almost the end of April, and Chaminade's school tournament has ended. Although he didn't win the championship, it was still his best result in the last three years.

Qin Changzheng, as a member of Team 1, participated in the entire state league, averaging 11 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists and 3 steals per game, which was very impressive and earned him the reputation of being the second Chen Fang.

Despite playing in the U18 competition, his outstanding physical qualities did not put him at a disadvantage. On the contrary, his amazing pull-up jump shot became his famous signature move.

He was also invited to join the EYBL Rami team and compete in the EYBL state league. If all goes well, he should still be in St. Louis right now.

But he appeared in Los Angeles.

This surprised and angered Chen Fang, but what could he say? After all, he had caused it all himself.

That's right, Qin Changzheng was persuaded halfway through his career to switch teams and join a late-spring team in the Midwest.

Two years ago, in order to gain greater exposure, Chen Fang recruited Jayson Tatum, Trae Young, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Porter Jr. to form a super U18 team, which swept the Western Conference and became the hottest team in April.

In the past two years, the Late Spring mode has become the top gameplay mode in AUU. Agents work together to form a Late Spring team of rising stars to challenge opponents of higher levels and prove that they have basketball talent beyond their peers.

In the U14, U16, and U18 levels, there will be late spring teams that will be selected from neighboring states to form a national tour team of up to nine members.

They not only seek out older age groups to compete against, but also fight each other, creating controversy through online insults. Once they have enough attention, they start a battle.

A few years later, this system was completely adopted by the domestic amateur basketball scene.

Qin Changzheng came to Los Angeles for this reason. Back then, Chen Fang and his group came from the Midwest and developed a tacit understanding.

That's the Late Spring Team from the Midwest, they absolutely have to come to the West Coast to check in.

The reason why the late spring model quickly became popular in North America is essentially because of Chen Fang and his group—they are terrifying.

All five players made it to the NBA, and all of them are guaranteed to be in the top five. Except for Porter Jr., who was injured due to a back injury, they would definitely be in the top five of the 18 draft class.

Some media figures predict that within three years, players in the NBA draft lottery will all have a late-blooming career, and this experience will become an important factor for scouts in judging whether you can realize your potential in the NBA.

After all, Chen Fang and his group all realized their talents back then, and even exceeded expectations.

Therefore, the threshold for late spring is not low, and the selection criteria will block most American high school geniuses, so Qin Changzheng's selection is intriguing.

Chen Fang, a seasoned veteran of the underworld, immediately sensed something was amiss.

Any capable agent would be aware of their relationship. If Qin Changzheng plays late spring and is in Los Angeles, the probability of Chen Fang being present will increase significantly.

This hype is really lucrative.

So Chen Fang got angry. He was being tricked. But Qin Changzheng, who was only 16 years old, had no idea. The naive boy was just anxious, wondering if he had disturbed Chen Wang's preparations for battle.

"Since you have some free time, you and your trainer should practice together. They'll find out your weaknesses." In a flash, Chen Fang calmed down and smiled kindly at Qin Changzheng.

"Yeah, yeah, Brother Chen, that's why I came here." The boy was lively and cheerful. Seeing that Chen Wang was no longer angry, he immediately cheered up and dribbled the basketball to find Karl, Hannong, and the others.

Ilya then walked over and asked, "How about I take over taking care of him from now on?"

"No need. He has a team, and he needs to be with his team. This might be a good opportunity for him to compete against more talented players. He will discover his shortcomings and become more determined to hone his skills."

Chen Fang's words made Ilya thoughtful. He realized that this was how King Chen had gradually risen to where he was today.

"However, he doesn't have enough screen time in the team right now. When you send him back, you should talk to their manager."

"Increase playing time?"

"That's the idea, but you can't say it outright. Tell them that if Qin Changzheng can perform even better, I will come to the stadium to cheer him on."

“Understood!” Ilya nodded.

Qin Changzheng's appearance was a minor incident; Chen Fang still focused his attention on the second round, and Mazura's anxiety was also his anxiety.

While it's easy to win when you're exhausted, it's also reasonable for a team to gain confidence and experience a surge in strength.

Chen Fang didn't want to expend too much physical energy in the second round, and he was even less willing to have injuries to the main lineup. Everything was for the sake of the next two series.

Actually, it wasn't just him; Rivers and Lawrence, I believe, were also well aware of this.

The Clippers' biggest challenge will come in the final two series.

Both the Warriors and the Rockets are a level above the Spurs, Nuggets, and Trail Blazers. Don't be fooled by the Clippers' wins against the Warriors a few times; each win relied on Chen Wang's explosive performances. You can expect Chen Wang to continue his explosive performances, but you can't rely on him; that's unrealistic.

If they do make it to the Finals, based on current intelligence in the Eastern Conference, both the Bucks and the Raptors are stronger than the other teams.

To be fair, the Warriors, Rockets, Bucks, and Raptors are the four strongest teams in the East and West, respectively.

The Clippers, on the other hand, are only qualified to compete with these teams because of Chen Wang's superior combat power.

Therefore, the guiding principle for this series is to use the second round to hone teamwork and boost the confidence of role players.

Tonight is game day, the fifth game between the Nuggets and the Trail Blazers.

In the previous game, the Nuggets also won a game at the Trail Blazers' home court, tying the series 2-2.

Today, the Trail Blazers returned to the Nuggets' home court, and the outcome of this game is being called the pivotal Game 5.

The so-called Battle of Tennozan originated from the Battle of Yamazaki in Japan, through which Toyotomi Hideyoshi unified Japan.

Now it has become a decisive moment, meaning that whoever wins this match will gain match point.

The entire Clippers team watched the movie at the team's own movie theater, which serves several purposes, but the most important is to observe the performance of potential competitors during the playoffs.

Chen Fang and the coaching staff sat in the front row and watched the entire match.

During halftime, Chen Fang could use the opportunity of going to the restroom to exchange ideas with the coaching staff.

“Lillard is fine, but he only has one CJ McCollum.” That was Brian’s opinion.

“Murray has a problem, but he has Jokic,” Mazura added.

Everyone laughed, and Chen Fang said, "So, the problem lies with Teacher Yue."

"Yes!" the coaching staff unanimously agreed.

"Then let's see if the Nuggets win."

The halftime break ended quickly, and both sides entered the second half.

Just as the Clippers coaching staff predicted, Jokic's role became increasingly important as time went on.

Whether it's his presence at the top of the key, causing the Trail Blazers' interior defense to be stretched and subjected to constant rim-killing attacks and free throws, or his scoring by cutting to the basket and facing the basket, he is a very difficult presence for the Trail Blazers to deal with.

In the fourth quarter, this advantage became even more pronounced, and after seven minutes, the Nuggets extended their lead to 12 points.

The crowd's expressions turned solemn, and their smiles vanished.

Jokic has now obtained some truly terrifying data.

27分15助攻21篮板4盖帽4抢断。

Super monster!

Chen Fang clearly understood that Jokic's spring had arrived ahead of schedule.

In the battle against the Trail Blazers, his abilities were gradually unleashed, and this pivotal Game 5 has become his signature performance.

Even the Clippers right now would have a hard time stopping Jokic today.

“He will be the strongest contender for MVP; he has almost no weaknesses,” Mazura whispered to Chen Fang.

"Furthermore, the much-criticized physical fitness doesn't seem to be a problem."

Chen Fang remained calm as his real-life destiny and memories began to overlap.

The Nuggets and Trail Blazers were supposed to have the most dramatic series in the second round, but in reality, it was them again.

Now we don't know if there will actually be overtime.

Chen Fang's prediction quickly came true. Lillard suddenly became heroic, hitting consecutive three-pointers to bring the score within 5 points. He then assisted CJ McCollum on a fast break, and on the next possession, CJ McCollum hit a three-pointer to tie the game before the last minute.

The Nuggets' home arena fell into a deep silence, and the fans could hardly believe their eyes.

"Are we going to have to go into overtime?" his teammates exclaimed and muttered.

Chen Fang waited calmly, sensing that fate would strongly correct everything that shouldn't have happened.

As expected, in the final round of attack and defense, both sides missed their shots, running out of time and forcing overtime.

"Damn! Those two were absolutely amazing today," Dillon exclaimed excitedly.

During the brief wait, the coaching staff spontaneously held another discussion.

“It’s hard to say now,” Brian said regretfully. “The further back in the game, the more advantageous the forwards and guards will be,” Mazura said confidently.

Rivers looked at Chen Fang, who countered with, "Coach, what do you think?"

"It depends on which coach is more experienced. At this time, the players' emotions need to be guided by the coach."

"Impulsiveness is not a good thing."

This aligns with Rivers' coaching theory, so Chen Fang remained calm and composed: "I think this game will be a classic, and it will shock the entire United States."

"One overtime isn't enough, maybe more, until one side runs out of luck first."

"Oh, luck?" Everyone was surprised.

“Yes, luck. Basketball is always controlled by luck!” Chen Fang repeated.

Some of the metaphysics were profound, and the group fell into deep thought.

Soon, overtime began, and for the next half hour, even though there were only about twenty people in the movie theater, they made as much noise as a hundred.

The players cheered for every goal and sighed for every mistake.

One overtime, two overtimes, three overtimes.

At this moment, everyone was stunned, even Rivers was dumbfounded.

"I feel so sorry for Terry and Malone, this is a very difficult time." Rivers could understand how much blood pressure both coaches were under at that moment.

Mazura already regarded Chen Fang as a god, her eyes filled with horror, while Chen Fang smiled bitterly, trying to explain that he was just guessing, but Mazura was somewhat skeptical.

The game eventually had to be decided. With the arrival of the fourth overtime, the Nuggets finally collapsed. Jokic was truly exhausted; he could no longer run and was no longer able to guarantee a score.

Just as Brian predicted, the forwards and guards have a greater advantage and will fight to the very end.

The Trail Blazers' dynamic duo unleashed their full offensive firepower, with Lillard scoring 45 points and CJ McCollum adding 42, completely overwhelming the Nuggets.

Jokic's triple-double and Murray's 34 points did not bring victory.

The Trail Blazers won the pivotal Game 5, which was both expected and unexpected.

2-3, they have match point.

After the game ended, the entire Clippers team was still immersed in the excitement of the battle, and even the coaching staff looked bewildered.

Whether it will be the Nuggets or the Trail Blazers is still a big question mark.

This was unexpected, as the coaching staff had double the workload and had to make ample preparations.

Chen Fang patted Mazura sympathetically: "Looks like we'll have to keep working hard."

“I’m used to it,” Mazura said, sounding very determined.

This game went to four overtimes, tying the NBA record for the most overtimes.

约基奇出场时间多达63分钟，本场比赛拿到了38分23个篮板16次助攻，他也成为了NBA历史上首位在季后赛里拿到这组数据的球员，同时约基奇也是NBA历史上第20位在季后赛里拿到30+三双的球员。

The entire league was stunned by this battle, and many star players expressed their shock on Twitter.

This also includes Chen Fang, who was forced to use Twitter due to his conflict with James and immediately became addicted.

"A dazzling exchange of blows, unimaginable resilience, both sides had a chance to end it at some point, but unfortunately, the Trail Blazers had the last laugh."

"I express my utmost respect to both sides. No matter who our opponent is, I will not let you have the last laugh."

Chen Fang's three sentences also ignited the internet, directly provoking him from a future adversary, which is definitely a hot topic.

Lillard replied almost instantly. After Chen Fang registered on Twitter, all the prominent stars in the league followed his account.

"Hey man, I can guarantee I'll be the one laughing last. Just you wait and see," Lillard confidently retorted in a tweet from Chen Fang.

Something amazing happened: Jokic started a thread under that comment.

"That's impossible. The Clippers aren't going to Portland; they're coming to Denver!"

Chen Fang laughed out loud. That's why he's addicted to it. This kind of trash talk with superstar players makes you instantly understand the meaning of hard work.

It's like you've earned billions and are surrounded by countless female celebrities and socialites. You wouldn't think much of it, but after being bombarded with Ballmer's words, you suddenly find the meaning of your existence.

Chen Fang replied, "I don't mind who I play against, I only mind who plays overtime against me!"

The brilliant reply made Chen Fang's tweet the most popular of the day, with countless media outlets reposting and analyzing it. The boldness between the three men further highlighted the charm of the league, making countless basketball fans' hearts soar!
But for the coaching staff, the same question remains: who will be the next opponent?

This dilemma reached its peak three days later.

The Nuggets won again at the Trail Blazers' home court, tying the series at 3-3.

The first Game 7 of the season has been decided.

It couldn't be more beautiful than this; even if the Rockets eliminated the Jazz and the Warriors defeated the Thunder, it wouldn't cause the slightest ripple.

Everyone is looking forward to the Nuggets' home game against the Trail Blazers in three days.

Meanwhile, the Clippers were waiting quietly. During this time, Chen Fang suddenly visited Bradford Christian School, the best high school in California, ranked tenth in the United States, and has maintained a stable ranking for a long time.

The school is a member of the Trinity Conference, one of the most competitive conferences in California and even the entire United States. Its basketball team has won numerous state championships and national rankings, and in the 2018-2019 season, the boys' team performed exceptionally well in the CIF competition, winning the championship.

The Pegasus team, one of the late-spring teams in the Midwest, clearly put a lot of thought into choosing this opponent.

Chen Fang's visit caused a sensation, immediately drawing attention to him. He remained calm, watching Qin Changzheng's match with his bodyguard, Ilya, and Wu Zhen.

Qin Changzheng is known for his energetic personality. When he saw Chen Fang arrive, he became extremely excited and instantly became the star of the team, racking up 21 points, 11 rebounds, 4 steals, and 2 blocks.

The only shortcoming was the lack of an assist.

Chen Fang also kept getting up, making exaggerated expressions to celebrate Qin Changzheng's brilliant goal, earning plenty of film shots.

The Pegasus team was in high spirits after winning the game. Qin Changzheng pulled Chen Wang over for a group photo with the whole team, and Chen Fang also stood in the middle without any hesitation.

This group of American high school prodigies, with an average age of 16, proudly and excitedly surrounded Chen Wang.

After the group photo, as usual, they signed jerseys. After signing each one, Chen Fang would say a few words.

"I'll be waiting for you in the NBA!"

The latter was extremely excited, and as for Chen Fang, he didn't mind spreading his connections more in the future. He also understood why NBA stars loved these activities, just like when he met Harden and Garnett before.

The seed of aspiring to the NBA needs to be planted by generations of people.

After the event, Chen Fang took Qin Changzheng home and held a family dinner.

Chen Fang had a nurturing plan for Qin Changzheng, as well as a sense of historical disruption. Clearly, in his previous life, Qin Changzheng had never pursued professional basketball, but now, he actually had a chance to go to the NBA.

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call him his own child, after all, Chen Fang's mental age is almost forty.

Wu Zi also quite likes Qin Changzheng, with his silly and straightforward appearance, a typical straight man.

Wu Zhen seemed somewhat gloomy, though he hid it well, Chen Fang still sensed it.

I sighed inwardly. Sometimes, sheer talent can be devastating. Wu Zhenzhen is already the ceiling for ordinary people, but for a Chinese person to enter the NBA, it's truly one in a million.

After a whole summer of intensive searching across the country, Weilan only found Qin Changzheng as a potential candidate.

"Brother Chen, which team do you not want to play against?" Qin Changzheng asked the question that many people wanted to know, but he used a rhetorical question, which immediately revealed that he was not as simple-minded as he seemed on the surface.

Chen Fang smiled and placed a piece of beef brisket in his bowl: "Guess."

Wu Zi couldn't help but roll her eyes. This man was too improper.

Qin Changzheng had no idea that Chen Fang was teasing him. He thought about it seriously, and after a while, he slapped the table with joy.

“Haha, I get it!”

"Gold Rush!"

Chen Fang was puzzled and asked, "What's the reason?"

"Coach Perez once said that the future of basketball belongs to all-around big men!"

"Everyone says the Clippers don't have a good center, so Jokic is definitely the team's biggest concern."

Chen Fang was impressed. It seemed that Perez had put some thought into Qin Changzheng; the kid was starting to show some football intelligence.

"Don't be so smug. You didn't get a single assist today. This is an old problem of yours!" Chen Fang said with a serious expression.

Qin Changzheng immediately shrank his neck and sat obediently in the chair.

"Let's eat!" Wu Zi glared at him, and Chen Fang backed down.

"Hurry up and eat. Come to the backyard after you finish. I have something to tell you."

Half an hour later, Qin Changzheng, who had been dawdling, followed Chen Fang to the backyard.

"I know you don't dislike passing the ball, but you just love the feeling of attacking too much." Chen Fang's first sentence hit Qin Changzheng right where it hurts, leaving him speechless and his prepared rebuttal vanishing.

"But you must remember that basketball is a team sport. A lone wolf will not go far and will inevitably get nothing, no honor, no respect, and no status."

Chen Fang's words struck Qin Changzheng like heavy blows, causing him to lower his head deeply.

"From now on, report to me before doing anything, and I'll forgive you this time." Chen Fang didn't think it was too much; this kid was too wild, so he had to be taught a lesson.

"I understand!" Qin Changzheng said weakly.

"You'll stay here tonight. How long are you going to stay in Los Angeles?"

"There are still 4 opponents. The coach said he's contacting D1, and if that doesn't work, D2 is also an option."

Chen Fang sneered. He was greedy, but he didn't need to get involved in these matters.

"Okay, I've reserved a ticket for you. If you have enough time, come watch the first game of the second round."

"Really? Haha, that's awesome! Where is it located?"

"The furthest one, is that okay?"

"Ah, my eyesight isn't very good!" Qin Changzheng said with a mournful face.

He's full of lies. This kid looks simple-minded, but he's actually very cunning. He'll be the one to trick a lot of people in the future.

Shaking his head, Chen Fang felt a little sorry for Qin Changzheng's future opponent. After taking a few steps, his body suddenly stiffened.

Damn it, if I get into the league, this kid might try to sabotage me too!
Like how I screwed over DeRozan?
Chen Fang suddenly felt a tingling sensation on his forehead.

"Finished?"

"Finished eating! What other activities does Brother Chen have?" Qin Changzheng asked expectantly.

"That's good. Let Wu Zhen take you back." Chen Fang said with a straight face.

"Ah! Didn't you say I could stay here?"

"I've changed my mind. Get lost! I hate seeing you, you useless piece of trash who can't even get a single assist!"

(End of this chapter)