Rekindling the dream of becoming a star

Chapter 363 Go to hell!
Everyone says Leonard's body is like steel, but who has the right to say that?
Of course, Chen Fang is one of them.

Imagine the pressure your body would have to withstand if you were constantly interacting with an iron wall.

Kawhi Leonard's dominance has been a major headache for the league's superstars since 15.

Chen Fang has to perform physically to help the team when he's not in form or at his best, which is a very difficult task in itself.

Throughout the first quarter, Chen Fang didn't score many points, making only one of four shots, but managed to score 7 points, 2 assists, and 1 rebound thanks to 4 free throws.

This performance cast a shadow over the on-site commentary.

As we all know, if Chen Wang is not in form in the first quarter, his stats will hardly improve. There were so many expectations for today's crucial game, but looking at the first quarter, many professionals in the industry were already feeling disappointed.

The Raptors led 28-24, entering the second quarter with a 4-point advantage.

It's difficult for the coach to make adjustments during the breaks between each quarter, but Mazura still managed to exchange a few words with Chen Fang.

"I know you're not playing well. You need to change your role and play point guard!"

Chen Fang shook his head, sweating profusely as he protested, "If I don't score and don't take the initiative to attack, then the pressure on the others will be even greater."

"I know what you're trying to say. I'll pay attention to offensive efficiency." After saying that, Chen Fang patted Mazura on the shoulder, sat back down in his chair, and asked the team doctor to spray ice mist on his left ankle and then apply ice.

He had to make the most of every few minutes.

He drank a lot of water, then quickly vomited it up. This was a way of cooling himself down physically. After finishing the first game, he knew today would be difficult.

If he doesn't open up this spot, his teammates' space shrinks, and therefore they can offer less help, creating a vicious cycle.

Not far from the Raptors' bench, Nurse was giving Leonard some pointers.

"The strategy in the first quarter was good, but that's not enough; there are still three quarters to go."

"Confront him more, squeeze him more, and cut off his and his teammates' help."

Leonard kept nodding; he was in great form today, he had a good feel for the game, and they were sure to win.

The buzzer sounded, signaling the start of the second quarter.

The Clippers have already figured out Chen Wang's playing time.

He usually doesn't play in the first few minutes of the second quarter.

Therefore, the usual practice is to wait for Chen Wang to take the field before the opponent sends their main force up, thus creating an equal match.

But Nurse took a risky move, keeping Leonard on the court to utilize his offensive abilities and forcing Chen Wang to come on early, preventing him from getting a rest.

In their first possession, the Raptors executed a brilliant play.

VanVleet used a screen to get rid of Rose at the top of the key, took two steps inside, and passed to Leonard, who was forcing his way in from the wing.

Despite Dillon's close marking, Leonard received the ball on his side and turned around, but instead of stopping the ball, he dribbled one step with his other hand, and through the contact, took another step into the paint.

Dillon had no choice but to resort to drastic measures; he reached out to cut the ball and, incidentally, grabbed the ball's hand.

However, Leonard turned around with the ball and, using his 66-centimeter shoulder width, easily pushed Dillon aside again. Dillon's hand, as he stepped back, also moved away from Leonard.

Stand up and toss the ball with a high arm and straight wrist.

Seeing the ball go in, Dillon clapped his hands in frustration.

Chen Fang, sitting on the bench, remained expressionless as he continued to wiggle his ankle.

Bridges replaced Chen Fang, but his small frame made it difficult for him to get the ball down against Leonard. He could only shield the ball with his back to Leonard, and even then, he didn't have a chance to pass it out immediately.

Rose quickly retreated to provide support, but VanVleet closed in on him beforehand.

After a lot of back and forth, the ball was finally passed to Jalen, who had run out, and the latter ended the attack hastily with his still unreliable mid-range shot.

Siakam grabbed the rebound and initiated the transition. The Raptors quickly advanced into the frontcourt, where Leonard received the ball at the free-throw line in the middle. He faked a shot, then drove inside, raised the ball with one hand, and easily dunked for a score.

"32 to 24, an 8-point difference!" Duan Ran exclaimed. Today's feeling was familiar; it was the same sense of powerlessness in Games 1 and 2.

What went wrong? Why did the Clippers suddenly lose their way when they returned to their home court?

Chen Fang is about to go on. The coaching staff can only accept a score difference of 10 points or less, and now it's already a crazy red line.

Seeing Chen Fang get up, the Clippers suddenly became more aggressive in their defense, which was a test of their experience.

Ideally, this defense would force a mistake; if not, it would at least create a dead ball opportunity for a substitution.

But the Raptors reacted quickly. Chen Fang got up and became alert, immediately passing the ball into the paint. Ibaka also became aggressive, actively seeking out Jaren for contact.

"Beep beep!" The linesman called a foul on Jaren for hitting him.

As they prepared to shoot free throws, Chen Fang replaced Bridges, and Jrue Holiday and Zubac joined him on the court.

Rivers noticed that the Raptors were particularly meticulous with details today, so he became even more vigilant and decided to bring in all the starters ahead of time, changing the previous practice of gradually filling in the gaps and forming a tiered reinforcement.

This was also to ensure that the key players had more energy, but Nurse's measures forced Rivers to grit his teeth and change his substitution strategy.

In the NBA, Nurse is a technically skilled head coach, while Rivers is much less so, especially in terms of on-court decision-making, where he is often slow to react.

Chen Wang's entry into the game did not change the score; it neither brought the score closer nor widened the gap.

Chen was positioned at the top of the arc and on the flanks, constantly trying to find a way to score.

Both sides were reviewing the game. Leonard used more frequent physical contact to reduce Chen Fang's offensive desire, while close marking also avoided his only weakness on defense.

The lateral movement is too slow.

Chen Fang also tried his best to exploit this weakness and avoid excessive physical exertion.

He constantly used his step-back and lateral movement to get past defenders, and Jaren and Zubac frequently stepped out to set off-ball screens for him.

But Siakam and Ibaka would respond with a huge delay; if Leonard missed even a second, he would be back in position.

Even so, Jaren and Zubac will be unguarded for short periods, but even when they get the ball on the perimeter, their threat level is not high enough.

This is also a problem for the Clippers: a lack of a stretch big man, which allows the Raptors to double-team Chen Fang with impunity.

Three minutes later, Chen Fang did not receive the ball, a situation that prompted Rivers to call a timeout.

The atmosphere at Staples Center was somber, with many fans looking dejected.

42:30.

The gap is now 12 points!
Clippers owner Steve Ballmer looked ashen-faced, muttering to himself and shaking his head repeatedly.

Rivers replaced Chen Fang, bringing Bridges back into the game, and replaced Zubac with Richon to bolster the interior offense.

Next, Lou Williams replaced Dillon, and Juholer switched to shooting guard.

Commentator Yu Jia analyzed: "Chen Wang is not in good form. The team needs to catch up now. Increasing the number of players with the ball on the field will improve this predicament."

"More importantly, Prince Chen needs to make some adjustments."

As for what adjustments were made, Yu Jia didn't say, but he could tell that Chen Wang wasn't excited and looked very tired.

It was a situation where Leonard had completely shut down the team.

Mazura squatted down in front of Chen Fang, using a tactical board to explain to him how to break through the cutting barrier. Suddenly, he stopped writing.

"I think I've made a mistake."

"The problem isn't here, it's your mindset."

Chen Fang was surprised at first, then fell into deep thought.

"You actually know how to solve it, you just lack confidence."

“Leonard was very strong today, even more so than in the previous four games. Your morale was suppressed,” Mazura said bluntly without blinking.

"At least for now, you are being suppressed."

Chen Fang wasn't angry at all; instead, he grinned.

"Thanks for reminding."

"This is my job. I want to remind you, Chen Wang, there are no miracles in this game. We can only rely on ourselves and take points one by one. No matter how many points it is, we must get the points first."

"Okay!" Chen Fang tried to get up, but was stopped by Mazura.

"Rest well, recharge your energy, and start again in the second half. You can trust your teammates; they won't dig a deep hole."

"This is the coaching staff's decision!"

Chen Fang remained silent for a moment, took a deep breath, and began to concentrate on recovering.

On the court, Lou Williams didn't hold back in scoring. No matter who he faced, his agile movements always allowed him to get past them. With the help of his teammates' screens, he quickly narrowed the score gap back to single digits.

But the problem also lies with him. As a defensive liability, the Raptors can always find scoring opportunities against him.

This is why Lou Williams has a hard time becoming a starter; he's lost too much blood.

In the final six minutes of the second quarter, Rivers tried repeatedly to activate the role players' abilities, but the Raptors' defensive focus today prevented him from succeeding.

Role players need open looks, but the Raptors aren't giving them them.

Role players need teamwork, but the Raptors don't provide that.

With a 9-man rotation, the Raptors are definitely among the strongest in the league.

VanVleet, Ibaka, Anunoby, and Powell are all players with solid abilities.

In terms of scoring, the Raptors are not afraid of the Clippers at all.

The score remained close, and in the final two minutes, the Raptors went on a 7-0 run, extending their lead to 15 points before the end of the first half.

61: 46.

The commentators were filled with lamentations, expressing confusion over Chen Wang's sudden absence from the game, while also complaining, "The Clippers have a lot of problems today."

In the studio behind, TNT was also broadcasting a live discussion.

Both O'Neal and Smith criticized the Clippers, but Barkley refuted them with a single sentence.

"Rather than saying the Clippers played poorly today, it's more accurate to say the Raptors have figured out the Clippers."

"I don't mean to mock anyone, but if you put Chen Wang and Leonard in a hundred games as team leaders, who would win more times?"

Seeing everyone else deep in thought, Barkley said, "It must be Leonard. Ignoring physical fitness and just looking at the numerical simulation, it's definitely Leonard."

"Chen Wang is very strong. His scoring ability is among the best in the league. Even Durant wouldn't dare to compete with him."

"But the problem is that Chen Wang's performance is inconsistent, especially when facing a player of Leonard's caliber."

"He can beat Leonard, but he can't win by a sure thing."

"This is the core reason why we lost the first two games, won the next two, and are now down by 15 points again."

"You mean, Prince Chen hasn't reached the required level yet?" O'Neill asked.

"Of course, he is not the best in the league yet. Even if he wins this series, he is not the best. I have not seen Leonard conquered. To be honest, in this league, whoever can conquer Leonard will be the superstar of this era."

"But I think it's impossible because Leonard is a superstar, and his scoring ability is not bad."

"Let me tell you about Leonard's stats in this Raptors playoff run."

“我挑打得最激烈的两个系列赛，4:3赢76人，4：2赢雄鹿。”

“次轮打76人，伦纳德7场得分依次是：45分、35分、33分、39分、25分、29分、41分。”

“东决打雄鹿，依次是：31分、31分、36分、30分、35分、27分。”

"13 games, averaging 33.6 points per game."

"We were all drawn to the Western Conference Finals and to Chen Wang, completely unaware that this year's Leonard is far more consistent than Chen Wang."

"Do you want me to read out Chen Wang's series score?" Barkley asked aggressively, but seeing that no one answered, he let it go.

"What does stability represent? It represents ability, willpower, and the absence of loopholes in the team's tactical system."

"I wouldn't be surprised at all if the Raptors eliminated the Clippers and won the championship."

"If Chen wants to win the championship, he needs to have a tougher performance and more admirable and reliable scoring consistency."

"This is also a highlight of the second half of the game."

The atmosphere in the Raptors' locker room was electric, with everyone high-fiving Leonard. He successfully limited Chen Wang to 7 points in the first half, a remarkable achievement that no one else in the league could accomplish.

Nass also offered a few words of praise, expressing his confidence that his judgment was correct.

Once Chen Fang has an outstanding performance, he will become very listless afterwards.

This kind of behavior can be masked by resting players during the playoffs, but it becomes much harder to hide once the playoffs begin.

Based on his judgment, at least in G5, Chen and Wang are unable to mount a counterattack.

The first half proved his point.

"Stay under pressure, stay alert, stay focused!" Nurse not only advised Leonard, but also the entire team.

"Only by winning this match will we have a chance; otherwise, we will be pushed to the brink."

The head coach's seriousness also brought all the Raptors players to their senses; they could not afford to take any chances when facing Chen Wang.

People were speculating about how Chen Fang would adjust things in the Clippers' locker room, but in fact, Chen Fang looked very relaxed; he had learned a lesson.

Instead of putting pressure on people, it's better to let them relax. Everyone has a different personality, so there's no need to impose a set of rules on them.

Chen Wang's relaxed state also put his teammates at ease. Although they were behind in the score, everyone knew that as long as Chen Wang hadn't lost his temper, it meant that he was confident.

Chen Wang is the heart and soul of the Clippers. At this moment, although everyone is relaxed, everyone knows that the second half will be the decisive moment.

Mazura was still giving each player tactical instructions, patiently reminding them of his own.

"The Raptors' strength lies in their seamless connection between inside and outside play. Even with solid defense, they still have three tough defenses to overcome."

"Leonard, Lowry, Siakam."

"We can't block every shot, but we must do everything we can to protect the rim and secure the rebounds in the backcourt."

"On offense, we encourage more short-range passing, quick passing, and decisive shooting."

For fifteen minutes, Mazura didn't say anything about the liberation of Chen Fang, which left everyone confused.

It wasn't until Chen Fang stood up and raised his hand that this happened.

"Don't worry about me. When I have the ball, try to find wide-open spaces. Leave the rest to me."

In the third quarter, Clippers fans cheered when they saw Chen Fang start on the court.

Chen Fang remained calm, and he even took the time to greet the owner, who was a few seats away from the bench.

Although he didn't say anything, Chen Wang's calmness reassured the management.

Today, the entire management team was present; what they were thinking, nobody knows.

Perhaps the fate of some players on the team next season has already been decided.

Having fought this hard, Chen Fang is well aware of the Clippers' weaknesses, and the management team is even more aware of them.

What I can do now is to find a better way out and a better future for these guys.

This is something he has to do.

In the very first possession, the Raptors gave the Clippers a rude awakening.

Dani Green made a ghostly run and received a pass from Lowry in the corner, sinking her third three-pointer of the game.

An 18-point gap!

It was suffocating; the once bustling Staples Center had fallen silent.

Chen Fang waited at the baseline to receive the ball. After receiving it, he started to move forward. Leonard was waiting at the center line. This time, Chen Fang planned to show his opponent what he was made of.

Zubac set a screen for him at the midcourt line, and Chen Fang pretended to go and cooperate with him, but suddenly pushed the ball and changed direction, accelerating across the half court.

The Raptors reacted quickly, with Lowry abandoning Jrue Holiday and switching onto him, while Leonard quickly moved closer.

Chen Fang suddenly jumped up, threw the ball with both hands, and passed it to the open Jrue Holiday. As soon as he landed, he started charging towards him.

This change of tactics prompted Lowry to immediately try to stop him, but Chen Fang nimbly twisted and dodged, arriving first at Jrue Holiday. The two exchanged possession of the ball hand-to-hand, and after gaining possession, Chen Fang completely ignored Lowry to the side and Leonard behind him.

He took a step forward, almost stepping on the three-point line as he jumped.

This time, it's a real shot.

The ball wasn't high at the top of the arc, but it was very fast. The Clippers fans' cheers had just started when they turned into even louder applause.

"10 points! Chen Fang's score has finally reached double digits!"

"Hopefully this isn't too late!" Yu Jia said calmly.

Instead of retreating on defense, the Clippers found their own players on the court, a change to a full-court press.

The Raptors were caught off guard and their backcourt was unprepared, which led to a turnover on the inbounds pass.

The Clippers have a sideline inbound pass. Chen Fang takes the initiative to serve, and Jaren comes out to receive, using his height to ensure a smooth first pass.

However, the Raptors misjudged again. Leonard was blocked by Dillon, and Chen Fang jumped in from the sideline. With just one step, he was near Jaren.

He got the ball, used Jaren's lateral screen to get rid of Danny Green who was switching on defense, and then jumped up at the top of the key to catch the ball.

"Three points!"

"In!"

"In the third section, the familiar King Chen has finally returned."

Two consecutive three-pointers ignited the Clippers fans' excitement, with cheers echoing throughout the Staples Center.

Nas was furious; that was what he feared most.

Without hesitation, they called a pause.

When Chen left the stage, he winked at the excited boss, a gesture that made Ballmer burst into laughter.

"I've always believed in him; he's truly the calmest player I've ever seen," he praised.

"I started the contract renewal process immediately; I couldn't wait to express my generosity!"

"Boss, Chen Wang is definitely going to trigger the Ross Clause!" Lawrence warned.

"Regular season MVP, or two consecutive seasons as an All-Star starter, or All-NBA selection, regardless of the number of selections."

"Last season he was on the All-NBA Third Team, this season he's on the All-NBA First Team."

"If Chen Wang wants, he can get a 5-year, 1.7 million yuan renewal contract."

Wenger, who had been silent until now, shook his head: "Chen Wang will not sign a 5-year contract!"

“He is very familiar with the league’s salary cap; he knows what future salaries will look like!”

"Yes!" Lawrence knew it all too well.

"Why do you care about this?" Ballmer asked, quite puzzled.

“If the league didn’t forbid it, I would be willing to give him an annual salary of 100 million. He deserves it!”

With his two subordinates looking stunned, Ballmer continued, "He provides me with hundreds of millions, or even more, of happiness every year. I don't care how much he wants; I only care whether he's still with the Clippers!"

If the timeout hadn't ended and the game hadn't restarted, who knows what else Ballmer would have said.

Lawrence and Wenger exchanged a quick glance, both understanding what the other was thinking.

Chen Wang has completely won over the boss with his performance.

As soon as the game started, the situation changed again, with Leonard leading the defense for the entire game, which was quite an absurd thing.

Nas has gone mad; he's using each other's biggest trump cards to offset each other.

Chen Fang couldn't catch the ball, but this time, he didn't choose to dodge.

He began to repeatedly contest for position with Leonard. When Leonard went around to his front, he would retreat to another spot, where his teammates would naturally provide cover for him.

If you don't go around to the front, Chen Wang will turn sideways to ask for the ball and aggressively try to kill you one-on-one.

Leonard, like a silent reef, patiently awaited the onslaught of Chen Wang's massive waves. 12 points!
10 points!
8 points!
6 points!
The score gap was narrowing step by step, and no commentator questioned it anymore. Chen Wang was fighting hard, and it was visible to the naked eye!

If they double-team you, pass the ball and then fight for the rebound!

He led the defense against Leonard in the first half and closely guarded him throughout the game!

In the third quarter, there were several instances where the two of them fell to the floor together.

Sometimes it was Dillon and Chen Fang who worked together to take down Leonard, and sometimes it was Leonard and Siakam who knocked Chen Fang to the ground.

Get up and fight again.

Fight, then fall down.

"Chen Wang is fighting for his life. Leonard's dominance has made Chen Wang give it his all."

"I have never seen Chen Wang so aggressive on both ends of the court. Leonard has not scored for a long time, and so has Chen Wang."

"82 to 76."

"This was an incredibly tough third quarter; most of our points came from free throws."

As the narrator explained, the camera remained focused on Chen Fang and Leonard.

The arm guards were stained red, and Chen Fang's arms and neck were covered with bloody red marks.

In the fourth quarter, both coaches surprisingly adopted the same strategy.

Both teams started strong, and when the time came to seven minutes, both sides simultaneously made five substitutions.

"The final battle is here!" Duan Ran shouted.

The score difference changed slightly, 92:88.

A 4-point gap.

The two sides continued to battle, and scoring became very difficult, with most of the shots coming from free throws.

With three minutes left in the game, Leonard suddenly delivered a powerful blow to Chen Fang.

He dribbled the ball on the wing and attacked Chen Fang one-on-one, using a series of turns and pressure to force his way in using his body.

Because Leonard's post-up technique emphasizes agility, although he doesn't have Chen Wang's fadeaway jump shot, he has his own unique floater.

He lowered his shoulders and hips, made a shooting fake to lure Chen Fang into jumping before finally taking off.

The whistle didn't blow, and the ball went in.

Chen Fang squatted on the ground, covering his chin, at which point the commentator exclaimed in surprise.

"It seems that Prince Chen is injured."

In slow motion, you can see Leonard's iron-like arm slamming into Chen Wang's falling chin.

As the person involved, Chen Fang felt all his teeth were sore and numb, his entire oral cavity was vibrating, and his tongue was numb.

I've only ever seen people who can't urinate, never those who can't control their mouths.

A large amount of blood and saliva mixture gushed from Chen Fang's mouth.

The scene was quite intimidating; many fans stood up immediately.

The team doctor had already entered the field. He asked Chen Fang to open his mouth with extremely frightening speculation, and only after finding that his tongue was still there did he feel relieved.

"It only ruptured his gums," the team doctor told Chen Fang after examining him.

"Ugh!" Chen Fang still couldn't speak. He had already come to the bench and kept spitting blood into the trash can.

This scene captured on camera has gripped the hearts of countless people.

"This is the level of intensity of the Finals. Cowards cannot survive here."

"Chen Wang's bravery in the second half today exceeded my expectations."

"The only explanation is that he possesses the courage to risk his life for the championship!" Duan Ran said with deep emotion.

Chen Fang kept drinking water and vomiting blood. Under the examination of medical staff, the blood was still gushing out.

It took almost four or five minutes for the bleeding in Chen Fang's mouth to finally stop. After putting on his braces, Chen Fang gave an OK sign.

There is no time limit for such incidents, but the referee will inquire at any time. Once it is confirmed that there are no problems, the referee will blow the whistle to start the game again.

Chen Fang returned to the court, and Leonard closed in again.

"I'm sorry!" he said somberly.

"Hehe!" Chen Fang couldn't speak because he was wearing braces and it wasn't very convenient for him to talk.

But in the next round, Chen Fang expressed his attitude through his actions.

Using Zubac's screen, Chen Fang came to the free-throw line, received a lateral pass from Dillon, dribbled sideways without stopping the ball, and repeatedly shifted his weight between his feet, jumping and pressing towards the inside.

This is the best back-to-the-basket footwork technique to counter force. Leonard has a hard time finding a counter, and he can only use a wider stance to control the opponent's range.

Chen Fang suddenly took a step forward and raised the ball. He was still turned to the side, but experts know that a back-to-the-basket jump shot is never released with the player fully turned.

Leonard raised his right arm to try and distract him, but Chen Fang used his right foot as a pivot and stepped back with his left foot. As his left foot landed, his shoulders swayed.

Logically speaking, Chen Fang shouldn't be able to turn left, but in high-tempo defense, your instinct is to not have time to think and rely entirely on what you see to make a judgment.

Leonard lowered his center of gravity, and his body made a noticeable twisting of his hips.

Chen Fang lifted his left foot again and stepped forward. This time, his shooting intention was very obvious.

Leonard jumped up, but at the very moment he jumped, Chen Fang lowered his body, quickly lifted his left foot, twisted his body to face the basket, and took a step from beside Leonard's jumping body toward the basket.

The center of gravity finally jumped with his right foot, followed by his left foot, and lifted the basketball with his right hand, aiming it at the backboard.

Without a doubt, this was an excellent back-to-the-basket shot that completely fooled Leonard. What seemed like an easy score was actually the prelude to five different moves.

"The gap is now 2 points!"

"How can we not love basketball? How can we not like the King of Basketball?"

"Chen Wang, just a few seconds ago he was coughing up blood, and the next second he showed us such a wonderful goal."

"What more could we ask for?" Yu Jia passionately explained.

Wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, Chen Fang didn't leave, but instead immediately took over the defense next to Leonard.

Lowry dribbled forward, and Leonard moved to the wing. Chen Fang didn't let him move easily. Before the substitution, Leonard liked it, but now he knew it wouldn't be easy.

Dillon was nearby, ready to ambush them at any moment.

Giving it to him is not the best option.

Leonard was still thinking and continued to put pressure on Chen Fang, but the other man used a clever trick to stick to him.

Lowry and Siakam eventually completed a short combination play, but the latter failed to score.

Zubac grabbed the rebound. He didn't score many points today, but he grabbed 16 rebounds, which was key to the Clippers not falling behind by a large margin.

Chen Fang didn't go to receive the ball, but instead ran towards the frontcourt.

Jrue Holiday dribbled the ball past half-court. Following the tactic, he quickly moved to the wing after crossing half-court, where Dillon had already come to receive the pass.

The ball was passed to Dillon, who caught it and passed it back without stopping.

Chen Fang's continuous passing disrupted the Raptors' defensive rhythm, and with Zubac's help, he had already gotten rid of Leonard.

The ball was finally passed to him.

The entire room seemed to fall silent. Chen Fang didn't even look up; he glanced at the time.

There is one and a half minutes left.

104: 102.

Chen Fang checked the attack time again.

14 seconds.

Leonard waited, not getting too close, because getting close might not be the right thing to do. A pick and roll would force a switch, and a switch could mean things could get out of control.

This is why, in the final moments, players are more willing to choose one-on-one duels.

In the seventh second, Chen Fang moved.

He dribbled the ball sideways, applied pressure to Leonard with a series of crossovers, suddenly started moving, and then braked and dribbled behind Leonard's back after another dribble.

Despite the speed of the series of moves, Leonard still couldn't shake off the threat.

Chen Fang pulled the ball back, as if preparing to make another breakthrough.

Just then, he suddenly stood up and made a gesture of catching the ball.

With an electric-like alertness, Leonard jumped up without hesitation.

But in the next instant, he fell into an ice cave.

This is a Buddha worship!
Chen Fang rarely makes feints.

Accelerating forward, Chen Fang took a shot from a meter beyond the three-point line before Danny Green could close the gap.

At this moment, the fans in the stadium had already stood up, and when they saw Chen Fang make his shot, countless people couldn't help but lean back.

The moment they saw the net splash, Yu Jia and Duan Ran shouted in unison, "Three-pointer! Three-pointer!"

"Is this a potential game-winning shot?"

"The Clippers have taken the lead for the first time, 104-105."

"With 1 minute and 16 seconds left, the outcome of the game is very uncertain!"

The Raptors, now trailing, called a timeout, one of their last two.

"We can see Clippers fans cheering, high-fiving each other, and shouting. The suspense in today's game is always there. I have a feeling this could be another Chen Wang-style game-winning shot!" David is never one to shy away from making pronouncements, and he boldly does so.

“Just now, Chen Wang used a 'prayer' move to fool Leonard. Chen Wang has never used this move before. He is more known for his long-range pull-up jumpers. You can’t blame Leonard for this. Anyone would have chosen to do that.” David then began to review the basket.

The timeout ended quickly, and the game resumed.

The camera was locked on Leonard; everyone knows now that it's all about watching the star player.

Let's see how Leonard responds.

The classic strong-side and weak-side positioning, the mismatch pick and roll, after the switch, it becomes Dillon facing Leonard.

Dani Green was spreading out, a three-point killer, and Chen Fang dared not give up, so he could only pray that Dillon could successfully defend her.

They took a step back, adopting a pincer movement.

But all of this was no challenge for Leonard.

Dillon started with his signature back-to-the-basket move, dribbled, turned, and drove to the baseline. He leaned in, but was pushed aside the next time Leonard dribbled.

Jaren switched to defense and made a save, but Zubac immediately blocked his movement.

Dillon was on the defensive, and the three of them almost instantly formed a double team. The Clippers also had an extreme strategy to contain Leonard.

So when Leonard jumped, two Clippers players were waiting in the air.

Despite lacking exceptional hang time, Leonard possessed a powerful core. He practically held off Jaren in mid-air, using his extraordinary large hands to firmly control the basketball, drawing a semi-circle in the air to avoid Zubac's interference, and finally using the remaining force to tip the ball towards the basket.

Chen Fang had been watching intently, and when he saw the ball go into the basket, he smiled instead.

"I knew it wouldn't be that easy to win!"

I looked up at the time: 54 seconds.

The battle for Tianwang Mountain has finally entered its final minute.

Rivers looked at Chen Fang, who shook his head, indicating that there was no need to pause.

This time, the Raptors retreated cleanly, with everyone returning to their own half of the court.

Chen Fang chose to hold the ball himself; he didn't want any other changes.

Three Clippers players are in high positions.

Zubac, Jaren Jr., Dillon.

Only Jrue Holiday was positioned at the left corner, with Danny Green watching him intently from afar.

The remaining four Raptors players are all in the high positions.

As Chen Fang approached, the entire offensive and defensive formation slowly pressed down.

The final shot was taken in the middle area, three meters from the top of the arc.

"Chen Wang has the ball across half-court. This play is crucial and will determine the outcome," David began his commentary.

"Zubac set a screen, but it didn't work. Chen Wang moved to the side to get rid of Leonard. Leonard didn't make a mistake. Chen Wang accelerated and drove past him beautifully."

"Lowry's block was timely, Chen Wang passed the ball, oh, he's cooperating with Jaren."

"Hand in hand, enter Chen Wang's attack range."

"Are they going to make a move?"

"No, this is a breakthrough. Chen Fang chose the safest approach."

When David saw Chen Wang break free from his markers, accelerate into the paint, and score with a left-handed dunk, he exclaimed, "That was the right choice! No three points, two are enough!"

"106 to 107."

"The score difference is only one point, which means there can be no overtime. There's only room for a game-winning shot or a counter-game-winning shot!" David made a decisive judgment.

Nas hesitated for three seconds before deciding not to call a timeout.

32 seconds!
If the time is reduced, the Clippers will have less than 8 seconds.

The final timeout was likely a defensive maneuver.

At the same time, it's a foul tactic called out because the shot might not go in.

In short, Nas firmly made the gesture of not pausing.

Lowry understood. He dribbled forward, and the Clippers opted to have everyone back on the three-point line. In this possession, they had to defend not only the three-pointers but also the two-pointers, and they couldn't even commit a foul.

That's the allure of a one-point shot, and also the pressure brought by the most terrifying point difference.

The chants of defense that had been echoing throughout the stadium also ceased; at this point, external factors were no longer of any help.

Twenty thousand fans clenched their fists, their eyes glued to the stadium.

Lowry held the ball at the high post, counting down the seconds. When the last 12 seconds arrived, he started to move.

Not only him, but all five Raptors players were moving.

The final result was that Leonard got the ball with five seconds left after his teammate set an off-ball screen.

The process was quite tortuous. Dillon almost caused the Raptors to make a mistake. His rash move was unexpected, but the ball was eventually passed from Gasol's hands to Leonard's hands at the top of the key.

Leonard charged in from the right wing along the three-point line. He glanced at the time before receiving the ball and knew he couldn't hesitate any longer. Based on his vision from the previous second, he quickly found a possible opportunity.

So instead of stopping the ball, he sprinted along the three-point line at the top of the arc to the left.

He continued along the three-point line, a very smart offensive choice. The Clippers couldn't predict whether he would drive or pull up for a stop.

This trajectory is strikingly similar to the game-winning shot against the 76ers in Game 7.

Just as everyone on the Clippers, including Chen Fang, was making a concerted effort to defend, Leonard did not choose to run all the way. He suddenly braked and pulled back, instantly leaving Dillon, who was desperately chasing after him, flying past.

Collect the ball, jump, and shoot.

The basketball glided in a perfect arc, hurtling towards the basket.

Chen Fang felt as if his heart had stopped beating for a second.

The ball still went in, and a chorus of groans erupted from the entire stadium.

Chen Fang stood on the court with his hands on his hips, and before Rivers could even call a timeout, he made a firm hand gesture again.

Don't pause!

Chen Fang quickly ran to the baseline, and at his signal, Julius Erdogan passed the ball to him.

Almost simultaneously, the Raptors realized what was happening, abandoned their celebrations, and desperately retreated on defense.

Chen Fang's idea was simple: rather than having Nurse devise a defensive strategy against him, he preferred to let the Raptors players make their own decisions.

In short, Chen Fang didn't want to give the Raptors a chance to rebuild.

Look up, for 10 seconds!
enough!
Chen Fang began to accelerate, and after two steps, he reached full speed. His heavy body seemed to be refreshed, free of distractions.

There was only one thought!
You can make a game-winning shot, and I can make a game-winning shot in return!

I'm going to make you kneel down in front of me!

Jrue Holiday, Jaren Jackson Jr., Dillon, and Zubac desperately chased after the number 21 figure, even though everyone knew that the ball was impossible to pass. At this moment, running was an attitude.

To win, to win the championship, we must catch up.

Leonard is on a tear, and he has no time to complain about Chen Wang's madness and confidence. What he needs to do now is to disrupt the ball as much as possible.

It only took Chen Wang two seconds to step into the frontcourt, and then he used two seconds to turn and switch positions. Chen Wang seemed to be looking for a way to break through. Just as the three Raptors were about to surround him, Chen Wang accelerated again.

He made a series of in-and-out dribbling moves with his right hand, misleading the opponent by moving the ball inside and out. He had a wide stance, large strides, and a lateral dragging motion.

This move made Leonard afraid to get close. He could only slide back and wait for the opponent's final shot before blocking and interfering.

5, 4, 3.

Chen Fang seemed to have forgotten about time; he was still holding onto the ball, seemingly looking for a breakthrough. But Leonard was almost going crazy. Chen Fang's continuous dribbling created a sense of disorientation for him as the clock ticked down.

Strictly speaking, he didn't know the exact time.

Chen Fang kept counting down the seconds. He raised his head and fixed his gaze on Leonard in front of him, while in his mind, he was counting down the seconds one by one.

When the second second arrived, Chen Fang suddenly blasted the ball, taking a step to the side. In this process, the ball coming together and the jump happened almost simultaneously.

So when Leonard reacted and stretched out his big hand, Chen Fang had already raised the ball above his eyebrows and over his nose.

Leonard and James are nothing compared to me!
"Go to hell!"

Chen Fang stretched out his arms and pressed his wrists down, and he roared out this fierce sentence in his heart. Not only his heart, but his whole body was instantly filled with a chilling feeling.

But the moment he saw the ball go in, his blood suddenly ignited and exploded.

It felt as if there was a tiny universe deep within my body, and in that instant, the Big Bang began.

Turning his head, Chen Fang sprinted towards his own half of the court. As the cheers from the entire arena nearly exploded, obscuring all other sounds, he ran. He recalled Jordan's divine leap after his game-winning shot, and his body reacted instantly.

He raises his arms, leaps onto one leg, roars in mid-air, lands, raises both hands, and continues to roar!
Countless people surged forward, but Chen Fang still raised his arms high, his mind filled with images of his former idols after their decisive victories.

Now, I am too!
Seriously, of all the game-winning shots I've made, today's was the most satisfying!

For no other reason than that he defeated the strongest Leonard!
I don't need any hypnosis to take you down in a cool and powerful way!

Now, in the league, who can stop me!

At this moment, Chen Fang's heart was elevated.

At that moment, he understood that the world of basketball was beneath his feet.

I once gazed into the distance, I once dared not hope for anything, I once felt utterly devout.

Today, you are all just shills who sell your wares.

He completely ignored the shouts of his teammates, and only knew to raise his arms firmly and proudly.

At this moment, I am the master!
"I've taken Tianwang Mountain!"

(End of this chapter)