Rekindling the dream of becoming a star

Chapter 367 The Most Difficult Smile in History: The Smile of the God
"What are you doing? What are you doing?!"

"That filthy bastard, XXXXX!"

"You son of a bitch!"

The bar was noisy and chaotic, and the large screen projector was playing back footage of Chen Fang being perpetrated by a vicious criminal.

Chen Fang turned and jumped to shoot, but was pulled down by Anunoby, and collided with Leonard as he jumped and landed, instantly falling to the ground.

Amidst the anxious gazes of everyone, Chen Fang lay on the floor for a good ten seconds before being pulled up with the help of his teammates.

Referee Mark called a foul on the hand, which once again drew a barrage of criticism and questioning from fans watching the game on television.

"This isn't a technical offense? Are you blind?"

"Corrupt referee, you've been bribed!"

"A complete cover-up, absolutely a complete cover-up!"

After warming up and making sure he was alright, Chen Fang went to the free-throw line.

Looking at the basketball hoop, Chen Fang smiled.

"Chen Wang has a lot of free throws today, this is his sixth." Yu Jia's voice came from the television.

"He made all five of his free throws; that's real skill. Even fouls couldn't stop Chen Wang from scoring."

"First free throw, in! Beautiful!"

"Among Chen Wang's various statistics, his free throw percentage has consistently ranked first in the league at 94.2%. The second-ranked player is Malcolm Brogdon of the Bucks, whose free throw percentage is 92.8%."

"Nevertheless, the Raptors still chose to foul to stop him, which shows the coaching staff's respect for Chen Wang's post-up game."

Chen Fang slapped the ball three times, then spun it in his right palm. His eyes remained fixed on the basket as he slowly raised the ball, letting it pass his nose and forehead without pausing, but instead exerting force.

Unlike most players who would rotate the basketball in their left palm, this detail has been analyzed by experts who believe it can better trigger the shooting hand's feel.

Chen Wang's amazing free throw percentage has begun to be referenced by many players, which has undoubtedly raised his status and added many points to his reputation.

"The second free throw, no surprises!"

"Chen Fang's score has reached 13 points."

After throwing the free throw, Chen Fang slowly backed away, while Leonard chased after him.

This is the norm in this series. Chen Fang feels the pressure from Leonard in every game, and the feeling of playing in these games makes him feel tired but full of fighting spirit.

The saying "fighting with others is endlessly enjoyable" probably refers to this idea.

"The second quarter was essentially a continuation of the first quarter, but an upgraded version."

"Chen Wang had a hard time getting any easy opportunities. The Raptors took turns using role players to put up aggressive defense against him. In the second quarter, the team had already committed four fouls in just four minutes. Clearly, fouls became the theme of the game." Duan Ran sighed, wanting to tell the fans that the difficulty of this game was beyond imagination.

"Of course, Leonard didn't have a chance either. It's like you do the first day of the month, and I'll do the fifteenth."

“Sangwell has already committed 3 fouls in 3 minutes of playing time.”

"Beverley is eager to try out on the bench."

"Both sides have a lot of cards, so the key players won't have many opportunities in this game."

Yu Jia's words were quite subtle: the situation is that both coaches are using sacrificial pawns to distract the core players, and now it depends on who is more stable and has a better mentality.

Duan Ran offered a straightforward analysis: "The Raptors have four forwards and guards who can fill that role."

"With McCaw, Miller, Miles, Powell, and Anunoby, Coach Nurse has enough to wear down Chen Wang."

"The Clippers also have four players: Thornwell, Bridges, DiVincenzo, and Dillon."

"The key to today's victory is more likely to be the players in other positions. Whoever can step up, even if it's just by one or two points, will bring a huge advantage."

Before those words had even finished, Lou Williams, who had come off the bench, shook off VanVleet, drove into the three-point line, and made a layup.

"Great job, Lou Williams, the best sixth man, Lou Williams, lives up to his name!" Ke Fan shouted.

"24 to 21."

"The gap is now 3 points!"

But before his excitement could subside, Powell, who also came off the bench to play shooting guard, hit a three-pointer to tie the game again.

"Oh no, DiVincenzo, you missed that shot!" Kofan yelled again, almost losing control and about to slam his fist on the table.

"With Juhlildi off the pitch, Di Vencenzo failed to score in attack and instead conceded goals repeatedly, which is really unacceptable."

Kofan was right. DiVincenzo played for 3 minutes in this quarter, lost 5 points in a row, and his plus-minus dropped drastically.

"They need to be substituted out. The Clippers' rotation is really lacking compared to the Raptors!"

Kovan's prediction was correct. Taking advantage of the dead ball, Julius Erdőr came back on, replacing Di Vencenzo.

Also on the court was Dillon, who replaced Thornwell, who had three fouls.

Jaren Jr. did not play, and the frontcourt duo remained Zubac and Richon.

"Chen Wang's role now is more about containing Leonard, acting as a high-post defender, while Leonard plays the same role on offense, closely marking Chen Wang on defense."

"The situation was very tense, with both players struggling to get the ball, while role players got more opportunities to shoot."

"Now, it all comes down to which side has the better substitutes."

Tang Jun, however, has a unique perspective on this situation.

"This is a last resort."

“Such situations are rare in the NBA; it’s not an exaggeration to say they are extremely rare.”

"The Raptors rely on Leonard, and the Clippers rely on Chen Wang. If you exclude these two, neither team is top-tier; they're just on the edge of the playoffs."

"But if we add them, those two teams will be the toughest nuts to crack."

"If I were the head coach, I would also be willing to use Chen Wang or Leonard to trade for him."

"That's the reason. Other teams have multiple core players, so you can't control any one of them. On the contrary, having a single core player leading the team is the best option."

"I think Nurse is more proactive, while Rivers is passively responding. They are now betting on which hand is more effective."

Zubac repeatedly set off-ball screens at the top of the key, eager to help Chen Fang, but in return, the Raptors tightened their formation even further.

Chen Fang was forced to go to the sideline, but the Raptors erected an iron wall in the middle, completely cutting off the strong and weak sides. Jrue Holiday, who had the ball, could only fake a shot before taking the shot himself.

Ibaka grabbed the rebound and launched a fast break, completing the transition in an instant. Powell received the ball and hung on the rim with one arm, putting the team ahead.

"24:26, the Raptors have taken the lead!"

Chen Fang pulled Zubac aside and pointed out the problem: "You came out too early."

"Don't talk, just listen. Go to the basket and score as many points as you can!"

Then Chen Fang ran to Zhu Holliday, whispered something to him, and then gave coded hand signals to the others.

After crossing the halfway line, Chen Fang first headed towards the bottom corner, seemingly trying to sneak to the baseline to intercept the corner kick and then play a backheel pass.

Leonard then accelerated ahead of time, running down a shorter straight line to intercept Chen Fang.

At this moment, Chen Fang suddenly ran in the opposite direction, and Dillon and Richie appeared outwards in turn in the direction he was moving.

Flanking cover in stages!

As the name suggests, two teammates take turns setting consecutive screens in the same direction for an off-ball teammate, allowing the off-ball teammate to either receive the ball and get a wide-open shot or be unguarded when attacking the basket.

Chen Fang wasn't fast, but he nimbly and accurately darted past his teammates. At the same time, Zhu Holler rose up from the other side and flicked the ball towards the top of the arc.

Catch the ball, take a step to adjust, jump with the ball, correct the angle of your face in the air, and decisively shoot the moment you see the basket.

This was Chen Fang's first truly open three-pointer of the game, and also his first successful tactical move.

The Raptors' long-term defense is bound to produce some mistakes.

The cheers at Scotiabank Center rose, but fell silent the moment the ball pierced the net.

"A third three-pointer, a third three-pointer! Okay, I can't believe it, but when I think about how this is Chen Wang, it feels so real!" David roared.

"It's been the first half of the first quarter since his last shot. I don't know how Chen Wang has managed to maintain his touch, but I'm more inclined to believe that this is unparalleled talent!"

"The Clippers have taken the lead again, with Chen Wang at 16 points! Leonard, with 12 points, is now falling behind."

Rivers was also applauding, satisfied with the tactic. In fact, before the game, the coaching staff's biggest effort was to create a screen system for Chen Fang, trying to free him up.

But Raptors head coach Nick Nurse had already anticipated this. He had prepared a lot of possibilities and had the Raptors players practice them. Many of the screen plays were immediately disrupted as soon as they came out.

In particular, the screens set up by the inside players were effectively neutralized by agile inside players like Ibaka and Siakam, who used methods such as fronting the players and actively engaging in physical contact to delay them.

So Chen Fang gave the signal, abandoning the most effective off-ball screen in the paint and instead seeking a more complex double screen.

Even a slightly knowledgeable basketball fan should know that the league's most unparalleled pick-and-roll tactic comes from the Jazz, from Sloan.

The Utah Jazz, built by Jerry Sloan at their peak, used fewer than 10 different tactics over a decade, which opponents knew very well. However, this did not prevent the Utah Jazz from dominating the world.

The core key is the masterful use of the double pick-and-roll.

Screen-screen tactics: The power forward (4) first screens for the small forward (3), the point guard (1) passes to the shooting guard (2), then the point guard (1) screens for the power forward (4), the power forward (4) cuts out to receive a pass from the shooting guard (2), and attacks the basket. Single/double screens: This is the most basic screen tactic and needs no further explanation. The only key is that the screener's skills and tactics must be up to par.

Tiered double screen: This requires 3-4 players to act in unison. The core purpose is to create wide-open shots in the corners and at the top of the key. It is a long-range shooting tactic.

In today's league, the Rockets use this system most frequently, leveraging Harden's abilities to create open three-point opportunities for Gordon and Tucker. In the recently concluded Warriors-Rockets series, the Rockets basically relied on this screen system to compete with the Warriors in three-point shooting.

The subsequent horizontal and vertical double screens all involve creating opportunities for wide-open shots on the perimeter by maneuvering in the elbow and short corner areas of the paint.

These pick-and-rolls aren't worried about being figured out, but rather about teammates initiating the play revealing their positioning too early, allowing opponents to flank and disrupt them.

This is also due to the Clippers' players' shortcomings in this aspect. As a team of young players, their understanding and grasp of tactics are still very immature.

"If King Chen were here, it would truly be the end of the league," Curry remarked wistfully upon seeing the basket.

Durant laughed out loud upon hearing this and asked, "Who will you trade?"

"me?"

Curry knew Durant was being sensitive again, but after thinking about it, he couldn't refute it.

Yes, even if you could foresee the future, who would you trade with the Lakers for the second overall pick?
That's impossible. With the Warriors' roster in 17, they didn't think there were any teams in the league that could threaten them, so it's impossible for them to do something like that.

pity!

Given the Warriors' tactical awareness, Chen Wang won't have to struggle so much today and will easily get many open shots.

Nurse reacted quickly, calling a timeout and giving the players a stern reprimand.

"Attention, attention, attention!" he shouted at his teammates three times in a row.

"I'm not going to give you any nonsense about tactics. Tactics are static, but people are dynamic. Open your eyes wide, adjust your breathing, tense your bodies. I don't want to see goals scored so easily again. That's a crime, a crime against all the hard work and sweat we've put in over the past year!"

So the Raptors returned to the court, and in the first possession, Leonard made a sudden and forceful breakthrough, squeezing under the basket and scoring a layup off the backboard.

The score was tied again, and halfway through the second quarter, neither side had scored more than 30 points.

This would be unbelievable at any time.

In the next possession, the Raptors once again disrupted the Clippers' offensive initiation.

Dillon wanted to move; he had already completed the second step of the tactical maneuver. However, McCaw, who had just been brought on, grabbed his arm tightly.

As he swung his arm, he cried out, but unfortunately the referee Mark ignored it. From his perspective, both players made a forward swinging motion to wrap their arms around each other's groin, which was a natural mutual defense and could not be considered deliberate.

Dillon didn't escape, and Chen Fang's movement broke free, only to be covered by Leonard again.

Shaking his head, Chen gasped for breath.

Leonard, on the other hand, is not having an easy time. Defense is his strength, but that doesn't mean he isn't tired.

On offense, he faces at least two double teams, and on defense, he faces at least three Clippers players in pick-and-roll situations.

It can be said that he played for nearly 15 minutes, burning through his energy every single second.

Even if it's really steel, it will melt down.

But Leonard felt fine because he saw that Chen Wang was in a more awkward position than he was.

Despite his 14 points and Chen Wang's 16 points still being the highest scores for both teams, the actual situation was that the game's pace had completely stalled.

This is exactly the result that head coach Nurse expected.

"If we keep wearing them down, Chen and Wang will pose no threat in the fourth quarter. Trust my judgment, we must win this game."

The coach's words still echoed in his ears. Leonard liked this coach. He wasn't like the old man who kept nagging. Instead, he trusted him more. This year's season was the most enjoyable one he had ever had.

The buzzer sounded, and Leonard turned his head to look, only to find that the Clippers had made a substitution.

When he saw Bridges coming up, he suddenly realized something. At that moment, the Raptors' bench also stirred. Danny Green stepped onto the court and pointed at him.

"Both teams made substitutions during the dead ball situation. The Clippers first substituted Chen Wang, who had played for 16 minutes, while the Raptors substituted Leonard, who had played for the same amount of time."

"In the second quarter, it will depend on how the others perform."

Chen Fang didn't even have the energy to greet Rivers; instead, he found a chair and plopped down.

Chen Fang gulped down the water the staff brought him; he was genuinely thirsty this time.

Two cups didn't relieve the heat in my body, so I asked for a third.

Mazura squatted down: "The situation is beyond our imagination."

"It's a minor issue. The score isn't too far apart, so everything is fine," Chen Fang said calmly.

He wasn't agitated, but rather enlightened.

Trading Leonard for him is a good idea, but not the answer.

Given the Raptors' level of play, he didn't need to exert himself in the second quarter.

Since you want to play, I'll play along.

"I suggest playing Brunson; he's good at tough battles."

Mazura nodded, but did not say a word in agreement.

Ti Lung was also substituted, and the two exchanged a glance.

"Be patient, bro. Your chances are in the second half. Watch out for your fouls, don't go for it again."

"I know," Dillon replied angrily. He was exhausted from fighting, but even angrier at his own resistance.

"This summer, I'm going to gain 10 pounds, all muscle!"

"Actually, I suggest you don't brush your teeth this summer; that might be a more effective method!"

"Fuck!" Dillon nearly jumped out of his chair.

Hugging Dillon, Chen Fang felt that the joke had eased his emotions.

"Brother, keep going! Our dynasty needs you!"

The director noticed this scene and quickly switched to it.

"See? That's what makes Chen Wang so formidable," Durant said suddenly, watching the television screen.

"Huh?" Curry asked in surprise.

"No matter the situation, if you see him still smiling, it only means one thing," Durant explained slowly.

After Curry stared at him for a while, he continued, "He must have a plan."

"What's most terrifying about this person isn't his ball skills, but his ability to come up with solutions."

“That’s the scariest part of him!” Durant said to Curry, pointing to his head.

"If one day you and he are standing on the playoff stage again, remember that if he is smiling, you should be wary."

"Thank you!" Curry said sincerely.

Like a couple on their last date before breaking up, they remind each other of things to be careful about in the future, with warm yet melancholic emotions running rampant.

When Chen Wang and Leonard both left the court, the game suddenly became smoother and the intensity decreased.

The lineup of Lou Williams, Jrue Holiday, Bridges, Harrell, and Jaren Jr. boasts both strong offense and defense.

On the Raptors' side, VanVleet, Powell, Danny Green, Ibaka, and Siakam also possess all-around offensive and defensive capabilities.

Fast breaks, three-pointers, and drives to the basket—scoring methods that were rarely seen earlier—are starting to increase.

The score was also climbing, but the two sides were trading baskets, and it was impossible to tell which side would take the lead.

This feeling is eerie, and while commentators offer various interpretations, none can quite put their finger on it.

On the contrary, Tang Jun, with his unorthodox approach, offered an explanation that was illogical but consistent with human logic.

"It's obvious that both sides are letting their role players warm up and find their rhythm. Look, the double teams are gone, the zone defense is empty, and it's all five-out formations. Isn't this just a pure warm-up?"

Why do we do it this way?

"It's simple. Once our main players Chen Wang and Leonard return, we can develop a completely new tactic."

After saying this, Tang Jun saw a fan asking in the live chat why scoring is so easy now, so he replied: "Someone in the live chat just asked why three-pointers are being racked up so quickly, I'd like to correct that."

He paused, as if organizing his thoughts: "Actually, what you're seeing in the game right now is that every player on the court has a very strong scoring ability. Don't underestimate a blue-collar player; if you put them in a different league, they'd be Jordan."

"The reason it didn't work before is because the intensity was different."

"Not only that, but your tasks are also different. Just now, the coach asked you to do a good job on defense and screen, instead of letting you play freely. Whether you score or defend on the court, it all comes down to the game function assigned to you by the coach."

"As long as a superstar has the ability to break through defenses, the coach will not give him tasks, but will instead develop a series of offensive and defensive tactics around him."

"Yes, that's right." Seeing the overwhelming agreement in the comments, Tang Jun felt a sense of accomplishment. He then noticed a new question in the comments and replied, "It's almost halfway through the game, who would be foolish enough to throw out a new tactical trump card at this point?"

"As long as the score difference isn't widened, the next few minutes will be all about mutual trust and manipulation!"

"Let's wait for the second half. I have a feeling this game won't end so quickly!"

(End of this chapter)