Rekindling the dream of becoming a star

Chapter 370 The Most Difficult Dream in History: My Champion Dream

In the long history of the NBA, overtime has always been the highlight.

The NBA has more say in how overtime should be played.

Each team in the league develops a specific offensive and defensive strategy for overtime.

The rules and time of overtime will be thoroughly studied, and several sets of playing strategies will be deployed based on our own situation and the circumstances on site.

For example, a 5-minute match can be divided into two parts before and three parts after, or two parts before and three parts after.

In the first three minutes, the team controlled the pace and conserved the players' energy. In the last two minutes, they suddenly accelerated, using fast breaks and three-pointers to overwhelm the opponent and gain an unassailable lead.

Some teams accelerate their offense and defense in the first two minutes, using physical strength to gain an early advantage, and then control the pace in the last three minutes, using a defensive counter-attack strategy to disrupt the opponent's mentality and gain an advantage.

In addition, the NBA overtime rules state that if a team accumulates four fouls, they will receive two free throws and possession of the ball at center line. Teams will strategically draw fouls to pressure their opponents, using free throws and possession to run down the clock and ultimately win.

In the NBA coaching world, this has its own term: "4th offense".

The essence of overtime strategy lies in psychological warfare.

Big data shows that the free throw percentage in overtime is 10% lower than in regular time. Teams will specifically target players with poor free throw shooting, sending them to the free throw line to gain an advantage in possession.

However, this strategy should be used in the first three minutes because the NBA overtime rule is that if the defense fouls an off-ball player in the last two minutes, the offense will get one free throw and retain possession of the ball.

Generally speaking, due to the rules, head coaches need to make a more comprehensive consideration of the players who will play in overtime.

Physical fitness, defensive level, free throw percentage, mental fortitude, and three-point shooting ability all need to be taken into consideration.

There's a saying in the NBA: the truly strong teams are those that can play overtime.

The implication is that weak teams and average teams are easily exposed in overtime.

In short: Overtime = 50% tactics + 50% skill.

Whoever can play their physical, intelligence, and psychological cards until the very last second will survive the five-minute life-or-death game.

The Clippers naturally had their own overtime strategy, and with Brian's help, Rivers quickly came up with the most feasible plan.

Dillon Sunwell.

Juholl-Beverley.

Chen Wang Brunson.

Jaren Zubac Jr.

Zubac-Rijohn-.

The former refers to players who come on in the first two minutes, while the latter refers to substitutes prepared based on the current situation.

The battle situation includes: physical fitness, number of fouls, and immediate performance.

The offensive and defensive strategy is 2 in the front, 2 in the back, and 1 in the end.

The Clippers coaching staff divided the five minutes into three phases, each corresponding to one of the three timeouts.

The three pauses consist of two long pauses and one short pause, two of which are 60 seconds long and one is 20 seconds long.

Different pauses will be implemented depending on the immediate situation.

In the first two minutes, the main focus was on speeding up the pace and scoring points.

In the last two minutes, two scenarios emerged: if they were leading, they would control the game and slow down; if they were trailing, they would continue to accelerate and launch a fierce attack on the inside to create scoring opportunities.

With one minute left in the game, there are two options again. One is to maintain control while leading, minimize fouls, and focus on defending three-pointers. The other is to go all out with three-pointers when trailing, making a desperate attempt to win.

For each situation, the coaching staff has developed specific tactics, covering both offense and defense.

These tactics are all based on a coded gesture; the coach says it, and the players understand it instantly, without needing further explanation.

Because the tactics in overtime mostly involve small-scale coordination, 2-3 people are enough.

Even so, many players find it difficult to execute perfectly when their brains are oxygen-deprived. Therefore, after heavy training sessions on regular training days, players often come up with some small tactics to deepen their understanding and impression of the tactics.

It can be said that the NBA has reached the pinnacle of tactics, and no other league can compare.

Chen Fang was flexing his ankles, while Mazura was telling everyone the number of fouls. When he heard that Dillon had 5, Jaren had 5, and Richie had 5, Chen Fang was a little confused.

"Wait, did we commit that many fouls?"

"Yes, please be mindful of the number of fouls."

Chen Fang looked at the head coach, Rivers, whose eyes showed worry.

“You need to be prepared!” he said to Chen Fang.

"Understood!" Chen Fang nodded, a bad feeling creeping over him.

Not far away, Nas recovered from the frustration of being tied last, and at the same time, he encouraged the whole team with words, sweeping away their dejection.

“Listen, everyone is looking at me.” Nurse stood in the center of the bench.

"Their foul count has reached its limit. Apart from Chen Wang's 3 fouls, the other 4 starters have 4-5 fouls each."

"The main players are rotated out about four times."

"As long as we inflict damage, the Clippers' vulnerability will be like a dam breaking, turning from a tiny hole into an unfillable gaping wound in an instant."

"Overtime will be their graveyard. Let's jump for joy at the Clippers' funeral!"

"Give Dillon a go first, then Jaren, and send them off the field."

"Our overtime strategy was to attack the Clippers' interior and use the foul rules to control the pace."

While both sides were devising strategies for overtime, the commentators also offered their respective perspectives.

"Chen Wang's game-tying shot gave the Clippers a glimmer of hope, but bad fouls will be the biggest problem in overtime."

“Raptors head coach Nick Nurse will not turn a blind eye. Once Dillon Van Gundy is taken out of play, the Clippers’ offensive and defensive system will have a gap.”

“Sangwell also has 5 fouls, and the only players who can replace him in that position are Bridges and DiVincenzo.”

"However, neither of them will get much playing time today. After all, they are rookies, and this pressure is not something they can handle."

"Rivers now has to worry about how to handle the embarrassing situation of having no one available for overtime."

Almost unanimously, after the initial excitement, both Yu Jia and Su Qun from CCTV's live broadcast, and Duan Ran and Ke Fan from TX Sports, realized a huge problem.

The fouls accumulated by the Clippers' key players will become the Raptors' most useful weapon.

"If, as long as..." Tang Jun found it difficult to answer when he saw the question in the barrage of comments. He stammered and hesitated, but could not finish his sentence.

"We can only trust Chen Wang. As long as he can continue to score, the Clippers have a chance to win."

Tang Jun forced a smile and replied that this was his wish, and also the expectation of all Chinese people.

In fact, it wasn't just him; even the Los Angeles Clippers fans shared the same hopes.

"This is bad. This is a problem of poor planning. Now the Clippers can only rely on Chen Wang!" Andy also shook his head. He said to everyone without any attempt to hide his thoughts: "Even I can come up with several offensive strategies to deal with this 5-minute overtime."

The implication is that Nass knows better how to operate.

"Scoring percentage drops significantly in overtime. After high-intensity exercise, if a player rests for more than 3 minutes, lactic acid will spread through their muscles."

"That's why players can't rest too much even when they're off the field; they need to use stationary bikes to maintain muscle vitality."

"Buzz!"

The overtime buzzer sounded, and the OT1 of Game 6 of the Grand Finals was about to begin.

The ball is regained in midfield for a jump ball.

Zubac's failure to win this time exposed his declining physical fitness and lack of strength.

Lowry received the ball and quickly charged forward. Jrue Holiday was a little slow to catch up. If Dillon hadn't positioned himself in advance, Lowry would have almost scored a long-range goal.

Lowry, who had rushed to the corner, dribbled back to avoid being surrounded. He felt much more at ease; this test had shown him where his strengths lay.

As a physical prodigy, Lowry showed no signs of having played four quarters; his confidence and desire for the game fueled his energy.

Similarly, Lowry's probing also boosted the confidence of the rest of the Raptors, and the last trace of fear instilled by Chen Wang disappeared.

Siakam set a screen and then turned to cut inside, and Lowry made a bounce pass while moving.

Seeing Siakam receive the ball and drive straight to the basket, the Clippers immediately collapsed their interior defense, with Jaren and Zubac immediately forming a pincer movement.

However, this also weakened the defense in the middle. Xiao Gaal quickly approached, received a pass from Siakam that was almost a handoff, took three steps without dribbling, and drove straight for the basket.

At that position and at that speed, it was almost impossible to interfere without fouling; the Clippers could only watch helplessly as Gasol put the ball into the basket.

"95:97!"

"The Raptors score first!"

The sea of ​​red in the stands began to ripple. Even fans who didn't know much about the game understood that every point in extra time was precious and hard-won.

The Clippers inbounded the ball from the baseline. In addition to Chen Fang receiving the ball and Zubac initiating the play, Dillon, Jaren, and Jrue Holiday all quickly entered the Raptors' half of the court and took their positions.

This forces the Raptors to spread out their defensive formation, preventing them from implementing high-quality double-teams.

Zubac set up Chen Fang at center to delay the play, and the two crossed half-court. Zubac then immediately made a fake screen and cut to the basket.

After Chen Fang passed the ball, he entered a state of no-ball movement and began to accelerate to get rid of the ball.

He first ran to the uninhabited area on the right, then suddenly turned back, brushing past Dillon, who was coming up to provide secondary cover for him.

Dillon delayed Leonard's pursuit, while Zubac first blocked Siakam's advance and then handed the ball to Chen Fang who came over.

Chen Fang received the ball and was close to the three-point line. He took a step dribble, a technique usually used for acceleration before the ball is sent into play.

Anunoby, who was switching on defense, chose to retreat to prevent Chen Fang from breaking through. Chen Fang took a big step forward and came to a meter away from the three-point line. Suddenly, he grabbed the ball and jumped up.

"Chen Wang, break free, accelerate, jump shot!"

"Ah! The ball didn't go in!" Yu Jia sighed, holding his head in his hands, but the crowd erupted in cheers.

Chen Fang retreated quickly with a blank expression. As he jogged, he made a deliberate gesture of touching his thigh.

This detail was immediately noticed.

“Chen Wang’s leg injury might have some impact; this isn’t a good sign.” David began to worry, and not only him, but even Rivers frowned, uneasy.

For him, honor and disgrace are not important; he values ​​this young man's future more.

Chen Fang didn't say anything. His left ankle was throbbing, but he couldn't care less at the moment.

The arrow is on the bowstring; it must be released.

Just hang in there a little longer!

Chen Fang said to himself.

I won't act impulsively, but having fought this hard, I'm so close to my first championship, and I'm unwilling to give up no matter what.

The Raptors picked up the pace, and Lowry used his speed and weight to attack Holiday, who, burdened with four fouls and mindful of the rules, did not play aggressively on defense.

First, he changed direction to the left, then pulled back between his legs, Lowry took a step back, and suddenly jumped up with the ball.

"Lowry breaks through, crosses over and pulls back, oh...! Three-pointer! Ahhhhh! Lowry hits a three-pointer!" The Raptors commentator almost went crazy, jumping up and shouting, "Kyle Lowry, the Raptors' spiritual leader, he stepped up when the team needed him most."

"A five-point deficit! The Raptors are showing unprecedented good news in overtime!"

The commentators, hosts, and reporters who favored the Clippers fell silent.

As we all know, 5 points in overtime are far more precious than ever before, and are also the hardest to catch up with.

Holiday covered his face; he really hadn't expected Lowry, who rarely took three-point shots, to pull this off.

Rivers didn't repeat his old mistake; he called a long timeout.

Amidst deafening cheers at the Scotiabank Center, the Clippers players returned to the bench.

Rivers began to lay out the tactics: "32 zone defense, don't worry about that three-pointer, our focus is still on protecting the rim."

"Forget about the fouls, trust your teammates. Even if you're off the court, your brothers will be there to take your place."

"Pay attention to the rhythm, shoot boldly, and take the shot when it's open!"

After explaining the situation in just three sentences, Rivers leaned close to Chen Fang's ear and said, "Tell me, is everything alright?"

"Yes, but it's a minor issue!" Chen Fang gave a decisive answer.

Rivers' heart sank. He shrank back and carefully examined the Chinese man in front of him.

"It won't affect my career, I know that," Chen Fang added.

Seeing that Rivers was about to say something, Chen Fang stood up and threw the towel on the ground: "Okay, coach, I can't give up now that we've fought this far."

"Leave it to us!" After saying this, Chen Fang took a deep breath and stepped onto the court.

Despite the pain, Chen Fang calmly went to receive the serve from the center line.

He set a screen for Jrue Holiday at the top of the key, and then Dillon set an off-ball screen for him. When Holiday received the inbound pass from Zubac, he quickly moved out to the logo area to receive the pass.

Without waiting, he ran after Zubac in the direction Zubac was heading.

The Raptors' defensive formation was disrupted by this multiple screen. For a moment, Leonard was stuck at the high post and watched helplessly as Chen Wang dribbled to the right wing.

Anunoby and Siakam were both trying to cover, but Zubac, with his broad body, firmly shielded Chen Fang from the attack.

Chen Fang jumped right in front of Zubac, but this time he didn't jump high; he used a volley.

Because his left foot could no longer participate in accurate shooting, Chen Fang jumped with his right foot and followed with his left foot. Although this movement was quite awkward, the transmission of force was no longer affected by the pain nerves.

"Chen Wang quickly broke free and moved to the sideline. Was it a drive? No, it was a three-pointer!"

"Ouch!"

Duan Ran was excited, Yu Jia was excited, and David started shouting like a madman. What they shouted was surprisingly in unison!
"Three-pointer! Chen Wang's eighth three-pointer! 45! The finals are at 45 points, and the score is only two points behind!"

"98 to 100."

"The Clippers are not dead yet. Chen Wang has snatched their life back from the clutches of death."

"What words of praise can I use to describe him? I can only express my reverence by kneeling down and explaining!" David felt unparalleled pride and joy. King Chen was always the man who would never disappoint him.

"My God, Chen Wang is God on the field right now!"

After scoring, Chen Wang began to retreat on defense. He pointed to the stands on the sidelines, as if to say to the Raptors fans: Don't be too happy yet, I'm still here!
On the Clippers' bench, Rivers raised his arms excitedly, shaking his head and shouting to Brian, "Damn, this is the toughest man I've ever seen. He's like Garnett, his spirit is like steel, and he's someone you can always trust."

Brian tugged at his sleeve and pointed behind him.

Rivers turned his head and realized that Ballmer, Lawrence, and Wenger had somehow gotten behind the bench.

"Boss!" Rivers greeted him, though frankly, he didn't like having people behind him, as it affected his mood and performance.

"I'm sorry, I think I have to be there." Ballmer was also very excited. After much hesitation, he still decided to come. At this moment, he felt that he needed to face everything with his team.

"Don't disturb my work, this is crucial!" Rivers replied sternly. At this moment, he didn't want to be diplomatic; there were more important things waiting for him.

He carefully observed Chen Fang's gait, and after watching for a while, he shook his head: "I don't know what happened to his left ankle, but it must be very difficult for him to keep going."

Brian and Mazura both looked grave; clearly, they had noticed it too.

“His left foot is very light, and his mouth twitches every time it touches the ground,” Brian said anxiously.

“Yes, we have to take him off.” Mazura became even more impatient.

"No, I just talked to him, but he didn't accept it. You all know his temper."

“He won’t give up!” Rivers said anxiously.

"That block must have happened not long ago." Mazura realized, and he quickly took out his notebook to find the replay.

This time, the three noticed details they hadn't seen before.

High-definition video, original source signal.

When Chen Wang landed, his left foot showed a clear inward twist the moment it touched the ground, but as he fell, the twisting motion did not occur completely.

"Damn it!" Mazura cursed, clutching her head.

The reason is clear now.

Chen Wang's left ankle, without proper recovery, continued to compete at high intensity, causing the injury to worsen rather than fully heal.

The fact that such a simple landing resulted in an inward twist is clearly due to the ankle being unable to withstand the force.

However, when players are excited and focused, it is difficult for them to notice problems immediately. Dopamine can numb the nerves, and it is not until the effects of the drug wear off or the injury worsens that it becomes impossible to block it.

Now, every step Chen Wang takes must be accompanied by the pain of being pricked by needles.

The three couldn't find a solution for a moment. In the silence, the stadium erupted in groans again. Looking up, they saw that the score had changed to 100 to 100.

"Two points, Chen Wang's two points, it's a tie, it's a tie!" Lawrence's shouts from behind made the three core members of the coaching staff understand what was going on, but at this moment, they had no joy at all.

Because Chen Wang is gambling his entire career on a single victory.

Chen Fang, who made the shot with his back to the basket, started to retreat defensively with one foot high and the other low. The back-to-the-basket technique requires the use of both feet. This time, Chen Fang almost gritted his teeth to complete the full motion.

The price he paid was that his left foot could no longer touch the ground.

First the narrator, then the reporters, and within seconds, everyone noticed the problem.

"Call a timeout, a long timeout," Rivers ordered firmly.

Dillon rushed to Chen Fang immediately and carried him on his shoulder.

"Brother, don't scare me." Dillon panicked, his big eyes filled with bewilderment.

"What are you doing? I'm not panicking!" Chen shouted, then comforted him, "It's nothing, don't panic, be a man!"

Jaren was the second to arrive. He carried Chen Fang from the other side, and the two practically lifted Chen Fang back to the bench. The Chinese commentators, including Yu Jia, Su Qun, Duan Ran, and Ke Fan, along with Clippers reporters, were all stunned.

“Prince Chen, it seems…” Yu Jia couldn’t continue. He started trembling inexplicably, overcome with immense fear.

The large screen in the center of the stadium was displaying a response, showing no apparent problem, but Chen Wang's movements clearly indicated that there was an issue with his left foot.

Many Raptors fans were laughing like they'd won the lottery, but neither were the reporters or the Raptors players.

Nas stood there with his hands on his hips, feeling a mix of joy and sorrow. He didn't know what to say or do.

Is the mountain blocking the Raptors' path about to collapse?
Curry and Durant, watching the game from New York, were even more nervous.

"Damn it! Damn it!" Curry was furious. He kept pounding on the sofa, his mood suddenly turning sour.

Durant, however, became increasingly rambling, muttering to himself, "Damn it, how did you advise me? How come you're being just as stupid now?"

Chen Fang, who had returned to the bench, took off his left shoe with the help of the team doctor.

The moment the sock was pulled down, everyone gasped.

Blackish purple!
A large lump had already formed on my ankle.

In that state, anyone else would have been substituted long ago, but Chen Wang managed to score 5 consecutive points during the game!
Each teammate's feelings went from confusion to despair, from hopelessness to pain, and then a profound sense of respect arose within them.

"It's nothing, I think I'm fine!" Chen Fang grinned.

"No!" a voice rang out.

Chen Fang turned around and realized that his boss, Ballmer, had been sitting in the back.

"I don't want the championship, I want you!" Ballmer said firmly to Rivers, "I can pay the most luxury tax next year, and this championship will be ours sooner or later."

"What's more, we can still go to a tiebreaker!"

Everyone was stunned, but Chen's next sentence made them even more emotionally conflicted.

"Sorry, boss, you have to listen to me now."

“Almost there, just two minutes left. Let’s finish it here.” Chen Fang replied, then smiled and said to Dillon in the calmest tone, “Help me put on my shoes, time is almost up.”

Dillon was stunned, but under Chen Fang's calm gaze, he lowered his head, knelt on one knee on the floor, and put on Chen Fang's shoes.

"Let me do it," Rivers said, shoving Dillon aside.

Although everyone surrounded Chen Fang, the cameras still managed to capture images of his foot injury, which were seen by the 20,000 Raptors fans in the arena and by hundreds of millions of fans watching the broadcast worldwide.

"Chen Wang's old injury has relapsed. I think this is the last thing the fans want to see, but that's how cruel and unpredictable competitive sports are." Duan Ran felt his heart was bleeding. He continued, panting, "From the Western Conference Finals Game 2 when Chen Wang was injured to his forced comeback in Game 6, and up to today, he has been fighting with his unhealed left foot."

"Today, he once again saved the Clippers, tied the game against the Raptors, and forced overtime. He did not disappoint us, and single-handedly tied the score again after being down by 5 points."

“King Chen has given his all; his iron will is enough to move even the most hard-hearted person.”

"We can't ask for anything more, really. He owes no one anything. He has a bright future ahead of him, and in time, he will defeat any opponent in the league."

Duan Ran was still expressing his feelings when Ke Fan grabbed his hand.

Duan Ran glared angrily, but then followed Ke Fan's hand and looked at the monitor.

"What!" Duan Ran was so shocked that her soul almost left her body.

On the monitor, Chen Fang stood on the court, limping towards his half.

"No, no, no, that's stupid!" Not only Duan Ran, but all the commentators screamed.

"Chen Wang insisted on playing despite his injury. Head coach Rivers personally put on his shoes and tied his shoelaces. Clippers owner Steve Ballmer stood behind the bench with his face covered. On the faces of all the Clippers players, I could only read one attitude."

"We must win this damn game!" David said, suppressing his grief.

Chen Fang stepped into the penalty area, his right foot outside the penalty area and his left foot touching the ground inside the paint. He felt very calm now.

No matter what happens in the future, he will not regret it.

"This is my game. No matter how strong fate may be, I must take this championship. It cannot belong to the Raptors, absolutely not!"

"Two horizontal lines and one vertical line, just get it done!" he told himself.

The game will not change because of Chen Fang's decision, and the Raptors will not give up. Although Chen Fang replaced Jaren at the power forward position, the Raptors still regard him as a breakthrough point.

But the Clippers, spurred on by a death wish, forgot their fatigue and concerns, focusing entirely on defense. With all four players providing full support and protection, the Raptors failed to gain any advantage in three possessions.

Offensively, without Chen Wang as a focal point, the Raptors' defense also rendered the Clippers ineffective.

Whether it was Dillon's drive, Zubac's strong performance under the basket, or Jrue Holiday's three-point attempt, all of them missed.

Time has passed, and before we knew it, we were in the last minute.

The neutral commentator began to analyze: "It is obvious that Chen Wang's playing with an injury did not help. Fortunately, their defense was very good and the Raptors did not score."

"The Raptors should slow down now and drag the game into a second overtime. That way, the Clippers will eventually lose their edge."

Watching Chen Wang struggle to move around the court, the neutral commentator sighed: "I don't know what Chen Wang is persisting in, but I admire his competitive spirit immensely."

"But I'm sorry, competition is cruel."

The Chinese commentators, whether Yu Jia or Duan Ran, were playing the emotional card, both psychologically and physiologically.

Yu Jia used his expertise and vast vocabulary: "The first actor to play Superman, Christopher Reeve, said this during a national tour after an accidental injury that left him paralyzed for life."

Yu Jia gazed at Chen Fang on the court and said, "He said, 'I used to think that heroes were those who stepped forward in difficult circumstances. But now I have a new understanding: heroes are those who persist in fighting against fate in desperate situations.'"

"Chen Fang, this boy who will turn 21 in a month, has shown us what a hero is."

He continued, "In my heart, Chen Fang at this moment is Superman, the Superman of the basketball world!"

Duan Ran, however, used her memories of her interactions with Chen Fang to confess her feelings to him, saying, "The first time I met Chen Wang was at the Nike Peak Tournament in 16. After I finished interviewing him, I saw him off. At the moment of parting, I asked him, 'Have you ever thought about going to the NBA?'"

"King Chen replied that he had thought about it and was certain he could get in."

"He then said, 'I want to go to the NBA and be the boss.'"

"To be honest, at that time I was surprised and somewhat indifferent, taking it as just youthful arrogance."

"In recent years, especially after entering the NBA, whenever I commentate on Chen Wang's games, I can't help but think of Chen Wang that day."

"Back then, he was still young and inexperienced, but the confidence in his eyes was as dazzling as the sun."

“He has always kept his word; what he says, he delivers.”

“Now…!” Duan Ran took a deep breath, feeling his heart trembling. He suppressed his emotions and said in a trembling but firm voice, “Prince Chen has done it.”

"Right now, he is the king of the NBA. Whether he wins a championship or not, it cannot erase the surprises and excitement he has given us this season."

"We are so proud of you, Chen Fang! You are the pride of all Chinese people!"

On the court, the Clippers gained possession of the ball with 42 seconds remaining.

This should be their last possession of the ball in OT1 overtime.

The score is currently tied at 100, and has remained so for nearly two and a half minutes.

The Raptors didn't dare to commit fully; their head coach kept gesturing to them to focus on defense and drag the game into a second overtime.

Without Chen Wang, the Clippers pose no threat whatsoever.

The Raptors have enough time in the next overtime period to secure a victory that is within their grasp.

The Clippers were well aware that Rivers, the shrewd Wenger, Lawrence, and even owner Ballmer all calmly accepted this clearly foreseeable future outcome.

But some people don't want that!
He's a Clippers player!
Whether off the field or fighting on the field, everyone wanted to do something for King Chen.

Do something for this man who promised to win the championship from the beginning of the season!
Dillon saw Chen Fang, winked at him, and made a gesture.

That gesture was something we used during regular training, often when we were betting; it wasn't a tactical maneuver.

But Dillon instantly realized what Chen Fang was planning to do.

So he moved up the court, set a screen for Holiday who had the ball, and then faked a cut to the basket, drawing Leonard away from the right wing who was helping to defend.

Leonard has been assigned by Nurse to guard the most threatening Dillon, while Anunoby is tasked with keeping an eye on Chen Wang, who is standing on one leg.

Meanwhile, Zubac spread out to provide a second off-ball screen for Dillon near the free-throw line.

At this moment, the Raptors' defense switched again. Lowry pushed inside to switch, while simultaneously using Box's infinite switching defensive technique. Anunoby needed to go to the top of the key to switch onto Holiday.

Siakam will need to defend Chen Wang, while Leonard will switch to defend Jaren.

This is the basic operating logic of the infinite switch defense, but at this moment, Siakam hesitated. He saw Jaren suddenly slip along the baseline and head to the short corner. At this moment, he should have called for Leonard to go while he continued to cover.

But in that moment of hesitation, Dillon finally reached the top of the arc, where he theoretically had a very short, wide opening.

Holiday, who had the ball on the other side, promptly passed it over.

Dillon received the ball, immediately made a shooting motion, knocked Lowry up at the top of the arc, and then dribbled towards the inside without hesitation.

Upon hearing his kill, Siakam immediately abandoned all distractions and proactively stepped in to cover for his opponent.

At that moment, out of the corner of his eye, Dillon caught a glimpse of a blue shadow that hopped into the corner.

That's Chen Fang.

After each training session, Chen Fang would always make a bet with Di Long that he would hit a three-pointer from the corner at a negative angle, and that it would be a one-legged fadeaway jumper.

Dillon lost every single time from the beginning to the end of the season.

Ti Lung, who used to hate this bet but had never won, couldn't help but challenge Chen Fang whenever he invited him to.

Every time Chen Fang won, he would use a thumbs-down gesture to mock him.

"Go ahead, I'm willing to lose this bet for the rest of my life!"

With a roar in his heart, Dillon, after passing the ball, widened his eyes, opened his mouth, and raised his arms at Chen Fang, who was standing on one leg and even taking a moment to gather his emotions.

Chen Fang waited as soon as he saw Dillon start moving and positioning himself.

He slowly moved backward, dragging his left foot with his right, and moved towards the bottom corner.

At first, Anunoby was still moving around, but after the switch and the area became the weak side, he was the only one within a three-meter radius.

It only took three seconds for Chen Fang's heart rate to go from extremely fast to extremely slow. He took a deep breath, held his breath, and stood in the corner, waiting for Dillon to pass the ball.

The moment the ball was passed to them, a huge gasp rang in my ears. Less than a meter behind me, the screams of the Raptors fans were so loud they seemed to pierce my eardrums.

But Chen Fang, with his mind free of distractions, only had eyes for that basketball hoop.

Bend your knees, lift your feet, and plant your left toes on the floor to maintain your balance. Then, push off with your right foot, and with this force, the ball will quickly rise from your waist to below your nose.

It can't go any higher, otherwise it definitely won't reach the basket.

Driven by his body's instinctive shooting awareness, Chen Fang launched the ball with a Curry-esque half-push shot.

The moment he made his move, Chen Fang, who landed on one foot, felt a huge loss of balance and landed hard on his backside on the floor. So he sat there, hugging his knees, waiting for the result.

When Chen Fang saw the ball swish through the net, his heart completely relaxed.

There was no ecstasy, no excitement, but rather a sense of relief.

"This is all I can do!" Chen Fang thought to himself as he lay on the floor, staring at the dazzling ceiling.

"Dillon receives the ball at the top of the arc. He's going to shoot, no, he's going to drive. The paint is packed with people. Ah, pass the ball!" Yu Jia suddenly stood up, his eyes wide as he stared intently at the monitor.

"King Chen, King Chen, King Chen!" he shouted repeatedly, and when he saw Chen Fang make his move, it turned into a long shout.

"Ah ah ah ah ah ah!"

Upon witnessing the ball pierce the rim, the usually reserved Yu Jia could no longer contain his overwhelming joy.

"Three-pointer! A killer three-pointer!"

"Is he going to kill the game? With 21 seconds left, Chen Wang hit a game-winning three-pointer!"

"My God, how did they do that?"

"Hit with one foot?" Yu Jiaren was stunned after watching the replay.

He wasn't the only one who was stunned; whether they were Clippers or Raptors fans, everyone displayed completely different actions and expressions.

Raptors fans clutched their heads, looking at each other in dismay, while on the Clippers bench, everyone was jumping and shouting.

Ballmer even skipped the bench, stood on the sidelines, waving his fists, his neck red and bulging, and yelling wildly.

All the Clippers players on the court rushed towards Chen Fang, who was lying in the corner.

They quickly lifted Chen Fang up and rushed him to the bench.

"Beep beep!" The Raptors called a timeout, and Nurse looked up at the sky and sighed, his face ashen.

How can I accept losing like this?
"He's God of the court. Even if Jordan came, I'd still think so." David roared, "A crucial three-pointer! The Raptors have to go for a three-pointer now. Neither side has committed their fourth foul yet. Now, Nurse has to figure out who should take that three-pointer!"

"Luck and self-deception will be punished. Did you think Chen Wang was useless? No, that's why he insisted on playing."

"If there is a superman in this world, it must be King Chen!"

"The Raptors will regret this overtime strategy for the rest of their lives. All Raptors fans will never forgive Nick Nurse's decision!"

"The closest we came to the Larry O'Brien Trophy was at the 21st second!"

"And all of this was destroyed by a player wearing number 21! It's all predetermined!" David didn't know why he said this; he just felt compelled to say it.

On the Clippers' bench, Chen Fang lay on a chair, surrounded by familiar faces.

"Brothers, hold on for these 21 seconds, I can't go on anymore! Sorry!" Chen Fang looked at his swollen left ankle and smiled at everyone despite the excruciating pain.

"No need to say more, we'll definitely hold on." Dillon stood up and yelled at the others, "Get on the field and let's win this damn championship!"

Just as David predicted, the only way for the Raptors to advance is through three points.

Rivers replaced him with Thornwell, whose steady personality has always been reassuring.

With their defense in full swing, the Clippers will not give the Raptors any chance of scoring three points.

Watching his teammates take the field, Chen Fang turned to Ballmer and said, "Boss, let's pray."

"Thank you, thank you!" Ballmer grasped Chen Fang's outstretched hand tightly, looking at him sincerely: "I now understand the meaning of being a champion, and I'm certain that God will not fail to see your efforts."

"You are the Clippers' proudest presence. You hold an unparalleled position in the Clippers, including mine."

“I think I’m honored!” Chen Fang looked at Lawrence, then glanced at Wenger.

He turned around and stared at the court. To be honest, he was incredibly nervous at that moment. As the two sides attacked and defended, the constant dangers made him clench his fists.

It wasn't until he saw Leonard's fake move fail to fool Dillon, and he was forced to pass the ball to Lowry, who was three meters outside the arc, under dead ball conditions, and Lowry, seeing that there were less than two seconds left, took a step forward and decisively shot, that he stood up immediately.

The immense pain transformed into sweet joy the moment I saw the ball slam into the rim and bounce high, and as the final buzzer sounded.

He was being hugged by someone—it was Derrick Rose. Even though he didn't play today, tears welled up in his eyes at that moment.

"Brother, I told you, I'm going to bring everyone the championship!" Chen laughed loudly.

Everyone rushed onto the court. Dillon grabbed the basketball and ran wildly, using the evasive maneuvers of rugby to dodge everyone until he reached Chen Fang.

"Here, the ball for the finals. Only you deserve this souvenir!" He shoved the ball into Chen Fang's arms, and Chen Fang laughed heartily, hugging Dillon tightly.

One, two, every Clippers player came over and surrounded Chen Fang and Dillon, forming a huge human circle, shouting loudly without even knowing their own intonation.

"2018-19 Season, Overall Champion."

“Los...Angeles...Clippers!!!” David roared hoarsely with all his might.

"Congratulations to the Los Angeles Clippers! Their 49-year championship drought since the team's founding in 1970 has come to an end!" Yu Jia was equally excited. He took a deep breath and said, "Congratulations to Doc Rivers for winning his second championship as a coach. And congratulations to Chen Wang for winning his first championship as a core leader at the age of 21, which is almost an NBA record!"

"Although Chen Wang is not the youngest player in NBA history to win a championship as a core leader, in terms of age, he will share this honor with Magic Johnson!"

"Magic Johnson still holds the record for the youngest player to win an NBA championship as the team's core leader. In the 1980 Finals, at the age of 20 years and 276 days, he led the Los Angeles Lakers to the title and was named Finals MVP (FMVP)."

"Absolute talent, outstanding ability, and an iron will—there is no doubt that Chen Wang's championship is the most valuable in NBA history."

"Without a doubt, even Jordan couldn't win a championship single-handedly, let alone at the age of 20!"

"Please allow me to describe it this way, but...!" Yu Jia said with utmost solemnity, "Prince Chen is worthy!"

"History will prove all of this, and we have reason to believe that Chen Wang will be more than just one player. He will become the iconic face of the NBA and the undisputed No. 1 among the new generation after Kobe's retirement."

"The Larry O'Brien Trophy has been brought out, shining brightly under the lights. It's a trophy that countless basketball players dream of, and now it belongs to the Los Angeles Clippers, and to Chen Wang!"

Raptors fans left en masse, but many still lingered to watch the trophy presentation ceremony.

With the help of Dillon and Thornwell, Chen Fang arrived at the hastily erected podium. Facing Adam Silver's congratulations, Chen Fang smiled and replied, "I hope to do more for the NBA."

Xiao Hua gave the Chinese a deep look and smiled knowingly.

"Congratulations again, you have already left an indelible mark and a place in the NBA."

As he spoke, Xiao Hua handed the Larry O'Brien Trophy to Chen Fang with both hands.

Looking at the Larry O'Brien Trophy in front of him, Chen Fang took a deep breath. He first looked at Dillon, then at the head coach, then scanned each face, and finally turned back to pick up the Larry O'Brien Trophy from Adam Silver's hands.

Then, he lifted it high above his head, just like countless suns and moons, raising a basketball for dreams and honor.

I achieved my dream of becoming a champion!

"At this moment, I am moved to tears. I never dared to imagine this scene, but it has really happened. Thank you, Chen Wang, for bringing us Chinese fans the greatest glory of our lives."

"In the NBA, we Chinese can finally hold our heads high, stand tall, and loudly tell everyone in the world, who says we can't do it?"

Tang Jun, choking back tears, spoke in front of his computer. He wiped away his tears and shouted loudly at the screen, which was now completely covered by bullet comments.

"We can do it, and we definitely can!"

(End of this chapter)