Rekindling the dream of becoming a star

Chapter 381 Let the world know how powerful we are!
For NBA players, the NBA offseason is like another season.

除了必须归队的9、10两个月，6、7、8是球员自由支配的时间。

As we all know, the 450 players in the NBA can be roughly divided into three levels: starters, rotation players, and fringe players.

Players at every level will make good use of these three months to achieve their goals.

Fringe players naturally hope to avoid unemployment next season and continue playing; young rotation players are also ambitious to challenge for higher team status; and at the starting level, there are about 180 players in the entire league, and their choice is to pursue higher contracts and more outstanding honors.

Therefore, for most players, the offseason is a training season, a time to improve themselves through targeted training.

During the offseason, due to resource and other issues, Los Angeles, Miami, and New York have become the top choices for players, with a large number of players choosing to stay there every year.

The bustling metropolis allows them to train while on vacation, and also visit relatives and friends, without missing a beat.

Every summer, the best trainers in North America come to these three cities. For them, the task is heavy: they need to use the money they earn in these three months to support themselves for a year.

Rock's reputation has grown significantly, attracting renowned trainers and players alike with its improved facilities and personnel.

The four large stadiums have also been specially divided into more than a dozen separate and private courts, allowing players to focus on training without being affected by external factors.

By mid-July, Rock Studio, which had recruited and signed contracts with seven trainers, was fully booked along with its own staff.

Many star players chose Rock Sports for their offseason private training for the first time based on word of mouth, not only because of its excellent trainers, but also because of its supporting hardware rehabilitation and physiotherapy equipment and scientific nutrition.

Furthermore, you can enjoy various types of special training here, from dribbling to shooting, from inside to outside, from passing to cutting. As long as basketball has this skill, you can find the corresponding trainer at Rock.

Just like the slogan of Rocky: The Eden of the basketball kingdom, it has everything.

In two years, Chen Fang split his money from investments and salary in two, investing one part in the Blue Sky Project and the other part in Rock.

The management had some objections to this, but Chen Fang firmly told them that if they wanted to gain a foothold in the NBA, they had to become the best in a certain field.

With Chen Fang's status and qualifications, he was unable to integrate into many fields. However, as early as 16, when he came to the United States and met Drew, he realized that the United States was still in the small workshop stage in terms of training and did not have a comprehensive large-scale training base.

Therefore, as long as Panshi continues to inject funds and improve its supporting resources, Chen Fang will one day be able to establish himself in the NBA-centric major league through Panshi and form a certain bond with the league during the annual offseason. Chen Fang believes that one day, Panshi will become an indispensable supporting industry for the league.

Despite the packed house, Chen Fang still reserved a semi-outdoor space for the three boys. Wick and Carl would be assigned daily homework by Hannon, who would take turns coming over to guide them whenever he had free time.

Ding Yanyuhang is currently recuperating after surgery, while Chen Fang, accompanied by Elta, began his first ball-touching training.

The training mainly focuses on two aspects: dribbling and shooting.

Lateral and vertical movements, and the upward force of shooting—these are all very basic. Chen Fang is like a newborn, learning to walk all over again.

Following a training schedule of one hour followed by a three-hour rest, Chen Fang would spend his spare time circling around the rock.

The first place they went to was the No. 1 Arena, which Curry had booked out.

Curry was very interested in the shooting technology that Rock possessed. He brought his own trainer and only needed the court. Most other people would have refused long ago, but Curry was different. You could even say that this was a favor he couldn't ask for.

When Chen Fang arrived at Arena 0, he ran into Curry reviewing his previous shot analysis. Curry was delighted to see Chen Fang, and the two shook hands and hugged.

"He seems to be recovering very well." Curry noticed that Chen Fang's gait was normal, without any wobbling or unevenness.

"Today was my first day of training with a ball. Thank you for recommending Dr. Curry to me; he's amazing," Chen Fang said, expressing his gratitude. He would remember this favor.

“I wouldn’t dare if it weren’t a reliable person, after all, it was the doctor who saved my ankle,” Curry laughed.

In his first two seasons in the NBA, Curry sprained his ankle repeatedly. Afterwards, not only did his trainer reshape his running habits, but Dr. Fickel also performed surgery to restore his ankle to its original state.

The two casually found a place to sit down, and Curry steered the conversation toward player recruitment: "This summer has been crazy."

"That's normal. After all, with so many big fish in the free market, it's bound to cause big fluctuations." Chen Fang took it all in stride.

"You're going to be busy next season." Curry's words prompted Chen Fang to retort, "What, are you saying the Warriors are going to tank?"

Curry didn't answer, he just sighed.

"But I'll be back!" Curry said after a long silence.

Without disturbing him further, Chen Fang went to Hall 4, which is considered the Clippers' hall, where Yi Jianlian, Jaren Jackson Jr., Porter Jr., and Thornwell were all located.

With four trainers working together, it's a highly efficient training method. Players cycle through various training exercises, including shooting, dribbling, contact, and resistance. The pace is fast, but everyone enjoys it.

They only stopped when they saw Chen Fang arrive.

Since they were all on the same side, there was no need for formalities. Chen Fang didn't want to disrupt the training rhythm, so he asked Yi how he felt. Yi was very satisfied with the help that Pan Shi was providing. Compared to China, this place was far more advanced.

When the national team came before, Yi was amazed by the facilities here, and now he is even more satisfied with the trainers.

"They're all NBA-level, they really put a lot of thought into it, thank you so much, Chen Wang!" Yi Jianlian doesn't talk much, but that doesn't mean he doesn't understand social etiquette.

"Get well soon and try to get a contract at the training camp in September."

NBA teams hold preseason training camps in September, which is the last chance for players without contracts.

He then gave Jaren some advice: "You need to learn from and refer to Yi's shot selection. Your shooting needs to improve next season, otherwise how will you get a big contract?"

"Understood, boss, don't worry." Jaren wiped his sweat. He had been reminded by the coaching staff that his offensive performance last season hadn't lived up to expectations, and this offseason was his best chance to improve.

It's already very difficult to find an inside stretch big man these days. After practicing with Yi for a few days, Jaren immediately realized that this was the template his boss had found for him, so how could he not put his heart into it?

Needless to say, Sandwell has made progress every year. Chen Fang's silence is a sign of trust, and Sandwell himself is well aware of this.

When taking attendance in class, the last person called on is either the best or the worst student.

Porter Jr. combines both.

Chen Fang put on a stern face: "During this offseason, you need to work on your defense and use your limbs to handle problems without overusing your core."

"Understood." Porter Jr.'s smile faded. He had waited a year, and he was terrified of his back injury, but the NBA doesn't care about that. If he wanted to survive with the Clippers, he would have to pay a higher price.

Chen Fang made a quick appearance at each arena, since they were all NBA colleagues and he was bound to run into them. He chatted with everyone, treating it like a customer survey. On the way back, Chen Fang suddenly saw an Asian face wearing a Rockstar uniform.

"Who are you?" Chen Fang felt that the face looked familiar.

"Chen Wang!" The man's Chinese words surprised Chen Fang even more.

"Fellow villager?" Chen Fang responded warmly.

"My name is Li Ang. I saw the job posting on Panshi and came here to work as a summer worker."

Chen Fang understood; the training ground needed a large number of sparring partners or assistant trainers.

Their main responsibility is to engage in matches with the players and simulate real combat situations.

Some of them are even coaches, assistant coaches, or trainers for high school or university teams.

Joining a high-level team of trainers as a volunteer this summer serves two purposes: first, to learn and improve, and second, to build my network, since not everyone has the opportunity to spend a summer with NBA players in the arena.

It is evident that the level of a sparring partner increases accordingly, depending on the trainer's status.

That's the threshold.

"At the same time, I'm also your fan! Back when you were still Chaminard, I reported on your performance at the Hoofal Classic." Li Ang was very excited. His first reason for choosing Rock was because it was founded by Chen Wang.

“At the time, I was an assistant coach on the Columbia University varsity team, and the head coach sent you an offer email.” Li Ang seemed very excited as he spoke quickly.

"Thank you. I didn't expect we had such a long history. Thank you for your support and recognition." Chen Fang reached out and shook hands with Li Ang.

Looking at Li Ang again, Chen Fang's eyes changed. He finally remembered that Li Ang was an inspirational figure in the Chinese coaching world. As the first Chinese coach in NBA history, Li Ang joined the Atlanta Hawks coaching staff as a coach.

Unexpectedly, the rock also attracted him.

"Let's talk again when we have time. This is my phone number. Feel free to contact me anytime if you have any questions." Chen Fang secretly included Li Ang in his plan.

Watching Chen Fang's departing figure, Li Ang excitedly raised his arms. He never expected that the gears of fate would accelerate from this moment on.

Every day thereafter was spent like this until the beginning of August. Chen Fang started to increase the intensity of his training from the basics, and his movement speed gradually improved, allowing him to adapt to basic daily combat training.

He also completed his first injury-free recovery, marking a milestone in his post-injury recovery.

The training schedule during the off-season is generally based on the work schedule, with the facility closed on weekends to give players and trainers time to rest.

It was Friday evening, and Chen Fang was giving a summary after watching Qin, Cui, and Zeng's training.

Judging from his observations, Chen Fang was definitely a qualified trainer and coach. He shared his judgments with the three of them one by one.

"Fanbo, Yongxi, you need to add yoga to your training in the future."

“Your limbs are stiff and your joints are inflexible, which affects your control and movement limits.”

"Temporarily put aside other technical training and focus all your efforts and determination on addressing the deficiencies in your dribbling fundamentals."

"Understood, Brother Fang." The two boys lowered their heads, realizing where the problem lay during their recent training.

"You were all trained by domestic coaches. Their level and understanding have limited you, but it's not too late now. Don't wait until your bodies are fully developed to catch up, otherwise it won't be of any use." Chen Fang sighed. The reason why domestic players have poor basic skills is, frankly speaking, still the coach's problem.

Lacking the understanding of dribbling in actual combat, the players are made to practice dribbling in a dribble-heavy manner. They may seem very skilled, but their skills completely change when the intensity increases.

It's important to understand that the body deforms when in motion and encounters contact. Even if you're good at physical contact, it doesn't mean you can protect the ball. This includes not only ball-protecting habits and dribbling rhythm, but also dribbling strategies against different opponents, all of which are constantly being adjusted and changed.

To give a simple example, tall players generally have a high center of gravity when dribbling, and their receiving position is also high. This makes it easy for them to have the ball stolen when facing a shorter defender. So how can this be solved?

It's not about deliberately lowering the dribble or protecting the ball when it's dead before passing; it's about using a wider body and a behind-the-back dribble to break through the opponent's interception.

Domestic players often cannot accept this knowledge from a young age. Tall players are often strictly prohibited from dribbling. However, the situation on the court is constantly changing, and centers and power forwards need to control the ball and dribble to transition and act as pivots for passing.

This is just a matter of ball handling; shooting and passing, which are closely related to tactics, also have many problems.

Both Europe and North America place great emphasis on the four fundamental skills of ball handling, dribbling, passing, and shooting, regardless of height or position, aiming for all players to master these basic professional entry-level skills. The fundamental problem in Chinese basketball lies in the fact that grassroots coaches simply cannot produce qualified players. It's like a factory without quality control; the probability of producing defective products is too high, while producing qualified products is a rare occurrence.

No matter what level of coach you hire at the national team level, you won't see a qualitative leap in results.

Players with talent like Zeng and Cui have problems all over their bodies, what else can you expect?
This is why the center position can still produce outstanding results, because in terms of basic skills, this position is actually the least demanding.

Unfortunately, many people are completely unaware of the root of the problem.

"Master, what about me?" Qin Changzheng's voice interrupted Chen Fang's reverie.

"Keep honing your scoring skills under pressure." As for Qin Changzheng, Chen Fang didn't have much to say about his personal skills. This kid was a natural killer, scoring was like drinking water for him, and his basic skills in ball handling and jumping were already at a professional level.

"Oh." Qin Changzheng said smugly, while Zeng and Cui laughed heartily.

They were both young at heart, and after spending half a month together, they got along very well and could already be called brothers.

"Brother Fang!" Zeng Fanbo suddenly shouted.

He hesitated for a moment, but under Chen Fang's gentle gaze, he finally made up his mind.

"Chen Wang, will you compete in the World Championships?"

"This kid has even changed how I address him," Chen Fang nodded and replied, "I'll definitely fight."

"Great! I knew Brother Chen would do it!" Cui Yongxi jumped up and cheered.

"So, do we have a chance to make it into the national team?" Zeng Fanbo asked again.

"Of course, within five years, we will be teammates on the national team. I need you, and you need me. We will fight side by side to win glory for our country and let the world know how powerful China is!"

"Yeah! That's right, let the world know how powerful we are!" Cui Yongxi cheered again.

"Then let's go train!" Zeng Fanbo's little face lit up with a smile. His eyes were firm, as if he could already see himself wearing the national team jersey.

Chen Fang smiled, but seeing Qin Changzheng still standing there, he asked, "What are you daydreaming about?"

"Master, did what you just said include me?" Qin Changzheng asked cautiously.

"That depends on how you change over the next year," Chen Fang said sternly, giving him a sharp look.

"I promise to change, I definitely will!" Qin Changzheng promised as he backed away, then turned around to chase after Zeng and Cui.

Looking at the three jubilant players on the court, Chen Fang was quite emotional. He even looked forward to fighting alongside these kids five years from now.

After a long while, Chen Fang collected his thoughts and left the stadium. He had to go home; he needed to have a video call with Andy that evening.

The recent problems with the national team have kept him extremely busy, so Chen Fang should give him a good comfort.

Next up is Ding Yanyuhang, who is doing strength training at the gym. He's a ball fanatic and can't sit still. He doesn't stay at home; he spends all his time at the gym with Chen Fang training his muscles.

The car still drove to the old house. Panshi is an hour away from the newly purchased house, which is why Chen Fang is not moving for the time being.

When I got home, Wu Zi had already prepared dinner. After all, it had been two years, so I had learned how to cook it, but the taste was still a little off.

"How is your recovery going? I heard you're already able to compete?" Ding Yanyuhang asked.

"Yes, they're already getting used to the contact training."

"This is good news." Ding Yanyuhang was very happy, but then his mood soured.

Chen Fang patted him reassuringly: "You're still young. You won't be 30 by the time you make your comeback. What are you afraid of?"

"I'll be 30 soon, I don't know how much longer I can play." Ding Yanyuhang sighed, looking at his knees.

This is a knot in his heart that Chen Fang cannot untie. Hopefully, he can pull through.

"You have to play with me until 2025, at least!" Chen Fang said, almost as if possessed.

Ding Yanyuhang was a little puzzled, but still nodded: "Okay, I'll try my best!"

"You go about your business, I'm going back to my room to lie down for a while." Ding Yanyuhang got up, leaned on his crutch and went back to his room. The crutch that had been with Chen Fang for almost a month had been given to him, so it could continue to be useful.

Chen Fang checked the time; people back home should have been at work for quite a while. So he went into the study and extended an invitation to Andy.

Soon, the video was connected.

"You look very tired, sir. You should take it easy."

“I can’t help but look haggard, this job is just too hard.” Andy, disheveled and with dark circles under his eyes, complained without reservation, “I can’t believe how bad things really are.”

“I know a little bit; Sun told me.” Chen Fang sighed again, and Sun Lexian explained the situation in detail.

The national team's current problem lies in its chaotic system; both players and coaches are at a loss.

Andy has built a system based on the ideas provided by Mazura, but the problem is that this system, which is very suitable for Chen Fang, cannot be implemented in the national team.

“Just this simple screen requires repeated instruction, and then the next day it’s back to the same old thing. I even suspect there’s some kind of time-reversal magic item here,” Andy said through gritted teeth.

“I am very pessimistic about your national team journey this time. I must seriously advise you that taking advantage of this injury and withdrawing gracefully is the right choice.”

"Thank you, but that's impossible. I have to participate; it's my mission." Chen Fang shook his head and refused Andy's suggestion.

"Okay, don't worry, I'm doing my best," Andy could only say.

Returning to the question, Andy said, "In addition, I am pessimistic about the continued execution of tactics. Players generally have the perception of playing tactics for the sake of tactics, with a lot of unnecessary running and passing. They may look like they are playing tactics, but they don't actually execute them to the last step."

"I estimate the offensive success rate to be around 0.2 per possession, meaning there's a chance of a successful attack once every five possessions, but there's no guarantee of scoring."

"The team's ability to transition between offense and defense is extremely poor. The team cannot find more than three players who can perform this task. Chen Wang, why is Chinese basketball so bad? I am so surprised."

Faced with Andy's question, Chen Fang gave a wry smile.

"That's why I'm actively running Azure. We may look good, but deep down we're completely vulnerable to challenges."

"A team composed of players like this cannot win on the field; any wins are purely by chance," Andy stated decisively.

"Is there no good news?"

"Yes, Guo is a reliable defender, but he is useless in positional attacks. He lacks vision and attacking ability, but he is the only defender you can count on."

"Zhao is a tough scorer, but the problem is that his shooting form makes him not a tough scorer and he can't handle scoring. In addition, his penetration is poor and he can't pose an effective threat on the wing."

"As for the inside players, Zhou's ability to protect the rim is commendable, but his stamina and fighting spirit are lacking, and his concentration is very poor. Usually, after more than 3 minutes on the court, his overall level drops sharply."

“Sun is a potential tough player, but his football IQ is not high, which is an unstable factor. Like Zhao, his function is very one-dimensional. I am very worried about their plus-minus on the field.”

"So, what is the most suitable system for China right now?" Chen Fang asked. He knew the answer; he was aware of the problems these people had, and not only him, but fans all over the country were aware of them.

"Fight more positional battles, and form an inside-outside axis through you, Kyle, and Yi, with Kyle playing the role of Rockets' Dillon, supporting you."

"Yi is the most reliable scorer besides you, but the problem is how to get the ball to him."

"My standard tactic is for you to support Guo in the middle, and then make a few choices depending on the situation of being double-teamed." Andy started gesturing on the tactical board in front of the camera.

"You will face even tighter double-teams than in the NBA because of the rule changes, which will make things very difficult for you."

Then Andy began to list the differences: "Without the defensive three-second rule, there's always a tall guy protecting the rim in the paint. Without the offensive three-second rule, the paint is packed with people, and everyone is desperately trying to get into position, which consumes a huge amount of energy."

"Fewer timeouts, fewer fouls, and more zone defense double-teams all test a team's overall depth, which is why I'm pessimistic."

"How far can we go according to your expectations?" Chen Fang asked.

“I looked at the ranking algorithm, and well, the top eight is the limit.”

"You may not know this, but the top eight is the minimum target set by the Basketball Association."

Andy's eyebrows immediately relaxed, and he said, "Damn, you should have told me sooner. I always thought you were going to win the championship."

"Haha, okay, are you in a better mood now?" Chen Fang laughed upon hearing this.

"I'm much better. The sun is shining brightly today. To be honest, the food here is amazing. I'm already starting to worry that my stomach will protest when I go back to the United States."

After a few more words, Andy finally apologized, saying, "I have to go to work; I have another match soon."

"Then I won't bother you any longer."

"By the way, when are you planning to come back?" Andy remembered, and then explained, "Some tactics require you to practice with me so I can assess their feasibility."

"August 15th!"

Andy did the math and nodded: "Give me almost two weeks, I think that's enough."

"See you in China in fifteen days!"

After turning off the video, Chen Fang rubbed his eyes and touched his ankle.

Andy's concerns and worries further confirmed Chen Fang's guess.

The expectation of winning the card is decreasing, but Chen Fang actually has one more thing he hasn't told Andy.

That's home advantage!
Chen Fang firmly believes that anything is possible on the land of his motherland.

This is a continent of miracles. Just imagine the 08 Olympics. Who could have predicted that the national team could fight Spain to the last minute and compete with the second strongest dream team in history without falling behind at halftime?

Don't underestimate our fighting spirit and ambition.

Chen Fang firmly believed that with his and Kyle joining ahead of time, and with the help of Andy and Mazura, a miracle would happen.

Let the world know how powerful we are!
(End of this chapter)