Rekindling the dream of becoming a star

Chapter 384 Flying Swords Slay the Clouds, All the Lords Come from the West

The opening ceremony was held at the Water Cube on the evening of the 30th, but Chen Fang did not attend and had Yi take his place.

This is not surprising, given that there were examples of people failing to make it through the Olympics three years ago.

On the 31st, the whole team rested and prepared for their first match against Ivory Coast that evening.

This highlights the national team's lack of professionalism. It was a free activity, and compared to the NBA, it lacked a lot of systematic pre-game preparation.

Chen Fang began his pre-match preparations according to his own habits, and Zhao Rui followed blindly. As soon as they arrived at the stadium and put down their luggage, they saw Li Kaier and Yi walk in.

The two of them shared a room. Since Chen Fang wasn't treated specially, no one else would overstep their bounds.

The four exchanged a smile, a tacit understanding between them. They warmed up individually and then, with the help of their sparring partners, began their training.

Chen Fang's focus is on shooting. He needs to constantly adjust his power generation pattern to regain his feel for the game. The dribble shot is difficult to use in a game. More often, he needs to use jump shots.

Four players played four halves of the game, spending the morning in the stadium.

Next, everyone went to the weight room together to keep their muscles active.

During this phase, Chen Fang once again became the protagonist. He competed with Yi Bi in the number of presses, with Li Kaier in the bench press, and with Zhao Rui in the jump rope. Although he did not win in all of them, Chen Fang's overall ability was amazing.

"I used to be unable to lift anything, this is just an adaptation process," Chen Fang laughed heartily.

At 3:30 p.m., the whole team began to eat their last meal before the game, which was 4 hours before the match. This timing of eating was scientifically sound.

At 4:15 PM, the team assembled and prepared to depart.

Li Nan gave a few words of pre-match pep talk to the coaching staff, and perhaps reminded by Andy, he finally gestured for Chen Fang to come out and say a few words.

Chen Fang didn't refuse. He walked out and looked around the whole team before speaking: "There's nothing to be nervous about. Compared to the games later on, today is the least stressful one."

If someone else said that, it would be considered boasting, but coming from Chen Fang, it sounds completely different.

"The ordeal of the 12-man roster is over. Now it's time for us to deliver on the coaching staff's decisions. Everyone who stands here is considered an indispensable part of the team."

"So we should showcase our strengths and abilities, and demonstrate our attitude and determination to the people of the whole country."

"Thank you everyone, I look forward to the day we celebrate together!"

Strictly speaking, Chen Fang's speech wasn't exactly passionate; on the contrary, it carried a heavy sense of entrustment. However, everyone's expressions clearly showed that their emotions had been stirred up.

The coaching staff was very satisfied; Li Nan, Yao Ming, and Wang Xuan all nodded in approval.

De-stressing is the wise choice before a competition; overemphasizing the importance of the competition will backfire.

At 5:11, the national men's basketball team bus drove into the Wukesong Arena.

The sweltering heat did not deter the passionate fans. Outside the Wukesong Arena, the entire area was filled with fans wearing the bright red and white jerseys of the Chinese national team, with the most numerous being those of Chen Fang, number 21.

This is also the most frequently pirated serial number, with almost everyone owning one.

After entering the court, the team conducted an acclimatization training session. Chen Fang touched both baskets to get a feel for their elasticity, which is very important, as even slight differences can lead to a shift in shooting percentage.

Fans are not allowed to enter the stadium at this time; the entrance will be opened an hour before the game starts. Right now, the stadium is mostly occupied by media and television stations, who are busy setting up for the broadcast.

The team then conducted a half-court set-up tactical drill, strengthening half-court man-to-man defense and zonal defense, which is also the national team's main defensive strategy.

Next, a simulated confrontation was conducted against Ivory Coast's attacking line and fast counter-attacks, with the main players and rotation players taking turns acting as the hypothetical opponents.

At 6:30, the whole team returned to the locker room to shower and change into their game jerseys, while the coaching staff prepared to make final pre-match tactical arrangements.

Chen Fang sat in the corner, listening and enjoying Zhang Siyu's massage, which was his privilege—his personal masseur had been brought into the team.

But who would be so blind as to say that? If you were the big shot, you might have gone even further.

Li Nan was in charge of tactical arrangements, but Andy was in charge of tactical analysis.

At this moment, Andy is analyzing the pros and cons of Côte d'Ivoire, and Sun Lexian, as Andy's personal translator, is naturally acting as his mouthpiece.

"The tactical style of the Ivorian men's basketball team can be summarized as team priority + high-pressure defense + fast counterattack, which is in stark contrast to traditional African teams that rely on talent and individual play."

"They play team basketball, with scoring points distributed across the board, emphasizing passing and teamwork, and focusing on scoring more points in fast breaks."

"Therefore, our defensive strategy for this game should focus on close marking, avoiding excessive double-teaming, but we need to attack offensive rebounds and drop back on defense, especially during the opponent's transition. We need to delay the opponent on the spot, quickly retreat as a team, protect the rim, and safeguard the rebounds."

"They like to use full-court press and tight marking to continuously pressure the ball handler, force turnovers, and immediately launch fast breaks, relying on their physical attributes to create offensive waves."

"Therefore, we need to slow down our positioning, have more receiving points, expand the high and low post space, and ensure that there is a pitcher in the corner. We need to repeatedly run along the baseline and make cuts to the wing to stretch the opponent's defensive formation and create open spaces or make the paint area empty."

"Their players generally have excellent wingspan and explosive power. They frequently use physical contact to disrupt the opponent's rhythm during the game, and even commit fouls to 'set the tone' for the intensity of the game."

"Given their defensive characteristics, we shouldn't focus on physical confrontation or use our bodies to fight back. We can use some acting skills to a certain extent. Playing at home, the referee will be on our side."

Sun Lexian relayed the words expressionlessly. When he said this, there was a commotion in the locker room. This was tantamount to publicly admitting to faking a fall.

"In summary, Ivory Coast is a typical disciplined African team. They make up for their lack of talent with overall defense and punish opponents' mistakes with counter-attack speed. However, their attacking methods are limited, and they are prone to collapse once they fall into positional play and their shooting touch is off."

After Li Nan and the others finished speaking, they clapped their hands and began to summarize, while Sun Lexian went to Li Kai'er's side to continue translating from English to Chinese.

"It is expected that Ivory Coast will start aggressively. We need to control our emotions, not let them disrupt our rhythm, and stick to our established tactics."

"In addition, the standard of the ruling is unknown. If we encounter an incorrect ruling, we should not complain. The coaching staff will negotiate."

"Finally, Côte d'Ivoire's strategy is a three-pronged approach. As long as we don't panic, they will quickly expose their weaknesses."

After speaking, Li Nan looked at Chen Fang, who shook his head, indicating that he didn't need to say anything.

Next, the video was played, and Sun Lexian analyzed it. He focused on Ivory Coast's strategy and style of attacking the rebound and fast breaks, and also gave a detailed explanation of the playing style of the opponent's key player.

"Dean Thompson, 31 years old, 204 cm tall, 109 kg power forward. His strength is his mid-range shot with a 40% success rate. He also has some three-point ability. To defend him, you need to use a drop shot to disrupt him. He prefers to go to the baseline and shoot from the corner."

"Charles Abuo, one of Ivory Coast's backcourt duo, averaged 11 points per game in the World Cup qualifiers. He is not very intimidating with the ball, but is good at three-pointers from the wing and has some off-ball ability."

"Suleiman Diabate, the core point guard of Ivory Coast, is an experienced guard with open three-point shooting ability."

As Sun Lexian explained, everyone's impression of Côte d'Ivoire became clearer. This information had been being disseminated before, but this time it was more detailed.

Chen Fang remained silent. Although he wasn't meditating, he was clearing his mind and calming his heartbeat.

Make thorough preparations; there is no room for error.

At 7 o'clock, the players returned to the field to begin their final adaptation to the venue.

The stands are now full of fans. The Wukesong Arena, which can accommodate 18,000 people, has opened temporary seating and VIP seating in the inner field today, bringing its maximum capacity to nearly 20,000 people.

This basketball arena, representing the pinnacle of global basketball, has finally welcomed its most respected guest.

The moment Chen Fang appeared from the player tunnel, the entire stadium erupted in cheers. It started from both sides of the tunnel, and as Chen Fang walked to the sidelines, cheers surged like a tsunami. Even the media reporters were clapping and shouting.

This is the glorious moment of playing on home soil, with nearly 20,000 people shouting, their voices deafening.

Yao was smiling in the spectator seats behind the technical table, while Vice President Jiang Hai next to him shook his head and said, "This is even more exciting than when you came on stage in 08."

“It’s always been like this; forwards and guards are the most sought-after.” Yao wasn’t jealous; instead, he laughed heartily.

The commotion grew even louder the moment Chen Fang stepped onto the field and touched the ball. No one sat down in the VIP seats; everyone rushed to the sidelines, some with pens and jerseys for autographs, their eyes gleaming with eager anticipation, shouting repeatedly, "King Chen! King Chen!"

At this moment, the glory earned through hard work has a concrete explanation.

His teammates glanced at him, only to find that Chen Fang was completely unfazed, constantly changing positions to receive the ball and shoot. Every time he made a shot, amidst the sweltering heat, it would elicit even louder screams.

"This is even more terrifying than holding a concert," the reporters exclaimed.

"This is pretty much what a superstar is like."

Chen Fang practiced for a while and noticed a familiar-looking black man sitting on the sidelines, so he went over to him.

"Hey, bro!" Chen Fang offered his hand.

Marbury was overjoyed. He jumped up excitedly and gave Chen Fang an American-style hug, saying enthusiastically, "Congratulations on winning your first championship."

It must be said that after living in China for so long, his conversational skills are quite advanced. Chen Fang said, "I will continue to work hard."

"Will we play today?" Marbury asked the question many people wanted to know.

"It depends. If it's not necessary, I'll stay here. My foot hasn't fully healed yet." As he spoke, Chen Fang lifted his left foot slightly.

“That’s smart and correct. Remember, it’s your body, and you’re still young.” Marbury became serious.

"Thanks, bro. Let's get together sometime when you're back in the US." To be honest, Marbury treated him warmly even when he was still nobody, so Chen Fang couldn't show favoritism.

“Of course, give me your phone number.” Marbury took out his phone and casually asked for a selfie.

Chen Fang smiled obligingly, then entered the number, made a call gesture, and left.

A few steps later, I saw another black man, Oubre. He is a player signed with Anta, which is also a sponsor of this World Championship. So, while I was doing a domestic event, I invited him to come and cheer for the team and promote the brand.

“Anta is a good choice.” Chen Fang, as the host, greeted Oubre with a smile.

The latter was flattered; for someone of his relatively low status in the NBA, Chen Wang's smile on this occasion was already a great sign of respect.

Although he was a year older than Chen Da, his tone was very humble.

"I plan to go back and improve my skills at Rocky Hill."

Chen Fang smiled; he was a smart man too. He patted him on the shoulder and said, "Welcome over. Let's talk when we get back."

"Definitely, definitely!" Ubre nodded repeatedly.

The people who were happiest were the people accompanying Anta. They were extremely pleased to see Ubre, who had been so arrogant these past two days, behaving like a little chick in front of Chen Wang.

As the Ivorian players entered the field, the start time of the match drew ever closer.

Chen Fang shot for a while and then left the court. Behind the bench was a 1.8-meter-high partition wall. The fans in this section of the stands were probably the happiest, as they were no more than three meters away from Chen Fang. Those with good eyesight could even see every single hair on Chen Fang's head.

Hearing the shouts from behind, Chen Fang stood up again, smiled, and asked the fans in the area, "Time is limited, those who want autographs should hurry up."

"Wow!" This unexpected surprise almost made the row of fans faint with joy. They bent down and handed over the jersey.

Chen Fang quickly signed the jerseys, one after another. This scene was captured by the camera and displayed on the six large screens in the center of the stadium, drawing countless sighs of envy and jealousy.

"Same stadium, different fates, oh dear, my life is too bitter." Other fans in the stands stomped their feet in resentment. The thought that some people could watch a game and actually get Chen Wang's autograph with the ink still wet made their hearts break.

"Don't shout after you've signed. The bench needs some quiet. We still need to listen to the tactics," Chen Fang instructed as he signed.

"Don't worry, Mr. Chen, we absolutely won't cause any trouble, we swear." The fans who received the jerseys were overjoyed and kept making promises upon hearing this.

This was a little incident on the sidelines. Duan Ran took his seat, with Du Feng sitting next to him. They were less than three meters away from the CCTV commentary booth. You could see that Yu Jia and Su Qun were already in their seats and chatting enthusiastically.

"Coach Du, how was your first time in the commentary booth?" Since it hadn't started yet, Duan Ran was just chatting casually.

"No pressure, that's great!" Du Feng replied with a meaningful remark.

Duan Ran was taken aback, then said, "Yes, with Prince Chen back, the pressure has lessened considerably."

The two exchanged knowing chuckles.

At 7:50, the cheerleaders, eager to create a lively atmosphere, rushed off the field as the whistle blew. The referee came to the edge of the technical table and, as the DJ announced, "Now, let's introduce the players for both sides."

First up is the away team, Ivory Coast. The fans were very friendly and kept quiet. A small group of Ivorian fans in green jerseys went wild, blowing horns and banging drums to cheer for their national team.

Soon, it was time to introduce the home team. The fans followed the DJ's voice, cheering loudly for each player who stepped onto the field, and secretly preparing for the game.

When the DJ finished calling out Yi Jianlian's name, the cheers subsided, and everyone held their breath and gathered their strength. Then, when Chen Fang's name was called out and that bright red number 21 ran onto the court, the entire stadium erupted in the most enthusiastic shouts.

"King Chen...!" 20,000 people shouted.

The roar was like fire, instantly igniting the Wukesong Arena.

Despite having experienced many big events and felt the intense atmosphere of home games, Chen Fang was still a little surprised. He raised his hands and clapped to thank the fans for their love and support.

The subsequent playing of the national anthem was even more solemn and inspiring, and Chen Fang finally understood the meaning of winning glory for the country.

It was an indescribable excitement; it felt like I would charge into battle with explosives without hesitation.

The camera panned across each player's face, finally settling on Chen Fang's. At that moment, millions of fans watching on television saw Chen Fang with tears in his eyes.

So they were quickly infected, and many people felt a strange mix of sadness, excitement, and emotion, and tears instantly streamed down their faces.

After the national anthem, the main players stayed on the field, while the substitutes left. At this moment, the commentators also received the starting lineups for both sides.

"To be on the safe side, I think it was the right decision for Chen Wang not to start today," Yu Jia immediately began to guide public opinion.

“That’s right, Chen Wang’s ankle injury hasn’t fully healed. Controlling his playing time is the safest approach. With our current starting five, we’re not worried about Ivory Coast,” Su Qun echoed.

On TX Sports, Duan Ran offered a similar interpretation, while Du Feng put it more bluntly: "It depends on the situation. If we are in the lead and have the advantage, then Chen and Wang can rest for another three days, which will be more advantageous in the game against Poland."

As they were talking, a buzzer sounded, and the referee brought the ball onto the field.

The starting lineups from both sides arrived on the field, ready for the jump ball.

China's starting lineup: Yi Jianlian, Zhou Qi, Guo Ailun, Zhai Xiaochuan, Li Kaier.

Ivory Coast: Diabat, Aboo, Eddy, Thompson, Kone.

With Li Kai'er playing point guard, the national team only has Guo Ailun as a guard, which completely abandons the previous warm-up game strategy.

Although it was somewhat expected that the starting lineup would change due to the return of Li Kaier and Chen Wang, it now seems more likely that the entire tactical system has changed.

Yu Jia said in a deep voice: "With only Guo Ailun as the point guard, China has adopted a three-forward strategy in this game, making Li Kai'er the ball handler in the half-court offense. What do you think of this change, Coach Su?"

“This is making the most of what you have. Lee Kyle has an instinct for passing and organizing in the NBA. His 206cm height gives him a wide field of vision. Although he is a bit slow, he is very good in half-court offense. Moreover, when transitioning to offense, his speed in advancing the ball is not slow, and he also has the threat of attacking the rim.”

“That’s right. Today, the Chinese team’s tactical change could catch Ivory Coast off guard. Past match footage might not be of much help.” Yu Jia laughed.

Next door, Duan Ran was also asking Du Feng for advice.

"Guo Ailun advanced the ball across half-court, Kyle received the ball and started the offense, Ailun set up the receiving point, Yi and Zhou Qi were inside and outside respectively, Xiao Chuan made cuts and grabbed rebounds. This lineup is actually very strong, with many variations, good offense, and overwhelming height." Du Feng suppressed his envy. With this lineup, and Chen Wang on the sidelines, this hand is too good.

"Toot!" A whistle blew, sending up a huge wave of cheers from the entire audience. The 2019 World Championships, China's first match, had officially begun.

Zhou Qi won the ball and hooked it back to his own half. Yi Jianlian took control of the ball and passed it to Guo Ailun. As the Chinese team surged into the Ivory Coast's half, the first positional battle began.

As the coaching staff anticipated, Ivory Coast immediately implemented half-court man-to-man marking, with Diabate marking Guo Ailun and applying pressure on his dribbling.

Guo Ailun half-turned to protect the ball, dribbled two steps laterally, called to Li Kaier who was coming up from the left wing, and then ran to the wing to provide Yi with an off-ball screen.

Yi feigned an outward movement, but instead accelerated diagonally. Lee Keir's pass arrived just in time, and he received the ball, turned, and jumped to shoot.

The whole movement is done in one go.

"Beautiful! Yi scores first! This combination is very simple and surprisingly fast, the setter is already in Yi's hands." Yu Jia cheered and praised, this combination is so refreshing compared to the previous cumbersome and ineffective passing. The Chinese team quickly retreated to defense, Xiao Chuan and Allen played delaying tactics on the spot, and seeing that they could not force a serving error, they switched to full-court coverage and following.

Ivory Coast played a simple game. Diabate's strong drive failed, so he passed the ball to Abeo for support. Thompson set a screen, and Abeo drove inside. Facing Yi Jianlian and Zhou Qi's strong combined rim protection, he was forced to pass the ball to Eddie on the other side.

Just as Eddie received the ball, Zhai Xiaochuan lunged at his face, almost knocking it off its rim. He took a step back and called for Diabate to receive the ball at the top of the arc.

Diabate attempted another strong drive past Guo Ailun, squeezing to the three-point line, only to find that the Chinese team's 23-zone defense had already formed a 14-team encirclement on both the strong and weak sides, so he had no choice but to pass the ball back to Eddie.

Eddie knew there was only so much space, so he jumped up and shot as soon as he received the ball.

For those kinds of shots, it's luck if they go in, and it's normal if they don't.

"Excellent defense! China's defense was excellent this time, with tight and well-coordinated movement. Ivory Coast had no chance at all," Yu Jia quickly commented.

Zhou Qi grabbed the rebound, and the entire arena erupted in thunderous cheers. Amidst the shouts and encouragement, Li Kaier received the ball from Zhou Qi and dribbled forward.

He wasn't fast, but his strides were long. Even with Thompson by his side, he didn't seem flustered at all. He calmly dribbled to the right wing and then passed the ball to Guo Ailun, who was a few meters outside the arc.

The Chinese team then began their movement, with Zhou Qi and Yi Jianlian moving up simultaneously to set up a double screen for Guo Ailun at the top of the key.

When Guo Ailun started moving, Ivory Coast was forced to switch defenders. At this moment, Zhou Qi spread out laterally and cut into the paint, taking away a defender and leaving Zhou Qi in an open position.

Allen's pass was immediately in place. Zhou Qi received the ball, looked down at his feet to make sure he hadn't stepped on the three-point line, and then took his signature standing shot.

In 19, Zhou Qi still had the ability to shoot from the perimeter, which was not a problem. However, since Yi Jianlian left the national team, the overall environment required him to gain weight, which forced him to change his career path and enter a period of frequent injuries. His physical condition and skeletal structure made him difficult to exploit in the paint.

The ball pierced the net and made the shot, eliciting a huge cheer from the crowd. This feeling will continue to excite the players.

The home advantage lies in the roar of the crowd, which can awaken fighting spirit and continuously inject passionate emotions.

"5-0, a perfect start. China's domestic and international offense is very beautiful. The double screens and inside cuts and outside pops leave Ivory Coast with only one option. Guo Ailun's ability to read the game leaves the opponent helpless." Duan Ran was delighted. He hadn't expected this situation. Sure enough, the Chinese team's performance in official matches was exceptionally different.

It felt like we were back at the 08 Olympics; the team's fighting spirit had soared to the world's top level.

The feeling was correct; Andy's offensive and defensive strategies, developed over a month, maximized the national team's strength.

Yi Jianlian's impact, Zhou Qi's rim protection and shooting, Xiao Chuan's off-ball movement, Li Ke'er's calm and collected control of the rhythm, and Guo Ailun's fearless confrontation all masked the weaknesses of each player.

Five minutes into the first quarter, Ivory Coast gradually adapted to China's high screens and cuts, while China adapted to Ivory Coast's man-to-man defense intensity.

Aside from the whistle being a bit soft today, the situation can be described as very good.

15:7.

China leads by 8 points.

Ivory Coast's Italian head coach, Paolo Onassi, called a timeout as he needed to reorganize the team to counter China's efficient offense and defense.

Chen Fang got up to give his seat to the players who were leaving the field. He strolled around outside for a bit and stretched his arms and legs.

Seeing Chen Wang's relaxed posture, Duan Ran laughed: "Why does Chen Wang look like he's about to yawn?"

"In those five minutes, the Chinese team had the advantage and scored very reasonably. Ivory Coast, on the other hand, was just putting up a tough fight, and all five points were hard-earned," Du Feng explained. He then added, "The rhythm was on our side, and Chen Fang could naturally see that, so it's normal for him to relax."

Li Nan laid out the results of Andy's communication. He didn't use the tactics board; instead, he focused on reminding the players.

The rhythm was good, and he didn't think about substituting players; he was considering playing for another two minutes to see how it went.

However, Li Nan soon realized that he had made a big mistake and, upon reflection, found that his lack of experience on the spot was the problem.

Ivory Coast head coach Paulo Onassi made strong adjustments to the Chinese team's lineup, noting that the Chinese team would adopt a collapsing defense and had not made any arrangements to defend against three-point shooting.

So he devised a three-point play for Abuo, who was best at three-pointers. At the same time, he also noticed that China was consistently using the passing order of Guo Ailun and Li Ke'er in their offense. In response to this, he told the players that while two players were closely guarding each other, there had to be a third person to obstruct the passing route and disrupt the Chinese team's offensive initiation from the starting point.

When the timeout ended, the nearly 20,000 fans in the stadium were met with a rapid counterattack from Ivory Coast, who erupted in screams.

First came Abuo's three-pointer, then Diabate's steal and fast break layup, instantly erasing an 8-point lead.

Li Nan immediately called a timeout to rearrange the game, replacing Xiao Chuan with Zhao Rui to create another ball-handling option. Seeing that Zhou Qi was exhausted, he moved Hu Jinqiu to the power forward position and Yi Jianlian to the center position.

The incident happened suddenly; it was a last-minute decision. Although Andy felt there was a problem, it was no longer something he could control.

Chen Fang squinted and took a sip of water, acting as if nothing had happened.

After the timeout, Zhao Rui solved the problem of lack of receiving points after being double-teamed, but it also reduced the height of the outside players. Ivory Coast's Thompson took advantage of his shooting advantage and hit two consecutive mid-range shots through simple pick-and-rolls, taking the lead in one fell swoop.

Li Nan began to get anxious, pacing back and forth on the sidelines, hands on his hips, closely watching the changes on the court.

Yi suddenly positioned himself under the basket, and Lee lobbed the ball in, received it, and backed down Ivory Coast's center, Kone, to tie the score.

Cheers erupted as fans cheered for the tie. It was only the first quarter, and no one was nervous about winning or losing.

The situation was deadlocked. Both sides were experiencing some fatigue, and their shooting percentages began to drop. Ivory Coast made a substitution first, followed by Li Nan's substitution.

Li Kai'er didn't leave the game, Zhao Rui moved to the point guard position, Sun Minghui played the second position, and Shen Zijie replaced Yi in the paint to give him a few minutes of rest.

Sun Minghui was very excited. He and Zhao Rui didn't get along, but under Chen Fang's watchful eye, they had recently become quite friendly.

Both players have a certain ability to score independently, and in the next few rounds, they showed an offensive desire, scoring 6 points through cooperation, which can be considered as maintaining a slight advantage in the score.

Shen Zijie also displayed a strong defensive attitude, protecting the rim and interfering with the opponent's attempts to drive to the basket. Although he drew fouls, his performance was highly praised by commentators such as Yu Jia.

The first quarter ended with this situation in the last three minutes.

21:20.

No one can laugh at this score anymore. Du Feng shook his head. This was a typical result of a substitution, but he wouldn't say it outright. He just said calmly, "On the international stage, every minute is tough."

In the second quarter, Li Nan substituted the starting lineup back in. He was somewhat uneasy, as the Ivory Coast's attacking power made him nervous.

Yi Jianlian went to the baseline to call for the ball, but was double-teamed and lost the rebound. Ivory Coast quickly transitioned to a fast break, with Thompson dunking to take the lead.

Turning back, Guo Ailun's layup was blocked, and Ivory Coast launched another counterattack, but this time it was thwarted by Xiao Chuan. However, the joy was short-lived, as Abuo made his second three-pointer after his man was left open on the wing.

The score became 21-25, with China trailing by 4 points.

Some fans at the stadium were dissatisfied, but it didn't escalate to the point of booing.

Andy glanced at Chen Fang, and Chen Fang began to bend down to tie his shoelaces, which was noticed by the entire bench.

For a fleeting moment, everyone felt their hearts skip a beat.

Then, Sun Lexian went to Li Nan's side and whispered something to her.

Li Nan suddenly turned around and saw Chen Fang standing up; her furrowed brows immediately relaxed.

The moment Chen Fang stood up, the entire stadium erupted in cheers. Fans who had been confused just a second ago looked up at the big screen and saw Chen Fang tucking his jersey into his shorts and walking to the scorer's table. They then understood and joined in the shouting.

"Chen Wang is about to take the stage!" Yu Jia and Duan Ran said simultaneously, as if on cue.

On the field, Ivory Coast committed a defensive foul, and the technical table sounded the substitution buzzer. Everyone turned around and saw that both sides felt a jolt in their hearts at the same time.

The players, especially those from Ivory Coast, have had their worst fears realized.

Prince Chen is about to take the stage!

Chen Fang, expressionless, high-fived Xiao Chuan, then walked to the sideline, clearly intending to receive the ball inbounds.

Abuao moved closer; he was the only one who could keep up with Chen Wang in terms of both height and speed. The others were either too short or too slow.

With his body sideways, Chen Fang didn't dodge. Leaning against Abuo, he used his ball-protecting hand to block the opponent behind him, not even giving him a chance to reach out and interfere.

Lee Kai'er served, and he felt very comfortable with this kind of positioning. He casually tossed the ball into the net and then headed it towards the baseline.

Upon receiving the ball, Chen Fang turned and moved laterally. Abu quickly slid and moved to regain his defensive position, but was horrified to see Chen Fang suddenly accelerate, turn his hips and cut inside, and directly get past him.

After overcoming his opponent, Chen Fang, unlike others, wouldn't be afraid of obstacles ahead and waste time trying to brake.

Accelerating straight towards the top of the arc, Eddie released Lee and came to cover.

Chen Fang didn't slow down. He took a step to the left and pushed the ball, causing the opponent to move laterally. Then he lowered his center of gravity and connected with a crossover, passing Eddie like a wooden stake.

He dribbled past two players, eliciting waves of gasps from the stands. At this moment, only Kone remained in the Ivory Coast's paint. Chen Fang strolled around as if he were taking a walk in his own backyard, his steps small and his pace slow. But as they drew near, his ghostly Euro step shook Kone off balance again.

He switched to his left hand for the last layup, ending the attack that had dribbled past three players.

"Wow, this is simply art!" Yu Jia exclaimed. Chen Fang wasn't fast, but he fooled the defenders with every move. His dribbling rhythm was far superior to Allen's pure speed.

It can be said that he made a stunning first move, and Chen Fang's breakthrough immediately demonstrated his superior ability.

Ivory Coast had possession of the ball. After three passes, Diabate at the top of the arc chose to break through and pass, but just as the ball was about to leave the field, a red figure suddenly appeared in the passing lane.

I was terrified. When I looked again, I saw that the red number 21 had already drifted away.

Instead of dunking, Chen Fang slowed down, looked behind him, and seeing no one chasing him, scored two more points with a layup.

"Chen Wang accurately read Diabate's passing intentions, that's terrifying." Duan Ran shook his head, feeling refreshed. With Chen Fang on the field, the pressure in his heart disappeared.

People felt a little lighter.

"The score is now tied. Chen Wang's entry into the game had an immediate effect, instantly erasing the score difference. This is the strength of a superstar, undeniably powerful." Yu Jia was even more delighted, no longer holding back his praise.

But even more praise awaits him.

Ivory Coast's three-pointer from the wing missed, and Abuo's next shot was interfered with by Chen Fang's help defense, resulting in a noticeably higher release point.

Zhou Qi controlled the rebound, and Chen Fang moved forward. He didn't rush when he saw Li Kaier dribbling slowly; instead, he widened his reach a bit.

As Yi accelerated past Chen Fang, drawing away his defender, Chen Fang suddenly bounced outwards, arriving at a point one meter beyond the three-point line on the wing. Li Ke'er's pass came at just the right moment.

He receives the ball sideways, adjusts his posture at the same time, and jumps slightly as he faces the basket. It's a Curry-esque one-stage power release, and the ball travels very fast, heading straight for the basket.

"Li Kai'er passes the ball, Chen Wang shoots... Beautiful! Goal! Oh my, so decisive, a swift and decisive strike!" Yu Jia shouted, slamming his fist on the table with a joyful expression.

Chen Fang has scored 7 points in just one and a half minutes since he entered the game. Is this the power of an NBA superstar?

The 20,000 fans in the stadium all roared, and even the VIPs inside couldn't sit still, standing up to clap and exclaim in amazement.

"Holy crap, just like when I watched the live stream before, it's so awesome, incredibly awesome!" a fan shouted, clutching his head.

28:25.

Ivory Coast head coach Paulo Onassi was whistling wildly, signaling to his players to be ready to double-team and help defend.

This was exactly what Chen Fang wanted. When he received the ball at the high post again, he immediately attracted a double team. So, without even touching the ball, he made a scalpel pass, sending the ball directly to Zhou Qi.

Zhou Qi received the ball under the basket, straightened up, and successfully finished the play.

During the defensive transition, the Chinese team switched to full-court press, forcing Ivory Coast into a passing error. The ball went from Guo Ailun to Chen Fang, who then faked a pass, ducked to shake off the defense, and continued to press forward, drawing Ivory Coast's help defense before passing the ball to Xiao Chuan on the baseline.

Ogawa confidently launched a three-pointer, piercing the net.

33:25.

The second quarter had just been played for 4 and a half minutes when the Chinese team went from trailing by 4 points to taking an 8-point lead in just 2 and a half minutes.

The 12-0 run forced a stoppage in the game, and Paul Onassi was compelled to call a second timeout.

This was also the last timeout of the first half.

If any further problems arise, then we'll have to rely on gestures.

Paul Onasy substituted one center and brought on another forward, a move that prompted Du Feng to praise, "Look, this is how terrifying Chen Wang is. The Ivory Coast coach can only rely on sheer numbers on the forwards, and that's the right thing to do. You can't expect to hold off Chen Wang without two players."

"Yes, this is Chen Wang, not an ordinary player." Duan Ran laughed heartily.

When Chen Fang returned to the court, he felt like he was back home when facing double teams and half-court presses. His off-ball movement after passing the ball was like a ghost, and Li Kai'er's back passes always found him. Whether he shot or passed to an open player, Chen Fang did it with ease.

Because Ivory Coast focused its attention and pressure on Chen Fang, the others felt almost no pressure and were able to move more freely.

Seeing that the situation had stabilized, Li Nan made substitutions one after another. He was a little hesitant at first, worried about repeating the same mistakes he made in the first quarter. But Chen Fang was like a universal key; no matter who he was paired with, they could always find an advantage.

Abu, Sun Minghui, and Zhao Rui have all played like they are in the CBA, which has earned Du Feng's approval.

"On the international stage, the ability to enable players to perform at the league level, this kind of control of the game, is what highlights Chen Wang's importance." The implication is that Chen Fang is at the level of a foreign player.

As we all know, many fans don't understand why national team players who dominate in the CBA suddenly have their stats halved and their performances seem like completely different people when they join the national team.

Ultimately, it's because foreign players in the league shoulder the defensive pressure, which naturally leads to different performances.

In national team matches, without teammates of exceptional caliber, the pressure is shared. Teams with poor teamwork naturally cannot win.

When the whistle blew to end the first half, not only did the fans cheer, but the Chinese team members on the bench also excitedly raised their arms.

56:34.

In the last five and a half minutes of the second quarter, the Chinese team, led by Chen Fang, was unstoppable and delivered a highly efficient performance. Every player who entered the game scored, with Zhou Qi getting four easy baskets and quickly reaching double digits in points.

Xiao Chuan and Zhao Rui both scored three points.

Guo Ailun is like a silly roe deer running wild in the fields, making all sorts of breakthroughs and layups.

The 22-point difference set a new record for China's halftime point difference in the World Championships, and also broke the record for the highest halftime score.

Oubre told the Anta representative, "The opponent was too weak. Chen Wang didn't even exert himself. If this were in the NBA, he wouldn't play at this level; he would just rest."

When Chen was off the court, he clapped to the surrounding stands in response to the continuous chants of "MVP" from the crowd, before following the team into the player tunnel.

"I reckon Chen Wang won't play in the second half," Duan Ran said.

"If we can still lose by 22 points, then we really have no face to stay in this position." Du Feng, who had turned off his microphone, sneered, his eyes full of ridicule.

"For the past few years, I've been fantasizing about what it would be like for Chen Wang to come back and play for the national team. Today, my dream has finally come true," Yu Jia said to the fans watching on TV.

This wasn't intentional; it was a heartfelt sentiment that resonated with every fan who heard it.

It's great to have Chen Wang in the national team!

Duan Ran recalled a poem and began to recite it to himself: "The King of Qin swept across the six kingdoms, his tiger-like gaze so majestic; his flying sword cleaved through the floating clouds, and all the feudal lords came from the west."

Du Feng was surprised, and after listening, he said, "That's quite fitting."

“Chen Fang is like the King of Qin; with a single stroke of his sword, all the feudal lords submit,” Duan Ran said solemnly.

"That's true, that's true!" Du Feng acknowledged in the first sentence, but his second sentence revealed deep sorrow.

I wish I could join Chen Fang in challenging all the powerful figures; this is a great regret in my life!

(End of this chapter)