Rekindling the dream of becoming a star

Chapter 401 Preparing to Set Sail
10 month 13 day.

jubilant Los Angeles fans at Staples Center witnessed the Clippers' first loss, which was not a good omen, but it did not dampen their joy.

The Nuggets played exceptionally well in this game, with a very smooth shooting touch, making 16 of 28 three-point attempts, exceeding 50% shooting percentage.

Yi's glory days are over; he played 22 minutes and only managed a lackluster stat line of 7 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists.

巴特勒依旧稳定发挥，20分钟的上场时间拿下14分6篮板4助攻2抢断的全面表现。

Porter Jr. wasn't as dazzling as in the first two games, making only 3 of 9 three-point attempts, and his 17 points didn't do justice to his 31 minutes of playing time.

The loss itself wouldn't have been a big deal, but it caused a stir after the Lakers vs. Nets game, held at the same venue during prime time that evening.

The Lakers won the game 126-102 by a large margin.

此役，詹姆斯，戴维斯，伦纳德联袂登场，詹姆斯的26分7助攻5篮板3盖帽、戴维斯21分11篮板3助攻4盖帽，伦纳德的24分6篮板5助攻，外加3个抢断。

The three players scored evenly, filled all the statistical categories, and launched a crushing offensive, leaving Irving, without Durant, unable to carry the team alone and suffering a bitter defeat in Los Angeles.

This resounding victory also extended the Lakers' preseason winning streak to four games, with the Big Three displaying exceptionally impressive stats, sparking a frenzy of praise from the media.

Perhaps the current victory does show the Lakers' strength. In the post-game interview, James praised his teammates.

When the reporter mentioned the Clippers' loss that afternoon, James gave a disdainful smile and laughed as he replied, "I said the Lakers won't go downhill. A team with me won't stay in a slump forever. It'll just be one season, and we'll be back."

"Is the Lakers ready for revenge this season?" the reporter immediately followed up.

James shook his head: "It's not about revenge, but about driving the thief who stole the throne out of your own castle."

"There's only one team in Los Angeles, and that's the Lakers!"

These remarks immediately caused a stir. At the post-game press conference, a reporter asked Lakers' new head coach Frank Vogel about the comments.

The college-trained coach, whose expertise lies in defense, frowned slightly upon hearing this, clearly bothered by James's comments. However, he still responded tactfully: "We will play the Clippers four times throughout the season, on the same court."

"This is a challenging task, and I think the process will be very difficult."

"But we are confident and capable of winning the game and bringing glory to the Lakers."

The reporter then asked Leonard, who was sitting silently to the side, "Kawhi, are you looking forward to these four games this season? What would you like to say to Chen Wang again?"

Kawhi paused for a moment before finally replying, "Every game will be tough. I have nothing to say; I'll leave everything to the court."

The reporter interpreted Leonard's statement as an attempt to express his attitude of letting the ball speak for itself, and then followed up with, "Was beating Chen Wang your motivation for joining the Lakers?"

This was the first time the media had directly asked Kawhi Leonard about joining the Lakers. Kawhi seemed very calm about it, after all, the media had been hyping this up for months.

"I went back to Los Angeles simply because I missed my family. After the game, I was alone in a cold room and I wanted the warmth of home so that I could recover my energy and get back into the game faster."

The reporters below began to stir, and this was the first time Kawhi had opened up about his true feelings.

"I joined the Lakers because the sincerity shown by everyone at the Lakers touched me. I am very clear about my purpose here, which of course includes winning the championship and defeating strong opponents."

After he finished speaking, Kawhi shut his mouth, so the reporter turned to ask Davis.

Davis appeared more composed, and his answer was more official: "We are on the right track. Kawhi's arrival has brought our offense and defense to a higher level. As Kawhi said, we will prove it in the game."

He didn't want to get involved in the feud between James and Chen Wang. To be honest, he had a deep memory of Chen Wang's ruthlessness and ferocity. In comparison, James was somewhat weaker. After all, he was getting old and it was normal that he couldn't beat him. Why bother provoking Chen Wang?
He's only 22 years old; he's the future of the league.

Half an hour later, the rivalry between the Lakers and the Clippers became a trending topic on Twitter.

Fans and media alike got involved, analyzing the teams' strengths on paper, studying match strategies, and predicting the outcome.

James's comments were also a major point of contention.

His arrogant and sarcastic remarks, describing the Clippers as thieves and stealing the king's words, aroused the indignation of Clippers fans.

A Clippers fan angrily tagged James on Twitter, saying, "Don't think you'll be fine just because you have another helper. Sorry, you can't make a good teammate out of a bad team."

Clearly, this fan is Chinese. He translated "烂泥扶不起墙" as "put a crown on a clown," implying that James is unworthy of wearing a crown.

The accompanying picture was of James wearing a crown.

His remarks were widely reposted and became a popular topic with high pageviews.

The Clippers, on the other hand, made no comment and remained silent.

Only Tomer Azali, the reporter who covered the team, posted a message on his social media.

He said: "Maybe the Lakers are very good, but I wouldn't be surprised if the Clippers swept their opponents 4-0 this season."

My assessment is that the core players of the two teams are not on the same level.

I must admit that LeBron James is great, but his greatness seems to be based solely on his long career and consistent scoring stats. I'm sorry, but I rarely see James perform in crucial moments.

It seems that in the 17-18 Cavaliers, James did indeed play up his value as a super core player, but sorry, if you put Eastern Conference powerhouses like the Pacers, Raptors, and Celtics in the Western Conference, they would be just average.

This is why they were swept by the Warriors in the Finals.

This kind of glory in easily defeating weaker opponents is really not something to be proud of.

Since James came to the West, he hasn't even made it to the playoffs. I really admire James's courage; he was so ambitious before the games even started.

Last year, Davis couldn't help you, and this year Leonard won't either.

Because please understand this logic: who is the leader of this seemingly powerful Lakers team?

If LeBron James were willing to give way to Kawhi Leonard, I think this Lakers team would indeed be very strong, but in reality, that is obviously impossible.

Here, I'd like to mention Leonard's choice. Frankly, this choice has permanently and irrevocably lowered his historical standing.

It's understandable for a player to be homesick, but that's not a reasonable explanation for choosing the Lakers. Chen Wang traveled across the ocean alone to the United States; would he really give that reason?

A superstar is a superstar because they are incredibly strong both physically and mentally.

Tomer Azali's comments were widely shared, and as a veteran Clippers reporter, his words can be considered a semi-official response.

The debate continued until the 18th, when the Clippers lost another game against Dallas on the road, and the controversy reached a boiling point again.

Butler was sidelined for this game due to sore calves, and as a precaution, the coaching staff did not include him in the roster.

Bruns played exceptionally well, and he didn't know why, but he was particularly excited to play against the Mavericks.

However, Doncic has already shown his talent, scoring 38 points, 12 assists and 9 rebounds in this game, nearly achieving a triple-double, leading the Mavericks to a 119-104 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers at home.

Chen Fang witnessed the entire process from the bench. He refused to be interviewed by reporters until a reporter asked about James's comments on the 14th describing the Clippers as thieves, at which point he finally stood up.

"Screw his nonsense." Chen Fang's first words were explosive.

"How can a team leader who can't even make the playoffs have the nerve to make such a statement?"

"Maybe he's been drinking, or he got carried away playing ball."

"The Los Angeles Clippers' past was indeed very ordinary, but that doesn't mean we'll always be ordinary."

"The Lakers' history is respectable, but that doesn't mean the Lakers are respectable now."

"The Lakers have 16 championships, and this is LeBron James' third year with the Lakers. I want to wish him good luck, but I also want to advise him that the NBA is not easy to navigate these days, and it's important to know your own limitations."

Chen Fang's words were very sharp, which greatly excited the reporter.

Watching Prince Chen stride away, the reporters felt that Prince Chen was now like a sharp sword, radiating a captivating light.

Chen Fang's counterattack became the hottest topic on the 18th.

Both the media and journalists are delighted to see this battle between superstars.

Many well-known media figures also joined in, offering their predictions for the Lakers' first regular season game against the Clippers.

A. Smith: "On paper, the Lakers have an absolute advantage, but we can't draw conclusions easily. In comparison, the Clippers' structure is actually better than the Lakers'."

"The Lakers do have a very strong group of players, but can these players really help the Lakers?"

"Anthony, Beasley, Howard." "Rondo, James, Davis, Leonard."

"Look at these guys, they're actually on the same team, even 2K isn't this outrageous."

"However, I still don't think the Lakers are guaranteed to beat the Clippers."

"The offensive duo of Butler and Chen Wang is already the strongest combination in the entire league."

"Howard and Dillon's defensive abilities are well-known throughout the league."

"Jayson and Zubac's frontcourt partnership is also the best in the league."

"With Villanova and his trio, these nine players form the core of the Clippers' championship contenders. In addition, there's Richie, Yi, Thornwell, Rose, and this year's rookie Porter Jr. on the bench. Look at that, the Clippers' roster is in no way inferior to the Lakers'."

"One team looks beautiful but has never been proven, while the other team is pragmatic and efficient, and has been proven through the championship."

"I hope James can handle this season well. Not only are the Clippers your opponents, but there are other teams as well. The Lakers are not absolutely strong, and this remains to be seen from the perspective of other strong teams."

In the "NBA Insider" article, a hilarious scene unfolded during a routine bet between Barkley and O'Neal.

Neither side really endorsed the Lakers, and both were vying to sign the Clippers.

Barkley's reasoning was simple: "I hate the Lakers' operating model, piling on a bunch of All-Stars, even if they win, it's very boring."

O'Neal, on the other hand, seemed even more aloof: "I don't like the Lakers, damn it, let whoever likes them praise them."

In the end, the farce ended in a 2-2 draw.

Both O'Neal and Barkley were convinced the Clippers would win this season's derby, while Ernie Johnson and Kenny Smith, forced to endorse the Lakers, served as props, though they were determined not to pay the bet and end it with a Starbucks coffee.

Even though two mainstream media outlets favored the Clippers, most people believed the Lakers were the better team.

Betting companies have also released odds for winning the 19-20 season.

The Lakers are in first place with +300, followed by the Clippers with +400 and the Bucks with +450. The Rockets and 76ers are in fourth and fifth place, respectively.

This also indirectly proves that the Western Conference belongs to the Lakers and Clippers this season, and the Rockets are just spoilers.

Regardless of the outside world's hustle and bustle, for the Clippers, this is a time for immersive training.

2019-2020赛季NBA常规赛的揭幕战于是北美时间的2019年10月22日。

It's only been four days since today.

The coaching staff is using the preseason and transition period to evaluate the team's roster and is working hard to finalize the starting lineup and rotation for the regular season.

The players will use this last period of time at the team's training camp to conduct high-intensity physical training, technical training, and tactical drills.

In addition, some team-building activities will be added to enhance the understanding between players and strengthen team cohesion.

Core players will undergo individual training, including strength training, technical improvement, and mental adjustment.

After three follow-up examinations, Chen Fang's injury was declared fully recovered, which was great news for everyone on the Clippers.

However, given the frequency of injuries this year, Chen Fang's plan to gain muscle and weight has been put back on the agenda.

He will build muscle while playing, aiming to increase his weight to 102 kg, which is close to Butler's weight.

Of course, this also increases the risk of overuse injuries. In the NBA, some players are gaining weight while others are losing weight. Everyone is looking for a balance to maintain their competitive level.

Chen Fang's training team used technology to verify his bone density and other physical qualities, and concluded that maintaining a weight between 101 and 104 kg would be the optimal balance point for his body.

It won't affect his explosiveness, nor will it overly deplete his body, while also maintaining the intensity of the NBA.

To increase from 99 to 102 pounds, those 6 pounds can't be achieved simply by eating, drinking, and sleeping; it requires rigorous physical training and weightlifting.

According to the plan, Chen Fang will need to maintain a certain amount of rest this season, with the goal of playing 55-60 games, which will satisfy the MVP selection criteria without overexerting himself.

After all, people with yellow skin are indeed at a disadvantage in the high-intensity regular season.

The day was October 20th, and the whole team had a day off to prepare for their first home game on the 22nd.

Chen Fang was called to the center building by Rivers, where he saw the rotation plan for this season in the coaching staff's lobby.

He looked down and flipped through the book, while Mazura explained it to him.

"The initial starting lineup is set to be Holiday, you, Butler, Jaren, and Zubac."

"This starting lineup is balanced on both offense and defense. You and Butler will be responsible for attacking, while Butler and Holiday will be responsible for guarding the opponent's key players."

"In terms of rotation, Dillon is Butler's backup, and the three of you will contribute at the shooting guard and small forward positions."

"In addition, Bridges and DiVincenzo will be your main rotation options."

"At point guard, Bruns is the main rotation player, and Rose is third."

"The order of the inside players is Zubac, Jaren, Richon, and Yi."

"This season, thanks to the arrival of Porter Jr., we have focused more on the scoring ratio in transition offense in our offensive and defensive system. Therefore, we regard Porter Jr. as an important tactical piece. He will be repeatedly tested at both the small forward and power forward positions. Ultimately, we hope to find the right way to use him this season."

"Our 15-man roster for this season is as follows: Zubac, Dillon, Rose, DiVincenzo, Jalen James, Thornwell, Bridges, Brunson, Chen Fang, Holiday, Evans, Richon, Butler, Porter Jr., and Yi Jianlian."

"In addition, there are two two-way contracts, namely Fiondu Cabengerle and Amir Kofi."

"First team: Holiday, Chen Fang, Butler, Jaren, Zubac."

"Second lineup: Brunson, Dillon, Porter Jr., Richon, Bridges, DiVincenzo."

"Marginal rotation: Rose, Yi, Thornwell, Evans."

“第一阵容的上场时间维持在25-28分钟，第二阵容是15分钟，第三阵容是5-8分钟。”

Chen Fang listened quietly, realizing there was no way out as he had expected. Seeing him nod, everyone felt relieved.

Rivers stood up, opened the PowerPoint presentation, and began to explain the offensive and defensive strategies for this season.

It took half an hour to write, and it contained more content than last year.

In terms of offensive system, Rivers adheres to 12 key words: multiple scoring options, space utilization, and tempo control.

The defensive system also consists of three elements: a combination of man-to-man and zone defense, focused defense and teamwork, and defensive flexibility and rotation speed.

New content has been added to these ideas from last year.

Space utilization should be combined with three-pointers, multiple scoring opportunities should be based on teamwork, flexible tactical adjustments should keep up with the pace of the game, and finally, there is an additional point: play more mismatch shots, and take advantage of mismatches by utilizing the energy of Chen Fang and Butler.

New elements have also been added to the defense.

Man-to-man defense requires high-intensity pressure, and the flexible use of zone defense and man-to-man defense can put high pressure on the central arc, establishing an inherent advantage in rapid offensive and defensive transitions.

Use height and wingspan advantages to play mismatch defense: power forward guards small forward, small forward guards guards guard, and center plays against small forward.

In terms of defensive flexibility and rotation depth, we must adhere to playing time, ensure that key players maintain high physical fitness, and maintain the pace and intensity of the game throughout the 48 minutes.

During the regular season, the entire team is not allowed to have more than 30 minutes of playing time; this is a strict standard.

This rule will effectively reduce injury rates and boost player enthusiasm, and it's a rule the Clippers must follow this season.

Chen Fang listened without making any changes. He could tell that this was an offensive and defensive system that combined Rivers and Mazura. Based on his understanding of the team, it was an optimal utilization of everyone's abilities and characteristics.

"Let's do it this way then." Chen Fang stood up.

"Let's start with the Lakers!" Chen Fang's sinister words sent chills down the spines of the coaching staff.

It seems that Prince Chen's petty-mindedness still remains.

Regardless of the circumstances, the Clippers, this behemoth, are about to set sail once again.

(End of this chapter)