Rekindling the dream of becoming a star

Chapter 405 The Heavenly Dragon vs. the Imperial Son

December was a particularly unfriendly month for the Clippers.

15 matches, averaging one every two days.

That's not the key point; these 15 matches are 10 away games and 5 home games.

Of the 10 away games, there were six consecutive games on the Eastern Tour and three away games in the Western Tour.

But that's not the key point. The real issue is that three of these ten away games are back-to-back matches.

分别是12月8号打奇才，9号打步行者；13号打森林狼，14号打公牛队；21日打马刺，22日打雷霆。

The most incredible thing is the back-to-back games on the 13th and 14th. The Clippers will first play Toronto on the 11th, then fly to Minnesota, and then fly from the west to Illinois in the east.

If you were to draw a flight path map of the Clippers' games in December, you would find that the Clippers did absolutely nothing all month but fly around, covering most corners of North America.

Therefore, the December schedule is hellish for the Clippers, and it is the most difficult part of this regular season.

Ten away games also mean that players will hardly be able to go home, and will be away from Los Angeles for more than 20 days, which will undoubtedly further aggravate the players' fatigue.

The chances of maintaining the league's number one position in December have become extremely slim.

After winning against the Washington Wizards and the Trail Blazers, the Clippers faced a grueling six-game road trip in the Eastern Conference.

The first game was against the Milwaukee Bucks. Playing at home, the Bucks showed strong confidence in winning from the start. As the top team in the East, the Bucks now need to keep winning, especially against the Los Angeles Clippers, who have the best chance of making it to the Finals.

The Clippers, who lost the first game in double overtime, are not going to back down, especially Chen Fang, who has been holding back a lot of killing intent.

Chen Fang took 11 shots in the first quarter, demonstrating his desire to win.

His 19 points, 2 assists, and 3 rebounds reminded the fans and media of that familiar figure.

Bloodcloth, Matthews, and Hill were instantly reduced to dust in front of the murderous Chen Wang.

The Clippers also entered the second quarter with a 34-21 lead, a 13-point advantage.

Butler, who had been willing to draw defenders in the first quarter, suddenly became dominant, scoring 6 consecutive points with strong shots in the paint, completely dismantling the Bucks' newly adjusted defensive strategy. Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer faced a difficult decision.

Where should the defense focus be?

Is it the maddened King Chen, or Butler with blood still on his blade?

The second quarter was spent in this state of conflicting emotions.

Chen Fang and Butler moved like wild geese returning east, sometimes one inside and one outside, sometimes on the left and right flanks, and occasionally the two kings pressed down on the top of the arc to cooperate with each other.

Ultimately, the two combined their words to form the word: invincibility!

Experiencing the pain of the two kings teaming up for the first time, Giannis Antetokounmpo desperately tried to catch up, but he appeared outnumbered and outmatched by Jaren Jackson Jr., Ivica Zubac, and Yi Jianlian.

Middleton, who was expected to perform well, did not have a good performance in the first half. He was restrained by the Clippers' flexible defense, and both Richaun and Porter Jr. were able to keep up with his pace.

On the perimeter, Holiday has been controlling the game as the playmaker. Rivers' strategy today was to let him take the lead, and let Chen Fang and Butler be the ball-handlers. Whoever got the ball was determined to shoot.

Chen Fang's 29 points and Butler's 18 points combined bring their total to 47 points, just 7 points less than the Bucks' 54 points in the first half.

The Clippers and Bucks played a stunning first half, with the Clippers trailing 69-54, a 15-point difference that highlighted the gap between the two teams.

During halftime, commentator Yu Jia analyzed the Clippers' performance in the first half, summarizing it in one sentence.

"You don't feel anything when you don't exert any force, but when you do, it's really startling."

"Even with both of the Clippers' stars contributing, there were still players scoring on the court: Holiday, Porter Jr., Zubac, Dillon – everyone who came on scored," he then explained further.

"After watching this first half, you can see most of the Clippers' hidden strength. It's really scary."

"The offense and defense were well-organized, flowing smoothly, like mercury spilling onto the ground, overwhelming and devastating." He summarized it with four idioms.

In the second half, the Bucks' adjustments did not work. Chen Fang was there for revenge, and he broke his own record for field goal attempts in the third quarter with 13!
He scored 21 points in a single quarter, effectively ending any suspense.

99:78.

50 points, 4 assists, and 6 rebounds!

Clocking out!

The Clippers had nearly 100 points in three quarters, with Chen Fang contributing half of those points alone. This silenced the media that had been criticizing Chen Fang and Wang Jianlin just last month.

The image of Chen Fang calmly taking off his shoes and removing his straps while sitting on the bench was described by Chinese media reporters using a Chinese idiom.

The Overlord Disarms!

Chen Fang takes off his shoes, which means he won't be playing that day; this is Chen Fang's signature gesture.

After the game, a dejected Giannis Antetokounmpo seemed to be responding to Chen Fang's praise of him a month earlier, saying, "Chen Wang is the most formidable swingman in the league right now. It's an honor to compete against him."

"We will thoroughly review today's game and strive to avenge our defeat when we meet again next time."

Chen Fang's reply was very polite: "If Giannis were five or six centimeters shorter, it would be even more terrible. It's a real pity we're not in the same position, otherwise every time we meet, it would be recorded in history."

"The Bucks are the best team in the East, and I'm looking forward to seeing how they perform this year."

After playing the Bucks, the Clippers flew to Washington to prepare for their game against the Wizards.

On December 8th, the Clippers easily defeated the Wizards, and then played the Pacers in a back-to-back game.

The Clippers made extensive rotations in this game, with all five of their key players resting.

Brunson's trio, along with a group of rotation players, kept the Pacers on the line until the very end before collapsing, ultimately losing their fourth game of the season 108-104.

Rivers, however, sang praises for Brunson and others at the post-game press conference, especially commending Brunson for his 25 points, 7 assists and 3 steals, calling him the future of the Clippers.

The Pacers are currently ranked fourth in the Eastern Conference, while the Clippers, with an all-bench roster, persevered to the end, demonstrating to the media just how terrifying the Clippers' bench depth is.

Quickly putting aside the disappointment of their loss, the Clippers flew to Toronto to settle old scores with the still-powerful Raptors.

Without Leonard, the Raptors have taken a more team-oriented approach, putting up a close game against the Clippers in the first half. Siakam, VanVleet, Anunoby, and Powell contributed significant offensive firepower. With all of the Clippers' starters back, their performance was undeniably impressive.

In the second half, Rivers made adjustments, substituting the slow-moving Zubac for Jaren Jr., moving him to center, and pushing Dillon to shooting guard.

Thus, the Clippers' formidable lineup, known as the "Hell's Small Five," made its debut.

Holiday, Dillon, Butler, Chen Fang, and Jalen.

The strength of this lineup lies in the fact that all five players are well-rounded in both offense and defense. On defense, Chen Fang and Butler both retreat into the paint, using their high-speed lateral movement to help Jaren protect the rim.

On the perimeter, Dillon and Holiday's tenacious defense was even more terrifying.

The offense is even more terrifying. Chen Fang's high post ball-handling intimidation, Butler's low post back-to-the-basket moves, Holiday and Dillon's three-point shooting to draw defenders, and Jaren's increasingly mature face-up skills—each of these makes the defense a headache, let alone five players.

The Raptors went cold in the third quarter, with Siakam completely shut down.

VanVleet was completely outmatched by Dillon, Holiday easily subdued Anunoby, and Powell was as meek as a lamb in front of Butler.

With Chen Fang switching positions and providing full-court support, the Raptors collapsed in the third quarter.

122:104.

The Clippers left Toronto with their heads held high, leaving the Raptors to continue their tears and sorrow.

After this game, the team's physical strength was on the verge of exhaustion, and even a large-scale rotation did not solve the problem.

Butler requested a week of sick leave to return to Los Angeles early, as his old right thigh injury requires a period of physical therapy.

Zubac has been placed on daily observation for a back injury, and Holiday is experiencing soreness in his right shoulder and requires further examination.

The Clippers, having lost three key players, once again opted to field their reserves in back-to-back games against the Timberwolves and Bulls.

Brunson and his two teammates are still leading the team.

They lost to the Timberwolves but won against the Bulls.

From the outcome, Rivers can accept it, and Chen Fang, who is on rest, can also accept it.

But Brunson couldn't accept it, and he knocked on Chen Fang's door.

After explaining his purpose, Chen Fang comforted his older brother, who was two years his senior.

"Winning or losing is part of the journey, brother. You've done a great job. I know you want to lead the team to victory like you did in college, but many times, others think the same way."

"I think this season will give you a huge boost, and it will be a valuable asset for you to become a core player of a team in the future."

Brunson was skeptical. He had never considered leaving the Clippers. He felt fulfilled here, and there was something he could learn from everyone. But Chen Fang seemed to think that he would leave sooner or later.

"It's too late today. Let's have a good talk sometime. Really, I've believed from the beginning that you'll be one of the best in the league."

Filled with doubt, Brunson returned to his room and spent a sleepless night.

The arduous road trip is finally over, and the Clippers are back in Los Angeles. They'll have five days at home to face the Suns and Rockets. Chen Fang plans to give Harden and Westbrook a tough time to work their magic. The Rockets' new duo this season hasn't lived up to expectations and is still struggling to gel.

Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned. During a training match, Chen Fang injured his right thumb. The injury wasn't serious, but it affected his performance in the game.

That afternoon, Chen Fang was added to the official injury list and was sidelined for a week.

This also led to the Clippers losing their two star players within a week, which is not a good thing in the highly competitive Western Conference.

Given the team's early injury crisis, Rivers has adjusted the starting lineup.

Brunson makes his first real start, partnering Holiday in the backcourt, while Dillon returns to his familiar small forward position.

Facing the combination of Ayton and Booker, Brunson focused on both playmaking and scoring, while Holiday provided cover for him, compensating for Brunson's weaknesses on defense.

Brunson shone throughout the game with 31 points, 11 assists and 4 rebounds, prompting media reporters to exclaim that the Clippers' draft picks were incredibly sharp. Brunson's performance in this game truly made him a core leader.

Chen Fang, who usually watches from the bench, also stood up and cheered for him many times. Although Brunson's early maturity will bring painful choices in rotation, it will be more beneficial to the Clippers this season.

As more players mature, the Clippers become even more formidable.

If they can maximize their value during their rookie contract period, it can at least prolong the Clippers' strength for a long time.

With the salary cap in place and the Clippers' financial resources, it is feasible to maintain a second contract extension for this group of 18 and 19 draft picks.

This means the Clippers can maintain this roster until the 25-26 season, and for the next five to seven years, the Clippers will still be the most formidable team in the league.

Chen Fang shook his head and chuckled to himself, thinking that there was no need to worry about something that happened so long ago.

Unfortunately, Brunson's brilliance was short-lived. On the 19th, facing the Rockets, he was brought back to reality, and the Clippers suffered their sixth loss of the season.

With a regular season record of 24 wins and 6 losses, they still ranked first in the league, closely followed by the Bucks and Lakers.

The Lakers' record began to improve, and Leonard's power became apparent. His arrival addressed the Lakers' biggest problem: their ability to score and their defensive capabilities.

The Lakers are currently third in the league with a record of 22 wins and 8 losses, including a 9-game winning streak that broke the team's longest winning streak record this season.

The Clippers' injury crisis also made the media, which supports the Lakers, see their weakness and began to make all sorts of sarcastic and mocking remarks.

After losing to the Rockets, the Clippers immediately prepared for their Western road trip, flying to San Antonio, Texas on the 20th.

Chen Fang did not travel with the team; he stayed in Los Angeles to recover from his injury, quietly recovering alongside Butler, who was also suffering from the same condition.

Because they shared a tacit understanding.

That means December 25th, at Staples Center, to have another good game against the Lakers.

Before that, Chen Fang and Butler went to watch a high school game together: St. John Bosco High School versus Sierra Canyon High School.

This was such an interesting decision that it caused a sensation when the media found out.

Why is this happening?

James' son Bronny and Wade's son Zaire transferred to Sierra Canyon High School this fall.

This match is a clash between the top teams from two minor leagues, a highly anticipated showdown between two strong contenders.

James and Wade both arrived at the scene, and their appearance caused a huge sensation. Thousands of people at the scene took out their phones to try to capture James's presence and then post it on their social media accounts to show off.

James appeared very composed, exuding superstar charisma. He transferred Bronny to Sierra Canyon High School precisely for the sake of exposure; he certainly understood the principle that one should become famous as early as possible.

He had barely sat down and hadn't even had a chance to say a word to Wade when the entire arena erupted in an even louder cheer than before.

Turning his head in confusion, James's expression immediately froze.

Chen Fang and Butler, with protective gear strapped to their right hands, swaggered into the exit.

Why did he come?

With this question in mind, James continued to watch, and saw Chen Fang come to the St. John Bosco High School bench and hug and high-five a tall Asian boy.

Chen Fang seemed to sense something and turned around to look.

James instinctively turned his head, feigning calmness.

In a flash, he saw Wade stand up, but without greeting him, he walked over to him.

Wade retired this year, ending his NBA career, which had a brilliant first half and a confusing second half, after playing against the Nets.

Upon seeing Wade, Chen laughed and went to greet him, with Butler following behind.

The three met with smiles on their faces. It took Wade a while to return, and James remained silent, casually encouraging his son.

He transferred to Sierra Canyon High School, one of the top schools in North America, at the age of 16 and became a starting player. Whether or not LeBron James played a part in this is clear to anyone with eyes to see.

There is an interesting contrast: Wade's son, Zaire, is 17 years old this year and is stronger than Bronny in terms of physical qualities and skills (as James himself admitted), but he sits on the bench and has been playing as a substitute ever since.

This year, Sierra Canyon High School also brought in two players who were rated five stars by ESPN: Brandon Boston and Zhaire Williams.

They were all born in 01 and aimed to enter the 21 NBA draft. In the end, they both made it into the NBA in 21.

So anyone with eyes can see what kind of operation is going on here.

Chen Fang naturally understood, and he chuckled inwardly. He hadn't expected James to be so unchanged, relying on the same strategy for his entire life.

He likes to pick and choose his friends to stick together, and his son arranges things the same way, which is both laughable and absurd.

He came to watch the game today, but he didn't bring any purpose with him. He didn't even know James would be there, but the media doesn't think so now.

The Lakers-Fastmates rematch, which has been generating a lot of buzz, is likely to get even hotter after today.

He noticed Zeng Fanbo's nervousness, so he went over to him and said, "The more important the competition, the more you need to remember this."

"Victory is like sand in your hand; the tighter you grasp it, the faster it slips through your fingers."

With his palms outstretched, Chen Fang said, "The more peaceful your mindset, the more control you have."

"Understood, Brother Fang!" Zeng Fanbo nodded, and seeing Chen Fang about to leave, he hurriedly grabbed Chen Fang.

"Is there anything else you want to ask?" Chen Fang asked with a smile.

"I'm nervous not because the opponent is strong, but because I know LeBron James' son is in the game!"

Zeng Fanbo's cheeks flushed red, a sign of excessive excitement. He said, "I want to beat Brownie and give the boss a good start in the upcoming derby!"

Chen Fang burst into laughter and patted Zeng Fanbo on the shoulder.

"Thank you for your thoughtfulness. I understand. Go ahead. I hope today's match will become a wonderful memory for us."

Back in his seat, Chen Fang shared Zeng Fanbo's thoughts with Butler.

The latter laughed so hard he almost fell over: "You've started recruiting followers so early?"

Chen Fang had misunderstood Butler. Hearing this, he shook his head and said, "It's not a bad thing to take him in sooner. Besides, I think he's quite promising."

Upon hearing Chen Fang's answer, Butler became serious. It was no secret that Chen Fang had been in charge of the Clippers' personnel changes over the past three years.

Rivers has said many times that Chen Fang is good enough to be an assistant coach.

“I’m really looking forward to today,” Butler said.

With more than twenty minutes to go before the start, both sides were already warming up. Butler glanced at Zeng Fanbo and nodded: "Apart from being skinny, he's really good in other aspects. How tall is he?"

"He's already 204cm tall, playing small forward! He's expected to reach 208cm; he was born in 03."

Butler's eyes lit up. His first thought was of Porter Jr. After watching for a while longer, Butler said, "He certainly has the potential to make a splash."

"By observing his understanding of the game, I can make the right judgment," Butler said meticulously.

"Yes, so I'm here today!"

This was also his first time watching Zeng Fanbo play live, especially with LeBron James sitting opposite him and Bronny playing against him, which made it very interesting.

It was too far away to see James's expression clearly, but Chen Fang knew that the other party must be uneasy.

Thinking of Zeng Fanbo's words, I couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation.

Chen Fang clearly understands Zeng Fanbo's personality: he plays with a killer instinct, is tough as a person, has a strong playing style, and is a workaholic.

His growth has always been a highlight, from childhood to adulthood.

Arriving in America and receiving his care, he became even more arrogant and sharper than in his previous life.

In today's parlance, he's a true Celestial Dragon!

Let me see what kind of surprise you're going to give me this time!

The Heavenly Dragon versus the Imperial Son, interesting, very interesting!
(End of this chapter)