Rekindling the dream of becoming a star

Chapter 345 A Calm Beginning of the Journey

On April 10, the 2019 NBA regular season concluded.

The Eastern and Western Conference playoffs are out.

After their defeat to the Clippers, the Lakers lost their nerve and lost crucial games to the Jazz and the Trail Blazers, falling behind the undefeated Spurs and becoming ninth in the Western Conference.

Their record for the season was thus sealed, and they were shut out of the playoffs.

Regardless of what role the Clippers played in later generations' complaints, it's fair to say that this ranking was influenced and shaped by the Clippers.

It's no surprise that the Lakers were given a proper send-off.

The Golden State Warriors are definitely going to throw the game.

But in the final game, deliberately letting the Jazz overtake the Thunder to become the sixth seed in the West was a blatant act of deliberate manipulation.

Whether the Warriors or the Thunder would face off became the key to the Clippers' championship aspirations.

After this game, the Thunder will face the Warriors. The combination of Westbrook and Paul George will be enough to wear down the Golden State Warriors.

The Jazz's decision to give the Rockets the ball was another brilliant move.

With a starting lineup like Mitchell, Gobert, Lucio, Ingles, and Crowdy, they wouldn't be at a disadvantage against the Rockets.

The showdown between the Trail Blazers and the Nuggets is another great spectacle, with the biggest suspense in the first round regarding who advances. Whoever moves forward, the Clippers will reap the benefits.

This result was entirely due to the Clippers coaching staff's overall planning and excellent control of the game.

This is only possible because of her top-ranking record; otherwise, she wouldn't have the resources to manipulate things like this.

It's chilling to think about. Following the clues, you can discover that Chen Fang's 10-game suspension is the key point. The league should have suspended him for a maximum of 5 games, but it was Coach West who requested an additional 5 games.

As a result, the Clippers' final record influenced the entire Western Conference playoffs.

No team will complain about this, as such manipulation is part of the business operations.

It just cost Chen Wang the MVP race, and it remains to be seen whether he can accept the balance.

The final rankings for the East and West are as follows.

1. Los Angeles Clippers 62 wins

2. Golden State Warriors 57 wins

3. Houston Rockets 55 wins

4. Denver Nuggets 54 wins, 28 losses

5. Portland Trail Blazers 53 wins

6. Utah Jazz 50 wins

7. Oklahoma City Thunder 49 wins

8. San Antonio Spurs, 48 ​​wins

The Eastern Conference rankings remained unchanged; those who were supposed to advance made it, while those without the strength dropped out.

1. Milwaukee Bucks

2. Toronto Raptors
3. Philadelphia 76ers

4. Boston Celtics
5. Indiana Pacers

6. Brooklyn Nets

7. Orlando Magic
8. Detroit Pistons
The playoff battles will begin on April 13th and 14th. ESPN conducted a survey and came up with the top three matchups that fans most want to see.

The Fast and the Warriors are the first to face off, becoming the matchup that fans most want to see.

The Rockets vs. Warriors matchup is a classic and widely celebrated game, ranking second.

The Raptors vs. the Bucks, ranked third, have been a thrilling matchup this season.

But everything depends on the results of the first round. Opinions are polarized about the Clippers vs. Spurs game. Although the Spurs' regular season record was average, their late-season surge demonstrated Popovich's coaching skills.

The inside-outside combination of Aldridge and DeRozan is strong enough.

The Clippers haven't gained an advantage in their matchups against the Spurs this season, mainly because Aldridge's ability has overwhelmed the Clippers' interior defense.

Both Zubac and Jaren are incredibly inexperienced compared to Adriano.

This is also the most criticized aspect of the Clippers this season.

"The Clippers' weakness lies in the paint!" This is a common view among sports reporters.

Doris Burke, a well-known basketball commentator and NBA reporter, has provided a detailed analysis of the Clippers.

“Zubac is a qualified center, but only a role player. He has problems such as slow movement, lack of concentration, insufficient rim protection, and limited offensive skills.”

"He can't add much to the Clippers' offense. Although he's started to show some pick-and-roll play and catch-and-shoot ability, he still relies on easy baskets and his poorly executed hook shot."

"Fortunately, he is still young. In terms of the development cycle of centers, 3-5 years is an inevitable result. Perhaps in the next year or two, Zubac will move towards the level of one of the top centers in the league, but at least for now, it is not enough."

"Let's take another look at 3J. I have to admit that he is an excellent potential center. In just one year, he has grown beyond expectations. He has lived up to the expectations at the time of his draft in terms of rebounding and shot blocking. On offense, he occasionally has a few bright jump shots, which also shows his determination to move towards the level of both offense and defense."

"However, 3J's biggest problem is his youth. He is still learning how to differentiate the roles of power forward and center, especially in the Clippers, where these two positions often require players to switch between them."

"This is why 3J's performance is so volatile."

"The reason why the Clippers' interior defense didn't have too many problems in the regular season is because of the hard work of blue-collar players Richaun and Harrell. During their rotation time, they protected the interior from being overwhelmed."

"But that doesn't mean anything. In the playoffs, any opponent will find a weakness in the Clippers."

"In the Clippers-Lakers game, Chen Wang's 70 points were amazing, but don't forget Davis's terrifying stats of 41 points, 12 assists and 20 rebounds."

"The Clippers' current defensive structure is most afraid of all-around big men like Davis, and the Spurs happen to have one too."

"So let's not be optimistic about the Clippers' first round, let's just wait and see."

Mazura looked somber in the coaching hall. He gave Rivers a wry smile and said, "Sometimes, I really hate these reporters."

"That's their job, but don't worry too much about it. The Spurs know what they can figure out." Rivers was quite calm.

"Currently, there are very few teams in the league without any weaknesses, so we will encounter them sooner or later."

"We have problems, and so do the Spurs. Reporters are just trying to grab attention, not genuinely offering advice to the team. Besides, if they could really understand everything, why would they be reporters?"

"Are journalists paid more than us?"

Rivers calmed Mazura down with just a few words. After all, Mazura was new to the league and didn't know much about the ins and outs, so he was prone to anxiety.

Especially with the playoffs approaching, Mazura has been sleeping poorly for days, and all he thinks about when he opens his eyes is tactics and how to break them.

"What have you been thinking these past few days?" Rivers admired Mazura, a coach who was obsessed with basketball and focused solely on winning, a rare quality among coaches.

After all, for most people, life is more important than anything else.

But there are always people who perceive things the opposite way, and only a small minority of them succeed.

"The Spurs' defensive efficiency has declined. From a systemic perspective, the Spurs' old system is practically dead because they lack suitable role players."

Without hesitation, Mazura realized that this was also a direction he had been pondering recently.

"The interior defense is weak. Aldridge is not a two-way player. His rim protection problem has always existed. He is afraid of contact and getting entangled."

"On the contrary, their outside players, Guy, White, and Mills, will cause us trouble."

"The Spurs rank 25th in the league in three-point shooting percentage this season. They don't have a three-point play and their offensive tactics are too simplistic."

"I've summarized it up: serious injury problems, declining defensive efficiency, insufficient offensive spacing, and an aging roster. These problems are intertwined, making it difficult for them to pose a sustained threat to us in the playoffs."

"We just need to play our own game, and the Spurs are not a problem."

After hearing Mazura's words, Rivers smiled. He knew that Mazura was indeed a good prospect.

"Let's arrange it like this then."

※※※

In the past, Chen Fang would lock himself in the training ground and train non-stop, but Mr. West gave him an order.

"Take a good rest!"

Chen Fang wasn't unaware of the concept, but he didn't think it would be useful to him. However, a single sentence from Ilya gave him a new perspective.

“I think my 70 points are partly due to the rest I had for more than half a month.” Chen Fang was inspired. He recalled that before playing the Lakers, he had maintained his training and was also busy with other things, including returning to his alma mater to enjoy the hero’s cheers, which greatly satisfied his competitive spirit.

Sometimes, people need applause, just like recharging a battery.

"So what should I do these next few days?" Chen Fang asked himself in the mirror.

"Let me use the gaming computer you bought." Wu Zi came out of the room.

"Oh, what's wrong?" Chen Fang asked curiously.

"I have a design drawing that needs rendering. Didn't you say your computer is high-spec?"

"Yeah! It cost me ten thousand US dollars." Chen Fang said, feeling a pang of heartache. This was something he did during his suspension a while ago.

During his suspension, Chen Fang reflected on himself and realized that it is very important to expand one's network of friends within the league, as the saying goes, "the more you do, the more help you will receive."

On several occasions during crises, it was thanks to a few of my older brothers that we were able to step up and hold things together.

Chen Fang also realized that he had not considered this aspect properly.

But how to expand? To be honest, Chen Fang avoided everything Black people played because it was all related to trouble. It wasn't until he saw Elijah playing games in his spare time on the rock that he had an idea.

"Are there a lot of people playing NBA games?"

“Yes, whether it’s 2K, Warcraft, CS, or Call of Duty, there are many people playing them,” Elijah replied.

"Who are you talking to?" Chen Fang asked casually.

"Simmons!" Ilya's answer surprised Chen Fang, who asked in astonishment, "How do you know each other?"

"Ross pulled him in."

Ilya's answer deepened Chen Fang's surprise. As Ilya explained things to him, he realized that he had overlooked a lot.

NBA stars have even privately organized an e-sports league, where many stars have found their niche and gaming partners.

Warcraft, Dota, League of Legends, 2K, Call of Duty, GTA5, basically all the popular games, and NBA games are played by a lot of people.

That makes sense, considering that, except for certain times, players spend most of their away games in the hotel, and games become a good way to relieve boredom.

"Hey bro, weren't you really good at games back in college?" Ilya clearly wanted to bring Chen Fang into the conversation.

"Of course, I'm incredibly good at games." Chen Fang was very confident. After his rebirth, he discovered that his reaction time was exceptionally fast. Back at USC, whenever reaction-based games were involved, he was always the first to take the lead.

"Shall we go together?" Ilya asked tentatively.

Thus, this high-spec computer came into being.

"How about playing some games to kill time?" Chen Fang first opened his phone and sent a smiley face to the WhatsApp group chat.

In less than three seconds, someone responded that it was Simmons.

It has to be said, this guy seems to have his phone welded to his hand; he's always there.

“Play?” Simmons asked.

"GO!" Chen Fang didn't hesitate.

As soon as the two started talking, the group chat became lively. The four-person team was led by Simmons, and Chen Fang had previously shocked the entire Mission: Survival game group by achieving 3 kills in every 5v5 match with zero deaths.

"It's like having a cheat code, and not just one cheat code, it's like having a lock-on lock and X-ray vision," Ilya exclaimed in amazement.

Even Simmons was stunned, and said sourly that she wasn't in good form today and didn't perform well.

He also admitted that killing 32 people in a single game is harder than scoring 50 points on a football field.

Chen Fang was naturally very proud, but after that, he was busy with training and didn't go online for a week.

Davis was the first to react, followed by Irving.

In less than 30 seconds, a four-man team with All-Star starting lineup potential was successfully formed.

Chen Fang opened the game and quickly logged in. Simmons immediately added him to the group, followed by Davis and Irving.

The four of them enabled in-game chat and started chatting while waiting in line.

“Anthony, didn’t you go fishing?” Irving mocked.

"Fuck, I'm not going. Damn it, I'm not saving you later." Davis was a little annoyed.

"Okay, bro, I was wrong. You know I'm the most terrifying support." Irving quickly admitted defeat.

Of the four players, three besides Davis were scheduled to play in the playoffs, yet they were playing Call of Duty the day before the playoffs started—it's quite surreal.

"Why didn't you guys go to training?" Chen Fang asked.

"Who trains before a game except for lunatics?" Irving laughed.

Okay, it seems I did have a problem.

"You guys should have no problem beating the Pacers," Chen Fang said, trying to get more information out of them.

"Who knows? In the East, a lot of things are unpredictable, but it's the same in the West. The Spurs are tough," Irving said.

Davis seemed to have gone to get coffee. Simmons remained silent; whenever basketball was mentioned in the group chat, he would fall silent, as if he knew he was in the wrong.

There was static in the headset; Davis was back, and he was very excited.

"Let's go on a killing spree today!"

"Let's set a goal," Simmons finally said.

"Win 3 times?" Davis inquired.

“I think it’s fine, guys. We’re pretty strong, aren’t we, King Chen?” Owen asked.

"Is it a three-game winning streak?" Chen Fang asked casually while he was still adjusting the mouse.

"Wow! Three in a row?" Three people exclaimed in surprise through the earpiece.

"Dude, to be honest, this is tough. There's the randomness of the circle shifting, and there are also groups that like to engage in sniping!"

"You probably haven't played battle royale mode before, it's extremely difficult. Winning three rounds is already a huge challenge for me," Simmons also wanted to advise Chen Wang.

"Oh, let's try it out first." Chen Fang laughed. The battle royale mode had just become popular in the North American FPS community, and everyone was very addicted, but it was indeed very difficult.

But Chen Fang wasn't worried. He knew very well that this model had become rotten in later generations.

Half an hour later, cheers filled the headset, and soon Irving posted a screenshot of his PUBG victory in the group chat, drawing envy from many.

Half an hour later, Irving posted another chicken dinner, which aroused suspicion. Two chicken dinners in a row, his luck is too good.

But one night, screenshots of PUBG kept appearing in the group chat, and Howard couldn't help but ask, "Who is so unethical as to cheat?"

So when Chen Fang had some free time, he sent a question mark. Before he could say anything, Davis started criticizing Howard.

“Call me Emperor Chen, it’s unbelievable. I’ve already recorded it. I’m going to show you what it means to be an FPS player who surpasses professional level,” Davis said.

Chen Fang replied in text: "It's getting late, I need to sleep."

Now, the group is full of people jumping out to respectfully wish Emperor Chen a good dream.

Seeing this treatment, Chen Fang also found it unbelievable. Today, he was on fire and led his three buddies to six chicken dinners in a row, instantly refreshing their understanding of FPS games.

“You know nothing about FPS games, so from now on you can say that I’ve seen the world.” Chen Fang’s excited words after getting into the game were all recorded by Davis.

Then, such arrogant words directly turned the people in the group into die-hard fans.

"Chen Huang turned Alcatraz into a slaughterhouse, killing wherever he went. I was only focused on looting in the late game," Owen remarked, having a blast that night.

“From now on, I only want to fight Chen Huang. You bunch of rookies are terrifying. I was stupid enough to waste my time with you,” Davis criticized.

Chen Fang had no idea it would have this effect; he was unaware that a mere game could have such a profound impact.

On April 13, when Chen Fang drove to the Staples Center for the pre-game warm-up, Rose grabbed him with a strange look on his face.

"From now on, you must take me with you."

"Oh, okay, let's win this match first." Chen Fang suddenly felt that this adjustment was quite good.

And so, Chen Fang's epic playoff journey began in an unremarkable way.

(End of this chapter)