Rekindling the dream of becoming a star

Chapter 412 The Battle for the Imperial City (Part 3)

When is the first field goal score in the fourth quarter of the All-Star Game?
Yu Jia remembers clearly that at the beginning of the fourth quarter, a timer was set up by someone. When he saw Chen Fang move laterally to get rid of the ball, he took a pull-up jump shot, and the basketball spun twice in the rim before falling.

Yu Jia immediately glanced at the timer.

2 minutes 32 seconds.

Yes, the ferocity of the fourth quarter exceeded everyone's expectations.

Neither side could score, and the number of fouls was accumulating rapidly.

Free throws became the main focus.

James drove to the basket but was pulled down by Butler, making one of two free throws.

Chen Fang made a breakthrough but was also fouled by Harden, resulting in an inbound pass.

Leonard's back-to-the-basket spin move was blocked by Giannis' incredible leap, and Davis, who grabbed the rebound, was also disrupted by Siakam's foul.

Even with two free throws and only one made, under such high intensity, it's difficult for anyone to adjust their heart rate to a normal level. Naturally, one cannot control the power of the free throw and relies entirely on feeling.

Chen Fang's point was created through the coordinated efforts of his two good teammates, Lowry and Butler.

In the blink of an eye, as Chen Fang jumped to shoot, James still managed to dart past him from the side and make an extreme interference.

This forced Chen Fang to slightly distort his movements, almost causing him to miss the shot.

"Huff, huff!" Chen took a deep breath; the pace was beyond his expectations.

Not only him, but everyone was caught off guard.

When all 10 players on the court give their all, the combined power of these league's top stars and superstars is something no one can withstand.

Take that last play for example. When Chen Fang broke free from Leonard, the momentum was neutralized, and his legs felt weak when he took his second step.

When he saw the space to shoot, Harden appeared early, forcing him to add a crossover to get rid of him.

As the ball jumped, I caught a glimpse of James flying out.

The pressure from the three players almost prevented Chen Fang from making the shot.

It's normal not to get in; getting in is actually a matter of luck!

This isn't just a problem with Chen Fang. Leonard, James, Harden, Giannis, Butler, Davis—everyone on the court can be the leader of a team. Right now, no one dares to say they can reliably score a goal.

The introduction of unlimited switching on defense in the NBA All-Star Game, coupled with the scoring system, is practically forcing these superstars to unleash their full potential.

The score is currently 110 to 108. After almost three minutes of play, the combined score of both sides is only ten points.

Not scoring doesn't mean the game wasn't exciting. Fans and commentators alike were thrilled to see these superstars playing so hard, and they were all beaming with excitement and full of praise.

In their western offensive, they again employed tactical coordination.

Harden has the ball, James is on the wing, Jokic is at the top of the key, Davis is in the right corner, and Leonard is alone in the bottom corner.

At this point in the game, it's very difficult to score without relying on tactics, which is a consensus among everyone. Everyone must consider themselves a member of the team and make their corresponding contributions.

Harden passed the ball to Jokic and spread out to create space for Jokic, giving him more room to operate.

Meanwhile, other people are also moving.

James moved down to the wing, set an off-ball screen for Leonard, and immediately cut diagonally into the paint.

This was a fatal move. The East immediately tightened their defense, and Jokic faked a pass to James, then passed to the open Leonard.

Leonard received the ball, lifted up Chen Fang who had come to cover, took a step inside, and unexpectedly passed it back to Jokic in the middle.

Because James had already slid along the baseline to the other side, Jokic, acting as the pivot and passer, passed the ball to him without holding it.

The pass tore apart the Eastern Conference defense, and James took a wide-open shot from the corner, hitting his 36th point.

"113 to 108, the West is gaining momentum, and now the pressure is on Chen and Wang."

"James' 36 points versus Chen Wang's 23 points seem like a big difference, but there's still time."

"There are still 44 points of room for maneuver!" Yu Jia encouraged Chen Fang. Based on his understanding of Chen Fang, he knew that Chen Wang would not surrender and wait for his death.

He will definitely do something.

As expected, Chen Fang dribbled the ball across half-court and was guarded by Leonard. He passed the ball to Lowry, who was receiving it, and then made a fake cut to get past Leonard and run to Lowry's side.

He regained possession of the ball by hand-off and accelerated towards the top of the arc.

James had already been brought in, so Chen Fang found Butler, who was temporarily available.

Butler received the ball on the wing and cut across to the three-point line. After one dribble, he twisted and passed the ball back to Siakam in the corner.

Siakam made a three-point shot, forcing Davis out of the corner. At that moment, Chen Fang, who was off the ball, came in from the top of the arc.

Siakam bounced the ball to Chen Fang, who received it, dribbled, turned, and jumped up.

Jokic and Leonard, who were on the defensive, jumped up one after the other to make a block.

Chen Wang, seemingly possessed by eyes in the back of his head, passed the ball across the three-point line to Butler, who had crossed the paint and arrived on the other side.

This time, Butler adjusted his footwork and shot as soon as he received the ball.

With a swift stroke, the three-pointer hits!

"113 to 111, the East has caught up!"

"This isn't about passing the buck; it's about making decisions step by step," Yu Jia felt it necessary to explain.

"The first plan is to attack ourselves. If the opponent doesn't double-team us, we'll shoot; if we have the chance, we'll pass."

"You can see from the reply that Chen Fang didn't stay where he was after landing, but continued to move to the bottom corner."

"If Butler is switched on and replaced, then Chen Wang will become the new open defensive liability."

"The empty space doesn't appear out of thin air, but rather it's that 'one' that constantly flashes between cycles."

"Both sides have entered team mode, and it is impossible to rely on individual ability to fight alone. Now, whoever can dominate in this mode will be the stronger one."

"This will be an indisputable showdown; a win is a win, and a loss is a loss."

"No more discussions about whether this star player's teammates are strong or my idol's teammates are weak; both sides are equal."

"Both James and Chen Wang are all-around players, excelling in scoring, playmaking, and defense."

"They are now the brains and leaders of the team. Whoever reaches 157 first will prove who is stronger."

"After today, the debate about who is stronger can be put to rest."

"This is the arena created by the league, the fairest competition."

"There is no refereeing bias, no fixed matches, no strong or weak teammates, and no distinction between home and away teams."

"Everything is fair, reasonable, and natural."

Yu Jia said all this because he didn't want to give some people any more chance to continue their absurd fallacies, regardless of who wins or loses today.

Even if he is Prince Chen, so what? The future still belongs to him.

If he wins, even better; the entire league will belong to him.

That's the significance of today's match, and both sides are undoubtedly well aware of it.

James continued to try to lead the team to score, and he knew very well that he needed more help from others.

As long as someone can score, it means they are closer to victory.

Chen Fang was aware of this, but his thoughts were somewhat different.

“Watch out for others, leave James open,” he yelled at Butler.

“If you let him shoot, he won’t have a consistent output,” he added.

This strategy was quickly spread by word of mouth and implemented in the East.

James was left open on the perimeter for two consecutive possessions. He hesitated the first time, but took the shot the second time.

"Rebound!" Chen Fang yelled at the top of his lungs.

Giannis grabbed the rebound and immediately launched an attack, which is his most effective way of attacking, as Chen Fang kept telling him.

"Hey, captain, grab the ball and charge! Nobody can stop you."

Chen Fang followed up quickly, standing not far behind Giannis. The West adopted a two-pronged attack strategy, but Giannis's unique impact was on full display at this moment.

Davis couldn't hold on, James couldn't stop him, and Jokic couldn't keep up.

"Wow!" The fans roared as Giannis Antetokounmpo slammed the basketball into the basket with one hand.

Chen Fang gave Giannis Antetokounmpo a chest push celebration as he landed, and the latter pursed his lips, raised his head, and stepped out of the Western Conference paint.

Although he's not the main character today, as the captain, Giannis has a natural sense of responsibility.

"113-113, haha, it's been 6 minutes, and it's been a tough game to close the gap."

"It can only get harder from here on out. In just 6 minutes, the two sides combined for 18 points, which is an incredibly high level of offensive and defensive intensity."

Next, the West continued to grind out the game, and Jokic used a hook shot, but the huge exertion did not soften his touch.

The rebound was controlled by Siakam, and Chen Fang had already arrived beside him.

Leonard received the ball and pushed forward, but intercepted it in midcourt.

"Chen Fang fell down, Leonard fouled."

Chen Wang, who was on the floor, accepted his teammate's hand. After getting up and moving around a bit, he felt fine and went to the sideline to serve.

Lowry received the ball, saw Chen Fang walking inside, and then passed it back.

The return shot was quick; before Leonard could react, Chen Fang had already accelerated with the ball.

This was an unexpected move. Chen Fang had been insisting on playing as a team, but this time, it seems he had lulled everyone into a false sense of security.

Butler reacted the fastest, taking a step up. This seemingly insignificant position was used by Chen Fang.

The lateral movement delayed the Western Conference's defensive switch, as Butler had already engaged James, while Leonard was still behind him.

Harden hesitated for a moment, just a tiny bit, and Chen Fang moved to the top of the arc.

"Chen Wang jumps up and makes a big jump shot!"

"Aha!"

"The East takes the lead for the first time, 113 to 116."

Seemingly unaware that the West attempted a transition, Harden's drives turned into floaters during the transition phase.

He was hampered by Giannis's talent, and the basketball bounced off the back of the rim.

Chen Fang grabbed the rebound; this time, he caught the rebound's landing point faster than anyone else.

He placed the ball at the perfect spot, accelerated, and took such long strides that fans thought Westbrook was on the court.

The visual effect of this turbocharged engine, enhanced by the jump step, is exactly the same. Even Westbrook, who was on the bench, couldn't help but stare and stood up to look around.

Chen Fang dribbled twice and had already crossed the center line.

The West had already retreated quickly, and James was the fastest of them all, charging straight towards Chen Fang.

Chen Fang had caught a glimpse of a figure rushing towards him from the side at high speed, but he didn't care at all.

Because in front of him, the western restricted area was still empty.

Let's have a speed contest!
Chen Fang accelerated at full speed and rushed across the three-point line without hesitation.

James had already begun preparing to jump, but Chen Fang showed no fear whatsoever. The moment he stepped across the free-throw line, he had already made his decision.

As he jumped, a gust of wind rushed past his head, and Chen Fang instantly felt his body collide with someone. But it was all part of his plan. Holding the ball up in front of him, Chen Fang flicked the ball away before he could lose his balance.

James slammed his hand on the backboard, making a loud thud.

But the basketball had already bounced towards the basket.

Just before the ball hit the ground, James saw it go into the basket.

"Beep beep!" The referee promptly blew his whistle.

"An undeniable 2+1, James' chase-down block that terrifies the league, Chen Fang is not afraid at all."

"Chen Fang is also putting in the effort, and James is facing difficulties."

Standing at the free-throw line, Chen was panting heavily, sweat dripping down his face. He wiped it with his wristband, patted it three times, and then slowly raised it.

The force is applied only when the wrist and fingers are pressed down from the top of the head.

"Chen Wang's free throw percentage is the best in the league, at 95.4%, which is an incredibly high level of consistency."

Yu Jia was thrilled when he saw the ball go in.

"113 to 119, the East is leading by 6 points thanks to Chen Wang's efforts, and Chen Wang's total score has reached 29 points!"

"James' 36 points looked a bit weak; he hasn't scored in a while."

"It's tough!" That's what Kobe said to Jordan.

"Given his technical characteristics, the greater the intensity, the more he struggles."

"This is why he is criticized by fans, especially for his controversial calls."

“Essentially, James needs more favorable calls because he always plays with his body to score, and he struggles when he loses the advantage of favorable calls.”

"At the same time, high-intensity positional warfare is not his area of ​​expertise for scoring high; he is better able to obtain scoring data in fast-paced offensive and defensive transitions."

After listening to Kobe's analysis, Jordan showed no surprise.

"This is the series of problems caused by his poor shooting technique, and it is also the reason why he has never been able to become the protagonist in crucial moments."

“He himself knows that when it comes to deciding the game one-on-one with the ball facing the basket, he is not confident of making the shot.”

"That's why many fans questioned his passing the buck. That's not entirely wrong, because in James's view, when he gets involved, passing the ball to an open teammate is the most reasonable decision."

"So, he's not one of us," Jordan concluded.

“And King Chen, yes!” he added at the end.

Just as Jordan and Kobe were defining the relationship between swingmen and the greatest of all time, and making a grouping of similar people, Chen Fang once again ignited the passion of the entire arena with his powerful scoring ability.

He was already under defensive pressure, but at this level, no one can be completely left open. Leonard's lead defense and James' help defense were not enough to completely contain him.

Butler and Chen Fang set a screen at the high post, and after getting rid of the ball, Chen Fang moved to the sideline and received a pass from Lowry.

He dribbled the ball towards the baseline, reaching the edge of the wing, where Harden switched onto him to defend.

Facing Harden, Chen Fang remained calm. Of the five Western Conference players, only Leonard posed a defensive threat on the perimeter, while Harden still fell short.

Harden was completely immobilized by a series of crossovers, including a step forward, a quick crossover dribble, and another change of direction.

After breaking past Harden, Chen Fang did not choose to push into the paint because Jokic was already in position, and Davis at the free-throw line had completely cut off the passing lanes on both the strong and weak sides.

In other words, once Chen Fang gets inside, his shot is interfered with and there is no space to pass, which increases the probability of a mistake.

Decisions were thus quickly ruled out, ten breaths per second, with ideas flashing by and being rejected every single breath.

Chen Fang made the most straightforward decision.

He spun around, flipped and jumped to the edge of the short corner, one step inside the three-point line in the bottom corner.

Many people narrowed their eyes when they saw Chen Fang use a turnaround jump shot to get rid of Harden's subsequent interference.

To the average person, this would be seen as adding difficulty and unnecessary technical maneuvers.

But they never considered that many times, the tens of thousands of technical moves that players hone in training are meant to be used in matches.

The simplest movements, however, become impossible to execute when one's blood and energy are surging and heart rate is high.

It is precisely these high-difficulty moves that have an amazing hit rate.

That's why Kobe always did that, but Jordan didn't.

The difference between Jordan and Kobe is that Jordan had perfected basketball skills to a godlike level. Whether it was a high-difficulty move or the simplest one, it didn't stop him from using it and making the shot.

He can even switch between simplified and traditional Chinese texts with a thought, thanks to his rare ability to stay airborne.

As soon as he saw the ball go in, Chen Wang slowly stumbled backward, eventually managing to stand firm outside the corner.

This scene is just like Kobe and Jordan, who used the most unstoppable turnaround fadeaway jumper to solve all problems.

The camera quickly cut to them, where fans saw Kobe nodding and Jordan smiling.

They looked at each other and clapped together.

“This is inheritance! This is true inheritance!” Yu Jia exclaimed.

"To score with this move in front of the two best players in the league, what could be more glorious than that?"

"And Jordan and Kobe's smiles and applause have already explained everything without words!" Duan Ran was also very excited. For an old fan like him, this has surpassed the rivalry between Chen Wang and LeBron James, and reached a more meaningful level.

"113 to 121, Chen Wang has scored 31 points!"

"The Eastern Conference is still 36 points away from 157 points!"

"And now, 14 minutes have been played in the fourth quarter. This doesn't seem difficult, all thanks to Chen Wang's terrifying scoring ability."

"The Western team has gone six minutes without scoring."

"The West has entered a dangerous phase."

The camera focused on James' face; at that moment, the face of the league was shrouded in gloom.

"LeBron James has reached a point where he needs to prove himself."

"I don't mean to deny his greatness, but that's the logic of competitive sports. The reason Jordan is a god is that he repeatedly defeated all the superstars who dared to challenge him."

"Since entering the league, James has been dubbed the 'King James' by the media. As his time in the league has increased, the title has become 'King James,' and he has made a crown-wearing celebration gesture."

"He even proclaimed himself the GOAT, the greatest of all time."

"Many reporters and media outlets have started to speculate on whether James and Jordan are equal in status."

"It's ridiculous. To be honest, Jordan wouldn't say it himself, because it's up to his contemporaries to judge."

"Like now, James has been in the league for 17 years. In those 17 years, he has faced so many superstars, and I have never heard anyone criticize him in an interview or conversation."

"Back to this moment, at the end of his career, James met Chen Wang, an Asian man who was aggressive towards him."

"This was an unexpected start. Within two years, the feud between Chen Wang and James began to grow and gradually became the biggest highlight of the league."

"And today, it seems to have become a battle for the throne, whether intentionally or unintentionally, within the alliance."

"Now, the pressure is on James. LeBron, now is not the time to talk to Jordan about the GOAT. If you can't withstand the onslaught of the King of Fighters, then nothing else matters."

"It's time to prove what I said in front of hundreds of millions of fans around the world."

A. Smith made these words at this meaningful moment.

As if sensing something, James looked up at the sky, where there was no longer a timer, only a huge scoreboard.

113:121.

Suddenly, pressure surged toward him like a landslide.

It was such a familiar feeling; James knew it all too well, having experienced it many times before.

It has come again today, and he knows it very well in his heart.

Today, however, he has nowhere to retreat, nowhere to hide, and no one to help him!

Only by moving forward and bravely attacking can we succeed!
Thinking of this, a fierce fire ignited in James' eyes. He widened his eyes, the whites of his eyes bulging, and the camera clearly transmitted this scene to the world.

Death James has arrived!

(End of this chapter)