On the Eve of Game 6 (Two Chapters in One)

Because Duncan was contained, the Spurs' overall performance suffered.

Of the other key players, only Stephen Jackson and Bowen scored in double figures, while Parker and Ginobili each scored seven points and five points respectively.

For the Clippers, Elton Brand and Corey Maggette both scored 18 points.

Wang Zhizhi also scored 15 points, as did Odom.

Li Chen played 46 minutes in this game, shooting 11-for-20, scoring 38 points, 15 assists, 8 rebounds, and 4 blocks, including 4-for-6 from three-point range and 12-for-12 from the free-throw line.

The Clippers' victory in this game has put the Spurs in a desperate situation.

At the Spurs' post-game press conference.

"Mr. Popovich, what are your thoughts on the performance of Eastern Rookie Li Chen tonight?"

"Okay! I have to admit, he's a more troublesome guy than Kobe," Popovich said with a hint of helplessness.

"In Games 4 and 5, the Spurs failed to effectively contain Li Chen's Clippers against the Clippers..."

At this point, the reporter paused slightly, then continued, "Also, we've noticed that your tactics seem to..."

"No, no, no! Our tactics worked, as you saw, but some details weren't handled well."

The reporters all curled their lip, dismissing Popovich's words.

"Does the Spurs have the confidence to limit Li Chen's scoring ability in Game 6?"

Of course.

Popovich knew he couldn't show weakness now, or the demoralized Spurs might completely collapse.

At this point, the reporter turned his attention to Duncan, "Mr. Duncan, Li Chen, how did Odom feel about being double-teamed by you?"

How did I feel? I just felt frustrated. He used to be able to hit those kinds of shots with ease, but today, 50% of those shots went out of bounds.

Duncan couldn't voice his true feelings; he simply said, "Their defense is very strong."

At this point, Duncan changed the subject and added, "But the next game will definitely be won by our Spurs."

Although he was uncertain, he believed in his coach and his teammates.

In the early hours of the morning, Popovich sat at home deep in thought, with only one idea on his mind—how to effectively stop Li Chen's shooting and scoring.

He knew all too well that dealing with this Eastern Kid would be a daunting task, because Li Chen's powerful hang time and excellent shooting accuracy made him a very difficult opponent for the current Spurs. Unless Duncan closely guarded him, but that was impossible.

Whenever he saw Li Chen receive the ball, he seemed to transform into a shooting artist, creating a beautiful arc with the basketball in his hand.

Whether it's a precise mid-range jump shot or a three-pointer, he always finds an opportunity to put the ball in the basket.

Li Chen's shooting motion is like a meticulously crafted painting, each shot filled with stability and power.

Whenever he saw this scene, he felt envious of Alvin.

If Li Chen were given to him, he could rule the alliance for 15 to 20 years. The thought of this always made him tremble with excitement.

However, this is impossible.

As his thoughts wandered, he brought them back to the problems the Spurs were about to face.

Li Chen is not only an accurate shooter, but also adept at using his physical advantages to create problems for defenders.

His agile footwork and flexible body allow him to dribble in unpredictable directions, causing defenders to make misjudgments.

And that defense... He just couldn't understand why Duncan's shooting percentage would plummet under that Eastern Kid's defense, even though he could clearly make those shots.

Could it be that Duncan is really afraid of Li Chen? No, absolutely not. Even O'Neal wouldn't make Duncan afraid.

But... never mind, let's focus on figuring out how to suppress that Eastern Kid!

Yes, for Popovich, containing Li Chen's shooting and scoring is the top priority.

Actually, it's quite simple to defend Li Chen. All you need is a player with strong hang time or a tall stature, because only someone with great hang time can block his shot. But the current Spurs doesn't have that.

Robinson could do it, but his stamina was clearly lacking.

Therefore, we can only rely on the close cooperation of the entire team.

He needs to carefully devise a tactic to limit Li Chen's scoring.

Popovich thought about it for about an hour or two before he had a general idea of a tactic.

First, we must focus on pressing and defending Li Chen tightly.

The Spurs players rushed forward as soon as Li Chen received the ball, putting immense pressure on him. They constantly tried to steal the ball, disrupting his shooting rhythm and giving him no chance to catch his breath.

Oh, right, he suddenly thought of having the players use their bodies to give Li Chen a tighter defense, limiting his shooting space and preventing him from jumping.

It was late at night, Popovich, lost in thought, drifted off to sleep.

At that moment, Irene opened the study door gently and walked in quietly. She looked at Popovich's furrowed brows, sighed slightly, and then covered Popovich with a blanket.

Los Angeles at midnight exudes a quiet yet mysterious and alluring atmosphere.

After the sunlight disappeared, moonlight spilled into the streets and alleys, and the bustling scene of the day gradually faded away, replaced by tranquility and desolation.

At this moment, downtown Los Angeles exudes a unique charm.

The streets were sparsely populated with traffic, only the occasional taxi and a few lonely pedestrians.

The lights from the skyscrapers cast a soft glow, outlining the city's silhouette.

Despite the city's quiet appearance, Los Angeles' nightlife never stops.

The neon lights outside the nightclubs attract people seeking entertainment.

The rhythm of the music echoed in the darkness, and the figures dancing freely on the dance floor were like elves under the moonlight.

Li Chen held the steering wheel with one hand and rested his other arm on the car door, sensing the whistling wind outside the window.

He thoroughly enjoyed the cool sensation of the wind brushing against his skin.

An hour later, he parked his car downstairs at his rented apartment.

Looking at the somewhat old building, he thought to himself, "Soon, next year I'll be able to buy a big villa, like Kobe's house with an indoor gymnasium."

The next day.

He arrived at the Training Gym around 7 a. m. and began his day of shooting practice.

At nine o'clock, the Clippers players walked into the Training Gym while chatting casually.

"Guys, look how hard our Clippers star is still working," Odom joked.

Ever since Odom was saved by Li Chen, he has become very informal.

"Lamar, do you know any female celebrities who are basketball players?"

Odom was taken aback by the question, then instinctively asked, "Why?"

Li Chen said seriously, "Because I have good stamina!"

Odom frowned. "Chen, what exactly are you trying to say? I don't quite understand."

"Hahaha! Lamar, Chen, you're no good. Even if I gave you a female celebrity, you still wouldn't be able to satisfy her."

"Fuck, Chen, I challenge you to a one-on-one fight."

Li Chen shrugged and said, "Hey, hey, hey! That's what they said, I didn't say anything. Don't get the wrong person. Besides, are you really sure you can do it? Of course, if you insist, I'd love to spar with you, my teammate who's been through thick and thin with me."

Odom rolled his eyes and cursed, "Fuck, I'm not sick, I don't want to be tortured."

"Lamar, don't be afraid of him. Fight him one-on-one. We support you. Beat him 10-0!"

His Clippers teammates all encouraged Odom.

Hearing this, Odom's face turned green with anger. He turned around abruptly and shouted, "Fuck you, you bunch of bastards, why aren't you going?"

"What are you all shouting about instead of training? Do you want extra practice? And Lamar, what are you doing again?"

At that moment, Alvin Gentry walked in from outside and began to reprimand him.

Odom was dumbfounded. What was going on? How miserable must his life be?!

Just when Odom was questioning his existence, Alvin Gentry surprised Odom again, ordering him to "run 30 laps around the stadium."

"Coach, I..."

Alvin Gentry's eyes widened. "50 laps."

Odom "..."

"Lamar, I believe in you. Keep it up! A strong physique is essential to attract female celebrities." Li Chen patted Odom on the shoulder with a smug grin.

The other teammates, mimicking Li Chen's gesture with a smile, patted him on the shoulder.

Fuck you, you bunch of bastards, you're all scumbags.

The players dispersed and began today's training.

During today's strength training, Odom put in extra effort. Li Chen instantly understood what the guy was thinking and couldn't help but laugh.

At noon, Li Chen received a call from Avril.

As soon as Li Chen answered the phone, he heard Avril's clear voice coming from the receiver.

"Wow! Chen, I heard you're going to make it to the NBA NBA Finals! That's amazing! Congratulations!"

"Uh... the Western Conference Finals aren't over yet, it's too early to talk about the Finals," Li Chen corrected after a moment of silence.

"Pshaw, the media's already saying the Spurs have no way to contain your scoring. They predict the Clippers will have an 80% chance of eliminating the Spurs tomorrow night."

Li Chen was somewhat surprised; he hadn't expected the media to be so optimistic about the Clippers.

"And..." Avril added.

"What?"

I've heard that betting companies are very optimistic about the Clippers, while the Spurs are currently at odds of 1 to 2.

Li Chen was somewhat surprised again, but then asked strangely, "You gamble?"

"No, I heard it from them when we were recording the song," Avril said, waving her hand.

"Hey! I'm telling you, why aren't you excited about going to the stadium to cheer you on?"

"Thank you! I'm really happy, no! It's a great honor that you came to watch my match," Li Chen said sincerely.

"Hey, hey, hey, you're so hypocritical!" Avril said disdainfully.

"Sorry, it seems I'm not suited to be an actor," Li Chen said, feigning regret.

"Pfft!" Avril was amused.

After chatting with her for a while, she went back to her work.

Just then, Li Chen's phone rang again.

Li Chen was somewhat surprised to see that the call was from Kobe.

The moment the call connected, Kobe's excited voice came through. "Fuck, are you really a fortune teller? Oh my God! Vanessa's baby is really a boy! Oh! It's unbelievable!"

Kobe was somewhat incoherent at this point.

Kobe was talking to himself, and Li Chen couldn't get a word in edgewise, which showed how much Kobe cared about this boy.

It took Kobe a while to gradually regain his composure.

Only then did Li Chen have a chance to interject. He cleared his throat and said, "Um... Kobe, since my divination was successful, you have to pay me. That's the rule, and it can't be broken. You should understand."

Kobe paused for a moment, then realized it made sense, and instinctively asked, "How much?"

"Not much. The standard price is 50 million, but since we're so familiar, 10 million will do."

Kobe was stunned when he heard Li Chen's words and didn't know what to say for a moment. Then he realized that Li Chen was joking with him.

But he was genuinely shocked, and Kobe immediately felt embarrassed and hung up the phone.

Kobe hung up the phone, gritting his teeth. "That bastard! I was sharing my joy with you, and you just had to ruin it for me on this happy day. Fuck, that bastard, he's still so annoying."

Meanwhile, Li Chen felt incredibly good after teasing Kobe, as if the sky had become a bit bluer.

Afternoon.

"Brother Zhizhi, your progress these past few months has been truly remarkable. You could easily be a rotation player on any other team."

Having become familiar with Wang Zhizhi, he didn't mince words and simply spoke the truth.

Wang Zhizhi smiled shyly and said sincerely, "I have to thank you for this, Li Chen."

Li Chen waved his hand dismissively, saying, "Brother Zhizhi, you're wrong. This is all thanks to your hard work. I just passed you the ball a few more times."

Wang Zhizhi shook his head and said, "No, Li Chen, you're wrong. You pulled me back from the edge of a cliff! You saved my life!"

Li Chen was slightly taken aback. "Hey, hey, hey! Brother Zhizhi, we've known each other for so long, you don't need to flatter me like that!"

Wang Zhizhi explained, "You probably know that I was expelled from the National Team last October, right?"

Li Chen was taken aback, thought about it for a moment, and realized that there was probably such a thing. Then he nodded.

Wang Zhizhi continued, "After this incident, my NBA games were completely stopped from being broadcast live in China, and news reports didn't mention my NBA career at all. But thankfully, you were there. Your strength forced them to compromise, and they had no choice but to broadcast Clippers games again, which allowed fans to know about me again. Tell me, is it too much for me to say that you are my savior?" Wang Zhizhi asked with a smile.

Li Chen suddenly realized, but he still said, "Brother Zhizhi, as the saying goes, gold always shines. You don't need to worry about this. As long as you make it in the NBA, they will invite you back."

Wang Zhizhi smiled wryly, "I doubt it. With you around, how could they possibly care about me?" He said somewhat dejectedly.

Li Chen touched his nose somewhat awkwardly. He remembered that Wang Zhizhi was later reinstated, but now that he was back, those people were really capable of doing something like this.

Because as a time traveler, he knew all too well the intricacies of the situation.

Although basketball isn't as bad as football, in his opinion, it's just so-so.

At that moment, Wang Zhizhi seemed to remember something, and he pleaded, "Li Chen, you're sure you'll make it into the National Team this year. Could you please put in a good word for me?"

Li Chen was stunned again; he never expected Wang Zhizhi to be so determined to return to the National Team.

But...

Chapter Two has been reviewed.