Whimsical Ideas

In the Warriors' rest area, Li Chen was quite satisfied with the score of 27-27.

In the Spurs' rest area, Popovich's brow was furrowed so deeply it could have crushed a fly, because the Warriors' bench was simply too strong; they could easily fill in as starters.

The Warriors' bench was more than capable of playing the entire second quarter. He was now somewhat envious of Li Chen's judgment; why did that bastard pick such strong players?

After a moment, Popovich suppressed his anger at his incompetence. He knew that complaining was useless, and now he had to think about the present.

The Spurs' key players are getting too old, and their average playing time is only around 30 minutes, which is already the limit. Playing more minutes would just be a problem.

As the saying goes, if you have no cards to play, no matter how capable you are, it's all for naught. That's exactly the situation Popovich is in now.

So Popovich thought about it for a long time but couldn't come up with a solution.

Finally, he shook his head helplessly, thinking that he could only take it one step at a time.

When the second quarter began, the bench unit, led by Harden and DeRozan, put up a mediocre offensive performance.

Klay Thompson's Off-ball movement, in particular, caused the Spurs considerable trouble.

When the second quarter began, the bench unit, led by Harden and DeRozan, launched a sharp offensive run.

Klay Thompson's off-ball movement, in particular, caused the Spurs considerable trouble.

The Spurs, on the other hand, opted to tighten their defense on the court in an attempt to stop the opponent's offense.

They kept a close eye on Harden and DeRozan, not giving them much room to maneuver.

At the same time, Popovich also ordered the players to pay close attention to Klay Thompson's off-ball runs and minimize his scoring opportunities.

This tactical adjustment had some effect, and the Spurs gradually gained control of the game's tempo.

However, the second quarter has only just begun, and the situation remains unpredictable.

However, the Spurs' efforts did not completely turn the tide of the game.

You know, if a three-pointer is on fire, it's unstoppable, just like that Cosmic Warriors.

Although the Warriors players weren't at their peak at this time, they shouldn't be underestimated.

At this point, the Spurs's offense continued to cause them significant trouble, especially the seamless teamwork between Harden and DeRozan, which was almost impossible to contain.

After all, the two trained together for seven years, and during those seven years, they even lived together for half of that time. It's no exaggeration to say that their teamwork was more than the sum of its parts.

The two players' outstanding performances have increased the Spurs' defensive pressure, and they urgently need to find a solution to turn the tide in the upcoming games.

However, even a coach like Popovich had no other option but to bring on his starters.

So, just three minutes into the second quarter, the Spurs had to bring all their starters back in.

In the Warriors' rest area, Curry said happily, "James, well done."

The other players also applauded their teammate's excellent performance.

At this moment, Curry said to Li Chen beside him, "Boss, we'll be able to beat the Spurs in the third quarter."

Curry wasn't exaggerating, because the Warriors are very effective in the third quarter, often making it their highest-scoring quarter.

"Don't be careless, Popovich of the Spurs is not easy to deal with." Although Li Chen thought so too, he still reminded Curry not to be careless.

Curry nodded, but seeing Li Chen's serious expression, he thought to himself, "Even if I'm really good, I still get beaten to my knees by you, Boss, every time, don't I?"

At the end of the second quarter, the Warriors trailed the Spurs 52-55 by 3 points.

While Harden, DeRozan, and Klay Thompson are certainly capable of competing with the starting lineup, the Warriors' bench simply cannot stop the Spurs' Duncan and Diaw frontcourt duo.

Trailing by only three points without any rebounds, they played exceptionally well.

After a 15-minute halftime break, the second half began, and the battle on the field intensified, with the outcome still seemingly unpredictable.

However, the Spurs' stamina is an extremely inconsistent weakness, which becomes increasingly apparent as the game progresses.

This can be seen from the matchup between Duncan and Garnett five minutes into the third quarter.

Because the two are evenly matched in ability, but Duncan is clearly no match for Garnett now.

Popovich certainly saw this too, but there was nothing he could do about it.

In the TNT broadcast room.

"The Spurs are likely to lose this game," Kenny Smith said regretfully.

Barkley nodded in agreement. "The Warriors' bench is too strong; they can easily match the Spurs' starters. There's no way they can win this game."

The Warriors are on offense. Curry takes a long three-pointer from his team's frontcourt logo and sinks it.

Seeing that the ball had made, Spurs fans clutched their heads in despair.

Because they were gripped by fear, controlled by the devil Li Chen.

Damn it, this kid who looks like an elementary school student is really awful, just as annoying as that Asian guy Li Chen.

You should know that this kind of careless shooting is the most demoralizing.

But that wasn't the end. In the next possession, Curry another risky shot, and it went in.

This scene infuriated Popovich, prompting him to call the first timeout of the third quarter.

After the timeout, the Spurs tightened their defense on Curry.

He knew that the Spurs were known for their defense and discipline, and that Curry wasn't some kind of overpowered player like Li Chen who could still maintain good offensive efficiency even when targeted.

His offensive efficiency decreased significantly after he was targeted.

Seeing Curry's momentum dampened, Popovich scoffed inwardly! Defense is king.

But Popovich forgot that the Warriors have more than just Curry as a shooter.

With Curry quieting down, Korver, the open-shot specialist, hit two consecutive Open Three-Pointer, putting the Spurs on the back foot once again.

But before Popovich could give any instructions, Leonard, whom he favored, betrayed the Spurs.

David Lee then followed up with a three-pointer.

With eight minutes remaining in the third quarter, the Spurs trailed the Warriors 65-80, a deficit of 15 points.

In the end, Garnett started taking wild three-pointers, but they still went in.

At this point, the Spurs finally couldn't hold on any longer. They shattered like glass falling to the ground. The Spurs collapsed.

Seeing that the game was lost, Spurs' Popovich chose to forfeit it.

In the end, the Warriors won their first Playoffs game 110-98.

Curry scored 25 points in three quarters, while Harden scored 15 points in just one quarter.

Meanwhile, the Lakers and Nuggets' first-round Playoffs matchup officially began, a highly anticipated game.

This season, the Lakers finished second in the Western Conference regular season, only behind their old rivals Spurs.

Despite Kobe being a year older and Yao Ming suffering from minor illnesses, Lakers, as the defending champions, successfully advanced to the Playoffs thanks to Kobe's outstanding performance.

With their excellent teamwork and incredible individual abilities, Kobe and Yao Ming became one of the favorites to win the championship in the eyes of fans.

Their offensive firepower and defensive intensity not only put tremendous pressure on their opponents during the regular season, but also made them highly anticipated to face the Nuggets.

The fact that the Nuggets managed to finish seventh in the Playoffs despite the departure of Carmelo Anthony fully demonstrates their strong competitiveness.

After the game started, the Nuggets, with their excellent teamwork and tenacious fighting spirit, were not to be underestimated. They even led the Lakers by 8 points in the first quarter.

However, at the start of the second quarter, the Lakers, under Phil Jackson's tactical guidance, demonstrated their strength and experience.

Kobe and Yao Ming's inside-outside partnership was seamless, and with one minute left in the second quarter, the Lakers not only tied the score but also took the lead.

However, the Nuggets did not give up easily, and in the third quarter they relied on their teamwork to keep scoring.

However, with the home court in Los Angeles, the young Nuggets inevitably struggled to adapt to playing away, and ultimately lost their first Playoffs 102-82.

The next day, Li Ruping called Li Chen.

"Li Chen, I've been summoned for questioning by the relevant authorities," Li Ruping said solemnly.

Li Chen was slightly taken aback, and asked in surprise, "Why? What, did we evade taxes?"

"No, we pay every penny of our taxes every year without fail."

Why is that?

Li Ruping said with a wry smile, "Because we pay our employees too good a salary and benefits."

Li Chen was also stunned; he never expected that he wouldn't be able to give away his money.

Suddenly, Li Chen had a flash of inspiration, and a memory of the wind appeared in his mind.

That was a short video from my past life; a foreign company also encountered a similar situation in China.

He didn't believe it at first, but now he finally does.

"What should we do? Should we reduce employee benefits?"

Li Ruping had never encountered anything like this before, and now she was completely at a loss.

"Let me think about it."

A dozen minutes later, Li Ruping suddenly remembered something and quickly added, "Oh, right, Li Chen, they also said, they also said..."

"What else is there to say?" Li Chen asked casually while thinking of a solution.

"They said that reducing employee benefits cannot be attributed to their oppression."

Hearing this, Li Chen's bottom line was once again crossed.

Li Chen was so angry he laughed. This time he really saw what it meant to be a virtuous woman while pretending to be innocent. He really learned something new this time.

"Sigh! Now I realize how chaotic things are in China." Li Ruping said sadly, "Li Chen, we can't lower salaries. Even if we do, we have to explain it to the employees clearly, otherwise..."

"We have to lower our salaries; we are law-abiding citizens."

"But..."

"Sister Li, there's no 'buts'. I'll do what I say." Li Chen interrupted Li Ruping without hesitation, preventing her from continuing.

"Alright!" Li Ruping said helplessly.

At this point, Li Chen continued, "Sister Li, how do you plan to do this tomorrow?" Then, Li Chen briefly explained the follow-up plan to Li Ruping.

Li Chen hung up the phone an hour later.

As soon as Li Chen hung up the phone, Avril walked in, hugged him from behind, and asked, "Chen, what happened?"

"It's nothing. There were some minor issues back home, but they've been resolved now."

Avril nodded, then whispered in Li Chen's ear, "Chen, I want to..."

Then...

Back home, Li Ruping relayed the instructions Li Chen had given her the next day.

Li Chen's solution was to lower wages, but he also introduced a policy that employees of Xingchen Company could receive interest-free loans to purchase houses.

In other words, as long as you work for a company under Xingchen Company, the company will help you pay your mortgage interest.

Li Chen's method not only satisfied the employees, but also boosted the sales of Xingchen Real Estate Company's houses.

At the same time, Li Chen also invested in physical stores, such as supermarkets and shopping malls.

It's important to understand that brick-and-mortar stores have been squeezed out of profit by Li Chen's Pinduoduo, and most are on the verge of bankruptcy.

Therefore, these shopping malls were sold at very low prices, and Li Chen acquired them at a very cheap price.

What's the point of online shopping if not to get a cheaper price?

Physical stores also need a main selling point.

Li Chen positioned this as a service-oriented approach, aiming to make customers feel like they were treated like royalty.

Humans are animals with a very strong sense of vanity; being served like a god can satisfy their souls.

Are you worried that physical stores will have no customers?

Meanwhile, mall employees can also enjoy free mortgage interest payments when buying a house.

This move was a stroke of genius, and Xingchen Real Estate Company's sales volume soared.

On the other hand, the Warriors remain a strong contender in the next round of the Playoffs.

In the second game, Duncan was on fire in the first quarter, scoring 18 points by the end of the first quarter.

The Spurs lead the Warriors 30-25.

At the start of the second quarter, the Warriors substituted their bench players, while Duncan remained on the court, continuing to fight. Duncan maintained his hot streak.

His shooting was flawless; every shot seemed destined to score.

Spurs fans cheered for his accurate shooting, and his teammates were thrilled by his outstanding performance; they knew they still had hope.

However, the Warriors were not intimidated by Duncan's performance.

Garnett was a proud man, and as a fellow Power Forward, he was naturally unconvinced, so he asked the head coach to put him on the court.

Head coach Keith Smart knew that only Duncan could rival Garnett at that time, so he agreed without hesitation.

On the court, Garnett intensified his defense against Duncan, attempting to limit his scoring ability.

Duncan felt the pressure from his opponents, but he didn't back down. He knew that only in this way could the Spurs defeat the Warriors.

Facing Garnett's tight defense, Duncan quickly assessed the situation, used a nimble crossover to shake off the defender, and then easily put the ball into the basket.

The fans cheered wildly for his brilliant performance; they had been suppressed for too long.

However, the reserves, including Harden, DeRozan, Klay Thompson, and others, did not give up.

They showed the Spurs what a three-point shooting team really is.

Harden's step-back three-pointer and Klay Thompson's Open Three-Pointer narrowed the score gap.

So, five minutes into the second quarter, Duncan's all-out defensive effort against Garnett wasn't very effective, so Popovich substituted his favorite player out of the game.