It was already afternoon. Before long, Harden and DeRozan, the two youngsters, arrived together.
A little while later, Li Chen looked at the two well-behaved kids and scratched his head, unsure how to train them. After thinking it over, he decided to put them through his own training routine.
The two kids were in for a world of pain. It felt like he was going to work them until they broke.
Although he toned down the intensity of the training by a lot, both of them were still exhausted.
Then Li Chen began working on two skills: passing and rebounding.
January 27, Monday.
The Clippers traveled to Indiana to take on the Pacers.
The Pacers ranked third in the Eastern Conference, while the Clippers ranked sixth in the Western Conference.
The two teams' starting lineups were as follows...
The Clippers' starting lineup:
Andre Miller (Point Guard)
Li Chen (Shooting Guard)
Corey Maggette (Small Forward)
Elton Brand (Power Forward)
Michael Olowokandi (Center)
The Pacers' starting lineup was:
Jamal (Point Guard)
Little O'Neal (Center)
Artest (Shooting Guard)
Brad Miller (Power Forward)
Reggie Miller (Small Forward)
A little while later, the game officially began. Michael Olowokandi won the tip by sheer luck, tapping the ball to Li Chen.
As he brought the ball across half court, Li Chen checked today's S-rank Skill.
[Prince of Floaters: Floaters taken inside the free-throw line have a 70% chance of going in, with a chance of drawing a foul from the defender.]
Seeing the phrase "a chance," Li Chen knew that the odds couldn't be very high. Still, he'd spent the postgame press conference last time buttering up the referees, so he hoped that might help a little today.
As his thoughts wandered, Li Chen had already dribbled into the frontcourt.
At that moment, the Pacers' defensive ace, Artest, who was matched up against Li Chen, came right up to him.
Li Chen knew Artest was a solid defender, so he focused intently.
He lowered his stance slightly and dribbled back and forth between his hands.
"Kid, you're quite the hot topic these days! Let Uncle Ron see what you've got today."
While Artest kept yapping, Li Chen made a crossover and left him in the dust, streaking toward the basket.
Artest only felt a gust of wind rush past him, and then... that was it.
In the blink of an eye, Li Chen had driven near the free-throw line.
But Little O'Neal reacted quickly enough and stepped right up to him.
Li Chen had just leaped high into the air.
Little O'Neal jumped just as high, spreading his big hand and reaching to swat the ball out of Li Chen's hands.
The corner of Li Chen's mouth curled up slightly. He had already spotted Michael Olowokandi, wide open.
After several games, Li Chen had figured out one thing: his luck was terrible at the start of a game. To play it safe, passing the ball to Michael Olowokandi was the best option.
So he lobbed the ball high, setting up an alley-oop with Michael Olowokandi.
Michael Olowokandi and Li Chen had great chemistry. It wasn't their first time connecting on an alley-oop, after all.
He leaped high and reached for the incoming ball.
But when he reached the peak of his jump, Michael Olowokandi was stunned. Li Chen had thrown the ball too high, and he couldn't grab it. The alley-oop came to nothing.
Li Chen felt a little awkward when he saw what happened.
But just then, the ball sailed over Michael Olowokandi's hands and continued onward, dropping straight into the basket.
All ten players on the court were stunned. How... how had that gone in?
As expected of you! The basketball world's luckiest guy—no one could match that kind of luck!
Even Li Chen was bewildered. Could a pass actually turn into a basket?
Inside the TNT broadcast room.
Barkley burst out laughing. "Chen, that luck of yours is unreal."
Kenny Smith shook his head with a helpless smile. There was just no explaining luck.
The fans watching back home were in an uproar, too. Other players relied on skill, but Brother Chen relied on luck. Just try telling me you're not impressed!
The score became 0–2, and the Clippers drew first blood.
Michael Olowokandi gave Li Chen a resentful look.
"Sorry, that was a mistake."
Michael Olowokandi muttered, "You did that on purpose." After saying that, he jogged past Li Chen.
Watching Michael Olowokandi's retreating back, Li Chen muttered, "I'm innocent. I really am."
The teams switched ends, and the Pacers began their offense.
Li Chen stood behind Artest and defended him carefully.
Artest began trash-talking in Li Chen's ear.
"Eastern Kid, next time I'm going to crush you." Artest gritted his teeth as he spoke.
That last play had been so embarrassing. And that Eastern punk had played dirty, catching him off guard while he was talking. Artest was furious.
Li Chen pursed his lips. "If by 'crush you' you mean knock me out with those elbows of yours, then I admit I can't beat you."
What he meant was that Artest could only fight; his defense on the basketball court was nothing special.
Hearing that, the hot-tempered Artest blew his top.
"Kid, just you wait. Next possession, I'll show you what Artest can do."
Just then, Little O'Neal took a pass from Reggie Miller and slammed the ball into the basket.
The score was 2–2.
At the same time, Conseco Fieldhouse erupted.
The teams switched ends, and Andre Miller passed the ball to Li Chen.
As soon as Li Chen crossed into the frontcourt, Artest came over to guard him.
Li Chen passed the ball to Elton Brand, who had come over to receive it, then moved toward the three-point line.
Elton Brand tried to drive but couldn't get past his defender. Seeing no opening, he passed the ball back to Li Chen.
After catching the ball, Li Chen stepped left with his right foot, lowered his center of gravity, and dribbled rhythmically with his left hand, his feet naturally spread apart.
Artest fixed his gaze on Li Chen's movements, trying to anticipate which way he would drive.
Just then, Li Chen suddenly took a quick step to the right with his right foot.
At the same time, he switched the ball to his right hand and jerked his shoulder as if to drive right.
As his right hand bounced the ball up from the floor, he spun sharply to the right...
Artest's body was pulled along by Li Chen's movements, his center of gravity gradually slipping out of his control.
Just then, Li Chen slipped past him again in a flash.
Artest's heart lurched. Fuck, had he really just gotten past me like that? Wasn't that a little too easy?
In desperation, Artest reached out with his devilish hand and grabbed Li Chen's jersey.
But to Artest's shock, Li Chen didn't immediately hit the floor. He stumbled forward two steps with Artest before falling.
Fuck, what kind of explosive power did this kid have? Artest was starting to question everything.
Li Chen also hadn't expected the bastard Artest to resort to dirty tricks so quickly.
Li Chen reacted fast. The instant he felt his jersey being tugged, his first instinct was to flick the ball toward the basket for a floater. Only then did he fall to the floor.
When the referee's whistle sounded, the ball was still dancing around the rim. Then, as if it had found its final destination, it dropped into the net.
At the same time, the referee signaled one free throw.
Li Chen had scored a three-point play.
Inside the TNT broadcast room.
"Haha! I bet that little punk Artest is feeling pretty frustrated right now," Kenny Smith said with a laugh.
Barkley nodded, then grumbled, "Good Lord! This kid's luck is just unbelievable."
Kenny Smith nodded in agreement, then laughed. "If Artest doesn't rein in his temper today, I'd say there's a better-than-90-percent chance he fouls out."
Just then, Barkley and Smith disagreed.
This is a trial promotion, so here's an extra update. And thanks to all the readers for your support—I'm truly grateful.
Before you continue