NBA's King of Talking

Chapter 515 The Determination to Defend the Title

For Jia Fei, this was a night he didn't want to experience a "milestone tragedy" with regrets. The Rockets were a formidable opponent, and while he couldn't guarantee a win, he needed to make it happen as much as possible.

Fortunately, the ending was satisfying.

Watching this game was absolutely breathtaking for Lin Ning. She had never known watching a game live could be so exhilarating; from the sidelines, she could even hear the players breathing. She was on the Clippers' bench, and she could clearly hear the players discussing their games and cheering for their teammates. She could even hear the coach giving instructions during timeouts. What made it even more nerve-wracking was that Jia Fei's rest area was right next to her; her heart was in her throat…

This was truly an unforgettable experience!

If someone tells her that many cheaper tickets only allow her to see a few small black dots moving in the stadium from afar, and that she can't hear much except for the noise of the venue, and that it's not as clear as seeing the stadium from home, she will know how much her ticket is worth.

Lin Ning was not stupid, because someone had actually told her that.

Zhou Ling'an went that night too, and naturally saw Lin Ning. She was surprised that Lin Ning was there, and in such a good seat at that. Being so clever, she immediately guessed where Lin Ning got her ticket. After the game, she found Lin Ning and said meaningfully, "Little Ning, Jia Fei really treats you very well!"

The moment the name "Jia Fei" left her lips, Lin Ning's face flushed. She knew exactly what Zhou Ling'an was referring to; someone had guessed her perfectly. How come others couldn't even get tickets, not even from scalpers, while she had managed to get to the show, and in such a good seat at that?

Zhou Ling'an didn't press further; she was secretly delighted. She was the one who introduced Lin Ning to Jia Fei, and if things really worked out, she'd deserve the lion's share. Considering Jia Fei's standing in the industry and his future potential, it would be a huge boost to her career as well. If this investment succeeded, it would be a game-changer, and she was already looking forward to how Jia Fei would repay her, the matchmaker!

The home team's locker room was a sea of ​​joy tonight, with every player from last season's championship roster receiving their own championship ring.

We didn't have time to properly admire them before, but now everyone's taking them out to admire them, and several are already wearing them on their fingers. Relatively speaking, those who have won before, like Jia Fei and Art Mayork, are in a better position, while most of the others are winning for the first time, and their excitement is truly palpable.

"If Charles Barkley ever babbles again, I'll use this to shut his big mouth!" Paul George showed off the ring on his hand, looking smug.

"Paul, you've now surpassed superstars like Karl Malone, Allen Iverson, and Steve Nash..." Lou Williams joked from the side.

"Hahaha... So it's true, they don't have rings, but I do!" Paul George was even more smug. He was quite emotional; a year ago, he was practically kicked out of the Pacers' team, and many people thought he had no chance of winning a championship as the team's core player. But who would have thought that a year later he would be wearing a championship ring on his finger!

As for whether he was the primary core player or not, so what? Was Kobe the primary core player in his first three championships? Was Pippen the primary core player in all six of his championships?

Paul George is currently very satisfied with his position. Playing supporting role to Jia Fei, the league's best player, isn't shameful. Even Stephen Curry, the "Running Man," would have to support Jia Fei now. If Jia Fei surpasses Jordan in the future, wouldn't he be able to surpass Pippen?

Paul George couldn't help but laugh out loud at the thought. After all, Pippen is considered the "greatest second option in history," boasting six championships and a place among the NBA's 50 greatest players of all time. Such a status is enough to make him laugh in his sleep!

Jeff Green was slightly embarrassed. He didn't say anything and tidied his things in his locker. The rookies, though also without rings, seemed to have a good attitude. They might be envious, but their careers had only just begun, and not having a ring was perfectly normal.

At this moment, Jia Fei spoke up: "Brothers, last season we won our first championship in team history, and now every one of our teammates from last season has received their championship ring. Without a doubt, we are all part of this team's history, the creators of our first title!" He paused, then continued, "Don't worry about the new players who joined during the offseason, because your championship rings are on their way. We will definitely defend our title; believe in our abilities! Winning a championship isn't easy; it requires the efforts of everyone. Forget about past glories for now, keep moving forward, come on, brothers!"

Jia Fei's words stirred up the crowd, and everyone applauded. Even Jeff Green, who had seemed a little embarrassed earlier, smiled.

Before the season began, major media outlets such as ESPN ranked the teams for the new season, with the defending champion Clippers, the Warriors, and the Rockets in the first tier. Within the first tier, the Clippers were considered the biggest favorite to win the championship in the 2018-19 season.

Finally, the Clippers were no longer underestimated; their strength was proven. And after winning the championship last season, no one questions Jia Fei's status as the league's best player anymore.

Two days later, the Clippers continued their home game, facing the Thunder.

The game was largely a foregone conclusion, with the Clippers easily defeating their opponents at home and securing their second consecutive win.

On October 22, the Clippers continued their home game against the Nuggets.

Although the Nuggets dominated their interior defense, the Clippers managed to close out the game by shutting down the Nuggets' perimeter offense, securing their third consecutive victory.

The Clippers' strengths and weaknesses were once again on display for the entire league. Their interior defense is indeed not top-tier; in this game, Olynyk and Harrell became easy targets for the young Jokic. However, thanks to their league-leading perimeter defense and the leadership of Jia Fei, arguably the best player in the league, they were still able to win despite being dominated inside.

Trying to shut down the Clippers both inside and outside is virtually impossible.

On October 24, the Clippers narrowly defeated their reserves on the road, securing their fourth consecutive win.

On October 27, the Clippers narrowly lost to the Rockets on the road, failing to achieve a five-game winning streak.

In their last two games in October, the Clippers defeated the Wizards and the Thunder, finishing the month with a 6-1 record.

February has arrived...

On November 2, the Clippers defeated the 76ers on the road, achieving their third consecutive victory.

The following day, they easily defeated the Magic in a back-to-back away game, achieving their fourth consecutive victory.

On November 6, the Clippers, back at home, defeated the visiting Timberwolves, achieving their fifth consecutive victory.