Champions Creed

Chapter 200 199: He has to wait a little longer (ask for a monthly ticket!)

Steve Smith was stunned by Roger's yelling.

He has been blaming others and thinking that he is a poor victim.

But Roger's words made him realize the real problem.

When everyone is pursuing victory, he is the only one who despises victory.

This is something others cannot tolerate, and this is the real reason why he lost the respect of his teammates.

Yes, even though Pippen didn't have a good personal relationship with his teammates, he still fought hard on the court.

And what about himself?
He has sleepwalked through two and a half games.

The losses in the first two games were directly related to him.

When you exclude yourself from the goals of the team, you naturally become an outsider.

Many women only realize when they grow up that what stabs you in the back is not necessarily a knife.

Now Steve Smith also understands this truth: the person who stabs you in the back may be yourself.

Steve Smith still needs to digest this matter, but time waits for no one.

Seeing that Steve Smith was extremely depressed, Lenny Wilkens decided to put him on the bench for the time being.

In the second half, Bowen replaced Steve Smith in the starting lineup.

At this time, O'Neal in front of the TV was in a very happy mood.

Because it was obvious to the naked eye that Roger was about to fall into Duncan's hands.

As long as I don't lose to Duncan alone, it doesn't count as a loss.
By then the whole world will know that losing to Duncan is not his own problem, but a problem that the entire league will face.

If I'm a 120 million piece of shit, then Roger is a 120 million piece of thin shit!
Moreover, the Eagles also kept Steve Smith out of the game in the second half, which was an obvious sign of losing.

"Steve, who didn't score any goals in the first half, was kept on the bench. Was he DNP'd by Lenny? Now, Bruce is replacing Steve." Steve Jones was really curious why Steve Smith and Roger couldn't get along.

Actually it’s very simple, Steve Smith is too cowardly.

He couldn't stand Roger's trash talk.

I can't stand any disrespect from my teammates.

From only daring to float outside and gamble on three-pointers at critical moments in the playoffs, to losing all form when encountering setbacks.

There are too many things he dare not face.

Popovich drooled as he watched Bruce Bowen start in the second half.

If such a person were in my hands, wow, his future would be immeasurable!
However, one should not be too greedy.

He now has Tim Duncan, and that's more important than anything.

The game continued and the Eagles took the lead in the second half.

The ratings of the game are still rising because all fans are eager to know whether Duncan is the one who can break Roger's dynasty.

After the Hawks took Steve Smith off the court, the Spurs became even more unscrupulous in double-teaming Roger.

But Roger solved the problem with an assist.

He needs to force the Spurs to return to the strategy of one-on-one defense on the perimeter before he can execute his own crazy scoring plan.

Roger found Bowen lurking in the corner twice in a row. He had a good touch in the three-pointer from the left corner today and made two in a row at the beginning of the second half.

Bowen didn't score these two goals by luck. He has always been the hardest training member of the team, and his extra training time is even longer than Roger.

From the start of the new season's training camp to now, he has been practicing his long-range shooting almost every day.

People are multifaceted. Bowen's dirty moves made him be scolded by fans, but his inspirational NBA struggle experience also makes people admire him.

All in all, Bowen's efforts paid off.

His consecutive hits in the second half made the Spurs give up the idea of ​​continuing the double-team.

On a night like this, leaving him alone would undoubtedly be a very dangerous thing to do.

Popovich waved his hand and let the team return to the most skilled defensive state: mainly one-on-one defense on the outside, don't lose position, don't give three-pointers. If you attack the basket, I will use the most terrifying twin towers in the league to block you.

Not giving three points will kill your chance to explode.

Not allowing you to break through will kill your most efficient scoring method.

This is Popovich's defensive thinking.

He wants to force the ball handler to make inefficient strong shots in the mid-range.

Steve Jones understood the situation and took a deep breath: "Now, it's time to test Roger!"

Will Roger be disciplined by Duncan as well? His fate is entirely in his own hands.

At this time, the Eagles were still trailing by 5 points and Roger had the ball.

Sean Elliott has a wealth of defensive experience. He may not be able to keep pressuring you like Pippen, but he can stay in position and stay close to the ball handler from beginning to end.

Roger doesn't have many offensive options. His offensive space is very small. The three-pointer and three-second zone are blocked. He can only seek opportunities in the mid-range.

So he used the method the Spurs most wanted to see - a quick stop and jump shot from mid-range after a breakthrough.

Because Elio stayed in front of Roger the whole time, he interfered with the shot.

This is indeed the Spurs' favorite defensive style, but this is also Roger's favorite offensive style!
He really loves to play this kind of difficult ball in the mid-range!

The basketball hit the front of the basket, but eventually fell into the net.

The score difference returned to 3 points, and Roger scored his 25th point of the game at the beginning of the second half.

But soon, the Spurs used their influence in the interior to score another goal.

When Duncan received the ball and the Hawks were forced to shrink the penalty area with four players, Duncan decisively passed the ball back to Avery Johnson, who quickly transferred the ball to Vinny Del Negro.

The white American guard with a European name made a steady long shot, helping the Spurs to narrow the gap to 6 points and stabilize the situation again.

Although the goal was scored by Nigro from the outside, this opportunity came about because the Spurs' inside line was too strong.

Duncan and David Robinson are still the ones who are holding down the Hawks' defense, and they are the ones who open up the outside line for their teammates.

Therefore, this was still an offense that utilized the influence of the inside line.

This was the first time this season that the Eagles were powerless against their opponent's offense.

But it doesn't matter, Roger didn't think about relying on defense to contain the Spurs tonight.

Elliot continued to keep a close eye on Roger. He stood on Roger's right side and forced Roger to go to the left corner.

Roger took advantage of the situation, took a step forward and then turned his back to hold the ball, then turned over and hit the bank before entering Duncan's range.

His 27th point reduced the score to 4 points.

Roger scored consecutive goals in front of Sean Elliott who did not lose his position, and this did not affect Roger's vitality on the defensive end.

In the next defensive round, Pippen doubled Duncan as usual. But when Duncan passed the ball to Nigro, Roger made up for it in time at the moment when the opponent shot.

He used active running to complete the rotation on the outside by himself!

With Roger's active interference, Nigro's jump shot missed, and Alan Henderson desperately protected the rebound.

Afterwards, Roger's mid-range shot missed, but he quickly retreated the moment he missed, without giving himself any time to breathe or regret.

He is like a warrior without emotions, and no matter what happens, it cannot affect his enthusiasm.

Roger blocked the outside line, forcing the Spurs to pass the ball to Duncan, and then quickly entered the inside to help defend. Duncan was just trapped by Pippen and Alan Henderson, and before he could decide on his next move, Roger's hand immediately cut in.

By the time Duncan reacted, the ball had already been taken away by Pippen.

Pippen took a few steps and looked up for someone. Roger, who had just cut off Duncan, had already rushed to the front.

In the end, Pippen connected with Roger, who counterattacked and scored a dunk.

Roger scored his 29th point, and the score difference was only 2 points!
After scoring the goal, Roger did not celebrate. Instead, he quickly returned to defense and shouted to the whole team: "Keep going, keep up the firepower!"

Steve Smith watched it all, from the missed shot, to the defense and cutting off Duncan, to the fast break. During this period, Roger's nerves never relaxed, and his steps never stopped.

He saw what it meant to do his best to carry the team forward.

What does it mean to be tough and move forward courageously?

With the score difference only 2 points, Roger officially sounded the clarion call for a counterattack.

In the Spurs' next offensive round, Duncan passed the ball to the Admiral in the mid-range while being double-teamed.

When the Admiral took a shot, it was Roger again who actively rotated in front of the Admiral and interfered with his shot, ultimately causing the basketball to bounce off the rim.

At this point, the Eagles were only one goal away from making up the difference.

Roger received the ball outside the three-point line and waved his hand to signal everyone to move away.

He will continue to torment the Spurs' defense from mid-range.

Seeing that Roger was going to attack again, the fans at the scene became agitated.

This season, as he plays more and more like a combo guard, Roger's desire to score has never been so strong.

Today, fans can enjoy watching Roger's offense!

Facing Sean Elliot, who was already breathing heavily, Roger dribbled the ball in and broke through. The moment Elliot moved sideways to block him, Roger immediately made a signature turnaround shot. With a series of silky little moves, Roger made another jump shot between the three-point line and the free throw line!

The powerful mid-range shots are no problem for Roger!
"31 points! After the start of the second half, Roger quickly changed his single-game score to 31 points! Maybe Tim Duncan has dealt with many superstars, but Roger is undoubtedly the most special one!" Steve Jones is in a dilemma now, because he likes both Roger and Duncan very much.

He didn't want any of them to lose.

Seeing Roger tie the score, Popovich paused the game.

Roger walked off the court panting. Lenny Wilkens immediately walked to Roger's side and said, "I will reduce your rest time in the second half."

Wilkens knew very well that apart from Roger, there was no other player on this team who could keep the score close by shooting from mid-range.

So, the team needs Roger.

Facing Lenny Wilkens's arrangement, Roger waved his hand: "No, Lenny, I want to play the whole second half!"

Simply reducing rest time was not enough for Roger.

"This is only the ninth game of the regular season. It hasn't reached that stage yet," Lenny Wilkens reminded.

"Not to that extent? I can't let Tim Duncan get on my head, understand?! I'm not that useless shark! Stop the crap, Lenny, I'm fine!"

Lenny Wilkens was stunned for a few seconds, then turned to look at the team doctor.

The team doctor nodded: "Roger has been in very good physical condition recently."

Then, Lenny Wilkens took out the tactical board and began to arrange the tactics.

He compromised.

In his three years with the Hawks, Steve Smith never saw Lenny Wilkens compromise with his players.

In other words, no one ever dared to say no to Lenny Wilkens.

He himself didn't even dare.

Throughout his career, Steve Smith never said anything like "I can't let Tim Duncan get on my head."

He saw clearly the difference between himself and Roger.

It's not about level, but about courage, determination and desire to win.

On the other side, although the score was tied and Roger played very hard in the second half, Popovich was not in a hurry.

Since the third quarter, Roger has scored some difficult goals.

Moreover, he had no chance to breathe on both offense and defense.

So, it's okay.

If he plays like this, there is no way his good touch will last until the end of the game.

In the end, Roger could only score by attacking the basket.

But the Spurs twin towers won't let him succeed!
The game after the third quarter was entirely Roger's personal scoring performance.

He slaughtered Sean Elliott and Spurs backup forward Chuck Person from mid-range.

But in the interior, Duncan also controlled the situation.

Every time Duncan scored in the paint, the live director would give a close-up of the Hawks fans in the stands.

There was no anger on their faces, only helplessness.

It's like saying, "Damn, why is there such a perfect player in this world? We can't deal with him at all!"

Steve Jones shook his head and applauded after the third quarter: "This is a great performance! This is the star showdown we have been looking forward to!"

After three quarters, the Spurs led by 3 points.

Roger has scored 40 points in three quarters!
Duncan scored 21 points and 11 rebounds with a blank expression.

The game remained suspenseful. Steve Smith wanted to play, but Lenny Wilkens did not call him.

This is a disgrace to Steve Smith.

He finally understood what the real shame was, which was to watch the team get into trouble and do nothing.

And that’s exactly what he did in his first two games.

He realized how stupid that was.

Pippen was sweating and frowning. "Damn it, that guy really studied swimming? Is he really a rookie?"

"Don't let up Scott, we have to keep the pressure on that bastard Tim for 48 minutes!" Roger shouted while drinking water.

"I didn't say to relax. I would have done it without you telling me! But we can't handle him with defense alone. Can you keep your touch until the end of the game?"

"I can't do it, but I will try other methods!" Roger told the truth. His mid-range shooting percentage had begun to decline at the end of the third quarter.

That's why Popovich isn't worried about Roger at all.

Roger had the experience of killing the game in the mid-range before, but the Spurs' defense is different, and their defense almost never makes mistakes. In other words, Roger can't play chance balls, and every goal he scores has to be defended, which is very physically demanding.

In addition, he also has to work hard to assist in defending the inside, so Roger consumes more physical energy.

In previous seasons, Roger didn't need to participate in rim protection most of the time.

But this season, especially today, Roger was running all over the court. So in the fourth quarter, Roger had only one way.

Lenny Wilkens also knew that this was the only way: "Set a screen for Roger, then shoot from the outside to create an opportunity to attack the basket!"

He has to attack the basket!
Steve Smith swallowed his saliva. When he was already exhausted, facing the twin towers of the Spurs?

Does this guy really not know what fear is?

The fourth quarter was extremely brutal.

Roger attacked the basket again and again, and was knocked down again and again.

He occasionally has the opportunity to pass the ball to Alan Henderson or Kurt Thomas who are outside, but that is not a stable way to score.

Because Duncan and the Admiral are not as lazy as the Shark, who would just watch the opponent shoot without blocking the shot.

The Spurs' twin towers would actively rush out to interfere with shots, so the Hawks' offense was not stable.

However, the Spurs also began to run into trouble. The fierce double-teaming made it increasingly difficult for Duncan to play, and his connection with the ball was very unsmooth.

The most important thing is that in the fourth quarter, Lenny Wilkens used a desperate method to deal with Duncan: "Foul him!"

It worked, and Duncan's "perfect player" image shattered in Atlanta.

Because in the fourth quarter, Duncan went to the free throw line four times, but he only made 8 of 3 free throws, made one of two three times, and missed both free throws once.

When Duncan was drafted in 97, there was only one weakness on his draft report: free throws.

Today, this weakness has been targeted to the fullest extent.

The defensive intensity of both sides was increasing, and every fan was sweating because this was a playoff-level confrontation.

While Duncan wasted several free throw opportunities, Roger was not idle.

Even though he was knocked down again and again, his attacks remained resolute.

Through free throws and shots, Roger scored his 2th point of the game 50 minutes before the end of the fourth quarter!
And, helped the Eagles take a 5-point lead!

Popovich thought that Roger's scoring would stop once his touch was worn out.

No, he thought too simply.

Ironically, Duncan missed just five free throws in the fourth quarter, with the Spurs trailing by just five points.

In other words, Duncan was restricted, but Roger was still not restricted!
O'Neal gnashed his teeth. He was used to Kobe. When he watched Roger play, he suddenly felt that guy was so strong! ?

Men have their own filters when they look at other people's wives, but they don't look at other men. Shark deeply realized how terrible Roger was.

Popovich suspended the game. If Roger's strong performance in the third quarter was within his expectations, then the fourth quarter was completely beyond his expectations.

He didn't expect Roger to attack the basket so recklessly.

Hearing the timeout whistle, Roger first rested for a while with his hands on his knees, panting, and then quickly shouted in a loud voice: "We are just one step away from killing them!"

Steve Smith lowered his head completely, feeling that his previous remarks were extremely stupid.

He took it for granted that Roger could replace him for three months.

If he were faced with such a situation, he would only shoot more crazily from the outside.

This is also what Steve Smith has always been criticized for.

But Roger, he really did everything he could to win.

He was defeated by Roger.

He felt that he had no right to complain in front of Roger.

The ratings for the game have gone through the roof, and the world didn't expect Roger and Duncan's first game to be so popular.

Of course, no one praises Duncan anymore.

Roger's 50-point performance in a single game showed people who is the strongest player in the league.

Duncan might be able to take out other stars, but he couldn't take out Roger.

The game was suspended and Popovich was already furious.

He first arranged the next attack, then grabbed Avery Johnson's jersey and said, "Defend more aggressively!"

As we all know, because David Robinson is a good person, Avery Johnson is the real leader in the Spurs locker room.

He is short, but a cruel and tough man who never allows his teammates to relax even for a second.

He always yells at his teammates on the court, his loud voice is completely inconsistent with his short stature. He is picky and harsh on the court, and will blame them over and over again for anything he is not satisfied with.

He was like a "black traitor" raised by a farmer, picking up a whip and forcing his teammates to move forward.

David Robinson and Popovich's tacit approval gave him authority in the locker room. He was also very happy to play the role of villain and leader, finishing game after game like a general commanding his soldiers.

This is where the nickname "Little General" comes from.

Of course, in the words of Sean Elliott: "If you knew his brutality, you would probably prefer to call him a little Nazi."

Now, Popovich needs the leader he has supported to step up, and he tells Avery Johnson to defend more aggressively.

Avery Johnson nodded. He knew what Popovich meant.

His toughness is not only reflected in his character, but also in his style.

He'll give Roger a little tough response.

After the timeout, the Spurs made their first attack, and Duncan turned over and shot the ball against two people in the low post.

Calculate the distance, observe your opponent, find the angle to hit the board, and use your fingers to create the perfect spin, all in a flash.

That's Tim Duncan's style.

Duncan scored 34 points, the highest score in his career.

After scoring the goal, he roared and waved his fists. He was only 3 points away!

However, Eagles fans believe that Roger can fight back immediately.

But in the next attack, when Roger was attacking the basket and gliding in the air, Avery Johnson, who was defending him, pushed Roger secretly.

Pushing in the air is a trick that smart players like to use the most, because it is very secretive and very harmful.

In the air, it is usually difficult for the referee to tell with the naked eye whether it is a normal confrontation or a push. Being pushed in the air and losing balance and falling down is often very tragic.

So, this is a small action with very high cost performance.

Roger lost his balance in the air, and Duncan and the Admiral both raised their arms to cover the basket, so Roger had to pass the ball to Kurt Thomas, then fell heavily on his back.

Kurt Thomas took a shot, but he was too nervous at the critical moment and the mid-range shot bounced out of the frame.

The Spurs successfully completed this key defense, and they still have a chance to change their fate!
Roger understood that he could no longer rely on passing the ball.

Alan Henderson and Kurt Thomas are not the type of people who can take the key shots. Even if they are open, passing the ball to them is irresponsible.

He has to score his own points.

Roger immediately got up and joined the defense.

revenge?

Of course revenge is needed.

But he didn't need to do it.

"Damn, that bastard!" Lenny Wilkens glanced at Popovich. During the halftime break, that bastard still had the nerve to make sarcastic remarks about the Hawks' playing style.

What happened? He attacked the Eagles players first!
"Bruce! I want to eat fish!" Lenny Wilkens yelled. He would never compromise.

Bowen heard the coach's instructions and nodded.

Of course he knew what to do.

In this round, Duncan made a jump shot after the pick-and-roll and then caught the ball for a mid-range shot.

But as soon as Duncan jumped up, Bowen was like a semi-trailer with failed brakes, and mercilessly knocked Duncan over in the air.

"Fuck, that bastard should be put in jail!" Popovich covered his head and screamed, which showed that he was really heartbroken.

Yes, Bowen did not retaliate against Avery Johnson, but went straight for Duncan.

You hurt my star player, and I hurt your star player. This is called equal retaliation, and it can have a deterrent effect.

Of course, this was just a warning from the Hawks. Otherwise, Bowen would not have knocked Duncan over, but would have been very considerate and used the back of his foot to catch Duncan's foot.

Does Popovich dare to continue gambling?
He dare not.

"Avery, stop the plan!" He really didn't dare.

Lenny Wilkens vented his anger, but the game was not over yet.

Bowen's foul was too obvious and was undoubtedly called by the referee.

When Duncan stepped onto the free throw line, the entire stadium was filled with boos. The Eagles cheerleaders even performed a split-hip dance for Duncan at the baseline.

They expect Duncan to continue missing free throws, just like Karl Malone did in last season's finals.

But the Atlanta fans' wishes were dashed.

Duncan is not a wimp like Karl Malone and Chris Webber. His poor free throw shooting has nothing to do with psychology.

In fact, at this moment, Duncan was calmer than anyone else.

As a master of psychology, he knows very well how to adjust himself.

The camera gave a close-up of Duncan's face. He stared at the basket expressionlessly, just like he was looking at the turbulent sea expressionlessly back then.

You can't guess his psychology, he won't give you any chance to peek.

Then, Duncan took a deep breath and tapped the ball twice.

On the first free throw, the basketball went into the net.

The difference is only 2 points.

In the second free throw, the basketball bounced around the inside of the basket twice and finally fell steadily into the net.

He missed free throws for the entire quarter, but he made the two most crucial shots!
This is the difference between Duncan, Malone and Webber!
The ball went in and Duncan beat his chest and roared.

Yes, he has no emotions most of the time.

But at certain moments, Duncan can become passionate.

The rough seas of the Virgin Islands allowed him to start his basketball season.

Now, the basketball season has just entered spring!

The difference is only 1 point!

Roger may be strong, but it's not like I can't win!

Steve Jones got goosebumps all over his body: "As we can see, Warden is undoubtedly the best player today. He proved why he could drive Michael away and win respect. But amazing Tim Duncan, with Roger playing so perfectly, he still has a chance to snatch the crown of the king. He may even give the Hawks a three-game losing streak!"

Although the Spurs and Duncan were at a disadvantage in the fourth quarter, Duncan did not let the game lose suspense.

For a rookie, this performance is horrible.

Lenny Wilkens called a timeout with only 37 seconds left, so the next attack was very important.

However, Wilkens does not have many tactical options.

Right now, no one has a good touch, and giving the ball to anyone to shoot is a gamble.

In this case, Wilkens would rather gamble with his biggest card.

He replaced Kurt Thomas with Clifford Robinson to further increase the threat of long-range shots.

But this is just a smokescreen. Wilkens' real strategy is: "Roger, pierce them!"

He wants Roger to keep attacking!

So far in the second half, Roger has not rested for a minute except for timeouts.

Roger was obviously very tired, but he still nodded and muttered to himself: "Just wait and see, I will dig out their hearts! Tim Duncan? Clean up the basketball world? Haha."

As he said that, Roger suddenly turned his head and looked at Steve Smith, who was benched in the second half of the game. The burning gaze made Steve Smith feel uneasy.

"Steve, watch carefully!"

The game resumed, and Pippen dribbled outside the three-point line to press the clock.

With 8 seconds left on the offensive clock, he passed the ball steadily to Roger who was back-to-back in the mid-range on the right side.

Roger held the ball, turned around, used triple threat to play with Sean Elliot's nerves, and then suddenly broke through along the baseline!
Roger jumped in the air, and suddenly, four Spurs players attacked him.

Steve Smith's palms were sweating just watching from the sidelines. He was thinking, if it were him, he would probably pass the ball, even if it would be difficult for his teammate to make the shot.

Four people blocked me in the air. What else could I do except pass the ball?
But Roger didn't do that. He retrieved the ball in the air, then passed through the gap between the defenders and glided to the other side of the basket.

After completing this series of actions, Roger's body began to fall, his body was tilted, and the angle of the layup was very small.

But he used his magical fingers to gently pick up the ball, and the basketball seemed to be given life, deftly brushing the backboard and refracting into the net!
Four people blocked, pulled up the dunk, and gently killed. He dug out the heart of the Spurs.

"What a great move! It was a bloody blow! Roger scored a layup in a four-man siege, and he extended the lead to 14 points in the last 3 seconds! Roger, he refused to lose to Tim Duncan, and he was not ready to give up the throne to a rookie!"

After falling, Roger stood up and looked into Duncan's eyes.

Because of Duncan's personality, Roger rarely quarreled with the opponent's star player today.

At this time, Roger smiled and said to Duncan the first words between them: "Come on, big guy, the future is yours."

Duncan stared blankly at No. 14. That night was the first time he felt the difficulty of the NBA.

Afterwards, Sean Elliott missed a three-pointer, Clifford Robinson grabbed the rebound, and the Spurs committed a tactical foul and sent him to the free throw line.

He made two free throws steadily, completely ending the suspense of the game.

107 to 102, the Atlanta Hawks won at home against the Spurs, who have been in the limelight recently and rectified several areas, avoiding a three-game losing streak.

罗杰全场52分11次助攻4个篮板3次抢断2次封盖，完完全全压过了邓肯的36分15个篮板5次助攻。

Steve Jones made a simple summary: "Tim is strong, but he will have to wait."

O'Neal picked up the remote control, turned off the TV, and lay on the sofa, feeling hopeless.

Now, he's uniquely big shit.

(End of this chapter)