Champions Creed

Chapter 204 Chapter 203: I, Scott, was born to assist Roger! (Please give me a monthly ticket!)
Reggie Miller experienced the darkest six minutes of his career.

Except for the one-on-one duel with his sister when they were young, he had never been defended like this by anyone.

Watching the score gap widen, watching the game time running out and the team still not scoring a single point, Reggie Miller really wanted to do something.

But there was nothing he could do.

He truly felt the despair of being alone in the sea of ​​fire with all the doors and windows sealed shut.

Roger closed all the doors and windows tightly and left Miller alone inside to burn.

The warden's cruel methods are chilling.

This game showed Roger's brutality and the Eagles' terrifying defensive ability, which was better than the previous 10 games.

Because after Steve Smith was activated, his efforts on the defensive end were much better than before.

When people were talking about how strong and terrible the Pacers' defense was, the Hawks taught them a lesson.

On the other hand, this also shows the Pacers' weakness on the offensive end.

In fact, every team will encounter this situation where they are unable to score goals for a period of time.

At times like this, a star player who can solve the problem is often needed to break the scoring drought.

But the Pacers don't have such a star, which means that once they encounter a scoring drought, it may last for a long time.

This is why the 98 Pacers were able to force the 98 Bulls into a Game 5, but lost by 29 points in Game .

This is why the Jazz lost to the Bulls by 98 points in Game 3 of the 42 Finals.

The Bulls had almost no such rout.

The Pacers and the Jazz are indeed strong teams, but if no one can step up to stop the decline in a game, the game is likely to be taken away in one wave.

Unfortunately, the Pacers were forced into sage time by the Hawks' tight defense at the start of today's game, and they became weak before they even started.

So, 19 to 0.

Andy clapped proudly in his seat. Not only Andy, but all the fans were proud of this start.

This is the team and the star they love.

That’s what Roger brings to Atlanta.

Perhaps, the time it takes for the Hawks to completely replace the Warriors in Atlanta, and perhaps the time it takes for basketball to completely replace baseball in Georgia, will also be shorter than people expect.

The game was suspended and Miller sat on the bench, looking ashen.

He couldn't help but wonder if all this would have happened if he had asked Dale Davis to apologize directly to the little boy and Roger when it happened.

But he never got the chance to know the answer.

There was no turning back now, and he could only face Roger's growing anger.

After this timeout, the Pacers finally broke the scoring drought, and Rick Smits made a turnaround jump shot in the paint.

But they were still 17 points behind.

And the Eagles didn’t let up.

In the next round, although Steve Smith missed a long shot, the Hawks still worked very hard on the defensive end.

And to Miller's surprise, the person defending him was still Roger!

Reggie Miller is actually the kind of person that many defensive players don't like to defend.

After all, his favorite thing is to attack without the ball.

Defending such a person is like playing a cat-and-mouse game. Not only does it not give you any chance to get stats, it also consumes a lot of energy.

Basketball players are human beings, not machines, and they have emotions. When you have been doing the most tiring work for the entire game, and have put in several times more effort than your teammates, but the stat sheet is blank, how long can you maintain your defensive enthusiasm?
It is even rarer to see a star player directly guard an off-ball player like Miller.

Your star player is being run to death on the defensive end, what about your offense?
Therefore, Miller thought that Roger would defend others after giving him a warning at the beginning.

But he didn't expect that Roger was still staring at him and didn't move!
Steve Jones also raised this question: "Is Roger still guarding Reggie? How much investment is he going to make on defense?"

Unlimited investment!

Roger was like an invisible string tied to Miller, and no matter how Miller ran, he followed him like a shadow.

When defending without the ball, experience and enthusiasm are important.

Rich experience allows you to roughly predict your opponent's running route, while enthusiasm determines how actively you defend.

Roger now has both of these things.

So throughout the entire first quarter, Reggie Miller was prevented from scoring a single point!
As the team's top scorer, it is really unacceptable for him to score 0 points in a single quarter.

Reggie Miller was frustrated because Roger not only defended him, but also never stopped talking trash.

Why would a top star go to such great lengths to defend another top star?
To be honest, even Bird didn't understand it at all.

There is only one possible reason for this - it's a personal grudge.

"Reggie, damn it, what did you say to Roger before the game started!?" During the intermission, Bird couldn't help it and wanted to find out the truth.

Reggie Miller, who has always been outspoken, now found it difficult to repeat what he had just said.

Who would curse a sick child to die tonight? This is disgusting!
When he was about to say this himself, he realized how excessive it was.

Miller couldn't say anything, so he looked at Dale Davis.

Dale Davis buried his head deep in his head like a child who had made a mistake, and then repeated what he had said.

After hearing this, Bird felt hopeless.

He looked at the burly Dale Davis and just wanted to figure out one thing - why does such an idiot exist in this world?
Let alone the character problem of Dale Davis using the young fans to make fun of this matter. He made Roger angry, which was the stupidest behavior in history!

In the 95-96 season, Pat Riley tried to sow discord between Roger and O'Neal, and then Roger fought a "battle of hypocrisy" that went down in history.

Does anyone remember what Riley looked like back then?

He went from being a handsome boy to a street beggar.

His dignity, his reputation, his image were completely destroyed by Roger at that moment.

reason?

Maybe Roger was really angry.

Roger didn't get angry very often.

When dealing with Penny Hardaway, Kobe or Stackhouse, Roger wanted to shut them up and prove that he was not at the same level as them.

What about Jordan? Roger's anger towards Jordan was based on competitive anger.

Roger will only get really angry if you go beyond the competition and insult his character.

For example, Pat Riley said Roger was hypocritical towards the sharks and questioned his character.

For example, O'Neal backstabbed the entire team in a nationally televised show, saying that Roger was a vulture that devoured his teammates.

For example, Dale Davis said that Roger and Andy's relationship was just for publicity.

These have gone beyond the level of competition and become pure personal attacks.

So, Roger would be extremely angry.

When facing such an opponent, he not only wants to win, but also tries every way to make you regret it.

Although the fuse of all this was Dale Davis, when Roger wanted Reggie Miller to manage his teammates, Reggie Miller chose to refuse.

So now, Roger will take out all his anger on Miller.

Bird looked at Dale Davis and sighed, "You are such an idiot! After the game, apologize for what you said!"

Then, Bird didn't say anything more. He even felt that the game plan could be torn up.

Because that's of no use at all.

No one can save the Indiana Pacers tonight.

The two most dangerous things in the world: staying in a Thai hotel and making Roger angry.

In the second quarter, Roger continued to stare at Reggie Miller.

Although Miller scored 4 points in the second quarter and avoided the embarrassment of being shut out again, his shooting percentage was still not high.

And it can be seen that Roger intends to empty the magazine at Reggie Miller today and shoot him all.

In the past, Reggie Miller and his teammates' provocations could give the team an advantage. Their trash talk could anger the opponents and make them lose their composure.

But today, it had the exact opposite effect.

At halftime, the Pacers were already 18 points behind.

Roger didn't score many points today because he was fully focused on defense, only 12 points in the first half.

But he limited Reggie Miller to only 4 points in the first half.

It can be said that Miller was completely humiliated tonight.

During the halftime break, Steve Jones joked: "Tonight must have reminded Reggie of the time when he played basketball with his sister Cheryl when they were little. A lot of people wonder how Cheryl abused Reggie back then. I think it was probably like Roger."

In the locker room during the intermission, Pippen stared at Roger and suddenly felt dazed.

Michael Jordan and Roger, these two people are basically two in one. Pippen understands Jordan, and Jordan's attitude towards different games is also different.

No. 23's attitude towards the game can be roughly divided into four levels.

The first level is the regular games, Jordan would be lazy, and it is impossible for him to fight for his life in so many games in a season. When he met some not very important opponents, Jordan would play casually and relaxed.

The second level is relatively important games, Jordan will pay attention to this kind of game, such as facing the mortal enemy, such as the Christmas game. In this kind of game, Jordan will go all out.

The third level is the kind of game that must be won. He will use the calmest state and the most incredible talent to defeat you.

There is another level above these levels, that is, the game with personal grudges. In this kind of game, Jordan is often very focused because he is angry. He will be in an excited and cruel state throughout the game. Jordan in this kind of game may not be very calm. He may have an extreme desire to attack or an extreme desire to defend. But the result is the same, his opponent will definitely die miserably.

Look at Roger, look at him!
What is the difference between him and Michael Jordan now?
He destroyed Reggie Miller with extreme defense, just to embarrass that bastard.

Since the beginning of the new season's training camp, Scott Pippen has had the illusion of "Why am I still in the Bulls?"

All this is because Roger and Jordan really have too many similarities.

Today, that similar feeling reached its peak.

Yes, Michael Jordan retired.

But does the league think that basketball has escaped the shadow of the tyrant?
No, the tyrant just changed people.

Suddenly, Pippen had a lot more thoughts in his mind.

He is 32 years old. At the age of 32, a person should have seen himself clearly.

Pippen saw himself clearly.

In the past, he always fantasized that if there was no Jordan, he could achieve greater success leading the team alone.

But the result?

In his first year leading the team alone, he lost his position as the leader to an 18-year-old bastard, who even did something terrible for him: he refused to play but the team won.

The second time he led the team alone, the team failed to get 40 wins and did not win a single game in the playoffs.

Pippen now knows in his heart that he is not destined to succeed.

He is not a star who can lead a team to glory alone.

Especially after seeing Roger easily burst out with 50+10 data in the game against the Spurs, Pippen became more determined in this idea.

He simply doesn't have such perverted abilities.

He is one of the top 50 stars and he is the most prestigious small forward in the league.

But compared with these real Mount Rushmore-level stars, the gap between him and them is too big.

He joked that he and Roger scored 69 points together, which was a form of self-mockery.

Therefore, what Pippen is pursuing now is just a big contract, not the status of the boss.

It doesn't matter who you give him or her and let him assist.

Then Pippen had an idea.
In that case, why don't I assist Roger?
Ted Turner is rich, very rich, and he is probably one of the richest owners in the entire league.

And because Pippen was traded to the Hawks, he still retained his Bird rights.

This means that as long as Ted Turner is willing, Pippen can also get a contract with an annual salary of tens of millions with the Hawks.

Another point is that a team that is far away from victory is far away from the spotlight. Far away from the spotlight, it loses commercial value.

Pippen's commercial value and popularity come from the fact that he was the second-in-command of the Bulls dynasty.

Although Jordan attracted most people's attention, Pippen could also be seen.

This year in Atlanta, Pippen is the only player besides Roger and Greg "Mad Dog" Maddux to have a giant billboard.

All of this stems from the fame he left behind during his three consecutive championships.

Right now, staying with the Atlanta Hawks may be the best option to maintain visibility.

Because Roger has the ability to create another dynasty.

If Pippen went out on his own, he would disappear from the spotlight soon.

So, in reality, although Pippen has disliked Roger for the past five years, following Roger seems to be the best way out!

Yes, Pippen had conflicts with Roger before, conflicts that accumulated over time, and they seemed to have never had a calm and peaceful conversation.

Although there are many messy contradictions, there is actually only one core contradiction, that is, Pippen is unwilling to be inferior to Roger.

But now, this contradiction no longer exists.

Pippen, who has already recognized himself, feels that he was born to assist Roger!

He helped Jordan reach the top, and if he also helped Roger become a god, just think about it, he would become one of the best small forwards in history and the player with the most championships in the 90s!

Will he never let himself become the next Dominic Wilkins to be conquered by Roger?

Has anyone said this?
There’s just one problem – you have to install surveillance cameras at home!
To this day, Pippen is not worried about Roger.

He was a little worried about Larsa!

Pippen now doesn't even dare to let plumbers and gardeners into his house alone.

How could Roger know that during a short break between periods, Pippen performed a PUA on himself.

It turns out that playing with a Frisbee can actually help strengthen the relationship between owner and pup.

At this time, Roger did not notice that Pippen looked at him with a little more respect. All he was thinking about was how to embarrass Reggie Miller.

Roger will never forgive anyone who takes the issue beyond competition!

In the third quarter, the Pacers' performance improved.

Except for Reggie Miller.

In fact, due to physical strength and energy, Roger's defense in the third quarter was not as tight as in the first half, and still gave Reggie Miller some opportunities.

But Reggie Miller's touch and mentality had completely collapsed after the first half, so he didn't seize those opportunities.

And every time Reggie Miller missed a shot, the Georgia Dome would be filled with cheers from fans.

In the eyes of the fans, this bastard who dared to say that Atlanta was a city without a crown was being publicly executed by Roger, and they had reason to cheer.

In the ninth minute of the third quarter, Reggie Miller finally earned a foul through a breakthrough and was about to go to the free throw line.

But at this point, nothing makes sense anymore.

Because the Pacers are already 29 points behind!
The Pacers didn't lose many points in the second and third quarters, but the 19-0 run in the first quarter was too big a hole.

Miller made the first free throw, but missed the second one because of his mentality.

After the free throws, the Hawks suspended the game in order to replace all the main players and declare garbage time.

Reggie Miller is stuck in a difficult situation with no choice but to face a dead end.

He could either end the game with the shame of being defended by Roger and losing 5 points in a single game.

Either you bite the bullet and put aside your dignity to score points in garbage time, or at least get double digits.

Reggie Miller chose the former. He does not have the spirit of fighting hard at all times and never giving up. This is why he has never been included in the discussion of GOAT-level players.

The game entered garbage time, and Roger sat on the sidelines and chatted with Andy for a while.

"How is it? I didn't lie to you, did I? I will do my best. The Indiana Pacers are already one of the strongest teams in the East, but look at how much we have won."

Roger wanted to make the boy believe as much as possible that the Eagles would be the champions, so that even if he really couldn't wait for that day, he would not have regrets.

Andy's smile was filled with tears: "I have always believed it, since the day you came to Atlanta, I have believed it."

In the end, the Hawks won 105-89 at home.

罗杰全场只有19分5次助攻3个篮板2次抢断2次盖帽入账，得分是赛季新低。

But today, no one would say Roger’s performance was bad.

Because Reggie Miller only made 13 of 2 shots, with a hit rate of only 15%, and scored 5 points.

This is the scar Roger gave him.

Miller walked off the court the moment the game ended, and all the players in the Georgia Dome were shouting, "Fake Reggie! Fake Reggie! Fake Reggie!"

Look, capable people will shine wherever they are. Although Reggie Miller's position as mayor of New York was taken away by Roger, he still became the mayor of Atlanta.

An angry Roger brutally burned Reggie Miller to death, just like an angry Jordan once brutally executed his opponent.

Then, they also had a loyal Scott Pippen.

The boundary between these two people has become increasingly blurred.
-
I sincerely apologize to Andy and his family for my inappropriate remarks before the game. I am really sorry to them and the fans. - Dale Davis talked about what he did before the game and why Roger was angry, and apologized for it.

Kobe and Roger? Oh, that's a stupid question. Roger is 10 times better than Kobe even at his worst! Kobe can't just let me score 5 points in a game. In fact, no one can just let me score 5 points in a game except Roger! - Reggie Miller on the gap between Roger and Kobe

This is nothing, but if it were me, I would at least get 8 points. - Bird teased Miller's 5 points in a single game and made fun of his own 8 points in a single game in the finals.

I don't know if Atlanta is a city without a championship, but Reggie Miller is definitely a player without a championship. -- Kurt Thomas responded to Miller's pre-game curse.

Yes, he is a hero who protects his fans. Roger got angry because of some stupid comments made by Dale Davis to the fans and because Reggie said Atlanta is a city without a crown, so he severely taught the Pacers a lesson and defended the dignity of this city. Atlanta fans love him, Andy loves him. Even I love him! - Pippen unexpectedly expressed his respect and love for Roger after the game.

(End of this chapter)