Champions Creed

Chapter 37: Two People in Charge

Pippen took advantage of the loss to mock Roger for starting the game, which made the media cheer.

Locker room issues are an enduring hot topic. After all, what people want most is their curiosity.

Fans can directly see the players' performance on the field.

So, they tend to be more interested in things that you can't see in the locker room.

The Bulls are a team with a lot of traffic, so the conflict between the two quickly swept major newspapers and sports news.

Roger was also pushed to the forefront. Some people said that he was not as mature as Penny, and some people said that he should not have started at all.

This incident made Roger very unhappy with two people, Pippen and Penny.

Roger doesn't like the media using this to boost Penny, but he can't prove himself that he is better than Penny yet.

But now he can personally seek an explanation from Pippen and ask him if his sleep quality has been poor recently and he wants to seek treatment for his insomnia.

Roger cares about his teammates so damn much.

The next day at the Beto Center, Roger walked up to Pippen in the locker room and punched him in the door:
"Scott, you can use me as a shield as much as you want in the future. I will bear the pressure that you, a coward, cannot bear for you. In this way, can you stop complaining in front of the media in the future? I have never said a bad word about you in front of the media, but you have offended me again and again. If you have any opinions, just say it to my face, you old dog with no guts!"

The entire locker room fell silent. No one expected Roger to be so direct. The last person who dared to get so angry in the locker room of the Beto Center was Michael Jordan.

You can imagine what would happen if a rookie dared to talk to Jordan like this.

Jordan would definitely stand up and point his finger at Roger's nose and say, "Shut your fucking mouth, you bastard! Do you think you can replace me? I'll get you the hell out of Chicago tonight!"

But what about Pippen? Facing the angry Roger and the fist that hit his locker, his eyes were bloodshot and he was furious. But in the end he didn't dare to say anything and just lowered his head silently!
This person who had always been sarcastic to Roger in front of the media didn't dare to say anything when he really confronted Roger.

To be honest, if Pippen had yelled at Roger like a man, "Rookie, you should pass the ball more," he would probably have been more respected in the locker room.

But after Pippen acted sarcastic in front of the media, he didn't dare to say a word when he returned to the locker room, which made his control over the locker room even weaker.

Scott Pippen completely lost respect in the locker room.

In fact, we can't blame Pippen for being timid. The main reason is that he really doesn't want to experience the feeling of being knocked unconscious and then woken up again.

"Rookie, no one wants to lose." As a veteran of the team, Cartwright once again acted as a peacemaker, patted Roger on the back, hoping he would calm down.

"That's natural, Bill. No one wants to lose, and I believe Scott doesn't want to either. But he can't just put the blame on me every time he loses. You want a meek scapegoat? You got the wrong guy, asshole!"

Seeing Cartwright come up and hold Roger, Pippen finally had the courage to speak: "You are not qualified to judge me. You have only played two NBA games, and I have three championship rings."

A weak counterattack.

"Yeah, if it weren't for your inexplicable migraine during Game 90 of the Eastern Conference Finals, you would have four by now."

"Roger, stop talking!" Cartwright pushed Roger directly in front of his locker. He was really afraid that Pippen would fall asleep again.

As soon as the Zen Master walked in, he saw Roger and Pippen arguing. No, it was not an argument. The current situation should be called Roger disciplining Pippen.

When Pippen made that stupid remark after the loss yesterday, the Zen Master knew this would happen, so he was very calm, just adjusted his glasses, and then shouted to the two: "Scott, Luo, come here."

The Zen Master locked Roger and Pippen in a video screening room, which was pitch black and filled with the smell of sandalwood.

The three men couldn't see each other's faces, and the atmosphere was very relaxed. It felt like being in a small room at a foot massage parlor. The difference was that there were no technicians, only soothing music and a Zen master's performance:
"I know you still need to get used to each other and understand each other. I also know you don't like each other yet.

But that didn't matter. How could men like each other? Roger didn't wear yoga pants and Scott didn't wear a bikini.

As a basketball player, the most important thing is to win, not to like each other. Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan didn’t like each other, but that didn’t stop them from winning so many championships together.

It's not Scott's fault for yesterday's game, he did his best. It's not Roger's fault either, he is the most suitable person to start.

On the contrary, you two were the best players yesterday. We lost only because the coaching staff had not yet found the perfect rotation strategy, resulting in an unreasonable combination of players on the field.

This is the source of your anger, and it has nothing to do with you.

So, let go of your anger, it is of no benefit to you.

Once I get the rotation strategy right, believe me, we will win again and again.

Scott, you need a helper to realize your ambition. Roger, you need an experienced veteran to help you improve. You can coexist. As long as you work together, we can definitely replicate the glory of the Jordan era!
Many teams have two people in charge. "

The Zen Master seemed to appease Pippen, but in fact he was upgrading Roger. Pippen was still unhappy. The Zen Master's words meant that he was no longer the absolute boss. After Jordan retired, he was the team's boss for only two games, and his career as the boss was over.
But he had no capital to refute and could only reluctantly accept it.

After Phil Jackson finished speaking, he did not turn on the lights or say anything else, just let the soothing music play.

A few minutes later, Roger heard Pippen's snoring, and his own anger was contained to a certain extent.

Now, Roger finally understood Van Gundy Jr.'s evaluation of Phil Jackson: "There are many head coaches in the NBA who cannot lead their teams to win even one series in their lifetime, but this guy won eleven times in the finals. You actually think he is just a trickster?"

Well, the Zen master does have some tricks.

An hour later, the Zen Master walked out of the film room and prepared to return to the training ground.

As soon as he arrived at the entrance of the training ground, he met Breadcrumbs.

"Phil, damn it, have you read today's newspaper? The whole world thinks we are finished! Have you dealt with the locker room issues? I don't care whether you make Roger bow to Scott or Scott bow to Roger. Anyway, you have to solve this mess!"

The Zen Master became increasingly disgusted with Krause: "I've already dealt with it, Jerry, you don't need to teach me."

He really wanted to add, "Don't interfere in locker room matters in the future," but held back.

"You'd better handle it, and then get them to cooperate in the next game! We lost the first home game badly. If we lose the next one, our attendance this season will be ruined! If you can't handle it, I'll handle it my way!"

Indeed, the Zen Master knew that the next game had special significance because the Bulls' opponent in the next game was the Phoenix Suns, led by the guy who could smash a hole in Chicago.

Fans all over Chicago are looking forward to this, hoping that the team can still beat their arch-rival in the finals without Jordan to prove that the team is still competitive.

And the way Krause handled it. The Zen Master didn't want to lose anyone between Pippen and Roger.

The Zen Master, who was being bossed around by Krause, had a gloomy face the whole day. The only thing that made him feel a little relieved was that Roger and Pippen did not quarrel in the locker room today.

They all agree with the Zen Master's words: "As a basketball player, the most important thing is to win."

As long as you can win, it doesn't matter if your partner is an idiot.

Although the two did not quarrel, the locker room was still dead silent.

The Bulls still need a victory to boost morale and resolve the internal crisis.

Declaring war on foreign countries is the most effective way to resolve internal crises.

The Phoenix Suns really have to win.

The Suns have a record of 3 wins and 0 losses so far, and only in one of the three games did the opponent narrow the gap to single digits.

This is the strength of the Western Conference champions.

Now that the Bulls are without Jordan, Barkley and his Phoenix Warriors are eager for revenge.

It is generally believed that if it were not for Jordan's magical 41 points per game, the Bulls would not have won their third championship, and the Suns are now eager to prove this.

Barkley was very confident: "The results will prove that I only lost to Michael, not the Chicago Bulls."

From the day Jordan retired, Feizhu almost regarded the championship as a sure thing.

Before the season started, he even said: "The only people who can be called big names in the league right now are Olajuwon, the Admiral, the New York Orangutans, Baby Shark, and me."

Scott Pippen? What is he?
Even if he was given the chance to shoot, he couldn't possibly average 30 points per game, let alone 40 points.

As for Roger? Yes, Roger cannot be ignored. Even the proud Feizhu admits that the youngest player in NBA history is very talented.

"But he has never encountered a top defender after all. Thunder Dan will become his nightmare." Barkley replied at the Chicago airport.

As a two-time All-Defensive Team selection, Dan Majerle's strength is highly recognized.

Although Mali was completely defeated by Jordan in the finals last season, there is only one Jordan.

Mali can't afford to offend Danzi, so how can he afford to offend a rookie like you?
In Feizhu's fantasy, Mali locked Roger, Pippen couldn't handle it alone, and the Suns were determined to win!
Facing the arrogant Flying Pigs and the powerful Suns, the Zen Master was already prepared. The sudden shutdown of the team's offense in the last game made him readjust the rotation combination.

As for Roger, since he is one of the people appointed by the Zen Master, he will certainly not let Feizhu do whatever he wants.

(End of this chapter)