Champions Creed

Chapter 373 Chapter 372: The worst mistake I have made since becoming the commissioner of the NBA in 1984 (asking for monthly tickets!)

The No HandCheck rule is definitely a rule change that will have a profound impact on the NBA.

在原本的时间线中，04年改规则前，鲨鱼和石佛包揽了99-04年中6个FMVP里的5个。

The Postman, the Shark, Duncan and Garnett won five MVPs in the six years from 99 to 04!

After the rule was changed in 04, Manu Ginobili's ghostly breakthrough in the 05 Finals broke the Detroit Pistons' iron bucket formation, and Dwyane Wade's breakthrough in the 06 Finals made Dirk Nowitzki synonymous with a softie. Tony Parker was invincible in the 07 Finals, and LeBron James started his great career from a rookie with a shooting percentage of only 41%, and his shooting percentage has never been lower than 45% in any season since then.

Such a major rule change will certainly have an impact on Roger.

The impact is that it becomes easier for Roger to score.

This was not the first time Roger scored 20+ points in a quarter, but this was definitely the easiest time.

Even though Josh Howard was extremely careful, he still got two fouls in the first quarter. If he stretched out his hand, the referee would whistle strictly. If he didn't stretch out his hand, Roger could easily get shooting space.

If there is still anyone who thinks that rule changes can bring Roger down from his pedestal, then that person must be escaping from reality.

Since Roger entered the NBA in 1993, there have been two major rule updates.

Initially in the illegal defense era, Roger was successful.

Later, the zone defense was opened, and low-post centers like the Shark quickly fell. Defensive teams like the Detroit Pistons rose from then on, but Roger also beat them twice.

And now, when Roger scored 21 points in the first quarter like he was doing training, it was foreseeable that this rule would not allow other players' offense to get close to Roger, but would instead make the gap bigger and bigger.

Mike Breen commented: "As long as basketball is a sport of putting the ball in the basket, Roger's rule will not be shaken."

On the bench, Avery Johnson looked at Roger's 21 points in a single quarter and really didn't know what to do.

"Damn the new rules, why don't they just change the basketball game into a shooting contest? What is this? Are we in a strip club where we can't touch the dancers!? Can you imagine? The intensity of competition in the NBA is not as strong as competing with office girls!"

Mavericks assistant coach Ronaldo Blackman smiled and replied: "I remember you supported the new rule before the game. You thought it would unleash Dirk's full potential. Also, when have you ever fought against an office lady?"

"Shut up!"

Avery Johnson didn't want to be slapped in the face in front of all the players. He did think that the new rules could unleash Dirk's full potential, but he didn't expect that Dirk's full potential would seem so fragile in front of Roger.

Every year, people are used to seeing Roger win the scoring title, so much so that it is no longer news that Roger wins the scoring title.

But it was only at this moment that people realized the value of winning the scoring title for nine consecutive years.

This means that Roger is the player with the best scoring ability in any era and under any rules.

Now is no exception.

Roger did not play for more than two minutes after the first quarter, and the Mavericks narrowed the gap to 8 points with several goals from Jason Terry.

But everyone knows that this is just the Dallas people struggling to survive.

In the second quarter, Josh Howard received his third foul as soon as he came on the court.

He raised his hand to interfere when Roger was making a quick stop jump shot, but it hit Roger's wrist, and the referee blew the whistle without hesitation.

Josh Howard is definitely a victim of this rule. He is inexperienced and not used to the new rules. He is completely at a loss on the defensive end.

Because it was a shooting foul, Roger went directly to the free throw line.

23 points in a single game, and the second quarter has just begun!

Michael Jordan felt that he retired too early. If he were still playing, he would probably be able to average 30 points per game.

At this time, more and more fans were watching the game because everyone was curious about how many points Roger could get under the new rules.

The Mavericks did not give up the resistance. The Shark also caused Marcus Camby to commit his third foul in the middle of the second quarter, forcing Camby to be replaced.

Because Mutombo had a minor leg injury and could not attend the game, the Warriors could only use Boris Diaw and Stoudemire in the interior.

For sharks, this combination is as easy as eating biscuits, and it breaks into pieces with one bite.

The Shark wreaked havoc in the paint, and if he was double-teamed, he would pass the ball to Dirk on the outside, letting him attack with mid-range or long shots.

However, this situation makes Warriors fans excited.

This means that the game will not be easily entered into garbage time, which means that Roger can shoot and score points without restraint.

Roger did just that. He had no intention of being polite to the shark today. He took the initiative to pick up the cake knife and put all the cake into his own plate.

As a leader, he can be selfish occasionally, which is harmless and a leader's right.

Roger is exercising that right tonight.

He didn't want the shark to have the misunderstanding that "we beat you" again, he wanted to give the shark an unforgettable night.

In fact, other Warriors players were also actively feeding the ball to Roger.

They all knew that this would most likely be a milestone night in Roger's career, so they were like Victoria's Secret models, willing to cooperate with Roger for one night.

The defense of both teams was not tight, and it was easy for both teams to score.

But Roger's scoring rate increased at an unsettling speed. It was so easy for him to score. Often, just a quick pull-up jump shot after the spurt was enough for Roger to score steadily.

Before long, Roger's score for the night reached 41 points!
Dirk scored 23 points in the first half and Shaq scored 15 points. Their performances were not bad, but their combined score was still lower than Roger's.

Mike Breen no longer cared about the outcome of the game. He only cared about one thing: "Can Roger score 60 points tonight!?"

At the end of the first half, when he walked off the court, Roger also spread his hands to the shark: "I know what you are thinking, Shaq. The moment you decide to part ways with me, your greatness is over."

Roger's words were as accurate as his shots, causing the Shark's heart to waver.

Although I don't want to admit it, Shark's glory all came from the time he teamed up with Roger.

After Roger left him, he still wrote brilliant chapters, but after he left Roger, he achieved nothing.

The shark's silence did not win Roger's sympathy. He quickly said something more lethal: "Admit it, Shaq, the competition between us is over. You are no longer my competitor."

Shaquille O'Neal walked off the court without saying a word. Although it was relatively easy to wreak havoc in the paint, the Shark still felt that his dominance was not as terrible as it was in the past.

The slam dunks that were easy in the past now seem difficult to break out and jump, and the terrifying speed that I used to have is now completely gone.

It is an indisputable fact that he has begun to decline, but you can't see any signs of decline in Roger.

How can a person who is starting to decline defeat someone who is still at the top?

Is their rivalry really over?
At halftime, the ever-brutal Avery Johnson did not make any useful adjustments other than yelling at his players to be serious.

This has nothing to do with his ability, but under today's defensive rules, it is particularly important for the four and five positions to provide backup defense for outside breakthrough players.

It is impossible in this era to rely on an outside defender to lock down an outside attacker.

But the Mavericks' No. 4 and No. 5 defenses are all bad in their own ways. Dirk Nowitzki can't focus more on the defensive end, and Shaquille O'Neal's defense is still casual after so many years.

It is really too much to ask these two people to provide backup defense throughout the entire half court.

In the third quarter, Roger rested for a few more minutes, and when he came back on the court, the Warriors only led by 7 points.

But as soon as he comes on the court, the score difference will immediately go to double digits.

It didn't seem like Roger was hunting, but rather toying with his opponent.

He would give his opponent a little hope when the game was about to end, and then destroy the hope with his own hands.

Roger never tires of this process.

After scoring 15 points in the third quarter, Roger has scored 56 points in this game!
With 56 points in three quarters, David Stern, who appeared at the scene for the championship ring awarding ceremony, was already thinking about the rationality of the new rules.

If it is really so strict that touching offensive players outside the three-second zone is not allowed at all, then Roger will end all suspense in the first game of the season.

In the fourth quarter, Dirk Nowitzki made a three-pointer and the Shark scored 2+1 under the basket.

The score difference was once tied at only 4 points, which was the Mavericks' best chance.

But the fantasy of winning came to an end here.

In the fourth quarter, with Josh Howard fouling out, the Mavericks lost their only weak force to resist Roger.

Roger's score exceeded 60, but he didn't stop.

With 1 minute and 12 seconds left in the game, Dirk Nowitzki missed a three-pointer, and the Shark grabbed the offensive rebound and shot directly under the basket.

Three years ago, the overconfident Amar'e Stoudemire would have become a plaything under the shark's crotch.

But now the Shark can't lean on Stoudemire to jump up and dunk directly, his explosive power is no longer so abnormal. He can only press on Stoudemire and try to put the ball into the basket.

The shark had just picked the ball away from his fingertips when Boris Diaw rushed back to the penalty area and fanned the ball away.

Shaquille O'Neal's peak has passed and he has missed the golden time to defeat Roger.

Unless he retires, the Sharks will live under Roger's brutal rule.

When Roger caught the ball and ran across half court, all the fans in the stadium stood up.

Because the next goal Roger is likely to score is going to break his career record. Roger, who has already scored 69 points, can make his career-high score break the 70 mark with one more goal.

Shaquille O'Neal hated the number 70. In order to compete with him for the scoring title, the Admiral scored 71 points in the last game of the regular season.

And now, the person he hated the most was about to do a similar thing again.

So when Roger once again easily got rid of the defense and made a drifting jump shot, the Shark saved the shot without reservation.

But his interference was still a little slow. Although his fingertips touched Roger's hand, Roger's jump shot was still smooth.

The basketball went into the net, and the Shark dived forward too hard. After landing, he couldn't control the inertia caused by his huge weight and fell directly to the ground.

Once again, the Sharks could only look up at Roger from a low position, a perspective he had experienced countless times in this game.

This seemed to be the epitome of his career after leaving Roger. He had no choice but to look up to this former good brother and now enemy.

The referee then blew the whistle and gave the Shark a foul.

This means that Roger still has to go to the free throw line after he has already scored 71 points.

The shark sat on the ground and was reluctant to get up for a long time.

Finally, Roger walked up to him with a sympathetic smile.

"How about this, you give me back the money for the Ferrari wheels, and I won't blame you. I can guarantee that this is the last time I get 70 points on you."

After that, the Sharks were substituted and Roger went to the free throw line. In the first game of the 04-05 season, he scored a career-high 72 points in a single game - the third highest single-game score in NBA history after Wilt Chamberlain's 100 points and 78 points in a single game.
In the end, the Warriors won their first victory of the season at home with a score of 127 to 116.

Dirk Nowitzki's 42 points were in vain, Shaquille O'Neal scored 28 points. The new rules are fair to everyone, at least it is not that difficult for Dirk to score 40 points.

But it is obvious that this rule will make Roger's score even more uncontrollable.

At the scene, David Stern turned his head and looked at his assistant Adam Silver: "This is the worst mistake I have made since I became the commissioner of the NBA in 1984!"

He was of course referring to the implementation of the No HandCheck rule.

After the game, Shaquille O'Neal attended a press conference and talked about Roger's current status.

"Do you think Roger is worthy of being called the GOAT?"

In the past, you could guess what the shark’s answer would be with your butt.

"He's a shitty GOAT."

"Shaq is the real GOAT."

"Roger is just the weak GOAT, but not the best of all time."

But this time, Shaquille O'Neal, the guy who had a bitter relationship with Roger and almost became his enemy six years ago, was exceptionally gentle in his attitude.

"You know, Roger and I, we had all kinds of conflicts when we were young. But looking back at all my criticisms of Roger, I never said once that he couldn't play. The conflicts between us were never about personal strength. Roger has always been a very strong player. I won't say he is the best in history, but he is indeed the closest to that position."

After Shaquille O'Neal finished speaking, the reporters below were all shocked.

Wait, is Shaq praising Roger?!
O'Neal leaned back in his chair and thought of the question that had troubled him for years - if he and Roger didn't separate, how many championships could they have won?
There is no answer, there will never be an answer.

Roger got the Warriors' title defense off to a good start with his explosive performance of 73 points in a single game. On the second day of the new season, fans and players keenly discovered that the league had made some fine-tuning to the No HandCheck rule.

According to the literal rule, defensive players cannot touch the offensive player's body with their hands when the offensive player is outside the penalty area.

But on the second day of the game, the referees were much more relaxed. As long as you didn't actively push the front of the offensive player's torso, the referees would basically turn a blind eye.

The defensive intensity is still looser than before, but not too much.

So much so that AI, who was ready to wreak havoc, only scored 18 points in the first game of the new season.

After the game, AI shrugged: "Because of Roger, No HandCheck is dead in name only. I think this is probably the shortest-lived rule in NBA history."
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I suggest that the league change the rules to restrict Roger: non-American players are not allowed to play in the last five minutes of the fourth quarter. If Roger becomes an American citizen, the Dream Team will be saved. In any case, this is a sure-win rule. - "Slam Dunk".

This is the first time I have seen the NBA change the rules of the game in two days, and do it just to restrict one player. Although the No HandCheck rule still exists in the official documents, we can all see the difference. That rule is as ridiculous as the laws prohibiting marijuana in some states in the United States. Roger's greatness can no longer be measured by championships. He is even the standard for the league's rule-making! - San Francisco Chronicle

Thank goodness the league corrected it in time, otherwise we would have seen Roger average 40 points per game! - The New York Times

I am not surprised by what Shaq said in the press conference. Yes, this is almost the first time in six years that Shaq has praised Roger in public. This means that the 32-year-old Shaq almost admits that he has lost the competition with Roger. Believe me, more and more people will admit this. Because they will find that losing to the best player in history is not a particularly shameful thing. - Bill Simmons column

(End of this chapter)