Champions Creed

Chapter 46: Michael's words are worth less than a penny to me
At this point, the Warriors' victory is only a theoretical possibility.

The Warriors did a lot of things right today. They played as a team and their defense on Roger was very tight.

But just like the 2024 Lakers vs. Nuggets playoffs, Anthony Davis did everything right in the last defense, but when Jamal Murray made that jump shot, all his correct efforts would be wasted, and he might even no longer be friends with GOAT.

Roger has this ability, the ability to make the other party's correct behavior worthless.

At the draft a few months ago, Nelson Sr. was torn between Hardaway and Roger for a long time.

He thought at the time that Hardaway was more mature and his excellent passing and control skills were more in line with the Warriors' system.

But today, old Nelson finally discovered it.

In the face of absolutely explosive scoring ability, the system doesn’t matter at all!
Old Nelson originally hoped to force Roger to make a pass error by using a tight double team at the last moment, but Roger didn't even pass the ball. Not only did he not pass the ball, but Roger still managed to score the ball under such tight defense.

Old Nelson stared at his players with his bloodshot eyes. He was very angry, but a sentence in his heart suppressed the anger: "You chose it yourself, idol."

Well, he chose it himself.

He was the one who left Roger to the people of Chicago, so who could he blame?
All I can say is that when it comes to being the third place, there is always a risk of failure.

There were 43 seconds left in the game and the Warriors were trailing by 6 points, so theoretically they still had a chance.

Now all the key lies in whether Hardaway should attack himself or continue passing the ball.

The team was at the point of life and death, and Penny himself was at the point of life and death. If he still lost this game without Pippen, he would be equivalent to personally lifting up the person he hated the most.

At the critical moment, old Nelson helped Hardaway make a choice and arranged a one-on-one tactic for him.

"Donny may need Anfernee's help!" The NBC commentator guessed it.

The game resumed. As soon as Roger came on the court, he walked to Hardaway and kept a friendly conversation with him: "Anfernee, you should really thank Scott. If it weren't for him, I would have completely beaten you in the last game! It was you who hid under Scott's wings, not me!"

Now, Hardaway understands what Nelson said: "His scoring ability is a higher challenge to us psychologically, and his trash talk is an even higher challenge to us psychologically."

Hardaway was already angry enough, but Toni Kukoc added fuel to the fire: "Forget it, Roger, throw away that penny. It can't make you richer."

Pippen now understands Hardaway very well. He swears that Hardaway must want to kill Roger now.

Next time we have the chance, let’s make an appointment to dream together. There will be everything in the dream.

The Warriors sent a sideline ball, Hardaway pushed Roger, then ran back to get rid of him and caught the basketball steadily.

Next, the Warriors team moved out to create enough space for Hardaway to play one-on-one.

Seeing Penny finally take on the singles stance, the entire Oakland Arena's fans cheered.

Ironically, they had previously complained about Roger's unreasonable play and praised Penny's overall vision, but now when Penny plays like Roger, they are cheering instead.

Hardaway lowered his center of gravity and the basketball shuttled back and forth between his crotch.

Roger, who had been guarding Hardaway the entire game, clapped his hands excitedly: "Come on, bastard, you finally dare to fight me like a man!"

After a left-side dribble, Penny found his rhythm and prepared to break through Roger.

Roger moved immediately, but when Penny was about to confront Roger, he suddenly turned around.

Roger shifted his weight and prepared to block Penny with his hands.

But Penny turned halfway, then took a step back, retreated to the three-point line, and shot directly. Half-turn fake move, this is Penny's signature. Seeing him do this move, Roger can understand why Penny is so popular. After all, winning or losing is only temporary, but Penny's playing style is a lifelong thing.

This move was very cool, and Roger, who lacked experience, was left one step behind by this step back.

But Penny, who had the shooting space, failed to make the crucial three-pointer in the end. Perhaps the intense running and gunning throughout the game affected his touch, or perhaps Roger's interference, which was like a last-ditch effort, worked.

No one except Penny knew why the shot didn't go in.

But people don't need to know why, people just need to know that Penny missed the last chance to defeat Roger.

People only know that even if Penny takes action, he can't achieve the same effect as Roger!
Scoring a goal is never an easy thing, it just seems easy for Roger!
The NBC commentator announced the outcome of the game in advance: "The three-pointer missed, and Truth completely won in this one-on-one! Without Scott and other messy factors, Roger took Penny away forcefully!"

Kukoc grabbed the rebound and was immediately fouled by Billy Owens.

The Warriors are doomed!

After the referee blew the whistle, Kukoc imitated a referee in a boxing match and raised Roger's hand high: "KO!"

Hardaway turned away dejectedly. This college genius, this super guard who was packaged by Nike to be almost invincible, was ruthlessly stripped by Roger!
He's a fighter, but not as fierce as Roger. He can score, but he's weak next to Roger. His passing? There's nothing to brag about if it doesn't lead to wins.

Tonight, Roger did as he wished and caused the penny to depreciate wildly in all aspects!
The boos from the Oakland Arena almost blew off the dome of the stadium, but it still couldn't cover up Hardaway's embarrassment.

Kukoc stood at the free throw line. If he made both free throws, the Warriors' theoretical chance of winning would be wiped out.

This Croatian, who had scored several key goals during the Bulls' three consecutive championships, left no room for fantasy for Warriors fans.

With Kukoc making two free throws, the game ended early.

After this game, it is still difficult to say who is worse between Chris Webber and Sean Bradley, and who is dumber between the Magic management and the 76ers management.

But Roger has proved that, at least at this stage, he is the best rookie of the 93rd class!

The score difference remained at 8 points until the moment the game time returned to zero. Penny walked into the player tunnel disappointedly and kicked over the trash can, showing the diversity of his character in public for the first time.

The result is that not only Pence is unhappy, but many people are unhappy.

Nike, for example, spent a lot of money on Penny, trying to turn him into another flagship. They have more power in the media than Reebok, so they have always had the upper hand in this competition.

But this game ruined all their efforts. Just think about it, if the guy who made 92 three-pointers and arrogantly spread his hands in the first half of the 6 Finals turned out to be Drexler, would AJ still be so popular?
The design and technology of the sneakers is one thing, but the most important thing is that fans will never buy the sneakers of a loser.

Those who are unhappy include those media who criticized Roger. They criticized Roger for "playing irrationally". Roger was originally invincible, but Roger used a game with 40 points and 0 assists to arrogantly declare: "I can win even if I play irrationally, why are you criticizing me?"

NBC's sideline reporter Hannah Storm is already an old acquaintance of Roger. The 30-year-old sister admitted that every interview with Roger makes her happy. She even pays more attention to her makeup for the night when interviewing Roger's games.

"Truth has shone in Oakland this time. Roger, the youngest 40-point player, how do you feel now?"

Roger pointed to the score on the big screen and said, "When Scott was injured, many people thought that our record was going to be ruined, especially this game. Please, let Batman, who always stays up late, take a break. I will be the sun in Chicago! We are indeed affected by Scott's absence, but darkness will never fall!"

Pippen almost broke his back teeth on the sidelines. He felt that he lost to Roger mainly because of the culture. If he could speak as well as Roger, Chicago people would love him too.

But Roger is just a high school student, why is he so educated!
The strong hormone smell exuded by Roger made Hannah start to enjoy her work. Her smile was sweeter than before: "After this game, do you think you can change Michael's mind and get his approval?"

Klaus stared at the TV intently. He had been waiting for this question for a long time!
Hannah was happy, Klaus was happy, but someone was about to be less happy.

"Hannah, I don't win to win Michael's approval, I just win. I have no interest in such boring titles as Michael's successor. He can give such titles to anyone he wants, I don't care at all. You see, I went from a highly questionable high school rookie to scoring 40 points in a single game, not because Michael was optimistic about me, but because I fought for it myself.

Michael's words are worth less than pennies to me."

Since Jordan deliberately supported a loser after Roger won the game, was it necessary for Roger to lick the soles of his shoes like a dog?
Half an hour later, Jordan, who had not watched the game for a long time, accidentally heard Roger's words on the car radio.

The fingers that held the cigar became very tight, and his almost perverted desire to win also jumped at that moment.

(End of this chapter)