Champion Creed
Chapter 120 - 120 072 Easily Dominated Defending Champion Requesting Monthly Votes!_2

120: 072: Easily Dominated Defending Champion (Requesting Monthly Votes!)_2 120: 072: Easily Dominated Defending Champion (Requesting Monthly Votes!)_2 At this position, he suddenly stopped abruptly, raising his head as if to shoot a basket.

If this had been last season’s Roger, he would probably have been fooled into raising his center of gravity to block the shot.

But this season’s Roger had better control over the details.

He noticed Maxwell’s left foot gearing up to exert force, so he deduced the opponent’s direction of breakthrough.

Then, as Maxwell was about to dribble, Roger reached out and poked the ball.

Watching the game, Spoelstra felt that Roger was still too impulsive.

He actually only needed to block the breakthrough route this time; there was absolutely no need to reach for the ball.

If it were a higher-level attacker, they would use this to gain an advantage.

He decided to cut this round and include it in the next video session.

Spoelstra’s wasn’t wrong; Roger’s defense couldn’t possibly reach top level just through one year.

If faced with a higher-level attacker, they would surely use Roger’s intercept to change direction again, or simply pull up to shoot.

But now, facing Roger was only Maxwell.

So the next second, Rockets fans only saw Roger steal the ball from Maxwell’s hands, counterattack, and finish the show with a two-handed dunk.

O’Neal, as excited as if he had taken a stimulant, laughed, “Hahaha, good!

You truly are my truth, it’s really you!”

After running back, Roger glared at Maxwell but didn’t speak.

Roger liked to trash talk, but only with those who were willing to banter back.

If the opponent was not a master of trash talk, Roger often found it boring and refrained from engaging.

Although Roger didn’t say anything, Harper beside him reminded Maxwell, “Buddy, you’re unlucky tonight.”

Maxwell realized he had misspoke, but it was too late.

This round, Dream’s turnaround jump shot missed, and Magic continued to attack.

McKey held the ball at the top of the arc, Harper set an off-ball screen for Roger, and Roger ran towards the baseline.

The primary purpose of this play was to force the Rockets to switch defense, forcing Maxwell to guard Roger.

After the switch, McKey passed the ball to Harper at the 45-degree angle, who then shifted it to Roger at the baseline corner.

Roger got the opportunity to go one-on-one with Maxwell.

Roger jabbed with a probing step, and Maxwell stepped back.

Roger quickly retracted his step and immediately took a three-point shot.

“Swish!”

The score flipped!

“Watch out, Orlando’s scoring machine is now firing on all cylinders!

Without Hakeem’s protection, Rockets’ defense line is simply fragile in front of Roger!” NBC commentator Steve Jones shook his head, “Jerry Krause, oh Jerry Krause, look what you have done!”

How could you allow Roger and Shaq to play together?

What were you thinking when you made that trade?

Hakeem couldn’t go to help defend, and without his help, Rockets’ defense was just like Roger’s own Disney Land.

Two bottles of poison, both deadly!

People in Chicago must admit this fact: Roger’s trade has made Magic too strong!

After the basket, the defending champions awkwardly called a timeout.

Coach Tomjanovich knew he must change the current situation; he could see that Roger was in great form today, and continuing to guard him one-on-one would not yield good results.

Last season, with Hakeem’s help defense, Roger still managed to average 29.3 points in the finals.

How many points could Roger score without Hakeem’s help defense?

Coach Tomjanovich didn’t even dare to try it.

After the timeout, Roger high-fived his teammates while walking off the court.

Shaq also walked up to Roger, and as Roger reached out his hand for a high-five,

O’Neal suddenly hugged Roger’s head and kissed him on the face.

“You’re amazing, Roger, just amazing!

If I were a woman, I’d marry you tonight!

I knew it, I knew you were going to be a superstar since I saw you in the Sunshine Classic!”

“I can’t handle such a big vehicle, Shaq.”

“Huh?”

“Never mind.”

Roger and O’Neal laughed brightly on the basketball court, while the recently crowned champion Rockets all looked dejected.

Their journey to defend their title seemed off to a rough start from the beginning.

In fact, this was just the beginning of the Rockets’ difficult journey to defend their title this year.

Coach Tomjanovich, holding a tactical board, looked towards the power forward Otis Thorpe, “You guard Shaq.”

Thorpe was dumbfounded; he had been hardworking and dedicated to the team, so he didn’t understand why the head coach would try to “murder” him.

“Lose that pathetic look, I obviously won’t let you guard him alone,” Coach Tom said, then looked at Robert, “Robert, the moment Shaq gets the ball, go in and double team him to help Otis sort him out.

Hakeem, you’re now free from Shaq to deal with Roger.

Buck up, boys, it’s only the first quarter of the game; I’ve never seen a defending champion crumble in just one quarter!”

With defensive strategies adjusted and a dose of pep talk administered, the Rockets re-entered the game.

Thorpe, nervously glancing at Horry, said, “Buddy, you’re not going to leave me hanging, are you?”

Horry pounded his chest and then pointed at Thorpe, “I’ve got your back forever, we’ll handle Shaq together!”

The game continued, and this time Dream immediately made a turnaround jump shot as soon as he received the basketball.

15 to 15, Rockets tied the score.

It was a good start; a star player must step up to lift the team’s spirits when in trouble.

After making the basket, Hakeem also clapped and shouted, “Defend one, defend one!”