Champion Creed
Chapter 180 - 180 091 Will he see me

180: 091: Will he see me?

(Vote for monthly tickets!)_2 180: 091: Will he see me?

(Vote for monthly tickets!)_2 The team that had relied on talent to get this far was transforming into a defense-first iron army.

After the steal, Roger quickly counterattacked, while Starks chased from behind and jumped to obstruct but still couldn’t prevent Roger from slamming the ball in with a one-handed dunk.

The difference went back to 11 points, that bucket of water had not completely extinguished the fire of victory.

Now, the sparks were lit once again.

Pat Williams’ palms were sweaty, so close, just a tad closer.

As long as they could reduce the gap to single digits, the mindset of both sides would undergo a huge change, and by then, the situation might very well completely turn around.

Come on, another push, just a bit more!

Patrick Ewing no longer could allow the Magic to close the score; this time on offense he decided to take matters into his own hands—he couldn’t just watch as the team’s lead was eroded away.

Ewing received the ball on the edge of the three-second area, one-on-one with O’Neal.

He had already scored 25 points in three quarters today, he was brimming with confidence.

Ewing first pushed a few steps inside, then turned around, preparing to fake a shot to pump-fake Shaq.

This way, even if he didn’t score, he might still draw a foul from Shaq.

But as soon as Ewing turned, he heard Oakley’s loud shout, “Double team!”

Too late.

As Ewing saw Derrick McKey’s face appear beside him, the ball was already cut away from his hands.

This low-profile version of the prince, Prince McKey, had already come over to help on defense, swinging his long arm to strip the ball from the big gorilla.

Ewing thought that just beating O’Neal one on one would be enough, no, now the Knicks really had to worry about everyone on the Magic on the court!

McKey immediately secured the stolen basketball and threw it forward, to the hands of Orlando’s most lethal weapon.

Roger charged into the paint, facing the defending Derek Harper, he lobbed the ball over the outstretched fingertips of his opponent.

“Just 9 points now, the Orlando Magic has brought the difference down from 17 to 9 points, single digits!

They refuse to hand over the victory in this decisive battle.

Now with the gap just a single digit, what will the Knicks do?” Mike Fratello was thrilled—he was a neutral fan, so he didn’t want the game to lose suspense too soon.

The tenacity of the Magic prevented the Knicks from completely seizing victory, and the game became suspenseful again.

Hearing the voice of NBC’s commentator, DeVos looked up at the TV screen in his box seat.

But he quickly looked away again, grinning at his family, “Who’s up to roll the dice next?”

Roger high-fived McKey, then got back on defense.

Defense was the key to breaking the Magic’s deadlock today; they had to use defense to drive the counterattack to narrow the lead.

In the ensuing game, led by the example of Roger and O’Neal, the Magic put forth what might have been the best defensive performance of the season.

You could see O’Neal actively switch on pick-and-rolls, you could see Roger sprinting maniacally to rotate.

The Knicks’ offense, already not quite outstanding, began to decline in efficiency under the excellent defense of the Magic.

Every time the Magic filled their defensive lines with sweat and teamwork causing the Knicks’ offense to falter, Pat Williams would cheerfully swing his fist.

He could feel that heat, the spark that Roger and O’Neal had started was now burning more and more fiercely!

With an abyss behind the Magic Team, if they could get through this, the vast sky and ocean awaited!

On the other side, the Knicks’ own defense was still tight; in the entire fourth quarter, the Knicks hardly let the Magic run any set offenses.

If the Magic gave the ball to O’Neal, the Knicks would alternate fouls with Charles Smith and Oakley.

Shaq had a poor free throw percentage today; it seemed that his 9-for-9 performance in the first game had exhausted all of his shooting talent.

Therefore, as long as they fouled O’Neal, the Magic’s set offense was essentially a failure.

Roger struggled on offense due to his poor outside shooting and was constantly trapped, making it difficult to penetrate.

New Yorkers were still using their most reliable, most stable weapon, trying to control the situation.

The discipline, iron, and indomitability that Pat Riley had instilled in the team were taking effect.

Yes, his almost pathological high-intensity training of players, demanding everyone to go all-out during practice.

But it was precisely this day-to-day training that made the Knicks become the most defensively stable team in the league.

A Riley team would never suddenly collapse defensively for a period; his team had no one who didn’t try hard on defense, no one who lacked focus on defense, and no one who didn’t commit fully on defense.

The extreme defensive culture had already penetrated deep into the bones of every Knicks player.

Why is it that players who leave his team never make the All-Defensive Team again?

That’s the effect of Riley.

In his team, you just can’t play defense with your arms folded.

Both sides had given their all for the decisive game, but the Magic’s sharp counterattacks were gradually eating away at the Knicks’ advantage.

Finally, with 2 minutes and 24 seconds remaining in the game, following Ewing’s one-for-two at the free-throw line, the Knicks were left with only a one-point lead.

After the second shot bounced out, none of the Knicks went for the offensive rebound.

Riley had given the death order to fall back quickly on defense.

He couldn’t let the Magic run the fast break again; he had to mire O’Neal and Roger in the quagmire of set offense.

This round, the Knicks successfully forced the Magic into a set play.

Riley stood on the sidelines, intensely watching this defensive possession.