Champion Creed
Chapter 291 - 291 125 No one can teach me how to speak!

291: 125: No one can teach me how to speak!

(Vote for monthly ticket!)_2 291: 125: No one can teach me how to speak!

(Vote for monthly ticket!)_2 He possessed all the traits of a Heat player: proactive, relentless, tough, diligent.

At the same time, he also had exceptional talent.

With outstanding arm length, robust athleticism, and a decent touch.

Pat Riley saw him as a cornerstone for the team, treating the center from Georgetown University as a Patrick Ewing-esque leader.

At his peak, Mourning lived up to such responsibility.

You could mock him for touching All-Defense First Team only twice, All-NBA First Team once, and Second Team once throughout his career, but he would proudly tell you that those were the result of his blood and sweat during an era dominated by monstrous frontcourts, and with his kidneys failing.

Mourning’s big venture truly fired up the Heat fans, as Billy Owens picked up the basketball and launched a long pass to find the 185-centimeter-tall, lightning-fast Bimbo Coles.

Billy Owens was initially spotted by Old Neil for his beautiful passing as a forward.

Bimbo Coles easily scored a layup and Heat led 4-0.

“This is your fury?

You don’t even have the courage to hold the ball!

Just keep passing the offense to others; I’ll make sure to send you home!” Mourning yelled at Roger this time.

Mourning tried to inspire the team’s morale in this way and to mobilize his teammates’ defensive enthusiasm.

And he succeeded because even Chapman began trash-talking Roger in response, inspired by the challenge: “Liar Roger, accept Miami’s righteous judgment!

We’re going to strip bare your disguise here and have you ridiculed like a crippled animal!”

Roger ignored them; his target today was Riley, and he didn’t want to waste his breath on anyone else.

Roger was just about to raise his hand for the ball, but Saru, following the coach’s plan, passed it to McKey in the low post.

McKey, with a back-to-the-basket play, passed the ball back to Harper, who cut along the baseline only to have his layup ricochet off the rim under the rugged defense of Kevin Willis.

Kevin Willis had always been considered soft, but after joining the Heat, he had turned into a full-fledged tough guy.

Heat’s unreserved, team-based defense required top-tier talent to beat, for they wouldn’t give role players any easy shots.

Harper, McKey, even Saru, their offensive capabilities were barely effective against such defense.

The Heat counterattacked, with Mourning taking the ball at mid-range and then forcefully penetrating past McKey with a back-to-the-basket move, scoring with conviction.

0-6.

“How pitiful, Roger, it seems your rage can only be vented on that poor French model, you’re only good for dealing with women.” Mourning said with a shake of his head and a smile.

“Enough, Saru, give me the ball next round.” Roger shouted to Saru.

“OK, but the coach just instructed…”

“He’s not an idiot, he can see our predicament; he’ll understand.”

Finally, Roger got himself free from Chapman with active off-ball movement, and then received the ball beyond the three-point line in the third round.

After that, the ball went no further.

Early in the game, Roger defied the head coach’s wishes and abandoned the team play style.

But Brian Hill did not yell or express dissatisfaction.

He knew full well this was the privilege of a star player.

Roger’s actions on the court could completely bypass his approval as a head coach.

Although Brian Hill was annoyed, he had to accept it.

Of course, Hill’s patience with Roger had its limits.

If Roger kept forcing shots against tight double teams and missing, Brian Hill would still curse loudly.

But what surprised Hill now was that the Heat didn’t double-team Roger!

Roger eyed Chapman, who stood a full head shorter at 193 centimeters, and saw that the other Heat players weren’t converging either.

It seemed Riley allowed Roger to play one-on-one from mid to long range.

Riley knew that without Shaq and Grant, the Magic’s offense heavily relied on Roger.

So, he wouldn’t let Roger rally the entire team, nor would he double-team him and create big openings for role players.

He’d rather let Roger go one-on-one at mid to long range, turning him into a lone wolf.

Roger might score a lot of points, but the Heat’s omnipresent off-ball and on-ball pressure would eventually wear out his shooting, and he couldn’t possibly carry the whole team.

After seeing Riley’s strategy, Roger boldly made a jab step forward.

Chapman, wary of Roger’s drive, stepped back, and that was all the space Roger needed to pull up and shoot immediately.

Seeing Roger take the shot, Brian Hill started grumbling unhappily: “Damn…”

“Swish!”

“…Damn, we should have given the ball to Roger earlier!”

As a championship coach, how could his ability to adapt on the spot be lacking?

It’s all about lively thinking!

3-6, Mourning was ready to respond to Roger’s trash talk.

But Roger didn’t even glance at Mourning, instead, while backpedaling on defense, pointed at Riley: “This one’s for you, this is for you!

Don’t rush, Pat, there will be many more today!”

Roger didn’t forget the purpose of his trip; this wasn’t just a regular game, it was a personal vendetta!

Heat owner Micky Arison got excited; he loved this kind of competition, relished the game.

But he also believed that the one to end up in a coffin would be Roger.

What could one man’s firepower achieve?

The game continued, and this round the Magic successfully double-teamed Mourning.

Mourning passed to Kevin Willis, but his mid-range jump shot missed.