Champion Creed
Chapter 329 - 329 138 Perfect lineup

329: 138: Perfect lineup?

No, you need me too much!

(Two in one!)_2 329: 138: Perfect lineup?

No, you need me too much!

(Two in one!)_2 Since the current rules hadn’t been updated to curb the “Hack-a-Shaq” strategy yet, there was no penalty of two free throws plus possession during the last two minutes of each quarter for fouls on off-the-ball players.

O’Neal stepped up to the free-throw line while Rodman began to wave his arms, signaling the United Center fans to let out even louder boos.

Pippen stood beside O’Neal and whispered, “You’ll always be just a sidekick, Shaq.”

These words completely crushed Shaq’s morale.

This time, O’Neal made one of two free throws, but the Bulls still achieved their goal, heading into the second half with a six-point lead.

Bill Walton worriedly remarked, “Shaq’s free throws are costing him dearly.

Will he become yesterday’s Karl Malone?”

In the luxurious suite at the United Center, Rich DeVos sat inside.

Since the Magic could potentially become the East champions today, he had come to attend the possible award ceremony.

But now, DeVos was preoccupied, constantly debating in his head—was Shaq really worth $120 million?

Last season, during the decisive battle of the East semifinals, he was contemplating whether Roger was worth a big contract.

At that game, when the third quarter ended, the Magic were trailing by 17 points, and everyone thought this young team was finished.

But in the fourth quarter, Roger and Shaq’s outstanding performance led the team to a comeback, and that game was also considered the match where the Magic were truly endowed with the championship quality.

That was the day DeVos decided to give Roger a big contract.

But what about today?

Could O’Neal turn the tide?

During halftime, Roger straightforwardly walked up to Shaq: “We need to talk!”

“No need for that, Roger, I know I screwed up.

Damn it, I just can’t sink those throws.

As soon as I get to the free-throw line, my mind gets all cluttered!”

Roger cupped Shaq’s face: “Then pass the ball more and defend seriously!

The Big Aristotle always finds a way to affect the game!”

O’Neal nodded; he certainly knew how important this game was, and he was not foolish enough to lose the match in an attempt to prove himself.

In the second half, Shaq showed improvement on the defensive side, passing the ball more actively.

But his free throws still didn’t recover.

So whenever the Magic were gaining momentum, the Bulls would send Shaq to the free-throw line.

And O’Neal’s free throw percentage stayed consistently below 50%.

The Bulls paid the price with Bill Wennington and John Salley both having five fouls by the third quarter, but it was all worth it.

Don’t be surprised, several people with the highest number of free throws in NBA history are those with very poor free throw skills.

Howard, O’Neal, and Jordan Jr.

have all experienced more than 30 free throws in a single game.

In the playoffs, with the highly targeted nature of the games, the frequency of using “Hack-a-Shaq” is even more exaggerated.

In the original 2000 Finals, the Pacers, trying to limit O’Neal, even let him shoot a whopping 39 free throws!

This is the playoffs, you better not have fatal weaknesses, or opponents will keep exploiting them.

In the third quarter, with the Bulls’ stifling defense and successful execution of “Hack-a-Shaq”, they maintained their six-point lead.

That quarter, Roger scored 14 points, and Saru contributed 9 points.

If the rhythm had not been repeatedly broken and Shaq had made a few more free throws, the score difference might have been wiped out much earlier.

Though they were at a disadvantage entering the fourth quarter, the game was far from over.

The Bulls had been implementing their suffocating defense since the second quarter, by the fourth quarter, everyone must have been exhausted.

This was the Magic’s opportunity.

Their last chance.

On the Bulls’ bench, Kukoc hung his head, his performance today miserably off.

Bill Walton even joked that Kukoc must have used up all his good form on loan last game.

The Bulls’ Big Three were wiping their sweat, the continuous two quarters of suffocating defense had indeed been grueling.

These players, no longer young, could not handle so much strain.

What’s more desperate was that after two quarters of intense defense, the Magic were still only six points behind.

They couldn’t suppress Roger, whose performance today was the polar opposite of Shaq’s.

In a do-or-die game, Roger was simply the most fearsome entity in professional basketball.

Phil Jackson told everyone, “Once Roger scores three times in a row, foul Shaq!

We’d rather let him shoot free throws than allow Roger to get into his groove!

Remember, defense, defense!

That’s the foundation for a championship!”

Then, the Zen Master glanced at an exhausted Jordan.

At this stage, there was no way he could afford to take Jordan out of the game.

No matter the difficulty, Jordan had to hold on.

He couldn’t expect Kukoc to explode again; he had to depend on himself to last until the moment of victory.

For Roger, it was the same.

Shaq was destined to provide little support today, and Saru could not be expected to be incredibly accurate every quarter.

If his scoring faltered, it would mean destruction.

Shaq could afford mistakes, but Roger couldn’t.

He had to withstand the pressure and fight until the moment of victory.

For both Roger and Jordan, the fourth quarter was filled with hardship, every step was incredibly difficult.

But this was the price of becoming great.

Greatness is enduring the harshest trials, tirelessly pushing oneself to the limit, turning fear into excitement, and giving every drop of sweat, tears, and blood.