Champion Creed
Chapter 332 - 332 138 Perfect Lineup

332: 138: Perfect Lineup?

No, You Need Me Too Much!

(Two in One!)_5 332: 138: Perfect Lineup?

No, You Need Me Too Much!

(Two in One!)_5 The game paused, and Rodman threw up both arms, welcoming the thunderous applause of over twenty thousand fans at the United Center.

He had only scored 2 points so far today, but he had undoubtedly proven that basketball isn’t just a sport about scoring, nor is it solely for giants.

Last summer, when the Bulls decided to bring Rodman into their fold, nobody knew whether this decision would be a blessing or a curse for the team.

But now, such debates could come to an end.

Jordan pursed his lips and clenched his fist, then wrapped his arms around Dumars’ and Pippen’s shoulders.

Phil Jackson picked up the tactical board with his usual composure, the genius knew he had another method to dissect the opposition.

Can this team really be defeated?

Many Orlando fans were doubting in their hearts.

They have Dumars, who always keeps the game under control, Pippen, who is always focused on defense, Jordan, who can always stab you at the critical moment, and the best coach Phil Jackson.

And that eccentric Rodman, who despite his peculiar ways, really contributed immensely to the team.

This team’s setup was too perfect; otherwise, they wouldn’t have achieved 72 wins in the regular season.

Could such a team really lose in a series?

It wasn’t just the fans who thought so, but also the players.

The morale of the Magic Team had plummeted; again and again, they came close to success, but each time they failed at the very last step.

Once or twice, the players could withstand it.

But to be so close to success every time and yet fall short was really too much of a blow.

“Come on, get spirited, we still have a chance, we still have a chance!” Brian Hill tried desperately to rouse his players, but it was no use.

He had already failed to resonate with the players last season, and after some unpleasantness this season, Hill was even less able to stir up their emotions.

Seeing everyone still listless, Brian Hill cast a pitiful glance at Roger.

He was just short of shouting “Roger, save me.”

He hoped Roger would stand up and say something, hoped that Roger could light a fire under everyone as he usually did.

But Roger said nothing.

He knew that whatever he said now was in vain; the Bulls had been suppressing the Magic Team for far too long.

You can only restore your teammates’ confidence through action.

The timeout ended, with the last 1 minute and 13 seconds of the game remaining.

“For the Bulls and the Magic, this is going to be the most important minute!” Bill Walton said, getting tense.

In one more minute, the history of the league would completely change.

Would Roger take over the mantle of the era, or would Michael Jordan continue to expand his dynasty?

It would all be decided in one minute!

The Magic played in from the sideline, Roger received the ball outside the three-point line, faked a shot, and lit up Pippen.

Pippen thought Roger would shoot a three-pointer because that would allow them to catch up with a single basket.

But Roger didn’t do that, in fact, he hadn’t planned on shooting even one three-pointer in the remaining time.

His hands were unsteady now; he couldn’t gamble on long shots.

In the end, Roger made a quick stop at mid-range and jump-shot, scoring his 45th point and narrowing the gap to 2!

In the small ball style, mid-range shots are generally considered to be the least efficient form of shooting.

Either go for threes or drive to the basket, those are the optimal solutions.

The data did indeed show this; if you took 1,000 shots, the efficiency of mid-range was really low.

A 50% shooting percentage from mid-range wasn’t as effective as a 33% from three-point range, nor as good as a 70% from layups.

But if you’ve only got two or three chances to decide the game, mid-range might actually be the most efficient choice.

That’s because its stability is better than that of three-pointers, and you have more opportunities than at the basket.

This is why, despite mid-range being the least efficient, it’s often the most deadly!

On the next defense, Roger took over the overdrafted Harper’s duty to guard Jordan!

Both were sweating profusely, but Roger didn’t relax at all; he tried his best to chase Jordan, to go up against him.

He gave it his all.

Seeing Jordan unable to receive the ball, Dumars passed it to Pippen.

Facing an almost half-dead Harper, Pippen broke through with ease and then also took a mid-range shot.

But at the moment of release, Pippen’s vision darkened.

Roger, who had just been chasing Jordan, had arrived in time to disturb Pippen!

Not only was he nipping at Jordan, but he also managed to help defend against Pippen!

Roger was showing everyone in action, it wasn’t time to hang their heads just yet!

Pippen’s mid-range shot didn’t hit its mark, the Magic was about to tie or even take the lead!

But just when all the Magic fans were ecstatic, that annoying voice sounded again.

“Dennis Rodman is out with six fouls, sending Shaq to the free-throw line!

At the critical moment, the Bulls still want to test Shaq’s free throws!” Bill Walton recalled yesterday’s Western Conference Finals game seven, remembering Karl Malone’s missed free throws that cost them the win.

Today, will Shaq be a repeat of Karl Malone?

The whole world was watching Shaq; if he could make both shots and tie the game, then the Magic would still have a sliver of hope.

The Magic were just those damned 2 points away from tying the score.

O’Neal knew the importance of these two free throws; he had already squandered one chance on a jump ball earlier, and this time he couldn’t flip the car again!

But the more that was the case, the heavier his psychological burden.

O’Neal’s free throw shooting percentage today was just over 40%, the probability of making both was even lower.

The Magic now had to pin their hopes on the unlikely chance of a miracle.