Champion Creed
Chapter 340 - 340 140 It's indeed simpler than imagined but what's simple is the SuperSonics asking for monthly tickets!_2

340: 140: It’s indeed simpler than imagined, but what’s simple is the SuperSonics (asking for monthly tickets!)_2 340: 140: It’s indeed simpler than imagined, but what’s simple is the SuperSonics (asking for monthly tickets!)_2 However, since Stockton wasn’t renowned for scoring, this series didn’t much enhance Payton’s prestige.

Even Payton himself felt it wasn’t satisfying enough.

He wanted to defeat opponents at the level of Roger and Jordan!

Considering that Payton had been vocally challenging Roger and Jordan for quite some time, his matches today drew particular attention.

DPOY facing off against the scoring champion was naturally a big draw, and all media were keenly focused on this matchup.

When Payton entered today, a reporter quickly interviewed him, “Gary,” last game Roger scored 47 points against the Bulls, the top defense in the league.

In this season’s opener, Roger also put up 48 points on you and won.

How do you think you can contain this youngest scoring champion in history?”

“I can easily contain him, he got 48 points in the opener against us because I didn’t guard him.

He scored 47 points against the Bulls because the Bulls don’t have the best defensive player,” Payton replied.

Influenced by Payton’s brash confidence, even the normally confident Reign Man said, “Will Shaq be a problem?

Man, I’m a second-team player, why should I discuss a third-team center?

The biggest achievement for Shaq this season is probably being called the strongest third-team player by multiple media.

But anyway, he’s just a third-team player.”

Payton and Kemp thought their trash-talking showcased their toughness, but in reality, it had already caused them a great deal of trouble.

Only, they didn’t know that yet.

Before the game started, Roger and O’Neal struck their signature poses.

They stood with their hands on their hips, chewing gum, and scanned each SuperSonics player.

O’Neal, puzzled, said, “Don’t these idiots read the newspapers?

Don’t they know that the only suspense in this round of the playoffs is whether it’s going to be 4-0 or 4-1?”

Roger burst out laughing, “Look at them, Shaq, look at them.

Damn, these guys really think they can win!”

The two Eastern champions warmed up as they eyed their opponents.

Finally, Roger patted O’Neal on the back, “Let’s go make them fear us.

It’s our duty.”

The SuperSonics were too caught up in their own narrative; it was time to bring them back to reality.

The game started quickly, and Payton’s initial drive and layup bounced off the rim under Shaq’s interference.

People say O’Neal’s defense isn’t good, but only when you actually go inside and face such a behemoth effortlessly filling the entire restricted area do you realize how hard it is to score over Shaq.

As the Magic quick-breaked, Payton immediately stuck close to Roger, grabbing his jersey and wrestling with him.

Payton’s defense was indeed fierce, but Roger roughly pushed him away and called for the ball.

Once he had the ball, Roger chose to back down into the paint.

He had just taken one step when Hersey Hawkins and Schrempf quickly double-teamed him!

For George Karl, the SOS defense system was as ingrained as the triangle offense was for the Zen Master.

This system required the team to insanely pressure the ball from positions one to five, switching during every pick and roll to maintain pressure on the ball.

The entire defensive scheme involved uncompromising oppression and interception and relentless rotation to fill gaps until the opponent made a mistake, passed, or took a hurried shot.

However, Roger, facing the double team, didn’t panic but instead quickly passed to Shaq.

For Roger, the major difference between the SuperSonics’ pressing double team and the Bulls’ was that Roger could more easily pass the ball out of the SuperSonics’ double team.

The height difference between Payton and Hawkins, and Jordan and Pippen, affected the oppressive effect of the double team.

The SuperSonics’ pressure might force Roger to take difficult shots or pass the ball.

But it was hard to make him commit an error.

Roger quickly passed the ball to O’Neal, and at that moment, it was nearly impossible for the SuperSonics to immediately surround Shaq, because their defensive focus had just been on Roger, and now they needed time to regroup their forces around Shaq.

Before they could encircle him, Shaq took a huge step and brutally dunked over the undersized Sam Perkins, who had already jumped up trying to block.

Facing the airborne Shaq, Perkins was like a mantis trying to stop a chariot!

Without help, Perkins was just a piece of meat in Shaq’s mouth!

O’Neal turned to the brash-talking Reign Man before the game and said, “Florida’s sunny, no room for rain!’

In the opening attack, Roger and Shaq brutally dismantled the SuperSonics’ defense.

Everyone felt — in front of these two, the SuperSonics’ defense didn’t seem so strong, did it?

The SuperSonics indeed had strong defense, but they were only second-best in the league.

The top defensive team, the Bulls, had already been smashed by Roger and Shaq.

Was smashing the second-best that difficult?

Then the SuperSonics attacked, Payton and the Reign Man executed a pick and roll, and Kemp quickly cut in after the screen, catching the basketball and preparing to directly attack the basket.

He was a beastly power forward indeed, but Shaq was no gentler.

Kemp’s powerful drive could turn most defenders’ attempts to stop him into highlight reel fodder.

But Shaq was not on that list.

O’Neal jumped up to block in the air, using his massive body to withstand Kemp’s charge.

The fierce contest caused Kemp’s layup to bounce off the rim.