Champion Creed
Chapter 342 - 342 141 One on one even the DPOY is useless asking for monthly votes!

342: 141: One on one, even the DPOY is useless (asking for monthly votes!) 342: 141: One on one, even the DPOY is useless (asking for monthly votes!) The scene SuperSonics fans were dying to see: Shaq and Roger fall out causing the team to crumble, DPOY taking the opportunity to lock down the scoring champ, SuperSonics triumphing over the defending champions and slapping everyone in the face.

All of this…

didn’t happen at all!

At halftime, Magic led by 8 points with a score of 54 to 46.

The terrifying frontcourt double-team of the SuperSonics didn’t affect Roger and Shaq too much.

The offense from Payton and Reign Man was just a nuisance.

In the first half, the biggest threat to Magic ended up being Jordan’s North Carolina senior, Sam Perkins.

He scored three three-pointers in the second quarter and even overpowered Grant in the low post once.

Although Sam Perkins’s shooting form was extremely unorthodox, and slow as if from an ancient catapult, loads of NBA players had proven that there’s no necessary correlation between efficiency and the way one shoots.

North Carolina man helps North Carolina man, Sam Perkins, who also hailed from North Carolina, saved some face for George Karl, at least preventing the team from looking too bad in the first half.

But Sam Perkins was ultimately just a role player; he could help the team save some face but couldn’t completely turn the situation around.

The most valuable part of his excellent performance was helping Reign Man pull Grant out, allowing Reign Man to go one-on-one with O’Neal.

However, Payton and Kemp couldn’t take advantage of this opportunity to create space.

Kemp furiously ran pick and rolls with Payton, hoping to use penetration to deal with Shaq.

But the agility of the Magic’s Shaq wasn’t bad, and Kemp did indeed get some chances, but not enough to finish the game under O’Neal’s cover.

Actually, Kemp’s style of play has some restraining power over Shaq because Reign Man prefers face-up offense and has the range to shoot from mid-distance.

Given O’Neal’s tendency to never leave the paint, Reign Man should’ve had an easy game.

But Shaq badly wanted an FMVP and didn’t want to leave a bad impression on those damn voters.

So he followed Kemp closely throughout, rendering Kemp’s strength and mid-range shots useless.

As for Payton himself, who had been bragging about blowing up Jordan and Roger before the game, predictably dropped a big one.

Under the harassment of Ron Harper, Payton couldn’t find his offensive rhythm at all, and his individual scoring performance was pitiful.

Well, DPOY is the best defensive player, not the best offensive player, you can’t expect too much from his offense.

But Payton’s defense didn’t completely contain Roger either.

There is no doubt that he is one of the best defensive guards of the ’90s, perhaps even among the top five defensive guards of all time.

But at best he lowered Roger’s shooting percentage, not nearly enough to almost stuff the ball down the throat of poor Stockton as he did before.

The SuperSonics’ defense was effective, O’Neal and Roger’s offenses weren’t completely unstoppable.

However, their scoring efficiency was still higher than that of the SuperSonics, and their shooting percentages weren’t pushed low enough.

So, after a half of exhausting hustle, the SuperSonics realized they hadn’t led for even a second.

You can imagine how infuriated this ambitious team was at this point.

After the first half finished with 16 points, Roger waved at Payton and said, “Sorry Finals virgin, I gave you such a bad first experience.

Don’t be discouraged, Gary, I’ll try to go a little easier in the second half.”

Of course, the whole world knows that going a little easier is the biggest lie a man can tell.

The arrogant Payton was seething, as his performance in the first half as the season’s best defender was simply humiliating.

Trailing by 8 points into the locker room, George Karl unsurprisingly roared, “You guys are a bunch of trash!

Why can’t your rotation be faster?

Why can’t you be more fierce?

This is the damn Finals!

You can’t just lie down like whores and let the Magic Team have their way with you then pull up your pants and leave!”

“Shut up, George, it’s impossible to double-team two people at the same time!

This is a basketball court, not your cramped nursing home!” Payton retorted unapologetically.

George Karl is a coach very willing to challenge his stars, but Payton is also a notorious locker room lawyer—referring to players who like to forcefully confront their coach in the locker room and fight for so-called legitimate rights.

To be honest, the fact that these two have worked together for so many years is a miracle in itself.

From 1991 to now, George Karl and Payton have argued countless times.

Payton expressed his affection for George Karl on a radio show, “On average, every other day, I feel like killing George.”

George Karl also mentioned Payton first in his Hall of Fame speech, “Honestly, sometimes you really are my nightmare.”

Their communications are filled with intense cursing and greetings to each other’s immediate family members.

However, what probably allows them to get along for so long is that they are fundamentally the same kind of people.

They both are tough and prickly because of their strong personalities.

Both consistently lead their teams to many wins but are always a step or two away from the most convincing victory.

They also know that the bastard in front of them is their best partner.

So their arguments haven’t yet affected their ability to work together normally.

George Karl quickly retorted, “Fine, then you guys take a white towel each onto the court in the second half, and tell the courtside reporter, tell him, you can’t simultaneously guard Roger and Shaq, so you might as well surrender!”