Champion Creed
Chapter 427 - 427 165 Now cake is no longer exclusive to Orlando asking for monthly tickets!

427: 165: Now, cake is no longer exclusive to Orlando (asking for monthly tickets!) 427: 165: Now, cake is no longer exclusive to Orlando (asking for monthly tickets!) “Sports Illustrated” had a headline that surprised many fans.

Roger, who has been compared to Michael Jordan, has not yet won an MVP?

It’s as surprising as discovering that the so-called “Super Dirk” had only a 41% shooting percentage in the 2011 Finals but still won the championship.

However, when you think about it, it’s normal for Roger, who has just started his fourth season, to not have an MVP yet.

In fact, last season, whether in terms of personal stats or team success, Roger had already reached an MVP level.

Last season, with O’Neal playing only 50 games in the regular season, Roger still led his team to 68 wins, averaging 30.8 points, 3.7 assists, 4.1 rebounds, 1.2 steals, and 1.0 block per game, all of which were quite impressive.

But Jordan’s 72 wins in ’96 were too outstanding, so Roger had to settle for second place.

In any other season, Roger’s performance and team results would have been enough to earn MVP.

Many believe that if Shaq had not been injured last season, the Magic might have surpassed 70 wins.

In that case, Roger might already have an MVP.

This season, so far, the top five MVP candidates are Jordan, Malone, Roger, Shaq, and Grant Hill.

God knows how Grant Hill managed to get into this list, but considering his good relations with all the media, his inclusion in the top five isn’t that surprising.

An interesting point is that because both Roger and Shaq have outstanding personal stats, as long as the Magic are not outperformed by the Knicks and Jazz in terms of wins, the MVP trophy will likely become an internal competition for the Magic Team.

It’s not an exaggeration for a team to have two players in the top five of the MVP rankings; Pippen and Jordan did it too.

But no matter how Pippen made it into the top five, everyone knew he was never really in the running for MVP, such was the confidence Pippen’s abilities instilled in people.

However, Shaq is different; he truly has the capability to win the MVP trophy.

Moreover, he now harbors hostility towards Roger.

Meaning, he’s very willing to compete with Roger for this award.

However, they can’t just compete purely.

If anyone plays selfishly for the sake of personal stats, the Magic’s standings could quickly fall behind those of the Jazz and Knicks.

To win the MVP, both personal stats and team performance are essential, unless you achieve landmark personal stats, like averaging a triple-double.

Therefore, in the race for MVP, Roger and Shaq are each other’s biggest rivals and most necessary collaborative partners.

This struggle within the team fascinates people.

Shaq indeed cares a lot about the MVP.

If he could win an MVP trophy, who could then say that the Orlando Magic is Roger’s dynasty team?

Who would think the MVP is just a secondary leader?

Roger?

He certainly knows what the MVP means.

If a top athlete doesn’t want to compete for the MVP, then he simply isn’t a top athlete.

The internal competition within the Magic, hence, drove the team to a positive cycle in performance.

Facing the temptation of personal honors, Shaq and Roger didn’t resort to childish solo play but rather tried their utmost to win every game, pushing the Magic’s performance far ahead of the competitors.

First, you secure the big prize for Orlando.

As for how it’s divided, that’s up to Roger and Shaq.

After Christmas, Shaq and Roger embarked on their conquest.

Every night, their opponents had to face the league’s most terrifying outside shooting.

You could try to gang up, unless you want the rim shattered by the big man Shaq inside.

On January 7, 1997, the Magic traveled to play against the Philadelphia 76ers.

The Philadelphians believed the equally unruly Allen Iverson could match Roger in scoring, and AI did indeed score a pleasing 25 points with his attractive moves.

Roger managed 26 points in the face of a focused defense, just a notch above.

But Shaq completely demolished the 76ers’ inside line with 39 points and 17 rebounds.

The reason might be that Roger doesn’t hate the 1996 top draft pick Iverson, but Shaq despised the 1990 top draft pick, Derrick Coleman, who had dunked over him.

After the game, a disheartened Allen Iverson, wearing a loose T-shirt, said, “”Imagine, facing Mike Tyson and Muhammad Ali in their prime in one night.

They swing at you left and right with heavy punches hitting your face.

Yes, you get beaten so bad that your mom wouldn’t recognize you, and that’s exactly what it’s like playing against Roger and Shaq!”

On January 9, facing their arch-rivals, the Miami Heat, it was a different scene.

Shaq, controlled by Mourning and Rodman, scored only 23 points.

And the result?

Roger scored 44 points for the game, and made Jamal Mashburn, a former Dallas 3J member now traded to Miami, completely lose his cool.

Mashburn was ejected for forcefully shoving Roger.

After the game, reporters asked Roger what had happened.

Roger spread his arms, “”I just told him, a scumbag who fights his teammates over a woman isn’t worthy of competing with real winners.

I don’t know why he got angry, I just stated a simple truth.”

Roger held back in his response; his actual words were, “”A real man has women creating romantic opportunities for him.

But a dog scumbag like you, who licks up to teammates to create those chances, doesn’t deserve to compete with real winners.”