Champion Creed
Chapter 430 - 430 165 Now the cake is no longer exclusive to Orlando request for monthly tickets!_4

430: 165: Now, the cake is no longer exclusive to Orlando (request for monthly tickets!)_4 430: 165: Now, the cake is no longer exclusive to Orlando (request for monthly tickets!)_4 O’Neal continued to engage fiercely in the paint, everything seemed normal.

In the seventh minute of the fourth quarter, Roger lobbed the ball to O’Neal who had a better chance.

Shaq turned around, attempting to overpower Dream, but perhaps due to fatigue, he felt his legs couldn’t muster full strength, failing to push Dream aside.

Quickly adjusting, O’Neal faked a move before attempting a strong layup right under the basket.

In the midst of the fierce contest, Shaq lost his balance, and the basketball bounced off the rim.

The referee’s whistle blew, Olajuwon was charged with a foul.

When O’Neal landed, he felt a sharp pain in his knee and curled up on the floor.

However, after a brief moment, Shaq managed to stand up with the help of his teammates, insisting on taking two free throws, making one of them.

Subsequently, Shaq limped back on defense.

He felt he could hang on, but when Barkley drove into the paint for a layup, O’Neal found he couldn’t jump at all; not only was his left leg excruciatingly painful, but it also lacked any strength.

After this defensive play, O’Neal waved at Brian Hill.

At that moment, only one thought echoed in Shaq’s mind: “I really should have listened to Jerry!”

Hill immediately called a timeout and substituted O’Neal out to the locker room for an examination.

For the remainder of the game, O’Neal didn’t return, and with Shaq absent, Olajuwon and Flying Pig fiercely attacked the Magic’s interior.

In the end, the Rockets’ big three achieved their wish, securing a victory in Houston, defeating the Magic, and avoiding a regular season sweep.

After the game, Roger returned to the locker room to find O’Neal was not there.

He thought the big guy might be in the therapy room since Shaq was able to stand up and shoot free throws earlier, which suggested his injury wasn’t severe.

Roger didn’t want to speak with Shaq, but he was eager to know his condition, so he called out loudly for the head team physician: “Kirk, tell me that bastard is okay.

I have said early on, that fat pig should eat fewer donuts to control his weight, that complete idiot.”

But still, no one responded – there was neither O’Neal’s cursing nor the doctor’s explanation.

Could they be at the hospital?

Was it that serious?

At that moment, Roger’s trainer, Abunassar, walked into the locker room and whispered something in his ear.

After hearing it, Roger’s brow furrowed: “What?”

—————–

A heartbreaking update: Shaquille O’Neal has a partial tear in his left knee’s lateral collateral ligament and a tear in the joint capsule, resulting in a 7-8 week absence from upcoming games.

He doesn’t require surgery, but will be wearing a brace for 2-3 weeks before starting rehabilitation.

This means that Shaq is almost certainly out of the MVP race.

In the past 19 years, there has not been an MVP who played only 50 games.

Fortunately, he will be able to play in the playoffs, so the hope for a three-peat is still alive.

— “Orlando Lighthouse.”

The Magic faced a very untimely misfortune, as Shaq was injured just after the trade deadline passed.

How would the Magic strengthen their weakened interior line?

The answer is they can’t.

From now on, all eyes are on Roger.

— “Florida Sports News.”

For Shaq, this is a severe blow.

We all know how excellent he is, having become one of the 50 Greatest Players and belonging to one of the NBA’s Top Ten Teams of all time.

If he could finish the 82-game season healthy alongside Roger, perhaps they could create another 70-win season, maybe claim another MVP, and elevate his career to greater heights.

Unfortunately, at least this year, that hope is gone.

Good luck to Shaq, and may he return soon to work his magic in the playoffs.

— “Hoop Space.”

It is widely believed that Shaq’s excessive weight contributed to this injury.

His weight already surpassed Patrick’s in his rookie season, and now no one outside knows his exact weight.

When Shaq landed, his knee must have withstood immense pressure.

In the first three seasons of his career, Shaq remained healthy, but this is the second consecutive season where he can only play 40-50 games.

Does this remind you of anyone?

Yes, no one wants to see the tragedy of a second Ralph Sampson.

— “Orlando Daily News.”

“Do you really think it’s just Shaq dropping out of the MVP race?

No, in fact, Roger is out too.

The recent brilliant results of Orlando were created by Shaq and Roger together.

Without Shaq, the Magic’s record will slowly be surpassed by either the Knicks or the Jazz.

I’m not saying the Magic’s performance will plummet, as we’ve seen Roger’s ability to lead the team alone.

Even I, a noted ‘Roger hater,’ a person who defies the truth, must acknowledge his leadership skills.

However, we also have to face the prowess of the Knicks.

In the following 31 games, the Knicks are sure to have a higher win rate than the Magic, gradually erasing the Magic’s slim lead, until surpassing them.

Roger’s stats aren’t overwhelmingly better compared to Michael and Karl Malone, thus, the record almost decides who becomes the MVP.

Without Shaq, others now have a claim to the cake, which is no longer exclusively Orlando’s.

If Roger can earn a real MVP on his own, he will gain the respect of everyone, including me.

Unfortunately, in March and April, the Magic will face many playoff-level opponents.

And their starting center is a 34-year-old veteran.

For Roger, this seems more like divine punishment.

His arrogance, his pride, his vanity, the bottle of wine he sent to George Karl to humiliate him – it all seems to have backfired.”

— Jim Gray shrugged his shoulders while discussing Roger on his show, looking pleased because it appeared he got his wish: to see the guy who won a game from a badly-called foul and gloated about it fail.