Champion Creed
Chapter 432 - 432 166 Others just take a look asking for monthly votes!_2

432: 166: Others just take a look (asking for monthly votes!)_2 432: 166: Others just take a look (asking for monthly votes!)_2 Roger was mentally prepared, knowing that the team’s winning rate would for sure decline.

Even if he hated that “Shaq”, he couldn’t deny his impact.

Similarly, Shaq couldn’t deny Roger’s impact either.

However, a slip in the winning rate didn’t matter as long as the New York Knicks and Jazz didn’t surpass them in the standings.

Currently, Magic had four more wins than the Knicks and five more than the Jazz.

Not getting surpassed meant that games against these two teams were particularly crucial.

Defeating the Jazz could extend the gap to six wins, granting them a bit more leeway.

Without Shaq, dealing with the Jazz was going to be extremely tough.

But Roger knew what to do.

The cake would stay in Orlando.

On February 23, the entire Magic team appeared at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City.

Playing an away game in Salt Lake City had its advantages: the coach didn’t have to worry about players going out the night before, as everyone would definitely focus entirely on the basketball court.

Entertainment and bright lights were scarce in Salt Lake City.

On this desolate land, you’d find only a crowd of solemn white people who liked attending church staring at you.

This city, snowy for half the season, was always every NBA player’s nightmare.

During Karl Malone’s first year in Salt Lake City, his phone bill was as high as $700 a month because besides calling his mother, he had nothing else to do.

For Malone, who had seen the glamorous world and had a child in college, life in Salt Lake City was exceedingly boring.

However, the Delta Center was a different world compared to the tranquil Salt Lake City.

The Delta Center lacked high-tech features; its distinct characteristic was the steeply designed stands, making the whole arena seem like a deep well.

And because it was practically the only place in Salt Lake City where you could have fun, the fans always released their long-suppressed enthusiasm here.

Therefore, playing here as a visiting team, the booing of Jazz fans could burst your eardrums.

Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City were like a divorcee—cool on the surface but incredibly fiery inside.

Now, as soon as Roger entered the game, the whole Delta Center began shouting, “No Shaq, No MVP!

Karl, the real MVP!”

They mocked Roger like this, implying that he was only close to the MVP because of Shaq.

Before the game started, a reporter asked Roger a few questions:

“Want to talk about Jim Gray?

He previously said he wanted to see you fail and now believes you’ve already dropped out of the MVP race.

What do you think?”

“Why should I waste my breath on a delusional idiot?” Roger replied.

“So, how do you plan to handle the Jazz without a full squad?”

“You might as well ask Shaq that question and hear his professional interpretation.”

Roger knew O’Neal was in the NBC studio at the time.

After his injury, Shaq didn’t sit idle; instead, he made a guest appearance as a sports commentator.

Though not a live commentator, a studio commentator still needed excellent eloquence.

As expected, the broadcast quickly switched back to the studio.

Shaq, feigning professionalism, wore glasses and grinned at the camera.

The studio host, Matt Guokas, repeated the question, “Shaq, how do you think the team will cope with the Jazz without you?”

“I reckon Roger will go into the Jazz locker room to peddle his red wine, telling them it’s their only chance to have Champion’s Blood because they can’t win a championship otherwise.

When Jazz players, enraged like George Karl, smash the wine bottle to the floor only to find it unbreakable, Roger will laugh and tell them, ‘See, you can’t break the championship curse.’

Just like that, the Jazz Team will get so angry they’ll make frequent mistakes on the court, Karl Malone will lose his temper and elbow Roger to get a foul, and then Roger will win the game as easily as going downstairs to buy a cola,” Shaq explained.

Guokas laughed, amused by the bottle-smashing segment.

Goodness knows how he came up with that.

If Shaq were to write a book, it would definitely sell well.

Clearly, if Shaq became a basketball commentator after retirement years later, he would probably be more successful than Magic.

Although O’Neal skipped the issue with his humorous take, in the actual game, problems weren’t so easily bypassed.

This game was definitely going to be a challenge for Magic.

Before the game started, Roger shook hands and hugged the Jazz players.

Of them, Jeff Hornacek was particularly warm to Roger.

Of course, when one adult is warm to another, it usually means they need a favor.

“Roger, could I buy the jersey you wear after the game?

My daughter is a fan of yours.”

“Your daughter?” Roger looked towards the stands and spotted the merely three-year-old Abby Hornacek.

A three-year-old girl might not understand basketball, but she definitely knows if someone is good-looking.

It wasn’t surprising that Roger had such a fan.

“I can’t possibly sell it to you,” Roger answered.

Jeff Hornacek was slightly embarrassed.

He had heard that Roger was tough to deal with, a real jerk, but didn’t expect him to be so directly jerkish.

“If you really need it, I can just give your daughter the jersey and shoes directly.

I’ll personally sign them.

How could I possibly let you spend money on this, Jeff?

It’s my honor to be loved by your adorable daughter.”

Jeff Hornacek could hardly believe his ears.

Who said Roger was a jerk?

He was clearly a good guy!