Champion Creed
Chapter 465 - 465 175 No Game 7 this year!

465: 175: No Game 7 this year!

(Requesting monthly passes!)_4 465: 175: No Game 7 this year!

(Requesting monthly passes!)_4 Indeed, in the midst of a sports talk show, a dance sequence suddenly came out of nowhere, strongly reminiscent of films brimming with curry flavor.

The cheerleaders on the Magic show were dressed more daringly than those of the Lakers, each a feast for the eyes.

But, no one knew what the purpose was of adding this dance segment to the show.

Perhaps, it was a way to salvage the steadily declining viewership.

As the third and fourth games moved to New York, the style of the series underwent a drastic transformation.

The first two games were glamorous showcases for the two superstars, Roger and Jordan.

But the following two games in New York saw the performers as if forced into shackles and heavy armor, discarding flair for meteor hammers and Wolf Fang Clubs, turning to ruthless combat.

In Game 3, Roger and Shaq only scored 27 and 23 points respectively, but the Orlando Magic won the game.

Because they held the Knicks to even fewer points.

Michael Jordan had 21 points with a 38% shooting success rate.

Patrick Ewing scored 17 points with a 46% shooting success rate.

The visuals of the game shifted from sensational scoring to charges, falls, dragging, and fouling.

Brian Hill adjusted the team’s direction after the end of Game 2.

He didn’t think that competing offensively with the Knicks was wise, so he tightened the defense.

He had everyone relentlessly pressure Jordan, double-teaming him as soon as he got the ball, giving him no extra steps.

For a Magic team that aside from its two stars was filled with older players, this defensive strategy was basically giving up on offense.

Because no role player could maintain their touch while exerting high intensity on defense.

The offense was thus entirely left to the two stars, namely Roger and Shaq, to handle.

Today, this move paid off.

The Magic’s robust perimeter defense pushed Jordan into crisis, lowering his shooting percentage.

Dominique Wilkins worked tirelessly, and Harper’s help defense was always on point.

But the standout was Roger.

His defensive plays determined the final outcome of the game.

In the final possession before the half, the Knicks had the ball.

At that point, the Knicks had just launched an 8-0 run, nearly evening the score.

During that offensive play, after Jordan received the ball, he first faked Wilkins with a move, then used a false shot to draw Harper, only to pass the ball mid-air to an unguarded Chris Childs.

If Chris Childs could have scored from mid-range in that open position, the Knicks could have tied the game.

Most importantly, it would have given them a complete surge in momentum.

But Roger rushed over from the weak side at lightning speed, just in time to tip the ball away with his fingertips and complete the steal, breaking the Knicks’ scoring momentum.

Then in the fourth quarter, in the last one minute and twenty seconds, Roger contributed two steals, each time as Jordan was double-teamed and forced to pass; Roger, as if he could read Jordan’s mind, was just there where the pass was meant to go.

Of course, Jordan knew it was not a matter of “just being there.”

It was Roger’s reading of the game that allowed him to always be at the correct passing lane at the right time.

Ultimately, Roger, who blocked Jordan’s passes the entire game, secured 4 steals, laughing last in a defensive battle devoid of glamorous scoring figures.

“In the first two games, he showed why he’s an MVP.

Today, he showed why he’s made the All-Defensive Team.

That’s Roger for you guys, every honor he receives is well deserved, leaving no room for doubt.

Right now, there’s much more to Roger than just scoring,” Steve Jones commented after the game.

But before the folks in Orlando could rejoice, the Knicks immediately tied the score in Game 4.

Michael Jordan didn’t score high, only 24 points, but he did many other things: 11 rebounds, 4 steals, 3 blocks, 7 assists.

He also participated much more in defending Roger on the defensive end, which allowed the Knicks to limit Roger’s shooting percentage to below 40% for the first time in this playoff series.

It seemed like Jordan was intentionally responding to Roger: Competing with me in versatility, huh?

You still have a long way to go.

While Roger was besieged, Shaq put up 32 points and 12 rebounds, but it was to no avail, as he was once again let down by his free throws at the most critical moment.

In the fourth quarter, with the Magic’s perimeter shooting turning cold and the team relying solely on Shaq, the Zen Master smartly employed the Hack-a-Shaq strategy at just the right moment.

In the final two minutes, the Zen Master allowed the other Magic players to shoot, but as soon as Shaq got the ball, they would immediately foul him.

In the end, O’Neal made only 3 of 8 free throws, squandering the lead.

For the first time, it was not Jordan or Roger who tilted the balance of victory.

Everything was left to O’Neal; if he could help the team secure the winning points in the last two minutes, he would undoubtedly tell the whole world that he was the team’s true star.

With Roger’s touch completely gone, on the brink of securing a key victory that would have given Orlando the series lead, all of Orlando’s hopes…

O’Neal got a near-perfect stage to prove himself.

In the end, during O’Neal’s first time controlling the balance of victory, he messed everything up.

It’s not hard to imagine how O’Neal felt.

He had always longed for a scene like tonight’s, he got the opportunity he’d been craving, only to bury it himself.

After the game, O’Neal returned to the locker room in a fury.

He punched the television set stand; the TV fell and Shaq gave it an extra kick, reducing it to a pile of wreckage.