Champion Creed
Chapter 469 - 469 176 Title Page Requesting monthly passes!_2

469: 176: Title Page (Requesting monthly passes!)_2 469: 176: Title Page (Requesting monthly passes!)_2 The program soon moved into a segment where fans could call in, and many New York fans expressed their concerns about the next game.

“If Michael loses, can he still be considered the most successful basketball player?

He dominated half of the ’90s, but to be dethroned in such a disgraceful way in the end, how should we define his historical status?

The strongest player apart from Roger?

No matter how you look at it, it seems more like a compliment to Roger.”

“Before, no one could rival Michael in offensive firepower.

But now there is one, Roger is the only player I’ve seen who can match Michael in the playoffs.

I feel pessimistic about this round because Roger has always been New York’s nightmare, and Michael seems unable to stop it.”

“It’s as if God created Roger to overthrow the order of the ’90s.

From his first day joining the Bulls, he was set on destroying Michael’s dynasty.”

“Admit it, Roger’s era has arrived.

This is a rerun of MJ, Magic Johnson also an MJ, handing over the era’s baton, the difference being this time the transition of eras is several times bloodier than in 1991.”

“What excuse does Michael and his team have if they can’t win the match with Ewing?”

All these statements seemed to be predicting his downfall.

Jordan clenched his teeth, and the harder he pressed on the gas, the deeper it went.

New York fans had no faith in him; this was Jordan’s current situation—his name no longer tagged him as a mighty player in the basketball world.

The streets flashed by Jordan’s sides rapidly, the speed numbing his body and venting his emotions.

But after getting home, everything felt dull and tasteless.

All those things that could quickly bring pleasure, in the end, only brought greater emptiness.

After all, he still had to face the life-or-death game tomorrow.

After getting out of the car, Jordan noticed a book Phil Jackson had given him lying on the passenger-side floor.

At times, people do things they later can’t fathom why they did them.

Like now, as if possessed, Michael Jordan picked up the book and brushed the dust off it with his large hand.

“Siddhartha,” a book whose title alone made Jordan too lazy to open it.

But he opened it, and on the first page was an introduction: There is no such thing as forever; everything is scenery.

Jordan was furious.

Phil Jackson obviously had been thinking about consoling him all along!

Damn it!

When have I ever needed consolation?

All I need is victory, blood, wine, and glory!

After reading the front page, Jordan angrily threw the book to the floor and swore never to open it again.

Yes, basketball players only love to read the front page of a book.

Just then, Jordan’s cellphone rang.

The call was from Ewing, the veteran center who had been enduring immense pressure for over a decade in New York.

As Jordan’s close friend, he too knew about Jordan’s decision to retire if he didn’t win the championship this season.

Unlike the Zen Master who had already come to terms with this, Ewing still couldn’t quite believe it was true.

So, the day before the game, he wanted to hear Jordan confirm it once more, “Michael, you’re joking, right?

Tell me this isn’t true.

If we lose tomorrow, will you really retire?”

Looking at the stars, with anger reddening his eyes, Jordan replied, “It’s true, buddy.

But it will never happen!”

Having said that, Jordan stepped on the book and walked into his house.

It’s hard to say whether Phil Jackson gave Jordan the book to help him let go or to anger him.

You can never really understand that enigmatic man.

But one thing’s for sure—whether it’s relief or fury, both will lead to a terrifying Michael Jordan.

The Eastern Conference Finals Game 6 proceeded as scheduled at Madison Square Garden.

Today, from the start of the game, Jordan’s urge to attack was very strong.

He broke past Wilkins and scored with a quick stop mid-range shot.

After shaking Wilkins off balance with a triple-threat move, he scored a pull-up three-pointer.

And a memorable layup in the paint, facing three defenders.

The third shot was a signature move from Michael Jordan, tearing through the opponents’ defense with incredible maneuvering beneath multiple blocks.

If you throw a fan from the Jordan era into the 21st century, he would be puzzled by one thing: why is creating space so important?

Why are there stars who can’t play without space?

Jordan scored 6 points in quick succession at the beginning, setting the tone for the night.

Wilkins and Harper were already exhausted, which made their defense far less stellar than in previous games.

On the Magic side, facing double-teams, Roger mostly passed the ball out.

Eventually, these passes mostly ended up in Shaq’s hands inside.

This was the Magic’s strategy for today, playing more inside during regulation time,

In the last two minutes of previous games, Roger was exhausted, and Shaq was constantly fouled, making it hard for the Magic to score efficiently at critical moments.

To change this situation, Brian Hill decided to let Roger conserve some energy during the first three quarters, not to expend it too early.

So for the first three quarters, the offensive focus was Shaq.

This was one of Shaq’s most unrestrained games in the Eastern Conference Finals; he felt what it was like to be the core of the team.

All the team’s tactics served one purpose—to make it easier for Shaq to receive the ball and play one-on-one more easily!

Shaq was happy to do so; he wanted to prove that he could dominate the game even without Roger taking shots in the fourth quarter.