Champion Creed
Chapter 471 - 471 176 Title Page Requesting monthly passes!_4

471: 176: Title Page (Requesting monthly passes!)_4 471: 176: Title Page (Requesting monthly passes!)_4 Shaq found it tough to score efficiently in the solid interior defense, while Michael Jordan continued to perform, although his shooting percentage wasn’t as freakish as in the first half, he still nailed several difficult jump shots, adding another 10 points in the quarter.

Roger scored 8 points in the quarter, after all, most of the ball possession was with Shaq.

Originally, Roger’s jump shots had clawed back some points, but O’Neal’s foul at the end of the third quarter put the Magic in a bind.

With 54 seconds left in the third quarter, after missing two consecutive shots, Jordan chose to forcefully drive into the lane.

He jumped facing Shaq, sticking out his tongue in midair, a sign he was about to start showing off.

But a infuriated Shaq, with a clothesline foul, took Jordan down directly, then turned to look at the referee, “Does that count as a foul?”

Of course, it did.

That was Shaq’s fourth foul of the day, meaning there was a risk O’Neal might be fouled out early in the fourth quarter.

Eventually, the Knicks entered the fourth quarter with a 7-point lead.

Roger scored 22 points in three quarters, Shaq 31 points, Jordan 36 points.

The buzzer sounded, Jordan was gnashing his teeth and waving his fist.

This seemed to be yet another glorious night in Michael Jordan’s dazzling career.

At that moment, Jordan remembered the book from yesterday, recalled the phrase on the title page, and then looked smugly at Phil Jackson.

No forever, huh?

Fuck you!

If there were to be another autobiography, Jordan would definitely write about this game on the title page.

Let those who only read the title pages of books know about tonight’s greatness!

Watching the omnipotent Michael Jordan, Dominique Wilkins’ heart was nearly shattered.

Over the years, he had heard too many legends about that number 23.

May 27, 1989.

The Pistons, eagerly longing to get to the finals for revenge against the Lakers, didn’t take the Bulls seriously at all, leading by 11 points at the start of the fourth quarter of G3, and expanded their lead to 12 with 6 minutes remaining.

But it was from that moment that the Pistons learned a lesson: Michael could defeat them on his own strength.

In the subsequent game, Jordan aggressively defended Isaiah Thomas, nearly shutting him down, and still had enough energy to score 12 of the final 16 points for the Bulls, finishing the game with 46 points and leading his team to a comeback victory.

March 28, 1990.

Doug Collins, TNT’s commentator, also Jordan’s coach from the previous season, said before the game between the Bulls and the Cavaliers that Craig Ehlo’s defense was extremely good and smart, mentioning, “Knowing Michael, he might meet his match in Craig.”

Then Jordan scored 69 points and grabbed 18 rebounds, yes, a guard, almost hitting 70+20 in a single game, all because Doug Collins seemed to have provoked Jordan before the game.

The shrug game of ’92, 54 points after the ’93 gambling controversy, The Shot of ’89.

Regarding The Shot, many remember only that game-winner against the Cavaliers, but overlook his stats—44 points, 6 assists, 6 rebounds, shooting 53%.

A truly great player makes it effortless to recall his stupendous feats, and Jordan indeed is such a great player.

When Michael Jordan puts on such a dominant performance, he is unbeatable.

Now, Wilkins was wondering, would today’s game become part of that number 23’s splendid night?

Because he and Harper were really about to collapse, he couldn’t see the slightest possibility of holding down Jordan.

Wilkins didn’t dare to think further; he couldn’t bear the thought of becoming just a backdrop to Jordan’s success after putting in so much effort.

It wasn’t just Wilkins’s confidence that was shaken, the rampant Michael Jordan, Shaq with four fouls, the Knicks’ impregnable defense…

All of these began to make the Magic players doubt tonight’s game, piling immense pressure on their shoulders.

In fact, Shaq performed his role well, even though he was slightly embarrassed in the third quarter, the Knicks were only ahead by seven points.

He successfully shared a lot of the pressure with Roger, allowing Roger to still have energy to go on a scoring frenzy in the fourth quarter.

But the sense of fear Jordan created was still spreading across the court.

At the end of the third quarter, as he walked off the court, Roger keenly noticed that his teammates were not in high spirits, including Shaq, who, despite scoring 31 points in three quarters, was still despondent.

It was proof that having him as the core was simply not enough to defeat the Knicks.

Moreover, now he had to worry about the risk of being fouled out early.

As a young player, one often doesn’t know what to do in this situation.

But Roger, he had faced this situation when he was 18.

In ’94, also against the Knicks, Roger was with the Bulls then.

G7, the Knicks had the advantage, and the entire Bulls team was dejected, their defense almost penetrated by Ewing.

That’s when the words that ultimately leaked out and completely enraged Jordan were spoken: “You don’t need MJ right now; you only need me.”

Indeed, the Bulls overcame the Knicks with Roger’s help.

So, to Roger, the temporary low morale of his teammates wasn’t a tricky problem.

He could handle it when he was 18.

Everyone sat down, except for Roger, who stood in front of the group.

He waved his hand, asking “Coach Chain Dog” to wait; he wanted to speak first.

Once, Brian Hill thought that, as a championship coach, he could be above everyone else, but he quickly realized: he could dismiss anyone, except Roger.

After all, even the boss had to listen to him.

So the current Brian Hill was tough on others, but compliant with Roger.

Seeing Roger wave his hand, he obediently stood in place with the tactical board.

“Listen, we played well in the first half, Shaq played well.

But we’re one perilous step away from victory.

I only know some might want to back down, can’t hold on, are feeling scared.

Don’t think about all that nonsense; after tonight, I’ll get you all new rings.

You just need to remember that!”

The finals opponent?

There was no opponent in the finals.

Roger knew that once he overcame Jordan, he was the champion.

Roger was full of confidence for the fourth quarter.

Although he was on defense against Jordan at times, he was still full of energy now, and his shooting touch hadn’t been worn down like in the previous games.

Everyone thought tonight was the critical evening for Jordan’s return to the throne, no, that was just the title page of the story.

Today, was the night the god was truly buried in sorrow.