Champion Creed
Chapter 544 - 544 197 The emotionless superstar killer reorganizes the workplace Request for monthly tickets!_2

544: 197: The emotionless superstar killer reorganizes the workplace (Request for monthly tickets!)_2 544: 197: The emotionless superstar killer reorganizes the workplace (Request for monthly tickets!)_2 Unless some jerk really went over the line during the game, he wouldn’t let Bowen actively hurt the opponent.

Yes, all is fair in pursuit of victory.

But ending someone’s career for a win is crossing the line.

Everyone has a different perception of honor.

If Bowen were under another coach, he certainly would have become a killing machine.

But in Wilkens’s hands, he wanted Bowen to be a protector, not an attacker.

Protection and attack are two completely different concepts.

In the NBA, every star player needs an enforcer by their side, someone fearsome—it’s normal.

If you mess with Roger, okay, I’ll send Bowen for retaliation.

But if you’re just playing fair and square, would I ruin your star player just because we can’t beat you?

Anyway, Lenny Wilkens wasn’t that kind of person.

He was tough, but he wouldn’t allow himself to do that.

Would there be any sense of honor in a championship won that way?

All he wanted was to create a safe competitive environment for Roger, that’s all.

After the coach finished speaking, Bruce Bowen still looked as harmless as ever: “Whatever you say, boss.”

Bowen had finally secured a guaranteed contract in the NBA, so he did whatever the coach asked of him.

If the coach wanted him to behave, he behaved.

If the coach wanted to use him as a weapon, then he’d go and take out the opposition, even if he had no personal grudge against them.

Watching Bowen leave courteously, Lenny Wilkens felt relieved.

Good thing, this jerk was on his team.

If he had fallen into the hands of an unprincipled head coach, who knows what would have happened.

Now, Bowen could provide double protection for Roger.

First, Roger wouldn’t encounter Bowen.

Second, other teams wouldn’t dare to mess with Roger easily.

That was enough.

—————–

The game against the Trail Blazers didn’t just make the Hawks notorious.

Besides that, it brought the Hawks an unexpected sponsorship.

CONMED Corporation partnered with the Hawks, becoming one of the team sponsors, hoping to make a name in the NBA.

But upon learning about this medical equipment company’s business, Roger was silent.

They mainly dealt with prosthetics, bone drills, and implants required for various surgeries.

“We see huge potential in this team and also see this market gradually expanding in the NBA!” a representative from CONMED Corporation told the team’s business manager.

Roger was speechless, so we’re the reason you guys saw a business opportunity, huh.

What kind of team do you think we are?

Really!

Now, the Hawks were undoubtedly one of David Stern’s closely monitored subjects.

After all, the team’s style completely contradicted his preferred “elegant and civilized” approach.

Compared to the Hawks, David Stern now preferred another team.

Los Angeles, Great Western Forum.

Shaquille O’Neal shouted at the camera in dissatisfaction after a loss: “This was totally a foul, they were practically double-teaming me!”

Tonight, the Los Angeles Lakers lost at home to the San Antonio Spurs, 100 to 109.

Shaq scored 34 points and grabbed 15 rebounds, limiting his arch-rival, the Admiral, to a shooting percentage of only 41.2%.

So what?

Tim Duncan scored 25 points with 12 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 blocks, helping the Spurs to win.

Shaquille O’Neal became the perfect stepping stone for Tim Duncan, the superstar rookie.

The game was extremely frustrating for O’Neal; he had exerted his best efforts in guarding David Robinson.

But when Robinson pulled him to mid-range, Duncan could easily score in the paint.

Neither Rick Fox nor Robert Horry could defend Duncan in the low post.

Eventually, the Lakers even deployed Elden Campbell alongside Shaq as twin towers, but Campbell, despite being taller and heavier, was still helpless against Duncan.

Though Duncan was a rookie, as the commentator Magic put it: “He’s got a full set of skills, he doesn’t need to grow or adapt!”

When Shaq chose to fall back and double-team Duncan, Duncan would instantly find Robinson for the mid-range shot.

Initially, there were concerns that the issues Roger and Pippen encountered with the Bulls might reappear with the Spurs—a destined superstar rookie and a veteran star of the team, it was hard for them not to clash.

But surprisingly, David Robinson and Duncan got along very well, which made their cooperation on the court exceptionally seamless, making their twin tower offense flawless.

Beyond offense, their defense let the league experience what domination meant.

If one big man could sweep half the court, and when you got past him, the other big man awaited you under the basket.

If your offensive focus was a center?

Sorry, your fate was even worse.

Under the combined defense of David Robinson and Duncan, Shaq committed a total of 7 turnovers today.

Together with Rick Fox and Robert Horry’s collective 2 out of 7 from beyond the three-point line today, this only made the Spurs’ twin towers’ trap even more firm.

Just like that, Shaq lost.

He lost to his most hated center.

He lost to a rookie.

Thus, O’Neal made those previous comments to excuse himself, to save his own face.

But the media clearly weren’t buying it.

You know, when Shaq arrived, all of Los Angeles was filled with anticipation for him.