Champion Creed
Chapter 602 - 602 214 Look he's a very reliable person asking for monthly votes!_3

602: 214: Look, he’s a very reliable person (asking for monthly votes!)_3 602: 214: Look, he’s a very reliable person (asking for monthly votes!)_3 Logically, this was the Hawks’ chance to change the situation.

But after Hornacek missed the shot, the offensive rebound was snatched by Mutombo, who immediately passed it to Bryon Russell.

Luckily, Roger’s defense was timely, and Bryon Russell’s three-pointer didn’t go in.

But the rebound was grabbed again by Karl Malone!

Lenny Wilkens nearly burst a blood vessel on the sidelines, “Damn it, what are you doing!?

Do you really think you are champions already?

I’ve never seen a champion so bad at rebounding!”

Losing both regular-season games to the Jazz was partly because the Hawks couldn’t compete with the Jazz on the boards.

Before this game, Lenny Wilkens emphasized time and again that everyone must aggressively go after rebounds.

The Hawks could handle the Pacers when it came to rebounds thanks to their aggressiveness.

Although the Pacers’ Davis duo was also mad about rebounds, their rebounding abilities were really just the ceiling amongst ordinary players.

As for Rik Smits, this 224 cm Dutch giant, despite his intimidating height, has been criticized for years precisely for not liking to fight for rebounds.

So, the Hawks could compensate for the height difference in the last round thanks to their aggressiveness.

But this round, facing two truly elite rebounders in Karl Malone and Mutombo, having just Kurt Thomas was definitely not enough.

When Karl Malone grabbed the offensive rebound, it meant that the Jazz had obtained their third “second chance” at the play.

This time, Malone, in perfect sync, passed the ball to his trusty partner Stockton.

As you know, John Stockton would never refuse a chance to stab the opponent with the knife, something Charles Barkley could strongly resonate with.

With a flick of his hand, the basketball swooshed into the net, ending the possession.

Stockton’s three-pointer gave the Jazz Team a 6-point lead.

Bill Walton shook his head in annoyance, “All the problems lie with the rebounding, the Hawks’ shorter lineup may dominate in the East, but in the West, where there are more skilled big men, they are clearly struggling!”

Afterwards, Roger narrowed the gap with a mid-range turnaround bank shot.

But the team was still down by 4 points.

Karl Malone’s mid-range shot didn’t go in, yet it was Mutombo who followed up with a put-back, extending the lead back to 6 points.

At this moment, probably countless Chinese fans understood deeply the phrase from “Slam Dunk”, “To control the rebounds is to control the game.”

Fans from the original history in China felt the same, facing the Jazz, the Rockets had been crushed on rebounds more than once.

In the end, the Hawks failed to close this 6-point gap.

92 to 86, the Utah Jazz secured the first victory of the Finals at Delta Center!

After the game ended, Karl Malone let out an excited howl towards the sky.

His Utah Jazz could finally swagger at home!

He thought that footage of his skyward howl tomorrow would definitely occupy the screens of all major news broadcasts!

However, the camera at the scene didn’t focus on the winner Karl Malone, but instead on Roger, who was walking off the court with his hands on his hips.

For the first time in four years, Roger was trailing in the Finals.

Today, Roger’s performance was still impeccable, with 34 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block.

The entire Hawks team scored only 86 points.

But if they couldn’t win the game, all these numbers were meaningless.

After the game, in the locker room, Pippen was lying on the treatment bed, receiving electrotherapy.

In the past, he only needed pre-game electrotherapy, but now he also needed it post-game, or he would be tormented by pain all night.

Stevie Smith stared blankly at his own hands, unable to believe he had been defended by someone as short as Stockton with a 4 out of 12 shooting, 1 for 5 in three-pointers.

Stockton’s craftiness annoyed Stevie Smith, but he was well aware that it was not an excuse.

Alan Henderson didn’t utter a word, having been thoroughly schooled by Karl Malone tonight.

Malone scored over him, grabbed rebounds over him, and did as he pleased over him.

He felt like he was nothing but a puppet for Karl Malone.

Lenny Wilkens, on the other hand, was raving in the locker room, “I said we need to fight more aggressively for the rebounds!

What are you doing?

Damn it, if you don’t want to win the championship, we might as well go fishing in April like we do every year!”

Most of the time, Lenny Wilkens’ shouting could inspire the team, but not tonight.

The atmosphere was already suppressed, and Wilkens’ shouting now made the entire team’s mood even worse.

Actually, just now on the court, everyone had already exhausted themselves protecting the rebounds.

It’s one thing to lack fighting spirit, like the men’s basketball teams of the 2020s, and let others dominate the boards.

But it’s another thing to still be outrebounded despite giving your all.

Everyone had already done their utmost, yet to be scolded mercilessly by the head coach, that does no good for confidence and morale.

Karl Malone was right; for the Hawks, they had to overcome not just physical fatigue but mental fatigue as well.

But now Lenny’s temper would only increase everyone’s mental fatigue and speed up the team’s collapse.

As the locker room leader, Roger had to find a way to get the team through this tough time.

After attending the press conference, most people had already left the locker room.

Lenny Wilkens, wearing reading glasses, sat on a chair, staring at the roster, frowning deeply.

Roger took this opportunity to talk to Lenny Wilkens.

“Lenny, do you have a moment?”

“What’s up, Roger?”

“I think we need to adjust the starting lineup,” Roger got straight to the point.

Lenny Wilkens looked up, his reading glasses perched on his nose, his eyes looking over the glasses at Roger.

If it were any other player daring to meddle with his work so directly, he would have erupted in anger.

Old-school coaches were not like the new-generation coaches like Tyronn Lue, who sometimes just stand by idly.

They were incredibly possessive of tactical autonomy; not just players, but even general managers and owners couldn’t meddle with strategy or deployment.

But Lenny Wilkens was very aware that Roger was a privileged player.

He knew that from the first day they met.

At that time, Lenny Wilkens didn’t like the lineup full of shorter players, nor did he like Roger’s recruitment plan.

But in the end, the management listened to Roger.

And it turned out, Roger was right.

The Hawks, with that lineup, secured 60 wins and made it to the finals.

Roger indeed was a privileged player, but also a discerning one.

So, Lenny Wilkens was willing to discuss tactics with him.

“Who do you want to start?”

“Ben Wallace.”

Lenny Wilkens admitted he was a bit surprised.

He thought Roger would suggest Clifford Robinson.

Robinson might not have the mobility of Alan Henderson, but he had the height and could shoot threes, balancing a bit of rebounding and offense.

But Ben Wallace?

The kid was strong in defense, even stronger in rebounding.

But every second he was on the court was a blow to the offense.

This season, Lenny Wilkens rarely put Big Ben and Kurt Thomas on the court at the same time because that would give too few offensive options.

“With Ben on the court, the double-teams you face will be tighter,” Lenny Wilkens reminded.

“I know, but we need the rebounds.

Clifford and Alan are good, but Big Ben is our best rebounder.

Many times, we stop the Jazz’s first attempt, but they steal too many points with second-chance points.

We must prevent that.

As for the Jazz’s double-teams, I’ll handle it.

Ben is my little brother, I trust him; he’ll take care of those damn rebounds.

I know he seems clumsy, but he’s actually very reliable.”

Just as Roger finished speaking, Big Ben suddenly rushed back into the locker room.

“Damn, who’s seen my phone?

Ah, coach, you’re still here?

Roger, have you seen my phone?

I clearly took it just now, but I can’t find it anywhere on the bus!”

Roger sighed, pointed at Big Ben’s hand: “It’s right in your hand.”

Big Ben looked down in disbelief, then sheepishly scratched his head and left awkwardly.

Roger looked at Wilkens, shrugged: “Where were we?

Oh right, see, just like I said, he’s a reliable guy.”