Champion Creed
Chapter 603 - 603 215 Sit down properly for me!

603: 215: Sit down properly for me!

(Asking for monthly tickets!) 603: 215: Sit down properly for me!

(Asking for monthly tickets!) After G1 of the Finals, ESPN released a very unconventional highlight reel.

A compilation of dirty plays between the Jazz and Hawks in G1.

To be honest, the dirty moves Stockton pulled during the game would’ve made Bruce Bowen blush.

Tripping opponents while they navigated screens, elbowing them in the back when the ref wasn’t looking.

If anyone was foolish enough to try to use a screen against Stockton, he’d “accidentally” hit the screener in the groin.

And the refs never paid him any attention because he looked like one of those extras who always gets mugged in superhero movies.

Karl Malone’s highlight reel was even more brutal, his iron elbows might as well have been considered weapons on court.

However, surprisingly, Ben Wallace, a player with limited playtime, had a very strong presence in this montage.

As soon as he was on the court, he’d exchange elbows with Karl Malone and commit vicious fouls against any Jazz player daring to challenge the paint.

He was like a hybrid of “The Wide U” Unseld and “Oak Tree” Oakley.

Only Ben’s physical condition was stronger than theirs, and his technique, rougher.

Kurt Thomas was tough, but not as ferocious as Big Ben.

Bruce Bowen was harmful, but compared to Big Ben’s boldness, he was more sneaky.

Only Big Ben could give Karl Malone trouble in a head-to-head confrontation.

In the last game, Ben only played less than 20 minutes and nearly erupted into conflict with Karl Malone twice.

After today’s practice session with the Jazz, Karl Malone was in such pain, he grimaced from time to time.

If Karl Malone were white, he’d definitely notice all the bruises on his body.

Most of these injuries were gifted by Big Ben.

“Damn it, crazy afro!” Karl Malone was frustrated, never expecting to be harmed by a nobody.

He swore that one day he would kill that bastard!

Currently, with a lead of 1-0 in the series, the entire Jazz team’s morale was high.

They couldn’t wait to extend their victory in the second game.

After training, the whole Jazz team expressed this determination during interviews.

But Karl Malone added something different.

“Karl Malone doesn’t like Ben Wallace.

That little guy thinks he can threaten the Mailman, but he’s just a benchwarmer who can’t get any playtime.

He will never be able to confront Karl Malone directly.

He’s just a pitiful little bug.”

Malone always liked to refer to himself in the third person during interviews; God knows why he had this speaking habit.

You could tell that although Malone and Ben haven’t had many encounters last game, he was already quite displeased with Ben.

Meanwhile, Lenny Wilkens announced that decision during training.

“Next game, I’ve decided to start Ben Wallace.”

Hearing this news, most people didn’t react much.

Only Alan Henderson’s face darkened imperceptibly for a moment, then quickly returned to normal.

Being relegated to the bench during the Finals in his contract year would upset anyone.

However, Alan Henderson did not express his dissatisfaction.

If even Roger didn’t express dissatisfaction with the change, then no one else could.

Although he made huge improvements this season, Alan Henderson was a young man who knew his “place.”

Surprise was written all over Big Ben’s face; he’d never imagined himself as a starter in the NBA Finals.

Last season he barely managed to play six minutes per game with the Bullets, and he’d never started in a game during the regular season.

And now he was going to start in the Finals?

Big Ben felt like he was dreaming.

Seeing no objections, Lenny Wilkens clapped his hands, signaling training to continue.

Swallowing hard, Big Ben approached Roger: “I can’t believe this is real.”

Roger glanced at Big Ben and continued his shooting practice: “Then you’d better start believing, because those bastards in Salt Lake City are all waiting to take us down.”

“Don’t worry, Roger, as a finals starter, I’m willing to die for victory!”

“It’s not that exaggerated, but you could try to make Karl Malone die.”

“I’m ready, Roger, I’m ready!”

“Listen Big Ben, don’t get too excited, or you’ll have trouble sleeping tonight.

Save your excitement for tomorrow night.”

That night, indeed, someone had trouble sleeping, and it was Karl Malone.

Because he got increasingly angry while watching sports programs at home.

Even though the Jazz was leading 1-0, even though they’d had an excellent performance last game,

Still, not many people believed his Jazz could win the Finals.

Isaiah Thomas went crazy mocking Malone and Stockton on NBC’s show.

“John’s good, very, very good, but not great.

The proof is you’ll struggle to find a peak season that belongs to him, because it simply doesn’t exist.

A lot of people call him the king of playoff moments, but then I feel sorry, because it proves that people only remember what’s happened recently and easily forget the past.

In the ’92 playoffs, the Jazz were eliminated by the Trail Blazers, and John went 6 for 25 in the last two games.

In the ’93 playoffs, the Jazz were upset by Seattle, with John shooting 4 for 14 in G4, which could have ended the series.

In the ’94 playoffs, they lost to the Rockets, with John shooting only 41.5% for the entire series, and letting Kenny Smith have the best game of his career.