Champion Creed
Chapter 701 - 701 242 Why is it different from that time with KG!

701: 242: Why is it different from that time with KG!?

(Asking for monthly tickets!)_2 701: 242: Why is it different from that time with KG!?

(Asking for monthly tickets!)_2 There’s nothing that can boost one’s value more than a championship.

Just look at Alan Henderson from the Hawks, who went to the free agent market and signed a seven-year, $50 million contract directly.

Alan Henderson isn’t bad, but is he really that strong?

This season with the Vancouver Grizzlies he’s only managed 13+7.

That’s the premium a championship title brings you.

So today, Sprewell isn’t just angry; he’s fighting for his next contract.

He has no reason to lose.

He wants to win a big contract and make Roger and Pierce relive Kevin Garnett’s classic moments!

On the other side, on the Hawks’ half of the court, Paul Pierce is the center of attention tonight, with the camera giving him close-ups from time to time.

His series of bold statements on last night’s live broadcast have won him extremely high popularity.

Pierce is excited too, because Lenny Wilkens has just agreed to let him match up against Sprewell.

He wants to vent all the fire he feels from losing to Vince Carter on Sprewell!

Pierce doesn’t like Sprewell, not just because he’s always sarcastic but also because of Sprewell’s key performance in last season’s Eastern Finals game seven, which devastated him.

The teams gather, and the Heat fans’ cheers never stop.

Pierce and Sprewell are just separated by the mid-court line, inevitably exchanging a bit of friendly banter.

“Paul, I didn’t expect you to enjoy being a dog so much.

You’re the first I’ve ever seen to announce on a nationwide live broadcast that you want to be someone’s dog.

I’ll give you a lesson in etiquette later, so you’ll know how to talk to a veteran,” Sprewell said.

“And you, my friend, don’t even qualify to appear on a nationwide live broadcast, only able to spout nonsense on local Miami radio,” Pierce replied, smiling.

Spree didn’t pay much attention to Pierce but turned his guns on Roger: “Hey, you’re just going to hide behind your little buddies and bodyguards forever, right?”

Roger coldly looked down on Sprewell with a condescending gaze and did not answer.

Sprewell’s blood pressure was already rising, and this feeling was all too familiar!

It was exactly this kind of superior look that Roger had when he watched him be thrown out this summer, cigar in mouth!

Sprewell detested Roger’s lofty gaze.

Damn it, loser!

“Tonight, you will lower your arrogant head and look me in the eyes,” Sprewell cursed.

“No,” Roger said calmly, “you will never be worthy of looking me in the eye.”

Spree laughed, “KG was just as tough before you guys beat him up.

You better not force me to take action!

The game started, and it was Heat’s ball possession.

The Heat’s offense has improved notably this season, firstly because they’ve become better coordinated.

You have to understand, last season Sprewell only moved from sixth man to a starter a week before the playoffs began, and they weren’t that coordinated on the offensive end.

Secondly, it was because Jamal Mashburn’s offensive performance had improved this season.

After his major injury, Mashburn had been exploring a new path, searching for a playing style that would suit his transformation.

Now, he no longer relied on the explosive power from his “Monster Mash” days, but had become a skillful small forward.

His elbow area isolations were one of the Heat’s go-to strategies this season, and besides, Jamal Mashburn had managed to keep his three-point shooting percentage stable at 40% while averaging nearly four attempts per game.

Even by the standards of the small ball era, this was a top-tier perimeter performance for a wing.

If Mashburn seemed like a defensive small forward in the past few seasons, this year, he undoubtedly achieved unity of offense and defense at the level of a role player.

So this season when Jamal Mashburn had the ball, Roger had to defend him attentively, unable to casually help out on others.

Quickly, Jamal Mashburn easily passed the ball to Allan Houston, who had shaken off Pippen.

With no one free to help defend, Allan Houston took his mid-range shot just a step behind the free-throw line, his favorite offensive area, where 33% of his points came from each game.

Pippen managed to disturb Allan Houston a bit, but the basketball still hit the mark steadily.

Allan Houston was in good form tonight, a hot-handed Allan Houston could rival the most talented players on some nights.

That’s the Heat’s offense this season: Sprewell and Jamal Mashburn could both hold the ball and attract the defense, Allan Houston moved without the ball, and Mourning took care of the paint.

Riley, since leaving the Lakers, probably never coached such a luxuriously offensive team again.

The offense’s progress combined with solid defense was the reason outsiders believed the Heat had the strength to fight for the championship.

The Heat took the lead on Christmas Eve, but Miami fans hadn’t been happy for long before their prized defense was broken through.

As soon as the defense started, Jamal Mashburn was quite confident.

Last season’s playoffs had earned him the reputation of “Roger Killer.”

It was during that series that he forced Roger to shoot under 40% twice.

The media also enjoyed promoting Jamal Mashburn this way, like Jordan Killer, Kobe Killer…

If you’re one of the league’s top offensive players, the media is eager to find you a nemesis.

Of course, only truly elite offensive players deserve such attention.

If a guard under 190 centimeters can shut down your post play, then no media outlet will bother to find you a nemesis.