Champion Creed
Chapter 855 - 855 284 Even after many years this sound will still echo in history Requesting monthly votes!_4

855: 284: Even after many years, this sound will still echo in history (Requesting monthly votes!)_4 855: 284: Even after many years, this sound will still echo in history (Requesting monthly votes!)_4 Lenny Wilkens clenched his fist, “Make the shot, kid!”

The basketball bounced off the rim, and the Hawks fans in front of the TV covered their heads.

Shaq had just leaped after blocking Big Ben, ready to grab the rebound.

But just as he was about to touch the basketball, O’Neal pulled his hand back.

Because the basketball hadn’t yet left the rim’s vicinity, according to NBA rules, touching it would be goaltending.

The next second, the basketball fell into the net, and Michael Reed, an obscure second-round pick from last summer, became the first player of the 2000 draft class to score in the finals!

“Michael Reed puts the Hawks ahead by 2, this time he made it, he didn’t disappoint Lenny’s trust, he took the mantle of championship shooter from Jeff!” Magic shouted, cheering for the spectacular game.

Reed gritted his teeth and then punched the air hard!

Those days of practicing in the gym until exhaustion, those days sitting at the end of the bench hoping to hear his name called, those days covered in fear and yet overcoming it, all were rewarded at this moment!

In the ambulance, upon hearing the news of Reed scoring, Jeff Hornacek, who was originally in despair, lifted the corners of his mouth.

Aside from Roger, Hornacek was the Hawks player who trained with Reed the most, so at this moment he felt as gratified as Wilkens and Roger.

Who said this legendary finals only belonged to superstars?

Yes, everyone is a big deal!

Reed is the one Kobe is defending, so you can easily imagine Kobe’s feelings at this moment.

He let a second-round rookie score, even though it was due to doubling Roger causing this consequence, Kobe was very upset.

“You can only rely on shooters?

Huh?

Is this the King?” Kobe grumbled discontentedly next to Roger’s ear.

“No, no, no, I don’t just rely on shooters, I also rely on Paul Pierce, Scottie Pippen, Ben Wallace.

I rely on a bunch of excellent players to win two championships in Atlanta.

However, I can at least win with them.

And you?

My dear Kobe Bryant, you rely on the three-peat center Shaq and still can’t beat me!

So shut up, loser, among the new generation’s Four Shooting Guards, you’re the weakest!

When Tracy, Vince, and AI challenged me, they didn’t have teammates like Shaq, they had way more guts than you!”

Roger’s trash talk almost broke Kobe’s defense because Roger degraded him to a level below the other three of the Four Shooting Guards.

Kobe vented such anger on Reed, posting up with the ball, the whole team spacing out, then turning around for a jump shot.

Number 8 Kobe’s turnaround jumper was with fewer preliminary fakes and less elegance, not as refined as during his number 24 era.

But it was enough, the basketball went in, tying the score.

“Roger, I won’t listen to your crap anymore, I’m gonna shut you up with victory!”

“Too bad, until I retire, you’ll have to keep listening because you’ll keep failing!”

For the rest of the game, the Lakers mostly continued to excessively double-team Roger.

This effectively controlled Roger’s scoring, but during this time Reed hit another three-pointer and a mid-range shot, scoring 8 points in the quarter!

For a second-round pick, there’s no more perfect finals debut than this.

When Reed first came on, some neutral fans not familiar with the Hawks might not know who this plain-looking short-cropped guy was.

But now, the whole world knows a guy named Michael Reed!

The Hawks entered the final quarter of the decisive battle with a 6-point lead after the third, which is definitely not something Los Angeles fans wanted to see.

During the break, Phil Jackson was once again caught in a dilemma.

He absolutely hated the Hawks, hated those little figures.

Hornacek can’t close out the game, Michael Reed can’t close out the game, but they both can be Roger’s accomplices!

“Magic, if the Lakers lose Game 5, they’ll be going back to Georgia trailing 2-3.

Do you think the Lakers still have a chance then?” On the commentary platform, Mike Brown and Magic were discussing the Lakers’ fate.

“I’m not a prophet, and this series is really too close, no one can predict.

But if the Los Angeles Lakers ultimately don’t lift the trophy, God, it will be the most terrifying disaster in Lakers history.

They have the most star-studded lineup in the entire league, bearing the highest expectations, they cannot afford to lose.

And the legend of the Atlanta Hawks will go even further, look at their current lineup, an undrafted player, a second-round pick, nothing formidable in talent.

If such a lineup can beat the Lakers, it would definitely be another miracle created by Roger.

But now we don’t know the outcome, Mike, the Hawks and the Lakers still have to keep making each other bleed.”

Michael Reed continued to play in the fourth quarter, but the Zen Master did not give up on the double team.

Honestly, who would leave a guy who’s won the scoring title six straight years to go one-on-one just to guard a second-round rookie who’s made three shots?

The Zen Master’s strategy was correct because Michael Reed’s shooting accuracy fluctuated in the fourth quarter.

On the one hand, Reed’s shooting wasn’t as stable as during his peak, he’s improved a lot, but not to the point of skyrocketing overnight.

Additionally, Kobe focused more on defending Reed.