Champion Creed-Chapter 540 - 196: Sorry, I can’t learn to bow (asking for monthly votes!)_2
Chapter 540: 196: Sorry, I can’t learn to bow (asking for monthly votes!)_2
Facing the coach’s blame, Stevie Smith didn’t speak, but Pippen retorted,
"We’re leading in points, my defense is solid, what’s the problem? Listen, I’ve been teammates with Dennis Rodman, and I know the style of those guys. What they love most is to provoke you, waiting for you to lose your temper. The moment you get physical, you’ll immediately be under the referee’s microscope, and you might even be ejected. Why should we clash with those trash when we can win the game? I don’t want to pay a fine over this stupid incident."
That’s probably why Pippen could never be a locker room leader in his lifetime.
He could refuse to play during the most critical moment of the game for the sake of a shot.
He could delay surgery out of spite, regardless of the team’s interests.
He could also ignore a teammate being attacked just to avoid a fine.
In the end, he was not a person with a strong sense of leadership.
At least not now.
Lenny Wilkens was pissed off by Stevie Smith and Pippen’s reactions, but he certainly couldn’t say, "I order you guys to take out those bastards," could he?
Only an idiot like George Karl would put that kind of talk out in the open.
Lenny Wilkens couldn’t force Stevie Smith and Pippen to do what they didn’t want to do.
But he could put those willing to fight on the court.
His team, his star player, could not just be bullied like that!
Seeing the attitude of Stevie Smith and Pippen, Wilkens gestured broadly, subbing in Bowen and Big Ben, giving them a very simple tactic, "Make those Portland bastards mindful of their moves, that’s my only requirement for you!"
The "King of Physical Play" Big Ben was thrilled, "As you wish, coach!"
Bowen showed an embarrassed smile, "Coach, I’m not really good at playing dirty."
Others were also puzzled, they could understand subbing in Big Ben, but why send Bowen to handle this kind of task?
Bowen, although he played in the NBA last season, only got a 10-day short contract with the Heat. He played for one minute and got a block.
That was all he had left in the NBA thus far.
This season, as one of the main rotations with the Hawks, he showcased decent defensive ability. But so far, Bowen hadn’t done anything excessive to anyone.
He was just playing defense, plain and simple.
Therefore, in the eyes of most, even in the eyes of most of his teammates, Bowen was an honest man.
But Bowen could fool others, not Lenny Wilkens.
During the off-season, in order to thoroughly understand each player’s characteristics and style of play, Lenny Wilkens watched so many tapes of the players that he felt sick.
Bowen’s tape was naturally among them.
Starting in 1993, Bowen played in the French league and the CBA (US Continental Basketball Association). These games might not get much attention, but there were still plenty of game tapes.
From those tapes, it was clear that in France and during his years in the CBA, Bowen was not exactly a squeaky-clean player. He might appear honest, but if anyone on the team could really deal the most damage to the opposition, that person would definitely be Bowen!
So Lenny Wilkens didn’t waste words with Bowen, "No matter what you say, I only care about results, Bruce."
"Alright, I’ll do my best, coach. This kind of thing, I’m really not very good at it," Bowen reluctantly agreed.
The timeout ended, and Bowen walked onto the court hand in hand with Big Ben, replacing Alan Henderson and Stevie Smith.
At that point, the Hawks were only leading by 4 points. Although Roger immediately made two free throws, expanding the lead, the Trail Blazers were undoubtedly brimming with confidence.
They were smug, believing they had begun to take control of the situation.
The Hawks, just as they thought, had no one to stand up and support Roger; the team lacked an "enforcer."
Roger himself had a pretty bad reputation, but as the star player, what excessive actions could he dare take?
Next, as long as they could improve their offensive efficiency, they could preserve their unbeaten record.
And they could make Roger kneel at the Rose Garden!
The Trail Blazers were on the offense, and Isaiah Rider and Brian Grant ran a pick-and-roll. Bowen quickly switched to defend Isaiah Rider.
Bowen was very quiet; he wasn’t into trash-talking, and his plain personality coupled with his boy-next-door looks really could make you think he was a very honest player.
Isaiah Rider, seeing Bowen’s easily-bullied face, felt his dog-eat-dog genes stirring: "Heh, a loser like you can get into the rotation, which says a lot about how pathetic and weak your team is."
"I... I think you should apologize, that’s really rude."
"Hahaha, apologize? Hahahahaha!"
Isaiah Rider was genuinely amused. Is there an NBA player softer than Bowen? He felt like he had grabbed a soft persimmon; this guy was even softer than a lost lamb ready for slaughter.
Since he was so soft and tactile, it was time to squeeze hard!
After a few between-the-legs moves, Isaiah Rider sped up to Bowen’s left side. But Bowen’s defense was solid, his lateral movement was quick, and he didn’t lose his position.
Seeing that his drive wasn’t working, Isaiah Rider immediately stepped back beyond the three-point line, ready to shoot a three.
But then, he only saw Bowen rushing forward and leaping towards him.
