Champion Creed-Chapter 894 - 295: Impossible to catch up with Roger in this life (Requesting monthly tickets!)_6
Chapter 894: 295: Impossible to catch up with Roger in this life (Requesting monthly tickets!)_6
Webber admitted that the damn Hacker from the Hawks gave him a lot of trouble, but Marion hadn’t completely stopped him either.
Do they think they can turn the game around with a substitute?
"Shut up, Mike, you talk too much nonsense!" Webber glared at Bibby, looking quite displeased.
Mike Bibby cursed under his breath, knowing Webber wouldn’t take his reminder seriously, and might even find it insulting.
But...
They really have to be careful of Stephen Jackson’s steals!
No one in the league understands how good Stephen Jackson is better than Mike Bibby!
The game resumed, and Roger first used a steady, tough drive to the basket to cut the deficit to 3 points.
He scored 34 points and 10 assists today, and even if his teammates had lukewarm hands, Roger could still ensure the Hawks maintained an efficient offense.
The real reason the Hawks were in such a passive position was all due to their defense, and Chris Webber was the biggest threat.
Webber was very excited; he wanted to use an immediate attack to shut Stephen Jackson up.
And he indeed accomplished that. In this play, after passing the ball to Bibby, Webber cut inside, and Bibby skillfully passed the ball back to him. Webber easily scored with a one-handed slam!
"Now, who’s your daddy, Stephen?"
"Maybe it’s Roger, but it’s definitely not you!"
Webber: ...
The gap was still 5 points. Roger didn’t expect Stephen Jackson to miraculously lock down Webber in the final moments.
But in crucial times, if the star player misses just once or twice, the game result can change.
Roger can guarantee not to miss, but what about Webber?
When Roger used a steady drifting shot to once again shrink the deficit, the pressure shifted back to the Kings.
The meaning of a shootout is that you have to counter a basket with a basket.
This play, the Hawks’ defense was outstanding; everyone stuck tightly to their match-ups, giving the Kings no chance for off-ball cuts.
Originally facilitating at the high post, Chris Webber saw no passing opportunities, so he decided to go one-on-one.
Resolving someone of Stephen Jackson’s caliber shouldn’t be a problem!
As it turned out, he mishandled the ball on his first dribble.
Marion is an expert at intercepting passes, but not particularly skilled at steals on ball handlers.
In contrast, Stephen Jackson is a master of stealing from ball handlers.
His hands are very quick, always able to poke the ball away before the opponent thinks to protect it.
For second position players, Stephen Jackson’s steal is a threat; it’s even more so for Webber at the four position.
In the previous play, Webber scored through off-ball movement, so Stephen Jackson was helpless against him.
But this time, Webber chose to attack with the ball, which was like walking into a trap.
Stephen Jackson completed the steal, but he was a bit panicked, failing to find a passing target in time, causing the Hawks to miss the chance for a seven-second offense.
D’Antoni raged on the sidelines; he couldn’t accept the offense inexplicably slowing down: "Damn Stephen, tomorrow you’re doing five sets of extra sprints! No, ten!"
Roger didn’t get angry. At this point, he allowed players like Stephen Jackson to make harmless mistakes.
Moreover, Stephen Jackson had already accomplished his most important task—forcing Webber into a mistake!
On this offense, after coming off a screen, Roger hit a long two-pointer that scored again with ease.
The Kings were only leading by 1 point!
Roger’s offensive stability in crucial moments was despair-inducing; it seemed that every shot he took would go in.
After scoring, Roger also deliberately conversed with Mike Bibby: "Mike, hadn’t you just warned Chris that fool would lose? Why does he still look like he can’t accept reality? Pack up your Queens and get going; that’s what happens when you disrespect a King!"
Roger returned Webber’s sarcastic tone right back, while Stephen Jackson gained confidence.
Yes, defending Chris Webber is much easier than defending Roger!
For a defensive specialist, having to stop Roger every day, one gets accustomed to the level of the league’s top scorer. Going back to defend others really feels like suddenly switching a game to easy mode.
The Kings’ Princeton offense was still running. This time Webber backdoored and drew a double team from Kurt Thomas and Stephen Jackson; Webber found Divac at mid-range, but Divac’s mid-range shot clanked under Roger’s timely help defense.
Webber utilized his height advantage to secure the rebound and passed the ball to Bibby to reorganize.
Ultimately, Webber circled to mid-range and got a shot opportunity, and Bibby delivered the ball in time.
However, Stephen Jackson, with his strong mobility, was quickly there to contest Webber.
According to past experiences, Webber would seize the chance to drive, but he was wary of Stephen Jackson’s steals.
Should he attempt a jump shot even with potential interference?
Webber hesitated for a fraction of a second, and his mother’s words flashed through his mind: To overcome obstacles, you must first face them.
Chris Webber pulled up for a jumper, under Stephen Jackson’s contest!
Yet, as soon as Chris Webber released the ball, he rushed toward the basket, missing the shot!
The ball bounced off the rim, and Kurt Thomas grabbed it securely!
His mother was right: to overcome obstacles, you must first face them.
But she didn’t tell him that sometimes facing obstacles doesn’t mean you’ll overcome them.
"Chris Webber missed two consecutive crucial offensive plays, one turnover and one miss. I think this is perhaps the Chris Webber everyone is more familiar with." Matt Lauer shook his head and added.
"Chris Webber will never catch up to Roger in this lifetime."
Afterward, Roger secured the basket in a back-to-the-basket move against Doug Christie, giving the Hawks a crucial lead.
This play sapped the Kings’ morale completely, leading to a passing mistake on the next offense where Divac’s long pass to Bibby sailed straight out of bounds.
The key feature of Princeton is the ability to efficiently switch the ball between strong and weak sides continuously, but they made a mistake in what they do best.
Then Roger assisted Pierce in hitting a three-pointer, sealing the game.
At the end of the game, after scoring 39 points and 11 assists, Roger didn’t even acknowledge Webber.
Just like before, they seemed to no longer be players on the same level.
No player at Roger’s level would be forced into two mistakes by Stephen Jackson in critical moments.
Roger quickly left, while Stephen Jackson patted Mike Bibby’s shoulder: "Sorry Mike, I told you, tonight wouldn’t be pleasant for you. Even if I’m only pushing for Roger, you can feel the intense impact I bring."
-----------------
So what? Should I give them an award? —Lenny Wilkens responding to "How do you view the Kings as the first team almost to defeat the Hawks" question.
Stephen Jackson’s performance was quite good, and we might consider putting him into the regular rotation in the future. Of course, provided he doesn’t screw up the seven-second offense again. — Lenny Wilkens discussing Jackson.
I never successfully defended Roger once, but I stopped Webber twice in just two minutes. That’s their difference, so stop hyping the Webber vs. Roger rivalry; he doesn’t have the qualifications. — Stephen Jackson anticipated Webber chasing Roger.
Indeed, today we played Stephen outside of the original plan. But this shows our roster’s depth; we can always find a player to win the game. Stephen was fantastic, and I’m confident he’ll get better. —Pierce praised Stephen Jackson’s performance.
A failing brand, trying to rely on a failure, to stage a doomed comeback? I must say, it’s the most foolish plan I’ve ever heard, bar none. I can only say it’s Nike’s death struggle. —Roger on Nike signing Webber.
Indeed, it’s Nike’s death struggle, and even Michael Jordan’s income has been impacted.
Due to Nike’s declining brand value, AJ’s sales have been decreasing year by year.
Michael Jordan thinks the "roster expansion plan" is bullshit.
Signing 10 garbage players can’t contend with one superstar.
Nike’s true solution is only one: signing LeBron James in 2003.
This is his and Nike’s last chance.
(Only one update today since it’s over ten thousand words)
