Champion Creed-Chapter 923 - 304: Ending? Drowned in One’s Own Blood! (Requesting Monthly Tickets!)_3

Chapter 923: 304: Ending? Drowned in One’s Own Blood! (Requesting Monthly Tickets!)_3

So, be grateful. If it weren’t for LeBron James making a startling debut and delivering two rounds of awe-inspiring Finals performances in 2007 and 2020 to save the League, this series would have been the lowest-rated Finals in history. LeBron made a terrible Finals less terrible, and not everyone can do that.

In March, the Hawks, mentally fatigued, slackened a bit and lost three games. Yet, even so, the team still firmly held the top spot in the Eastern Conference.

Finally, the regular season entered its last half month.

Roger had long been itching for the playoffs, and April brought more good news for the Hawks: Jeff Hornacek could participate in training.

On the first day of April, when Michael Reed arrived early as usual at the training center, he found he wasn’t the earliest to arrive that day.

The earliest was Hornacek, who was already practicing jump shots when Reed arrived. freeweɓnøvel~com

Seeing Hornacek, Reed froze for a few seconds: "Damn, for the past few months, I’ve been thinking of you as the assistant coach. I forgot you haven’t retired!"

Jeff Hornacek shrugged: "You should be glad I haven’t retired. Have you ever seen an assistant coach who shoots harder than the best shooter on the team?"

Spending a lot of time with someone can make you become more like them; in Salt Lake City, the once very earnest Jeff Hornacek now naturally talked with an air of confidence.

Of course, Roger would surely tell you, it’s all Paul Pierce’s fault.

But who exactly is influencing whom, everyone knows full well.

Upon hearing Hornacek, Michael Reed, who firmly held the starting power forward position this season, got excited: "Old man, cut the crap. Draw your gun, let’s have a shooting match!"

When Roger arrived promptly at 10 o’clock at the training center, the whole locker room was talking about one thing: "Michael lost to Jeff in the three-point shooting contest."

Roger’s first reaction was the same as Michael Reed’s: "Why is our assistant coach competing in shooting with the players? Oh right, Jeff hasn’t retired yet."

Roger quickly changed clothes and went to the training court, seeing Hornacek doing some recovery strength training with the help of the trainer.

He is only allowed to participate in training now, not immediately ready to play in games.

But with basketball, you have to take it step by step.

Hornacek is still a lot of preparation away from really being able to play.

The level of effort that Jeff Hornacek puts in far exceeds everyone’s expectations; during training, you can’t tell he is a 39-year-old veteran.

In every offensive play, he actively repositions; in every defensive play, he exerts his utmost effort.

He is just a role player, even one who has been left out of the rotation all season.

But he seems to have an obsession.

Lenny Wilkens has bluntly told him: "I can’t guarantee you any playing time in the playoffs, Jeff."

Wilkens’s decision is normal; the team has been gelling all season, and it’s unlikely to suddenly disrupt the rotation in the playoffs.

Moreover, Jeff Hornacek hasn’t played in nearly a year and is already 39 years old; no one knows how much form he can still retain.

But even so, Jeff Hornacek is very diligent in media-participation training.

The Dream, being the same age as Hornacek, finds the intensity of the lethal 3-point shooter’s training unbelievable.

You know, the Dream is still in the main rotation, and he plainly says, "If I were you, I definitely wouldn’t have the motivation anymore."

Being a backup isn’t scary; not having guaranteed playing time is terrifying because it makes you feel like you don’t know what you’re working hard for.

But Jeff Hornacek doesn’t care. He tells the Dream: "What if there’s still a moment where they need me? I need to be prepared for that."

Prepared for a moment that may never come?

Olajuwon thinks either Hornacek is crazy or his desire to win a championship surpasses everyone else’s.

On April 13th, against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Jeff Hornacek finally had his debut of the 01-02 season, playing three minutes in garbage time and scoring four points.

After the game, Roger patted Hornacek on the shoulder: "Welcome back, Jeff."

But Hornacek wasn’t too excited, joking with Roger: "Garbage time doesn’t count as an official comeback. Don’t worry; my two minutes of wait will soon be over."

Roger truly trusts this veteran shooter, just like he trusted Saru back in the day.

He will definitely be of use in the playoffs, definitely.

Four days later, with the Hawks winning in Boston, the team’s regular season record was set at 67 wins and 15 losses.

Leading the 63-win Lakers and 61-win kings, and far ahead of the 58-win Pistons and 52-win Nets.

This is probably why Roger is gradually losing interest in the regular season.

Just like he told the reporters: there’s nothing much to say, the regular season thing, isn’t it easy to casually play and still end up first?

The day before the playoffs started, Roger appeared on ESPN for an exclusive interview, talking about the upcoming playoffs.

The world’s focus was on the Pistons and Hawks; everyone believed they would meet in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Roger gave the Pistons high praise: "They are really tough; Old Joe built a very, very good team. But if we meet, they will face only one outcome."

"What outcome?"

"Drown in their own blood!"

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Amar’e Stoudemire became the McDonald’s All-American Game Most Valuable Player in 2002. After the game, he held up a Magic Team’s number 14 jersey and wept. Look, Roger’s influence is everywhere. The kids in Orlando still love him, and the fans in Orlando still love him. He will be back! — "Orlando Sentinel".

Aside from my family, the person I am most grateful to is Roger because Roger gave me the most precious gift in the world: free but sincere encouragement! He is the greatest player in my mind, bar none! — Amar’e Stoudemire in his MVP acceptance speech.

Is he the next high school prodigy!? Will Amar’e Stoudemire, who only played two full seasons in high school, enter the lottery draft area? — "Sports Illustrated".

New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls, Golden State Warriors, Memphis Grizzlies, Houston Rockets... Who will be lucky enough to draft Yao Ming? — "The New York Times".

If I get the No. 1 pick, I would choose Jay Williams or Caron Butler. Look at Shawn Bradley’s fate now, only fools would draft Yao Ming. You can’t expect China to have two players like Roger! — Charles Barkley on a show.

After a vote by the League Board of Directors, Russian Mikhail Prokhorov completed the acquisition of the Golden State Warriors. It is reported that he promised to personally finance a brand new, modern sports complex in downtown San Francisco for the Warriors, thus gaining the support of most people. The San Francisco City Government expressed great welcome. — "San Francisco Chronicle".

I say put everything else aside, focus, we are about to witness the most intense and bloody Eastern Conference Final since Jordan and Roger! — "Atlanta Journal-Constitution".