140: 079: Roger Rule (Requesting Monthly Votes!) 140: 079: Roger Rule (Requesting Monthly Votes!) Roger always felt that Drexler was not humble, he was just simply a man of few words.
Humility and being reticent are not the same.
It was only after Olajuwon reached maturity that he became truly humble, he was talkative, he blew out three of the other four great centers, but at the same time, he always praised the other three.
Last season’s playoffs were full of praise for Roger too.
But Drexler was different, he just liked to keep his words to himself, it didn’t mean he was all that humble.
If he was really humble, he wouldn’t be so resentful in his autobiography about Magic taking the All-Star MVP and making it into the Dream Team.
In 2003, Carter was reluctant to give up his All-Star starting spot to Jordan, but no matter how reticent, he’d at least put on an act in front of the media, “I’m not reluctant, Michael deserves it.”
But faced with a similar situation, Drexler couldn’t even be bothered to pretend, firing directly in his autobiography.
Is that considered humility?
So when Drexler described himself as “overrated,” Roger wasn’t surprised at all.
Strickland’s idiocy can be dealt with later, tonight Roger’s first priority was to take down the more famous Drexler.
Relying on the lineup?
Then tonight, I’ll beat you one-on-one!
The game was about to start, and the Trail Blazers’ starting five were Rod Strickland, Drexler, Buck Williams, Clifford Robinson, and Chris Dudley.
Looking at the Magic Team’s starting lineup, Drexler’s eyes were shining.
He might be fantasizing about what he could achieve if he were in the Magic.
Before the game began, Strickland, long known as a “problem player,” insulted Roger, “Sorry, Ron Harper’s got to stick with Clyde tonight, so you’ve got nowhere to run, you punk.”
Roger just glanced at Strickland, paying any mind to that A Cool Fish was a disrespect to himself.
To tell the truth, Strickland is an exceedingly talented player.
He really has talent.
Especially on the offensive end, his dribbling is both flashy and smooth, and his touch is very soft.
But like his own mentee, he always put too much energy off the court.
His mentee, Kyrie Irving, is busy cultivating immortality, while he’s busy making trouble everywhere.
Seeing that Roger didn’t respond, Strickland continued to taunt, “How come you’re silent now?
Seems like you know you stand no chance against me.”
The game began, and O’Neal effortlessly wrested the ball from white center Chris Dudley’s hands.
O’Neal always got excited when facing white big men; he just loved to torment these plus-sized, fair-skinned targets.
So after the opening whistle, O’Neal delivered a characteristic violent dunk in the Trail Blazers’ paint.
He pushed away Dudley, then took off from a standstill with a one-handed rim hang.
From Dudley’s pained expression, it was clear that O’Neal’s last body check had been full of explosive power.
O’Neal was very active that day because he needed a perfect game to turn the page on his poor performance last time.
Moreover, Roger told Shaq before the game, “Today you can take a few more shots, don’t worry about me.”
From the moment Drexler made those comments, Roger decided to save his energy for the defensive end!
He wanted Drexler to get a real sense of who he was.
After O’Neal scored, Strickland attacked his teammate Dudley with almost vicious words, “I knew it, I knew you’re useless, you couldn’t stop him at all.
Other than reaching up for those easy rebounds that even three-year-olds can grab, do you serve any other purpose?”
Then, he turned to Roger, “You can rely on your big guy in offense, but what about defense?
Time to die, bastard.”
As soon as Strickland finished speaking, he saw Roger totally ignore him and move to guard Drexler directly.
Drexler was somewhat surprised, he admitted his strength had declined since his peak, but he was still the team’s top scorer.
The Magic Team actually let this famously strong-offense, weak-defense guy guard him?
Without hesitation, Drexler decided to go one-on-one!
He thought it was an opportunity to teach the young man a lesson!
NBC’s commentator Bill Walton also found it surprising, “Is Roger taking on Clyde because of his earlier remarks?”
In people’s minds, having Roger defend Drexler was just illogical, because Roger’s defense wasn’t good enough.
Yes, he could guard someone like Maxwell, he could steal from Jordan.
But that didn’t mean Roger became an exceptional perimeter defender.
Why would he take on the opponent’s top scorer?
Drexler dribbled left, and when he saw Roger move with him, he immediately changed direction.
He had always been a very versatile guard, skilled in shooting, driving, ball-handling, and off-ball play.
However, Drexler, who thought he could easily score, was blocked by Roger with a quick lateral move.
But no worries, Drexler felt he had the advantage in a physical confrontation.
Even if he was blocked, he could squeeze past Roger.
He was wrong again; after the body contact with Roger, Drexler wasn’t completely stopped but also couldn’t force his way through.
Drexler had no choice but to pull up and take a jump shot.
But with Roger not shaken off at all, he faced severe interference, and the basketball bounced off the rim.
Roger deliberately spread his hands, “You know what, Clyde, I’ve always thought Jordan was just a boastful egomaniac who didn’t have to watch his mouth.
But at least there’s one thing he didn’t get wrong, you and he really aren’t in the same league, and you’re definitely not in the same league as me either.”