144: 080: Competitive sports, where everything depends on being the champion (Vote for monthly tickets!)_2 144: 080: Competitive sports, where everything depends on being the champion (Vote for monthly tickets!)_2 “He dared to confront the coach right after the game, asking to be traded,” another dared to immediately spill the beans.
“Fine, fine, with you two dragons and phoenixes around, the Trail Blazers can rebuild without me.
Drexler’s public demand to leave has once again made him the focus of heated news discussions.
Everyone is talking about which team Drexler will go to; Drexler’s trade has become the hot topic of the entire December.
“The fearsome Roger, he beat Clyde so bad he’s thinking of skipping town.
Now, let’s guess where Clyde might glide off to.
Maybe Patrick Ewing needs a more reliable scorer than Starks?” — The New York Times.
“I love the term ‘Roger Rule,’ Bill Walton is a commentator who really knows how to sum things up.
As for Clyde, he should be grateful that I helped him escape from hell.
I hope he finds a good team and even more that he doesn’t face us after the transfer, or it would be embarrassing if he still couldn’t beat us, making his team strength theory unsustainable.” — Roger commenting on Drexler’s post-game trade request.
“Let the fool run if he wants to escape; my team doesn’t need a coward like him!” — P.
Carlesimo angrily responded to the reporter’s question.
“I won’t say anything to try to keep him.
Clyde leaving is definitely good for my development, I’m just that kind of honest person.
I have no issues with Roger.
I said before the game that the only difference between me and him was the number of shots, meaning the team doesn’t need to squeeze my shooting rights, but actually, I only admire Roger, really.
As I said, I am a very honest person.” — Rod Strickland discussing Roger and Drexler.
Throughout December, Drexler was rumored to be involved with nearly half of the league’s teams.
While everyone was concerned about where Drexler would go, the Magic’s record kept improving.
As Roger said, as long as there are no problems in the locker room, everything else is a minor issue.
After rolling over the Trail Blazers, the Magic kept winning battles sequentially.
Most importantly, Roger and Shaq beat the Bulls for the second time this season in the Christmas battle!
For the second consecutive year, the Magic faced the Bulls in the Christmas battle.
Last year, Roger was still wearing the red No.
14 jersey, leading the Bulls to expose the Magic.
But this year, wearing the Magic’s jersey, he buried the Bulls in return.
In this game, Roger and Jordan did not put on another high-scoring showdown.
After the last loss to the Magic, the Zen Master and Jordan had a lengthy talk, which was nothing new: “We need teammates to integrate into the team,” “You need to trust your teammates more.”
Jordan’s feelings about the triangle offense are complex; he knows it helped him win three championships, but it feels like dancing with shackles on.
However, considering the Zen Master is his most trusted coach, he followed it anyway.
This approach worked, and today everyone in the Bulls put on a good performance.
Jordan scored 29 points, Pippen 21, Webber 16, Kukoc 12.
Everyone on the Bulls team integrated into the offense, and everyone played with great energy.
Yet the Magic still won 103 to 97.
The reasons are twofold.
First, the Bulls’ rebounding was completely dominated by the Magic.
O’Neal only scored 19 points today but grabbed a total of 22 rebounds, including 14 offensive rebounds, a rare occasion where there were more offensive rebounds than defensive ones.
Horace Grant scored 24 points and 11 rebounds.
Whenever facing the Bulls, it seemed like he was injected with an energizing serum.
Fun fact: In the original history, Grant put on his best career performance in the ’95 series against the Bulls, averaging 18 points, 11 rebounds, and a 64% shooting percentage.
Some people like iguanas, but Grant loved the Bulls, always hard to handle when facing them.
The second point for the win was Roger, who scored 33 points today, providing the Magic with a powerful offensive output.
Again, his personal score exceeded Jordan’s, and he led his team to victory.
After the last loss, Jordan said Roger had only won one game, and he would soon come back.
This comforted the injured Chicago fans.
But today, once again after losing to the Magic, the Chicago fans were desperate.
If this had been a playoff series, the Bulls would be one step away from the cliff’s edge.
The last Christmas battle was won because of Roger.
This year’s loss, because Roger was on the other side.
It was the Bulls themselves who handed the keys to victory over to Orlando!
“Someone should be held accountable for this damn mess!
Whoever advocated trading Roger should go to hell!” an angry Chicago fan ranted outside the United Center after the game, his emotions as heated as a Chicago version of “Geneva, refund!
The pressure on Michael Jordan was increasing; his return, his decision to push away Roger…
All of these seemed to be thorough mistakes.
And these two games were just the beginning of the repercussions of those misguided decisions.
This time, Jordan couldn’t even say “It’s just one game” anymore; in fact, he didn’t even attend the press conference.
The reason was a groin injury.
Smart groin, every GOAT needs a good helper.
After the game, Phil Jackson defended Jordan, “Can you assholes stop asking all these stupid questions?
Michael is only human, and like all humans, he will definitely experience failure!
Did we lose 21 regular-season games in ’91, 15 in ’92, and 25 in ’93?
Did that stop us from winning the championships?
Today, it’s just one damn regular-season loss!”