153: 082: He is a better scorer than the scoring champion, and he is a badder bad boy than Dennis!_4 153: 082: He is a better scorer than the scoring champion, and he is a badder bad boy than Dennis!_4 The Spurs lack players on the outside who are especially strong at confrontation, which is a great opportunity for Roger to drive to the basket!
“Yes sir,” O’Neal readily agreed.
The Magic Team inbounded the ball, and Roger caught it steadily.
Rodman had heard the exchange between Roger and O’Neal just before, so he was eyeing Roger like a tiger stalking its prey.
I’m gonna make sure you regret it!
Roger looked at Elliott, the veteran Spurs player who was earnest and hardworking, but defensively mediocre.
With a back dribble, Roger easily shook off a bit of space for a breakthrough.
Facing Elliott’s defense, Roger didn’t choose to stop and pop a jumper to test his touch, but continued to drive hard toward the basket, bumping Elliott to open up a sliver of space before leaping up for a layup.
Elliott was too thin, and the bulked-up Roger, now with a weight advantage, not only didn’t come off worse but even had a slight edge.
At the same time, Rodman jumped high, his long arms swinging as he came over to help defend, but he was a step too slow.
He knocked Roger down in mid-air, the referee blew the whistle, and the basketball went straight into the net!
After a series of missed shots, Roger made a tough and-one!
Lying on the ground, Roger shook his head and gloated, “And one!
Damn ‘Defensive Player of the Year,’ Dennis is just a human ATM!”
O’Neal and Grant walked over and helped Roger up.
Roger nailed the free throw and the Magic led 4-0!
Rodman was incredibly pissed off; it was the first time someone had taunted him .
Roger wouldn’t be affected by his trash talk, instead, it would trigger an even more powerful retaliation.
But what was even more infuriating was yet to come; in the next play, the Admiral still didn’t score.
He had missed a mid-range jumper for the third consecutive time.
Even though he had already missed twice, he chose to shoot from mid-range again nonchalantly.
Rodman’s anger was burning even hotter; he didn’t understand what the Admiral was doing.
Even a guard like Roger knew to drive to the basket!
Even Roger could cry out, “It’s time to tear apart these bastards’ defense!”
Why couldn’t the Admiral show that kind of resolve when it mattered?
Rodman was used to playing under an iron-fisted leader, and had seen first-hand how the Baby-Faced Assassin, with only one functioning leg, took on the Lakers with a determination of “I’m going to kill them,” scoring 25 points in a single quarter.
He had just seen that same quality in Roger.
But David Robinson had never shown that kind of determination.
Rodman muttered to himself, airing his dissatisfaction.
But on the basketball court, nobody cares if you’re satisfied.
Roger still didn’t give up attacking the hoop this round; he aggressively drove to the basket, directly facing the Admiral, and then went for a layup, even if it meant losing his balance completely.
Risking a broken arm, Roger scored with the layup, 6-0.
Roger immediately got up and started getting back on defense, retreating and yelling, “Where are you, little Dennis?
Otherwise, go guard Madonna, you only look tough in a woman’s bed!
The only thing you can handle is the X between a woman’s legs, that’s all you’re good for!”
Orlando’s rebellious son continued to trash talk Dennis Rodman, whom the whole league feared, NBC commentator Bob Costas shook his head, “Dennis seems like a good kid in front of Roger today.”
“Shut up, Roger, shut up!” the referee continued to warn, but Roger paid no heed.
Popovich watched all this in silence; Roger’s adjustments and scoring ability were amazing.
He had heard the rumor that trading Roger was one of the conditions for Jordan’s comeback.
All he could say was that it was the most foolish thing the savvy Michael Jordan had ever done in his life.
The game continued, and seeing that Roger had found his rhythm.
The Admiral realized he couldn’t gamble on his shooting touch anymore; this round, he finally decided to drive inside, only to be met by O’Neal’s violent help defense, which sent the Admiral crashing to the floor, ball and all.
The man at the top of the MVP rankings was in a sorry state on the court tonight.
Even as the Magic were gaining momentum, he still couldn’t toughen up.
Roger caught the blocked basketball and immediately launched a counterattack.
But at this moment, Dennis Rodman, this red-haired beast, was already sprinting in front of Roger.
He had dashed to the frontcourt the moment the Admiral had been blocked, becoming the last line of defense for the Spurs.
He wouldn’t allow it, absolutely wouldn’t allow Roger to score unrestrainedly.
Even if it meant a foul, he was going to make Roger wake up!
If the Admiral couldn’t stand up, then he would!
Roger saw the Worm right in front of him, but he didn’t slow his charge towards the basket and jumped straight at Rodman.
Dennis the Worm didn’t budge, catching Roger in mid-air with both hands, defending Roger just like he once defended Michael Jordan!
Roger now understood why Jordan had obsessed over bulking up; if he weighed 98 kilograms, he would definitely have an advantage in aerial contests.
But at 93 kilograms, Roger was instantly thrown off balance by such fierce defense, unable to steady his center of gravity against Rodman’s interference.
But Roger didn’t give up, he couldn’t go for a dunk anymore, it wasn’t even possible to go for a layup or any other kind of shot.
So, over Rodman, Roger smashed the ball with one hand straight into the basket!
The ball slammed into the net, and Roger fell down atop Rodman.
The referee’s whistle blew, Rodman fouled, the basket was good.
Once again, Roger forcefully finished the play!
Roger and the Worm got up almost simultaneously, and Roger, who had completed the smash over the defender, had transformed into a bloodthirsty beast, his emotions erupting intensely:
“You think you can guard me?
I’m going to destroy you, you hear?
I’m going to destroy you today!
To hell with your coronation ceremony, today’s a funeral for the number one in the West!
Get lost, Dennis, off the court with you, trash like you should sit tight on the bench, or just obediently stay under Madonna’s crutch!”
NBC commentator Bob Costas was equally passionate, “A tough finish, a slam over the player, that’s a rare way to end a play!
Dennis couldn’t stop Roger, 8-0, Roger has taken all the Magic’s first 8 points, and he’s about to shoot a free throw!
Plus, Dennis has already picked up 2 fouls early on because of Roger, and the Spurs need to make a substitution, Coach Bob Hill has already signaled Terry Cummings to get ready at the scorer’s table.”
Watching Rodman, who had been verbally attacked by Roger and now could only smash his water bottle on the bench, watching David Robinson who hadn’t scored a point so far, watching Roger lift his arms high, shaking his fingers, stirring up the emotions of the Spurs fans, dominating the entire opener, Bob Costas added one more line.
“Maybe they’re right, Roger is a better scorer than the scoring champion, nastier than the bad boy Dennis.
Look, even Dennis, who defies any rules, couldn’t defy the Roger Rule.