214: 103: Opportunities only come one or two times (Combining two chapters for monthly votes!) 214: 103: Opportunities only come one or two times (Combining two chapters for monthly votes!) 3 to 1, the Orlando Magic, having had one home game stolen, came back to win three straight and reached match point.
Ever since the Magic adjusted their defensive strategy to man-to-man, the Rockets hadn’t won even a single game against them.
As someone who had seen another version of the ’95 Finals, Roger knew exactly where the Rockets’ pain points were.
In the original history of the ’95 Finals, with Shaq and Dream exploding and in dire need of outside support, the Magic’s perimeter was as clean as if they’d used an enema.
Throughout the entire Finals, Nick Anderson and Dennis Scott’s shooting percentages were only 36% and 31%, respectively.
Nick Anderson had his mental defenses completely collapse after being scolded by O’Neal in the locker room for missing four consecutive free throws at the end of the first game, which led to him never recovering throughout the Finals and losing all confidence.
Not to mention three-pointers and field goals efficiency, Nick Anderson’s free throw percentage was an inconceivable 30% for the entire Finals.
Dennis Scott was too excited from beating Jordan, celebrating with champagne before the Finals even started, followed O’Neal to Atlantic City for a wild time, and returned with no state left at all.
In the original Magic system, Nick Anderson and Dennis Scott had to take quite a number of shots, a very important part of the Magic’s scoring composition.
Penny only had two more shots than Nick Anderson in the regular season.
But in the Finals, when they couldn’t handle so many shots, couldn’t turn those attempts into points, then the Magic’s healthy scoring system was naturally disrupted.
Penny did take on some of their scoring responsibilities, trying to fill the gap, and indeed performed quite well.
But, after all, he wasn’t a super scorer.
His scoring performance was not bad, but still not enough to defeat the Rockets.
His ability to assist was strong, but facing two teammates with shooting percentages below 40%, no matter how beautifully you pass the ball, it won’t help; it might be more effective to just put the ball in the basket yourself.
Roger did exactly that with back-to-back 40+ games, suppressing the Rockets with his fierce individual firepower, something Penny couldn’t do.
Basketball is like that, many times, a difference in one point is enough to change the entire battle situation.
But what Roger had done was still not enough.
He had to maintain his previous performance in the upcoming games.
With O’Neal mired in double-teams, and defensive players like Harper and McKey unable to handle shooting responsibility,
Roger had to stand out.
Flying Pig was right, the Rockets are like a Texas cockroach.
Unless you crush them completely, never think you have won.
Now, all of Houston was enveloped in an atmosphere of despair.
Although the Rockets had won all their do-or-die games in the playoffs this year, the 1 to 3 deficit in the Finals was too dangerous.
On the day of Game 5, Kenny Smith was also very nervous.
The Rockets had finally fought their way to the Finals, surmounting incredible odds, and he didn’t want to lose to a young team like the Magic.
The journey they had been through deserved a better ending.
But with one more loss, their season would be over.
Kenny Smith couldn’t even imagine that moment, what he’d feel if it really happened.
Kenny Smith arrived at the parking lot at the same time as Mario Elie and Horry.
After parking their cars, Elie and Horry quickly noticed Kenny Smith slamming the car door several times without being able to close it, cursing all the while.
They immediately approached him: “What happened?”
“Damn it, the door must be broken!” Kenny Smith cursed, and hit the car door again.
It still didn’t close.
When Kenny Smith tried to close the door again, Horry grabbed his wrist.
Horry could clearly feel Kenny Smith’s hand shaking!
His hand was shaking so badly that he couldn’t apply force, so of course, he couldn’t close the door.
Horry took Kenny Smith’s hand off the door and gently pushed it closed himself: “Kenny, relax a bit.”
Without hiding his emotions, Kenny Smith was about to collapse: “How to relax?
We’re about to be out!
We’ve worked so hard for this; we’ve finally gotten to this point.
Are we just supposed to be a stepping stone for those Orlando bastards?
Kenny Smith’s reaction was normal.
Indeed, the Rockets had won every do-or-die game in the playoffs so far.
But not everyone loves the feeling of escaping death with every narrow win.
If not forced, who would want to experience death-defying escapes?
If possible, who wouldn’t want to experience a 3 to 0 lead?
Mario Elie, standing to the side, didn’t speak either; he was just as nervous.
Though not as intense as Kenny Smith, Mario Elie was very unrestful inside.
And thinking of Roger made Mario Elie even more upset.
Roger, the team simply couldn’t restrain him.
The guy was like an outside version of Olajuwon, no matter how you defended him, he had a move to counter.
Just thinking about how Roger had easily scored 40 points in two consecutive games gave Elie a headache.
The three headed towards the locker room, with the two guards, aside from Horry, laden with heavy thoughts.