245: 111: Roger goes all out (asking for monthly tickets!)_2 245: 111: Roger goes all out (asking for monthly tickets!)_2 Roger widened the score gap before sitting out at halftime.
Although the Magic’s offensive performance was weak during the transition period, their defense remained solid and at least prevented the SuperSonics from making an immediate comeback.
Of course, if Shaq had been there, the Magic wouldn’t have needed to struggle with the SuperSonics for just a one- or two-point difference.
But the team’s outstanding defense made Brian Hill more confident.
The SuperSonics seemed to be nearing victory, but they could never firmly secure it!
Brian Hill still told Roger, “Keep firing, firing, firing!”
After so many years, someone finally told Roger that he could shoot at will.
Roger did just that, his firepower was still fierce in the third quarter.
Meanwhile, the SuperSonics ran into some trouble.
Shawn Kemp had made many mid-range shots in the first half, but his touch fluctuated in the third quarter.
Unable to shoot effectively, Kemp had to opt for attacking the basket, but despite his athletic prowess, he couldn’t simply ignore the defense and slam.
Horace Grant capitalized on his defensive experience teamed with Michael Cage’s help defense to limit the Reign Man to 1 out of 4 in the quarter.
At this moment, as the SuperSonics’ offense faltered, the NBC commentators thought it was time for Gary Payton to guard Roger more closely.
However, the stubborn George Karl did not want to change his strategy.
In the fourth quarter, he still didn’t assign Payton to guard Roger, sticking with Schrempf guarding a smaller player.
It was like the Timberwolves in the 2024 Western Conference Finals Game 2 stubbornly sticking with Gobert switching onto perimeter players, which proved to be a fatal error.
George Karl made such a mistake.
In the fourth quarter, the Magic’s rotation was different from the first three quarters.
Roger rested during the first two minutes of the fourth quarter, then returned with 10 minutes left in the game, ready to clinch the victory.
Upon his return, the SuperSonics were leading by only one point under the Magic’s excellent defense.
Payton tried to save face, “From now on, it’s our turn to lead!
Without Shaq, you can’t achieve anything you cancer!”
Roger thought Payton’s remark meant he was going to guard him personally, but when he attacked, it was still Schrempf on him.
Roger admired the iron will of this original Grand Teuton; he hadn’t yet been beaten by Roger.
But even if he wasn’t mentally broken, he had no means to limit Roger on the court.
Even the weakest prey wouldn’t receive mercy from the lion, and naturally, Roger didn’t spare poor Schrempf.
He started to move a lot off the ball, and although Harper was being heavily pressured by Payton, don’t forget that both Magic forwards, Grant and McKey, also possessed excellent passing abilities from the same positions.
Schrempf’s speed started to decrease, and he fell increasingly behind Roger.
Roger kept receiving the ball for jump shots, and the basketball kept passing through the net.
2 points, 4 points, 6 points, 9 points…
Roger almost cruelly punished George Karl’s defensive strategy, and soon after entering the game, he increased his personal score to 43 points!
Schrempf tried hard, doing everything he could to disrupt each shot.
But all poor Schrempf could do was watch as Roger repeatedly broke free, took off, shot, and then taunted Payton.
“The smartest thing George Karl did was not having you guard me, otherwise you would have lost face.”
“I admit you guys are strong, for a team that only makes it to the first round, you really are strong.”
“Gary, move a bit, I’m almost falling asleep!”
Roger set the tone to devour the opponent from the beginning of the fourth quarter, whereas Payton continued to miss shots offensively.
Mid-range jumpers hit the rim, layups were blocked, passes stolen by Roger…
George Karl hoped that by saving Payton’s energy on the defensive end he could improve his offensive stability, but Payton was not a scorer by nature, no matter how much energy he focused on offense, his scoring limit wasn’t high.
With 7 minutes and 30 seconds left in the game, Payton took the ball on offense.
He vowed to break Roger’s momentum, he couldn’t lose to a Roger without Shaq; what would the media say about him?
In that possession, Payton tried to dribble past Harper, but Roger immediately doubled up on him.
Seeing this, Payton quickly passed to Hawkins, but McKey perfectly executed the rotation.
Hawkins had no choice but to pass to Schrempf, however, at the moment Schrempf caught the ball, Harper had rotated back up to him.
The defending champions’ defense was greatly underestimated, NBC commentator Steve Jones had already spoken the truth, “It’s not just Roger who casually scores 40 points that’s terrifying about the Magic, it’s their defense!”
Under the team’s perfect rotations, Schrempf had no option but to pass the ball back to Payton, who retraced and stepped beyond the three-point line again.
Now, it was Roger who was defending Payton.
Seeing a slight opening, Payton immediately took the shot, attempting to score over Roger’s head.
However, Roger’s defense was tighter than Payton had anticipated, and under Roger’s pressure, Payton’s three-pointer missed, and he even fell to the floor upon landing.
Payton pounded the floor in frustration; he was so close, yet he had been defended by Roger!
Michael Cage grabbed the rebound and immediately threw a long pass to Roger, who had already run ahead to the frontcourt.
But the experienced Schrempf was timely as ever, leaping up and slapping away the Magic’s long pass.
The disrupted ball landed near the midfield line where Payton, who had just run back from his fall, caught it.
He turned around and ran back to the spot where he had fallen, ready to take advantage of the Magic’s slow reaction and shoot another three-pointer.