268: 118: Truth and Shaq (Asking for monthly tickets!)_2 268: 118: Truth and Shaq (Asking for monthly tickets!)_2 Brian Hill was too tired to get into a verbal fight with Shaq: “Until you slim down, just let Roger carry your picture frame onto the court.”
Kill me now, I’ve had enough!” O’Neal wailed like a giant baby, rolling on the locker room carpet.
Really, it was hard to imagine a 23-year-old, seven-footer acting like a three-year-old denied an excavator, throwing a tantrum on the floor.
But this tactic was utterly ineffective on Brian Hill; he wasn’t Phil Jackson, the kind of coach who would let Shaq slack off.
Seeing Brian Hill walk out of the locker room, O’Neal sighed as he lay on the floor: “What a heartless man, just walks away with his pants in his hands.”
Roger squatted down, patting the lump on the chest: “Buddy, we all know you’d dominate the court right away, but in this condition, it’s not going to work.
You’re too heavy, and you’ll get injured easily.
Your fitness level really isn’t up to par for the games.
You need to take this seriously.
You’ve really let yourself go these past couple of months.”
Roger criticized him in terms Shaq could accept.
“Buddy, I’ve been hanging on for a long time, I can’t take it anymore.”
hanging on for a long time?
Isn’t this just your first day back at training?”
Roger felt that Shaq’s resistance to training was not only due to laziness but also because Brian Hill had been nagging and demotivating Shaq.
Plainly put, you had to coax him to train.
At least for now, Roger still had the patience for it.
So, the next day, Roger suggested to Brian Hill, “How about letting my trainer Joe work with Shaq alone?
You know his capabilities.
In just 20 days, he should be able to get Shaq back in shape to play.
Meanwhile, you can focus on the rest of the team.
We have to deal with the Bulls on the 13th.”
O’Neal and Brian Hill both happily accepted the suggestion, it seemed their mutual dislike was more serious than Roger had imagined.
Shaq started training with Joe Abunassar, and Roger also lent his chef to Shaq.
Honestly, eating nutritious meals wasn’t a painful thing.
If you’re willing to spend and hire a competent chef, even a nutritional meal can be made delicious.
Fishy abalone could be turned into fresh sashimi by a top-class chef.
O’Neal complained to Roger every day, calling Abunassar a cruel fascist.
But, at least he was really training seriously now.
See, how important it is to be with the right person.
The version of Shaq that existed only in the picture frame was coming back to life.
The journey of the Magic Team didn’t stop.
In the next few games, the Magic Team maintained a stable record.
Although they were surprisingly defeated by the Portland Trail Blazers on December 3, it was no big deal.
At the post-game press conference, no one asked Roger about today’s loss.
Almost all the reporters’ questions revolved around one theme—Chicago Bulls.
“Roger, with 10 days left until the second game of the season against the Bulls, do you have anything to say?”
“With 8 days left until December 11, what else do you want me to say?
That’s just an ordinary day.
What do you expect me to say?” Roger countered.
“How would you evaluate the Chicago Bulls’ exaggerated record this season?”
“They’re playing great, but what does that have to do with me?”
J-Flying Pig-Big Bird’ double-team tactic was very successful.
If a conflict erupts again, what tactics will you use this time to ensure victory?”
Roger’s eyes lit up; he had to admit, this was the most interesting question of the day.
“Honestly, I haven’t thought about tactics for that situation, but if a conflict unfortunately erupts again, Scott would definitely use the Dunkirk evacuation tactic.”
The reporters all laughed, and the press conference ended in a cheerful atmosphere.
Today’s press conference also highlighted one point—that the second battle between the Bulls and the Magic was indeed attracting a lot of attention.
Before that, all other games seemed unimportant to the fans and media.
On December 6, there were 7 days left until the rematch between the Magic and the Bulls.
That evening, on the “SportsCenter” show, John Anderson discussed Roger’s chances of becoming the top scorer.
“In yesterday’s game where the Magic crushed the Clippers away, Roger scored 38 points from 19 shots, hitting at nearly a center-like accuracy of 68%.
As of now, Roger is averaging 32.7 points per season.
Although it’s a slight drop from last week, he still dominates the top of the scoring board.
In seven days, will we see Roger score high points in front of Michael Jordan?”
On December 7, there were 6 days left until the rematch between the Magic and the Bulls.
The Chicago Bulls easily defeated last season’s number one in the West, San Antonio Spurs, at home, still not facing their second defeat of the season.
Rodman played for 40 minutes, furiously grabbing 21 rebounds.
The most astonishing part was, he aggressively double-teamed David Robinson!
Last season, he meekly double-teamed Dream, but this season, he aggressively went after the Admiral.
The main aim was to infuriate Popovich.
Of course, it was still Michael Jordan who decided the victory.
He scored 37 points, toying with the Spurs’ defense throughout the game.
At the end of the game, Michael Jordan smiled brightly at the camera:
“Worried about Roger taking the top scorer title?
Honestly, I don’t even remember how many times I’ve been the top scorer.
I never intentionally go for it, but I always end up getting it.
Every year you guys say someone might break my monopoly, but except for the year I wasn’t around, no one has managed it.
Forget the top scorer, he should think about how to keep what he currently has.”