272: 119: More than just breaking up (Vote for monthly ticket!)_2 272: 119: More than just breaking up (Vote for monthly ticket!)_2 Pippen took the initiative and greeted Roger, “How does it feel to eat our dust at second place on the leaderboard?”
Roger responded with a friendly smile, “Shut it, Scott.
Forgotten about the pincer move last time?
You were the only fool who got beaten up one-sidedly.”
Pippen was about to retort but was stopped by Jordan.
Don’t embarrass yourself.”
Jordan meant it literally.
No one knew better than him about Pippen’s strength.
Whether it was fighting or trash-talking, you could always count on Pippen to lose.
Jordan patted Pippen on the chest: “All right, let’s just take the win as the best proof, no need to waste words with them.”
The game was about to start.
Even though Shaq wasn’t playing and the Bulls’ record was terrifying, Orlando fans and Steve Jones alike were full of confidence in the Magic.
Last game, Magic indeed lost to the Bulls, but the Bulls had lost to the SuperSonics, and in turn, the SuperSonics had lost to the Magic.
So, the team definitely still had hope for a win.
Well, the relationship between the three teams’ wins and losses was like the 2024 West season playoffs, helping each other to shave heads.
The referee started the game, and the big battle was about to erupt!
Longley fought for the ball, and the Bulls decided to start with the triangle offense.
Dumars passed the ball to Pippen near the free-throw line, then Dumars took away the defender, and Pippen passed the ball to Jordan, who came out.
Jordan had just caught the ball when Harper went crazy with his pressing.
Of course, Jordan wasn’t going to be stopped by that little pressure.
His desire to attack was very high today, so he decided to take the lead with this one-on-one opportunity.
Jordan thrust out a probing step, and then broke past Harper’s left for a mid-range pull-up jump shot.
The basketball sailed over Harper’s fingertips, but the next second there was a “smack” sound.
A big hand swatted Jordan’s jump shot, sending the basketball out of bounds.
“Timely help defense!
I told you, Roger’s shot-blocking ability has greatly improved this season!
He appeared at just the right moment, in just the right place!
Starting off by blocking Michael, their duel is going to be incredibly intense from the very beginning!” an excited Steve Jones exclaimed.
Roger always liked to set the tone in the early stages of important games.
would he be tangling with Michael Jordan on the defensive end the whole game?
Last season, Roger didn’t take on too many defensive responsibilities because he needed to balance offense and his capabilities were lacking.
But this season, thanks to Roger’s improvement in help defense, Magic might be the strongest rotating defense team in the league, with the entire team’s defense significantly boosted.
Even Michael Jordan had to be extremely careful!
After completing the block, Roger naturally didn’t let Jordan get away with it: “Michael, where are you shooting?
Is this how you achieved a 20-1 record?”
Jordan ignored him and readied himself for the second offense.
Pippen inbounded the ball to Dumars.
As soon as Dumars got the ball, he noticed Jordan in the low post, pushing against Harper and calling for the ball.
Harper was already trying hard to push Jordan out, but he wasn’t as strong as O’Neal in pushing.
He also struggled to front, but Jordan always managed to firmly seal him behind.
Dumars fed the ball steadily inside, and with Jordan back to the basket, facing a double team from McKey, he immediately raised the ball above his head, made a fake pass motion.
The move was effective; McKey thought Jordan was going to pass and even jumped to intercept, only to realize he had been played for a fool once his feet left the ground.
After the fake pass, Jordan quickly made a spin turn, breaking through!
Harper thought Jordan was going to shoot, so he positioned his center of gravity higher, only to be easily penetrated by Jordan.
Harper didn’t know if it was the feel of his center of gravity, but anyway, the man back in jersey 23 was incredibly strong on offense.
Jordan drove into the paint, faced the help defense of Michael Cage, jumped up for a double clutch to avoid Cage and Harper and then kept holding on to the ball without shooting, without shooting, until his body started to fall before he finally tossed the ball toward the backboard.
By the time Jordan’s body began to fall, without a doubt, Harper and Cage had already landed; he intentionally chose such a timing for his shot.
Jordan’s reason for attacking the paint was simple—without Shaq, there was no risk of having the area blocked.
The basketball was still rising, beyond the reach of Cage and Harper.
But Jordan suddenly felt the light under the basket being blocked, and quickly, he saw Roger flying into the paint!
Roger, at the peak of the basketball’s arc, swung his arm down forcefully, slapping the ball out of bounds, blocking Michael Jordan’s shot for a second consecutive possession!
Seeing Roger start the game by continually smothering Jordan’s shots, the Orlando Arena erupted completely.
Jordan didn’t expect Roger to come over so quickly on help defense.
Was this kid’s help defense awareness already so outstanding?
After completing the block, Roger kept up the attack: “20 wins and 1 loss?
No, you are just a loser with a record of 1 win and 8 losses.”
Roger was exceptionally focused on defense today.
He knew all too well that just scoring alone wouldn’t be enough against this Bulls team.
Even if exhausted, he must maintain intensity on both offense and defense!
The Bulls still had the ball.
Jordan, having been blocked twice, was starting to lose face.
He still wanted the ball for the offense, but the Magic’s sideline defense made it difficult for him to catch the basketball.
In the end, Pippen passed the ball to Dumars running to the outside the three-point line.