285: 123: Roger only plays high-end games (ask for monthly tickets!) 285: 123: Roger only plays high-end games (ask for monthly tickets!) Roger went to Reebok headquarters for meetings and took Laetitia around Orlando for a few days, during which the Magic played two games, winning one and losing one.
After defeating the Bulls, the Magic lost to the Jazz in a back-to-back game the following day.
However, they soon claimed a victory in their match against the weaker team, the Raptors.
Even without Shaq, the Magic had only lost five games by the end of December, two of which were because Roger was also suspended.
This record was undoubtedly impressive, far exceeding people’s expectations.
After all, when Shaq was injured, many Orlando fans worried that the team’s performance would plummet dramatically.
If the Chicago Bulls hadn’t occupied the top spot, Roger would have received much more praise.
However, there was bad news for the Magic: during the game against the Jazz, perhaps due to the fatigue from the back-to-back schedule, Horace Grant was injured in the second quarter and left the game.
The team doctor confirmed it was a hamstring injury, probably sidelining him for about 4-5 weeks, and he was expected to miss around 20 games.
Roger felt quite helpless, as Horace Grant was the type of player you don’t realize how great he is until he’s not there.
No matter what, he was a top defensive forward last season.
Although he was average on the offensive end, he was indeed very important on defense.
Luckily, Shaq was about to return, expected to make his season debut in the Christmas showdown against their Finals rival, the Rockets.
So, with both starting big men out, Roger only needed to hold on for three more games.
The opponents in these three games varied in strength; the Philadelphia 76ers and the Timberwolves were considered non-threatening teams.
Perhaps the only team that would require some effort from Roger was Riley’s Miami Heat.
That’s right, just some effort from Roger.
No media dared to guarantee that the Heat would definitely win.
Keep in mind, this was the Orlando Magic without two starting big men, yet the Heat’s strength was exactly in the big men!
Even so, no media dared to underestimate the defending champions.
There was no way around it, Roger had shown the world just how great he was with his performances over the past two months.
Indeed, the day before the game with the Philadelphia 76ers on “SportsCenter”, John Anderson bluntly stated:
“The only question is how Roger will torture Jerry Stackhouse.
Although the North Carolina No.
3 pick has been averaging 20.3 points so far this season, he undoubtedly poses no threat to Roger.”
The night before the game, reporters photographed Laetitia walking hand in hand with Roger as they exited a cinema.
They had just watched the hit movie “GoldenEye”, the first 007 film starring Pierce Brosnan.
Their intimate actions made it clear that they were more than just friends.
Indeed, they had just made their relationship official that morning.
In the evening, after her shower, Laetitia intentionally wore just a bathrobe while giving Roger a French lesson.
Perhaps inspired by “GoldenEye”, which is known for its steamy, passionate scenes—the most suggestive of which involved Famke Janssen’s hitwoman character fighting Bond in a bathrobe.
Roger also found that scene quite appealing; one could always trust the strength and beauty of female roles in movies from that era.
As a kid, Roger used to watch 007 movies as educational films.
Under Laetitia’s bathrobe, Roger admitted, he couldn’t concentrate on the lesson that day.
Seeing Roger’s wandering eyes, Laetitia sat directly on his lap: “Tell me honestly, did you really invite me here to teach you French?”
“Then I’m very disappointed, that just shows I have no allure.”
“That’s not necessarily true.
If you safely return to France, that means you have no allure, but clearly, you can’t do that.”
“Am I in some kind of danger?”
Roger didn’t answer, instead, he untied her bathrobe.
The towel slid off her smooth skin and only then did Roger see that she wore nothing underneath.
What else could Roger say?
Perhaps this was their understanding.
She knew Roger was hunting tonight, and she was willing to be hunted.
“Is this how you give lessons?
Oh, wait, Roger, don’t you have a game tomorrow night?”
Only matches between equals are called games.
Tomorrow is just a show.”
The French lesson eventually peaked intensely as Roger deepened his understanding.
On the evening of December 20, Roger yawned continuously during warm-ups.
He hadn’t slept well the night before and drank a lot of coffee in the morning, making him drowsy at noon but unable to sleep.
By the time he could have slept, the team had to head to the arena to prepare for the game.
Seeing Roger’s bloodshot eyes, the whole team knew he must have been studying hard last night.
The recent rumors about Roger and Laetitia had made many gossip magazines in Orlando sell like hotcakes, causing a huge stir.
So everyone knew, Roger must be very tired.
Shaq, seeing Roger nearly asleep, jokingly said: “With Roger’s level, he can now understand a French movie without subtitles, the kind from the Woodpecker company!”
Roger smiled, not expecting that Shaq was also into studying foreign films.
Nonetheless, Saru was somewhat concerned about Roger’s state: “Buddy, I’m not doubting your ability, but Jerry is gunning for you.
I think it’s best if you adjust a bit.”