311: 132: Ice Blue (Request for Monthly Tickets!)_3 311: 132: Ice Blue (Request for Monthly Tickets!)_3 It took him a full year to make people believe that he could dominate the league again.
If he was going to lose to Roger in the end, why waste so much time?
Thus, any imperfection was a desecration of all the efforts he had put into the season.
He would never allow such a thing to happen!
This time, Phil Jackson wanted to try a trick play by arranging for Toni Kukoc to shoot a three-pointer in the next round.
Jordan had already failed several attacks, and the defensive focus of the Magic Team was entirely on him.
Therefore, the Zen Master needed this diversion.
Michael Jordan raised no objections; Kukoc had made quite a few crucial shots this season and had earned Jordan’s trust.
The game resumed, and the viewership for this match had already broken the regular-season record.
All basketball fans were eager to know whether the Magic could defeat Jordan a second time and whether the Bulls’ home court would fall.
After Michael Jordan crossed the halfway line with the ball, he immediately passed it to Pippen, who was posted low as the pivot, and then cut to the basket himself.
With just one step, he shook off Harper.
Pippen bounced the ball inside, and Number 23 stormed into the paint as fiercely as ever.
O’Neal let go of Longley, ready to block Jordan under the basket, as he had several times before.
Not just Shaq, the entire defensive formation of the Magic team exaggeratedly contracted because of Jordan’s drive.
If the game footage could be paused, you would see that the moment Jordan stormed into the paint, the Magic had four players back in the paint.
Such was the terrifying power of Jordan to alter the opposition’s defensive setup.
Chicago’s Fly Guy, as usual, took off against O’Neal, surrounded by Magic players in dark blue uniforms, as if a giant wave was about to engulf him.
But Michael Jordan didn’t show off his air-walking skills, didn’t pump the ball three times before scoring, nor did he posterize Shaq directly.
He chose to pass the ball while in the air.
Jordan intuitively found Toni Kukoc, the Euro-Magic who he once underestimated.
Kukoc knew his mission; he had adjusted his mindset and was ready to receive the ball.
The basketball fell securely into his hands, not knowing when he and the “tyrant” had developed this rapport, but through victory after victory, Kukoc had completely integrated into this team he once did not like.
He hoisted the ball over his head, ready to shoot.
But a large hand suddenly invaded Kukoc’s field of vision, disrupting his aim.
“Roger made a very timely appearance in front of Toni, predicting Michael’s next move!”
Bill Walton was right; Roger successfully anticipated the Bulls’ strategy.
Knowing how steady his European friend’s hands were, as soon as Jordan made his move, Roger rotated over to Kukoc.
With Roger’s timely distubrance, Kukoc’s crucial three-pointer clanged off the rim.
Phil Jackson’s trick play was thwarted, sending a chill down the spines of Chicago fans on-site.
Their inner fears were remarkably uniform at this moment: No way.
The only game the Bulls lost at home can’t really be happening again, can it?
Since O’Neal had been stable at the free throw line just now, the Bulls dared not employ the Hack-a-Shaq strategy again.
If they could defend this round, the Bulls still had a chance to rely on a three-pointer as a lottery ticket.
But if Shaq continued to make both free throws, the game was completely over.
At such a time, instead of gambling on the opponent’s touch, Phil Jackson trusted the team’s own defense more.
This round, Pippen’s off-ball aggression on Roger was fierce, and Harper had no chance to pass the ball.
He was forced to pass the ball to Shaq in the low post.
But to facilitate catching it, Shaq was too far from the paint, not within his attacking range when he caught the ball.
Rodman, standing behind him with his limitless lower limb strength, would never let O’Neal get close to the basket easily.
As O’Neal pushed back with the ball, Rodman’s legs anchored into the United Center’s wooden floor like stout tree roots.
He used his deceptively slight frame to resist that behemoth.
Of course, if O’Neal had been rougher, Rodman would certainly have taken the opportunity to flop to the floor.
Shaq didn’t immediately know how to handle Rodman, and then he saw Dumars and Jordan closing in.
O’Neal had no choice but to pass the ball out in a hurry.
The ball was passed back to Harper to reorganize, but Harper found that Roger was still not completely free of Pippen.
Meanwhile, the Bulls also started their stranglehold on Harper.
Dumars and Jordan, on Shaq’s pass, swung their defense and pressured Harper.
Harper moved toward the baseline, only to be met with Rodman’s roadblock.
A perfect baseline trap, and the Bulls completed their hunt!
It was wishful thinking to hold onto the ball under the trio of old sneaks’ encirclement; Harper could only pass the ball through the gap to the only person he could see—Roger.
But because it was a forced pass, it was too high and imprecise.
Scottie Pippen, seizing the opportunity, easily intercepted the ball!
The terror of this Bulls’ defense lay here, among the starters—Dumars, Pippen, Jordan, and Rodman—forming a formidable blockade circle.
Three of the old sneaks would scheme to encircle the ball handler, while the remaining one would already be waiting on the passing route to steal the ball for a fast break.