56: 040: I, Pippen, was all for letting Roger start initially!
56: 040: I, Pippen, was all for letting Roger start initially!
From 1989 to 1991, Kukoc had harvested two European Championship titles and one World Championship title.
Before the age of 25, he had also led his team to three European Champions League titles, achieving an unprecedented three consecutive MVPs.
Outside the NBA, he had achieved every basketball-related honor.
But when Kukoc was chosen by the Bulls, and people asked Jordan what he felt about soon becoming teammates with Kukoc, the notorious basketball villain just sneered dismissively, “I’m not interested at all, because I don’t want to speak Yugoslavian.”
Kukoc had never received respect in the NBA, not from Jordan and not from Pippen.
Because of these two men’s attitudes, fans looked down on him, thinking he was just a soft, slow, big idiot.
The media looked down on him too, generally believing that he wouldn’t last more than three years in the NBA.
Yet tonight, Kukoc had fully showcased his talent on the NBA court!
Tonight, he showed that the talent of a basketball player involved more than just speed and jumping ability!
With three consecutive beautiful passes, Kukoc earned the cheers and applause of the Chicago fans.
His collaboration with Roger directly halted the Suns, last season’s Western Conference champions.
However, during the time-out, Kukoc didn’t celebrate by pumping his arms in the air, instead, he hugged Roger.
If it wasn’t for this sharp weapon, his passes would have been meaningless.
Kukoc displayed his talent, but he still couldn’t outshine Roger’s brilliance.
With his beautiful dribble moves between his legs and swift cuts, he mocked Majerle’s sluggishness.
Using his exquisite jump shot technique and decisive shooting, he scorned Johnson’s short stature.
Although it was only Roger’s third NBA game, the Zen Master and all fans had already realized one thing: Roger’s offensive capabilities were at least top five among guards in the league!
Previously, the Zen Master had been very worried about the team’s offense for the new season, because Scottie Pippen wasn’t the type who could “take the ball and kill the game on his own.”
The Zen Master’s worry was not unfounded, as historically, when the Bulls had lost Jordan, their defense had not slipped much, but their offense had plummeted to mid-league levels.
Pippen might have looked good averaging 22 points on 49%, but how many of those points were difficult shots like Jordan’s, where the tactics were locked but he still broke through the defense?
Now, the Zen Master no longer had to worry about the team’s offense.
The triangle offense could create comfortable one-on-one spaces for the shooters, and Roger was also particularly excellent at one-on-ones.
This sword was enough to wound most opponents.
Seeing the affection in the Zen Master’s eyes when he looked at Roger, Pippen felt a pang of bitterness.
Damn, the new guy over the old, huh!
After a few more minutes of the second quarter, Roger was subbed out to rest, and Pippen took his place.
The lineup on the court then became Myers, Pippen, Kukoc, Steve Williams, and Cartwright.
When Pippen was on the court, A.
Green could also take a breather, with Pippen taking over the defense.
In any case, either A.
Green or Pippen must be on the court for the Bulls’ defense to not collapse.
And for the Bulls’ offense to not stall, either Pippen, Roger, or Kukoc must have two on the court.
The Zen Master is currently arranging his rotation combinations according to this rule.
To be fair, Pippen really is the tactical core.
Whether on offense or defense, the Bulls can’t do without him.
But specifically on the court, Roger more easily became dazzling.
Indeed, at the start of the third quarter, when Pippen missed consecutive one-on-ones while Roger, having just returned, scored with a long-range floater to break the scoring drought, all the fans at the United Center cheered intensely for number 14.
After resting for a full six minutes during the second quarter, Roger was full of energy, now capable of handling anyone’s defense.
Seeing Kevin Johnson let Roger score easily as soon as he stepped back on, Charles Barkley just couldn’t take it anymore.
What the hell is this joke?
We can’t beat the Bulls without Jordan?
People will think I’m on the same level as Pippen!
It’s just a high schooler, what’s there to not guard against?
Thus, the second time Roger was back on the court, when he took the ball beyond the three-point line again, he noticed the man guarding him had changed.
After Majerle, whose physical abilities had declined and couldn’t keep up with him, and Kevin Johnson, whose enthusiasm was there but was just too short, Charles Barkley personally stood in front of Roger!
“Move aside Kevin, I’ve had enough of your clownish antics!” Barkley pushed Kevin Johnson away and spread his arms wide.
With Barkley’s pride, he could accept losing to Michael Jordan.
But losing to a team led by Pippen and a high schooler?
Barkley would lose sleep over it!
The moment Barkley stood in front of Roger, Roger could immediately confirm one thing—the fat pig’s real height was definitely not 2 meters.
Roger was about to test this fat pig, but Pippen, pointing at A.
Green, indicated, “Create the mismatch for him!”
“Yeah, pass the ball, rookie.
I know you’re already scared.
You want to be Jordan, huh?
Let me give you a reality check!”
Most of the time, Barkley was very lazy on defense.
But when provoked, he committed wholeheartedly.
Roger didn’t heed Pippen and started to dribble between his legs continuously to find his rhythm.
Pippen, seeing Roger still determined to go one-on-one, shouted angrily, “Pass it to Green, or give it to me, damn it!”
Roger still ignored him, and Pippen, furious, simply stood with his arms akimbo at the top of the arc.
Considering that he had once refused to play during a last-second shot because he did not agree with the coach’s strategy, it was not surprising that now, with his teammate not playing as he wanted, he simply stood with his hands on his hips.
These top versatile small forwards all had tempers; either they would stand with their arms akimbo on the offensive end or on the defensive end.
Old Winter was concerned about the team’s internal issues: “Roger is a bit too arrogant, if he doesn’t make this shot, you should take him out to cool down.”
The Zen Master did not respond, but just stared intensely at the court.
Roger did not pass the ball, neither to Pippen nor to A.
But it wasn’t because he wanted to monopolize the play, he just felt that taking on the solo play was the safest choice.
Barkley was defending Roger, enabling Green to potentially capitalize on a mismatch against Majerle.
But Green was a power forward who thrived on assists, with limited ability to initiate his offense.
He had become slower, but was still solid and could hold his own.
Green going one-on-one against him wasn’t necessarily advantageous.
Moreover, once Green got the ball, Suns’ center Mark West would definitely double-team him immediately, and Green had a high turnover rate in such situations.
So Roger thought, giving the ball to him, rather than taking on Barkley himself, was safer!
As for Pippen, well, since that idiot just stood there with his arms akimbo, might as well let him rest a bit.
Seeing Roger ready to take him on, Barkley started trash-talking furiously, “Come on, you punk, let me wake you up from your Jordan dream.
The media calls you Jordan’s successor, you gotta be kidding me?
You’re just a wet-behind-the-ears kid!”
Roger leaned his upper body to the left, extending his left foot forward.
Barkley immediately moved, ready to block Roger.
True, when Flying Pig wants to defend, he becomes very active.
But in NBA level games, defense isn’t just about being eager.
Roger’s defense was also active, but even he admitted that his defensive skills were not great.
Barkley, although freakishly athletic, lacked a solid sense of positioning and was easily faked out.
Roger’s series of movements were intended to shift Barkley’s center of gravity, and the next second, he suddenly changed direction, surging past Barkley!
After a beautiful fake, Roger broke through Barkley and drove straight into the lane, jumping up to attack the basket.
Dan Majerle reacted immediately, along with Flying Pig who also caught up using his historic speed and leaped into the air, attempting a block.
Roger, faced with this trap, pulled back the ball in midair, then twisted his body to pass the ball under Majerle’s arm, flicking it in effortlessly!
Bill Walton shook his head: “The Western champions have already switched three defenders on Roger today, but none have been effective.
The Bulls may be missing MJ, but now they have Roger, the new nightmare of Phoenix!”
After scoring, Roger didn’t return trash talk to Barkley, but instead went up to Pippen and gave him a high-five, “Thanks for trusting me, Scottie!”
He was clearly mocking Pippen’s earlier act of standing with arms akimbo on the offensive end.
China’s two Batman, one Roger, the other Xue Zhiqian, specialize in clowns!
On the sidelines, the Zen Master looked at Old Winter and shrugged, “Seems I don’t need to sub him out after all.”
As a coach who does not pursue 1V0 strategically and does not disdain 1V1, the Zen Master certainly would not criticize Roger’s actions.
On the contrary, what he needed was a player who could effectively utilize one-on-one opportunities.
Without effective one-on-one, the triangle offense would be worthless.
In the end, the Suns couldn’t withstand this MJ-less version of the triangle offense.
Roger, with a career-high 27 points and a career-high…
2 assists, led his team to a 103-97 victory over the Suns.
Chicago fans finally rejoiced in their first home victory.
After the game, everyone on the Bulls was elated.
“Now, I guess no one will question letting Roger start anymore, right?
I adjusted the rotation, and we’re back in the winner’s column, and Roger’s offensive power keeps us in the championship race,” Phil Jackson discussed the controversy around Roger’s starting position.
“I received two assists from Roger today, and I don’t think he’s that selfish.
In a situation where opportunities are equal, he just trusts his one-on-one more,” Steve Kerr discussed Roger’s career-high 2 assists tonight.
“I’m happy to get more playing time and thrilled to have someone like Roger as a partner.
I enjoy being on the court with him; we mesh well, and he helps me earn respect!” Toni Kukoc beamed after scoring 12 points, 6 assists, and 4 rebounds.
On the Suns’ side, Kevin Johnson sighed during an interview.
“Yes, I did say that.
I said that even if Roger had two thousand offensive moves, I’d handle him.
But I was wrong, he has at least three thousand!”
Kevin Johnson was indeed helpless, but at that moment, someone was even more helpless than Kevin Johnson.
Pippen felt that his position was increasingly becoming secure with each step.
First, he agreed to reconcile with Roger, then he agreed to the Zen Master’s requirement to be a co-speaker.
Now, Roger was boldly ignoring his directions on the court.
Facing the journalists’ interviews, Pippen initially wanted to sarcastically express his dissatisfaction.
But then he thought, everyone in Chicago loved Roger, except for himself.
And every time he sarcastically targeted Roger, it always backfired.
In the end, Pippen could only hold back his tears and force a smile:
“Phil letting Roger start, I was all for it from the beginning.
Look, he’s doing a great job.
Because I love this team.”
The awakening of a top second-in-command, indeed something others did not possess.