92: 063: We don’t need MJ, now you only need me!
(Asking for monthly passes)_3 92: 063: We don’t need MJ, now you only need me!
(Asking for monthly passes)_3 This was basketball in the 90s, either win the game, have a hearty fight, or do both simultaneously.
The game continued, and the Knicks repeatedly threw heavy punches, knocking down the Bulls, bringing their shooting percentage down to their level through intense physical defense.
As halftime was nearing its end, the Knicks still couldn’t widen the gap in the score.
With 26 seconds before the end of the half, Roger’s open mid-range shot clanged off the rim.
At this point, the Bulls were trailing by 2 points, and Roger had missed the chance to tie the score.
After grabbing the rebound, Ewing intuitively found Starks, who had already charged to the frontcourt.
Back then, when Ewing first encountered the supermarket cashier attempting to dunk on him at the practice facility, he couldn’t have imagined they would embark on such a long journey together.
And today was undoubtedly the most crucial segment of their journey.
They had to reach their destination successfully!
Starks had the chance for a fast break, but he was apprehensive, afraid of being chased down by Roger again.
Roger indeed was furiously catching up, but his teammate, Anthony Mason, deliberately tripped Roger, causing both to tumble down.
Blow the whistle, your whistle isn’t just for show!”
“Hey, it was just an accident.”
The roars from Phil Jackson and the defense from Anthony Mason did not stop the play; Starks was still advancing quickly.
This time, it wasn’t possible for Roger to create a miracle again, was it?
Starks took a big stride and jumped, lifting the basketball.
Then, with a “bang”, the ball was smacked against the backboard.
He was blocked again.
A poster block, Starks’ fast break failed once more.
Scottie Pippen’s relentless effort finally paid off.
Ever since that humiliating game in the Eastern Finals G1, Pippen had been trying to atone.
He still disliked Roger, and even if asked about refusing to play decades later, he would still talk incessantly like a nagging widow.
But at least now, he was desperately craving victory.
Only a series win could temporarily cover up his incredibly foolish act.
After completing the poster block, the ball rebounded back to Oakley, who was following up.
Then, Pippen, who had flown out of bounds, immediately took a large step back under the basket and, with amazing speed, jumped again to block Oakley’s layup.
With two consecutive blocks, Pippen alone defended against the Knicks’ determined counterattack!
You know, a steadfast number two like Pippen is an exceptionally outstanding player.
After this block, Riley clutched his head in frustration, his refined hairstyle becoming somewhat messy.
The Bulls still held the last chance to attack, and Roger gained another opportunity to tie the score.
Although Pippen had just completed a heroic feat, and Roger had just missed a shot,
Pippen still passed the ball back to Roger after crossing the mid-court.
The second in command, just doing his job.
The Zen Master didn’t call a timeout for this last attack of the half, he didn’t even stand up but sat firmly, leaving the offensive decisions entirely to Roger.
This was his coaching style.
A furious Riley yelled from the sidelines: “Pressure, pressure!
What are you standing there for?
Don’t give him a second to breathe!
When only 5 seconds remained, Roger turned around, ready to force a breakthrough.
However, the disparity in physical confrontations made it nearly impossible for Roger to squeeze past Mason directly.
He needed a change of rhythm.
So, after turning around, the excellently tactile Roger immediately executed a back dribble hand switch, catching Mason off guard and creating space for an accelerated breakthrough.
But the Knicks’ defense still did not fail, Mason stayed close to Roger, and nearly all the Knicks players had collapsed to the edge of the paint.
As Roger drove in, he was surrounded by the smooth, dark muscles of the Knicks players.
Riley’s strategy was almost successful, the wisest choice for Roger now was to pass.
Considering the Bulls’ poor overall shooting percentage that day, forcing Roger to pass was exactly what Riley wanted to see.
But Roger didn’t do that; after all, he was a man who hadn’t passed to Pippen even once throughout the season.
In the tight sandwich, passing was too difficult.
But scoring in a tight sandwich was relatively simpler.
Seeing Roger jump to attack, Charles Smith, Ewing, and Mason also soared to block.
Their positions formed a circle in the air, with Roger right in the middle.
Their long arms over Roger’s head, he couldn’t even see where the basket was, let alone score.
Riley breathed a sigh of relief; it was an attack doomed to fail.
Anyway, his team could go into the second half with a lead.
In mid-air, Roger didn’t hurry to shoot; if his first buzzer-beater failure had taught him anything, it was patience.
On the basketball court, even within a few seconds, one must maintain patience.
He adjusted the ball’s position left and right in the air, trying to find an angle to shoot.
But the Knicks’ trio covered him too tightly; Roger couldn’t find the space to shoot.
No matter where he would throw the ball, it surely would get blocked.