129: 075: Surpassing Michael Jordan (Vote for Monthly Ticket!)_2 129: 075: Surpassing Michael Jordan (Vote for Monthly Ticket!)_2 The Bulls continued their offense, and this time Jordan, backing down Harper, cleanly hit a fadeaway jumper.
3 to 2, the Bulls pulled ahead, and Jordan didn’t waste words with Harper but instead looked at Roger, “Without the big man, you’ve got nowhere to hide now, mutt.”
The Orlando fans started to feel apprehensive; Michael Jordan seemed to be getting into gear.
Could Roger hold on until Shaq returned?
But soon, Roger gave everyone a dose of reassurance.
This round, Roger evaded Pippen straight into the paint through a screen from Michael Cage and Horace Grant, scoring with a mid-range floater.
The long floater had become Roger’s signature move because he used it the most frequently.
3 to 4, the cheers at the venue began to grow louder.
Although not directly matched up, the head-to-head between Roger and Jordan had already commenced.
After scoring, Roger pointed at Jordan, “Why should I hide, Michael?
Why should I duck someone who can’t beat me?”
A round later, Webber passed the ball low, assisted a cutting Jordan who dunked over Grant, and the Bulls pulled ahead again.
After scoring, Jordan didn’t forget to taunt, “That’s the fate of a snitch, tonight you’re going to hell with the traitors, and I’ll personally send you there!”
But Jordan hadn’t boasted for long when Roger’s response came.
His way of scoring was almost identical to Jordan’s, running a back cut, receiving an assist pass from Grant, then driving straight to the basket.
The difference was, while Jordan had just dunked directly, Roger used a layup to avoid Webber.
5 to 6, the game had entered into a back-and-forth lead exchange!
Roger and Jordan were uncompromising; even without O’Neal, he wouldn’t let Jordan take over the game!
The game continued at this pace, with Michael Jordan and Roger constantly exchanging blows.
They were like two fearless fighters, standing in the center of the ring, wildly exchanging punches, thrilling the spectators.
Every time Jordan scored, Roger inevitably had an answer.
Similarly, whenever Roger scored, Jordan quickly caught up.
Though the score was tense, the Orlando fans were undoubtedly the happier side.
In the words of NBC commentator Mike Fratello, “Roger might be the only player in the league who can keep up with Michael’s scoring pace; he’s matching Michael blow for blow in the first quarter!”
With 15 seconds left before the end of the first quarter, Roger hit a stop-and-pop jumper for his 15th point of the quarter, once again equalizing the score and catching up with Jordan in personal scoring.
Although the score was only evened, Michael Jordan was already furious, “Damn it, can’t you guys guard him just once?
Just once would be enough!
What the hell are you all doing!?”
With the main center forced out after just a few rounds, Roger’s ability to keep up with the Bulls was hugely infuriating to Jordan.
The Bulls players kept silent under Jordan’s fury, but Roger chimed in, “Really?
The great Michael Jordan just complains about his teammates?
Why don’t you try guarding me yourself then!”
Jordan dismissed this trash talk, “Shut up, mongrel, aren’t you too scared to guard me?
Poor Ron Harper and Anthony Bowie are silently bearing everything for you.”
Roger and Jordan hadn’t actually faced each other in the first quarter; although Jordan was a strong defender, the Zen Master wasn’t foolish enough to let him overexert at both ends.
If that were so, even Jordan would be exhausted to death.
The same was true for Roger’s side.
Although Roger had significantly improved his man defense this season, Brian Hill needed him to focus all his energy on offense.
Pat Williams didn’t spend all that money on tough defenders just to make Roger personally confront Jordan.
But this time, Roger broke his usual restraint and told Jordan, “No, Michael, there’s nothing I’m afraid of,” Roger looked straight into those number 45 eyes, “I’ll guard you this round!”
The last 15 seconds, Roger decided to match up with Jordan for once.
Till now, it had been Anthony Bowie, who voluntarily gave up his number 14 jersey to Roger, guarding Jordan.
He had been diligent but lacked aggressiveness in defense.
Roger felt he let Jordan get into his shooting motion too comfortably.
Now, with only 15 seconds left, Roger believed he had a chance to make Jordan unable to get a shot off.
He planned to tightly press Jordan the whole court, striving to guard him well this round.
The Bulls were initially going to pass the ball to Kerr, but after hearing Roger’s words, Jordan simply waved his hand, “Move aside Steve, I’ll take this baseline inbound; you’re out of this!”
As the game began, Jordan, using his much stronger body, boxed out Roger, securely receiving the baseline inbound pass, while Roger could do nothing about it.
Still, Roger continued to stick close to Jordan, giving him a strong contest.
Jordan’s advance was hindered, but thinking that someone who guzzles scoring titles could not get past midcourt was impossible.
Ultimately, he managed to turn past Roger.
Jordan had gotten past Roger, advanced to the frontcourt, and approached beyond the three-point line.
Just as Jordan was contemplating his next offensive move, he felt the ball being poked away from his hand.
Seizing the moment, he tapped the basketball from behind Jordan, completing the steal!
Nobody believed it, not even Michael Jordan himself; he had actually been stopped by Roger!