331: 138: Perfect lineup?
No, you guys need me too much!
(Two in one!)_4 331: 138: Perfect lineup?
No, you guys need me too much!
(Two in one!)_4 With two minutes left in the game, Roger got his third chance to take the lead.
After breaking through Pippen’s blockade, Roger equalized the score with a beautiful floater.
If they could just defend against the Bulls once more, they would have a chance to bring it back!
Before this defensive play, Roger slapped his hands forcefully, “Winners are those who can’t be stopped by hardship and pain, come on, we’re about to climb over this mountain!”
O’Neal looked at Roger, his mind whirling with thoughts.
It seemed like Roger had been all season.
He always carried the team through tough times.
He had missed a full 32 games this season, yet the team’s record had improved compared to last season.
Today, he hadn’t performed well, but Roger was still clinging to the score.
Even Shaq was asking himself: Am I really just a sidekick?
Shaq was thinking too much, and at this crucial moment, he wasn’t entirely focused on victory.
This time, even Michael Jordan, who always stepped up at critical moments, couldn’t continue his magic.
His turnaround fade-away bounced off the rim, but Dennis Rodman leaped three times in a row to tip the ball, pushing it out of Shaq’s reach and securing the offensive rebound.
A frustrated O’Neal charged and clasped the ball in Rodman’s arms with both hands, neither willing to let go, entangled until they hit the floor, all four large hands still pressing down on the basketball.
The referee blew the whistle, calling a jump ball.
Rodman deliberately shoved O’Neal, who was lying on top of him, provoking Shaq’s ire, and the two started trash-talking.
“Who do you think you are?
You’re nothing but a clown, no one even considers you a star!”
“Hahaha, you think someone considers you a star, big guy?
You think you’re on the same level as Roger, but you’re not, and you never have been.
Roger made the first team twice, you at your best made the second team once.
Roger has scoring titles, you have nothing.
Roger is second in the MVP rankings, where are you?
Not even in the top ten.
Most importantly, Roger has an FMVP, which says it all, stupid shark.”
“You motherf**ker…” O’Neal was close to boiling over, and what really hurt was that everything Rodman said was true!
Speaking the truth is often the biggest diss in the world.
Truths often hurt more than lies.
An agitated O’Neal lost his senses, and if it weren’t for his teammates holding him back, he would have already lashed out at Rodman.
After the conflict settled down, O’Neal stood at the free throw line, about to jump ball against Rodman.
The importance of this jump ball couldn’t be overstated, as everyone’s nerves were stretched to the limit.
Everyone knew the outcome could become the turning point of the game.
But considering the height difference between the two players, there was almost no suspense about the outcome of the jump ball.
The only advantage a shorter player could use against a taller one in a jump ball is athletic ability, but Shaq’s athleticism was not lacking.
So, including Roger, the Magic Team players all thought the defense was essentially successful, and everyone was preparing for the counterattack.
The referee prepared to toss the ball, and at that moment, Rodman spoke again, “Big dummy, if you were a man, you should have hit me just now.
But the fact proves you’re just a little pondscum who likes to hide under Roger’s crotch.”
While spewing trash talk, Rodman was also making subtle movements.
The first two jump balls were both called off by the referee, ruled invalid due to Rodman’s sly habit of extending his arm towards Shaq’s shoulders, interfering with his jumps.
Brian Hill at the sidelines was nearly going mad, “That bastard should be thrown out, damn it!
Who can shut him up!?”
If even Brian Hill could be driven to such a state, it’s clear how much Shaq’s mental state was collapsing.
Shaq, distracted by Rodman’s antics and trash talk, saw Rodman trying every trick to increase his chances of getting the ball.
On the third attempt, the referee tossed the ball, and Shaq had already lost his rhythm, jumping too late.
Again, Shaq had too many things on his mind today, and he wasn’t fully focused on victory.
Although he wouldn’t do something like deliberately tanking or forcing Roger to give up his position, he simply couldn’t stay focused.
And so, Rodman managed to tip the ball first and sent it straight to Jordan’s hands!
The Magic Team didn’t expect Shaq to lose the jump ball, so their reaction was half a beat slow.
Jordan caught the ball and steadily made the three-pointer that kept the team ahead!
“Michael scores his 41st point of the game!
He’s still pushing on, not letting the Bulls Dynasty crumble!
With just over a minute left in the game, the Magic Team still hasn’t evened the score.
Does the defending champion still have a chance!?”
O’Neal covered his head with his hands, unable to believe he had lost the jump ball to Rodman, who was so much shorter than him.
Rich DeVos watched, grinding his teeth; once again, Shaq had squandered a chance for the team to take the lead.
What good had the idiot done today?
He had just wasted opportunities one after another!
If not for his stupidity and cowardice, this game didn’t need to come to this point!
“He’s not worth that much money, not worth it at all!” Rich DeVos muttered to himself.
Meanwhile, Reinsdorf was internally reassessing the value of Jordan and Rodman.
Maybe they really were worth a big contract?