350: 143: Could it be me?
(Requesting monthly votes!)_2 350: 143: Could it be me?
(Requesting monthly votes!)_2 “Hey buddy, how about you just wing it next game, and let me snag the FMVP?”
Would winning the FMVP that way mean anything?
O’Neal really wanted that FMVP, but this time, even though he had a good relationship with Roger, he absolutely couldn’t say it outright.
He could only fight for it in his own way.
Everyone has their own method of vying for the FMVP, and Shaq was no exception.
The next day’s finals Game 4 was more intense than people had expected, and a stubborn team like the SuperSonics, even if they were out of ammo, would still fight to the death barehanded against their opponents.
1996 was undoubtedly the pinnacle for the SuperSonics, both in terms of the lineup and their mentality, and it was a height they never reached again after that.
This offseason, barring any surprises, something incredibly stupid was going to happen: the SuperSonics, instead of re-signing Kemp early, signed the 216 cm tall white center Jim McIlvaine for double the market price and then let Kemp watch this center, who could only contribute an average of 3.8 points and 4 rebounds, earn the same salary without bringing up a contract extension.
This completely sunk Kemp, who lost his fighting spirit, became addicted to women and drugs, and it became the catalyst for his departure from the SuperSonics.
So, the ’96 SuperSonics and the later SuperSonics were completely different; the current team was immensely powerful both in roster and spirit.
In the original ’96 finals, they managed to strongly rally back with two wins despite being down 0-3.
If this group didn’t have a heart set on fighting to the end, that would have been impossible.
That spirit came from the never-say-die Payton: “The last battle?
No, this is the most important battle of our lives!”
It came from Kemp, who only graduated from high school and couldn’t find flowery words, but his sincerity was just as deep: “Maybe they’ll win, but they can’t kick our asses, I think we can’t give up without a fight!”
Sonic, McMillan, who was in so much pain he couldn’t even bend over to touch his toes but couldn’t stand idly by while the team struggled, deciding to make a comeback in game four with the help of painkillers.
This team still wanted to fight in game four, refusing to surrender.
Today, the SuperSonics even put on an impressive starting lineup introduction ceremony.
Amid the cheers from the entire crowd, the performers waved the SuperSonics flag in the center of the court, with every SuperSonics starter entering the arena with heads held high.
The big screen at the venue showed an elderly man in the audience—it was George Karl’s 90-year-old father, Joseph Karl, who hadn’t been able to come to a game in person for three years due to his health.
But tonight, when the team was theoretically out of winning chances, he was there, helped by his family, to cheer them on.
All of Seattle hadn’t given up; they were all shouting, hoping the team could survive this do-or-die battle.
This probably explains why Payton refused to have his jersey retired by the Thunder.
He gave his best years to this place, and his most passionate heart.
To then be completely uprooted after retiring is more than anyone can bear.
In any case, Seattleites are not yet ready to give up the fight.
And Roger would give them the most honorable defeat.
The people of Seattle were spirited, but basketball is cruel.
If the talent gap is too large, all the fighting spirit in the world won’t help you win.
Roger continued to use Payton’s head as a stepping stone to cement his status as the scoring champion.
He was deaf to the shouts from KeyArena, silently taking out one weapon after another from his arsenal, all directed at Payton.
From the sidelines, Cindy Crawford stood up with each of Roger’s scores, twisting her robust waist to cheer for Roger, suggesting that Roger’s night of rest was doomed to be anything but easy.
Roger was once again the center of attention under the spotlight, while Shaq struggled more.
He continued to flounder in the quagmire of double teams and Hack-a-Shaq.
He watched Roger’s scores increase steadily and saw his own chances of winning the FMVP diminish.
So, in the third quarter, he started playing the game his way, and the Magic’s gameplay entered a very bizarre period.
During this time, O’Neal fiercely demanded the ball in the paint, attacking against double teams.
Even though his efficiency wasn’t high, he kept at it.
For those few minutes, Shaq seemed possessed by scoring, not passing the ball or running plays.
Every offensive move was about simple and brutal positioning, calling for the ball, going solo.
George Karl knew what he had been longing for had happened.
O’Neal had suddenly gone mad, becoming a ball hog, and there was only one reason: he wanted to snatch the FMVP from Roger!
That was the only reason!
He knew that in this world, no champion could escape such a fate.
Human desires are endless, and it’s very hard not to be selfish.
But to keep winning and keep achieving victories, players need to make sacrifices for greater benefits.
These two are completely contradictory.
You might be able to maintain such sacrifices for one year, but what about two years, three years?
That’s why the Rockets traded for Drexler because Clyde the Glide had said, “I am willing to make any compromise for the championship.”
Last season, Roger and O’Neal also gave up their personal interests.
Roger stepped out of the scoring title race early to share the shooting rights with Shaq, and O’Neal willingly acted as bait to attract Olajuwon, letting Roger perform with three consecutive 40+ point games in the finals.