52: 038: Are you counting on him, Charles?
52: 038: Are you counting on him, Charles?
Today, upon arriving at the training base, Roger met the team’s equipment manager John Ligmanowski in the parking lot.
John had been working for the Bulls since 1983 and had witnessed Jordan’s entire peak career.
Normally, he would just nod at Roger, but today he stretched out his hand to fist bump Roger, “Don’t mind what the media says, we all know how strong you are.
Annihilate Barkley’s fat ass tonight, OK?”
It wasn’t just John Ligmanowski.
Every team staff member Roger encountered afterward said something similar, “Go for it, Roger, take down that jerk Charles!”
The pre-game atmosphere of this match was different from before.
No one wanted to lose to the team they were defeated by in last season’s finals, much like how in 2024, Nuggets fans didn’t want the Lakers to advance.
When Roger entered the massage room on the second floor of the training base, he saw Pippen lying on one of the beds.
Roger naturally laid down next to Pippen, not avoiding him even after past disagreements.
However, the two did not speak a single word throughout the entire massage process.
The Zen Master’s mediation had only stopped their arguments temporarily; it couldn’t yet make them truly open up to each other.
Just as Pippen was about to leave after his massage, he turned back to look at Roger hesitantly, and finally spoke up:
“You better perform like a second star today, rookie.
Last game’s loss didn’t matter, but this one is about dignity.”
Roger internally laughed, thinking about how this guy, who got beaten up by a rookie in pre-season camp and completely lost the locker room battle, was talking to him about dignity?
It was like a karaoke hostess talking about chastity.
But, seeing Pippen taking the initiative to talk to him, Roger sensed that tonight’s game was indeed special.
There are no problems here.”
At 4 PM, the whole team took a bus from the Berto Center heading towards the United Center.
In the locker room, the equipment manager had already prepared the jerseys and shoes.
In his own locker, Roger found a small card:
“Thunder Dan is nothing in front of you!
Roger smiled and placed the card back.
Initially, he felt there was nothing special about this game, as he wasn’t with the Bulls last season and had no grievances against the Suns.
But now, Roger also felt the intense battle atmosphere pervading the whole team and was eager to thrash the Suns on the court.
All of Chicago was looking forward to Roger’s performance, but countless people also hoped that Dan Majerle would make Roger lose face, as this twice All-Defensive Team guard was considered Roger’s biggest test so far.
Roger wasn’t going to let them have their way.
After the warm-up, both sides’ starters took their places.
The Phoenix Suns had almost kept all their main players from last season, Kevin Johnson, Dan Majerle, Ceballos, Flying Pig, and Mark West.
This team maintained formidable athleticism and played at a rapid pace.
Under the 90s’ defense, the Suns managed to blast an average of 113.4 points last season leading the league.
Barkley, looking at Pippen and Roger continuing as starters, flashed a content grin, “Scott, since you can’t nibble on Michael’s toes, are you starting on the rookie’s now?
After your complaint, this kid still gets to start, seems like your words don’t carry weight.”
Pippen’s expression darkened, “And you’re any better, Charles?
Just kissing Michael’s ass all the time.”
“But I don’t kiss rookies’ asses.
After losing in the finals last year, I didn’t blame the rookie.
You can’t handle defeat; maybe you should hide behind him.
Hahaha, sorry, you can’t hide today, because Roger is also going to be destroyed by Thunder Dan.”
Barkley relentlessly teased Pippen, considering himself never in the same league as Pippen.
“What caliber are you to even compare with me?
You could only ever win against me because of Jordan.”
Today, he would show the world the difference between him and Pippen.
Pippen remained silent.
Although he had once sealed his legend with the phrase “The Mailman doesn’t deliver on Sundays,” he was usually quite clumsy with words.
Just when Barkley thought he had won, the rookie spoke up, “Charles, are you talking about the Thunder Dan who let Michael score 40 points consecutively in four finals games last season?
Indeed, such defense is unparalleled in finals history.”
“This isn’t about you, rookie,” Barkley glared at Roger.
Then please, when you talk trash, keep my name out of it.
Otherwise, it does concern me.”
Flying Pig got somewhat angry, “Scott, didn’t you teach this kid court manners?”
Pippen laughed, “I did, that’s why he will very politely kick your ass.”
While the two teams engaged in a fierce verbal exchange, the referee threw the ball up.
Cartwright got the ball and passed it to Kukoc, and the game began.
Kukoc crossed the half-court and gave the ball to Pippen at the arc, who effortlessly scored over Ceballos.
But the Suns counterattacked sharply, with Kevin Johnson receiving the baseline pass instantly accelerating down the court, passing to Ceballos charging at the forefront.
Pippen pursued from behind relentlessly, but Ceballos, approaching the basket, passed the ball back.
Flying Pig leapt up, fiercely dunking over the United Center’s basket.