54: 038: Are you counting on him, Charles_3 54: 038: Are you counting on him, Charles_3 The camera focused on the Zen Master, and everyone was wondering what method this hippie used to make two players, who had been sarcastic towards each other at the end of the last game, start cooperating.
The Zen Master’s face was expressionless, and he hadn’t really done anything, except he knew the true nature of the locker room and made his players accept the fact that people in a locker room don’t necessarily have to be friends.
In the following game, Roger and Pippen complemented each other perfectly.
Pippen’s passing and through balls made Roger’s drives to the basket seem effortlessly easy.
When Roger drew the defense, Pippen also found some opportunities for one-on-one plays.
The cheers in the United Center grew louder wave after wave.
At the end of the first quarter, Roger and Pippen had each scored 8 points, leading the Bulls with 24 to 21!
Considering the Bulls were missing three starters from last season, and the Suns were still the original Finals lineup.
So, the Bulls at least proved that they could still have a chance to win against the Suns without Michael!
During the halftime break, Kevin Johnson was very annoyed with Majerle’s defense: “If you can’t handle an 18-year-old kid, then let me do it!”
“Mind your own business, Kevin!” Thunder Dan responded irritably.
The team’s atmosphere seemed very tense, but Suns’ head coach Paul Westphal looked relaxed.
He knew Phil Jackson was a master at manipulating the locker room and perhaps he could use some kind of magic to reconcile Pippen and Roger.
But no matter what he did, he couldn’t change one fact—the team was still missing MJ.
And this fact was soon going to be reflected in the game.
The first three minutes of the second quarter were no different from before.
The cooperation between Pippen and Roger kept the Bulls’ offensive plays vigorous.
Bill Walton couldn’t help but remark, “Majerle is experiencing the most humiliating night of his career, getting thrashed by an 18-year-old kid!”
However, after three minutes into the second quarter, Pippen was substituted for a rest.
Paul Westphal smiled slightly, this could be the beginning of the Bulls’ collapse!
With Pippen being the only effective outlet in the triangle offense, once he was off the court, the Bulls’ offense would fall into an endless series of isolations by Roger.
Even if Roger’s isolation efficiency was high, it could not alter the overall slump of the Bulls on the offensive end.
Last game, this was how the Bulls had lost to the Heat.
During the second and third quarters when Pippen was off the court, the Bulls’ offensive tactic was just “Give the damn ball to Roger.”
Today, just by slightly lowering Roger’s isolation efficiency, they could widen the gap during this period!
Paul Westphal called Kevin Johnson over: “Want to win?
After receiving the instruction, Kevin Johnson looked at Majerle triumphantly: “Even if Roger has two thousand offensive moves, I’ll handle him!”
At this moment, Pippen walked off the court.
But the person who came on was not Myers, but that European, Kukoc.
Paul Westphal frowned, what’s going on?
Are the Bulls using three forwards?
Phil has gone mad, using Kukoc to play the small forward position, isn’t that defense virtually a giveaway?
Tex Winter, sitting next to the Zen Master, took a deep breath: “Hopefully, we’re not committing suicide, Phil!”
Jackson didn’t respond, he still sat calmly on the bench.
What a joke, this rotation could maximize Roger’s effectiveness like a sharp sword at its best!