789: 266: Welcome to the Round Table Knights (Vote for the monthly ticket!)_2 789: 266: Welcome to the Round Table Knights (Vote for the monthly ticket!)_2 Why would anyone love extra practice?
Besides the fatigue, it also takes away time for enjoyment.
Most players in the NBA possess immense wealth that allows them to enjoy many things, so what’s the appeal of extra practice?
Actually, it’s like any sport, when they strengthen themselves through hard work, and thoroughly defeat their opponents in games, they derive infinite pleasure.
After crushing the Kings, the Hawks played host to the Seattle SuperSonics, a harmless opponent at home.
If you only look at the lineup on paper, you’d find that the SuperSonics are actually strong: Gary Payton, Vin Baker, Patrick Ewing, Rashard Lewis.
But the problem is they are no longer in their prime.
After being traded to Seattle, Patrick Ewing went completely lax, from Big Ape to Big Pig, averaging 9+7, with a shooting rate of only 43%, yet still earning a $14 million salary.
In comparison, Payton makes only $12 million a year.
Vin Baker, after a serious season when he first arrived in Seattle, began drinking excessively again, averaging 12+5, with a shooting rate of only 42%.
Payton couldn’t have imagined that his best help would come from Rashard Lewis, a second-round pick in 1998.
Initially, the Hawks offered cash + draft picks to get him, and facts have proven that the Hawks had a good eye.
This season, Lewis is already averaging 14.8 points, with a three-point shooting rate as high as 43%!
And for a player primarily focused on shooting, his shooting rate is actually higher than both Ewing and Vin Baker’s!
If the Hawks had gotten such a tall shooter back then, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
But even though Lewis is good enough, he can’t provide Payton with even a slight chance of winning.
There was no suspense before this game even started, yet tickets were still hard to come by, the venue was packed.
Because before the game, the Hawks were hosting Dominique Wilkins’ jersey retirement ceremony.
He became the third player to have his jersey retired by the Hawks after Bob Pettit and Lou Hudson.
Ted Turner, although no longer the owner, had planned this retirement ceremony for a long time.
As he promised back then, it was grand and imposing.
Watching his jersey being hung high in the Philips Arena, Dominique Wilkins was moved to tears.
During the final remarks, he especially thanked Roger, thanking Roger for giving him a regret-free career.
Ted Turner was full of emotion, recalling when Roger approached him, asking him to host a tribute ceremony for Wilkins at the Hawks’ home, his intention was to let Roger know that Atlanta could also be a basketball city, hoping to attract Roger to play in Atlanta.
Now Roger has become Atlanta’s Savior, while he himself has left.
Afterwards, the game was merely a sideshow, the Hawks effortlessly dealt with the SuperSonics.
Gary Payton was quite upset, in 1996, he competed against Roger in the finals.
Four and a half years have passed, the SuperSonics have started rebuilding, but Roger is still contending for the championship!
Does this guy really not have any low periods?
Ewing sat on the bench, his eyes long devoid of light, only thinking about where to unwind after the game ended.
Perhaps he himself had forgotten that he had once been one of Roger’s greatest opponents.
105 to 83, the Hawks effortlessly crushed the SuperSonics, and Roger secured a three-game winning streak since his return.
This game was calm, yet during the post-game press conference, Roger heard an unsettling piece of news: “Rumors say the Hawks are listening to offers for Scott from other teams, Roger, do you know about this?”
“Fake news, next.” Roger answered succinctly with three words.
But whether it was truly fake or not, Roger was unsure.
Tonight, he still had to attend Dominique Wilkins’ party, and tomorrow he’d unravel all of this.
Upon arriving, rather than calling it a party, it was more of a cocktail reception.
There was no loud music or obnoxious crowd, only an elegant band playing and a bunch of well-dressed gentlemen conversing.
Roger showed up in a hoodie and basketball shoes, instantly becoming the focal point.
“Damn Dom, you call this a party?
You should’ve told me this was a formal event!”
Wilkins laughed and patted Roger’s shoulder: “Doesn’t matter, whatever you wear you are the star today.”
“Come on, you’re the star today.”
“No, you’re the star.
Come on, I’ll introduce you to some friends, they’ve been waiting for you a long time.
By the way, what would you like to drink?”
“Okay, hey, bring this gentleman a drink.
Skip the damn juice, bring something strong!”
Wilkins put his arm around Roger’s shoulder, leading him through the banquet hall.
Along the way, many people greeted Roger and Wilkins, but Wilkins just gave quick responses.
Roger had a feeling, this cocktail party was just a guise.
There was some hidden secret behind this party.
And that secret lay in a room on the second floor of the hall.
Suddenly, Roger felt like he was in a spy movie.
Dominique Wilkins wouldn’t suddenly pull out a little red book with a hammer and sickle upon entering the room, would he?
“Who are these friends you’re introducing me to?
I know all the big shots in Atlanta.” Roger asked in confusion.
“You know them, but you know them wearing masks.
Today, I’m introducing you to the real them.”
“You are getting more and more mysterious.”