824: 276: When He Tasted the Taste of Blood (Vote for Monthly Tickets!) 824: 276: When He Tasted the Taste of Blood (Vote for Monthly Tickets!) Even during his rookie season, Roger never fell behind in the first round of the playoffs.
Many Chicago fans still remember Roger’s playoff debut performance: 18 years old, 31 points, 2 assists, 5 rebounds, and 2 steals.
After the game, Nets guard Kevin Edwards uttered the famous quote: “If you ask me whether I’d rather see a dentist or try to guard the Truth, I’d say the dentist.
Though it’s painful, at least I wouldn’t be mother****ing watched by twenty thousand people!”
At that time, Kevin Edwards definitely didn’t realize that it wasn’t considered a disgrace.
Because Roger would bring humiliation to many bigger names over the years.
But this year, in his eighth season, someone achieved a miracle in their playoff debut just like he did.
The Orlando Magic won beautifully, but because of Larry Hughes’ foolish statement, the media is only concerned with one thing now: how much will the Magic lose by in the next game?
That’s right, no brain-dead media would badmouth the defending champion Hawks just because of one defeat.
The miracle of overcoming an eighth seed has happened, but it will never happen to the Hawks.
The first round’s best-of-five setup does add more uncertainty, but how many times has the eighth seed miracle actually occurred?
The day after the game, Larry Hughes angrily held a newspaper: “Damnit, there’s media saying we’ll lose by at least 20 points next game!
Ridiculous, absolutely ridiculous!”
T-Mac lay on the bed, sleepily staring at the ceiling, chewing gum, lost in thought.
Kobe talks about Roger like he’s a monster.
He knew Roger was strong, but not as exaggeratedly as Kobe said.
Life is short, where’s that much desperation?
“Hey Tracy!” Larry Hughes shoved the newspaper in front of the daydreaming T-Mac.
“The Atlanta Journal-Constitution says we’ll lose by at least 20 points next game, aren’t you angry?”
“Damn, what’s your attitude?
Get angry, Tracy, make the defending champions look bad next game!
Think about it, if we win the second match, we might just create the eighth seed miracle!
Do you know what that means?
It means we could land bigger endorsements, it means we’ll be the big figures in the NBA, it even means we could get selected for the Victoria’s Secret Show!”
Who could have thought that Hughes’s biggest motivation to beat the defending champions was a model selection?
T-Mac took the newspaper and casually read a few paragraphs.
Honestly, T-Mac found the “at least 20 points” say too exaggerated.
So far this season, counting both regular season and playoffs, the Hawks and Magic faced off 5 times, with a record of 3 wins and 2 losses, not much of a gap.
Moreover, the Hawks’ biggest win margin was only 12 points against the Magic.
T-Mac certainly wouldn’t let such a thing happen.
He might accept losing in the first round to the Hawks, but not in such a humiliating way.
Regardless, he’ll prove through actions that he’s a player capable of competing with Roger.
Even if he loses, he’ll lose standing tall.
On the other side, in the Hawks’ team training match, Paul Pierce already felt Roger’s anger.
In today’s training match, Roger proactively went to defend Pierce, utilizing almost playoff-level intensity.
“Paul, this is why you’re getting shut down by garbage like Larry Hughes.”
“Hey, why not buy a frozen Italian Goddess tonight, then eat it before tomorrow’s game starts.
That way, all your potential will be unlocked.”
“This idiot’s so worthless; he’s the worst out of all the players in the league averaging 20 points!
Oh, sorry, forgot you’re 0.3 points short of averaging 20 points, you garbage.”
“Hey Lenny, I train to improve, I train to get better, facing off with this idiot is useless for me, switch me someone else!”
Lenny Wilkens shook his head; not my problem, you chose to match up with Pierce.
Maybe because the regular season was too relaxed this year, Paul Pierce hadn’t yet hit playoff mode in the last game.
So today, Roger took it upon himself to harshly whip his little bro into shape.
Pippen mentioned that Roger had changed, but Roger didn’t turn into a pushover.
He encouraged when necessary, but he still pressured when needed.
Looking back, Stevie Smith spent almost an entire season under such pressure; Paul Pierce was already very, very fortunate.
Pierce didn’t say anything either, silently bearing Roger’s wrath.
Because he knew he completely brought it upon himself, and deserved the scolding.
The relaxation of the regular season made him forget the hunger of last season, whereas the keen hunger showed very clearly in Larry Hughes, which is why he was stifled by Hughes last game.
In the regular season, Roger allowed Pierce to be guarded by Larry Hughes.
Roger wouldn’t tolerate this.
Not that Roger depended on his teammates to win; if they tried their hardest yet still couldn’t change anything, then fine, Roger wouldn’t blame you for being too weak, he’d take responsibility.
After all, if teammates did everything, what’s left for him to do?
But Paul Pierce was outright sleepwalking in the last game.