828: 277: Simply keen on dancing on the opponent’s grave (asking for monthly tickets!)_2 828: 277: Simply keen on dancing on the opponent’s grave (asking for monthly tickets!)_2 Unfortunately, many media writers for convenience often stereotype players, creating simplistic caricatures.
The simplest caricature of McGrady is a softie.
People are more complex than basketball, and this was the biggest realization Roger had after he personally entered the NBA.
McGrady is also a complex person; the McGrady from 2008 cannot be compared to the McGrady from 2001.
The McGrady from 2008 burned like a true leader, but the McGrady from 2001 was a young man unsure of how to take on responsibility.
In high school, he often argued with coaches because he wasn’t serious about training and didn’t have a strong desire to win on the court.
During his senior year, he had the chance to transfer to the basketball-famous Mount Zion Christian Academy, but he often arrived late to training and frequently asked himself “Why move so far away from the mother and grandmother who love me,” rather than thinking “I finally have the opportunity to become famous across America.”
The absence of a father figure and the careful protection from his mother and grandmother accustomed McGrady to being free-spirited and lacking the gene for competitiveness.
Maybe many years later, Tracy McGrady will learn how to be a real man.
But in 2001, even though he was an All-Star, even though he had led the team into the playoffs, even though he was loved as Orlando’s son.
McGrady was still McGrady, that boy accustomed to being free-spirited.
He still couldn’t handle tough battles and couldn’t withstand the pressure from a superstar like Roger.
When Larry Hughes received the ball, however, he was fearless and aggressively attacked Pierce.
His speed gave him an advantage, hitting Pierce’s weakness.
But his weak shooting ability meant he could only challenge DPOY front-runner Ben Wallace in the paint.
The result was predictable; Big Ben mercilessly rejected Larry Hughes with a vicious block.
The Magic team’s offense failed again, and Roger quickly pushed over half-court, ready to take out McGrady again after grabbing the basketball from Big Ben’s hands.
However, in the second half, the Magic team changed their matchup strategy, assigning Larry Hughes to defend Roger.
Doc Rivers wanted to detach McGrady from defensive pressure, hoping that at least the Magic would have a scoring point capable of contending with Roger, leading to this adjustment in the second half.
At that moment, Doc Rivers was simply the undisputed GOAT in Roger’s heart for the coach position!
Anyone who calls him a pighead will have a dispute with Roger!
Doc Rivers is incredibly skilled and understands players too well!
He knew Roger had long wanted to take out Larry Hughes, and like a madam, actively presented him in front of Roger.
What opponent wouldn’t love such a coach?
As Roger approached, Larry Hughes immediately attempted a steal, confident in his stealing ability.
But Roger effortlessly switched hands behind the back, bypassing him.
Larry Hughes’s hands are indeed quick, but for a top offensive player who won the scoring champion six years in a row, people dodge steals even faster.
Due to his steal attempt, Larry Hughes was out of position, and Roger quickly burst into the paint, ignoring the two ineffective Magic team interior players, and slammed it home directly with a dunk!
The Magic team possesses top-tier perimeter talent, but their interior might be the worst in the league.
As long as Roger can break through the perimeter defense, he can attack the basket at will.
In the previous game, due to Pierce’s poor performance, Roger was easily double-teamed, making breakthroughs less smooth.
But now, whether it was McGrady or Larry Hughes defending Roger, he could easily crush them.
“Roger indeed does not intend to stop, he’s still trying to prolong the agony, and widen the point gap!
He wants Larry Hughes to understand one thing, it’s over, there’s no round two!” Bob Costas understands Roger, he knows this guy enjoys making his opponents feel despair.
He will savor the taste of toying with opponents, and then continue to intensify!
The offense and defense at the start of the third quarter, Roger’s killing intent did not diminish.
Orlando Magic fans initially thought the future was near, but their anticipated future was hitting a major setback upon reaching the playoffs for the first time.
The game continued, and McGrady seemed to have lost his fighting spirit.
Facing Roger’s defense, he chose to pass the ball over and over again.
Doc Rivers could hardly believe his eyes; he removed McGrady from defensive pressure precisely to encourage him to attack.
Yet, McGrady kept passing on offense, making his adjustments and strategies utterly meaningless!
Larry Hughes still wanted to fight, but this time he couldn’t even get past Pierce.
Pierce doesn’t understand fancy fakes, but he knows a bit about confrontation.
With excellent confrontation ability on the front line, handling the slender Larry Hughes was incredibly easy for him.
As for how to make the speedy Larry Hughes crash into him repeatedly?
It’s simple, let him shoot but not break through.
It’s a defense technique with extremely high minimum and maximum effectiveness.
It can shut down fringe All-Star players like Larry Hughes while simultaneously defending top superstars of GOAT caliber.
Pierce’s allow shoot but not drive completely locked down Larry Hughes, making it impossible for the Magic to even draw close to the score decently!
Once again, the Magic team’s offense failed, in the third quarter up to now, Orlando Magic spent the entire time being beaten.
For the rest of the third quarter, because McGrady was inactive offensively and Larry Hughes lacked the ability to carry the team, the Hawks widened the point gap faster in the third quarter than in the first half.