344: 141: One on one, even DPOY is useless (Vote for monthly pass!)_3 344: 141: One on one, even DPOY is useless (Vote for monthly pass!)_3 Driving through would have been instantly smothered.
Pass to the outside?
This was 1996, when role players didn’t have a stable response capability on the periter.
The concept of shooters in this era was different from those later, Steve Kerr was accurate, wasn’t he?
But he actually never had a season averaging more than 1.5 three-pointers per ga in his entire career, and in the original 1996 finals, his three-point percentage was just 18%.
Moreover, on the Magic’s side, only Saru had a stable three-point ability.
Pass to Shaq?
He too would be instantly double-tead.
Thus, Roger had no choice but to face the DPOY’s defense and score from the periter.
Roger took a step to the left, but as he launched, he imdiately stepped back, creating a sliver of shooting space.
He shot and scored.
Payton’s fingertips almost blocked the shot, but only almost.
Easily, Roger scored right over the head of the DPOY!
“I don’t know if I’m the weakest All-NBA team mber, but you are definitely the weakest DPOY.”
The SuperSonics fell behind by 8 points again, followed by Sam Perkins’ trebuchet three-pointer missing the mark, which forced them to face the risk of the gap widening to double digits.
Roger continued to face Payton, but O’Neal was calling for the ball again.
It seems, Shaq wasn’t content with the recent outco.
As expected, after the ball was lobbed in, he was instantly double-tead, and his forced shot amidst the crowd didn’t go in.
Roger wouldn’t flat out refuse to pass to Shaq but would let Shaq understand why he shouldn’t pass to him.
As they were leading, Roger allowed Shaq a round or two to try and err.
O’Neal was frustrated, wondering why on earth no one dared to play him one-on-one!
But that’s the reality for centers, or let’s say interior players.
You have a bigger body, stronger power, greater height, and a naturally closer offensive position to the basket, you can’t possibly expect the sa one-on-one chances as a guard, can you?
O’Neal grumbled as Kemp, grabbing the rebound, imdiately passed the ball to Hersey Hawkins.
Hawkins drove for a counterattack, leaning on Harper for a layup and scoring.
The SuperSonics caught up the deficit again, and George Karl excitedly waved his arms.
It turned out that their sideline defense was effective.
At least Magic was struggling to make an impact in the paint.
Now, it was to see whether Roger could terminate the DPOY on the periter!
Roger didn’t hesitate, and quickly scored the second basket of the second half.
He posted up against Payton, with Payton fiercely resisting, each collision creating a daunting thud.
If this were Roger from the previous two seasons, Payton might have had an advantage in the clash.
But this season, with significantly improved physical confrontational abilities, Roger was making it difficult for Payton.
After backing him down three tis, Roger finally seized a mont to shove Payton aside and turned for a direct jump shot!
Payton faced up to contest, and O’Neal was also ready for the offensive rebound.
But the ball traced a despairing arc for the Seattle folks and plunged directly into the net again!
The DPOY’s defense seed as brittle as a cookie in front of Roger!
“Gary, I admire your courage, but you don’t have the strength.
20 years later, when people ntion the NBA in 1996, they will only rember the Eastern finals because the finals had no suspense.”
“Roger, bring it on!” Gary Payton didn’t back down.
Regaining control again, the SuperSonics waited for Reign Man to receive the ball in the mid-range via an off-ball screen.
Reign Man shook off Shaq again, and Payton’s delivery was quite tily.
But this ti, Reign Man’s mid-range jumper clanged off the rim.
Reign Man, after all, was neither Jordan nor Roger.
He was a good player but not a Mount Rushmore level.
Expecting him to carry the SuperSonics’ offense with mid-rangers?
Sorry, in the whole league only Roger and Jordan could do that.
“Damn!” Payton cursed quietly, suddenly feeling a sense of helplessness.
The SuperSonics’ offense against the Magic’s defense felt like gambling every round, with no reliable offensive strategy.
In the regular season, the SuperSonics could rely on fast breaks and team play to score high.
But in the defense-intensive playoffs, the ability to solve tough defenses becos crucial, sothing the SuperSonics severely lacked.
And that was sothing Roger excelled in.
Payton didn’t have ti to rue; he needed to imdiately adjust his mindset to defense, as the league’s leading scorer was still waiting for him.
He tried to stay focused, continuous defensive failures had dampened his spirits, but he needed to put these negative emotions behind him.
Defense is a very psychologically demanding task, frankly, even for top defenders, you must learn to maintain energy and confidence through constant humiliation by the opponent.
Roger was equally focused, crouching low, posing like a cheetah ready to hunt, prepared to start another round of onslaught.
Just when Payton thought Roger was ready to drive with his low stance, Roger paused, seemingly ready to shoot.
Payton imdiately moved up, as Roger had already demonstrated his incredible touch in previous plays; even a slight space was enough for Roger to make the shot, so Payton was particularly sensitive to Roger’s shooting.
Little did he know that as Payton shifted his weight forward, Roger accelerated attacking Payton’s front foot and drove straight past!
Easily, Roger slipped past Payton.
The DPOY was simply outplayed by the scoring champion!
But the SuperSonics’ help defense was just waiting for this mont, as soon as Roger stepped one foot into the paint, he was imdiately surrounded by the deep green jerseys of the SuperSonics players.
But Roger had already thought of a counterasure, he took off in the paint, his eyes on Shaq, passed the ball to him in mid-air.
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