348: 142: The Loyal Knight Fighting for the King, FMVP is a Major Issue (Requesting Monthly Tickets!)_3 348: 142: The Loyal Knight Fighting for the King, FMVP is a Major Issue (Requesting Monthly Tickets!)_3 Roger took over Payton’s first move and successfully defended it!
This was the beginning of Payton’s complete collapse.
After being blocked, Payton didn’t say anything, just turned around and started to fall back into defense.
Reign Man swore, this round of the series was Payton’s quietest.
What did that represent?
Perhaps the most courageous man was beginning to feel fear.
However, the SuperSonics still had a chance, now that Shaq was not there; they just needed to guard Roger to take the advantage.
As soon as Roger got the ball, the SuperSonics pressed him again.
Roger looked at Schrempf’s raised arms, twisted his body, and passed the ball to the left corner: Sarunas Marciulionis, Roger’s most loyal Knight was waiting there.
George Karl continued to heckle, “Trash, your shooting is only hurting your team!”
Swish.
Once again, Saru steadily hit a three-pointer.
After scoring, this always gentle, loving good man turned his head to George Karl, “If you can’t learn to shut up, I’ll shoot until you do, you mutt!”
George Karl’s mouth dropped open, unable to believe Saru would say those words.
Roger had given him the courage to break through the ntal gloom, at KeyArena, in front of George Karl, he didn’t have to hold back anymore.
He was here to destroy this place and help the King ascend to win the championship!
Roger was right, being a good guy is not a term to evaluate a successful athlete!
These two rounds essentially set the pace for the third quarter.
On defense, Roger tore into Payton, leaving him embarrassingly ineffectual.
In the previous ga, Roger had destroyed Payton on offense.
Today, Roger humiliated him defensively.
From now on, people will not rember Payton dominating Stockton in the Western Conference Finals.
People will only rember him being dominated by Roger in the finals.
That’s how the food chain in competitive sports works, the last victor is always the one rembered.
On offense, Roger dribbled up to the free throw line, changed direction, attracting the attention of SuperSonics’ five pairs of eyes, then he passed the ball.
He drove into the zone, attracting a double team, then passed the ball.
He was always looking for Saru in the open space, trusting him imnsely.
Saru kept repeating—open shot, open shot, open shot.
And shot all the balls Roger passed him right into the basket!
With O’Neal off the court and Roger forced to pass, Magic could still respond to the SuperSonics on the scoreboard!
With each shot, he personally shattered the once nightmarish venue, and with practical actions, he made George Karl completely shut up!
George Karl watched as his chin fat trembled and he struggled to breathe because of this guard he once completely disregarded!
In the end, not only did the SuperSonics fail to take the lead in the third quarter, but they also fell behind by 3 points!
Saru scored 15 points in the quarter alone, becoming Roger’s John Paxson, successfully safeguarding Roger’s path to ascension!
At the end of the third quarter, Saru and Roger lightly high-fived, “The apples from ho, I’ve already had them sent over.”
“We’re about to taste that sweet flavor, I promise,” Roger replied.
In the upcoming fourth quarter, with the return of Shaq, the SuperSonics got no more chances.
They failed to seize the third quarter, underestimating Roger’s influence.
Roger could not only score himself and kill the ga, but his leadership also filled the entire team with vitality!
Having restrained himself for a quarter, Shaq showed off in the fourth, and though still being fouled, his free throw percentage improved significantly.
In the end, O’Neal posted 32 points and 11 rebounds for the ga, Roger 29 points and 10 assists, breaking his career-high for assists in a single ga and achieving double-digit assists for the first ti in his career!
Even the Magic fans could hardly believe that one day Roger’s assists could be in the double digits.
104 to 86, Seattle fans welcod the finals back after 17 years only to witness an 18-point defeat.
The large score, a desperate 3-0, was an insurmountable gap.
At the end of the ga, Roger raised his right index finger to the sea of Seattle fans: one more ga.
One more ga, and Roger would lift his second career championship trophy.
The countdown to the summit had officially begun.
I don’t want to say a word!
I won’t answer a single question!
— Payton, who always liked to talk a lot, refused all interviews after being defended 5-for-15 by Roger for the whole ga.
Saru is underrated, always underrated.
He’s actually very good at hitting those crucial jump shots, when I see him unguarded, I know that shot is going in.
— Roger discussed his unconditional trust in Saru during the third quarter.
I’m too old and too slow, my knees are nearly no longer suited for basketball, honestly, it’s been tough this year.
But as long as Roger needs , I will do everything I can.
I fight for the championship and for him.
— Saru, smiling, accepted the interview.
Nothing much to say, this is the level an FMVP should have.
— O’Neal ntioned the FMVP countless tis during the interview.
I don’t want to say this, but the suspense of the finals has ended.
Now the only question is, Shaq or Roger, who will be the FMVP?
I believe this is an important question, more important than people think.
— Bill Walton sumd up after the ga.
He’s right, this will be an important question.
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