619: 219: This is a unique backing board (Asking for monthly tickets!)_6 619: 219: This is a unique backing board (Asking for monthly tickets!)_6 “Hey, Scott, you know?
People who like playing with kids, they’re destined never to be able to shoulder the weight of a championship in their lifeti.”
Malone glanced at Roger with the corner of his eye, his hand gripping the ball unconsciously tightened, as if he wished he could crush the basketball, as if it was Roger’s head he was holding.
On the opposite side, the jester beside the basketball demigod also started to laugh, “Don’t worry, Roger, Karl’s soft ass can’t make the free throws, not enough strength, not enough length, he can’t get it in.”
Karl Malone was frustrated, but then, the hand that tightly gripped the basketball suddenly relaxed.
Go ahead, talk all you want.
I’m really looking forward to the mont you shut your filthy mouths!
Karl Malone found the peace within himself; he wasn’t nervous and allowed these trash talks to affect him no more.
Thus, under the gaze of basketball fans across the world, he steadily made the shot, an additional free throw hit!
In perhaps the most critical round of his professional career, he delivered a perfect performance!
“I think Karl has found ‘that thing’ you were talking about, with the Mailman’s 2 1, the Jazz lead by 3 points with the last 44 seconds!
Can Atlanta pull off a miracle!?”
Marv Albert believed that it was the stronger opponent that pushed Malone to do better.
After making the free throw, an excited Malone punched the air forcefully and then yelled back, “You can’t always count on others to make mistakes, wimp!
I got you today!”
Lenny Wilkens used the second-to-last tiout, and the breaths of the Atlanta fans began to grow rapid.
The tragedies of the Warriors and the Falcons resurfaced before their eyes.
Andy’s parents were incredibly worried; they all hoped that Andy could witness the Hawks lift the trophy on the spot, but if they lost this ga, Andy might never get another chance.
But Andy himself was smiling.
He always believed that Roger could solve everything.
After Lenny Wilkens set the strategy, the ga continued.
The Utah Jazz’s defensive attention was all on Roger; he was undoubtedly the most dangerous man on the court right now.
As soon as Roger caught the sideline ball, Bryon Russell and Hornacek imdiately double-tead him, not even giving Roger a chance to dribble comfortably.
Roger didn’t let the offense stall; he quickly passed the ball to Pippen, who drove imdiately upon receiving the ball.
Even though he had left the ga in the first quarter because of a back injury, he fearlessly charged towards the zone defended by Karl Malone and Mutombo.
But in mid-air, Pippen managed a fake but then gave a real pass to Stevie Smith!
The next second, Pippen collided with Malone and Mutombo, landing on his back on the ground.
Once Stevie Smith got the ball, Hornacek imdiately raised his center of gravity to block.
But Stevie Smith, as the lethal 3-point shooter closed in, pulled back the basketball and drove!
This ti, he didn’t hastily take a three-pointer during the intense playoffs; he was no longer fleeing.
He wanted to be a brave example for Andy!
Earlier, Roger had told Stevie Smith, “I’m going to chase the championship with everything I have.
Whether or not you co is your business.”
Nonsense, of course, I’m coming!
One step inside the three-point line, Stevie Smith’s steady jump shot hit.
“87 to 88, the Hawks are now just 1 point behind!
In this offense, the ball went through Roger, Scott, and Steve’s hands, this elite Atlanta trio has kept Atlanta’s last hope alive!
Scott and Steve, both Divine Hands, have shown their attitude today!
Can the Utah Jazz hold onto their slim lead!?”
The shouting Magic was nearly fainting; everyone knew this ga would be exciting, but no one thought it would be this thrilling!
That was Stevie Smith’s 17th point of the day, not many but lethal.
After the shot, Stevie Smith pounded his chest and roared.
This good-natured man had finally shown his wild side to everyone.
The Jazz had never expected that the crucial shot would be taken by Stevie Smith.
Fortunately for them, Stevie Smith’s shot was a two-pointer.
Now with 31 seconds left in the ga, Jazz still held a 1-point advantage.
They were still closer to the victory.
Jerry Sloan didn’t call a tiout; he didn’t want to give the Hawks a chance to set up their defense.
And it didn’t matter not to take a tiout; he believed that John Stockton knew what to do.
Stockton crossed half-court and began to run down the clock.
Even if they didn’t score this ti, they couldn’t leave the Hawks with plenty of ti to attack.
He planned to use up the full 24 seconds.
Stockton firmly controlled the ball, and with each passing second, the hearts of Atlanta fans sank a little more.
Roger tried desperately to defend against Hornacek; he simply couldn’t let the lethal 3-point shooter get another chance.
When it ca to my father-in-law, perhaps I could give so leeway, but to beco a winner?
No way!
With the last 5 seconds of the 24-second shot clock ticking down, Hornacek suddenly broke away, sprinting to the right side beyond the three-point line.
Karl Malone had already set up the screen, and just as Roger was about to go past Malone, Malone sneakily tripped Roger with his foot.
Seeing Roger lose his balance and fall, the hearts of all the Hawks fans had completely chilled.
Stockton passed the ball over, and Hornacek, who had already drawn blood, was ready for the total kill.
However, lying on the ground, Roger scrambled with hands and feet, stretched his arms forward, kicked fiercely off the ground, and elevated his body parallel to the floor to pull off the steal in mid-air!
“An incredible steal!
Roger has managed to make a steal while falling over.
John Stockton has lost a ball at the least likely mont!”
Hornacek was stunned for a second.
What kind of terrifying desire to win was this?
Magic stood up, and all the fans in the stadium stood up too.
That mont was, without a doubt, going to be permanently etched in the history of the NBA.
But the ga wasn’t over yet; Roger still had to finish this match.
With only 8 seconds left, Roger, still on the ground, called for a tiout.
This ti, Jerry Sloan faced a dilemma when arranging the defense.
In a previous similar play, because the Jazz had focused too much on Roger’s defense, it led to Stevie Smith getting an opportunity.
Considering that Roger hadn’t scored in nearly two minutes and was also out of energy, Jerry Sloan made a bold decision: “Don’t double-team above the free-throw line, don’t give any Hawks player a chance to shoot!”
The ga resud, and the ball was inbounded to Scottie Pippen, the guy whose back could no longer bend.
Stevie Smith tried to co out and receive the ball but was hopelessly entangled by Hornacek.
At that mont, Roger started from the corner and ran towards the top of the three-point arc.
Bryon Russell grabbed at Roger’s jersey, revealing the mascot on Roger’s chest.
But with Roger’s persistent struggle, Bryon Russell still lost his grip.
Roger got a chance to catch the ball, and Pippen passed it out to him.
At that ti, there were only 3 seconds left in the ga.
Roger took a step forward, and Bryon Russell imdiately backed away.
But the next second, Roger stepped back behind the three-point line!
The score was only a point apart, yet Roger opted for a three-pointer!
Bryon Russell tried to adjust his stance to jump out, but it was too late.
He staggered backward a few steps and eventually fell to the ground.
Roger, standing beyond the three-point line, released the ball steadily, and the buzzer’s red light flashed as he shot.
The mont Roger released the ball, the Hawks’ fans in the stands were already raising their arms in celebration, while the faces of the Jazz players were filled with terror.
Seated on the ground, Bryon Russell wore a look of disbelief, and Karl Malone seed to see a reflection of his entire career — unresigned yet this is where it had to end.
Just one basket, just because of one man.
Indeed, at that mont, only God knew whether Roger would make the shot.
But nearly everyone, from fans to adversaries, felt that Roger had already made the ga-winner, as if Roger was the Almighty Himself.
Unlike Karl Malone’s rare show of toughness in critical monts, people reacted this way because Roger had never faltered in clutch situations!
The fans already celebrating ahead of ti and the opponents already despairing in front of Roger as he made the arc-top shot, beca an unparalleled backdrop to this mont.
Andy, sitting in his wheelchair, also raised his arms and muttered softly, “The Atlanta Hawks are the champions!”
Whistle!!!
Swish!!!
“Roger!
Roger!
Roger!
A three-point buzzer-beater!
The savior of Atlanta has manifested tonight!”
(One chapter today, as it is a combination of two.)
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