Chapter 1121: Chapter 357: This Is the True Champion Creed
A few weeks ago, Erik Spoelstra was just an assistant coach helping the head coach, occasionally flirting with cheerleaders.
For a rookie coach who took over the team halfway, being down 0-2 in the finals is almost a dead end.
Because even he wasn’t prepared, how could he help the players in adversity?
However, the gains from that past period gave him the courage to face all this at this moment.
“Listen guys, I know we just swept our opponents 4-0 in a series and thought we could conquer the world. Now suddenly we’re down 0-2, which is far beyond our expectations, causing inevitable psychological disparity.
But that’s professional sports; things won’t always go our way, and they won’t always wait for us until we’re prepared. Setbacks and difficulties are unavoidable; they weaken your will and can bring down a team once strong.
But they will also make us stronger and more united!
I can responsibly tell you, don’t worry, everything is still under control, trust me.
No complaints, no surrender. We will continue to fight against the Detroit Pistons until victory is ours!
Roger found these words familiar; it was what Hubie Brown told Spoelstra after his heart attack at the hospital.
This made the originally nervous and unsettled Spoelstra determined to beat Phil Jackson; it made him swear never to bend over again. Well, though he soon got a lesson from the janitor granny.
Compared to being the acting head coach, this was probably Erik Spoelstra’s biggest gain this year.
And now, he uses his gains to nurture the team.
After Spoelstra finished speaking, Marcus Camby stepped up.
“Erik is right, setbacks and difficulties are inevitable, that’s why the championship is so precious. But as long as we don’t give up ourselves, no one can easily take us down! I’ve once been muddled due to injuries, giving up on myself. But when I pulled myself together, I found I could still play decent games. So first, we must motivate ourselves!
And look at those fans waiting outside, they’re still waiting for us to bring the championship trophy back to Oakland! It’s just a season for us, but for Oakland fans, it’s the last chance for them to witness a champion born in this city!
They support us unconditionally, and we must bear their expectations. As professional players, it’s the duty we must fulfill!”
Marcus Camby also used this season’s gains to nurture the team, he nearly gave into despair to be a stat-padder, never had he experienced the feeling of being adored by fans, nor the feeling of battling for them. But this season’s experiences filled those gaps for Marcus Camby.
Roger could feel the temperature rising in the locker room, teammates who had been somewhat downcast either clenched their fists or gritted their teeth.
Dikembe Mutombo glanced at Roger, showing delight, seemingly proud: “Look, this is the young man you once told to get out of the locker room, I always said he was a good lad!”
Next up was Amar’e Stoudemire.
“Although we’re a new team playing together for just two seasons, we’ve experienced a lot. We went through last season’s failure, then sweated and spent time in the off-season to make ourselves stronger, finally reaching here. A year of waiting, inestimable dedication, all to function at this moment.
No matter what the score is now, lift your heads folks. We didn’t lose by much in these two games; we’re neck and neck with the Pistons. We’ll definitely find a way, we just need to find a way to score four or five more goals per game to settle them. They took two games from our home, we can go destroy their home!
Lift your heads, lift your heads!”
For the Warriors, this is a season where everyone has gained enormously. From Spoelstra to Stoudemire, from Stoudemire to Camby, they’ve all changed tremendously compared to a year ago, growing collectively in subtle ways. Gregg Popovich precisely overlooked this point, leading to excessive confidence.
Now, everyone’s individual gains and growth have converged into the team’s collective gain.
Leading a team wholeheartedly, facing difficulties together, growing together, then winning together, that’s the true Champion Creed.
A hastily assembled championship-fighting team is doomed not to sail far, nor to create true greatness.
Roger signed on with the Warriors, who had nothing, with such determination and thought.
He wanted a team with potential, capable of long-term dominion over the league. To achieve this, he didn’t mind growing with everyone.
All patience, waiting, teaching, encouragement, and support, are getting their payoff at this moment.
Finally, everyone looked at Roger, waiting for their King to give a closing speech.
But Roger no longer needed to say anything; this team was no longer one that needed his comfort.
This was already a true championship team.
So, he just promised the players.
“Listen, I can score, I can assist, I can defend, I don’t know what else I can do, but I’ll do everything I can. Unless they carry me off, I won’t give up. You can rest assured to follow me to Detroit, follow me all the way forward, don’t worry I’ll abandon the team halfway. We’ll either die in Detroit, or let Detroiters die in Oakland, forever bury the championship here!
Michael Jordan? Tom Brady?
Their scripts aren’t as thrilling as ours!”
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I won’t celebrate prematurely, because I know what kind of person Roger is. Until we win all four games, we won’t feel joy. –Ben Wallace comments on the finals with an overall score of 2-0.
The best defender tormented by the true best defender, but wait till he goes to Detroit, then he’ll know what it’s like to be stuck in a meat grinder. Doesn’t anyone count who’s the brick king in a single series? I think Roger should be able to win it. –Ron Artest smugly predicting the Pistons’ defense.
The Detroit Pistons are tough opponents, but we remain confident; in fact, we already have counter strategies. This little difficulty won’t bring us down, it will just make us move forward more bravely. –Erik Spoelstra replied to journalists at a press conference.
Tell Larry Brown, trash that didn’t make it to the finals ought to shut the hell up outside! Don’t worry, your moment will come! For now, you useless old fart better shut up and watch! –Roger responded aggressively with foul language to Larry Brown at a press conference, receiving a fine from the league.