Chapter 1252: Chapter 396: Transfers, Hype, Customization? Marching, Fighting, Conquering!
"Help me up." Roger extended his hand.
With the support of his teammates, Roger stood up again, but his expression could no longer return to normal.
Even more surprising, Roger’s next attempt at a jump shot after a left breakthrough almost entirely missed, barely hitting the front of the rim.
"I think Roger’s injury might be serious. His shot was way too short. Did the collision just cause a more severe problem with Roger’s right rib?" Mike Breen stood up nervously; this could very well be the turning point of the game.
Toni Kukoc was also worried. If Roger’s injury truly worsens, the outcome of Game 7 remains uncertain.
He wondered, if the Knicks won the championship, would they give a ring to Kobe as well? If it weren’t for Kobe’s desperate collision in the Western Finals, the situation wouldn’t be this dire.
With 41 seconds left, Warriors are trailing by 1 point. If they can’t reverse the score again, it would mean losing their last chance.
Lenny Wilkens paused the game, knowing this possession might kill Roger, because Roger’s rib just might have snapped completely. If they could win, if the game was forced into Game 7, Roger couldn’t take the championship back.
The upcoming Game 7 is likely to be as devastating as last season’s Warriors vs Lakers massacre in the Western Finals.
Roger’s Atlanta Dynasty had Lenny Wilkens involved, and now, he intended to end it all with his own hands!
Over on the Warriors’ side, Spoelstra was also checking on Roger. A broken rib has a certain chance of puncturing internal organs, posing serious risk, possibly even life-threatening.
But Roger was fully aware that it hadn’t reached that point yet; if his organs were pierced, there was no way he could stand up. So he slapped away Spoelstra’s tactical board: "Just arrange the defense!"
Spoelstra froze for a moment, then shouted loudly: "Dog!"
Matt Barnes stood up: "Who should I bite?"
The game resumed, and on-site Knicks fans were all standing and shouting.
But Spike Lee kept his lips sealed; his experiences in the 90s made him cautious at critical moments.
Roger walked onto the court slowly; he was nearly burned out.
Indeed, after 12 years of professional career, this was the first time Roger felt he was almost at his limit.
His fingers were already numb, and the sharp pain in his ribs was pounding his brain.
He was scared, too; the thought of fighting fiercely on the court with a broken bone sent chills down his spine.
But Roger always held onto one constant over the years: he hated losing.
He had lost enough in his past life, but now he hadn’t won enough yet.
Gary Payton controlled the ball and found Roger defending him.
The Glove smiled: "You’re done for."
"Gary, I’m gonna rip your tongue out!"
Gary Payton was just trying to trash talk, but the ferocious look on Roger’s face startled him, as if that guy was truly fighting for his life.
Then something shocking happened as Roger closely guarded Payton.
With a suspected fully broken rib, he was engaging in the fiercest confrontation.
This pressure made it difficult for Payton to release the ball. Wade broke free from Barnes several times, yet Payton couldn’t deliver the ball.
Finally, in the last 11 seconds of the 24-second offense, Wade received the basketball. Barnes fiercely bit into Wade, using his body, using dirty moves, the King’s loyal hound fighting for the King’s honor, just as he had promised.
But Wade was still Wade; his speed was unparalleled.
Finding a sliver of space in the pressure to change direction, Wade passed Barnes, preparing to charge into the inside.
Yet Tayshaun Prince abandoned Battier, who had a poor shooting night, to timely defend in front of Wade; Wade found it hard to change direction again in the tight space. He had to either charge and get called on an offensive foul, stop-and-pop, or pass.
Dwayne Wade chose the last option, which would be the choice he regretted most in his career.
Wade jumped and passed the ball to Battier; despite his bad form today, it was still an open shot.
However, everything was under the Warriors’ control.
Roger anticipated Wade’s passing target, sprinting towards Battier the second before the pass.
Battier saw Roger had a chance to intercept, so he abandoned his shooting position and dashed toward the ball.
Both Roger and Battier sprinted towards the ball, culminated in a chilling head-on collision!
Battier felt as if he was hit by a small car and flew out, and Roger felt the same; the difference being, the ball was in Roger’s hands.
Lying on the floor, Roger immediately made a timeout gesture, and the whistle was blown, Warriors gained possession!
"Perfect steal! Perfect! Could Roger end the game in Game 6? Will we see it!?" Mike Breen stared at Roger, who was already being helped to the bench.
"Damn it, shit!" Roger’s ribs hurt even more from the collision, making it difficult for him to stand upright.
After sitting, Spoelstra didn’t waste his breath; even God couldn’t make Roger sit down for a rest now.
He arranged a double-screen tactic, letting Roger break through to the right side—considering Roger’s previous left-side jump shot almost entirely missed, and his condition was even worse now, going right was the better option.
Then the plan B: "Boris, did you drink red wine today?"
"A small cup."
"Good, you replace Matt! If Roger holds the ball and finds no chance, you’ll handle the control and find a chance to pass the ball to him!"