Champion Creed
Chapter 51 - 51 037 The Two Mediators

51: 037: The Two Mediators 51: 037: The Two Mediators Pippen took advantage of the loss and mocked Roger for starting, which made the media ecstatic.

The locker room issue is a perennial hot topic because people are always eager to satisfy their curiosity.

The fans can directly see the players’ performance on the court.

Therefore, they are often more interested in what they can’t see in the locker room.

And since the Bulls are a high-profile team, their disagreement quickly swept through major newspapers and sports news.

Roger was thrust into the spotlight, with some saying he wasn’t as mature as Penny, and others arguing he shouldn’t be starting at all.

The incident seriously irritated Roger, especially Pippen and Penny.

Roger didn’t like the media using this to elevate Penny, but he couldn’t yet prove he was better than Penny himself.

But now, he could confront Pippen in person and ask if his sleep quality had declined again and if he was looking to cure his insomnia.

Roger was damn concerned about his teammates.

The next day at the Berto Center, Roger went straight to Pippen after entering the locker room and punched the locker door:

“Scott, you can use me as a shield all you want, I’ll take on the pressure you’re too chicken to handle.

Can this stop your whining in front of the media?

I’ve never badmouthed you to the media, yet you keep insulting me over and over.

If you have an issue, say it to my face, you gutless old dog!”

The whole locker room fell silent; nobody expected Roger to be so direct.

The last person who dared to blow up like this in the Berto Center’s locker room was Michael Jordan.

You can imagine what would happen if a rookie dared to talk like that to Jordan.

Jordan would definitely stand up and point at Roger’s nose: “Shut your damn mouth, you piece of trash!

Do you think you can replace me?

I could kick you out of Chicago tonight!”

But what about Pippen?

Faced with the enraged Roger, faced with the punch that slammed into his locker, his eyes were bloodshot, he was seething with anger.

But …

he ultimately didn’t dare respond, only silently hanging his head!

The man who had been mocking Roger in front of the media, when actually confronted by Roger, suddenly didn’t dare to say a word.

Honestly, if Pippen had yelled at Roger like a man, saying “Rookie, you should pass more,” he might have gained more respect in the locker room.

But after mocking Roger in the media and then keeping silent in the locker room, Pippen only weakened his control over the locker room.

Scottie Pippen completely lost respect in the locker room.

You can’t really blame Pippen for being timid; he simply didn’t want to experience the feeling of being knocked out and then revived.

“Rookie, nobody wants to lose a game.” As a veteran of the team, Cartwright played the peacemaker yet again, patting Roger’s back, hoping he would calm down.

“Of course, Bill, nobody wants to lose.

I believe Scott doesn’t either.

But he can’t just blame me every time we lose.

Looking for a mild scapegoat?

You got the wrong man, asshole!”

Seeing Cartwright step up to hold back Roger, Pippen finally mustered the courage to speak: “You don’t have the right to judge me, you’ve only played two NBA games, while I have three championship rings.”

A weak comeback.

“Yeah, if it weren’t for your bizarre headache in Game 7 of the ’90 Eastern Finals, you’d have four,” Roger retorted.

“Roger, ease up!” Cartwright immediately pushed Roger against his locker, genuinely worried Pippen might pass out again.

When Zen Master walked in, he saw Roger and Pippen arguing.

No, it wasn’t an argument.

He walked in to see Roger schooling Pippen.

When Pippen released that retarded statement after the loss yesterday, Zen Master knew this would happen, so he was very calm, merely adjusted his glasses, and then shouted, “Scott, Roger, come here.”

Zen Master locked Roger and Pippen in the video room, which was pitch black and filled with the scent of sandalwood.

The three men couldn’t see each other’s faces, creating a relaxed atmosphere, hmm…

It felt just like the private rooms at foot massage parlors.

The difference was there were no masseuses here, only soothing music and Zen Master’s show:

“I know you both need to adjust and understand each other.

I also know that you haven’t managed to like each other yet.

But that doesn’t matter; how could men really like each other anyway?

Roger isn’t wearing yoga pants, and Scott isn’t wearing a bikini.

As basketball players, the most important thing is winning, not liking each other.

Magic and Skyhook didn’t like each other either, but that didn’t stop them from winning many championships together.

The fault in yesterday’s game lies neither with Scott, who truly did his best, nor with Roger, who was the most suitable starter.

On the contrary, you two were the best performers yesterday.

We lost only because the coaching staff hasn’t yet found a perfect rotation strategy, causing unsuitable team coordination on the court.

That’s the real source of your anger, and it’s not even directly related to you.

So, set aside your anger, it does you no good.

Once I adjust the rotation strategy, trust me, we will be victorious continuously.

Scott, you need a partner to fulfill your ambitions.

Roger, you need an experienced veteran to help you improve; you could coexist perfectly.

If you work together, we can replicate the glories of the Jordan era!

Many teams have dual leaders.”

On the surface, the Zen Master was placating Pippen, but in reality, he was giving Roger a promotion.

Pippen’s heart was still unhappy, the words of the Zen Master meant that he was no longer the absolute boss.

After Jordan’s retirement, he had been the team leader for only two games before his leadership career ended…

But he did not have the capital to refute, and could only reluctantly accept it.

After Phil Jackson finished speaking, he did not turn on the light or speak again, just let the soothing music play.

Minutes later, Roger heard Pippen’s snoring.

His own inner anger was also somewhat curbed.

Now, Roger finally understood the younger Van Gundy’s evaluation of Phil Jackson: “Many NBA head coaches can’t lead their teams to win even a single playoff series in their lifetime, yet this man has won the finals eleven times.

And you actually think he’s only capable of confusing tricks?”

Yes, the Zen Master indeed had some tricks up his sleeve.

An hour later, the Zen Master left the projection room, ready to return to the training court.

Just as he reached the entrance to the training court, he encountered Krause.

“Phil, dammit, have you seen the newspapers today?

The whole world thinks we are doomed!

Have you sorted out the locker room?

I don’t care whether you make Roger bow to Scott or Scott bow to Roger.

In any case, you have to solve this mess!”

The Zen Master grew more disgusted with Krause: “I have already handled it, Jerry, you don’t need to teach me.”

He wanted to add, “Stop meddling in the locker room matters,” but he refrained.

“You’d better have handled it, then get them to cooperate well in the next game!

We looked terrible in our first home game, and if we lose the next home game, our season’s attendance will be completely ruined!

If you can’t handle it, I’ll deal with it my way!”

Indeed, the Zen Master knew the next game was of special significance.

Because the next opponent for the Bulls was the guy who could smash the whole of Chicago into a pit, leading the Phoenix Suns.

All of Chicago was looking forward to this, hoping the team could defeat their finals rivals without Jordan, proving the team still had competitiveness.

And Krause’s method of handling things…

the Zen Master did not want to lose either Pippen or Roger.

The Zen Master, being meddled by Krause, frowned all day, the only solace being that Roger and Pippen had no more arguments in the locker room today.

They both acknowledged the Zen Master’s words: “As basketball players, the most important thing is to win.”

As long as you can win, it doesn’t matter even if your partner is an idiot.

Even though they didn’t argue, the atmosphere in the locker room was still dead.

The Bulls still needed a victory to boost morale and resolve the internal crisis.

Engaging in an external battle is the most effective way to resolve an internal crisis.

Phoenix Suns, they absolutely must win now.

The Suns have played to a 3-0 record so far, with only one of those games allowing the opponent to narrow the score difference to a single digit.

This is the power of the Western Champions.

Now, with the Bulls without Jordan, Barkley and his Phoenix Warriors are thirsting for revenge.

It’s commonly believed that if not for Jordan’s miraculous average of 41 points, the Bulls wouldn’t have taken their third championship, and the Suns are now eager to prove this point.

Barkley was very confident: “The results will prove, I only lost to Michael, not the Chicago Bulls.”

From the day Jordan retired, Flying Pig almost considered the championship his very own.

Before the season started, he even said, “Now in the league, the only figures worthy of mention are Olajuwon, Admiral, New York Giant, Baby Shaq, and me.”

Scottie Pippen?

What does he count for?

Even if given the ball, he wouldn’t average 30 points, let alone 40.

As for Roger?

Yes, Roger should not be underestimated, even the proud Flying Pig admitted, that the NBA’s youngest player ever had talent.

“But he has yet to face a top defender, Thunder Dan is going to be his nightmare,” Barkley answered this way at the Chicago airport.

As a two-time All-Defensive Team member, Dan Majerle’s skills are well recognized.

Although Majerle was completely crushed by Jordan in last season’s finals, there was only one Jordan.

Majerle could stand up to Jordan, but could a rookie do so?

In Flying Pig’s fantasy, Majerle locks down Roger, Pippen struggles alone, and the Suns are determined to win!

Facing the arrogant Flying Pig and the strong Suns, the Zen Master had already made preparations.

The team’s sudden offensive breakdown last game made him adjust the rotation.

And Roger, having been appointed as one of the Zen Master’s spokespeople, naturally would not let Flying Pig have his way.

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