CHAPTER 1059: CHAPTER 340: 25 MINUTES IS ENOUGH

The advertisement shows Roger walking out from the darkness, tearing off each jersey from the teams he has played for, and then the narration begins to speak.

"He has fought for Chicago, fought for Orlando, fought for Atlanta fans, and achieved glory for Bay Area fans. Now, he has decided to fight for the fans of his true hometown."

After the lines, Roger put on the national team’s jersey and stood on the basketball court, crossing his arms over his chest.

This short advertisement, once released, made fans all over China cheer with excitement. The day they had been waiting for finally became a reality in 2004!

In fact, Roger, as a true international superstar, his announcement to participate in the Olympics not only shocked Chinese fans but also excited basketball fans around the world.

Even American fans are worried about one thing: "Will we lose to Team China?"

Due to a series of humiliating performances in previous international competitions, the US Men’s Basketball Team was determined and had announced early that they would invite superstars Tim Duncan and Allen Iverson to join the team to compete in Athens.

Stephon Marbury, Jermaine O’Neal, and other stars also joined.

Although many big names withdrew midway due to the shadow of terrorist attacks, the Dream Six Team’s lineup was still excellent enough.

Almost all fans across America believed that this Dream Six could remind the world of who the ultimate dominator of the basketball project really is.

But now, the situation has changed.

A player in his prime, the best in the world, who had created countless shadows for American fans, joined a team that originally did not pose a threat, intending to create new shadows for them.

Yes, before this, Team China was nearly invisible in FIBA games, with no glorious achievements in world championships. But everyone knows that in basketball games, a change of a superstar is enough to change the entire situation of the event.

Basketball is not a one-person game, but basketball is a game where one person can tilt the outcome.

Basketball is a team game, but it is the best game to express individual heroism.

No one understands better than Roger how to tilt the outcome of a game, no one understands personal heroism better than Roger.

So after Roger officially announced his entry into the national team, what the global media discussed was not about creating history by advancing from the group stage, but whether Team China could win a medal in Athens, and whether Asians could create history in the Olympic basketball project!

Tim Duncan and AI recently have had an additional question in their ears: "Are you worried about losing to Roger in Athens after losing to him in the NBA?"

Unknowingly, the hype surrounding the entire Olympic basketball project has become exceedingly high, and Roger has splendidly showcased the influence of a world-class star.

But after all, that’s a matter for summer, and before making his FIBA debut, Roger had other things to take care of.

On April 10th, for the fourth and final time this season, the Golden State Warriors faced off against the Los Angeles Lakers.

The game was as fiercely contested as always, with Karl Malone giving Amar’e Stoudemire a taste of the rugged iron elbows of the ’90s while battling for a rebound in the final moments.

Stoudemire clutched his face in pain as he backed away, but before Karl Malone could explain to the referee, Stephen Jackson jumped up and kicked him straight into the crowd.

Fights between Roger’s team and the Lakers seemed to have become a classic show in the NBA league. Just that before it was Shaq who got beaten up, and now it’s Malone’s turn.

The fight wasn’t big, as both were quickly separated.

Eventually, Karl Malone and Stephen Jackson were both ejected, and the Warriors won by a 12-point margin.

The regular season match record became a 2-2 draw.

After the game, Kobe Bryant was not convinced.

"Roger, you and I both know the result wouldn’t have been like this if Karl hadn’t been ejected."

"Yes, if Karl hadn’t been ejected, we should have won by a few more points."

"Ha, I didn’t expect the so-called greatest player would also comfort himself."

"I don’t have time to argue with you, really show me what you’ve got by beating me in the playoffs, it’s just a matter for the next month anyway."

"I will, except for your rookie season, the Miami Heat were the first team to beat you in the playoffs, Tim Duncan was the second, and you’re not unbeatable. And I, I will be the third."

"Sweet dreams, Kobe, you can dream for one more month."

Having dealt with the Lakers, Roger lost interest in the remaining regular-season games.

Of course, he still took it seriously, but his mind was entirely focused on the playoffs.

It’s been almost three months since Tom Brady won the Super Bowl, and Roger couldn’t wait any longer.

When the season had three games remaining, Roger, who had lost interest in the regular season, suddenly felt an itch like he was out of sage time.

"You mean to say, if LeBron James wins just one of the last three games, Michael Jordan will have no chance at all?" Roger looked at Spoelstra, with a slight smile on his lips.

"Yes, and Michael Jordan needs to win all three of his remaining games, and Cleveland Cavaliers must not win a game for them to make it to the playoffs."

"Poor Michael, truly pitiful."

"So, will you accept the proposal to continue reducing your playing time tomorrow? I know you don’t want the Cleveland Cavaliers to win, but I think we should focus our energy on the playoffs."

That’s right, the next game for the Warriors is against the Cleveland Cavaliers. If the Cavaliers win the game, the battle for a playoff spot will be over.

But for the playoffs, the Warriors had controlled the playing time of their main players for two consecutive games prior.

After all, the Warriors had already secured the top position in the West, so Hubie Brown didn’t plan to let the team exert more efforts in the season’s final moments.

Due to the rotations, the Warriors had already lost to Anthony’s Nuggets in the last game, which undoubtedly gave James infinite fantasies.

If Carmelo Anthony can do it, why can’t I?

Roger certainly won’t let James win, but he nodded: "I accept the plan for reducing my playing time before the playoffs, how long do you plan to let me play tomorrow?"

"The same as the previous two games, no more than 30 minutes. Not just you, all starters will be the same, so tomorrow’s game..."

"Oh, beating LeBron James will only take 25 minutes."

After speaking, Roger looked at the schedule of the Cavaliers’ last three games, with opponents being the Warriors, the Hawks, and the Pistons.

As long as he wins one game, James can firmly enter the playoffs, which doesn’t seem too difficult.

But is it really that stable?

It may not be so stable.

If the resting Warriors and the playoff-demanding Hawks both beat the Cavaliers, then James will only face Artest + Big Ben.

Guess how they will treat LeBron James? The two of them are completely a nemesis for LeBron.

So James has to give his all in the first two games, either defeating the resting Warriors or conquering the direct competitor Jordan.

The Warriors and the Hawks directly determine whether LeBron James makes it to the playoffs.

Team up with Michael Jordan to rally against the Cavaliers?

Roger shook his head, this damned bond.

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The true king of the basketball world is finally going to FIBA to collect honors, what else can be said? Team China will definitely win the gold medal, the gold medal already has Roger’s name written on it. Who do you expect from the Dream Team to stop Roger? Stephon Marbury? Or Richard Jefferson? If the Dream Team invites me to come back, there might be a glimmer of hope to win, I could disgust Roger to death with a mouth that’s kissed a donkey’s ass.——Charles Barkley predicts the Olympic basketball games on his show.

Michael Jordan and Roger, will they join forces in the last three games to kill off the possibility of LeBron James entering the playoffs? —— "Slam".

No matter whether Roger is resting or not, or whether the Cleveland Cavaliers will win against the Warriors, I will give my all in the game against him! —— Michael Jordan talks about the season-ending game against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Though winning just one game will secure a playoff spot, and even though the Warriors and Pistons are very strong, I will be 100% dedicated in every match and will not let go of any victory easily. —— LeBron James in a confident answer during an interview.

LeBron James cannot surpass either Roger or Michael Jordan, not just now, but twenty years later it will still be the same, I am sure of it. —— Scottie Pippen evaluates Cleveland’s Chosen One.