Roger finished speaking and walked towards the players' tunnel.
He was angry, but he was not afraid.
The temporary interruption after four consecutive personal championships was not the end of everything.
The war with Shaq was still on, just entering a cooling-off period.
Lenny Wilkens stood at the entrance of the players' tunnel, hugging each player who walked in.
When it was Roger's turn, he opened his arms.
"You did well this season."
"You mean letting Karl Malone take the MVP, and then not even making it to the finals?" Roger said mockingly.
"This isn't Bill Russell's era, Roger. No one can win the championship seven or eight years in a row."
"You're right, Lenny, but in Atlanta, I've only won one championship. That's not enough, not nearly enough."
Lenny Wilkens decided to change the subject, "I'm surprised you didn't slap Paul."
