Chapter 1081 - 345: I Won’t Let This Land Have Nothing

Words : 1183 Updated : Oct 1st, 2025

That was the beginning of a new glory for the Warriors, but also a farewell to the old past. And Roger never liked saying goodbye empty-handed. Meanwhile, Marcus Camby, who had finished training, was also driving home. He knew that the game in a few days would not be as simple as the previous match against the Nuggets, so he had to maintain his best condition. While waiting at a traffic light, some fans on the street recognized him and shouted to him. "Marcus, promise me, knock that strong offender Kobe Bryant to the ground!" "Yeah! You will win the Defensive Player of the Year Award someday, someday!" "Go, Marcus, New Yorkers don’t appreciate your value, but we do!" Marcus Camby smiled and waved at the fans, then drove away as the light turned green. This season, Marcus Camby went from being a fringe player who didn’t care at all about the team’s locker room to feeling a strong sense of belonging in the Warriors. This sense of belonging came not only from the team or his teammates but also from the support and love from the fans. Anyone familiar with the New York basketball market knows that fans and media there are never polite to their own players. So while playing in New York, Camby tried hard, but he was still criticized constantly. In New York, the media and fans are like stern examiners. As long as you make the slightest mistake, they will be relentless in their verbal attacks on you. But the Bay Area is a completely different scene. Here, fans and media support him and love him. They cheer for his excellent performances and offer encouragement when he doesn’t do well. Even Camby hadn’t realized how much he enjoyed playing here. Thus, he felt a sense of mission, and he couldn’t let the people here down. In the next playoff series, he had already been entrusted with a heavy responsibility. Hubie Brown had decided that no matter which team advanced to the next round, Marcus Camby’s only task was to lock down the opponent’s power forward, Karl Malone or Chris Webber. Amar’e Stoudemire’s defense has indeed improved greatly, but he might still suffer when facing those old hands in the playoffs, especially Karl Malone, whose sneaky fouls always trouble the inexperienced Stoudemire. It’s impossible for the Warriors to send someone specifically to monitor the referees and immediately remind them not to blow the whistle, right? So Hubie Brown decided to use Camby, who is more specialized in defense, to deal with them. Entrusted with a heavy responsibility, Marcus Camby was willing to give everything for these fans to complete his mission. A few days later, the first-round match between the Lakers and the Sacramento Kings had a result. In the original timeline, Chris Webber was taken down by the younger Kevin Garnett, giving rise to the world-famous painting of Garnett celebrating while Webber knelt. In this timeline, Chris Webber’s experience was even more disgraceful because he was suppressed by the almost 41-year-old Karl Malone. Karl Malone’s tough defense caused great distress to Chris Webber, whose playing style had never been tough over the years, averaging only 17 points with a 45% shooting percentage. During the regular season, Peja Stojaković, who competed with Chris Webber for team status, had all his veils torn off in this series, proving that he was nothing more than a high-level off-ball shooter, nothing more. He couldn’t break through defenses, and his defense wasn’t strong enough. His shooting percentage in the entire series was only 35.7%, completely shut down by George Lynch. Meanwhile, the Kings’ strongest offensive player, White Devil Mike Bibby, also struggled. His pick-and-roll mid-range shot lost its power because the Lakers’ center, Theo Ratliff, was highly mobile and could seamlessly move between Bibby and Divac, delivering blocks that excited Lakers fans to shout with enthusiasm. This was the Los Angeles Lakers this season, their previously weak defense from last season had become intimidating this season. Once the Lakers stabilized their defense, the man who emerged from hell would destroy you with a terrifying scoring performance. Although Kobe still couldn’t stop Roger from winning the scoring title for the ninth consecutive season (Kobe 32.6, Roger 32.8), his scoring ability was already top-notch. In six series games, Kobe had two 40+ point games. Due to Shaquille O’Neal’s departure and the presence of Steve Nash, Kobe’s stats in these two seasons were extremely impressive, better than in the original history. After taking down the Kings, Kobe Bryant finally met the opponent he most wanted to face. This time, he would not be the pathetic loser again! On May 2nd, the Western Conference Semifinals G1 kicked off at the Oakland Arena. Kobe Bryant remained as high-profile as ever, this evil bastard was now almost the biggest villain in the entire league. And inside the Oakland Arena, fans were still holding signs that said "Please, leave a championship in Oakland." In the stands, Roger’s die-hard fan John Cage was feeling feverish. If the first round against the Nuggets was just a prelude that couldn’t be skipped, the real battle was now undeniable. "Hey, John," shouted some fans beside him, "No captivating dance today?" John Cage waved his hand: "I don’t want to get kicked out; I can’t miss any of the Warriors’ games, especially not this one!" Kobe walked onto the court with a serious expression, which was how he appeared throughout this season, like an executioner devoid of human emotion. Karl Malone warmed up his body, glaring fiercely at every Warriors player. He hadn’t forgotten Stephen Jackson’s flying kick during the regular season, nor the hatred of being eliminated twice in a row by Roger in the finals. Steve Nash greeted everyone with friendly hugs, but those who knew him understood how dangerous he would become once the game began. This Los Angeles Lakers team, completely different from the original timeline, had no internal turmoil, was more united, and stronger; they became Roger’s first stumbling block. "Roger, I’m not last year’s Shaq," Kobe said while stretching his legs, talking to Roger beside him. "Of course, but you’re not much better." "You know you stole a victory from me; if Karl hadn’t been ejected last time, our regular-season record would have been 3-1. In the playoffs, this score will be reflected." "And you know, Kobe, the Kings will create glory in one place before expanding elsewhere. Before leaving Oakland, I won’t let this land be left with nothing. Rest assured, you and your old pedophile teammates will become part of Oakland’s glorious history." After speaking, Roger glanced at the eager eyes of the fans in the stands. He wanted the team to leave with no regrets, just as his career plan was, leaving behind only the silhouette at the peak. Karl Malone, hearing Roger’s words, shouted, "Roger, you bastard, say that word again!" "Shut up, old pedophile," Marcus Camby joined the fray, "You’re not qualified to face the Kings, deal with me first." In the thick tension, the Warriors won the opening possession.

Chapter 1081 - 345: I Won’t Let This Land Have Nothing

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