Big Ben was tightly guarding behind Artest, utilizing the defensive rule's allowance for free positioning on defense to its fullest.
Roger created a little sprint distance with Artest, switched the ball behind his back to start.
At one step inside the three-point line, Roger seemed to want to repeat his quick-stop jump shot tactic, but as Big Ben and Artest closed in, Roger made a direction change and slipped through the gap between them!
This was the first time today that Roger had threatened the rim so overtly. Atkins immediately abandoned Pippen, whose three-point threat was low, to provide support for Roger, and Rasheed Wallace was already standing under the basket with arms raised high.
The moment Roger broke into the paint, he was surrounded by four Pistons players in white jerseys!
But did Roger want to pass?
No, because his teammates were out of form, passing at this moment was obviously unwise.
