However, facing an old man like Dominique Wilkins, he was still very confident.
He wanted to set the tone for the game right from the opening.
He thought too much.
Jamal Mashburn simply couldn't shake off Wilkins, who had rediscovered the passion of playing as a blue-collar worker.
Countless nights, he wondered what it would have been like if he had won in 1988. In that Game 7 battle, the Hawks lost by only 2 points.
Yes, even if he had overcome the Celtics, waiting for him would have been the budding Detroit Bad Boys and the tail end of the Showtime Lakers' peak.
The people of Atlanta's odds of winning were still slim.
But, he at least had a chance.
He at least could try.
So, the words that Roger said that day really touched him, "The things of 1988 won't happen again."
As the starting small forward for the Magic, he was definitely not there just to coast along until the end.
He had to perform his own duties to the best of his ability, to make up for the regret of 1988!
