This was destined to be a sleepless night.
Roger vs Penny round two, without Scottie Pippen to meddle.
To use an inappropriate analogy, the first encounter was like both sides still wearing a safety sheath, so it didn't look as thrilling. This time, the two of them were really going bare-knuckle.
Last time they clashed, it was at the United Center. This time, the stage was moved to the Oakland Arena.
Fans of the Warriors had long been prepared to welcome Roger, and when he entered the arena in his training suit, the boos were almost as deafening as Boston Garden's "Beat LA."
The Zen Master was surprised by the reaction of the Warriors fans, knowing well that a person's fame often takes a long time to settle before it becomes influential.
Take the Zen Master himself; he had been roughing it in the realm of professional basketball since '67, securing two championships as a player. But it wasn't until after the '91 finals as a head coach that he really became a household name.