Slam Dunk: Sakuragi learned from Kawamura Eiki's experience

Chapter 150 Monkey Boss's Sports IQ

Sendoh Akira dribbled to the top of the arc, the ball bouncing steadily between his right hand and the floor at a moderate pace.

Sawakita Eiji personally stepped forward to keep watch, and the moment the two faced each other, something in the air seemed to ignite.

Sendoh spoke while dribbling the ball, his tone carrying a sense of "I've finally waited for this day": "Sawakita, we're finally rivals again. Ever since we played against each other in middle school, I've wanted to play another match against you."

As soon as he finished speaking, he lowered his center of gravity, rammed his shoulder into Zebei's chest, and used his body to forcefully drive towards the basket.

He slammed into the three-point line from the top of the arc, forcing Zebei to take a half-step back.

Zebei paused for a moment, his pupils contracting slightly. While adjusting his footing to keep up with the defense, he quickly recalled his memories of Sendoh from his junior high school days. Back then, Sendoh relied on speed and skill, with quick changes of direction and tricky rhythm. He would never start by bumping his shoulder into someone's chest like he does now.

What has he gone through in the past few years? This playing style is not an upgrade in technical skills, but a fundamental change in style.

After Sendoh cut in, Sannoh's defenses quickly contracted.

Nobe Masahiro and Matsumoto Minoru rushed in from both sides to reinforce and double-team Sendoh, blocking his path to break through.

Sendoh stopped abruptly, assuming a jump shot stance, and threw the ball towards the upper right of the basket despite being blocked by two players. However, the ball's trajectory was not towards the basket itself, but rather towards the open space to the right of the basket.

Fukuda Kichijo, who was left wide open, made a tacit cut from the baseline, jumped to catch the ball in mid-air, and gently flicked the ball toward the backboard with his right hand, preparing to bank it into the basket.

Just as the ball left Fukuda's fingers, a hand slapped it from the side—it was Masashi Kawada.

He immediately abandoned his defense on Jun Uozumi, took two steps to the side from under the basket, leaped into the air, and slapped the ball out of bounds.

Sannoh's defensive instincts were impeccable, from Sawakita to Kawata, with every link in the chain working seamlessly.

The Sannoh supporters in the stands erupted in cheers.

After landing, Fukuda lowered his head, his lips pressed into a thin line. Sendoh walked over from the side, patted him on the shoulder, and said in a calm and steady tone, "The match has just begun, take it slow."

Ryonan serves from the sidelines.

After receiving the ball, Sendoh faced Sawakita's defense and once again used his shoulder to push hard, creating half a body distance and lowering his center of gravity to cut into the basket.

Sannoh's defense tightened again, and Sendoh, after drawing the attention of two defenders, delivered a right-hand bounce pass.

The ball bounced through the gap between Sawakita and Matsumoto, landing precisely in Uozumi Jun's hands.

Uozumi receives the ball, leans his back against Kawata Masashi, and chooses to back down.

His height of 202 cm and overwhelming weight gave him the advantage to forcefully chisel his way in, but Kawada didn't budge an inch.

With two strikes, Kawada retreated two inches.

On the third attempt, Uozumi pushed Kawata away by half a body length, turned and jumped, holding the basketball high above his head with both hands, and slammed the ball into the basket as Kawata tried to block it.

Successful dunk.

Ryonan scored first. The Ryonan support zone in the stands erupted, with hundreds of Ryonan students jumping up from their seats at the same time, their cheers deafening.

After landing, Jun Uozumi did not celebrate. He looked down at Masashi Kawata with a stern face, then turned and ran back without expression.

Masashi Kawata understood the meaning in his eyes: That's it? The best high school center in the country.

Offense and defense shift.

Masashi Kawata yelled at Fukatsu, "Give me the ball, I want to hit it back!"

Fukatsu passed the ball to the top of the arc with a blank expression.

Kawata received the ball near the free-throw line, facing Jun Uozumi, who was retreating to the basket and a good two steps away from him, and took an open shot. The ball fell steadily into the basket.

Uozumi was completely dumbfounded. Kawata's so-called saving face was this? A center, floating on the outside shooting mid-range shots?

Sendoh dribbled the ball to the top of the arc again.

This time, he was guarded by Minoru Matsumoto, and Sawakita was switched to the wing to guard Koshino.

Sendoh glanced at the changes in the matchup and lobbed the ball directly into the paint.

Uozumi received the ball and backed down Kawata Masashi again, but this time Kawata's defensive stance was completely different. He lowered his center of gravity, planted his legs firmly in a horse stance, pressed his chest against Uozumi's back, and his two feet were as still as if nailed to the floor.

Uozumi tried to force the ball twice but failed, so he decisively gave up and passed it to Fukuda Kichijo, who was cutting in from the weak side. Fukuda received the ball, shook off Nobe's chasing defense, and made a layup.

Offense and defense transition. Kawata Masashi received the ball again near the free-throw line, while Uozumi remained firmly guarding the basket, two steps away from him.

Kawata glanced at the basket and launched an open mid-range jumper. The ball swished through the net once again.

When Kawata made his second mid-range shot, Takenori Akagi in the stands finally couldn't hold back any longer. His confusion was undisguised: "Why didn't Uozumi follow him out? Why did he keep letting Kawata have open mid-range shots? This is the semi-final of the national tournament, what is he thinking?"

Sakuragi Hanamichi sat next to him, his hands crossed behind his head: "Gorilla, actually, what Boss Monkey did was right. If he went out with him, there would be no one protecting the rim under the basket."

Coach Anzai chimed in, "Sakuragi is right. Actually, Uozumi not going out was the best choice."

A center's primary defensive responsibility is always to protect the paint; rim protection and rebounding are paramount.

If he goes out there, the paint will be completely open. Sannoh's Sawakita, Matsumoto, and others have extremely strong cutting and penetration abilities. Without anyone protecting the rim, it's just giving away points.

Rather than letting the entire Sannoh team play, it's better to let Kawata focus on his mid-range shots. No matter how accurate Kawata's mid-range shot is, he can't single-handedly defeat an entire team.

After listening to Coach Anzai's explanation, Takenori Akagi finally understood.

He turned his head and looked back at the court. Uozumi was standing under the basket, like a nail nailed into the restricted area. Kawata Masashi received the ball near the free throw line. This time he hesitated for a moment, but finally chose to shoot an open mid-range shot.

The ball bounced off the back of the rim and flew away, and Jun Uozumi easily grabbed the rebound.

Seeing this, Takenori Akagi suddenly realized that Uozumi's composure and judgment in the face of Kawada forced him to re-evaluate his old rival.

"I have to admit, Uozumi's basketball IQ is higher than mine."

When Masashi Kawata missed his third open mid-range shot and Uozumi grabbed the rebound, Kawata stood near the free-throw line and exchanged a glance with Uozumi under the basket.

He realized he couldn't catch this fish; the Ryonan center was smart enough not to fall for it at all.

In the next possession, Masashi Kawata stopped shooting and instead went back inside to engage in a real low-post battle with Uozumi.

Two big men battled for position under the basket, protecting the rim, finishing plays, and vying for rebounds.

Seeing this, Takenori Akagi finally understood that Uozumi's choice was the most correct one; the center's battlefield should always be under the basket.

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