Slam Dunk: Sakuragi learned from Kawamura Eiki's experience

Coach Taoka's gaze swept back and forth across the field.

The score was very close. Fuqiu Middle School scored a goal, and then Wako Middle School scored one back.

On the offensive end of Tomioka Junior High School, Rukawa Kaede carried the entire team single-handedly.

Every time the ball got to him, the two players from Guangzhong High School would double-team him, sticking close to him, their hands outstretched in front of his face, blocking his shooting route and cutting off his driving angle. But he still managed to make the shot.

His arsenal is like a bottomless pit, with mid-range pull-up jumpers, three-pointers, and drifting shots after a drive – it's endless.

Every shot was so fluid, as if honed through countless trials, that he always managed to put the ball in.

He also tried to attack the basket. Once, he broke through from the right side, got past the perimeter defender, drove into the paint, and jumped for a layup.

But Sakuragi moved sideways from under the basket, his massive body blocking him from the rim, and slapped the ball out of bounds.

The second time, Rukawa switched to the left side, trying to use his footwork to get around Sakuragi's defensive range.

But Sakuragi didn't fall for the fake. He moved quickly, took a step out from under the basket, stretched out his long arm, and touched the bottom edge of the ball with his fingertips. The ball changed its trajectory and bounced back off the backboard.

After being blocked twice by Sakuragi, Rukawa stopped attacking the basket.

He quickly calculated the gains and losses in his mind. The success rate of attacking the basket was too low. The red-haired man's speed and jumping height made layups an inefficient offensive method.

No wonder the coach said before the game that we should try not to attack the basket to score; now I understand.

Rukawa Kaede began to adjust his offensive options, including mid-range jump shots, step-back shots, and pull-up jump shots after screens.

However, the offensive end of Wako Middle School presents a completely different picture.

On the offensive end of Wako Middle School, Oda and Sakuragi were like two cogs, giving Tomioka Middle School's defense a real headache.

Double-team Oda, Sakuragi is open under the basket. Double-team Sakuragi, Oda gets the ball on the perimeter.

Oda has a variety of offensive methods: post-up, face-up drives, mid-range jump shots. He can do a little bit of everything, but he's not top-notch in any one area. However, he's good enough at everything.

The power forward from Fuchiu Middle School was shorter than him and couldn't stop his turnaround jump shot. He played very smartly, not forcing shots, passing when double-teamed, and shooting when open.

Sakuragi's offensive style is simple to the point of being brutal. He calls for the ball under the basket, turns, jumps, and lays it down. Or he receives the ball and immediately jumps to dunk.

His technique is still very raw; he sometimes travels under the basket, his center of gravity sways when he turns, and his shooting touch is not smooth enough.

But his body is his greatest weapon. He is strong enough to push anyone aside under the basket, and his jumping ability is so good that he can slam the ball into the basket over the defender's head. His second jump is so fast that he can grab three rebounds in one possession.

Control of the rebounds was the turning point of this game.

Sakuragi stands under the basket, and every time the ball bounces off the rim, his body is already in the air. He catches the ball, lands, turns, finds a teammate, and passes the ball.

Taking advantage of their rebounding dominance, Hokwang Middle School slowly but steadily widened the score gap.

At that moment, Coach Taoka in the guest seats had his eyes fixed on the red-haired man.

He wasn't originally there to see Sakuragi; he was there to see Rukawa. But his eyes betrayed his original intention, repeatedly slipping away from Rukawa and being pulled towards number 15, like iron filings being attracted by a magnet.

Top-tier jumping ability and speed. Ample strength, excellent positioning under the basket—no one can push him.

He has a keen sense for rebounds; the moment the ball bounces off the ground, his body begins to move, faster than anyone else.

He also has a strong defensive instinct, and his timing and positioning for help defense are excellent. He knows when to abandon his assigned player to help defend, when to block, and when to stand in position to block.

Taoka became increasingly alarmed as he looked at it.

He was well aware of Rukawa's abilities; he had recognized his talent last year. His comprehensive offensive skills, seasoned game reading ability, and almost ruthless composure made him a rare genius.

But Taoka had a knot in his heart, a problem he had always been unwilling to face. Rukawa's playing style was too similar to Sendoh's.

Same position, same technical characteristics, same ball-handling offensive core.

If Rukawa were to join Ryonan, how would he and Sendoh divide the ball possession positions? Taoka's head would start to ache every time he thought about this question.

But Sakuragi is different.

Taoka's gaze lingered on Sakuragi for a while, and the images in his mind began to piece together on their own.

Ryonan has Jun Uozumi, a giant standing at two meters tall. If Sakuragi joins Ryonan, he and Uozumi will form a twin-tower lineup in the paint. Uozumi will guard the basket, while Sakuragi will sweep around the perimeter of the restricted area.

Uozumi was responsible for rebounding and positioning in positional play, while Sakuragi was responsible for following up on fast breaks and second-chance opportunities.

Uozumi's strength, Sakuragi's leaping ability. Uozumi's skill, Sakuragi's wildness. This inside combination is simply perfect.

Rukawa is very strong, but his strength overlaps with that of Sendoh.

Sakuragi's strengths complement Uozumi's, and his style is more suitable for the current Ryonan team.

Taoka suddenly realized something: before he came to watch the game today, he was thinking about "how to get Rukawa Kaede to join Ryonan".

Right now, he's thinking, "Is Sakuragi Hanamichi a better fit for Ryonan than Rukawa Kaede?"

The moment the thought popped into his head, he was startled.

Coach Anzai shifted slightly in the chair next to him. He had barely spoken since the start of the match, his hands resting on his round belly, a cryptic smile on his face.

"Hehehe." Coach Anzai's laughter came from deep in his throat, deep and resonant. "Interesting."

Taoka turned to look at him.

Coach Anzai's eyes were still narrowed. He didn't look at Taoka, but his gaze was fixed on the red figure who was positioning himself under the basket.

"That red-haired number 15 from Wako Junior High," Coach Anzai said calmly, "the information says he only started playing basketball this April."

Taoka's mind went blank for a moment.

April. It's June now. He only started playing basketball in April, which means he's only been playing basketball for two months.

Taoka's pupils suddenly contracted.

He looked at the red-haired man on the field, those images flashing through his mind.

Dunking, blocking, rebounding, and positioning—all of these were things he accomplished after only two months of playing basketball.

After two months of fighting, something in Taoka's mind exploded.

He had seen many talented players; Rukawa was a genius, Sendoh was a genius, and Uozumi was also a semi-genius.

But he never even imagined that someone who had only played basketball for two months could go head-to-head with Rukawa Kaede in the semifinals of the county tournament.

genius.

These two words were like two nails driven into Taoka Shigeichi's mind.

His gaze returned to the red-haired man on the field, but this time, his eyes were different.

"I must get this player."

He wanted to bring Sakuragi Hanamichi to Ryonan. Once this idea took root, it began to grow wildly, like vines entangling all his thoughts.

Rukawa still wants him, but Sakuragi is now number one on his list.

Taoka closed his notebook, clipped the pen to the cover, and crossed his arms over his chest. His expression returned to calm, but the light tapping of his fingers on his arm betrayed his inner turmoil.

Coach Anzai sat beside him, his face still bearing that enigmatic smile. His eyes darted through the slits of his eyes to Taoka's profile, then back to the red-haired man on the field.

"Hehehe."