During the timeout, Coach Anzai’s instruction to Budo and Hisashi Mitsui was not to find a way to win the game, but to ask Jinguji Budo and Hisashi Mitsui to let go appropriately.
This was something that Jinguji Martial Arts did not expect at the beginning. Martial Arts originally wanted to quickly defeat Green Wind High School and take a good rest after gaining an absolute advantage. He and Mike Okita have also had several confrontations, and they have a clear understanding of each other's strength.
In Budo's view, Mike Okita has no way of being his opponent, and the gap between the two is obvious.
It's just that Coach Anzai really doesn't want to miss such a good opportunity. Although Mike Okita is not as good as Jinguji Martial Arts, he can be regarded as a four-star high school student in the United States no matter what. As a martial arts opponent, he may be a little too young, but as an opponent for Mitsui Hisashi and Rukawa Kaede, he is just right.
For a player's growth, practicing alone is obviously not enough. Excellent opponents are also indispensable for a player's growth.
A good competitive environment is very conducive to the growth of players.
The reason why China's table tennis is so strong is not just because of the construction of the system, nor is it because people of the yellow race really have an advantage over other races in this project. It's just because the players grew up in an extremely harsh environment. Every player who comes up has defeated countless talented opponents before successfully rising to the top.
The same is true for American basketball.
After countless talented players go through fierce competition, the real strong ones can stand out.
Coach Anzai hopes that Kaede Rukawa and Hisashi Mitsui can play against more strong players, but in Kanagawa's current high school basketball environment, strong opponents are hard to come by. Mike Okita and his Green Wind High School are a rare opponent!
"Since you said so, coach, I will switch defenses with Xiao San first."
"Let the mistress feel the strength of the 'star player' first."
After hearing what Coach Anxi said, Budo nodded and immediately agreed. To be honest, Budo doesn't have much interest in Mike Okita anymore.
But when Mitsui Shou heard this, he shook his head and said, "Forget it, give this opportunity to that boy Rukawa Kaede."
"I trained in the United States for a while, and I know exactly what it's like to face an opponent of that level."
"Although I didn't play against Mike Okita directly, I think he and I just had a blast with each other."
】
"His physical fitness and jumping ability are better than mine. Once he rushes into the paint, I can't stop him."
"But equally, if I want to attack, he can't stop me."
"Compared to me, this opponent is more suitable for Rukawa Kaede."
"Martial Arts and I will just escort Rukawa Kaede on the field!"
Mitsui Shou said, turning back to look at Rukawa Kaede, who was standing and resting with his hands on his hips, smiling.
Mitsui Hisashi actually has something on his mind that he hasn't said yet, and that is his current grade! Compared to Rukawa Kaede, a first-year senior, he, a third-year senior, can already be considered an old man from northern Hunan.
After playing this year, Mitsui Hisashi will go to college. At the same time, Mitsui Hisashi actually plans to go to the outside world to see the world. His family is actually contacting him with schools in the United States. Through some financial means, Mitsui Hisashi has actually received commitments from some American universities. It can be said that Hisashi Mitsui has half a foot in the American college basketball world.
After he leaves, Shohoku's future will ultimately depend on first-year players like Rukawa Kaede.
The growth of Rukawa Kaede is very important to Shobei!
"What's so modest about this?!"
"The competition is still very long. Rukawa Kaede is going to test the water first. When it's almost over, you can join."
"The opponent doesn't just play for a few minutes."
Jinguji Budo didn't know what Mitsui Shou was thinking, and he couldn't figure out what to worry about in this kind of thing. He patted Mitsui Shou on the back and said immediately.
While the two were talking, a one-minute pause passed quietly.
As the referee's whistle sounded, the players from Xiangbei High School and Green Wind High School returned to the court.
I don’t know what tricks Lvfeng’s coach Dachuan gave these players. Every one of the Lvfeng players who returned to the court seemed to have regained their confidence. The previous team conflicts seemed to have been completely eliminated after the timeout.
Seeing the expressions of these Green Wind players, Wu Dao touched his chin and suddenly laughed.
"That's fine, if we just give up like this, this game will really be meaningless!"
"Hey, Rukawa Kaede, I'll switch defenses with you, and leave that yellow hair to you!"
After returning to the court, everyone in Xiangbei settled down in their own half. Before the timeout, their Xiangbei team had just scored an attack. Taking advantage of the moment when Green Wind High School organized the attack, Budo immediately shouted to Rukawa Kaede.
Rukawa Kaede, whose name was called, turned to look at Jinguji Martial Arts with a confused look on his face.
Although he really wanted to face off against Mike Okita, Rukawa Kaede could also see that Mike Okita was obviously going for Jinguji Martial Arts. In the battle between the team's ace and the team's ace, why did martial arts suddenly let him get involved? !
Is it possible...
While Rukawa Kaede was thinking, Budao was already looking at the direction Tsurumi Keiji was heading, and moved in advance in that direction. Mike Okita, who entered the frontcourt, was unmarked.
Rukawa Kaede realized this and immediately used his steps. When Mike Okita was about to approach the three-point line, he came in front of Mike Okita and marked Mike Okita.
"Um?!"
"Young man, what are you doing here?! I'm not looking for you, get out of the way!"
When Mike Okita saw Rukawa Kaede standing in front of him, he immediately frowned, turned to look at Jinguji Martial Arts in the distance, and said with some displeasure.
When Rukawa Kaede heard this, he didn't say anything. He also turned his head and glanced at Jinguji Martial Arts, and happened to see Jinguji Martial Arts making an "awesome" encouraging gesture towards him. Then he turned around and replied calmly:
"It's enough for me to deal with you."
Rukawa Kaede's words did not anger Mike Okita. He just glanced at Miyadera Budo from a distance, and then his eyes fell on Rukawa Kaede, and he took a deep look at Rukawa Kaede.
At the same time, Tsurumi Seiji approached the top of the arc with the ball. The defender Mitsui Hisashi did not press forward, but stood in the three-point line at the top of the arc, casually stretching his arms and assuming a defensive posture.
It's just that his defensive posture is really full of flaws!
However, Seiji Tsurumi, who plays against Hisashi Mitsui, is obviously not the kind of player who can seize the opponent's flaws and break through. The Green Wind point guard is really a pure "point" guard.
Hisashi Mitsui opened the gap, but Seiji Tsurumi passed the ball directly to Mike Okita.
The latter took the ball, straightened up slightly, and raised the ball high above his head. Rukawa Kaede in front of him had also lowered his center of gravity, preparing to deal with Mike Okita's breakthrough. Looking at Rukawa Kaede's defensive posture, Mike Okita didn't have any sense of contempt.
As he stepped forward with his right foot on his left side, the basketball he held high was also brought back to his waist. His action immediately aroused Rukawa Kaede's alert. Just as Rukawa Kaede adjusted his defensive position, Mike Okita suddenly retracted his feet, dropped the ball on his right side, and made a gesture of rushing to the right.
Rukawa Kaede hurriedly adjusted his position. However, at this moment, Mike Okita changed direction directly in front of him. In the blink of an eye, he slipped past Rukawa Kaede and quickly rushed towards the inside.
"Ah! Stinky fox! Don't let him come here so easily!"
Sakuragi Hanamichi, who was under the basket, shouted immediately when he saw this, but he did not let Mike Okita break through, and quickly moved towards Mike Okita to cover up.
"Oh, what a strong momentum!"
Sakuragi Hanamichi rushed towards him with a ferocious look on his face. Mike Okita used his peripheral vision to look at the location of the Jinguji Martial Arts Hall. Seeing that the Martial Arts Hall was far away, he relaxed. He smiled and praised, and made an emergency stop. , a direct mid-range shot.
"Don't even think about it!
! "
Sakuragi Hanamichi shouted loudly and flew forward. At the moment of taking off, Sakuragi Hanamichi's calf muscles were completely tense, and his bounce was maximized.
A big hand covered Mike Okita, covering the sky and the sun.
"So high!" Mike Okita, who was originally looking relaxed, was shocked when his eyes darkened.
When he broke through, Sakuragi Hanamichi was obviously far away. He felt that the opponent could not keep up with him. Not only was the opponent's defense speed beyond Mike Okita's expectation, but the opponent's bounce also surprised him.
Even a well-informed "four-star high school student" like him was surprised by Sakuragi Hanamichi's bounce at this moment!
After a moment of hesitation, Mike Okita, who had raised the ball to shoot just a second ago, decisively gave up shooting under Sakuragi Hanamichi's defense. He grabbed the ball with both hands and pulled it down, directly passing the ball from Sakuragi's side to the ground. Inside.
It can only be said that he is indeed a talented young man who can make a name for himself in a place like the United States. His adaptability in critical moments makes Jinguji Martial Arts unable to help but marvel.
"Bang!" The basketball fell into Tetsuya Naito's hands. Naito, who was in the open position, blasted the ball, turned around and faced the basket, and was about to dunk.
And Nango Koichiro, who was not far in front of him, had also reacted. He took off almost at the same time and put his hands on the basketball.
However....
"Roar!"
Following Naito's loud shout, Nango Koichiro's body was bounced away by the opponent while he was in the air. The next second, there was a loud noise from the basket, and Naito also dunked the ball into the basket. among.
A violent dunk that breaks through the defense head-on.
The huge impact made Nango Koichiro unsteady when he landed, and he fell directly to the ground. Facing Naito Tetsuya, Nango Koichiro seemed to have returned to the time when he faced Morishigehiro.
The other party's terrifying power gave him a strong sense of powerlessness.
Green Wind High School has been suppressed from the beginning until now. Finally, with Naito Tetsuya's dunk points, the Green Wind students have a window to vent.
Overwhelming cheers poured into the stadium, and at this moment, the Green Wind players finally felt the feeling of playing at home.
Before, the silence in the stands made them think they were playing away games, and the silence of the audience also affected the players' state. But things are getting better now. The Green Wind players are starting to become more active, and the audience watching the game is finally getting excited.
"Good! Mike!"
"The ball was handled very beautifully, even better than I expected!"
"We must keep up this energy and work hard at one go!"
Off the field, Coach Dafune clenched his fists in excitement, while Huili, who was sitting next to him, saw that the Green Wind players scored a goal, and his expression finally softened a lot.
However, this situation obviously did not satisfy her. After the players scored, she shouted loudly towards the court:
"Come on!"
"Get the points back! Our Green Wind must be the strongest!"
Hui Li's shout once again inspired the others, and after a brief silence, the cheers became even more enthusiastic.
"Hey, it's just a goal."
"What are you shouting for?!"
"Shut up now!"
Sakuragi Hanamichi curled his lips in displeasure. After serving from the baseline, he quickly rushed towards the frontcourt.
Between offense and defense, Green Wind also quickly returned to position.
Although Budo and Rukawa Kaede on the Shohoku side switched defenses, on the Green Wind side, Mike Okita still followed Jinguji Budo closely. From Mike Okita's point of view, the opponent he has to face is Jinguji Martial Arts. As for others? ! It's not enough for him to pay attention to.
Even Rukawa Kaede, who had an excellent defensive posture just now, was only "excellent".
"Do you still want to fight me?"
"If you are a good player, you should have seen it in the short encounter before."
"The gap in strength between you and me is huge, not only technically, but also physically."
"Don't you recognize the gap?"
Budao looked at the serious look on Mike Okita who was following him and couldn't help but ask.
"Um?!"
"If that's the case, how could it come out of your mouth? It shouldn't be!"
"Are you going to give up fighting just because your opponent is stronger than you?"
"If you don't try, how will you know where your limit is?"
Mike Okita raised his eyes and glanced at Budo. At that moment, Jinguji Budo turned sideways and asked for the ball from Mitsui Hisashi. The basketball was hung out and was directly caught by Jinguji Budo with one hand.
After starting with the basketball, Jinguji changed his martial arts posture, turning half sideways to facing away from the basket. He looked at Mike Okita with his peripheral vision and said:
"You and I are actually different."
"I know my own strength and will not challenge players who are several levels above me."
"I'm still playing in high school. On the one hand, I have some feelings for Shohoku. On the other hand, I think it's still too early to enter higher-level competitions."
Wu Dao's words made Mike Okita, who was still relatively calm, couldn't help but frown again. Trying to suppress his anger, Mike Okita asked in a deep voice:
"So, how many levels above me do you think you are?!"
"I admit that you are better than me, but you underestimate me too much!"
Mike stepped forward, his body pressed against Jinguji Budo's body, and his arms raised high.
"Isn't it...obvious?!"
"You played well."
"But it's not enough to be my opponent!" As he spoke, Jinguji Budo suddenly turned his back and accelerated directly to break through. When Mike Okita followed up, he stopped and pulled back, looking at the basket and praying.
The moment Mike Okita paused, Jinguji Budo accelerated his breakthrough and instantly passed Mike Okita and rushed toward the basket.
Tetsuya Naito on the inside saw Jinguji Budo breaking through towards the inside, and immediately moved up to defend. Behind Budo, Mike Okita readjusted his position and quickly pursued Jinguji Budou. Ken gives up his defense.
"Snapped!"
The ball took off near the basket. At the moment when it was approaching Naito Tetsuya, Jinguji Budou's body actually turned 360° in mid-air, instantly passing Naito Tetsuya's defense line, and at the same time, Mike Okita behind him was completely unable to pursue. Possibility, but Jinguji Budo, who faced the basket again, still maintained a good posture in the air. He shot the basketball and easily put it into the basket.
"Varied....."
"What?!
! "
The players on the field were stunned. The spectators who were originally shouting to cheer for the Green Wind seemed to have been choked by someone and were completely silenced.
.............................
