Slam Dunk: My physical abilities can be increased indefinitely.

Chapter 18: Video from Hainan

The match against Buri is more like a warm-up for Lingnan right now.

At 7:30 p.m., the tactics room at Ryonan University was packed with people. Taoka turned on the projector, and Maki Shinichi stood in the center of the screen, with a buzz cut, fierce eyes, a towel around his neck, and a white headband on his forehead.

Taoka paused the game, freezing the moment Maki Shinichi drove to the basket for a layup. The defender was pushed back more than a meter, flying out of bounds.

"This is a game between Hainan and Sannoh Industrial last winter. When facing a double-team from Sannoh, Maki Shinichi chose not to pass, but to drive hard." Taoka held the remote control and circled the screen. "Look at his physicality. With his 100-kilogram weight and the impact of his drive, Sannoh's defenders simply couldn't handle it."

The runner's legs weren't shaking, but his face was pale. "Coach, are you showing us this to encourage us or to scare us?"

"Let you know what you're going to face."

"Now I understand, can I go back?"

Taoka ignored him and pressed play.

The scene continues, and Maki Shinichi starts from midcourt, dribbling past three players in succession before slamming a one-handed dunk at the basket. The stadium's speakers amplify the sound of the dunk loudly, creating a muffled boom that sends shivers down your spine.

Uekusa pushed up his glasses and said in a low voice, "His breakthrough start isn't the fastest step; the second step is where the real acceleration comes in. The first step is a test, to see how you shift your center of gravity, and he only puts his full power in the second step."

Taoka glanced at Uekusa. "You noticed that?"

"You get used to it after seeing it a lot."

Sendoh sat in the last row, a slight smile playing on his lips. Uekusa always had excellent observation skills, but she was too quiet. Koshino turned to look at Uekusa, his eyes shining. "What else did you notice?"

"His breakthrough on the left wing is slower than on the right wing, by about 0.3 seconds."

Off-road was taken aback. "You can even tell it's only 0.3 seconds?"

"Feel."

Taoka paused the game and glanced back at Sendoh. Sendoh leaned back in his chair, resting his hands on his knees. "Uekusa is right. The left side is slower, and after a drive down the left, he has fewer shot options than the right. Most of the time, he'll choose to pass. The passing lanes are concentrated at the corner and the top of the key. The corner is for Jin Soichiro, and the top of the key is for the follow-up point guard."

Taoka put down the remote control, walked in front of the screen to block Maki Shinichi's photo, and looked at everyone present.

"What Sendoh said is what we'll be practicing for the next three days. Force him to go to the left, cut off his passing lanes, and force him to shoot. His three-pointers are inconsistent, so let him shoot but don't let him drive."

Fukuda finally spoke, his voice not loud but clear, "If we allow him to throw but not drive, who will cover for him when he drives in?"

"Uozumi".

The fish nodded.

"What if I break in?" Fukuda asked again.

"Sendoh will fill your spot outside."

Fukuda glanced at Sendoh, and Sendoh nodded.

Taoka then showed several clips, all of them showcasing Hainan's offensive tactics: Jin Soichiro's three-point runs, Maki Shinichi's drive and pass, and Kiyota Nobunaga's fast break dunk. The images on the screen flashed by, each Hainan player was disassembled, laid out like parts in front of everyone.

The atmosphere in the locker room grew increasingly somber. No one spoke; the only sounds were the hum of the projector fan and the clicking of Taoka pressing the remote control.

Taoka turned off the projector and turned on the lights. The white light was a bit dazzling, and everyone squinted.

"We'll start targeted training tomorrow. Sendoh will simulate Maki Shinichi, Fukuda will simulate Jin Soichiro, and Uekusa will simulate their point guard. Koshino, you'll be matched up against Kiyota Nobunaga. That guy is fast and has a good jump, so your job is to prevent him from receiving the ball."

Yueye swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing. "Coach, Kiyota Nobunaga's jump is incredible. He can do two moves in the air, but he clears me on his first try."

"So you don't need to jump, just block his first step."

"He took the first step quickly too."

"Then run faster."

The off-road vehicle opened its mouth briefly, then closed it again.

Taoka walked up to Koshino and squatted down, bringing their eyes together. "Are you afraid of Kiyota Nobunaga?"

Off-road hesitated for a moment, "I'm scared."

"It's good to be afraid. Only when you're afraid will you take it seriously, and only when you're serious can you defend." Taoka stood up and patted Koshino on the shoulder. "Remember this, Kiyota Nobunaga is better than you, but you're more ruthless than him. He plays cleanly, you play dirty."

Yueye paused for a second, then asked, "Coach, are you teaching me how to foul on the court?"

"I'm teaching you to make him uncomfortable within the bounds of the rules."

Yueye thought for two seconds, then slowly nodded. "So, I can pull his jersey, as long as the referee can't see it?"

"I never said that."

"You said it made him uncomfortable."

That's your understanding.

"...Coach, you're really good at shifting blame."

Sendoh chuckled from behind. Taoka glared at him, but Sendoh had already stood up and walked towards the door.

He paused at the door without turning around. "Coach, I'm going back to stretch now. I'll do an extra set of strength training tomorrow morning at five."

Taoka was taken aback. Sendoh had never given prior notice of extra training beforehand; he would leave as soon as training was over, unwilling to stay even a minute longer.

"OK."

Sendoh pushed open the door and went out. The light in the corridor cast a long shadow of him, which disappeared in a moment. The people left in the dressing room didn't move. Uozumi sat in a chair, propping his head up with one hand and staring at the now-blacked-out curtain.

Yueye stood up and stretched his neck, his bones cracking a few times. He took two or three deep breaths. "I'm going back to the dorm first. Zhicao, wanna go together?"

"You go first, I'll watch the recording one more time."

"You want to see more? Your eyes were practically pressed against the screen just now, haven't you had enough yet?"

"I haven't seen enough."

Koshino shook his head and left. Fukuda also stood up from the wall, put the basketball on the chair, nodded to Uozumi, and left. Only Uozumi, Uekusa, and Taoka remained in the locker room.

Taoka placed the remote control on the table. "Uozumi, you should go back and rest too."

Uozumi stood up, his steps a little heavy. He took two steps and stopped, without turning around. "Coach, you said Sendoh has changed. When did he start to change?"

Taoka thought for a moment, "The day I was fishing at the beach."

"Why that day?"

"I don't know. But he's changed, that's a fact."

Uozumi pushed open the door and went out.

Uekusa was the last one sitting in the chair, staring at the screen. Taoka went over and turned off the light, leaving only one on.

"Plant grass, aren't you leaving?"

"Sit for another five minutes."

Taoka didn't try to stop him, and went out the door.

Only Uekasa remained in the locker room. The fluorescent light above his head flickered twice. He stared at the white curtain for a long time, his lips moved slightly, and his voice was so soft that only he could hear it.

"0.3 seconds...that's enough."