Chapter 016: I want to go all out in every match without 'Excessive Seeding'
As expected.
At this point in the game, Nakama Sho turned his head to look at Hoshiumi Mì.
"Hoshiumi, you're in!"
Before his voice had faded, he shouted to Ouboki Taro: "Ouboki, keep a close eye on the rebounds, especially the offensive ones!"
Ouboki Taro nodded firmly: "Got it!"
In this game, due to Iwai's zone defense strategy, the crowded paint really didn't offer much room for Ouboki Taro to operate. On the flip side, this had saved him a lot of stamina, which was why he was able to stay on the court when Imamatsu Shinshu and Hoshiumi Mì were subbed out just now.
Because of this... he was even more eager to contribute to the team.
Quickly.
The players re-entered the court.
When Hoshiumi Mì was subbed out before, the 'Future Preview' timer was automatically paused by the system. Now that he had returned to the court, the timer started ticking again.
However... there were only a little over three minutes left.
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On the court.
Kamomedai's offense.
Hoshiumi Mì continued to move without the ball, looking for opportunities.
Ouboki Taro saw his chance and proactively moved up. Being taller and larger than Imamatsu Shinshu, the quality of his screens was also higher. Hoshiumi Mì ran around the screen, temporarily shaking off Tsugawa Tomoki's defense.
Imamatsu Shinshu held the ball at the high post, his vision quite good. Seeing Hoshiumi Mì get open, he immediately passed the ball. The latter steadily caught it at a forty-five-degree angle on the left side.
No need to adjust at all!
He pulled up and shot!
Swish!
A three-pointer!
The deficit was cut to 6 points!
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The game continues.
Iwai's offense. Hoshiumi Mì continued to stick to Mitsubayashi Koji. On the other side, Imamatsu Shinshu switched to guarding Tsugawa Tomoki. With Imamatsu Shinshu's defensive ability, the defensive pressure he exerted on the defense-oriented but offensively weak Tsugawa was quite terrifying. Point guard Kouchi Masaya, meanwhile, stuck to his assignment, tightly guarding the opposing point guard.
The Iwai point guard tried to drive and dish, but saw that Mitsubayashi Koji was locked down and Tsugawa Tomoki was entangled. He could only pass the ball to the power forward on the other side. When the latter tried to shoot, Kamomedai's power forward, Araki Daisuke, lunged at him, scaring him into pulling back. He dribbled a couple of times and passed the ball back to the point guard to reset the offense.
At this point.
The Iwai point guard looked around. All his teammates were tightly guarded. With the shot clock about to expire, he could only force up a three-pointer.
Clang~!
Unsurprisingly, a brick.
Ouboki Taro secured the rebound, and the transition began!
Kamomedai's possession!
Ouboki immediately passed to Araki Daisuke, who had been a non-factor on the court but was now quietly streaking down the court. The latter caught the ball, charged forward, and threw down a勉扣!
The deficit was cut to 4 points!
After that...
In the following two-plus minutes, the high-intensity defense displayed by Kamomedai made it extremely difficult for Iwai to score. On Kamomedai's side, they seized their opportunities and executed two beautiful fast breaks, plus a steadily made free throw by Imamatsu Shinshu, and another cold-blooded three from Hoshiumi Mì!
The deficit was instantly erased!
Iwai was forced to call a timeout.
The atmosphere in the arena once again reached its peak.
As Imamatsu Shinshu left the court, he high-fived Hoshiumi Mì hard!
Imamatsu Shinshu: "...!"
It was different!
The team was completely different!
Hoshiumi Mì's three-pointers and off-ball movement, whether as firepower or as a threat, had greatly invigorated the team's offense. His strong one-on-one defense had also locked down the opponent's ace, simultaneously freeing him up!
Ever since Hoshiumi entered the game in the third quarter, whenever he was on the court, Kamomedai's combat power had clearly risen by more than one level!
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Kamomedai Gymnasium.
Hoshiumi Mì took a sip of water to rehydrate.
His teammates were in high spirits, but his own expression was a bit grave. Because the 10 minutes of this 'Future Preview' were up. From now on, his defensive level would return to its original, ordinary state.
Having been reverted to his original form, could he still shut down Mitsubayashi Koji?
Hoshiumi Mì: "..."
But... he had to give it his all regardless.
He also had to get used to this situation as soon as possible.
The 'Future Preview' feature of the system, although it could provide him with an ability far beyond his current level in every game, even stronger than the abilities acquired through 'Effort and Sweat Missions', the randomness of what he got in each game was clearly uncontrollable, and it had a time limit.
He could rely on the permanent abilities acquired through 'Effort and Sweat Missions', but not the 'Future Preview' in every game. He had to treat every game as if there were no 'Future Preview' and go all out. That way, even if the 'Future Preview' in a future game gave him an ability that wasn't strong enough, or wasn't a good fit, or timed out like now, it wouldn't affect his expectations for the game.
Coach Nakama Sho keenly noticed the subtle change in Hoshiumi Mì's expression. He patted his shoulder and said in a low voice, "What's wrong? Hoshiumi?"
Hoshiumi Mì shook his head, his voice exceptionally firm:
"I'm fine."
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