The Road to Stardom: Start as a Slam Dunk Master.

Chapter 329 Find your former self

If you want to achieve something on the court, skills and confidence are indispensable.

Regardless of any competitive event, years of accumulation and improvement of skills are only part of your strength. But when it comes to resisting the peak competitive stage, confidence is the real core that determines your status and performance.

As for rebounding, Sakuragi Hanamichi has never lost his confidence since he first gained some superficial understanding of basketball.

The basics learned from Old Earl, the confrontation with NBA-level insiders such as the SuperSonics over the past year, coupled with the knot that opened up after the first quarter, made Sakuragi reach the state at this time. A kind of pinnacle.

Lower the waist, kick the legs, lower the center of gravity and control the force point.

When LeBron exerts force, Sakuragi's body naturally uses softness to overcome strength, and responds with changes in center of gravity and rhythm.

When LeBron stopped a little, he immediately used more solid blocking skills to seize a favorable position.

It was only a short second of fighting, which gave LeBron an extremely uncomfortable feeling. Even though Kong had all the strength, he just couldn't push this kid away. Instead, Sakuragi's center of gravity was pushed extremely low, and he was pushed from the bottom up. With such force, he lifted half of his legs up.

He lifted himself up from the ground, but this time he failed to jump up again.

SuperSonics succeeded in counterattack fast break, 58:32.

The Sonics' run-and-gun lineup is really something. Before the teams in the league get more data on it, study it carefully, and analyze it, not only the Cavaliers, but LeBron feels that all the teams in the league may They all have to suffer!

When the basketball bounced out of the frame, Sakuragi jumped up and grabbed it. When he landed, he bent his legs and made a gesture of jumping to attack the frame. He actually hit LeBron, who had just adjusted his center of gravity and was eager to block him, and then Jump up to a half-step shot.

At the critical moment, Wade still had to watch. He lost points one after another and failed to score. Wade rushed to the basket against the double-teams of Payton and Watson and scored a magic ball, breaking the Cavaliers' scoring drought.

After experiencing ups and downs, LeBron feels that his biggest gain now is his "anonymity". Without fame, he doesn't have to carry many things, and he will have many choices when encountering problems.

Therefore, now there is no need to think about whether the team wins or loses. Just perform in the areas you are good at, score points, and try your best until the last second. Even if you lose, Paxson will not be able to put the blame directly on himself. Head up.

Cavaliers possession.

But the SuperSonics immediately returned the score with 6 points, with the total attack time being less than 2 seconds.

LeBron smiled and nodded.

When the Cavaliers had the ball, LeBron no longer forced a cut inside. Instead, he signaled Boozer to push in. At the same time, he pulled to the outside to create a pick-and-roll with Wade, followed by a mismatch and then shot a 3-pointer.

When the score difference reached 24 points again, the Cavaliers obviously began to lose their composure.

My stage is so big now, and I only have so much time on the court. I can't waste my time fighting with others.

…………

Lin Dong, whom they regard as their biggest enemy, hasn't even played yet, but the points loss is still continuing!

The goal was scored, 54:30!

When Wade retreated, he patted LeBron on the shoulder and told him not to pay attention.

I can no longer fight for rebounds with that guy. Compared to his suddenly enlightened ability to fill in positions, this Japanese kid seems to be born for rebounds!
The offense can't beat Lin Dong, and the defense can't beat this Japanese kid.

Unlike when I was walking on thin ice when I was standing on the top of the mountain, if I can't fight, I don't have to use my brains to resist.

In the past, Wade's comfort would have been useless, but just now, just that one shot and one look had pulled LeBron back in time, who was starting to get a little carried away.

56: 32.

The outside attack caused Wade to miss a 3-pointer. LeBron struggled for rebounds, but in front of Sakuragi Hanamichi who had "unsealed", LeBron's rebounding skills were really rough. In the year since the World Championships, he has Most of the time, I was practicing basics such as ball control to make up for my weaknesses, but I never thought about having to rely on myself to play center and grab rebounds.

The goal was scored at 58:35.

The Sonics turned around and missed from the outside, and the basketball bounced off the frame.

The one who competes with Sakuragi for this rebound is Boozer. Compared to LeBron, Boozer is undoubtedly taller, heavier, and has more solid skills at the basket.

Unfortunately, nothing seems to have changed.

In the fierce battle of strength, an elbow press from the old Earl's true ball dragged down Boozer, who had already occupied a more advantageous position and was about to jump. Sakuragi once again won the rebound, followed closely by Yi who assisted from the outside. Godala also scored 3 points.

61: 35!

...McMillan and Bob on the sidelines were stunned.

Frankly speaking, before the game started, their biggest expectation for Sakuragi Hanamichi was just to integrate into the team and not make mistakes.

As long as he can do that, with Hanamichi Sakuragi's talent and growth ceiling visible to the naked eye, Bob will never use him as an addition to the trade for Shane Battier.

I didn't expect that...

Once this kid figured it out, it was more than just 'integrating into the team'? This is a direct jump from integrating into the team to leading the team.

If at the beginning, Sakuragi's various replacements were only considered to be coincidences, then when Sakuragi is now playing more and more skillfully and can accurately make up for the team's running holes, this doubt has disappeared. Completely disappeared.

It can be called luck once or twice, but if it happens every time, it is definitely not luck.

What's even more surprising is that this kid actually showed off his rebounding ability.

The rebounds in the second quarter when facing LeBron and Boozer were quite crucial. They not only allowed the team to continuously expand the score difference, but more importantly, disrupted the Cavaliers' deployment, which was of strategic significance.

This... super strong sense of filling in, and rebounding strength that is enough to compete with the top power forwards. This is the best puzzle to make up for some of the shortcomings of the Sonics' current running and gunning lineup.

Send away?

Seeing the guy becoming more and more skillful and focused on the court, McMillan was already considering whether to let this guy start the next game.

After all, wearing your own legendary number and being a substitute all the time is no big deal...

The point difference widened to this point, and the Cavaliers became more and more anxious at this time. Lucas made a substitution, replacing Davis, who performed poorly in the second quarter, and once again sacrificed the center Zasunas. , reorganizing the inside twin-tower lineup. Facing a run-and-gun team, the only solution is to defend. This is a conclusion that league teams have already reached. The twin-tower lineup's reinforcement of the interior is the only way to curb the run-and-gun team, especially to limit the Japanese boy's rebounds. The only way.

It's a pity...it's of little use.

Although the twin towers inside strengthened the defense of the basket and the protection of the rebounds, Sakuragi, who had just grabbed all the rebounds, only grabbed one rebound in three rounds.

But the Supersonic run-and-gun rhythm has always been a problem that the Cavaliers cannot completely solve.

If you strengthen the inside line, it will be empty outside. The SuperSonics are 5 against 4. In fact, what matters more often is whether the SuperSonics themselves are accurate.

With a 26-point lead in hand, the huge psychological advantage made the SuperSonics more relaxed as they played, and the outside line frequently blossomed.

Although the Cavaliers have little problem on the offensive end with the cooperation of LeBron and Wade and the inside advantage, the scoring efficiency is not as good as the Sonics, and the point difference is still too big after all.

第二节8分34秒，电子记分牌的比分已经来到了76:49，27分的分差。

SuperSonics substitutions, Payton, Watson, Desmond come off, Lin Dong, Pedrague, Chandler come on.

There is no need to run and gun, the tactical rhythm must change with the situation at all times.

The current rhythm is that the Cavaliers want to play fast because they have to chase points. Compared with fighting against them, at this time, using the Cavaliers' impatience and strengthening the inside defense, it is easy to effectively control the points lost and at the same time gain more points. Let Lin Dong use his personal ability to solve offensive problems. This is a better and easier way to continue to open up the score.

The Cavaliers have twin towers, and the SuperSonics have three inside lines.

The trio of Pedrague, Chandler and Sakuragi Hanamichi, the first two are still fresh forces after resting for most of the quarter, and they regained half of the initiative under the basket as soon as they came on the court.

而林东则是频频外线开花，第二节仅剩3分半的时间里，3分3投3中，罚球2中2，拿下11分1助攻1篮板1抢断，在上半场结束的哨音前，将电子记分牌上的比分定格在了89:53上。

The 36-point halftime difference allowed the game to enter garbage time without any suspense.

In the third quarter, the Cavaliers who had just come up obviously wanted to resist again, but LeBron scored a 3-pointer, and Lin Dong immediately responded with one. Wade forced a sudden inside attack, and Lin Dong followed suit.

The role of a superstar is to put out fires and extinguish your last hope.

After a few rounds of hard work, the score was not narrowed, but opened wider and wider thanks to Lin Dong's accurate 3-pointers.

And when Lin Dong scored a 3-pointer on the last ball, Pedrague and Chandler blocked the Cavaliers' two big insiders under the basket, allowing Sakuragi to get a cheap rebound again. Lucas finally defeated all the Cavaliers' main players. It was replaced.

The stadium was filled with joy.

In order to protect the main players, reduce the risk of injury, and also give some substitutes and newcomers more opportunities to train, it is not uncommon in the regular season to give up early when the point difference is too large.

But after all, the opponent is the Cleveland Cavaliers, who are currently ranked first in the league and have maintained a 36-game winning streak. They actually lost to the home team by points at halftime. This is enough to ignite the passion of the whole game in any home arena in the league.

"I feel like we have the potential to win the championship this year!"

"It's just that this lineup is too aggressive in offense and has a different approach to defense. The effect is surprisingly good!"

"Lin Dong's score seems to have reached a new low again in this game..."

"After all, we only played for more than ten minutes, and we didn't even play half of the game."

"Speaking of which, No. 10 is pretty good. That guy grabbed a lot of frontcourt boards and had a lot of steals!"

"11 points, 10 rebounds, 4 steals and 1 block... Hahaha, this kid seems to be a nervous type. Otherwise his performance is extremely poor, or else he is so fierce that it makes people's hearts tremble. I hope he can still perform like this at the end of the game."

"Wow wow wow, ikebana is finally back on its feet!"

"What is that guy doing? Is he crazy again? He is actually quiet. At this time, shouldn't you put your hands on your hips and laugh twice, 'I am a genius'?"

"Hey, Hanamichi, you'll die if you smile!"

The game is not over yet, the fans in the stadium are buzzing, and the Sakuragi Legion in the fans' stands are chirping and shouting at Sakuragi Hanamichi.

Sakuragi ignored it.

Dong dong, dong dong, dong dong...

He was sitting on the bench, and most of the noise in the arena seemed to be automatically blocked. He could hear his own heartbeat.

With today's performance, he should not be sent away by the team again.

I'm sure I'm happy, but my heart doesn't seem to be as exciting as when I imagined this scene last night. Instead, I unexpectedly calm down.

This kind of calm made all the things, burdens, etc. that had been troubling him before suddenly seem to become far away. Instead, what appeared in his mind was just everything that happened on the court just now.

Every choice and every detail is naturally reviewed, analyzed, and summarized in my mind.

In the end, all these images slowly disappeared and turned into a basketball lying quietly on the floor, which completely calmed him down.

Basketball is not about money, fame or fortune, the cheers of the audience and the envy of others. Basketball is basketball.

If you insist on adding something to basketball, Sakuragi Hanamichi feels that the only thing that can be added is growth.

Maybe the way of expression is different, maybe I can no longer write that kind of passion and love on my face, talk about it in my mouth, or shout it out to Haruko.

But in fact, it has already penetrated deep into the bone marrow. As long as you find it, you will no longer be as confused as before.

It was only at this moment that a faint joy emerged from Sakuragi's calm heart.

It's not the excitement of wine pools and meat forests, but like the breeze on the edge of the fields and the chirping of birds in the valley. It's simple and pure, but it makes people enjoy and feel comfortable from the heart.

A smile appeared on Sakuragi Hanamichi's lips, and he clenched his fists tightly.

The new season has just begun for me!
(End of this chapter)