LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 88: Disadvantage
After receiving the ball, Murasakibara powered up and forcefully charged at Davis.
However, something completely unexpected happened — Davis stood firm like an immovable mountain, completely unshaken!
Teiko players were stunned. They were all too familiar with Murasakibara's sheer strength — he could typically bulldoze through two or three opponents without much effort. But now, he couldn't even budge Davis!
Meanwhile, the American team remained composed, as if this was just another ordinary moment for them.
"Does a Japanese player think he can muscle past Davis? Ridiculous!"
Frustrated at his inability to overpower Davis, Murasakibara gritted his teeth and decided on a more aggressive approach.
He leapt high into the air, opting for a powerful spin dunk to challenge Davis head-on.
But Davis wasn't an easy opponent.
As Murasakibara jumped, Davis reacted instantly, displaying incredible vertical leap. This time, his jump was noticeably higher than Murasakibara's, a full half-head above.
Then, Davis fearlessly met Murasakibara mid-air and delivered a devastating block.
The sound of the block echoed through the court — Murasakibara had been ruthlessly rejected, sent sprawling to the ground.
Wiggins quickly grabbed the ball after Davis' emphatic block. Spotting Schröder in position, he threw a precise chest pass with all his strength.
Schröder turned and caught the ball cleanly. With a quick double crossover, he attempted to shake off Akashi, who was closely marking him.
But to his surprise, Akashi didn't fall for the move this time. He stayed close, shadowing Schröder's every step.
Unfazed, Schröder used his physical advantage to execute a seamless behind-the-back dribble, bursting past Akashi with a speed that left no room for response.
"Get back on defense!" Akashi shouted urgently, his expression tense. This wasn't the first time Schröder had blown past him.
Without hesitation, Akashi sprinted toward the frontcourt, preparing to stop the fast break.
Seeing the opportunity, Schröder pushed forward, but Aomine appeared like lightning, blocking his path with impressive speed.
Despite the sudden obstruction, Schröder remained calm, showcasing his poise as a point guard.
At that moment, Wiggins cut in from Schröder's left side.
Recognizing the opportunity, Schröder prepared a behind-the-back pass.
Just as he swung the ball with his right hand, Shiro anticipated the move, stepping in to block the passing lane between Schröder and Wiggins.
It seemed certain the pass would be intercepted. But then — something extraordinary happened. The ball somehow ended up in LaVine's hands on Schröder's right side.
How?! The spectators were in disbelief, murmuring in confusion.
Standing further back, Midorima's eyes widened in surprise. He had caught Schröder's subtle brilliance.
It was a perfectly executed elbow pass.
In that instant, Schröder had subtly redirected the ball with his left elbow, sending it flying past Wiggins to LaVine.
This display of vision and improvisation was nothing short of exceptional.
With no one left to guard him, LaVine smirked, leaping high into the air with confidence.
He stretched out mid-air and delivered a jaw-dropping 360° between-the-legs dunk.
The motion was fluid, graceful, and as stunning as a piece of art.
"Wow!"
The spectators erupted in cheers, their voices filled with awe.
The players on the sidelines couldn't help but shout in admiration. "That was insane!"
LaVine's dunk was nothing short of spectacular.
The scoreboard was just as shocking: 16:5.
Teiko was trailing by a staggering 11 points!
This was the first time they had been pushed this hard since their rise to fame.
Akashi's expression darkened. He barked orders to his teammates: "Stop playing selfishly! Move the ball around more!"
Murasakibara's earlier blunder had disrupted their offense, leading to a chaotic attack and a fast break by the opponent.
Though Akashi himself hadn't performed flawlessly on defense, he knew things couldn't continue like this.
The team nodded in agreement, though Murasakibara looked displeased, pouting in defiance.
Shiro approached Murasakibara, patting him on the shoulder. "Atsushi, focus on the game. I'll treat you to some tasty snacks later!"
At the mention of food, Murasakibara perked up, smiling brightly as he jogged back to defend the paint.
Teiko began to play seriously, abandoning their individualistic playstyle in favor of patient ball movement. They seemed to recapture the spirit of their past teamwork.
Eventually, the ball ended up in Midorima's hands. With Russell pulled away from the basket, Midorima found himself wide open.
Without hesitation, he released the shot. The ball swished through the net.
"Nice shot!" his teammates cheered, high-fiving in celebration.
Watching his energized teammates, Shiro couldn't help but feel a surge of nostalgia.
"It's like the old days" he thought wistfully.
The weaker opponents of the past had caused the team to drift apart, each player relying solely on their individual skills.
But against a formidable team, personal talent wasn't enough. Only teamwork could give them a fighting chance.
As the game progressed, Teiko displayed increasingly seamless cooperation. Their offense diversified, their passing grew more precise.
But the American team was relentless. Their airtight defense and lightning-fast transitions continued to challenge Teiko at every turn.
Though Teiko managed to score with their newfound teamwork, they knew it wasn't enough. The American team's strength was simply overwhelming, and their own teamwork was just as sharp.
"Beep!"
The whistle blew, signaling the end of the first quarter.
The score stood at 37:19. The american team held a commanding lead over the Generation of Miracles.