Slam Dunk:Starting with perfect copy

The crowd's murmurs of pessimism grew louder as Ryonan's first offensive attempt faltered. But Coach Taoka Moichi remained calm. The game had just begun, and he knew his team would find their rhythm. On the court, Uekusa slowed the pace, carefully orchestrating the offense. Daiei Academy's preparation was evident—they had anticipated Ryonan's strategies, even shutting down their signature fast break off the jump ball.

Uekusa passed the ball inside to Yuzumi, hoping their towering center could exploit his height advantage. Yuzumi backed down Nakai Hiromasa, but the Daiei center held his ground, his defensive stance unyielding. Yuzumi tried a spin move, but Nakai's experience shone through as he stayed glued to his opponent. Forced into a rushed hook shot, Yuzumi's attempt clanged off the rim, and Nakai secured the rebound.

Daiei Academy wasted no time transitioning to offense. Their point guard, Tsuchiya Jun, sprinted down the court, receiving a long pass from Nakai. Uekusa tried to cut him off, but Tsuchiya's quick stop-and-go left Uekusa stumbling to the floor. Tsuchiya drove to the basket and finished with a powerful one-handed dunk.

0-2.

The crowd erupted. "Daiei's not just about defense! Their fast break is lethal!"

"Tsuchiya's the real deal. No wonder he's Osaka's MVP!"

On Ryonan's bench, Taoka Moichi's expression darkened. Daiei Academy's preparation was meticulous. They had studied Ryonan's tendencies, double-teaming key players like Uesugi and Sendoh, and shutting down Yuzumi in the post. Their defense was suffocating, and their offense was sharper than expected. Taoka realized he might have underestimated them.

Ryonan's next possession saw Uekusa pass to Fukuda, hoping his scoring ability could break the deadlock. Fukuda drove past Ryu Kenjima but was immediately met by a double-team. Forced to pass, Fukuda's attempt was intercepted by Nakano Tokuyama, who ignited another fast break. Daiei Academy capitalized, extending their lead to 0-4.

The crowd buzzed with excitement. "Ryonan's offense is completely stuck!"

"Daiei's defense is like a wall. Ryonan can't even get a shot off!"

"This is going to be a long game for Ryonan."

On the bench, Taoka Moichi clenched his fists. Daiei Academy's oppressive defense was overwhelming his players. The constant pressure was forcing mistakes, and Ryonan's offense was grinding to a halt. He glanced at Kenichi Uesugi, his ace player, and silently willed him to take control.

Ryonan's next possession began with Uekusa bringing the ball up the court. This time, Uesugi stepped out to the three-point line, calling for the ball. Uekusa passed to him, relieved to have someone take charge. Daiei Academy's defense reacted instantly. Nakano Tokuyama and Nagase Masataka closed in, forming a double-team to trap Uesugi.

The crowd held its breath. "He's double-teamed! What's he going to do?"

Uesugi didn't hesitate. As Nakano and Nagase lunged to block his shot, he leaned back mid-air, creating just enough space to release the ball. The shot arced high, avoiding the outstretched hands of the defenders, and swished through the net.

2-4.

The gym erupted in cheers. "He scored through a double-team!"

"That lean-back shot was insane! How does he even do that?"

"Ryonan's finally on the board!"

Nakano and Nagase exchanged stunned glances. They had done everything right—closed out, contested the shot—but Uesugi had still scored. "This guy's on another level," Nakano muttered.

Daiei Academy's next possession saw Tsuchiya Jun take control. He drove past Uekusa, stepped back, and drained a smooth jumper. Uekusa, despite his efforts, couldn't contest the shot due to the height difference.

2-6.

Ryonan's offense reset, and Uekusa once again looked to Uesugi. This time, Uesugi caught the ball on the right wing. Before Nagase could close out, Uesugi rose for a quick-release three-pointer. The ball left his hands in a flash, and he turned away before it even reached the basket.

Swish.

5-6.

The crowd went wild. "He didn't even look! That's confidence!"

"Uesugi's carrying Ryonan right now. Daiei's defense can't stop him!"

On the court, Nakano Tokuyama stood frozen, his confidence shaken. Uesugi's speed and precision were unlike anything he'd faced before.

As the game continued, the tension mounted. Daiei Academy's defense remained formidable, but Uesugi's brilliance kept Ryonan within striking distance. The battle between Ryonan's offense and Daiei's defense was just beginning, and the outcome was far from decided.

Kenichi Uesugi's back-to-back three-pointers electrified the stadium, reigniting the crowd's excitement and showcasing Ryonan's true strength. On the Daiei Academy bench, the once-rowdy substitutes fell silent, their earlier confidence replaced by unease. Uesugi's dominance was a stark reminder that this game was far from over.

Coach Takuichi Hirata, however, remained calm. His eyes followed Uesugi with a mix of admiration and calculation. He had expected Ryonan's ace to be a threat, but Uesugi's versatility and composure under pressure were beyond his expectations.

On the Ryonan bench, the mood had shifted dramatically. The substitutes, led by Hikoichi, erupted in cheers, their earlier tension replaced by exhilaration. Coach Taoka Moichi, too, looked more relaxed. Uesugi's scoring had not only narrowed the gap but also lifted the psychological burden off the team. Now, it was time to see if Ryonan could sustain this momentum.

The game resumed with Daiei Academy on the attack. Tsuchiya Jun brought the ball up the court, his movements sharp and deliberate. Uekusa, determined to redeem himself, stayed glued to Tsuchiya, but a well-timed screen from Ryu Kenjima freed the Daiei point guard. Tsuchiya stepped back and drained a smooth jumper over Uekusa's outstretched hand.

8-10.

The crowd roared. "Tsuchiya's unstoppable! He's carrying Daiei's offense!"

"That pick-and-roll is killing Ryonan. They need to figure it out!"

Ryonan's next possession saw Uekusa pass to Uesugi once again. Nakano Tokuyama closed in immediately, determined not to let Uesugi repeat his earlier heroics. But Uesugi, unfazed, rose for a quick-release three-pointer. Nakano lunged to block, but Uesugi leaned back mid-air, his fadeaway shot arcing perfectly over Nakano's fingertips.

Swish.

11-10.

The crowd erupted. "Another three! Uesugi's on fire!"

"That fadeaway is unguardable! How do you even defend that?"

Nakano stared in disbelief, his frustration evident. He turned to Nakai Hiromasa, yelling, "Rebound!" But the ball had already sailed through the net, leaving Nakai and Yuzumi tangled under the basket.

Daiei Academy's next possession saw Tsuchiya Jun orchestrate another pick-and-roll, this time finding Ryu Kenjima cutting to the basket. Ryu finished with a layup, but Yuzumi, determined to make an impact, swatted the shot away. Fukuda grabbed the loose ball and fired a quick outlet pass to Uekusa, who pushed the pace.

Ryonan's fast break faltered under Daiei's relentless defense, forcing Uekusa to reset. As the defense relaxed, Uekusa spotted Uesugi curling to the three-point line and delivered a crisp pass. Nagase Masataka closed out quickly, but Uesugi, already in rhythm, rose for another three.

Nagase jumped to contest, but Uesugi's release was too quick. The ball left his hands before Nagase could react, and the net barely rippled as it passed through.

14-10.

The crowd was in awe. "He's unstoppable! Three threes in a row!"

"Daiei's defense is elite, but Uesugi's just on another level!"

On the Daiei bench, the substitutes grumbled. "Why isn't Nagase jumping to block? He's just standing there!"

Coach Hirata silenced them with a sharp look. "It's not that simple. Uesugi's release is too quick. Nagase did his best."

Daiei Academy's offense struggled to respond. Tsuchiya Jun, despite his brilliance, found himself double-teamed by Sendoh and Uekusa. Forced into a tough pass, he turned the ball over, and Ryonan capitalized with another Uesugi three-pointer—this time drawing a foul from Nakano Tokuyama.

"And one!" the referee called.

Uesugi calmly sank the free throw, extending Ryonan's lead to 17-10.

The pressure was mounting on Daiei Academy. Their once-impenetrable defense was cracking under Uesugi's relentless assault. Nakano and Nagase exchanged uneasy glances, their confidence shaken.

Ryonan's next possession saw Uesugi receive the ball once again. This time, Nakano and Nagase double-teamed him, determined to shut him down. But Uesugi, ever the maestro, used their aggression against them. With a quick pump fake, he sent both defenders flying past him, creating just enough space to rise for another three.

Swish.

20-10.

The crowd was in a frenzy. "Four threes in a row! This is insane!"

"Uesugi's carrying Ryonan on his back. Daiei's defense has no answer!"

On the court, Nakano and Nagase looked shell-shocked. They had thrown everything at Uesugi, but he had countered with flawless precision. Coach Hirata called a timeout, his expression grim. The pressure had shifted decisively to Daiei Academy.

As the teams huddled, the stadium buzzed with anticipation. Uesugi's brilliance had turned the tide, but the game was far from over. Daiei Academy, known for their resilience, would not go down without a fight. The battle between Ryonan's offense and Daiei's defense was reaching its peak, and the outcome hung in the balance