The two made a remarkably well-coordinated pair, perfectly complementing each other.
Japan's fans put it this way: "Without Tanaka's shouting, you'd nod off. Without Yamaguchi's analysis, you wouldn't understand the tactics."
At that moment, Tanaka Kenji watched the players warming up on the court and spoke with great enthusiasm:
"This is the strongest team in Japan's history. They're sure to achieve great things this year. I'm looking forward to seeing them make the quarterfinals, the semifinals, or even take second place!"
Beside him, Yamaguchi Tomoko studied the tactics board and calmly replied:
"Based on the data I've collected, we have a 73.9% chance of advancing from our group, only a 16.7% chance of making the semifinals, and just a 1.3% chance of finishing second."
Tanaka Kenji shook his head and said with a smile:
"Yamaguchi, this is basketball—a real competition. You can't decide the outcome based on data alone. If the data could decide everything, there'd be no need to hold a men's basketball tournament. We could just run the numbers on a computer."
Yamaguchi Tomoko remained expressionless. "Tanaka, that's a rather one-sided view. Everything exists for a reason."
Tanaka Kenji knew that debating this with Yamaguchi Tomoko would be pointless—and that he wouldn't win anyway.
He could only turn his attention to the court instead.
"Let's take another look at China Team. Besides Zhang Yu, Zhang Jiacheng, Pang Bo, and Yang Hanson, their leading player is the Imperial Tyrannosaurus Rex—"
"A man who cares about nothing but pursuing greater strength!"
"The overlord of the basketball world, a brutal, savage, utterly terrifying Great Demon King!"
"Wang Yi!"
"Can Japan Team escape his merciless claws tonight? And, if we get the chance, can we cut them off with our samurai swords?"
"Let's wait and see!"
Yamaguchi Tomoko's voice remained frighteningly calm: