On the sidelines, Sanae Nakagawa, a reporter for Basketball Weekly, had forgotten that her camera needed to be steady.
Her intellectual eyes were filled with awe.
Look at Tsukubu.
Besides the fact that she and Tsukubu's coach, Kazumi Kawasaki, were classmates in university, she also had a close relationship with him.
More importantly, she has a very low opinion of basketball based on individual heroism.
Before the show started, she was analyzing the situation in front of the camera, expressing her optimism about Tsukubu's teamwork.
However, those ten minutes of the match were like a resounding slap in the face, landing hard on her cheek.
Shohoku's number 14, Hisashi Mitsui, has a three-point shot that is simple, efficient, and deadly.
Even more terrifying was that newcomer, number 15.
"This is incredible..."
Sanae Nakagawa murmured unconsciously, even forgetting that the microphone was still on.
Her gaze was fixed on the white number 15 on the field.
On the defensive end, he covered most of the area beyond the three-point line by himself.
Tsukubu Takeshi's prized passing and positioning skills were completely rendered useless in his presence.
Tomokazu Godai and that steady shooter she admired could hardly find a decent chance to shoot under his defense.
This isn't just about individual skill; it's about phenomenal defensive dominance!
"Did I realize I was wrong..."
Sanae Nakagawa began to doubt her pre-match analysis.
She worked as a basketball manager for four years during college, and met countless teams and players.
But players like Shohoku's number 15 can completely change the course of a game with their defense.
She had never seen a player who could drive a well-trained team to despair, at least not at the high school level.
Has Kawasaki's senior, Tsukubu, really lost like that?
Just as Sanae Nakagawa was about to make a new judgment, she instantly noticed a subtle change on the field.
During a break in play, Tsukubu's captain Tomokazu Godai, quickly gathered his teammates and whispered instructions.
Immediately afterwards, Tsukubu's defensive formation underwent a significant adjustment.
They began to consciously relax their defense on Shohoku's number 15 Kawamoto Kazuki, outside the three-point line.
Point guard Hiroshi Natsume noticeably lowered his center of gravity when defending Kawamoto, focusing only on guarding his driving routes and passes.
They almost completely ignored Kawamoto's potential shooting motion.
More defensive pressure surged towards Hisashi Mitsui, who was already panting heavily.
"Is this an emptying operation on the 15th?"
Sanae Nakagawa's eyes lit up suddenly; her keen sense as a sports reporter made her instantly understand Godai's intentions.
Her mind raced, and her analytical abilities, which had just been brought to a standstill by Kawamoto's defense, restarted.
"I see!"
She almost cried out, a sudden sense of relief washing over her.
" Godai truly lives up to his reputation as an experienced captain and the on-court strategist of Tsukubu. He found the only weakness in Shohoku's seemingly unbeatable lineup so quickly."
She carefully reviewed every round of the match.
She realized she had overlooked a crucial fact.
Since the start of the game, number 15 hasn't taken a single shot.
"I was completely mesmerized by his defensive brilliance."
Sanae Nakagawa felt a mixture of shock and shame, but even more so, a thrill at discovering the truth.
There is indeed a special type of player on the basketball court who has only one particular talent.
They may not possess all the skills, but by honing one skill to its extreme, it becomes a strategic weapon capable of changing the course of a battle.
Her thoughts became clearer and clearer.
"This number 15 could very well be a one-dimensional monster who has honed his physical abilities, pressing throughout the game, and playmaking passing to the extreme!"
" Anzai started him to use his exceptional defensive skills to completely shut down Tsukubu's outside scoring from the start of the game, thereby disrupting their offensive rhythm and shifting the offensive focus to the inside."
This conclusion somewhat eased the shame that Sanae Nakagawa felt due to her previous misjudgment.
That makes sense, that's the only reasonable approach.
It's already unbelievable that a first-year high school student could possess such abnormal defense and physical abilities.
If you add the shooting ability of a top-tier shooter to that, then he's not just a genius, he's the Izanagi of the basketball court.
"Although Godai's defensive adjustment was risky, it is definitely the most rational choice under the current circumstances."
Sanae Nakagawa regained the composure and confidence of a professional journalist, even showing a hint of appreciation for Godai's on-the-spot judgment.
"Abandon Shohoku's weakest point in their offense and concentrate all their efforts on eliminating Hisashi Mitsui."
"If successful, it will not only curb Shohoku's scoring surge, but may also force Anzai to substitute the exhausted Mitsui earlier, disrupting Shohoku's offensive rhythm."
She raised the camera again, but this time the lens switched more between Shohoku's number 15 and the panting Hisashi Mitsui.
Her inner monologue transformed into a clear and resolute voice. " Shohoku's number 15, your defense is indeed impressive. But ultimately, a basketball game is about putting the ball in the basket."
" Godai has seen through your weakness in offense and strength in defense. This is an open strategy, and also the ultimate test of your offensive capabilities."
"Faced with Tsukubu's tactical openness, will you still continue to hide behind defense and passing, and still play the role of a perfect system player?"
No, you won't, and you can't.
"Because when your best scoring teammate is locked down and the team needs someone to step up and score, your silence is your powerless rebuttal."
" Kaede Rukawa doesn't have a three-point shot; he can only score in the paint, which allows Tsukubu to provide better help defense."
"Similarly, Tsukubu's pressure in the paint will be greatly reduced."
Sanae Nakagawa's lips even curled into a knowing smile befitting a seasoned observer.
However, due to a lack of offensive firepower, they were overshadowed by more intense and targeted tactics.
"It seems that Shohoku's seemingly invincible defensive ace is not without its flaws."
"Good job Tomokazu Godai. That's the kind of judgment a truly excellent field commander should have."
She took a deep breath, preparing to record the potential changes in the situation that Tsukubu's tactical adjustment might bring.
Her intuition told her that the turning point of the game might be right now.
Sanae Nakagawa could never have imagined it, and would never have believed it.
At this moment, Tsukubu strategically abandoned defense, labeling Shohoku's number 15 as having a weak offense but a strong defense.
The offensive firepower within him was even more ferocious and unreasonable than the defensive dominance he had just displayed...
Even more... despairing.
Seeing Tsukubu's change in defense, Kenji Fujima's eyes flashed with admiration.
"A remarkable judgment. They found a solution so quickly; Captain Tsukubu is truly exceptional."
The ability to quickly identify potential weaknesses in the opponent's key players when completely suppressed, and to decisively adjust tactics, demonstrates commendable on-the-spot decision-making skills.
On the Ryonan side, Akira Sendoh sighed, "The match is over."
On the court, Kawamoto Kazuki, who was politely left open by Hiroshi Natsume, rose up cleanly from the top of the three-point arc.
With a slight flick of the wrist, the basketball leaves the hand.
The first shot of the game!