Chapter 46 - Mini-Game (1/2)

The next day, Tokiwadai first-string were having their daily mini-game, but today there was something unusual happening with the mini-game.

Tokiwadai played their mini-games in either a 4v4 format or 5v5 format, and sometimes the coach asked them to play 3v3 for a change. The games were as long as half of the real games, which was sixteen minutes of playtime.

But, today was different. The coach had changed the lineup of the matchup.

Coach: ”From today onward, the team with Kageyama will always have one less member on the team.”

That immediately started a discussion between members of the first-string.

Coach clapped his hands to gain attention, which quieted everybody down.

Coach: ”We all saw Kageyama's performance in the Nationals, so it is safe to speak that the team with Shun on it will have a significant advantage in it. Shun has also decided that he wants to be a playmaker, so he needs the experience to work in tight situations.

I expect you guys to force Shun to score by himself rather than gaining assists. I think this will be a good team exercise.”

The coach explained how this exercise benefits the team.

Coach: ”How many of you know of AAU basketball from the USA.”

Shun raised his hand, but there weren't many people who knew about AAU basketball, so the coach explained it to them.

Coach: ”AAU stands for Amateur Athletic Union, and they have an extremely popular basketball league in the USA. The AAU functions by having players from different high school team up and play games against other similar teams.”

The club members were fascinated by the prospect of playing with players from other schools.

Coach: ”The league was designed to provide exposure to high school students so that they could gain experience, but there is one problem in the league which was that the players of the teams didn't get to practice together much, and that led to the AAU teams seeking greater talents to bolster their team with players who had greater individual skills and abandoning teamwork.

The competition got so intense that players started to change teams multiple times a season.”

Everybody was confused about where the coach was going with this.

Coach: ”Our mini-games are also like this; the teams in our mini-games also change every day. Of course, you guys know each other, so you play with teamwork, but you guys stick to simple strategies as you aren't getting enough time to play with the same team.

My purpose by making you guys play these games is that I want you guys to learn to play with each other with a higher level of team play, so our teamwork doesn't suffer in an official match when we substitute members.

The teams in the mini-games aren't always balanced; there might be teams where there are only short players or the team where there are no outside shooters.

These games will force you to improvise while simultaneously allowing you to get to know the playstyle of other members in the first-string.”

Coach clapped his hands once more and said.

Coach: ”Let the games begin.” [A/N -1: LOL]

-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-

There were three courts in the first-string gym, so three games were going on.

The game with Shun on it was 3v4.

Shun looked at his team. Shun's team for this game was Kaitani and Yuki.

Shun went to them and said.

Shun: ”A first-year lineup, huh. Well, I think that our team is well balanced for a three-person team. I can shoot from outside, Kaitani-kun can shoot from mid-range and finish at the rim, and Yuki-kun is good at defense and scoring at the rim.”

Kaitani and Yuki agreed with Shun on the team balance. Shun looked at them and said.

Shun: ”Please play as you usually do. Go to areas where you usually like to score, and I will get the ball to you. Just be at the lookout for the assists.”

Kaitani raised a single eyebrow and questioned.

Kaitani: ”Do you know our playstyle well enough to know how we play?”

Yuki had the same question in his mind.

Shun smiled and said.

Shun: ”I know the playstyle of every player in the first-string. You guys don't have to worry we will do just fine.”

Kaitani and Yuki were skeptical but decided to give him the benefit of the doubt.

Shun looked at the opposite team, and that team was made up of two second-years and two third-years.

[A/N -2: We will refer them as Ichi(One), Ni(Two), San(Three), Shi(Four).]

Shun and the others broke their huddle when the coach announced the start of the game.

The game didn't start with a tip-off but with the ball with Shun's team.

Shun moved to the center of the court with the ball.