Chapter 138 - Power And Speed (1/2)
From his first day at the summer camp, Shun found that his strategy of copying all of the guys at the same time was not efficient, and if he wanted to achieve his aim, he needed an alternative method of approach.
So, he decided to focus on players a couple of players at a time. And, his first targets were Bruno Muller and Antony Grigor.
Shun watched the two offensive players and analyzed their playstyles with the best of his ability.
First, he turned to Bruno Muller and watched the German power forward dunk the ball into the hoop with a powerful force behind it.
Shun: 'Let's think about Bruno Muller. What do I know about him? Okay, let's list the things one by one.
An offensive forward, who's playstyle revolves around the way he trained his physique.
He has a good height and a considerable amount of strength backing his moves.
What else stands out? Hmm. Ah, yes. His short run-up vertical reach.
That ability is a great asset in both offense and defense.'
Shun thought of the possibility, where he could imitate Bruno's short run-up jump with his current body.
Shun: 'Strain on the knees and calves, maybe even on the tendons. I can try to jump higher, but it would take me more time to set up the jump.
What about his mid-air posture? Yes, I can work with that.'
Bruno's mid-air posture made him lean his body behind his attacking hand. It helped him put extra power behind his attacking hand.
Shun: 'Weakness of his posture?'
Shun tilted his head and dived into his memories and pulled out the times Bruno's mid-air posture failed.
Shun: 'It limits his options, the more he leans for power, the more he ends up restricting his options.'
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Shun walked to the court, determined that by the time he left the court, he would be a step closer to the player known as Bruno Muller.
Albert looked at Shun and ordered him.
Albert: ”Shun, you would be playing offense, so be ready to get passes. I need you to target the basket aggressively.”
Shun nodded and responded.
Shun: ”Yes, Sir!”
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Shun's approach to copying Bruno was to play in the post.
Shun: 'Staying in the post will force me to use Bruno's style rather than instinctively reverting to my own style.
I can't stop God-Speed Impulse from working, but I can shut out everything else.'
Shun took a deep breath and waited. He waited for the ball to come to him, ready to become Bruno Muller.
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Ming passed the ball to Shun. He caught the pass, and Roger was immediately on Shun.
Shun posted up and was ready to begin his move.
Shun had his back to the basket and Roger. He immediately did a drop step to get behind Roger and squared up to the basket.
Shun didn't have a run-up, and just like Bruno, he jumped up for the dunk and put extra stress on his legs to jump higher. He bent his knees and then released all the extra force to jump higher than he was comfortable doing.
Shun felt that his jump was good, and he could dunk the ball into the basket, but then he saw a glimpse of Roger's hand. Shun clicked his tongue and thought.
Shun: 'I knew it! The jump was slow! He caught up.'
Shun's god-speed impulse worked as he immediately passed the ball to Gilbert, who was also in the post.
Gilbert showed that he wasn't called a high jumper for no reason. He didn't even move from his position and jumped to the basket, and successfully dunked the ball.
Gilbert: ”Oh, that felt good!”
Shun ran back to his side of the court for defense and thought.
Shun: 'No step jump won't work, I have to have at least one step for a viable jump to the basket.'
-*-*-*-
Shun got the ball, and this time Rafael was in his way. He did a small pump-fake and immediately passed him, and with a single step run-up jumped at the basket, and with his teammates screening the others, he successfully dunked the ball.
Sarah looked at Shun and thought.
Sarah: 'That was a short run-up.'
Sarah: 'By putting extra strength in his legs, he propelled himself higher than usual.'
-*-*-*-
Shun didn't stop there and choose an appropriate moment to copy Bruno's mid-air posture.
Shun got the ball and in front of him was Carlos.
Shun dribbled the ball once to reset his step count, and with a two-step run-up, he jumped to the basket.
He had the ball in both of his hands, and he put his body weight behind his dunk.
Carlos also jumped to block Shun, and when the ball met his hands, he felt the force behind the dunk.
Carlos: 'Oh, it's heavier than usual!'
Carlos was sure that Shun didn't have this much strength, so he was surprised by the sudden force behind the dunk, but.
Carlos: ”It is not enough.”
Shun couldn't force apart Carlos's hands. And, the shot ended up getting blocked.
Shun and Carlos got to the ground, and Shun couldn't help up sighing as he put his hands on his waist.
Carlos patted Shun's shoulder and said.
Carlos: ”Man, that was stronger than usual.”
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Bruno, on the other hand, noticed Shun's form and thought.
Bruno: 'That was like mine.'
He stared at Shun and pondered.
Bruno: 'His posture was correct, but he doesn't have the muscles and physique for it.'
Shun turned towards him, and Bruno spoke.
Bruno: ”You need to work on you standing vertical, and your abdominal muscles. You require them to be able to move in mid-air.
Plus, use the flexibility in your shoulders, the wider motion will help put more force behind the ball.”
Shun stared at Bruno for a while, before nodding and replying.
Shun: ”Thank you.”
Bruno nodded in response and walked away.
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