Chapter 368: So the last game against Rakuzan wasn't just luck?! (3/3)

Drawing Atsushi away from the core position at the free-throw line was meant to weaken his 'Ultra-Wide Range Defense'; Yukimiya Kazuma understood this super-help defense mode all too well.

If Atsushi stays near the free-throw line, breaking through his defense is nearly impossible; he must be pulled away from that spot.

Yukimiya's pass into the paint and his earlier outlet from the three-point arc were both for this reason; without first forcing Atsushi to abandon that position, Tsuchiya Dahe's pass just now, under such a super-help defense, might not even have gotten out.

Moreover, this approach has another benefit: it forces Atsushi to help-defend and jump repeatedly, draining his stamina. As for chasing him down in one long stride like usual, then using his height to leap and easily block?

Don't even think about it!

It is worth noting.

Given Atsushi's physical abilities and neural reflexes far beyond the normal range, in most cases his defense doesn't even require him to jump; but if the opponent is Yukimiya Kazuma, with his center-sized build and the threat of 'Tobi', even Atsushi can only choose to jump without hesitation.

But once he chooses to jump, Yukimiya Kazuma has 'Pass-Control Master · Link' waiting in the wings.

After jumping and landing, Atsushi's help defense will inevitably fall a beat behind in rhythm, which means that when Atsushi helps defend others from Izunomiya next, he must jump immediately again; after all, who knows whether the 'Link' Yukimiya passes will trigger a quick-release shot on the next move.

One ring linked to another.

Even though Atsushi knows this clearly, he cannot break it.

Unless he also possesses super-agility like Facing Qingfeng, capable of making even Yukimiya's first step of initiating a pass difficult, only then could he do it.

……

Yangquan's situation at this moment is already quite dire.

Boom!

Trying to find a way to attack that avoids Yukimiya Kazuma.

The Yangquan shooting guard, whose presence was low and whose name Yukimiya hadn't even remembered yet, had his shot bounce off the rim under Dakou Longzhi's defense!

Suddenly!

Chaos erupted under the basket.

Liu Wei, Okamura Kenichi, Atsushi, Yukimiya Kazuma, Tsuchiya Dahe, and Tsukiyama Masahiko all crowded under the hoop, ready to fight for the rebound.

Okamura Kenichi exerted every ounce of strength he had, trying to secure a good position, but no matter how hard he tried, he could not gain an advantage over Yukimiya Kazuma's box-out.

Okamura Kenichi: "……"

Damn it…

This guy's rebounding technique is that good too?!

Someone like Atsushi, whose physical gifts are so overwhelming, doesn't even need much technique to reach heights that many centers never achieve in their entire lives.

Because of this, Atsushi's basketball game doesn't involve mastering much technique; the few footwork moves he used during offense earlier were already the limit of what Atsushi's personality could compromise on.

When Okamura Kenichi fought Atsushi for rebounds within the team, relying on technique…

Hmm…

Although he still couldn't win.

At least it felt like there was some exchange.

But in front of Yukimiya Kazuma, from the very moment he boxed out for the rebound, he was completely suppressed by the opponent; the feeling he got…

The opponent was like an Atsushi with extremely outstanding technical ability!

There was absolutely no chance of winning.

Snap~!

Under the ice-bound confrontation of 'Domain · Ice and Snow World', Yukimiya Kazuma easily faked a box-out, then cut in front, swept with his long arm, and snatched the rebound like a great roc spreading its wings!

Atsushi's expression grew uglier and uglier.

Clearly…

Even the rebound was taken away, and the anger in Atsushi's heart was about to burn his eyebrows!

In the spectator stands.

Kise Ryota wore a look of utter shock.