Slam Dunk: Muguro

Chapter 107: Iceman's Fingertip Pickup
[Learnable skill detected - fingertip basket, learning progress 1%! ]

The fingertip shot is the signature skill of "Iceman" George Gervin and also his best way of scoring.

As the name suggests, this technique is a shooting method that uses the fingertips to make the ball spin and fly.

Because the shooting point is high, this technique can avoid defensive players who want to block the shot in the first place.

In the tough and bloody 80s, George Gervin used elegant and gentle dribbling shots in the restricted area time and time again.

Relying on his fingertip layup, George Gervin won the scoring title four times. Only Michael Jordan and Chamberlain have won more scoring titles than him.

Although there will be many people who can shoot from behind in the future, it is difficult to find a shoot-from-behind master who has both the strength and aesthetics like the 'Iceman'.

In the future NBA, Curry will be one of the players who can make such a layup.

This skill is extremely practical, but not all players can master it easily. It requires players to have solid basketball basics and keen game awareness. It also has very high requirements for the player's jumping speed and the flexibility of the wrist and fingers.

After Coach Tagore finished his demonstration, Hidenori Murasaki went up to him.

"Coach Tiangang, I didn't expect you to be able to do a fingertip shot!"

"George Gervin is my idol. I watched the video tapes day after day to master this skill. But compared with George Gervin, my level is still far behind."

Coach Tiangang showed a regretful expression. If he had used this trick as well as the 'Iceman', he would not have been unable to become a member of the national team.

To put it simply, if George Gervin's fingertip layup is MAX, then Coach Tanaka is still at a lower-middle level.

"Coach Tiangang, I want to learn this move!"

There was a desire in Mu Mu's eyes to pick up the basket with his fingertips.

If you combine the European step with the fingertip shot, it will be really hard to defend against.

Coach Tian Gang said slowly: "However, this skill is very difficult to learn. It took me two and a half years to master it. So, let me be frank with you. Don't blame me if you can't learn it!"

Mu Mu patted his chest and assured: "Coach Tian Gang, if you can't learn it, I won't blame you!"

Are you kidding? He is a hacker!
As long as someone is willing to teach, he can quickly master any basketball skill.

"That's good!"

The next moment, Coach Tanaoka began to teach Murasakibara the theory and essentials of fingertip dribbling.

In addition, he also broke down the entire set of techniques so that Murasakibara could have a more intuitive feeling.

Mu Mu learned very attentively and imprinted it deeply in his mind. Whenever he encountered something he didn't understand, Coach Tanaka would always give him a clear answer.

One is willing to learn, the other is willing to teach!

Under the patient guidance of Coach Tagore, Murasaki's understanding of fingertip shots improved rapidly.

This can be seen from the progress of the learning mechanism.

"You try it first, I'll be the defender!"

Seeing that Murasakibara has almost mastered the theory, Coach Tanaka hopes to help Murasakibara master it faster through practice.

Murasaki picked up a basketball, rushed into the layup range with the ball, and then jumped forward with a big step.

Coach Tanaoka, who was standing under the basket, also jumped up and reached out to interfere.

In mid-air, Murasakibara stretched his arms straight and lifted the ball up. After jumping to the highest point, his fingertips gently touched the bottom of the basketball.

bang~
Unfortunately, the basketball hit the backboard and bounced off, almost hitting his handsome face.

"Mumu, at the moment of the layup, your body must remain balanced to ensure the smoothness of the movement. At the same time, the fingertip layup also involves the grasp of timing and the judgment of the defensive player's position. This, you also did not do well."

Coach Tanaoka corrected Murasaki's mistakes and told him tips such as how to ensure his body balance when shooting the ball.

In the following time, Murasakibara began to concentrate on practicing fingertip shots.

Starting from the rim-shooting posture, to the flexible use of wrists and fingers, and then to the grasp of the timing of the rim-shooting, the same movements are repeated continuously.

After countless attempts, Mu Mu gradually felt the subtlety of the fingertip basket.

Under Coach Tagore's astonished gaze, Murasakibara became proficient at a speed visible to the naked eye.

shuh~
Faced with the interference of Coach Tagore, Murasakibara once again completed a fingertip layup, and the basketball fell accurately into the basket.

[Congratulations on acquiring a new skill - fingertip basket! ]

Until then, the system prompt sound finally sounded.

I have to say that the fingertip shot is indeed not easy to master. It took Murasakibara two and a half hours to finally fill up the progress bar.

Coach Tanaka felt extremely complicated as Murasakibara had mastered his secret weapon so quickly.

It was not until this time that Coach Tagore finally realized how abnormal Murasakibara's learning ability was.

Sometimes, the gap between people is greater than that between people and dogs.

The technique that took him two and a half years to master only took Muguro two and a half hours.

Even though Murasakibara was learning by standing on the shoulders of giants, Coach Tanaka was still devastated.

After mastering the fingertip shot, Coach Murasaki and Coach Tanaka began to take a break and chat about random things.

Mu Mu asked with a hint of curiosity: "Coach Tian Gang, I heard that Hainan High School has submitted an application to the organizing committee to obtain a place in the play-offs?"

Coach Tiangang nodded, his expression looking a little serious.

“Yes, but so far, the organizing committee has not given a clear answer.

In order to secure this spot, Coach Gaotou hopes to apply together with several other strong teams. He hopes that through the influence of these strong teams, the organizing committee will approve the application.

Among them, your team's coach Anxi is the most important, because one of his students is on the organizing committee."

Coach Tiangang paused slightly, with a hint of helplessness in his tone.

“However, not only did we not agree with Coach Gaotou’s proposal, we even had serious disagreements.

Even if they apply for a place in the play-offs, it will benefit Hainan High School and is not in the interests of other teams.

Therefore, we prefer to apply for a fixed play-off spot, so that there will be a play-off spot every year, rather than just this one."

Fixed play-off places means that the region automatically gets one play-off place every year.

There are a total of eight places in the play-offs, two of which are fixed places.

If the level of basketball in the region declines significantly or otherwise fails to meet the organizing committee's standards, the fixed quota could be abolished.

"If we could apply for a fixed play-off spot, it would undoubtedly be a major benefit to Kanagawa basketball. What a pity."

Coach Tian Gang spread his hands and said helplessly: "There is nothing we can do about it. Everyone has their own selfish desires. We can't help Hainan High School for no reason. In this case, it is unlikely to reach a consensus.

However, if you perform well in this national competition, our application may be successful."

(End of this chapter)