Our turn for offense. I ran down to the corner as usual.
Waiting, and then, the moment arrived, I got the ball.
Without hesitation, as my D was a foot away from me, I jump, and shot the ball.
Swish.
That was just the beginning.
I am playing in my schools intramurals league for my friend, and we are in the last league. Teams that do not have enough players are send to this league, and random guy who wants to play will be assign a team. We lost the first game. I was frustrated and I told myself I have to win the next. My teammates are good, they can play good ball, but the fact that we just played one game together, the bond isn't close yet. But the second game was different, all of a sudden we were all connected.
In the game, the second time I caught the ball, no dribble. Catch and shoot. In the same spot.
So did the third one. I was feeling good, and my sense told me, things are working out today.
At the beginning of the game, I was shocked to find out that they are all taller than us. A black guy is their center, he stood at 6'4. The other guys are at a 5'11 average. I am 6'0" and I am the tallest guy on my team, not to mention 2 5'8" guards. But when the game starts, we play hard defense. Our defense led to their turnovers and we scored every time they turn the ball over. We protected the paint well enough to stop their center from demolishing it.
When I hit my fourth 3 point shot, our oppnents were like: shit just got serious. One of my friend was the referee that day and he was: Owh~ here and there.
We steal, we grab rebounds, we challenge shots, we were pushing them hard, pressuring them all the way.
45 degree, my teammate passed the ball to me, it was too low for me. But, once I grabbed it, I jumped, and shot it. Nothing but net. My fifth 3 points shot. As I ran back for defense, I did the MJ shrug like I don't know how I did it. I think I did amaze the opponents crowd.
The 1st half ended. 33-14, I scored 15 points, 5-6 shooting. I scored more than the whole opposing team.
My teammates greeted me, praised me, and gave me 5s.
In the 2nd half, I missed 3 3points shot, one was totally ridiculous shot as I tried to contest for a 4 point play, but I failed to draw the foul. And as the opponent scored, we returned with a couple 3 points plays from my Korean teammate. Terrence, the small forward from our team hit a 3. Then, I dropped my 6th. 18 points. Another shot I shoot off the dribble, the center touched it which caused the ball to miss the rim. My teammate caught it in the base line and passes it to me out from the double team. I hit the lay up. 20. Bang.
The game ended with my chinese teammate scoring and the 2 5'8" guards fastbreaking.
When the whistle blew, 62-33, we won by 29 points.
It is my first 20 points game. Although it is just a small tournament, but it is something that I will never forget in my life. That day was also the 2nd anniversary of my Nike Zoom Hustle. The shoe that follows me through every tough games, blacktop and hardwood. This big win is what I gave him as a present.
A day before that game, I hit a 3, which I shot it high and smooth, the parabola and the revolution were at its perfect to make it nothing but net. And then what Mitsui said in Slam Dunk came to my mind, 这个声音，让我特别精神！
Chasing my dream. That was just, a beginning.
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