Control the rebounds, and you control the game!
This is no exaggeration.
In a basketball game, each team's shooting percentage typically hovers around 50–60%.
The Generation of Miracles are slightly higher. Though the original source doesn't specify, Akashi Asuka, through analyzing game footage, determined that the average field-goal percentage for Generation of Miracles members is roughly 80%.
Except for Midorima Shintaro's three-pointers.
An 80% shooting rate is terrifying. In a fast-paced game, it means at least four out of every five shots go in.
Yet even the Generation of Miracles cannot guarantee a perfect 100%.
When combined with the rest of the team, even a powerhouse with multiple Generation of Miracles members only averages around 60–70% per game.
The rest? Rebounds.
If a team can secure all of those rebounds, even against a team with Generation of Miracles players, they gain roughly a third more offensive opportunities.
And if they can capitalize on even half of those extra opportunities, that's an additional 10–15 points per game.
It's easy to see how crucial rebounds are in a match.
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Seirin, however, has a noticeable gap compared to a true Generation of Miracles-level team…
"Seirin's frontcourt is far behind Seiho's."
From the stands, Yukio Kasamatsu shook his head. "Winning the rebound battle gives you more offensive chances while reducing your opponent's. With Akashi stationed under his basket, Seirin loses half of its potential offensive opportunities before their attack even begins."
"And even under Seirin's basket, the chance of winning the rebound is only about fifty-fifty. And that's only with Kagami participating."
Seirin's center, Mitobe, would be a typical blue-collar player by NBA standards. Not weak, but compared to Tsutomu Iwamura, a nationwide top-tier center, the gap is obvious.
Unless Kagami were stationed strictly under the basket, leveraging his size and jump to dominate over Iwamura, but as a power forward, he can't stay under the rim all the time.
Before each rebound attempt, he's still engaged with Tsugawa, and Iwamura has already claimed position, losing the timing advantage.
Moreover, Iwamura primarily contests offensive rebounds. These are advantageous for the attacking side, after all, it's their own teammate's shot. They know the rebound's angle, timing, and trajectory far better than the defenders.
Timing, positioning, and coordination.
Seiho holds two of these three advantages. Even a 1v2 in the paint won't faze Iwamura.
And on Seiho's defensive end…
CLANG!
As the second quarter neared its end, Hyuga Junpei's clutch mode faded, his three-point shots losing precision. He shot and… missed.
"Rebound!"
As the ball bounced off the rim, both teams surged toward the basket.
Seirin's Mitobe and Kagami fought to squeeze under the hoop, jockeying for position. But they quickly realized the prime spot was already claimed by Akashi.
Desperate, they tried to push him out of position. No matter how hard they pressed, Akashi was like a mountain, unmoving.
"Damn it!"
Seeing that he couldn't secure the position, Kagami jumped from the second tier, attempting to use his vertical leap to snatch the rebound.
Akashi couldn't match Kagami's jumping power, but his height compensated.
Better positioning.
Higher reach.
Superior strength.
Combined, Akashi easily grabbed the rebound.
Landing, his massive body and momentum shoved both Kagami and Mitobe aside. With a flick of his hand, Seiho launched another counterattack.
SWISH!
With their practiced teamwork, they secured the possession effortlessly.
35:20.
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At the same time, a dull electronic whistle echoed through the court, the second quarter ended. Both teams headed to the ten-minute halftime break.
Everything unfolded just as Kasamatsu had predicted.
In the second quarter, Seirin, aided by Kuroko and Hyuga, exploited a defensive gap on the perimeter.
Kuroko's screens and precise passing disrupted Seiho's close marking.
Hyuga's clutch threes exploited the area that Akashi had yet to cover beyond the arc.
With Akashi's current physical development and conditioning, his defensive range now spans nearly 90% of the three-point line.
He could extend coverage to Hyuga's spot, but that would open vulnerabilities elsewhere, potentially causing more harm than good.
Better to maintain a stable defensive rhythm.
Although a gap existed on the perimeter, as Seiho adapted to Seirin's pace, it gradually shrank.
By the end of the second quarter, while Seirin appeared to have closed the gap, the score difference had only narrowed slightly from 17:0, merely a two-point reduction.
Most of Seirin's points came in the first half of the quarter. Later, without much effort from Seiho, Hyuga's three-point shooting gradually declined.
This trend would only worsen in the second half for Seirin…
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"Ah~~ I'm exhausted!"
Back on the bench, Hyuga drank some water and collapsed onto the long seat, completely drained.
"Why did we have to face such monsters? Two whole quarters, and not a single rebound to show for it… it's like a nightmare."
Aida Riko didn't react to his complaints. She knew exactly what Hyuga was like when his switch was flipped.
Moreover… her attention wasn't on Hyuga at all. It was on the other side of the court, on Akashi in Seiho's resting area…
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