Basketball System: Rebound of the Underdog

"The semi-finals are truly different," Gina said, wiping the sweat off her brow. "It's only the first quarter, and I already feel like I can't breathe."

David read some comments from the online live stream and chuckled in amusement. "The viewers are saying that almost all games from the Shizi Dogs have been intense thus far."

"Oh," Gina muttered. "I wish I would have seen it, then. It seems like the Shizi Dogs know how to put on a good show!"

Kai glanced around at his teammates as they moved into their defensive positions while controlling his breathing.

Max's eyes narrowed as he took in their group dynamics.

Something had definitely changed. The Shizi Dogs weren't the same team they had been at the start of the season.

Gina's voice echoed in the court. "The Knights are coming out strong, but look at the Shizi Dogs. I believe they're one unit at this point in time."

David chimed in. "Absolutely, Gina. The Knights have always been known for their tight-knit teamwork, but I don't think anyone expected this kind of cohesion from the Dogs. It's clear the time they've spent preparing has paid off."

On the court, the Dogs were in perfect sync. Yuze, despite his injury, was calling the plays, his voice commanding yet calm.

His leadership was obvious as he directed the flow of the game, making sure every player knew their role. Renren, tall and powerful, was covering Fabin, who had a great shooting accuracy like Andy. Jinping became a wall in front of Ailun, blocking his path with an aggressive defense. Andy was weaving in and out of the Knight's defense, creating space where there was none.

And then there was Kai, darting across the court with a speed and precision that had both teams on edge.

"Look at that movement from the Dogs," David said, impressed. "They're in constant motion, never giving the Knights an easy pass. It's safe to say that they deserve their spot in the semi-finals is well-deserved."

Max Zhou, frustrated by the growing coordination of the Shizi Dogs, pushed the pace, trying to outmaneuver Renren. He dribbled hard, barreling down the court, but Kai cut in out of nowhere. With a clean swipe, he stole the ball from Max, sending it forward to Yuze, who caught it without any trouble.

Jimmy's frown deepened with every play that the Dogs conducted. With every win from the Shizi Dogs, he became perplexed as to why they were able to make it so far. How was a team that only made it to the Interhigh Nationals this year beating every team with an Elite member in it?

"Steal by Kai Guo! Did you see that reaction time?!" Gina exclaimed. "It's like he knew what Max was going to do before Max even did it!"

Yuze didn't waste a second. He drove into the paint, drawing Shin and Yutong toward him, but just as they collapsed on him, he kicked the ball out to Jinping. Jinping faked a shot, pulling Ailun toward him, then passed it swiftly to Andy, who was open in the corner.

Andy lined up the shot, his form perfect as he released the ball. It sailed through the air, smooth and steady, before dropping through the net. Another three points for the Dogs.

10-4.

"Beautiful ball movement from the Shizi Dogs!" David cheered. "Andy, with the three! And did you see how they set that up? Yuze drawing the defense, Jinping's fake—this is classic team basketball!"

The crowd roared in approval, and even those watching online were excited.

BallzIzLyfe: "The Knights were supposed to dominate, but the Dogs are out here looking like they've been training with the Monks of Shaolin."

ThisBalls: "Andy's shot is so clean, it's like he's scrubbing the Knights off the scoreboard."

The Knights, however, weren't ones to back down. Fabin led the charge this time, cutting through the defense with incredible speed.

He passed the ball to Yutong, who immediately swung it to Shin.

The ball barely touched the floor as it moved through their hands.

Renren kept his eyes locked on Fabin, anticipating every move. Jinping stuck to Ailun like glue, his defense impenetrable.

Then, in a flash, the Knights attempted their infamous 'illusion' play.

David's eyebrows furrowed. "Wait a minute. What is this? I've never seen it before."

The 'illusion' was a tactic the Yin Yang Knights had curated specifically for this moment. However, they were forced to show it during the Interhigh Preliminaries because of pressure from the Shizi Dogs.

They hadn't shown it thus far in the Nationals since they never truly needed it. However, once again, the Dogs challenged them to do so.

However, this wasn't the same 'illusion' they used in the Preliminaries. They will now go full force—with all players from their team more prepared than in the previous league.

They moved so fast and passed the ball so quickly that it created the illusion that there were more than five players on the court. It was disorienting and overwhelming, and they were sure the Dogs would fall victim to it.

Suddenly, it seemed like there were ten players in black and blue jerseys darting around the court, the ball disappearing and reappearing in the blink of an eye.

Kai's eyes flickered, tracking the ball with laser focus. This wasn't new to him. He'd studied the Knights' playstyle, and he knew the key to breaking the illusion: patience.

They wanted you to panic—to chase after the mirage. But the Dogs wouldn't fall for it.

"Stay calm!" Yuze shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos. The Dogs held their ground, not giving in to the Knights' frantic pace. Renren and Jinping stayed in position, their arms wide, forcing the Knights to pass around them.

Shin darted forward, thinking he had an opening, but Renren anticipated the pass. His long arms shot out, intercepting the ball mid-air. Without hesitation, he sent it downcourt to Kai, who was already sprinting toward the basket. Max, the only one fast enough to keep up, closed in on Kai, determined to block his shot.

Kai didn't flinch. As Max leaped, his arms outstretched to swat the ball away, Kai adjusted mid-air, releasing the ball from an impossible angle. The ball arced over Max's hand and dropped into the hoop.

12-4.

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"Unreal!" Gina's voice was almost breathless. "Kai Guo, with the body control! He just finessed that shot right over Max Zhou!"