Basketball System: Rebound of the Underdog-Chapter 322: Yin Yang Knights vs. Shizi Dogs (6)

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The third quarter began, and the crowd chattered out of confusion and curiosity.

"Why is Kai not playing?"

"Kai’s sitting this one out?"

"Well, he does look pretty tired."

Suzy looked at their bench with concern, wondering why Kai sat the crucial quarter out. To make matters worse, Max was still going to play!

Nina gazed around the court as she heard a singular name being thrown around.

"Kai?" Nina asked. "They’re all talking about Kai. Seems like he’s a popular player."

Rolan nodded. "He is—very much. Actually, he wasn’t popular because of his basketball skills, to begin with. However, he established his name as a good player in just a few months." Read latest chapters on novelbuddy

"It’s amazing," Rolan said out of admiration. Despite Kai being younger than him, he couldn’t help but admire the player. "He changed the public’s opinions about him so quickly that I barely felt it. Before I was aware of it, nearly everyone acknowledged him as a good player."

"Why are they making such a big fuss with him not playing, though?" Nina asked.

"He’s known for his stamina and ability to play all four quarters without breaking a sweat," Rolan answered.

The Shizi Dogs’ fans whispered among themselves, trying to make sense of the situation. Some speculated he must be tired, while others thought it might be a strategic move.

Lina, sitting next to Kai on the bench, was just as puzzled. She leaned over and asked, "Kai, why aren’t you playing? Are you really tired?"

Kai nodded, wiping his face with a towel. "Yeah, a bit. I didn’t get much rest, except for the time-outs and fouls."

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Lina raised an eyebrow, sensing there was more to it. Kai hesitated, then continued, "But that’s not the only reason. Max... he’s a different kind of player. He gets better when he’s under pressure. I noticed that whenever I scored, he seemed to respond immediately, almost like a call and response.

He thrives on the challenge."

He glanced back at the court, where the game had resumed. "And if my theory is right," he muttered, leaving the sentence hanging.

On the court, Max seemed to be searching for someone. He glanced around, his eyes scanning the players. There was a flicker of disappointment in his eyes when he realized Kai wasn’t on the floor. It had been a long time since Max had felt this kind of excitement in a game. Even against the fierce Feng Foxes, he rarely needed to push himself to the limit.

He had been looking forward to the challenge Kai presented, and now that thrill was missing.

The game continued, and the Shizi Dogs held their own. Yuze made a clean steal from Fabin, sprinting down the court with Shin hot on his heels. He faked a pass to Jet, causing Shin to hesitate for just a moment, then pivoted sharply and went for a lay-up. The ball touched the backboard and dropped through the hoop. The crowd cheered, and the scoreboard ticked up.

57-48.

Max took the inbounds pass and drove down the court. He passed to Shin, who moved into position for a three-pointer. He took the shot, but the ball bounced off the rim. Jet grabbed the rebound and quickly pushed the ball back up the court. He dodged Ailun’s defense with a swift crossover and laid the ball up and in. The score was tightening, and the Shizi Dogs were keeping their pace.

57-50.

Max, unfazed, took the ball again. He danced around Yuze with a quick spin move and went straight for the basket, finishing with a smooth lay-up.

59-50.

It was a quick response, and the game continued in this back-and-forth fashion, each team answering the other’s plays.

Kai watched intently from the bench, analyzing the flow of the game. His theory seemed to be proving accurate. Even without him on the court, Max was still performing well, but the intensity wasn’t the same. The game progressed to a stable rhythm, and the scores stayed relatively close. The Shizi Dogs weren’t gaining ground, but they weren’t falling behind either.

Lina leaned closer, whispering, "So, you think Max plays better under pressure?"

Kai nodded. "Exactly. When the competition is fierce, he elevates his game."

Lina’s eyes widened in surprise, pointing at Kai with an agape mouth.

"What?" Kai chuckled, finding her action cute.

"I knew it!" Lina exclaimed. "You wouldn’t take yourself out of the quarter just because you’re tired."

Kai shrugged. "I am feeling a bit tired," he admitted. "I might be coming down with the flu."

"What?" Lina exclaimed. "You should have told me!"

Kai shook his head. "Going back to my reasoning," he said, brushing her concern away.

"He excels against the extremes. A weak player? He beats them with his foundations. A strong player? His love for being pressured pushes him to the limits."

"However, a steady, predictable player will be his kryptonite," Lina muttered, finally puzzling the pieces together.

Coach Muchen listened quietly to their conclusion.

"Goodness, these kids are smart," he muttered. "What am I even doing here?"

Then, Lina quickly turned to Kun, who was sitting quietly, lost in thought.

Her eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "Kun," she called, catching the player’s attention. "You’re going in."

Kun’s eyes widened in surprise.

"What?" he exclaimed. "Why are you saying this so suddenly?"

"You just need to," Lina said. "This is one of our strategies."

He shook his head vigorously, panic in his voice. "I’m not good enough. I’ll mess up."

Kai smiled reassuringly. "That’s exactly why you need to go in."

Kun scratched the back of his head. "I don’t know if that’s supposed to be a compliment."

"We don’t need a superstar right now. We need someone steady. Max won’t know how to react to you. You’re the mid-ground—unpredictably stable."

Kun looked unconvinced, but Kai placed a hand on his shoulder. "Trust me, Kun. Max is used to going up against aggressive, high-pressure players. But someone who plays it safe, who doesn’t do anything flashy... it might just throw him off."

Coach Muchen nodded in agreement. "Yeah, Kun. Just play your game. Don’t worry about being perfect."

Kun pursed his lips. "Do I have a choice regarding this?"

"Nope," Lina said. "You don’t. Besides, it’s time for you to come out of your shell. You may have made some mistakes in the past games, but you’re still a part of the team."

Kun glanced around at his teammates, seeing the encouragement in their faces. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves. The idea of going up against Max was terrifying, but the trust his team had in him gave him a sliver of confidence.

The clock was ticking down, and Coach Muchen called for a substitution. Kun stood up, still shaky but resolute.

He was about to step into one of the most intense moments of his high school basketball career.