3. The Zipper & The Triangle
September 3rd, 1990 Tokyo National Training Center
The Basketball Youth Team is getting dressed at the locker room. Poweful 2nd year forward Giro Ozaki seems to have trouble with his lock. He keeps pulling and moving the lockers while unsuccessfully trying to turn his key in the lock. He looses his patience and starts to strongly hit and move the lockers, making a lot of noise. He is then pushed by an arm, which makes him loose balance and crash his legs with a bench to finally fall to the ground.
- That's my locker, you idiot. - Says Rukawa with a serious expression, after pushing his teammate away. - Leave it alone.
Filled with anger, Ozaki quickly stands up and approaches Rukawa.
- Who is an idiot, you asshole? Is Mr. "too tired" so upset because I confused lockers? May be if you saved that energy for training, you would at least be able to complete fitness drills, Don't you think?
Rukawa's eyes set on fire. He raises his fist towards Ozaki. Then, a strong arm holds his arm.
- Stop, Rukawa. - Maki says.
- What's up? - Ozaki continues. - Wanna fight, you wimp...
- ¡OZAKI! - Vice-Captain Yamaoka's sordid scream leaves the locker room in complete silence. Yamaoka puts his face just in front of Ozaki's. - Take your stuff from your own locker and get ready to train. Now.
Ozaki hesitates for a second and then obeys wordlessly. Gadai Nishi's Yamaoka sure is scary, even to the guy who got famous by beating him on Kyoto finals.
A few minutes later, the team is warming up on the court. Captain Kazunari Fukatsu approaches Rukawa.
- You sure look concerned, man.
Rukawa only answers with an unkind look. Fukatsu continues.
- Y' know, shouldn't think too much about it, bro. Y'r just not used, bro. Work harder in fitness from now on, yo. That's the beginning and the end of it, man. Y' work harder, y' become better. That's the one and only sollution, so don't overthink about it, bro. Not such a big deal, yo. Not that you'll die for not being the best, man.
- I must be Japan's number one. - Rukawa angrily replies and walks away.
After warm up, tactic training starts. Fukatsu, Maki, Moroboshi, Yamaoka and Kuwata wear white jerseys. Tsuchiya, Jin,
Sendoh, Ozaki and Murakami wear red jerseys. Rukawa and Morishige are stepping aside. Mr. Domoto is talking while holding the ball.
- So, the white team is going to steal the ball and attack. - Domoto passes the ball to Moroboshi. - Of course, we first look for a cutter leaving his defender behind, but we won't be that lucky the most of the times. Then, we quickly give the ball to the point guard. If he is being strongly defended, another guard must take his place. Now, as soon as the point gets the ball, - Moroboshi passes to Fukatsu. - we must swiftly set a 4-men side-to-side line just ahead of him; with posts near the center and guards near the wings. This is the first movement in our offense. It's called "the zipper". Now we're going to show to the new ones how it works.
As Mr. Domoto speaks, Kaede Rukawa gets lost in his deep memories. Everything was dark. Something was covering Kaede's face and holding his arms up. Suddenly, that thing covering his face starts opening from above and he is able to see his father's face. - Before puting on a jacket, you must open the zipper. - Said his father kindly. - Look, this is how it works.
- So, - Domoto continues. - if the point goes this side, the guard this side must cut to the basket. This is how we open the zipper. If the cutter leaves defense behind, the point will pass to him. If he is defended or unable to get a clear pass, post on this side must fake to cut to the basket and set a screen for him to cut up the key. Now, the point can pass to the down-screener or to the up-cutter. Whatever it happens, now the other side's post will set a screen for the guard who has cut up to the center, breaking the zipper.
But Rukawa is still lost in his memories.
- You take it up like this to close it, and take it down like this to open it. -Said Kaede's father. You see? Yeah, that way.
Well done!
- Well done! - Domoto praises Sendoh after he ended his penetration with a nice dunk. - You sure got it, Sendoh. Now give your jersey to Rukawa and take a rest. Murakami, you too. Let Morishige try it.
While facing Fukatsu's tight mark, Tsuchiya manages to pass the ball to Rukawa, who turns around and shoots. Moroboshi jumps to block, but can't reach the ball. It hits the hoop and falls by the outer side of the basket.
- WRONG! - Domoto shouted. - Rukawa, the zipper cut is supposed to me made through the center. If done by the ball side, the defender can easily recover.
- Well... - The coach continues, some minutes later. - Once the zipper has been broken, if the cutting guard hasn't got the ball, he sets a screen for the up-screening post to cut to the opposite side. That will let two guards on the weak side and both posts with he point guard, on the ball side. That's the beginning of the second phase in our attack, the inverted triangle. We can play a 3-men position game on the strong side or a 2-men speed game on the weak side.
Kaede's childhood memories keep coming to his mind.
After having played basketball for all the afternoon, Kaede entered to the kitchen. His mother was cooking.
- When is Dad coming, Mamma?
- I don'know, my dear. I hope he can come by soon.
- Since Dad started with that sports agency in America, he sure has been travelling a lot. - Little Kaede answered. - But now...Now it's been more than a year he is not here with us.
His mother seemed to hold for a second, then started to cry.
- Oh, my dear. Please don't tell anyone. I think...I think your father has got together with someone else. The widow mother of one of those american basketball players he represents. But don't worry, Kaede. We must be good, and he will return to us for sure. I shall be a good wife and mother and wait for him. You be a good kid, keep playing the basketball he loves so much. We love him the most. I'm sure he will return and choose to live with us again.
- STOP! - Mr. Domoto shouts again. - Rukawa, if the ball goes to Jin, You're supposed to set a screen for him to shoot. You are really having a hard time getting it, don't you?
