Chapter Eighteen: Courting Disaster

Manman Yu smiled and said, “Aren’t you supposed to be all-around? If both the starters and the substitutes are injured and can’t play, that’s when you’ll get your chance.”

Geng Haoshi thought to himself: What does that even mean?! Isn’t she just saying I’m a substitute among substitutes, the coldest benchwarmer of them all? How can that be? Goddess Mimi promised she’d come to watch me play. If I’m stuck sitting on the bench the whole time and never get on the court, I’ll lose all my dignity!

Determined to fight for a chance to play, Geng Haoshi was about to speak up when Manman Yu handed him a stack of papers and said, “These are the technical points and training items for each position on the team. Since you’re the ‘all-around’ player, you have to complete the training tasks for every single position. …If you can’t finish them, just wait to be cut from the team!”

Holding those pages, Geng Haoshi was dumbfounded—utterly shocked, as if struck by lightning! Wasn’t this digging his own grave? Wasn’t this a death sentence?

Suddenly, Geng Haoshi remembered a saying: “No matter how outrageous a boast you make, you have to deliver—even if you’re on your knees to do it!”

But what he really wanted to know right now was—if you’ve bragged about something, is it possible to take it all back while on your knees?

If he could, Geng Haoshi would have clung to Manman Yu’s leg and cried “Mother!” Unfortunately, the devilish goddess of a coach was not moved by such antics.

Watching the other players each take their single sheet and head off to train, Geng Haoshi felt utterly wretched… “Heavens! 9527! Save me!”

“…Master, you’ll have to deal with your own boasts,” 9527 replied, sweating.

After hearing 9527’s answer, Geng Haoshi stared blankly at the five different training assignment sheets in his hand, completely overwhelmed.

“You fat fool! Don’t just stand there! Get started with your training!” Manman Yu bellowed at the dazed Geng Haoshi.

Face ashen, Geng Haoshi glanced at the top sheet, which read: “Point Guard: Technical Points and Training Tasks. Technical points: passing, cutting, driving, shooting, running, intercepting, defending. Daily training tasks: 1. 1000 quick passes; 2. 500 rapid arm swings; 3. 200 sprints of 50 meters; 4. 1000 shots; 5. 500 rapid arm swings; 6. 200 full-court dribbles.”

Geng Haoshi broke out in a cold sweat.

Noticing Geng Haoshi was spacing out again, 9527 said, “Master, let me explain it to you.”

“The point guard is the player who controls the game and organizes the offense. Their primary job is to create scoring opportunities for teammates.

“As the team’s offensive organizer and the one with the ball most often, the point guard has to control the ball and decide when to pass to the right teammate at the right time.

“They need to bring the ball safely from the backcourt to the frontcourt, and then pass it to others to set up scoring chances.

“They must have strong game management skills, be aware of both teams’ shot clocks and the game clock, and control the tempo.

“So, point guards are usually the team members with the best ball control and the strongest playmaking abilities.”

Geng Haoshi looked thoroughly unimpressed. What he needed was a real super basketball system that could make him a star in an instant, not this useless Super Slam Dunk system 9527.

“…So, the daily training tasks on this sheet are designed to strengthen a point guard’s ball control and playmaking skills. For example: 500 rapid arm swings train arm speed, which helps with cutting and intercepting the ball; 500 rapid arm swings also help improve defensive abilities.”

Geng Haoshi sighed and turned to the second sheet, which read: “Shooting Guard: Technical Points and Training Tasks. Technical points: scoring, defense. Daily training tasks: 1. 500 quick passes; 2. 500 rapid arm swings; 3. 100 sprints of 50 meters; 4. 2000 shots; 5. 1000 rapid arm swings; 6. 100 full-court dribbles.”

“Two thousand shots?!” Geng Haoshi was utterly stunned.

“Master, as a shooting guard, first you need excellent one-on-one skills, both accurate outside shooting and reliable drives to the basket; second, you must find openings in the defense for quick-release shots.”

“So practicing hand speed and lots of shooting is very helpful for improving a shooting guard’s abilities.”

Geng Haoshi, however, was in no mood to listen. Just thinking of his daily regimen—two sets of five-thousand-meter runs, five hundred pull-ups, five hundred sit-ups, five hundred squat jumps, plus this stack of training… wasn’t this enough to kill him?

“Master, actually, most of these tasks overlap. The training you need to do probably isn’t much different from the other players’,” 9527 reminded him.

That actually sparked something in Geng Haoshi. Suddenly energized, he started flipping through the sheets quickly…

“Small Forward: Technical Points and Training Tasks. Technical points: speed, accuracy. Daily training tasks: 1. 500 quick passes; 2. 1000 rapid arm swings; 3. 200 sprints of 50 meters; 4. 2000 shots; 5. 500 rapid arm swings; 6. 200 full-court dribbles.”

“Power Forward: Technical Points and Training Tasks. Technical points: rebounding, defense. Daily training tasks: 1. 500 quick passes; 2. 1000 rapid arm swings; 3. 100 sprints of 50 meters; 4. 1000 shots; 5. 1000 rapid arm swings; 6. 100 full-court dribbles.”

“Center: Technical Points and Training Tasks. Technical points: rebounding, defense, assists. Daily training tasks: 1. 500 quick passes; 2. 1000 rapid arm swings; 3. 100 sprints of 50 meters; 4. 1000 shots; 5. 1000 rapid arm swings; 6. 100 full-court dribbles.”

Geng Haoshi quickly compared all the training tasks and determined his daily regimen—1. 1000 quick passes; 2. 1000 rapid arm swings; 3. 200 sprints of 50 meters; 4. 2000 shots; 5. 1000 rapid arm swings; 6. 200 full-court dribbles.

Geng Haoshi was drenched in cold sweat.

“Master, if you complete these tasks every day, your basketball skills will improve tremendously. …What a cause for celebration!”

“…Celebrate, my foot!”