E16 - The Best Start and the Worst Start

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(Please feel free to edit the speaker names if incomplete or inaccurate. Names are handled on a best-effort basis depending on the info on the source file. Dialogue is left as is.)
[00:01] ---
    Go for it! Kitasumi for the win!
[00:04] ---
    We need to shore up our
    defense in the middle!
[00:05] ---
    Taro, don't do anything stupid this time!
[00:10] ---
    I won't let him past me this time.
[00:11] ---
    I didn't do all that defensive
    practice for nothing!
[00:14] ---
    It doesn't matter how
    much height he has on me!
[00:18] ---
    You dumbass! She told us
    to expect shots from long range!
[00:22] ---
    Momoharu, get the rebound!
[00:23] ---
    Shit, you guys are running me ragged!
[00:28] ---
    Loose ball!
[00:29] ---
    What the hell?!
[00:30] ---
    You had one job, Momoharu!
[00:33] ---
    Not happening!
[00:36] ---
    Crap... he waited to shoot...!
[00:44] ---
    That little snot... he took his sweet time
    to get the foul call!
[00:48] ---
    Defensive foul on #7!
[00:49] ---
    The basket counts! One free-throw!
[00:55] ---
    He made a complete fool
    out of me in front of Nao.
[00:58] ---
    Damn him and his silky seaweed hair!
[01:01] ---
    I'm gonna totally murder him!
[01:03] ---
    One free-throw!
[01:08] ---
    Dear God,
[01:10] ---
    I love Nao with all my heart.
[01:13] ---
    So if the power of love truly does exist...
[01:18] ---
    ...then please help me tap into it now!
[01:47] ---
    Ahiru no Sora
[02:59] ---
    The Best Start and the Worst Start
[03:03] ---
    Shit! I swear I must be losing my damn mind!
[03:07] ---
    I'm seriously starting to
    think that dude is cool!
[03:11] ---
    Taro! Why the hell are you
    praying before a free-throw?!
[03:14] ---
    5 more seconds and it
    would have been a penalty!
[03:17] ---
    Listen up, boys!
[03:19] ---
    We'll never live it down if we lose
    to a hair oil addict like that chump!
[03:22] ---
    We know.
[03:24] ---
    Don't let them catch up.
    Let's lay on the pressure.
[03:27] ---
    Right!
[03:28] ---
    Defense! Defense! Defense!
[03:31] ---
    Defense! Defen- huh?
[03:31] ---
    Defense! Defense! Defense!
[03:34] ---
    Wait, aren't we on offense right now?
[03:36] ---
    If you don't know what you're
    doing, then stop doing it!
[03:40] ---
    Here they come!
[03:41] ---
    Konishi! Watch out for #4!
[03:43] ---
    On him!
[03:48] ---
    You've got the ball, but what
    can you even do from here?
[03:51] ---
    I'm not just going to leave
    you open for an easy shot!
[03:58] ---
    How the hell does he turn on a dime
    while running so fast?!
[04:07] ---
    He blocked the shot!
[04:09] ---
    Nice, Taro!
[04:12] ---
    Tell me, is there a reason
    you aren't trying to score any baskets?
[04:15] ---
    Huh?
[04:17] ---
    First you screwed up that
    jump ball and now this.
[04:19] ---
    Have you forgotten how to play the game?
[04:21] ---
    Konishi, you damn punk.
[04:23] ---
    Are you just here to start
    shit with me or what?
[04:26] ---
    I'm disappointed.
[04:27] ---
    Because I had been really looking forward
    to playing against you, Senpai.
[04:34] ---
    Even back then, you were...!
[04:39] ---
    Shit, was he always this good?!
[04:44] ---
    I'm gonna shut you down hard!
[04:51] ---
    Nice pass, Koney!
[04:56] ---
    Awesome play, Taro! Konishi!
[04:56] ---
    Kitasumi
[04:56] ---
    Kuzuryu
[04:59] ---
    That evens up the score!
[05:04] ---
    Damn.
[05:04] ---
    Defense! Defense! Defense!
[05:06] ---
    Come on, freshmen!
    I know you can cheer louder than that!
[05:09] ---
    They're starting to build
    up some serious momentum.
[05:11] ---
    We need to score a basket soon.
[05:14] ---
    They haven't gotten to the point
    of totally dominating the game.
[05:17] ---
    But letting them take the lead
    here would be really bad!
[05:23] ---
    We've gotta push through
    and sink a shot right now!
[05:28] ---
    Gah! I can't believe I let him get me
    with that lame-ass fake!
[05:32] ---
    Koney! Help me out!
[05:38] ---
    Oh crap!
[05:41] ---
    You left me wide open.
[05:43] ---
    Damn! I've got to stop him,
    even if it means a foul!
[05:46] ---
    I'm gonna pay you back
    for that fake you pulled.
[05:48] ---
    And with interest!
[05:53] ---
    A dunk?!
[06:02] ---
    A-are you all right?
[06:04] ---
    SHIT! I WAS SO CLOSE!
[06:06] ---
    Just a little more and I
    would have touched the rim!
[06:08] ---
    You mean he didn't touch the rim just now?
[06:11] ---
    So then, that was just his
    attempt to fake a dunk?
[06:13] ---
    But wow, he got some
    serious air on that jump.
[06:16] ---
    Anybody who plays basketball has to satisfy
[06:18] ---
    the urge of pulling off a dunk
    during a game, at least once!
[06:21] ---
    Dude, you can't even pull it off to begin with.
    The rim's too high.
[06:25] ---
    If I was just 5 centimeters taller...
[06:29] ---
    I told you. The only winner here is me.
[06:32] ---
    I'll admit that your three-pointers
    are pretty impressive,
[06:35] ---
    but they're not enough to win.
[06:37] ---
    Just so you know, it's not
    our height that separates us.
[06:40] ---
    The crucial difference
    between you and me is...
[06:43] ---
    ...the fact that I have wings, and you don't.
[06:49] ---
    Bye-bye, baby.
[06:50] ---
    Defense! Defense! Defense!
[06:53] ---
    Defense! Defense! Defense!
[06:53] ---
    What now? The other team
    is starting to really get riled up.
[06:56] ---
    Let's go defense! Get it done!
[07:02] ---
    Out of bounds! Kitasumi ball!
[07:07] ---
    Timeout by Kuzuryu High!
[07:09] ---
    Kitasumi
    Kuzuryu
[07:09] ---
    I didn't realize Kitasumi
    was so tough to beat.
[07:12] ---
    I don't think we can win, not at this rate.
[07:17] ---
    It's a little early, but we're going
    to change up our defense.
[07:20] ---
    The players that we need
    to shut down are #7...
[07:25] ---
    ...and #14 when he goes to post up.
[07:29] ---
    Although he hasn't made any shots yet,
[07:31] ---
    we also need to look out for
    dribble penetration from #5.
[07:35] ---
    That all being said, we're actually
    in a pretty good position.
[07:38] ---
    Going up against this team is
    the perfect opportunity to put
[07:41] ---
    the defense we practiced into use.
[07:43] ---
    Do you understand?
[07:45] ---
    This is going to be where the
    real trial for our team starts.
[07:49] ---
    It's going to be hard for you out there,
[07:51] ---
    but you're the cornerstone
    of our defense, Kurumatani.
[07:56] ---
    A'ight! Let's knock their socks off.
[07:59] ---
    And show them what our
    defense is really made of!
[08:04] ---
    Kurumatani will need to return back
    to doing footwork practice by himself tomorrow.
[08:10] ---
    What will decide the outcome of this match
    is whether you can stop him or not.
[08:17] ---
    I'll stop him, no matter what!
[08:23] ---
    What's this? Their defense changed.
[08:25] ---
    Huh?
[08:28] ---
    That little guy rushed out all on his own!
[08:31] ---
    Full court man-to-man?!
[08:33] ---
    Have you gone off the deep end?!
[08:37] ---
    But the four in the back are doing zone?
[08:39] ---
    That's Box and 1, no... it's
    actually Diamond and 1!
[08:43] ---
    Hmm. So, they let the short one run loose
[08:46] ---
    and kept their tallest player
    at the top of the zone.
[08:49] ---
    It's a solid formation that
    fully accounts for our offense.
[08:52] ---
    However... it's much easier said than done.
[08:57] ---
    I wonder just how long they'll last?
[09:00] ---
    This is the same defense
    the girls' team used against us, isn't it?
[09:03] ---
    That's right.
[09:04] ---
    The formation is a little different,
    but the idea is the same.
[09:08] ---
    Tinytown is going to get wiped out
    doing full court, ain't he?
[09:11] ---
    I mean, the offense doesn't really
    make any moves until they reach the front court.
[09:14] ---
    And that's exactly why it's necessary.
[09:17] ---
    Before they even reach front court,
    our goal is to make them think
[09:19] ---
    "#7 can't do anything", or even just,
    "getting a pass to him would be difficult."
[09:26] ---
    Like you said, this is really going
    to push the limits of Kurumatani's stamina.
[09:30] ---
    But our opponent will be expending
    just as much effort by trying to shake him.
[09:35] ---
    We'll throw their scorer off-kilter
    with pressure and fatigue.
[09:38] ---
    That will be Kurumatani's job.
[09:41] ---
    Of course, it won't be easy for
    the rest of the team, either.
[09:44] ---
    Since they'll be playing zone D
    with only 4 players instead of the typical 5.
[09:48] ---
    Okay, but like, are you really sure
    that our defense is so important?
[09:52] ---
    I feel like we could easily win this thing
    if Kite and Sora just focused on scoring.
[09:56] ---
    Yeah, I was thinking about that, too.
[09:59] ---
    It's true that the effectiveness
    of defense is ambiguous,
[10:02] ---
    we can't just tally it
    like points or rebounds.
[10:06] ---
    That also makes it difficult to understand
    how much of an impact it has on the end result.
[10:11] ---
    However, I think that only applies
    if you ignore one important thing.
[10:14] ---
    The reality of winning or losing.
[10:17] ---
    The majority of players on losing teams
    share the same feelings after a game,
[10:21] ---
    about how essential defense
    is to winning the game.
[10:25] ---
    That was close, I gotta focus.
[10:27] ---
    There's no point to using this defense
    if I let Kabachi get free.
[10:31] ---
    I've gotta be quick to fill any space
    where a pass might come through.
[10:35] ---
    But the problem is, this guy is really good
    at subtle fakes and other simple moves.
[10:40] ---
    He's also a lot quicker
    on his feet than I am.
[10:42] ---
    But even so...
[10:43] ---
    Too slow!
[10:44] ---
    Why do you keep using defensive slides against me
    when I'm doing a full-on drive?
[10:48] ---
    Didn't you consider just
    dashing alongside me?
[10:50] ---
    No, because then it'll
    delay my reaction time.
[10:53] ---
    You dummy. Your ability to
    react in time only matters
[10:56] ---
    if you can actually keep up with your mark.
[10:59] ---
    Your priority is to match
    the speed of your opponent,
[11:01] ---
    or move slightly faster than them
    if they have possession of the ball.
[11:05] ---
    If you can't do that,
    then we'll never be able to use Nanao's defense.
[11:10] ---
    All right, let's go again.
[11:14] ---
    Dealing with an opponent
    who is unbelievably fast...
[11:17] ---
    ...that's something I'm totally
    used to at this point!
[11:20] ---
    And compared to how
    ridiculously fast Kite is...
[11:22] ---
    ...this guy seems way
    more grounded in reality!
[11:25] ---
    He's gotten pretty damn good.
[11:27] ---
    Dammit! It's like he's stuck right to me!
[11:30] ---
    I hate sticky shit like natto
    and gum with a passion!
[11:34] ---
    I can do this! I can shut him down!
[11:37] ---
    Screen!
[11:44] ---
    Kato! Pass it to m-
[11:49] ---
    Behind you, Nabe!
[11:50] ---
    Huh?
[11:53] ---
    Nice shot!
[11:54] ---
    Kitasumi
[11:54] ---
    Kitasumi! Kitasumi!
[11:57] ---
    Katori! Nice assist!
[12:01] ---
    That's the way. Create some open space
    and then attack their weak side.
[12:05] ---
    Don't sweat it, Nabe!
[12:07] ---
    Just shake it off and switch to offense!
[12:10] ---
    You okay after that run in?
[12:12] ---
    Your head hit my elbow pretty hard.
[12:14] ---
    I'm fine!
[12:15] ---
    Defense! Defense! Defense!
[12:17] ---
    Only 3 minutes left in the first quarter.
[12:20] ---
    That settles it! For the
    rest of this quarter...
[12:22] ---
    I won't let Kabachi score a single point!
[12:25] ---
    Rebound!
[12:29] ---
    Kitasumi!
[12:31] ---
    Let's score!
[12:32] ---
    There's an opening near #8, hurry!
[12:34] ---
    Hey, am I crazy or is Momoharu
    a little off his game?
[12:37] ---
    You think? There's not much
    he could've done differently just now.
[12:43] ---
    Him again?!
[12:45] ---
    Dammit, what a pest!
[12:47] ---
    I don't want to boost their morale
    by letting them shut Taro out here.
[12:51] ---
    So we'll catch them off guard by getting Taro
    to score with brute force.
[12:56] ---
    Shit!
[12:57] ---
    I don't get it. How is he so relaxed
    while putting up such a fierce defense?
[13:01] ---
    Having a solid poker face is
    essential to a good defense!
[13:04] ---
    I can't afford to show him even
    the slightest sign of fatigue!
[13:06] ---
    Rather than staying up close, I'm better off
    leaving a tiny bit of space between us.
[13:10] ---
    No matter what crazy moves
    he pulls to get rid of me,
[13:12] ---
    I can't let my eyes of the ball.
[13:14] ---
    I've got to keep track of the
    point guard's movement, too.
[13:16] ---
    Kuzuryu
    Kitasumi
[13:17] ---
    Actually, wait... I don't have the time
    to be thinking about all that right now!
[13:21] ---
    I just need to sprint, dash...
    and run all over the place!
[13:30] ---
    You might think you've got me 1-on-1,
    but from my eyes it's 5-on-1!
[13:41] ---
    This is the same situation as before!
[13:43] ---
    Kato!
[13:46] ---
    I've got this!
[13:49] ---
    What the?!
[13:54] ---
    That damn shrimp!
[13:57] ---
    Out of bounds! Kitsumi ball!
[14:00] ---
    Aw, man! I was so close!
[14:02] ---
    I knew having a shorty would be useless.
[14:05] ---
    What a waste of space.
[14:07] ---
    Let's swap him out for Yashuhara.
[14:09] ---
    No way, I won't stand for it!
[14:10] ---
    That was almost a clean steal.
[14:13] ---
    Yeah, it would have been
    a huge advantage if he'd gotten it.
[14:16] ---
    There's nothing to be disappointed about.
[14:19] ---
    Throw-in!
[14:21] ---
    He's providing us with the very best defense!
[14:31] ---
    Sweet! That's the third one in a row!
[14:34] ---
    Nice moves, Kite!
[14:40] ---
    I can't believe they're sticking to Taro
    for the entire quarter.
[14:43] ---
    There's hardly any time left!
[14:44] ---
    Go Kitasumi! Sink it before the buzzer!
[14:48] ---
    Don't make it sound so easy!
[14:55] ---
    That's the end of the first quarter!
[14:58] ---
    2-minute interval!
[15:03] ---
    Hey Sora, great job out there!
[15:05] ---
    Thanks!
[15:06] ---
    Kuzuryu
    Kitasumi
[15:07] ---
    They haven't left us in the dust.
[15:08] ---
    We're keeping right up with them!
[15:10] ---
    And most importantly, Kabachi hasn't
    scored a single basket since
[15:13] ---
    I started my full court defense!
[15:15] ---
    I did it!
[15:17] ---
    I shut him down!
[15:19] ---
    We can do this! We can win!
[15:24] ---
    He's drenched in sweat,
    and they're not even at halftime yet.
[15:30] ---
    You know, I'm starting think
    we're pretty damn good!
[15:32] ---
    The score might be tied, but I think
    we've showed them who has the most skills!
[15:36] ---
    Kite's actually scored more
    than I thought he would!
[15:39] ---
    Well, it looks like you guys
    aren't going to need me to save you.
[15:43] ---
    We've barely made it 1/4th
    of the way through the match.
[15:46] ---
    Things are only going to get harder for us
    from here on out.
[15:50] ---
    I have here a copy of their team's
    official records from last year.
SIGN    National High School Basketball Tournament Kanagawa Preliminaries - Kitasumi
[15:54] ---
    Kitasumi is what is known
    as a "slow-starter" team.
[15:59] ---
    They perform better in the
    second quarter than the first.
[16:01] ---
    Same for the second half of the game overall.
[16:04] ---
    The level of intense play that
    they bring to the court at their
[16:06] ---
    peak is something to be scared of.
[16:08] ---
    Hold up. How'd you get your
    hands on that, anyway?
[16:11] ---
    Taro gave it to me. Or
    rather, forced it on me.
[16:16] ---
    Our defensive strategy worked well
    in the first quarter, but that's
[16:19] ---
    not going to be enough to win.
[16:21] ---
    Starting in the second quarter,
    we'll put on more of an offensive.
[16:24] ---
    This should be obvious to all of you,
[16:26] ---
    but we want to score without
    letting them score.
[16:29] ---
    If we can't manage that,
    then we won't be able to win in the end.
[16:32] ---
    Yasuhara will be subbing in for Nabe.
[16:35] ---
    S-sure.
[16:37] ---
    Natsume, please provide
    him with your support.
[16:40] ---
    I already know what I need to do.
[16:43] ---
    Kurumatani, keep up your aggressive defense
    and aim to get some steals.
[16:48] ---
    Whenever making a fast break for the basket
[16:49] ---
    isn't an option, Chiaki
    will be our rallying point.
[16:52] ---
    Am I understood?
[16:53] ---
    Loud and clear.
[16:58] ---
    I was very curious, since I heard that their manager
    was also doubling as their coach.
[17:03] ---
    She's quite the tactician,
    far more competent than I ever expected.
[17:07] ---
    For now, let's just see what happens
    when I play into their hand.
[17:11] ---
    Taro. Here's the plan.
[17:13] ---
    You don't need bother trying
    to score any more points, okay?
[17:16] ---
    What?!
[17:17] ---
    Have you gone senile on us, Gramps?!
[17:20] ---
    If I'm not going to score us
    points, then who the hell is?!
[17:23] ---
    Cut me some slack. You can't shake off
    that short kid at all, can you?
[17:27] ---
    Running around like a madman
    is only going to wear you out.
[17:30] ---
    That's not enough to stop me!
[17:33] ---
    The interval is now over!
[17:34] ---
    Huh? Already?!
[17:36] ---
    Give 'em hell, Yasu!
[17:38] ---
    Get out there and show them
    what a supporting character can do!
[17:40] ---
    I'm a main character, dammit!
[17:43] ---
    Um, Momoharu?
[17:45] ---
    Is something wrong? Everyone's
    already on the court.
[17:48] ---
    Oh... right.
[17:55] ---
    Throw-in with Kuzu High in possession!
[17:57] ---
    Why did you say all that
    stuff to Taro, coach?
[18:01] ---
    You know that's only going
    to get him all wound up!
[18:04] ---
    Ehhh, don't fret about it.
[18:06] ---
    That's exactly why I gave him a hard time
    in the first place.
[18:08] ---
    Huh?
[18:09] ---
    Kuzuryu! Kuzuryu!
[18:12] ---
    Kuzuryu! Kuzuryu!
[18:16] ---
    His eyes just never stop moving.
[18:19] ---
    He's keeping a sharp watch for any openings.
[18:21] ---
    As a fellow point guard, I've
    really gotta hand it to him.
[18:24] ---
    This guy is a legit passing specialist!
[18:27] ---
    Peep.
[18:31] ---
    You know, Chiaki keeps glancing over here
    every so often. Why is that?
[18:35] ---
    Beats me.
[18:36] ---
    Okay, I've exuded enough charisma.
    It's time to strut my stuff.
[18:44] ---
    He's trying to drive past me?
[18:46] ---
    But considering his big size,
    I doubt he's actually that fast.
[18:50] ---
    Does he seriously think he can cut through
    with a spin like that?
[18:55] ---
    I don't see the ball!
[18:56] ---
    Did he lose it?! Where'd it go?!
[18:58] ---
    Kato! Above you!
[19:02] ---
    It was a pass?!
[19:04] ---
    He coordinated with the center
    to get that pass through while in my blind spot?!
[19:09] ---
    Go!
[19:14] ---
    His timing is absolutely sensational.
[19:16] ---
    Just one misstep and that would have been
    a foul for sure.
[19:19] ---
    Look! Yasu's wide open!
[19:21] ---
    Score us some points!
[19:37] ---
    All right! We took the lead!
[19:39] ---
    Hell yeah! We're a force to be reckoned with!
[19:43] ---
    Jeez, I gotta do everything around here.
[19:46] ---
    Those were all smooth moves,
    from in the back and up to the basket!
[19:50] ---
    I can't believe how coordinated
    those plays were!
[19:53] ---
    I nearly forgot. Those two are twin brothers!
[19:57] ---
    Our point guard and our center.
[20:00] ---
    I don't think there's ever been a better duo!
[20:02] ---
    I was a little worried about Momoharu
    because of how he was acting.
[20:06] ---
    But I guess I was just
    reading too much into it.
[20:10] ---
    Katori! They haven't gotten
    their zone defense up yet!
[20:13] ---
    Oh shit!
[20:14] ---
    Okay! Let's make a fast
    break and tear them apart!
[20:19] ---
    Just watch me, you damn pipsqueak!
[20:21] ---
    I'm DEFINITELY going to
    leave you in the dust!
[20:25] ---
    Acceleration Mode.... on!
[20:31] ---
    What the hell was that, dude?!
[20:33] ---
    I didn't see him coming
    because he's so damn small!
[20:36] ---
    Shit!
[20:40] ---
    Oh crap!
[20:41] ---
    Yasuhara! Go for it again!
[20:45] ---
    Stop!
[20:46] ---
    Your layup form is all wrong.
[20:49] ---
    What your hands are doing is more important
    than how you jump.
[20:52] ---
    After you jump, have the
    ball roll over your fingers.
[20:55] ---
    Then all you have to do is... let
    it fall right into the basket.
[21:11] ---
    You did it! That was awesome, Yasuha-
[21:17] ---
    Hoo boy, they've really
    got us on the ropes now!
[21:19] ---
    Don't make it sound like we've already lost!
[21:22] ---
    We're just getting started! Isn't that right?
[21:24] ---
    I'm impressed, the other team
    has some incredible players on their roster.
[21:27] ---
    Come on, Coach!
[21:29] ---
    We're in a tight spot,
    I'm not sure what to do.
[21:32] ---
    I guess maybe we should
    put Taro on the bench.
[21:34] ---
    I can hear you from over here, damn geezer!
[21:37] ---
    Just shut up and watch.
[21:39] ---
    Forget that shorty, I'm gonna
    fly past their whole team!
[21:42] ---
    Oh crap, now he's even more wound up.
[21:44] ---
    He's gonna go on a rampage
    soon, there's no doubt.
[21:47] ---
    And I keep telling you,
    that's exactly what we want.
[21:50] ---
    Huh?
[21:53] ---
    We're going to have Taro...
    trample all over that kid's tiny wings.
[23:30] ---
    Ahiru no Sora
    Next Time: Versus
[23:31] ---
    Next time: "Versus."