OWLS Bloggers: My Love For Competition in Kuroko’s Basketball & The NBA

In honor of the 2018 Winter Olympics, this month topic will focus on the theme, “Competition” because the Olympics is where athletes from all countries join together to compete in sporting events. Through these events, we see how “competition” brings out the grit, the teamwork, and the competitive spirit within athletes. This month, we will be exploring anime and pop culture media that discusses the good and the bad when it comes to competition and what it can teach us about ourselves and the world around us.

My fellow OWLS blogger, Crimson, wrote about her desire to be like Sawamura Eijun in the anime, Diamond no Ace for this month’s topic, “Competition.” For my post, I will be talking about my love for basketball particularly focusing on the anime, Kuroko’s Basketball, and the NBA. 

I’m not going to go into detail about the Kuroko’s Basketball series because I have written my thoughts on all three seasons already.

• Work Hard, Play Hard: Thoughts on Kuroko’s Basketball (黒子のバスケ)
• To Fight Like A Warrior: Thoughts on Kuroko’s Basketball (Season 2)
• Ball Don’t Lie: Thoughts on Kuroko’s Basketball (Season 3)

For this post, though, I’m going to be talking about some of the characters in the series and some of their NBA counterparts. The reason I am going to write about this is due to the fact that I once talked to someone who liked this anime but didn’t know much about the NBA and wondered if there are real basketball athletes that could so some of the things that these players do in the series. Now, these NBA players don’t have superpowers but their skills and strength prove otherwise. 😛

“Generation of Miracles” & The NBA

Ryouta Kise

Ryouta Kise plays the small forward position and has the ability to mimic the playing style of other players. Whether it’s agility, 3-pointers, or incredible strength, he has it all.

Here are some of NBA legends that inspired today’s athletes in the league.

Daiki Aomine 

Daiki Aomine plays the power forward position. His style of play is rough “street ball” and can create his own shots and plays in the most unique fashion, kind of like Kyrie Irving. He’s also swift and flexible.

Some examples of great power forward athletes in the NBA include Lebron James, Tim Duncan, and Dirk Nowitzki.

Atsushi Murasakibara

Atsushi Murasakibara plays the center position and he has monstrous strength. Usually, the center has great wingspans and their primary roles are rebound and block opponents’ shots in the paint. Due to their height and strength, they often dunk the ball into the hoop. Some famous centers include Shaq, The Gasol Brothers, and DeMarcus Cousins.

Here’s a video of some great dunks.

Also, Kevin Durant has this dunk that Bob Fitzgerald likes to call “The Statue of Liberty” because it is a one hand dunk, but I like to call it the Thor’s Hammer in honor of Atsushi Murasakibara’s dunks. 😛

Shintarō Midorima

Shintarō Midorima plays the position of the shooting guard can shoot 3s anywhere on the floor.

Now, I’m just going to dedicate this section to the greatest 3 point shooters in the NBA right now: The Splash Brothers—Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson.

Seijūrō Akashi

Seijūrō Akashi is a point guard. He calls out the plays and does some great “ankle breaking” dribbles.  His special skill is Emperor’s Eye. (He can predict the moves of his opponents on offense and defense.)

Now, NBA players don’t have an Emperor’s Eye, but they can predict their opponents’ movements. How? By studying film and their opponents’ style of play. When preparing for a game, basketball athletes don’t just practice their game, but they also study their opponents’ game by studying film from previous games.

And so, here are examples of some great plays made by NBA players.

Why I Love Basketball?

I started watching basketball since I was a kid back when Michael Jordan was still playing. I was a fan of Kobe Byrant and I remembered when Robert Horry and Derek Fisher made the game-winning shots during the NBA Finals.  And when the Warriors won their fifth championship in 2017, I was able to go to the parade with my sister.

Does the “Zone Play” actually exist?

Yes, it does in the NBA. We call it being “in the zone” and that’s when a player is super red hot when it comes to shooting and makes some great plays on both ends of the floor. Some noteworthy moments include Kobe Byrant’s 81 point game and Klay Thompson’s 37 points in a quarter.

Adrenaline Rush

One reason I enjoy watching the NBA is the adrenaline rush when it’s a close game because that’s when you cheer and scream the loudest for your team to play defensive or when they score.

Greatest Defensive Plays

It isn’t just scoring the basketball. Defensive plays can shift the momentum of the game and even spark your teammates to play better.

Clutch Points & Daggers

Some of the best moments are when a game is down to a nailbiter and either team could win or when your team is down and you could win or tie within a single possession.

Yes, as you can see I love basketball. And this year’s standings for the 2017-2018 playoffs is highly competitive as both conferences’ #3 to #8 standings are in for a close fight—every team in those numbers are fighting to secure a spot in the playoffs. It’s going to be a great postseason! And like, I always say during the postseason, “IT’S THE PLAYOFFS BABY, THE PLAYOFFS!” 😀

Anyways, I hope you enjoyed my little post about Kuroko’s Basketball and the NBA. Up next on the OWLS Bloggers’ “Competition” Blog Tour is Pink!

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