I feel like having the other seniors prove their worth now would be a good idea: so far, Kuchikusa has been a two-man team of Mizuhara and Natsu. I guess that can happen in the next chapter, though, once the stakes are higher with all of Murakumo's starters on the field.
I know nothing about basketball, but isn't passing to yourself illegal? Could someone please explain how Mizuhara's play worked?