Rukawa goes to a court to practice early in the morning, just to find that Sakuragi and Haruko are there first. What I find interesting is that it does not aid the plot or the scene in any way for Rukawa to be there, and yet he is. Like I said before, this odd triangle of relationships is central to Slam Dunk and is a reiterated theme throughout the series. This scene shows exactly that: Haruko encourages Sakuragi, Sakuragi wants to impress Haruko, Sakuragi wants to beat Rukawa, Rukawa is reluctantly impressed with Sakuragi.

As Sakuragi tries to figure out how to lay-up, he remembers how Rukawa did it. And he blushes. O_o 
Sakuragi: "Aaargh! Why am I thinking about Rukawa?!" 
..........This pretty much says it all, really.

After Sakuragi does succeed, he does a happy dance with Haruko, while Rukawa looks on with annoyance. (Please note: Rukawa cares naught for Haruko. He barely even knows who she is.)

There's a shortage of uniforms, and Sakuragi wants Rukawa's. FIGHT~!

After Sakuragi has made his challenge, Sendoh ever-so-happily shows off his own skills, all the while keeping eye-contact with the self-proclaimed tensai. (Just look at that flirtatious smile!) Then he does the come-hither gesture. Even Hikoichi's surprised by this, as he says Sendoh has never reacted that way to a player before.

While Rukawa looks on (jealously). Thus feeding my theory that the reason Rukawa cannot stand Sendoh is because the latter made the first move on Sakuragi. Hey, it's a point-of-view, don't diss it.