###
Marcus Camby's curiosity was met with Carmelo Anthony's affirmation.
"Of course, Marcus. We crossed paths during the East Regional Finals of March Madness. To be honest, I hadn't heard of him before that."
As Anthony reminisced, flashes of unpleasant memories surfaced.
"You know how it is in the NCAA. Not only are Asian players rare, but someone from China standing out is almost unheard of. Yet, this guy suddenly emerged during the elimination rounds."
"Yeah... we underestimated him."
Carmelo's face was filled with frustration as he recounted the events. Camby, meanwhile, pieced together the story.
He had heard many tales of championship favorites being upset, but a case this close to home was rare. After a brief moment of sympathy for Anthony, Camby shifted his focus.
"Was he that dominant in the paint?"
"Hmm…"
Anthony hesitated before continuing. "Not in the way Shaquille dominates as a traditional big man."
"But he wasn't ineffective either. It's hard to describe—he had this uncanny ability to make the perfect play every time. His decisions, passes, and shot selections were all unbelievably precise."
"Unlike those clumsy centers, he played more like a guard. He always found the right teammate at the right time."
Camby nodded as if he understood, though his concern visibly diminished.
"Well, he doesn't sound like a generational talent, just a young player thriving off energy."
Feeling reassured, Camby relaxed. Yesterday's anxiety from hearing about Wang Song's record-breaking performance faded into the background.
Carmelo Anthony wasn't sure how much Camby had actually processed, but he felt confident. After all, Wang Song wasn't going up against collegiate players anymore—he'd be facing Marcus Camby, one of the NBA's premier shot-blockers from the 1996 draft class.
With Camby guarding the paint, the Nuggets were well-prepared for the challenge ahead.
---
### Game Day
#### Pre-Game Press Conference
The Knicks and Nuggets held their respective pre-game conferences as part of the league's regular routines.
"Our players are ready for battle! The Nuggets? High altitude? None of that matters to the Knicks!" Knicks head coach Don Chaney declared confidently to the media.
As Chaney left the podium, his remarks contrasted sharply with those of Nuggets head coach Jeff Bzdelik.
"We'll give our best effort to secure a win. I don't think we'll see another Seattle-style disaster. This is Denver—we have our advantages," Bzdelik said calmly.
---
#### Pepsi Center
TNT had dispatched its iconic duo of Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith for commentary.
"Kenny, it's been a while since we've done live commentary together. You need some oxygen for Denver's altitude, old man?" Barkley teased.
"Charles, save it for yourself. Your big ol' butt probably needs the oxygen more than me!" Kenny shot back with a laugh.
"But seriously," Kenny continued, "this arena has always been tough for visitors. Even in their roughest seasons, the Nuggets hold their own here."
Barkley nodded in agreement. "True. This is the league's highest-altitude arena, and it's a nightmare for teams, especially for back-to-back road games like the Knicks have tonight."
Kenny raised an eyebrow. "Charles, you're not jinxing Denver now, are you?"
"Jinx? Come on, Kenny. Denver's no longer the West's bottom-dweller. They've started the season 2-0, and with Camby and Carmelo, they're looking sharp!"
---
#### Starting Lineups
As the players took the court, White Yang provided live commentary on New Fox Sports' domestic broadcast:
"This is going to be a tough game for the Knicks. High-altitude road games on back-to-back nights test any team's resilience. Can they handle the challenge?"
"Wang Song had a historic performance last game, but today he faces a much more formidable opponent. Camby and Carmelo have been instrumental in Denver's strong start, giving them a shot at playoff contention this season."
**Knicks' Starting Five:**
- Steve Nash
- Allan Houston
- Tim Thomas
- Kurt Thomas
- Wang Song
**Nuggets' Starting Five:**
- Andre Miller
- Voshon Lenard
- Carmelo Anthony
- Nene Hilario
- Marcus Camby
White Yang's live audience reacted enthusiastically:
- **[Viewer 1]:** "Both lineups look balanced. It'll come down to strategy and execution!"
- **[Viewer 2]:** "This matchup would've been dull last year, but now it's a must-watch!"
- **[Viewer 3]:** "Carmelo and Camby together? Poor Wang Song has his work cut out for him."
- **[Viewer 4]:** "Carmelo: 'Six months… I've waited six months for this rematch!'"
(End of Chapter)