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The game still had three quarters to go.
Jeff Bzdelik, the Nuggets' head coach, wasn't about to place all his hopes on Carmelo Anthony's shooting streak.
"Listen up, guys!"
Bzdelik gathered the Nuggets players, forming a tight circle to prevent any spies from eavesdropping on their new strategy.
"From now on, we're making some subtle adjustments to our game plan. I want more drives to the basket—force the Knicks' interior to commit fouls and wear them down."
Anthony raised a brow, questioning the decision, "Coach, with that guy in their paint, won't our offensive efficiency drop significantly?"
It wasn't just Anthony who had doubts. The rest of the Nuggets players also seemed puzzled by their coach's suggestion.
Bzdelik smirked cunningly and reassured them, "Relax, guys. Our goal isn't just to score—it's to tire him out. Remember where we are. This is the Pepsi Center, *our home court*."
Realization dawned on the players' faces.
Bzdelik's strategy was clear: exhaust Wang Song's energy and capitalize on the home-court altitude advantage to potentially trap him in foul trouble.
---
### Second Quarter
The Knicks substituted Tim Thomas back into the game, showing trust in their starting lineup.
"Tim Thomas is back on the court," the announcer observed. "Looks like the Knicks coaching staff still believes in their starters."
"Let's be honest here," Charles Barkley interjected from the broadcast booth, "Guarding a player like Carmelo Anthony is a torturous task. The Knicks aren't deciding who will stop him—they're deciding who will suffer trying."
"No disrespect, Chuck, but Anthony is still a rookie. A talented one, sure, but let's not go around calling him a top-tier forward just yet," Kenny Smith countered, only for Anthony to make a bold move on the court, cutting him off mid-sentence.
Anthony drove straight to the basket, abandoning his first-quarter reliance on jump shots.
The Pepsi Center erupted into cheers.
"Wow!"
"MVP! MVP! MVP!"
The crowd was on their feet, thrilled to witness this head-to-head clash between the teams' foundational stars. It was a moment of raw energy—a duel that had everyone glued to their seats.
---
**Broadcast to China**
"Carmelo Anthony is going straight at Wang Song!"
"This might be his chance to avenge that NCAA East Regional Finals loss. But does he really think he can get past Wang Song without getting blocked again?"
---
Anthony's first drive ended with a blocking foul on Wang Song.
The Knicks' bench erupted. Head coach Don Chaney almost lost his cool, but assistant Herb Sendek quickly calmed him down, preventing further chaos.
On the other side, Bzdelik clenched his fists in excitement.
---
Back on the court, the Nuggets' offensive strategy remained consistent. Anthony continued targeting Wang Song with pick-and-roll switches.
This time, Anthony used his strength to back down Wang Song in the paint.
Noticing the mismatch, Knicks' enforcer Kurt Thomas began moving in to provide help defense.
Before he could fully commit, Wang Song gestured for him to stop. "I've got this," Wang Song declared confidently.
Thomas hesitated for a moment but ultimately trusted his teammate, holding his ground.
From the sidelines, Don Chaney was fuming. He couldn't understand why Wang Song would take such a risky stance, especially with the Nuggets so clearly trying to bait him into fouls.
---
Anthony continued his aggressive post-play, but Wang Song stood firm, refusing to give an inch.
Frustrated, Anthony resorted to a series of shoulder fakes before pivoting into a turnaround jumper.
Wang Song read the move perfectly. He leaped lightly, enough to contest the shot but not overcommit.
The moment Anthony went airborne, Wang Song's hand met the ball cleanly, resulting in a textbook strip.
---
Anthony raised his hands, appealing to the baseline referee for a foul, but the official, having seen the play clearly, ignored his protests.
Up ahead, Steve Nash had already taken off, trusting Wang Song to secure the stop.
Catching a precise long pass, Nash initiated a fast break, feeding Kurt Thomas for an easy two points.
Wang Song returned to defense, his focus unwavering.
As he jogged back, two notifications flashed before his eyes:
**[Rim Protector Badge Activated]**
**[Fast Break Initiator Badge Activated]**
The game was far from over, but Wang Song had already begun making his mark.
*(End of Chapter)*