NBA : Formidable Center

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**Inside the New Fox Sports live text broadcast room.**

As time passed, the number of viewers in the live stream increased dramatically, attracting a mix of seasoned basketball fans and casual observers alike.

As the first sports media outlet in the country to secure exclusive NCAA live streaming rights, New Fox Sports was reaping the benefits of a massive influx of traffic.

Word spread quickly, and the number of viewers in Bai Yang's stream began to surge.

Watching the rapidly growing audience and the relentless flow of comments, Bai Yang recognized this as a golden opportunity to retain his audience.

> "Welcome, everyone, to the exclusive live text broadcast of the NCAA brought to you by New Fox Sports. I'm your host and commentator, Xiao Bai, here to bring you live updates from the Eastern Division Finals."

With a professional tone, Bai Yang continued:

> "Oh, and I just got some exciting news from the scene. I believe many of you will find it interesting.

> "It seems that a lot of scouts are attending today's game, including some big-name executives from major NBA franchises. This shows how significant this divisional final is on the national stage.

> "Of course, much of this buzz centers around Syracuse University's star forward, Carmelo Anthony. According to the authoritative RSCI ranking, he's currently ranked #2 and is widely considered a top-three pick in the 2003 draft class.

> "Some analysts even speculate that the battle for the #1 pick will come down to him and Akron's 'Chosen One,' LeBron James."

This insightful analysis from Bai Yang earned nods of approval from many fans in the live stream:

— **[Got to hand it to him; this commentator knows his stuff. He's got a solid grasp of the draft trends this year.]**

— **[Not bad, but let's be real—Anthony has no chance against LeBron for the top pick. With his offense-heavy, defense-weak style, he won't reach great heights in the NBA.]**

— **[Why isn't the host talking about Wang Song? Aren't our Chinese players just as good?]**

— **[Yeah! North Carolina's been making waves lately, and Wang Song has risen from a benchwarmer to a starter. What a meteoric rise!]**

Bai Yang quickly addressed the comments:

> "Wang Song has indeed been incredible recently, especially in the playoffs. However, he's only a freshman. It's unlikely he'll declare for the draft just yet, so he's not competing directly with Anthony or LeBron for draft rankings."

---

**At the game venue.**

The starting lineups for both teams had taken the court, and the arena was alive with excitement.

The crowd, particularly Syracuse University's fans, created a sea of orange that engulfed the Albany University arena.

> "Carmelo! Anthony!"

> "MVP! MVP!"

Their deafening cheers created an overwhelming home-court atmosphere, despite this being a neutral venue.

On the other side, North Carolina's smaller contingent of red-clad fans was utterly drowned in this ocean of orange.

**On the court.**

> "Feeling nervous, Wang?"

Julius Hodge, the team captain, couldn't help but ask as he observed the electrifying atmosphere. Even during their upset win over top-seeded Oklahoma Sooners, the scene hadn't been this intense.

Wang Song gave a faint nod and replied nonchalantly:

> "The pressure's not on me. You're the one guarding that guy..."

He gestured towards Carmelo Anthony with a shrug.

> "Damn it!"

Hodge, who initially intended to console the freshman, found himself utterly disarmed by Wang's remark.

---

**At Syracuse's bench.**

Superstar Carmelo Anthony basked in the chants of his adoring fans, waving his arms to further energize the crowd.

Beside him, Hakim Warrick, his loyal lieutenant and Syracuse's second scoring option, was equally fired up.

> "Let's do this, boss! Take us to the Final Four!"

Anthony gave Warrick an encouraging pat on the shoulder.

> "Count on it, Hakim! After today's game, the entire nation will know how dominant we are.

> "Kansas, Marquette—they'll all bow before us!"

Indeed, as many media outlets predicted, Syracuse had a 70% chance of winning this game. If Anthony performed at his peak, their odds could rise to 90%.

In stark contrast, the underdog North Carolina Wolfpack was given only a 10% chance of victory, with most analysts predicting their Cinderella run would end here.

---

**The game began.**

**Jump ball!**

At midcourt, Wang Song's towering 213cm frame made him an imposing presence. His agility and size allowed him to thrive as a center in the NCAA.

However, Syracuse's center, an equally tall but bulkier white player, presented a challenge. Despite his size, his fitness was less than ideal, and the jump ball reflected this disparity.

Wang Song easily won the tip, securing the first possession for North Carolina.

The Wolfpack's point guard advanced the ball methodically, signaling the start of their offense.

Wang set a solid screen for Hodge, completely blocking Carmelo Anthony.

Syracuse's defense, however, was well-prepared, utilizing a switch-heavy strategy to mitigate this play.

Wang quickly moved to the left wing, posting up for the ball.

Now, the matchup everyone had anticipated unfolded: Wang Song vs. Carmelo Anthony.

Anthony, known for his physicality, didn't shy away from the challenge, using his 104kg frame to apply pressure on Wang.

---

**In the live stream.**

> "An explosive start! Less than 10 seconds in, we're seeing a high-stakes battle in the low post.

> "Wang Song has called for the ball and is looking to take on Carmelo Anthony one-on-one. He seems confident."

> "But at 203cm and 104kg, Anthony has a significant weight advantage. Can Wang overcome this matchup?"

Bai Yang's rapid updates electrified the chat, as fans eagerly awaited the outcome of this clash.

(End of Chapter)