NBA : Formidable Center

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After a timeout, a dejected Hakim Warrick trudged off the court.

As Syracuse's second-in-command, Warrick was now filled with frustration, feeling an undeniable gap in skill.

He could confidently say that the No. 9 Asian player from the North Carolina Wolfpack was the most challenging opponent he'd ever encountered in the NCAA.

Whether it was athletic ability or basketball IQ, Warrick felt completely outclassed, as if they weren't even playing the same game.

Even though the game wasn't over yet, Warrick had already begun to reconsider declaring for the draft alongside his senior, Carmelo Anthony.

If the regional finals were this intense, he could only imagine the terror awaiting him in the NBA.

Why not just stay in the NCAA and enjoy the freedom of college basketball a little longer?

---

Meanwhile, Anthony sat silently on the bench, listening intently to his coach's tactical adjustments.

He was too focused on the game to notice Warrick's conflicted emotions.

Anthony was fully preoccupied with two things: his performance in the first half and the desperate need to win this game.

A relentless competitive drive is a hallmark of any superstar, and Anthony was no exception.

He wanted to win—more than anyone on the Syracuse team. He couldn't accept defeat at this stage of the tournament, nor could he tolerate leaving this game with mediocre stats that might hurt his draft prospects.

Anthony had a mission: dominate this game and prove his worth as a top pick.

---

As the game resumed, Anthony unleashed his full potential, rediscovering the blazing hot hand he had shown at the start of the match.

No matter who defended him, Anthony exploited mismatches to perfection.

Against bigger defenders, he used his quickness and footwork to drive to the basket, drawing fouls and converting tough layups.

Against smaller defenders, he bulldozed his way into the paint or confidently took pull-up jump shots.

Anthony seemed unstoppable.

Late in the first half, with just five minutes remaining, North Carolina's coach subbed out Wang Song for a rest.

The Wolfpack's rim protection took a noticeable dip, allowing Anthony to exploit their slower-footed center, Josh, to devastating effect.

Anthony poured in a personal scoring spree, tallying 15 points by halftime.

---

**Halftime score: 37-34.**

North Carolina led by just three points, but Anthony had single-handedly brought Syracuse back from the brink.

The Syracuse head coach, Jim Boeheim, breathed a sigh of relief.

Even he hadn't realized how much his expectations for this game had dropped.

From demanding a dominant victory pregame, to hoping for a steady win, to now just scraping by—the goalposts kept moving.

Still, Syracuse fans roared back to life, reinvigorated by Anthony's performance.

"The Wolfpack has been exposed, huh?" shouted one fan.

"Just wait! Melo's dropping 30… no, maybe 40 this game!" another chimed in.

"Be grateful you get to witness the rise of the future No. 1 pick while becoming his backdrop!"

---

In the North Carolina locker room, Coach Herb Sendek frowned, clearly concerned about stopping Anthony's momentum.

"Coach, how about this... we let Wang defend him?"

Jim, the assistant coach, made a bold suggestion.

Sendek's eyes lit up. It was an unconventional idea, but perhaps it was worth a shot.

Turning to Wang Song, Sendek asked, "Wang, how about a new assignment for the second half? Interested?"

(Chapter ends.)

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