NBA : Formidable Center

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The piercing sound of the referee's whistle echoed through the arena.

The head referee rushed to Jermaine O'Neal and quickly signaled a technical foul.

**Flopping! Technical foul! One free throw and possession!**

Jermaine O'Neal, who had been sprawled on the floor, sprang up in an instant, shouting, "Offensive foul! Offensive foul!"

On the sidelines, Rick Carlisle hurried to intervene, bringing his players to separate Jermaine from the referee. With a nervous smile plastered on his face, Carlisle held back the referee's impatient hand, worried that his star player might receive a second technical foul and be ejected.

The game resumed, with Jermaine O'Neal subbed out to cool off on the bench. Al Harrington took his place on the court.

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### Commentary Desk

"This substitution signals that Jeff Foster will move to the center position while Al Harrington slides into the power forward spot."

"In contrast to Jermaine O'Neal's outstanding offensive abilities, Jeff Foster has virtually no independent scoring capability. His mid-range shooting is a gamble, but his rebounding and positioning are undoubtedly top-tier in the league," Kenny Smith analyzed.

"Cut it out, Kenny," Charles Barkley interjected with a grin. "Your information's outdated. Word has it that Jeff's been putting in serious work on his offensive game during the offseason! Not to mention, his rebounding has improved significantly in their recent scrimmages."

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### On the Court

The Pacers resumed their offensive drive. Jamaal Tinsley brought the ball up the court and passed it to Reggie Miller, who was coming off a screen.

Known for his career 40%+ three-point shooting, the Pacers' legendary sharpshooter commanded respect. Knicks guard Allan Houston stuck close, refusing to give Miller any breathing room.

Yet, the Pacers' high-quality screens freed Miller up. Catching the pass, he adjusted and shot from the perimeter.

**Clang!**

Luck wasn't on his side this time. The ball bounced off the rim, but the Pacers' big men had already locked down their rebounding positions.

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### Commentary

"No wonder the Pacers are one of the league's best offensive rebounding teams," Barkley observed. "Even with Jermaine O'Neal on the bench, their positioning and awareness are top-notch."

Kenny Smith nodded, surprised. "For Charles to acknowledge their rebounding prowess, it must be impressive. Coming from someone like him, a rebounding legend, that's high praise."

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### The Key Moment

As Al Harrington boxed out Kurt Thomas, Jeff Foster battled the Knicks' rookie Wang Song under the rim. Foster's focus was razor-sharp—this was how he earned his spot in the league.

But just as Foster braced himself for a collision, the resistance behind him disappeared.

Wang Song, ghost-like in his movement, slipped in front of him.

"What the…?" Foster muttered, bewildered. The Knicks rookie seemed to possess an uncanny sense for where the ball would land.

When the rebound descended, only Wang Song and Harrington remained in contention. With a light leap, Wang Song secured the ball with ease.

"Damn it! How is that even possible?" Foster blurted out in frustration.

"Charles, did you see how Wang Song maneuvered around Foster to secure that position?" Kenny exclaimed in disbelief.

"Hmm," Barkley mused, visibly impressed. "This Asian kid's rebounding instincts are incredible! I thought his success in college was due to his height advantage, but his court awareness and positioning are on a whole other level."

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### Fast Break

Wang Song quickly passed the ball to Steve Nash, who launched a blistering fast break. With a no-look, behind-the-head pass, Nash found Allan Houston waiting in the corner.

Houston caught, adjusted, and fired without hesitation.

**Swish!**

**3-9! Knicks lead!**

The Pacers were visibly frustrated, especially Rick Carlisle on the sidelines. Their vaunted defense was being systematically dismantled by the Knicks' swift ball movement and Nash's impeccable orchestration.

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### Adjustments

Seeing the scoreboard reflect an 11-2 Knicks run, Carlisle had no choice but to reinsert Jermaine O'Neal into the lineup.

Initially, Carlisle intended to let O'Neal sit out the rest of the quarter to cool off. But the Pacers' interior was being dominated—the rookie Wang Song had already grabbed three offensive rebounds within the first half of the quarter.

Carlisle could only imagine the rookie posting a double-digit rebound tally by the end of the first quarter if the trend continued.

"This is insane! This Asian kid's rebounding is out of this world!" Barkley marveled.

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### Return of Jermaine O'Neal

Subbed back in, Jermaine O'Neal played cautiously, mindful of the technical foul hanging over his head. The Knicks' fans in the stands roared with laughter.

"That guy from the Pacers has to be joking! How can such a timid player call himself Indiana's best center?"

"My grandma crosses the street with more confidence!"

"Jermaine O'Neal is a disgrace to the O'Neal name. Shaquille should kick him out of the 'Shaq Club!'"

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### Tension Rising

Already humiliated by the technical foul for flopping, Jermaine O'Neal couldn't ignore the taunts from the Knicks' crowd. Gritting his teeth, he vowed to redeem himself.

"Jermaine, stay calm! Keep your head!" Carlisle shouted from the sidelines, sensing his star player's simmering frustration.

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