Marcus Camby sat down and answered your questions live on June 3. (Nathaniel S. Butler/NBA Photos)

Selected by the Toronto Raptors as the second pick overall in the 1996 NBA Draft, Camby announced his arrival into the NBA world by earning a spot on the 1996-97 NBA All-Rookie First Team. He followed up on a strong rookie season by leading the league in blocked shots (3.65 bpg) during the 1997-98 campaign and showed he was a great protector of the paint.

Camby's defensive skills and tremendous offensive potential were the main reasons the New York Knicks traded rugged veteran Charles Oakley to the Raptors in exchange for Camby last June.

Camby is finally starting to come into his own — and just in the nick of time. In the first two rounds of the playoffs, he averaged 7.4 points and 5.2 rebounds per game in nine contests off the bench for the Knicks. His enthusiasm and intensity have helped propel the Knicks into NBA history as the first eighth-seeded team ever to advance into the Conference Finals.

Marcus Camby at 3:59pm ET
New York fans know so much about the game of basketball that they can't be fooled. Out in Toronto, the game was basically new to them, so they didn't know the rules or when to cheer or anything. In New York, it's much different. They're definitely the best fans in New York and the Garden.

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Tuhin at 4:00pm ET
How will you guys adjust to the absence of Ewing?

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Marcus Camby at 4:00pm ET
Everyone has to pick up their level. It can't be one guy, it has to be a complete effort.

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Rob from macsch.com at 4:00pm ET
Marcus, you have been extremely active in both games against Indiana and it is great to see the impact you are having. What adjustment did you make to your game to be able to have such success against the Davises?

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Marcus Camby at 4:01pm ET
I just try to do whatever it takes to win. There's nothing really special about it.

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aja at 4:01pm ET
How does it feel to be in the playoffs for the very first time?

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Marcus Camby at 4:02pm ET
I'm excited. It's almost like a dream come true. It's definitely a lot more intense than the regular season. Every possession is much more important and you try to make the most out of every second you have the ball.

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Harley from proxy.aol.com at 4:02pm ET
How do you like the matchups that you have against the Pacers?

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Marcus Camby at 4:03pm ET
We like our matchups because we can put guys at every position and be ready to play in whatever role we're needed.

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Danny from proxy.aol.com at 4:03pm ET
How do you prepare for each game?

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Marcus Camby at 4:04pm ET
The guys that I'm guarding, I study their every move. Then I try to go out there and use what I've learned to play better than my opponent.

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Danny from proxy.aol.com at 4:04pm ET
What has been the highlight for you throughout the playoffs so far?

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Marcus Camby at 4:06pm ET
My highlight was probably when I dunked over Mutombo. I'll probably remember it forever. It might have been the best play I've ever been a part of. I was definitely thrilled and excited to dunk over one of the best shot-blockers in the game. As soon as I got the ball, I knew what I wanted to do and took it in strong.

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Shawn from netcom.ca at 4:06pm ET
As a kid, who were your main influences? And have you always played basketball?

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Marcus Camby at 4:07pm ET
Dr. J was my idol growing up as a kid. We both went to the same university (UMass). I've talked to him briefly a couple of times. Since he's the vice president of the Orlando Magic, when we played them, I had the opportunity to speak with him a little.

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Mark from newark-03-04rs.nj.dial-access.att.net at 4:07pm ET
What's your favorite thing to eat before and after a game?

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Marcus Camby at 4:07pm ET
Pasta. I eat it every gameday.

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Chris from Germany from h.dial.o-tel-o.net at 4:07pm ET
Hi Marcus. Good luck in your next game. How much time do you spend in a weight room every week?

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Marcus Camby at 4:08pm ET
We spend about an hour a day, and usually about five hours a week during the season. During the offseason, it moves up to about two-and-a-half hours a day.

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steve wallace from adm.buffalo.edu at 4:08pm ET
What part of your individual basketball game do you think you need the most improvement in?

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Marcus Camby at 4:09pm ET
My outside shooting. I'd like to work on that this summer and try to get consistent at hitting the open outside jumper. I usually try to work on my whole game during the offseason, but that'll be my focus this summer.

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brian from proxy.aol.com at 4:09pm ET
What do the tatoos on your arm mean?

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Marcus Camby at 4:10pm ET
The one on my lower arm means I love my family. The one on my upper arm means that I strive to be the best.

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Sharice from proxy.aol.com at 4:10pm ET
What do you think will be the key factor to winning Game 3 in the Garden?

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Marcus Camby at 4:11pm ET
Coming out ready to play from the opening tip. We can't come out and have to come from behind. We need to be ready from the start. I'm definitely looking forward to playing at home, though.

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Sidoti from chicago.avenew.net at 4:11pm ET
Who, on the Knicks, has had the most influence on you this season?

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Marcus Camby at 4:12pm ET
Probably Patrick. He has a tremendous work ethic. He goes out and plays hard every game, even though he might be fighting an injury.

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TonyZman3 from proxy.aol.com at 4:12pm ET
Why do you think the team struggled so much during the season and what has been the difference in the playoffs?

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Marcus Camby at 4:14pm ET
To start the season, we had a lot of new faces and different people on the team. It took us a while to gel. But once we started playing as a unit, we learned to focus on utilizing our abilities. Later on, we started playing to our strengths and getting open shots in transition. We started peaking right when we needed to.

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Matt from SD from itctel.com at 4:14pm ET
Did you play any other sports as a child?

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Marcus Camby at 4:14pm ET
No. Just basketball. I started playing when I was about 5 or 6. I knew without a doubt that that was the sport for me.

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George at 4:15pm ET
Now that Patrick is gone, who will be your go-to-guy in the closing minutes?

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Marcus Camby at 4:15pm ET
We have a lot of options. We can go to Allan (Houston) or Latrell (Sprewell). We have a lot of weapons, and everyone needs to be ready to step up if they're needed.

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Rey from proxy.aol.com at 4:16pm ET
What was your high school team like?

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Marcus Camby at 4:16pm ET
We were undefeated and won the state championship two years in a row, so I guess we were pretty successful.

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Tee from proxy.aol.com at 4:16pm ET
What advice would you give to a star coming out of high school, NBA, or college?

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Marcus Camby at 4:17pm ET
Be committed and stay committed to working hard and improving your game every year. Everyone else is doing that, so you need to work as hard if not harder than everyone else to be successful.

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Jason Schneider at 4:17pm ET
Marcus, how and where do you see yourself in five years?

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Marcus Camby at 4:18pm ET
Hopefully, still playing for New York. Hopefully, we'll also have won five championships in a row.

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