By Jeff McDonald, Spurs Writer | San Antonio Express-News, 2024-04-08 14:20:08
由生成式人工智能翻译，译文内容可能不准确或不完整，以原文为准
2024 年 3 月 22 日星期五，在德克萨斯州圣安东尼奥的弗罗斯特银行中心，在与孟菲斯灰熊队的比赛上半场期间，圣安东尼奥马刺队中锋维克托·文班亚马 (1) 对犯规的判罚做出了回应。马刺队以 99-97 负于灰熊队。
田纳西州孟菲斯市——在特雷·琼斯看来，马刺队曾轻松击败孟菲斯灰熊队。2020 年 12 月，马刺队以 131-119 的客场胜利开始了因新冠肺炎疫情而推迟的 2020-21 赛季，对手是孟菲斯队。
当时还是新秀的琼斯并未参加该场比赛，但他认为对阵灰熊队以 1-0 的比分开场，预示着未来一片光明。
三年多过去了，琼斯仍在寻找他第二个战胜孟菲斯的胜利。
“他们只是打得非常努力，”琼斯说，“无论对阵谁，都是如此。”
灰熊队已经对阵马刺队不可思议地赢了 13 场连胜，这种模式始终奏效，无论孟菲斯球衣背后印的是什么名字。
马刺队希望在周二在联邦快递球馆的比赛中打破这一耻辱性的连胜纪录。
“我认为我们有机会，”前锋朱利安·香槟尼说。
孟菲斯队赢得了本赛季的三场交锋中的每一场，其中两场是有全明星后卫贾·莫兰特出战的。
在最近的一场比赛中，即 3 月 22 日在霜冻银行中心进行的比赛中，马刺队挥霍了 17 分的领先优势，随后以 99-97 落败。小贾伦·杰克逊在比赛结束前几秒以一个 7 英尺的跳投拿下了制胜分。
“那是一场奇怪的比赛，”马刺球星维克托·文班亚马说。“那是一场我们没有抓住机会的比赛，他们遇到了困难。我不知道我们是否已尽全力。我认为没有。”
这些不是你父亲印象中的“坚韧不拔”的灰熊队。尽管莫兰特在前 25 场比赛中因禁赛，孟菲斯队仍然怀着很大的希望开启了本赛季。 马刺队大战灰熊队：如何观看比赛，值得注意的统计数据，球员新闻
孟菲斯队 1 月初的季后赛征程以突然告终，当时莫兰特接受了赛季报销手术，修复他右肩撕裂的盂唇。
在灰熊队的最新一场比赛中，即星期六以 20 分的劣势输给费城队，他们启动了一个真正的公会，这些球员非常不知名，他们可能参加了证人保护计划：GG 杰克逊、毛津·哈佩雷拉、特雷·杰米森、乔丹·古德温和斯科蒂·皮蓬二世。
孟菲斯替补队以 27-51 负于乔尔·恩比德和 76 人队，这不足为奇。
然而，在对阵马刺队时，现在似乎是谁代表孟菲斯出战已经无所谓了。
“他们打得非常努力，”香槟尼说，他呼应了联盟对灰熊队的球探报告。“我认为这是每支 NBA 球队的一个共同主题，尤其当球员们缺席时。当球员们缺席时，其他球员会想要机会。这正是使他们成为一支超级可怕球队的因素。”
在赛季的最后一周，马刺队也不是健康状况良好的堡垒。
他们将带着前四名得分手中无法上场的三人抵达孟菲斯。上周，德文·瓦塞尔和杰里米·索汉由于伤病宣布赛季报销。
小前锋凯尔登·约翰逊试图在星期天加时两节输给费城的比赛中复出，左脚踝扭伤，但在第四节加重了伤势。阅读更多内容：76 人队的尼古拉斯·巴图姆谈到文班亚马：我早就告诉过你
由于赛程表中仅剩四场比赛，看来约翰逊在秋季训练营开始前不太可能复出。
琼斯说：“知道他是怎样的竞争者，他多么喜欢和球队在一起，尤其是在球场上和我们在一起。”“对他来说，现在肯定是一种沮丧的感觉。”
和灰熊队一样，马刺队找到了方法应对他们春季的伤病潮。
尽管他们总成绩 19-59 很不美观，但马刺队还是赢得了过去 11 场比赛中的 5 场，惨败给了金州勇士队、丹佛掘金队和加时两节输给了 76 人队。
“我认为很大程度上是因为自从之前从未一起打过球后，他们才开始互相适应，”马刺队教练格雷格·波波维奇谈到他球队最近的小爆发。“还有很多年轻人理解他们必须夜复一夜持续做什么。”
对于那些希望马刺队至少能避免创下单赛季球队负场最高纪录的人来说，周二的孟菲斯之行显得尤为重要。
马刺队需要在最后的四场比赛中赢下两场，才能超过 1996-97 赛季 20-62 的战绩。
对阵灰熊队和 13-65 底特律活塞队的比赛似乎比对阵西部联盟豪强丹佛掘金队和俄克拉荷马城雷霆队的比赛更容易实现目标。
渴望胜利的马刺队希望尽可能贪婪。
“我们现在还有四场比赛，”香槟尼说。“我们的目标是赢四场。”
文班亚马简洁地总结了周二比赛的利害关系。
“这只是一场必赢的比赛，”他说。
正如灰熊队在面对马刺队时一次又一次证明的那样，击败他们说起来容易做起来难。
“无论他们派谁出战，他们都会全力以赴，”琼斯说。“他们有一个很好的体系。他们也接受了非常好的训练，因此他们能够执行自己的战术。当你全力以赴时，你就会给自己一个机会。”
在对阵灰熊队的最后一场比赛中，马刺队希望也能做到这一点。
原文如下：
Spurs aim to break vexing Grizzlies hex
San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) reacts to a foul call during the first half against the Memphis Grizzlies at Frost Bank Center on Friday, March 22, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. The Spurs fell to the Grizzles, 99-97.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. –There was a time when Tre Jones thought the Spurs simply owned the Memphis Grizzlies. In December 2020, the Spurs opened the COVID-delayed 2020-21 season with a 131-119 road win at Memphis.
A rookie at the time, Jones didn’t play in that game, but figured a 1-0 start against the Grizzlies could only be a harbinger of things to come.
More than three years later, Jones is still looking for his second victory over Memphis.
“They just play hard,” Jones said, “no matter who is out there.”
The Grizzlies have won an almost unfathomable 13 games in a row against the Spurs, a pattern that has persisted regardless of the names on the back of Memphis’ jerseys on any given night.
It is an ignoble streak the Spurs will hope to snap in Tuesday’s game at FedEx Forum.
“I think we’re due one,” forward Julian Champagnie said.
Memphis has won each of this season’s three meetings, two coming with All-Star guard Ja Morant unavailable.
In the most recent matchup, March 22 at the Frost Bank Center, the Spurs squandered a 17-point lead before fading in a 99-97 defeat. Jaren Jackson Jr. provided the winning points with a 7-foot jumper in the waning seconds.
“It was a weird game,” Spurs star Victor Wembanyama said. “It was a game we didn’t take advantage of it, the holes they had. I don’t know if we did everything we could. I don’t think so.”
These aren’t your father’s “grit and grind” Grizzlies, either. Memphis opened the season with high hopes, despite Morant’s 25-game suspension to start the campaign.Spurs vs. Grizzlies: How to watch the game, notable stats, player news
Memphis’ playoff bid went abruptly kaput in early January, when Morant underwent season-ending surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder.
In the Grizzlies’ latest game, a 20-point loss to Philadelphia on Saturday, they started a veritable grab-bag of players so anonymous they might as well be in a witness protection program: GG Jackson, Maozin Haperiera, Trey Jemison, Jordan Goodwin and Scotty Pippen Jr.
It wasn’t surprising that Memphis skeleton crew fell to 27-51 against Joel Embiid and the Sixers.
When facing the Spurs, however, it lately has not seemed to matter who is in uniform for Memphis.
“They play hard,” Champagnie said, echoing the league-wide scouting report on the Grizzlies. “I think that’s a big common theme with every NBA team, especially when guys are out. When guys are out, other guys want opportunities. That’s what makes them a super scary team.”
The Spurs are not exactly a bastion of good health in the final week of the season, either.
They will arrive in Memphis with three of their top four scorers unavailable. Devin Vassell and Jeremy Sochan were pronounced done for the season last week due to injuries.
Small forward Keldon Johnson attempted to return from a left foot sprain in Sunday’s double-overtime loss to Philadelphia, but reaggravated it in the fourth quarter.READ MORE: 76ers’ Nicolas Batum on Wembyanyama: Told you so
With only four games remaining on the schedule, it appears unlikely Johnson will be back before the start of training camp in the fall.
“Knowing the competitor he is, how much he loves being around the team, especially on the court with us,” Jones said. “It’s definitely a bummer feel for him right now.”
Like the Grizzlies, the Spurs have found a way to play through their rash of spring injuries.
Though their 19-59 overall mark is unsightly, the Spurs have won five of their past 11, with narrow losses to Golden State, Denver and a double-OT defeat against the 76ers.
“I think a lot of it is just them getting used to each other since they never played together before,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said of his team’s recent mini-surge. “And a lot of young guys understanding what they have to do on a consistent basis night after night.”
For those hoping the Spurs can at least avoid setting the franchise record for most losses in a season, Tuesday’s trip to Memphis looms large.
The Spurs need to win two of their final four games to surpass the 1996-97 club that finished 20-62.
Games against the Grizzlies and 13-65 Detroit Pistons appear a better bet for pulling that off than games against Western Conference titans Denver and Oklahoma City.
The win-starved Spurs aim to get as greedy as possible.
“We’ve got four games left now,” Champagnie said. “Our goal is to win four.”
Wembanyama summarized the stakes of Tuesday’s contest in succinct terms.
“It’s just a must-win,” he said.
As the Grizzlies have proven time and time again when facing the Spurs, beating them is easier said than done.
“Whoever they were out there, they play hard,” Jones said. “They have a good system. They’re very well coached as well, and so they’re able to run their stuff. When you play hard, you give yourself a chance.”
Down to their last shot against the Grizzlies this season, the Spurs will hope to do the same.
By Jeff McDonald, Spurs Writer, via San Antonio Express-News