By Jacob Douglas | Pounding The Rock (PtR), 2024-08-28 08:30:00
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。
让我们来看看焕然一新的马刺队在哪些统计领域有望提升。
几乎所有关注篮球的人都预测圣安东尼奥马刺队本赛季会比上赛季更出色。毕竟，在经历了 2023-24 赛季 22 胜 60 负的战绩后，再差也差不到哪里去了。当然，我们也有充分的理由感到乐观。维克托·文班亚马 (Victor Wembanyama) 即将结束他统治级的菜鸟赛季，并在新赛季伊始便跻身联盟前 20 名球员之列（这还是保守估计）。克里斯·保罗 (Chris Paul) 和哈里森·巴恩斯 (Harrison Barnes) 等老将的加盟不仅将提升马刺队的场上实力，还能在场下为年轻球员传授赢球之道。
从叙事角度来看，不难想象圣安东尼奥将会拥有一支更强大的球队。但他们将如何提升呢？他们在哪些比赛领域将会取得进步？上赛季，马刺队的进攻效率排名联盟第 26 位，防守效率排名第 22 位。如果他们想像许多人预期的那样争夺附加赛席位，就需要在很多方面进行改进。以下是马刺队明年可以实现飞跃的几个方面：
三分球
上赛季，圣安东尼奥的三分球命中率排名联盟第 28 位。他们已经连续两个赛季在远距离投篮方面表现挣扎，这不仅损害了他们的进攻效率，也阻碍了他们的最佳球员发挥出应有的统治力。马刺队总经理布莱恩·莱特 (Brian Wright) 意识到了这一点，并在休赛期引进了一些射手。保罗和巴恩斯在上赛季的三分球命中率都超过了 37%。让他们与德文·瓦塞尔 (Devin Vassell) 一起进入首发阵容，应该能为文班亚马拉开进攻空间。
这些新援的加盟几乎肯定会提升马刺队的整体三分球命中率。另一个有利因素是，一些上赛季表现低迷的球员有望回归正常水平。扎克·柯林斯 (Zach Collins) 在 2022-23 赛季的三分球命中率为 37.4%，但上赛季他的远投命中率仅为 32%。凯尔登·约翰逊 (Keldon Johnson) 能否接近他在 2021-22 赛季创下的 39.8% 的三分球命中率？特雷·琼斯 (Tre Jones) 在全明星赛后的三分球命中率高达 42.1%。如果这种进步是真实的，那么马刺队将拥有两名可靠的射手型控球后卫。
圣安东尼奥仍然有很多“非射手”。杰里米·索汉 (Jeremy Sochan) 和斯蒂芬·卡斯尔 (Stephon Castle) 需要证明他们能够以相对稳定的命中率投篮。就连文班亚马也需要在三分球方面取得进步。与上赛季相比，马刺队在射手配置方面已经有所提升，而如果再有一些事情朝着对他们有利的方向发展，他们的进步幅度还会更大。
失误
“控球之神”的加盟对球队的进攻组织大有裨益。上赛季，马刺队在失误方面表现糟糕，场均失误高达 15.1 次。圣安东尼奥在一场比赛中出现超过 20 次失误的情况并不少见。而随着保罗的掌舵，这种情况应该会有所改观。
保罗上赛季的助攻失误比为 6 比 1。他是NBA历史上最优秀的场上指挥官之一。即使年近四十，保罗在控球方面的表现依然老辣。他应该会在进攻端扮演重要的组织者角色。琼斯担任替补控球后卫，应该能帮助替补阵容在保罗下场休息时保持状态。
一个主要的变数是文班亚马对球的掌控能力。上赛季，这位新秀场均失误 3.7 次。也许他只是在适应 NBA 级别的比赛。也许他的身高以及作为控球手和传球手的华丽球风会导致他出现较多的失误。无论如何，如果能将这位主要得分手的失误次数减少一到两次，都将极大地提高马刺队的进攻效率。
外线防守
文班亚马解决了防守端的很多问题。作为 NBA 中最具影响力的防守球员之一，他凭借出色的盖帽能力有效地锁定了禁区。然而，马刺队在外线防守方面还有很多不足之处。上赛季，对手在对阵圣安东尼奥时，三分球命中率高达 37.3%。他们经常在防守端漏掉空切球员，或者在掩护后跟丢对手，导致对手在外线获得轻松出手的机会。
本赛季，他们在各个位置上都将拥有更出色的防守球员。保罗虽然年纪大了，但他是一位经验丰富、防守意识出色的球员。巴恩斯带来了老将的经验，但不应该指望他去一对一防守对手。卡斯尔是这届新秀中最优秀的防守球员之一，他应该会在上场时间内立即发挥作用。再加上朱利安·尚帕尼 (Julian Champagnie)、琼斯、索汉和瓦塞尔的防守技术都在不断提升，马刺队应该能够为文班亚马提供更稳固的外线防守屏障。
投篮选择
随着进攻球员的升级和老将的加盟，球队的投篮选择也会更加合理。球迷们不应该指望保罗还能像当年那样在挡拆战术中每晚都将对手的防守撕裂。然而，他应该能够帮助年轻球员找到得分良机。我很期待看到瓦塞尔和索汉在保罗组织进攻时在无球端的表现。保罗和文班亚马的挡拆配合将成为本赛季 NBA 最具观赏性的进攻战术之一。
替补阵容的进攻效率也应该会有所提高。琼斯和尚帕尼的加盟是对第二阵容的巨大补充。约翰逊还有很多东西需要证明，他已经准备好迎来一个爆发性的赛季。我坚信，在经历了 2023-24 赛季的低迷之后，柯林斯将会强势反弹。卡斯尔是一位出色的万金油球员，他可以根据进攻需要出现在任何位置，并且能够冲击篮筐。马刺队现在拥有了更多的进攻武器和更加均衡的阵容，这应该会让他们在本赛季的进攻效率方面更上一层楼。
点击查看原文：How the Spurs will improve this season
How the Spurs will improve this season
A look at statistical areas where the new-look Spurs should improve.
Nearly anyone who follows basketball expects the San Antonio Spurs will be better than last year. It’s hard to get worse after a 22-60 finish in 2023-24. There are legitimate reasons for optimism, though. Victor Wembanyama is coming off a dominant rookie season and enters this year as a top-20 (conservative) player. The veteran additions of Chris Paul and Harrison Barnes will not only help the Spurs on the court but teach the younger players how to win off of it.
Narratively, it’s not hard to envision an improved San Antonio squad. Just how are they going to improve? What areas of the game will they make strides in? Last season the Spurs were 26th in the league in offensive rating and 22nd in defensive rating. There are a lot of areas they need to improve if they hope to compete for a play-in spot like many expect them to. The following areas are where the Spurs can make the leap next year.
Three-point shooting
San Antonio was 28th in the NBA in three-point shooting last season. They’ve struggled to hit shots from deep for two straight seasons now. It hurt their offense efficiency and hindered their best player from being as lethal as he could be. Spurs GM, Brian Wright, recognized this and acquired some shooting this offseason. Both Paul and Barnes shot over 37% from deep last season. Inserting them into the starting lineup alongside Devin Vassell should open the floor up for Wembanyama.
The additions should almost certainly help the Spurs three-point shooting. Another factor is a positive regression to the mean for some players who slumped last season. Zach Collins shot 37.4% from three in the 2022-23 season, then hit just 32% of his deep shots last season. Can Keldon Johnson get close to the 39.8% three-point shooting season he had in 2021-22? Tre Jones shot 42.1% from deep after the All-Star break. If that leap was real, the Spurs should have two reliable shooting point guards.
San Antonio still has a lot of “non-shooters.” Jeremy Sochan and Stephon Castle need to prove they can hit shots at a semi-consistent rate. Even Wembanyama has strides to make as a three-point shooter. The Spurs are already in a better spot than last year with their shooting personnel, and a few things could swing in their favor to make the leap even greater.
Turnovers
Adding the “point god” does wonders for the organization of an offense. Last season the Spurs struggled mightily with turnovers, giving the ball away 15.1 times per game. It wasn’t rare for San Antonio to turn it over more than 20 times in a game. That should change with Paul at the helm.
Paul had a 6 to 1 assist-to-turnover ratio last season. He’s one of the best floor generals of all time. Even in his late 30s, Paul has continued to be a savant with the ball in his hands. He should have a large role as the lead initiator in this offense. Jones slotting into the backup point guard role should help keep the bench unit on track when Paul sits.
One major variable is the ball security of Wembanyama. Last year the rookie turned the ball over 3.7 times a game. Maybe that was him figuring out how to play at the NBA level. Maybe his height and proclivity for flair as a ball-handler and passer will lead to high turnovers. Either way, reducing the number of turnovers from your primary scorer by one or two a game would help the Spurs’ offensive efficiency tremendously.
Perimeter defense
Wembanyama solves a lot of problems defensively. Arguably the most impactful defender in the NBA, he effectively locks down the paint with his shot-blocking prowess. On the perimeter, the Spurs left a lot to be desired. Opponents hit 37.3% of their threes against San Antonio last season. They often lost cutters or died on screens, leading to good looks for players on the perimeter.
This season they’ll have better defensive personnel across the board. Paul is older but a smart defender with great hands. Barnes brings a veteran presence but shouldn’t be relied on to defend one-on-one. Castle was one of the best defensive prospects in the draft and should make an immediate impact in his minutes. Combine that with the growing defensive skill of Julian Champagnie, Jones, Sochan and Vassell, and the Spurs should have stronger defenders around Wemby.
Shot quality
With better offensive players and more veterans, come better shots. Fans shouldn’t expect CP3 to be the prime player who dissected defenses nightly in the pick-and-roll. However, he should help put young players in position to succeed. I’m really excited to see Vassell and Sochan operate off the ball with Paul running the offense. CP3-Wembanyama pick and rolls will be one of the most fun actions in the NBA this year.
The bench should operate much more efficiently, too. Jones and Champagnie are huge additions to the second unit. Johnson has a lot to prove and is primed for a breakout season. I’m a firm believer that Collins will have a bounce-back year after struggling in 2023-24. Castle is an awesome glue-guy to plug in wherever the offense needs him, and can put pressure on the rim. The Spurs have more offensive weapons and a more balanced team that should lead to a more efficient offense this season.
By Jacob Douglas, via Pounding The Rock