By Jacob Douglas | Pounding The Rock (PtR), 2024-10-01 20:30:00
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。
圣安东尼奥的球员们渴望现在就赢球，而格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)则采取了更加耐心的方式。
NBA 媒体日充满了炒作。教练、管理层成员、球员和媒体都参与到这场炒作循环中，这使得 NBA 社交媒体引擎不断运转。比赛还没开始，新赛季的机会是无限的。年轻球员可能认为他们会赢得一切，而老将们在媒体面前可能会采取一种更加谨慎和老练的态度。
圣安东尼奥马刺队于 9 月 30 日星期一举办了媒体日活动。每个人心中最大的疑问之一是球队本赛季的期望。球员和教练组的回答形成了鲜明对比。
“我们的期望值和我执教的第一年一样——我们希望尽可能成为最好的球队，”马刺队主教练格雷格·波波维奇说道。“就个人而言，就发展而言，这显然是过去几年的一个重要因素。然后是团队合作，（学习）如何比赛以及如何才能获胜。”
他继续说道：“我希望每个人都能变得更好。我对每个球员都有很高的期望，包括个人和团队……我们希望每个人都能在比赛的各个方面都得到提高。”
波波维奇表示，即使在马刺队是争冠热门的时候，他们也从未讨论过需要赢多少场比赛。本赛季也没有改变。
他的球员们并没有附和他的说法。
“季后赛，就是这样。这就是我所看到的全部，”当被问及球队本赛季的期望时，马刺队侧翼球员德文·瓦塞尔(Devin Vassell)说道。
新加盟的控球后卫克里斯·保罗(Chris Paul)已年近 40。他今年夏天与马刺队签署了一份 1100 万美元的合同，可不是为了输球的。
“如果我要离开我的家人，那么我希望它是有意义的，”保罗说。“我想打球，想竞争。这是最好的机会。我觉得这里最适合我。”
波波维奇很快就称保罗为导师，并期待他的经验能为球队带来什么。
“他会成为我们年轻球员的良师益友，”波波维奇说道。“这些家伙还没有真正拥有过这样的导师。我甚至无法量化这将有多重要。”
保罗在他的新闻发布会上回应了这一观点。
“我希望带来的最重要的事情是竞争力，”他说。“努力打球是一种天赋，但这还不够。这支球队可以努力打球，但现在我们必须弄清楚如何将努力转化为胜利。”
马刺队在媒体日上的回答存在着有趣的矛盾。显然，球员们已经为新赛季的开始做好了准备，他们充满信心，并准备冲击季后赛。在连续两个赛季输掉 60 场比赛之后，这种感觉是可以理解的。波波维奇的言论显得比较谨慎，除了不愿给这支年轻球队施加更多关注和压力之外，并没有暗示任何其他信息。这更多的是球员渴望竞争的表现。
他们将有机会重新开始工作，并在周二训练营正式开始时开始冲击季后赛。
点击查看原文：Playoffs or bust: conflicting quotes at Spurs media day
Playoffs or bust: conflicting quotes at Spurs media day
San Antonio’s players want to win now, while Gregg Popovich takes a more patient approach.
NBA media day is all hype. Coaches, front office members, players and media all play into the hype cycle that makes the NBA social media engine run. No one has played a game yet, and the opportunities for a new season are endless. Younger players may think they will win it all, while veteran players may take a more measured and seasoned approach on the press podium.
The San Antonio Spurs hosted its media day on Monday, September 30th. One of the biggest questions on everyone’s minds is the expectations for the team this season. There was a contrast in answers from the players and the coaching staff.
“Our expectations are the same as they’ve been from the first year that I coached – we want to be the best possible team we can be,” Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich said. “That’s individually, as far as development goes. That’s obviously been a big factor in the last couple of years. Then team wise, (it’s learning) how to play and what it takes to win.”
He continued to say: “I want everyone to get better. I have great expectations for every player, that’s individually and team-wise… we want everyone to improve in all facets of the game.”
Popovich said that even when the Spurs were championship contenders, there were never conversations about how many games they needed to win. That hasn’t changed this season.
His players did not sing the same tune.
“Playoffs, that’s it. That’s all I see,” said Spurs wing Devin Vassell when asked what the team’s expectations are this season.
Newly acquired point guard, Chris Paul, is on the edge of 40. He didn’t sign an $11 million contract with the Spurs this summer to lose games.
“If I’m gonna be away from my family, then I want it to be meaningful,” Paul said. “I want to play and compete. This was the best opportunity to do that. I felt like this would be the best fit.”
Popovich was quick to call Paul a mentor, and looked forward to what his experience can bring to the team.
“He’s gonna be a great mentor for our young guys,” Popovich said. “These guys haven’t really had that. I can’t even quantify how important that will be.”
Paul echoed that sentiment in his presser.
“The biggest thing I hope to bring is competitiveness,” he said. “Playing hard is a talent, but it’s not enough. This team can play hard, but now we gotta figure out how to translate that to wins.”
There was an interesting conflict in answers from the Spurs at media day. Clearly the players are ready for the new season to start, feel confident and are ready to push for the playoffs. It’s and understandable feeling after two straight seasons of losing 60 games. Popovich’s quotes came across as measured, and don’t necessarily indicate anything other than an unwillingness to put even more spotlight and pressure on the young team. It’s more of a sign of the eagerness to compete from the players than anything else.
They will get the chance to get back to work, and begin a push for the playoffs on Tuesday when training camp officially begins.
By Jacob Douglas, via Pounding The Rock