By Jeff McDonald | San Antonio Express-News (SAEN), 2024-10-07 22:45:36
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 10 月 7 日，星期一，德克萨斯州圣安东尼奥，在弗罗斯特银行中心举行的 NBA 季前赛中，圣安东尼奥马刺队后卫克里斯·保罗 (Chris Paul)（3 号）、维克多·文班亚马 (Victor Wembanyama)（1 号）和德文·瓦塞尔 (Devin Vassell)（24 号）在场边观战，他们的队友正在与俄克拉荷马城雷霆队展开较量。马刺队最终以 107 分惜败雷霆队，比分为 112-107。
一年前，马刺队在俄克拉荷马城开启了他们的季前赛之旅，那场比赛被认为是 NBA 历史上最令人期待的季前赛之一。
那场比赛标志着状元秀维克多·文班亚马 (Victor Wembanyama) 的 NBA 首秀，他的对手是切特·霍姆格伦 (Chet Holmgren)，后者被认为是他最有力的年度最佳新秀竞争者。
如果说周一在弗罗斯特银行中心进行的这场季前赛重赛是霍姆格伦在文班亚马一致当选年度最佳新秀后寻求复仇的机会，那么这场比赛很快就失去了悬念。
马刺队让文班亚马完全作壁上观。霍姆格伦在第一节比赛中腹部被撞伤，仅出场 9 分钟，雷霆队最终以 112-107 赢得比赛。
“一场季前赛（比赛）结束了，还有四场，”马刺队主教练格雷格·波波维奇 (Gregg Popovich) 说道。
但是谁会在意呢？
“我在意，”波波维奇说道。
阿贾伊·米切尔 (Ajay Mitchell) 得到全场最高的 19 分，杰伦·威廉姆斯 (Jalen Williams) 得到 18 分，帮助雷霆队取得了胜利。威廉姆斯在上半场最后 3 分 12 秒内得到 13 分，帮助雷霆队在中场休息时以 58-45 领先。
马刺队在第三节比赛中卷土重来，朱利安·尚帕尼 (Julian Champagnie) 的出色投篮（22 分，三分球 13 投 6 中）和桑德罗·马穆克拉什维利 (Sandro Mamukelashvili) 的 14 分帮助球队将比分追近。
除了文班亚马之外，德文·瓦塞尔（脚）、扎克·科林斯 (Zach Collins)（肩）、查尔斯·巴斯西 (Charles Bassey)（膝）和克里斯·保罗（年龄）也没有出场。文班亚马在经历了一个忙碌的奥运会夏天后，又迎来了马刺队历史上最艰苦的训练营开局阶段之一，因此需要休息。
除了预计将至少缺席常规赛第一周比赛的瓦塞尔之外，其他球员很有可能在下周马刺队季前赛结束前亮相。
与此同时，雷霆队也缺少了几名关键球员。最引人注目的是全明星后卫谢伊·吉尔杰斯-亚历山大 (Shai-Gilgeous Alexander)，他也在休息。
赛后，波波维奇表示，他注意到马刺队的对抗强度随着比赛的进行而有所不同。他认为下半场的对抗强度比上半场要好。
他在比赛中以典型的波波维奇式风格向球员们指出了这一点，并在第一场季前赛的中场休息时狠狠地批评了他们。
“我认为这很棒，”马穆克拉什维利说道。“如果他不关心，那就糟糕了。他可是波波维奇啊。”
以下是周一季前赛首场比赛的三点观察：
- 尚帕尼争取临时首发位置
只要瓦塞尔还在养伤，马刺队的首发得分后卫位置就将虚位以待。尚帕尼在周一的比赛中表现出色，为自己争取到了这个位置。
“我认为他是整场比赛表现最好的球员之一，”波波维奇说道。
尚帕尼是一名三年级后卫，对这个角色并不陌生。他在上赛季首发了 59 场比赛，在队内仅次于文班亚马、杰里米·索汉 (Jeremy Sochan) 和瓦塞尔，排名第四。
在前三节比赛中，波波维奇使用了 10 人轮换阵容，包括特雷·琼斯 (Tre Jones)、凯尔登·约翰逊 (Keldon Johnson)、哈里森·巴恩斯 (Harrison Barnes)、索汉、布莱克·韦斯利 (Blake Wesley)、新秀斯蒂芬·卡斯尔 (Stephon Castle)、马拉基·布拉汉姆 (Malaki Branham)、西迪·西索科 (Sidy Cissoko) 和马穆克拉什维利。
一旦文班亚马、瓦塞尔、保罗和科林斯回归，这 10 名球员中的 4 人的常规上场时间可能会减少。
尚帕尼和三年级后卫布莱克·韦斯利在周一的比赛中为争取上场时间做出了最大的努力，尚帕尼则希望能够顶替瓦塞尔的首发位置。
2024 年 10 月 7 日，星期一，德克萨斯州圣安东尼奥，在弗罗斯特银行中心举行的 NBA 季前赛中，圣安东尼奥马刺队前锋朱利安·尚帕尼（30 号）在被宣布为首发球员后与球童击掌，他们即将迎战俄克拉荷马城雷霆队。
- 也许球队的“三分火力”也足够了？
马刺队在休赛期并没有对三分球进行太多补强，因此他们在季前赛开始时被认为缺乏三分射手。他们希望球队内部能够有足够的提升，帮助他们在联盟排名中至少从垫底的位置上升到中游水平。
这只是一场比赛，而且还是一场季前赛，但马刺队在周一的失利中确实展现出了更强的三分球能力。
马刺队出手了 43 次三分球，远远超过了上赛季场均 36.4 次的出手次数。
“我认为这更像是一种自然而然的事情，”尚帕尼谈到马刺队周一的三分球表现时说道。“我们并没有刻意去追求这一点。这只是水到渠成。”
尚帕尼是球队三分球的最大贡献者，他的命中率也接近五成。马穆克拉什维利三分球 4 投 3 中，而总共有 8 名球员至少命中了一记三分球。
马刺队的三分球得分比雷霆队多了 18 分，这通常是他们在近几个赛季取得成功的法宝，尽管周一并非如此。
诚然，样本量很小。但即使在瓦塞尔、文班亚马和保罗都没有上场的情况下，马刺队依然能够保持住三分球的命中率，这是一个积极的信号。
2024 年 10 月 7 日，星期一，德克萨斯州圣安东尼奥，在弗罗斯特银行中心举行的 NBA 季前赛下半场，圣安东尼奥马刺队主教练格雷格·波波维奇正在指导圣安东尼奥马刺队后卫斯蒂芬·卡斯尔（5 号），他们的对手是俄克拉荷马城雷霆队。马刺队最终以 107 分惜败雷霆队，比分为 112-107。
- 卡斯尔的处子秀至少在一个方面可圈可点
毫无疑问，卡斯尔会在周一完成 NBA 首秀后回看比赛录像，并从中汲取经验教训。
他送出了 6 次失误，而助攻只有 3 次。在面对真正的 NBA 球员时，他偶尔会发现自己在身高、臂展和速度方面都处于劣势，尤其是面对像雷霆队这样优秀的球队时。
卡斯尔在比赛中完成了一记势大力沉的战斧式扣篮，隔扣了雷霆队的亚历克斯·杜卡斯 (Alex Ducas)，得到 5 分中的 2 分。那是最精彩的镜头。
百看不厌
pic.twitter.com/wkVq40WjWt
— 圣安东尼奥马刺队 (@ spurs) 2024 年 10 月 8 日
然而，最让波波维奇满意的是，卡斯尔在防守端始终保持着“积极拼抢”的积极性。
对波波维奇来说，这是这位来自康涅狄格大学的 4 号秀当晚表现最出色的一点。
“他今晚发现，站在他对面的是 NBA 球员，”波波维奇说道。“所以在康涅狄格大学，他可能经常能够在篮下得分，而在这里，有人和他一样强壮。对他来说，能够认识到这一点真是太好了。”
即使马刺队人手不足，卡斯尔还是作为替补出场，与担任第二阵容控球后卫的韦斯利搭档。这与卡斯尔在常规赛开始后，全员健康的情况下可能扮演的角色相同。
在波波维奇在第四节比赛中让替补球员上场后，卡斯尔获得了一些控球的机会。
“斯蒂芬太棒了，”马穆克拉什维利说道。“他打得很冷静，这是你在 NBA 首秀中最需要的东西。”
2024 年 10 月 7 日，星期一，德克萨斯州圣安东尼奥，在弗罗斯特银行中心举行的 NBA 季前赛上半场，圣安东尼奥马刺队中锋维克多·文班亚马（左）和马刺队的其他替补球员在圣安东尼奥马刺队前锋杰里米·索汉（10 号）投进一记三分球后欢呼雀跃，他们的对手是俄克拉荷马城雷霆队。
2024 年 10 月 7 日，星期一，德克萨斯州圣安东尼奥，在弗罗斯特银行中心举行的 NBA 季前赛开始前，圣安东尼奥马刺队后卫布兰登·波士顿 (Brandon Boston Jr.)（4 号）、后卫斯蒂芬·卡斯尔（5 号）和后卫西迪·西索科（25 号）在奏国歌时低头致敬，他们即将迎战俄克拉荷马城雷霆队。
2024 年 10 月 7 日，星期一，德克萨斯州圣安东尼奥，在弗罗斯特银行中心举行的 NBA 季前赛开始前，圣安东尼奥马刺队前锋朱利安·尚帕尼（30 号）在奏国歌时望向观众，他们即将迎战圣安东尼奥马刺队。
2024 年 10 月 7 日，星期一，德克萨斯州圣安东尼奥，在弗罗斯特银行中心举行的马刺队与俄克拉荷马城雷霆队的季前赛上半场，圣安东尼奥马刺队前锋扎克·科林斯（中）在场边观战。
2024 年 10 月 7 日，星期一，德克萨斯州圣安东尼奥，在弗罗斯特银行中心举行的 NBA 季前赛上半场，俄克拉荷马城雷霆队前锋切特·霍姆格伦（7 号）隔扣圣安东尼奥马刺队前锋杰里米·索汉（10 号）。
2024 年 10 月 7 日，星期一，德克萨斯州圣安东尼奥，在弗罗斯特银行中心举行的 NBA 季前赛上半场，圣安东尼奥马刺队前锋桑德罗·马穆克拉什维利（54 号）将球传给布莱克·韦斯利，他们的对手是俄克拉荷马城雷霆队。
2024 年 10 月 7 日，星期一，德克萨斯州圣安东尼奥，在弗罗斯特银行中心举行的 NBA 季前赛上半场，圣安东尼奥马刺队后卫布莱克·韦斯利（14 号）在俄克拉荷马城雷霆队后卫亚历克斯·卡鲁索 (Alex Caruso)（9 号）的防守下运球，他们的对手是俄克拉荷马城雷霆队。
2024 年 10 月 7 日，星期一，德克萨斯州圣安东尼奥，在弗罗斯特银行中心举行的 NBA 季前赛上半场，圣安东尼奥马刺队后卫斯蒂芬·卡斯尔（5 号）在俄克拉荷马城雷霆队中锋以赛亚·哈尔滕施泰因 (Isaiah Hartenstein)（55 号）的防守下投篮，他们的对手是俄克拉荷马城雷霆队。
2024 年 10 月 7 日，星期一，德克萨斯州圣安东尼奥，在弗罗斯特银行中心举行的 NBA 季前赛上半场，圣安东尼奥马刺队后卫布莱克·韦斯利（14 号）抢到篮板，他们的对手是俄克拉荷马城雷霆队。
2024 年 10 月 7 日，星期一，德克萨斯州圣安东尼奥，在弗罗斯特银行中心举行的 NBA 季前赛上半场，圣安东尼奥马刺队后卫特雷·琼斯（33 号）在俄克拉荷马城雷霆队中锋以赛亚·哈尔滕施泰因（55 号）的防守下突破，他们的对手是俄克拉荷马城雷霆队。
2024 年 10 月 7 日，星期一，德克萨斯州圣安东尼奥，在弗罗斯特银行中心举行的 NBA 季前赛下半场，圣安东尼奥马刺队后卫特雷·琼斯（33 号）与俄克拉荷马城雷霆队后卫亚伦·威金斯 (Aaron Wiggins)（21 号）争抢地板球。马刺队最终以 107 分惜败雷霆队，比分为 112-107。
2024 年 10 月 7 日，星期一，德克萨斯州圣安东尼奥，在弗罗斯特银行中心举行的 NBA 季前赛下半场，圣安东尼奥马刺队后卫特雷·琼斯（33 号）防守俄克拉荷马城雷霆队后卫以赛亚·乔 (Isaiah Joe)（11 号）。马刺队最终以 107 分惜败雷霆队，比分为 112-107。
2024 年 10 月 7 日，星期一，德克萨斯州圣安东尼奥，在弗罗斯特银行中心举行的 NBA 季前赛中，圣安东尼奥马刺队后卫克里斯·保罗（3 号）、维克多·文班亚马（1 号）和德文·瓦塞尔（24 号）在场边观战，他们的队友正在与俄克拉荷马城雷霆队展开较量。马刺队最终以 107 分惜败雷霆队，比分为 112-107。
2024 年 10 月 7 日，星期一，德克萨斯州圣安东尼奥，在弗罗斯特银行中心举行的 NBA 季前赛下半场，圣安东尼奥马刺队后卫布莱克·韦斯利（14 号）从俄克拉荷马城雷霆队前锋亚当·弗拉格勒 (Adam Flagler)（14 号）手中保护球。马刺队最终以 107 分惜败雷霆队，比分为 112-107。
2024 年 10 月 7 日，星期一，德克萨斯州圣安东尼奥，在弗罗斯特银行中心举行的 NBA 季前赛下半场，俄克拉荷马城雷霆队前锋马莱维·莱昂斯 (Malevy Leons)（17 号）在圣安东尼奥马刺队后卫斯蒂芬·卡斯尔（5 号）和圣安东尼奥马刺队后卫西迪·西索科（25 号）的防守下投篮。马刺队最终以 107 分惜败雷霆队，比分为 112-107。
点击查看原文：3 takeaways as OKC outlasts Wemby-less Spurs
3 takeaways as OKC outlasts Wemby-less Spurs
San Antonio Spurs guard Chris Paul (3), Victor Wembanyama (1) and Devin Vassell (24) watch their teammates take on the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second half of the pre-season NBA match-up at Frost Bank Center on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. The Spurs fell to the Thunder, 112-107.
A year ago, the Spurs opened the preseason with a road game at Oklahoma City that served as one of the most highly anticipated exhibition games the NBA had ever known.
It marked the NBA debut for No. 1 draft pick Victor Wembanyama, playing against the player considered his most likely competition for Rookie of the Year honors in Chet Holmgren.
If Monday’s preseason rematch at the Frost Bank Center was meant to be any kind of revenge game for Holmgren after Wembanyama’s unanimous Rookie of the Year run, it fell flat in a hurry.
The Spurs held Wembanyama out of the game entirely. Holmgren played nine minutes of a game the Thunder won 112-107 after being kneed in the midsection in the first quarter.
“One preseason (game) down, four to go,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said.
But who is counting?
“I am,” Popovich said.
Ajay Mitchell scored 19 points and Jalen Williams had 18 to key the Thunder victory. Williams had 13 of those points in the final 3:12 of the first half to help the Thunder build a 58-45 lead at intermission.
The Spurs came back to make it a game in the third quarter behind the sweet shooting of Julian Champagnie (22 points, 6 of 13 from 3-point range) and 14 points from Sandro Mamukelashvili.
In addition to Wembanyama, who was resting after a busy Olympic summer bled into one of the more physical opening weeks of Spurs training camp in history, the club also sat out Devin Vassell (foot), Zach Collins (shoulder), Charles Bassey (knee) and Chris Paul (age).
With the exception of Vassell, who the Spurs expect to miss at least the first week of the regular season, the rest of those players have a good chance of making an appearance before the Spurs’ preseason slate ends next week.
The Thunder, meanwhile, played without a handful of key regulars as well. The most notable was All-Star guard Shai-Gilgeous Alexander, who was also resting.
After the game, Popovich said he noted a difference in the Spurs’ physicality as the game went along. He thought it was better in the second half than the first.
He noted this to his players during the game in typical Popovichian style, ripping them at halftime of the first preseason game.
“I think it’s great,” Mamukelashvili said. “It wouldn’t be great if he didn’t care. It’s Pop.”
Here are three takeaways from Monday’s preseason opener:
1. Champagnie makes play for temporary starting nod
The Spurs have a starting shooting guard spot up for grabs for as long as Vassell is on the shelf. Champagnie made a play for it with Monday’s strong performance.
“I thought he was one of the guys who played well all the way around,” Popovich said.
Champagnie, a third-year guard, is no stranger to the role. He started 59 games a year ago, fourth-most on the team behind Wembanyama, Jeremy Sochan and Vassell.
Through the first three quarters, Popovich used a 10-man rotation of Tre Jones, Keldon Johnson, Harrison Barnes, Sochan, Blake Wesley, rookie Stephon Castle, Malaki Branham, Sidy Cissoko and Mamukelashvili.
Regular playing time is likely to be scarce for four of those players once Wembanyama, Vassell, Paul and Collins return to the court.
Champagnie and third-year guard Blake Wesley made their best cases for minutes Monday, with Champagnie placing a bid to keep Vassell’s starting spot warm.
San Antonio Spurs forward Julian Champagnie (30) high-fives a ball boy as he is announced a started in the pre-season NBA match-up against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Frost Bank Center on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas.
2. Maybe there is enough 3-point shooting here after all?
The Spurs entered the preseason with a perceived dearth of 3-point shooting, after not doing much to address that area over the summer. The hope was there would be enough improvement internally to help boost the Spurs from near the bottom of the league ranks to at least the middle of the pack.
It was just one game – and a preseason one at that – but the Spurs indeed flashed better proficiency from the arc in Monday’s loss.
The Spurs fired up 43 3-point tries, quite a bit more than the 36.4 they averaged last season.
“I think it was more of an organic thing,” Champganie said of the Spurs’ 3-point happiness Monday. “We didn’t go into it with that (in mind). It just kind of flowed.”
Champagnie was the biggest contributor there, while also hitting nearly half his attempts. Mamukelashvili had a 3-for-4 night, while eight players in all contributed at least one made 3-pointer.
The Spurs outscored OKC by 18 from the 3-point stripe, which has typically been a formula for success for them in recent seasons, though it wasn’t Monday.
The sample size was small, to be sure. But the Spurs’ ability to hang from the 3-point arc even with the likes of Vassell, Wembanyama and Paul in street clothes provided a positive sign.
San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich talks to San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) during the second half of the pre-season NBA match-up at Frost Bank Center on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. The Spurs fell to the Thunder, 112-107.
3. A positive debut for Castle, in at least one area
Castle will no doubt come out of his NBA debut Monday with plenty of tape to watch and get better by.
He had six turnovers next to three assists. He occasionally found himself out of sorts dealing with the size, length and speed of a full NBA roster – especially one as good as the Thunder’s.
Castle did break off a vicious tomahawk dunk on OKC’s Alex Ducas for two of his five points. That was the highlight reel topper.
Can’t stop watching
— San Antonio Spurs (@ spurs) October 8, 2024
What Popovich enjoyed most of all, however, was Castle’s relentless willingness to “stick his nose in” on defense.
To Popovich, it was the best part of the night for the No. 4 overall pick out of Connecticut.
“He figured out tonight that those are NBA guys on the other side,” Popovich said. “So sometimes those shots at the rim were probably going down for him at UConn, and here there’s somebody there that is just as strong as him. It’s great for him to see that.”
Even with the Spurs shorthanded, Castle played on the second unit, off the ball with Wesley as the point guard of the group. In that, it mimicked the role Castle is likely to fill once the regular season begins and everyone is healthy.
Castle was able to man the point position for a bit of the fourth quarter after Popovich emptied the bench.
“Steph is amazing,” Mamukelashvili said. “He played under control, and that’s what’s most important in your first NBA game.”
San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama, left, and the rest of the Spurs bench cheer after a San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan (10) three-pointer in the first half of the pre-season NBA match-up against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Frost Bank Center on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas.
San Antonio Spurs guard Brandon Boston Jr. (4), guard Stephon Castle (5) and guard Sidy Cissoko (25) bow their heads as the National Anthem plays before the start of the pre-season NBA match-up against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Frost Bank Center on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas.
San Antonio Spurs forward Julian Champagnie (30) looks toward the crowd as the National Anthem plays before the start of the pre-season NBA match-up against the San Antonio Spurs at Frost Bank Center on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas.
San Antonio Spurs forward Zach Collins, center, watches the first half of the pre-season NBA match-up between the Spurs and the Oklahoma City Thunder from the bench at Frost Bank Center on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas.
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren (7) dunks over San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan (10) in the first half of the pre-season NBA match-up at Frost Bank Center on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas.
San Antonio Spurs forward Sandro Mamukelashvili (54) throws the ball to Blake Wesley during the first half of the pre-season NBA match-up against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Frost Bank Center on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas.
San Antonio Spurs guard Blake Wesley (14) is guarded by Oklahoma City Thunder guard Alex Caruso (9) during the first half of the pre-season NBA match-up at Frost Bank Center on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas.
San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) shoots over Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein (55) in the first half of the pre-season NBA match-up at Frost Bank Center on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas.
San Antonio Spurs guard Blake Wesley (14) pulls down the rebound in the first half of the pre-season NBA match-up against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Frost Bank Center on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas.
San Antonio Spurs guard Tre Jones (33) drives around Oklahoma City Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein (55) in the first half of the pre-season NBA match-up at Frost Bank Center on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas.
San Antonio Spurs guard Tre Jones (33) and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Aaron Wiggins (21) fight for a loose ball in the second half of the pre-season NBA match-up at Frost Bank Center on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. The Spurs fell to the Thunder, 112-107.
San Antonio Spurs guard Tre Jones (33) guards Oklahoma City Thunder guard Isaiah Joe (11) in the second half of the pre-season NBA match-up at Frost Bank Center on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. The Spurs fell to the Thunder, 112-107.
San Antonio Spurs guard Chris Paul (3), Victor Wembanyama (1) and Devin Vassell (24) watch their teammates take on the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second half of the pre-season NBA match-up at Frost Bank Center on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. The Spurs fell to the Thunder, 112-107.
San Antonio Spurs guard Blake Wesley (14) keeps the ball away from Oklahoma City Thunder forward Adam Flagler (14) in the second half of the pre-season NBA match-up at Frost Bank Center on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. The Spurs fell to the Thunder, 112-107.
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Malevy Leons (17) shoots over San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) and San Antonio Spurs guard Sidy Cissoko (25) in the second half of the pre-season NBA match-up at Frost Bank Center on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. The Spurs fell to the Thunder, 112-107.
By Jeff McDonald, via San Antonio Express-News