By Tom Orsborn, Staff writer | San Antonio Express-News (SAEN), 2024-10-08 14:45:55
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，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，圣安东尼奥马刺队中锋维克托·文班亚马(Victor Wembanyama)（1号）坐在他的新队友后卫克里斯·保罗(Chris Paul)（3号）和前锋哈里森·巴恩斯(Harrison Barnes)（40号）之间，面带微笑。马刺队以107-112负于雷霆队。
在周一晚上马刺队以107-112输给俄克拉荷马城雷霆队的比赛中，维克托·文班亚马(Victor Wembanyama)和克里斯·保罗(Chris Paul)在板凳席上一直在交谈。
可以说，这位20岁的法国球星从这位39岁的未来名人堂控球后卫那里学到的东西，比他在这场季前赛中学到的还要多。
周三，文班亚马将有机会将他从保罗那里学到的东西付诸实践。此前，在经历了艰苦的训练营开局后，为了休息，两人都没有参加季前赛的揭幕战。而对于文班亚马来说，他整个夏天都在忙于带领法国队参加奥运会。
马刺队周二宣布，文班亚马和保罗将在弗罗斯特银行中心对阵奥兰多魔术队的比赛中完成他们的季前赛首秀。
周一其他穿着便服的球员有：后卫德文·瓦塞尔(Devin Vassell)（6月份接受了足部手术后正在恢复）、前锋/中锋扎克·柯林斯(Zach Collins)（4月份接受了肩部手术后正在恢复）、中锋查尔斯·巴斯(Charles Bassey)（去年12月接受了膝盖手术后正在恢复）和后卫大卫·杜克(David Duke)（臀部）。
“小伤、休息，什么原因都有，”波波维奇在解释为什么这六名球员没有上场时说。“没什么大问题。”
这位教练说，瓦塞尔在接受手术修复马刺队所称的“罕见伤病”后，正在按计划恢复，预计将在“赛季初”复出。马刺队将瓦塞尔的伤病描述为右脚第三跖骨头应力性反应。
“这是一个非常奇怪的伤病，”波波维奇说。“我们被告知这种情况很少见，在任何运动中都不常见。所以，我们真的不知道什么是快速复出，什么是缓慢复出。但我知道他厌倦了待在力量房里，厌倦了他们在那里让他做的所有事情。”
瓦塞尔将在11月1日，也就是赛季揭幕战一周后接受重新评估。
“他现在至少可以在球场上跑来跑去了，希望我们能在赛季初让他回来，”波波维奇说。
波波维奇说，柯林斯和巴斯“恢复得很好”，并且正在训练中进行五对五的训练。他们很可能会在季前赛后期上场。
“我们真的很担心，我们不希望他们回来得太快，然后发生什么事情，让他们缺席更长的时间，”波波维奇说。
2024年10月7日，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）、中锋维克托·文班亚马(Victor Wembanyama)（1号）、前锋哈里森·巴恩斯(Harrison Barnes)（40号）和前锋凯尔登·约翰逊(Keldon Johnson)（0号）在观看队友对阵俄克拉荷马城雷霆队的比赛时交谈。马刺队以107-112负于雷霆队。
韦斯利和卡斯尔的防守受到特别表扬
在上赛季末防守端表现强劲之后，后卫布雷克·韦斯利(Blake Wesley)正在寻找进一步提高的方法。
他在拉斯维加斯的Impact篮球俱乐部找到了答案。
“夏天的时候，你很难在防守上下功夫，但我跟（华盛顿奇才队后卫）杰伦·诺埃尔(Jaylen Nowell)交过手，他是一个很棒的得分手，”韦斯利在谈到这位六年级职业球员时说道。诺埃尔在其职业生涯中场均得到8.9分，而在华盛顿大学的两个赛季中，他场均得到16.1分。
“整个夏天我每天都在防守他，”韦斯利说。“试着去限制他。我们在拉斯维加斯的Impact训练，进行了一对一的较量。他让我为这个赛季做好了准备。”
韦斯利被波波维奇称为球队“最优秀的防守球员”之一，他在周一的比赛中证明了自己夏天与诺埃尔的训练是值得的。
“我真的很喜欢布雷克和（新秀后卫）斯蒂芬·卡斯尔(Steph Castle)在场上防守，追着对手跑，”波波维奇说。“他们在这一点上有一种很棒的心态。希望这能感染到其他球员。”
卡斯尔说，他和韦斯利在夏季的公开训练中，试图以球队最佳持球防守者的身份树立榜样。
“在（星期一）的一次暂停中，教练说他特别希望我们两个人加强防守，我觉得我们做到了，”卡斯尔说。
卡斯尔说，如果波波维奇在常规赛中要求他们也这样做，他不会感到惊讶。
“布雷克有速度，我也可以做到这一点，而且我还可以利用我的身体素质，这是我们两个人都具备的出色技能，”卡斯尔说。
韦斯利还送出了全队最高的7次助攻，而失误只有1次，这显然是为了在波波维奇的轮换阵容中赢得一席之地。
“他度过了一个很棒的夏天，”波波维奇说。“他今晚打得很好。”
老将后卫给波波维奇留下深刻印象
五年级后卫马拉基·弗林(Malachi Flynn)在对阵雷霆队的比赛中的表现也赢得了波波维奇的赞扬。
弗林以一份一年期的无保障合同参加了训练营，他在8分钟内4投3中得到9分。他还贡献了2次助攻、2次抢断和1次盖帽。
“他的训练营表现很好，”波波维奇说。“他是个硬汉。他投篮很准。他从不畏惧。他训练非常刻苦。考虑到他上场时间有限，我认为他做得很好。”
2024年10月7日，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布雷克·韦斯利(Blake Wesley)（14号）在俄克拉荷马城雷霆队前锋亚当·弗拉格勒(Adam Flagler)（14号）面前护住球。马刺队以107-112负于雷霆队。
2024年2月8日，佛罗里达州奥兰多，在NBA常规赛的下半场，奥兰多魔术队后卫科尔·安东尼(Cole Anthony)（50号）从圣安东尼奥马刺队中锋维克托·文班亚马(Victor Wembanyama)（1号）手中断球，当时文班亚马正试图突破中锋莫里茨·瓦格纳(Moritz Wagner)（左）的防守。（美联社照片/约翰·劳克斯）
2024年10月7日，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，圣安东尼奥马刺队中锋维克托·文班亚马(Victor Wembanyama)（1号）和前锋哈里森·巴恩斯(Harrison Barnes)（40号）在观看队友对阵俄克拉荷马城雷霆队的比赛时交谈。马刺队以107-112负于雷霆队。
2024年2月8日，佛罗里达州奥兰多，在NBA常规赛的下半场，奥兰多魔术队中锋莫里茨·瓦格纳(Moritz Wagner)（左下）试图阻止圣安东尼奥马刺队中锋维克托·文班亚马(Victor Wembanyama)（上）得分，被判犯规。（美联社照片/约翰·劳克斯）
点击查看原文：Wembanyama set to make preseason debut against Magic
Wembanyama set to make preseason debut against Magic
San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) smiles as he sits between his new teammates guard Chris Paul (3) and forward Harrison Barnes (40) during the second 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. The Spurs fell to the Thunder, 112-107.
Victor Wembanyama and Chris Paul had an ongoing conversation on the bench during the Spurs’ 112-107 loss to Oklahoma City on Monday night.
A case can be made that the 20-year-old French star gained more from picking the brain of the 39-year-old future Hall of Fame point guard than he would have from playing in the exhibition.
On Wednesday, Wembanyama will get a chance to put into action what he learned from Paul after they sat out the preseason opener to rest following a tough opening week of training camp and, in the case of Wembanyama, a busy summer that included starring for France at the Olympics.
The Spurs announced Tuesday that Wembanyama and Paul will make their preseason debuts against the Magic at the Frost Bank Center.
The other players in street clothes Monday were guard Devin Vassell (recovery from foot surgery in June), forward/center Zach Collins (recovery from shoulder surgery in April), center Charles Bassey (recovery from knee surgery last December) and guard David Duke Jr. (hip).
“Dings, rest, a little bit of everything,” Popovich said in explaining why the six didn’t suit up. “Nothing major.”
The coach said Vassell is on schedule to return in the “first part of the season” after his surgery to repair a rare injury the Spurs described as a stress reaction of the third metatarsal head in his right foot.
“It was a very strange injury,” Popovich said. “We were told it was rare and has not been seen very often in any sport. So, we really didn’t know what would be a quick comeback or a slow comeback. But I know he is sick of being in the weight room and doing everything they are making him do in there.”
Vassell will be re-evaluated Nov. 1, a week after the season opener.
“He is at least running up and down the court now and hopefully we will get him back in the first part of the season,” Popovich said.
Popovich said Collins and Bassey have “progressed well” and are doing five-on-five work in practice. They likely will play later in the preseason.
“We have been really concerned that we didn’t want them to come back too quickly and then something happens and we lose them for an extended period,” Popovich said.
San Antonio Spurs guard Chris Paul (3), center Victor Wembanyama (1), forward Harrison Barnes (40) and forward Keldon Johnson (0) talk as they watch their teammates take on the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second half of a 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.
Wesley, Castle singled out for defense
After finishing last season strong on the defensive end, guard Blake Wesley looked for a way to improve even more.
He found it in Las Vegas at the basketball club Impact Basketball.
“It’s kind of hard to work on defense in the summer, but I played against (Washington Wizards guard) Jaylen Nowell, and he’s a great scorer,” Wesley said of the sixth-year pro who has averaged 8.9 points per game for his career after averaging 16.1 in two seasons at the University of Washington.
“I guarded him every day during the summer,” Wesley said. “Just tried to contain him. We worked out at Vegas at Impact and played one on one. He prepared me for the season.”
Labeled as one of the team’s “better defenders” by Popovich, Wesley showed Monday his summer work with Nowell was time well spent.
“I really enjoyed Blake and (rookie guard) Steph Castle playing ‘D’ out there, getting after people,” Popovich said. “They have a great mentality that way. Hopefully, that will infuse to some other players.”
Castle said he and Wesley tried to set a tone in open gym during the summer as the team’s best on-ball defenders.
“Coming into a timeout (Monday), coach said he wanted us two specifically to kind of up it defensively, and I felt like we executed on it,” Castle said.
Castle said he wouldn’t be surprised if Popovich calls on them to do the same during the regular season.
“With the speed Blake has and me being able to do the same thing and also use my physicality, it’s a great skill we both have,” Castle said.
Wesley also dished out a team-high seven assists against only one turnover, in a clear bid for landing a spot in Popovich’s rotation.
“He’s had a great summer,” Popovich said. “He played well tonight.”
Veteran guard impresses Popovich
Fifth-year guard Malachi Flynn’s performance against the Thunder also drew praise from Popovich.
Flynn, who is in camp on a one-year, non-guaranteed contract, finished with nine points on 3-of-4 shooting from the field in eight minutes. He also had two assists, two steals and a block.
“He’s had a good camp,” Popovich said. “He’s a tough nut. He shoots the heck out of the ball. He takes no prisoners. He works very hard. With the limited time he had, I thought he did well.”
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.
Orlando Magic guard Cole Anthony (50) strips the ball from the hands of San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) who was trying to go past center Moritz Wagner, left, during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) and forward Harrison Barnes (40) talk as they watch their teammates take on the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second half of a 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.
Orlando Magic center Moritz Wagner, bottom left, is charged with a foul as he tries to stop San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama, top, from making a basket during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
By Tom Orsborn, Staff writer, via San Antonio Express-News