By Jeff McDonald, Staff writer | San Antonio Express-News (SAEN), 2024-10-09 23:01:24
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。
在 2024 年 10 月 9 日星期三于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(Stephon Castle)（5 号）带球突破奥兰多魔术队前锋弗朗茨·瓦格纳(Franz Wagner)（22 号）。圣安东尼奥队以 107-97 击败奥兰多队。
周三，在第一节比赛还剩 52 秒时，整个圣安东尼奥似乎都在等待的时刻终于来临了。
克里斯·保罗(Chris Paul)身披马刺队球衣首次亮相，与同样迎来 NBA 季前赛首秀的维克托·文班亚马(Victor Wembanyama)打出一次底线挡拆配合。
两名奥兰多防守球员在他们之间陷入无人区，保罗将球抛向文班亚马，后者轻松完成扣篮，最终马刺队以 107-97 艰难取胜。
自保罗 7 月份与马刺队签约以来，马刺球迷一直梦想着空接之城能够重现，但这位全明星控球后卫表示：这并不像看起来那么容易。
“我不骗你们，”保罗说。“这样的配合也就出现过两次。”
在接下来的几个月里，保罗和文班的精彩配合可能会更多。保罗说，这是一个需要时间的过程。
在 2024 年 10 月 9 日星期三于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托·文班亚马扣篮。圣安东尼奥队以 107-97 击败奥兰多队。
就目前而言，那些周三出现在弗罗斯特银行中心的球迷原本希望看到保罗和文班亚马备受期待的首秀，但最终却见证了斯蒂芬·卡斯尔的闪亮登场。
这位 4 号秀最终砍下 17 分和 4 次助攻。与前两天马刺队季前赛首战负于俄克拉荷马城雷霆队的比赛相比，卡斯尔在本场比赛中将失误数从 6 次减少到 1 次。
“我觉得我比上一场比赛进步了一点，”卡斯尔说。
与此同时，文班亚马得到 11 分、9 个篮板和 4 次盖帽。他 15 投 4 中，其中三分球 5 投 0 中。保罗得到 5 分、3 次助攻和 2 次抢断。
尽管如此，卡斯尔还是周三马刺队中最引人注目的球员，他在攻防两端都 wreaking havoc。
卡斯尔在上半场有一个精彩的片段，他先是抢断了魔术队全明星球员保罗·班切罗(Paolo Banchero)的球，然后在另一端命中一记三分球。
卡斯尔本场比赛三分球 5 投 2 中，对于一个进入 NBA 时外線投篮受到质疑的球员来说，这已经是一条不错的成绩单了。
“这是我一直以来努力训练的结果，”卡斯尔说。“我的队友们对我超级有信心，他们希望我出手投篮。”
杰里米·索汉(Jeremy Sochan)和朱利安·尚帕尼(Julian Champagnie)分别为马刺队贡献 12 分，他们在上半场一度落后 17 分的情况下后来居上。
杰特·霍华德(Jett Howard)得到 19 分，领跑魔术队。
以下是周三比赛胜利的三点启示，马刺队将以季前赛 1 胜 1 负的战绩迎接周六对阵犹他爵士队的比赛：
- 马刺球星需要除锈
自 8 月份帮助法国队获得巴黎奥运会银牌以来，文班亚马还没有参加过竞技比赛。保罗自 4 月份效力于金州勇士队以来就没有打过比赛。
长时间的休息让他们显得有些生疏。
两名球员都花了一段时间才进入状态。
文班亚马在第一节比赛中 5 投 1 中，得到 3 分和 2 次失误。他唯一的进球来自保罗的空中接力。
保罗在马刺队的第一次出场没有记录到任何数据——没有得分，没有篮板，没有助攻，没有抢断，没有失误，没有投篮出手，什么都没有——然后在第一节结束时 1 投 0 中。
“只是要回到比赛状态，”文班亚马说。“已经过去五、六个月了。”
一旦摆脱了生锈，两名球员都至少能够展现出马刺队希望他们一起完成任务的影子。
这只是时间问题。
在 2024 年 10 月 9 日星期三于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）试图抢断奥兰多魔术队前锋弗朗茨·瓦格纳（22 号）的传球。圣安东尼奥队以 107-97 击败奥兰多队。
- 卡斯尔可能会成为罚球机器
对于波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)来说，卡斯尔当晚的明星表现最棒的地方在于他的侵略性。
“总的来说，他是个硬汉，”波波维奇说。“他很积极主动。无论进攻还是防守，他总是充满侵略性。”
在周三的比赛中，这种进攻侵略性让这位十几岁的菜鸟获得了频频走上罚球线的机会。
卡斯尔对节奏的掌控，以及冲击篮筐的力量和侵略性，应该会让罚球线成为他本赛季的朋友。
在康涅狄格大学的唯一一个大学赛季中，他场均出手 3.2 次罚球。如果马刺队按他们的方式打球，卡斯尔本赛季的罚球次数可能会大大增加。
问问保罗就知道了，他曾在为数不多的几次情况下斥责卡斯尔没有选择冲击内线。
“我把球传到前面，他没有突破，”保罗说。“我说，‘你在干什么？每次你杀进内线都会有好事情发生。’”
在 2024 年 10 月 9 日星期三于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(Blake Wesley)（14 号）从奥兰多魔术队前锋杰伦·斯劳森(Jalen Slawson)（18 号）手中抢下防守篮板。圣安东尼奥队以 107-97 击败奥兰多队。
- 马姆、韦斯利可能会迫使波波做出选择
一旦马刺队的阵容完全健康，波波维奇将不得不做出一些决定，从 10 名球员中选出可能出现在每晚轮换阵容中的球员。
在训练营开始的时候，布莱克·韦斯利和桑德罗·马穆克拉什维利(Sandro Mamukelashvili)可能并不在名单上。
在季前赛进行了两场比赛后，这两名球员都开始为自己争取机会。
马穆克拉什维利周三得到 9 分，三分球 6 投 3 中。在季前赛的前两场比赛中，他三分球 10 投 6 中。
马刺队迫切需要能够在外线稳定输出的球员。如果马穆克拉什维利继续保持这样的命中率，就很难把他排除在轮换阵容之外。
“如果他能继续投出这样的球，我们就必须认真考虑他，”波波维奇说。
与此同时，韦斯利迎来了他在 NBA 的第三个季前赛，他的表现连续第二场稳健。
他得到 5 分和 5 次助攻，并继续为马刺队的第二阵容带来防守强度。在前两场季前赛中，这位 21 岁的球员在送出 12 次助攻的同时仅出现 1 次失误。
对于韦斯利来说，这是一个在正式比赛开始后获得更多出场时间的良方。
在 2024 年 10 月 9 日星期三于弗罗斯特银行中心举行的 NBA 季前赛上半场，圣安东尼奥马刺队教练格雷格·波波维奇与后卫克里斯·保罗（3 号）和中锋维克托·文班亚马（1 号）交谈。圣安东尼奥队以 107-97 击败奥兰多队。
在 2024 年 10 月 9 日星期三于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杰里米·索汉（10 号）与奥兰多魔术队后卫科尔·安东尼(Cole Anthony)（50 号）争抢球权。圣安东尼奥队以 107-97 击败奥兰多队。
在 2024 年 10 月 9 日星期三于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克里斯·保罗（3 号）带球突破奥兰多魔术队后卫杰伦·萨格斯(Jalen Suggs)（4 号）。圣安东尼奥队以 107-97 击败奥兰多队。
在 2024 年 10 月 9 日星期三于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托·文班亚马（1 号）试图封盖奥兰多魔术队中锋戈加·比塔泽(Goga Bitadze)（35 号）的投篮。圣安东尼奥队以 107-97 击败奥兰多队。
在 2024 年 10 月 9 日星期三于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托·文班亚马（1 号）在奥兰多魔术队前锋保罗·班切罗（5 号）面前投篮。圣安东尼奥队以 107-97 击败奥兰多队。
在 2024 年 10 月 9 日星期三于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朱利安·尚帕尼（30 号）带球突破奥兰多魔术队前锋弗朗茨·瓦格纳（22 号）。圣安东尼奥队以 107-97 击败奥兰多队。
在 2024 年 10 月 9 日星期三于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杰里米·索汉在奥兰多魔术队前锋保罗·班切罗（5 号）面前扣篮。圣安东尼奥队以 107-97 击败奥兰多队。
在 2024 年 10 月 9 日星期三于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（右）试图在奥兰多魔术队中锋莫里茨·瓦格纳(Moritz Wagner)面前投篮。圣安东尼奥队以 107-97 击败奥兰多队。
在 2024 年 10 月 9 日星期三于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杰里米·索汉（10 号）持球进攻篮筐。圣安东尼奥队以 107-97 击败奥兰多队。
在 2024 年 10 月 9 日星期三于弗罗斯特银行中心举行的 NBA 季前赛上半场，圣安东尼奥马刺队教练格雷格·波波维奇与后卫克里斯·保罗交谈。圣安东尼奥队以 107-97 击败奥兰多队。
在 2024 年 10 月 9 日星期三于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哈里森·巴恩斯(Harrison Barnes)（40 号）在奥兰多魔术队后卫杰伦·萨格斯（4 号）面前投篮。圣安东尼奥队以 107-97 击败奥兰多队。
在 2024 年 10 月 9 日星期三于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克里斯·保罗（3 号）带球突破奥兰多魔术队后卫杰伦·萨格斯（4 号）。圣安东尼奥队以 107-97 击败奥兰多队。
在 2024 年 10 月 9 日星期三于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）防守奥兰多魔术队后卫科尔·安东尼（50 号）。圣安东尼奥队以 107-97 击败奥兰多队。
在 2024 年 10 月 9 日星期三于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）试图从奥兰多魔术队后卫麦克·麦克朗(Mac McClung)（8 号）手中抢断球权。圣安东尼奥队以 107-97 击败奥兰多队。
在 2024 年 10 月 9 日星期三于弗罗斯特银行中心举行的 NBA 季前赛下半场，马刺队的吉祥物土狼向观众席投掷 T 恤。圣安东尼奥队以 107-97 击败奥兰多队。
在 2024 年 10 月 9 日星期三于弗罗斯特银行中心举行的 NBA 季前赛下半场，圣安东尼奥马刺队前锋西迪·西索科(Sidy Cissoko)（25 号）防守奥兰多魔术队后卫麦克·麦克朗（8 号）。圣安东尼奥队以 107-97 击败奥兰多队。
点击查看原文：3 takeaways as Castle steals show as Spurs, Wembanyama defeat Magic
3 takeaways as Castle steals show as Spurs, Wembanyama defeat Magic
San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) drives past Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner (22) during the first half of their NBA preseason game with Orlando at the Frost Bank Center on Wednesday, Oct 9, 2024. San Antonio beat Orlando 107-97.
The moment seemingly all of San Antonio had been waiting for occurred with 52 seconds left in the first quarter Wednesday.
Chris Paul, playing in his first game in a Spurs uniform, ran a baseline pick and roll with Victor Wembanyama, who was playing in his first game of the NBA preseason.
A pair of Orlando defenders got lost in no man’s land between them, leading Paul to loft the ball to Wembanyama for an easy-does-it dunk in what became a hard-earned 107-97 Spurs victory.
For Spurs fans who had been dreaming of a Lob City redux since Paul signed with the Spurs in July, the All-Star point guard is here to say: It isn’t as easy-does-it as it looks.
“I aint going to lie to y’all,” Paul said. “There hasn’t been but like two.”
There will likely be more Paul-to-Wemby highlights in the months to come. It is a process that takes time, Paul said.
San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama dunks a ball during the first half of their NBA preseason game with Orlando at the Frost Bank Center on Wednesday, Oct 9, 2024. San Antonio beat Orlando 107-97.
For now, fans who showed up to the Frost Bank Center on Wednesday hoping to see the much-anticipated debuts of Paul and Wembanyama left instead witness to Stephon Castle’s coming out party.
The No. 4 overall pick ended with 17 points and four assists. Castle cut his turnovers from six in the Spurs’ preseason-opening loss to Oklahoma City two nights earlier to one against the Magic.
“I feel like I took a step forward from last game,” Castle said.
Wembanyama, meanwhile, finished with 11 points, nine rebounds and four blocks. He was 4 of 15 from the floor, including 0 of 5 from the 3-point stripe. Paul have five points, three assists and a pair of steals.
Still, it was Castle who made the most waves for the Spurs on Wednesday, wreaking havoc at both ends of the court.
One interesting sequence from Castle came in the first half, when he ripped the ball from Magic All-Star Paolo Banchero on one end, then buried a deep 3-point shot on the other.
Castle made 2 of his 5 tries from beyond the 3-point line Wednesday, a serviceable line from a player who entered the NBA with questions about his perimeter shot.
“It’s the work I’ve been putting in, staying in the gym,” Castle said. “My teammates are super confident in me, and they want me to take those shots.”
Jeremy Sochan and Julian Champagnie added 12 points apiece for the Spurs, who trailed by as many as 17 points in the first half before rallying.
Jett Howard had 19 points to lead the Magic.
Here are three takeaways from Wednesday’s victory, which improved the Spurs to 1-1 in preseason play heading into Saturday’s exhibition against Utah:
1. For Spurs stars, time to break out the Rust-Oleum
Wembanyama had not played in a competitive game since helping Team France win a silver medal at the Paris Olympics in August. Paul had not played since April, when he was with Golden State.
The layoff showed.
Both players took a while to ease into the action.
Wembanyama finished the first quarter 1 for 5 with three points and two turnovers. His only basket came on the lob from Paul.
Paul finished his first shift in a Spurs uniform without recording a statistic – no points, no rebounds, no assists, no steals, no turnovers, no field goal attempts, no nothing – then ended the first quarter 0 for 1 on one shot.
“Just getting back in the habits,” Wembanyama said. “It’s been five months, six months”
Once the rust began to wear off, both players were able to flash at least a semblance of what the Spurs hope they can accomplish together.
It just took a while.
San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) tries to steal a pass by Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner (22) during the first half of their NBA preseason game at the Frost Bank Center on Wednesday, Oct 9, 2024. San Antonio beat Orlando 107-97.
2. Castle might end up a free-throw machine
For Popovich, the best part of Castle’s star-turning night was his aggressiveness.
“Overall, he is a tough nut,” Popovich said. “He sticks his nose in. He’s aggressive all the time, whether it’s offense or defense.”
In Wednesday’s win, that offensive aggressiveness led to a foul line parade for the teenaged rookie.
Castle’s command of pace, as well as strength and aggressiveness to the basket, should make the free-throw line his friend this season.
He averaged 3.2 attempts per game in his lone college campaign at Connecticut. If the Spurs have their way, Castle could hit the line at a much greater clip this season.
Just ask Paul, who admonished Castle on one of the few occasions the youngster settled for not attacking the paint.
“I kicked the ball ahead to him and he didn’t drive,” Paul said. “I said, ‘What are you doing man? Every time you go in there something good happens.’"
San Antonio Spurs guard Blake Wesley (14) grabs a defensive rebound over Orlando Magic forward Jalen Slawson (18)during the second half of their NBA preseason game at the Frost Bank Center on Wednesday, Oct 9, 2024. San Antonio beat Orlando 107-97
3. Mamu, Wesley might force Pop’s hand
Once the Spurs get the roster fully healthy, Popovich is going to have some decisions to make when it comes to the 10 players who might be in a plausible night rotation.
At the beginning of camp, Blake Wesley and Sandro Mamukelashvili might not have been on the list.
Two games into the preseason, both players have begun to build a case for themselves.
Mamukelshavilli had nine points Wednesday, hitting 3 of 6 from the 3-point stripe. He is 6 of 10 from distance over the first two games of the preseason.
The Spurs are in dire need of players who can consistently put the ball in the hole from beyond the arc. If Mamukelshavilli continues to hit at anything near this pace, it will be difficult to keep him off the floor.
“That makes him somebody we have to look at very seriously if he is going to continue to make shots like that,” Popovich said.
Wesley, meanwhile, had his second straight solid outing to open his third NBA preseason.
He had five points and five assists, and continued to bring a defensive edge to the Spurs’ second unit. The 21-year-old Wesley has totaled 12 assists next to one turnover through the first two exhibition games.
For Wesley, that is a good formula for earning more minutes once the real games begin.
San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich talks to guard Chris Paul (3) and center Victor Wembanyama (1) during the first half of their NBA preseason game with Orlando at the Frost Bank Center on Wednesday, Oct 9, 2024. San Antonio beat Orlando 107-97.
San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan (10) battles for the ball with Orlando Magic guard Cole Anthony (50) during the first half of their NBA preseason game at the Frost Bank Center on Wednesday, Oct 9, 2024. San Antonio beat Orlando 107-97.
San Antonio Spurs guard Chris Paul (3) brings the ball upcourt past Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs (4) during the first half of their NBA preseason game at the Frost Bank Center on Wednesday, Oct 9, 2024. San Antonio beat Orlando 107-97.
San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) tries to block a shot by Orlando Magic center Goga Bitadze (35) during the first half of their NBA preseason game at the Frost Bank Center on Wednesday, Oct 9, 2024. San Antonio beat Orlando 107-97.
San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) shoots over Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (5) during the first half of their NBA preseason game at the Frost Bank Center on Wednesday, Oct 9, 2024. San Antonio beat Orlando 107-97.
San Antonio Spurs forward Julian Champagnie (30) drives past Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner (22) during the first half of their NBA preseason game at the Frost Bank Center on Wednesday, Oct 9, 2024. San Antonio beat Orlando 107-97.
San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan goes up for a dunk over Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (5) during the first half of their NBA preseason game at the Frost Bank Center on Wednesday, Oct 9, 2024. San Antonio beat Orlando 107-97.
San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle, right, tries to shoot over Orlando Magic center Moritz Wagner during the first half of their NBA preseason game at the Frost Bank Center on Wednesday, Oct 9, 2024. San Antonio beat Orlando 107-97.
San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan (10) goes to the basket during the first half of their NBA preseason game with Orlando at the Frost Bank Center on Wednesday, Oct 9, 2024. San Antonio beat Orlando 107-97.
San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich talks to guard Chris Paul during the first half of their NBA preseason game with Orlando at the Frost Bank Center on Wednesday, Oct 9, 2024. San Antonio beat Orlando 107-97.
San Antonio Spurs forward Harrison Barnes (40 shoots over Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs (4) during the first half of their NBA preseason game at the Frost Bank Center on Wednesday, Oct 9, 2024. San Antonio beat Orlando 107-97.
San Antonio Spurs guard Chris Paul (3) passes the ball past Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs (4) during the first half of their NBA preseason game at the Frost Bank Center on Wednesday, Oct 9, 2024. San Antonio beat Orlando 107-97.
San Antonio Spurs guard Blake Wesley (14) defends Orlando Magic guard Cole Anthony (50) during the second half of their NBA preseason game at the Frost Bank Center on Wednesday, Oct 9, 2024. San Antonio beat Orlando 107-97
San Antonio Spurs guard Blake Wesley (14) tries to steal the ball from Orlando Magic guard Mac McClung (8) during the second half of their NBA preseason game at the Frost Bank Center on Wednesday, Oct 9, 2024. San Antonio beat Orlando 107-97
The Spurs Coyote launches a T-shirt into the crowd during the second half of the San Antonio Spurs NBA preseason game with Orlando at the Frost Bank Center on Wednesday, Oct 9, 2024. San Antonio beat Orlando 107-97
San Antonio Spurs forward Sidy Cissoko (25) defends Orlando Magic guard Mac McClung (8) during the second half of their NBA preseason game at the Frost Bank Center on Wednesday, Oct 9, 2024. San Antonio beat Orlando 107-97
By Jeff McDonald, Staff writer, via San Antonio Express-News