By Devon Birdsong | Pounding The Rock (PtR), 2024-10-21 21:00:00
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。
马刺现在需要更像费边,而不是汉尼拔
啊,秋天。每当秋风萧瑟,年轻人的心思便从海边娱乐转向啤酒花园、篮球和罗马第二次布匿战争的战役。
我知道你们一直翘首以盼,想知道我们如何将罗马帝国征服的经验应用到职业篮球运动中。毕竟,男人们似乎每天都在想着罗马帝国。而这还只是人口的一半。
过去,你们曾多次问我们(实际上一次都没有),为什么我们的内容没有更多来自古典历史的实用和战略指导。不要担心。这就是我们在“Pounding the Rock”所做的;满足您在体育(和历史)方面的每一个需求。你们的呼声并没有被忽视。但首先,请允许我快速总结一下马刺休赛期的大部分操作:
- 马刺签下了克里斯·保罗,并选中了斯蒂芬·卡斯尔(Stephon Castle)。从理论上讲,这给了他们足够的阵容深度,让他们在任何时候都能让一个真正打过控球后卫的球员来组织进攻。
- 马刺交易得到了哈里森·巴恩斯,这又增加了一名能够稳定地投进远距离投篮并打出稳固防守的球员。然而,他们并没有留下赛迪·奥斯曼,所以从阵容深度上来说,这在很大程度上是一次“洗牌”。
- 马刺没有在选秀或交易中得到另一名替补中锋。如果凶悍但脆弱的扎克·科林斯再次遭遇任何程度的伤病,他们会再次发现自己在5号位上捉襟见肘。
我提到这些并不是要谴责圣安东尼奥的休赛期操作,而是将其作为值得关注的点。而且在很大程度上,是为了抑制我在互联网上看到的一些关于球队/赛季的过高期望。
你可能会问,这与古罗马有什么关系?
具体来说,一点关系都没有。但象征意义上呢?好吧,让我们看看我能把这个比喻延伸到什么程度。
公元前218年初冬,当汉尼拔(Hannibal)和他的大象从意大利北部阿尔卑斯山的山脚下出现时,这在当时的世界引起了轩然大波。不难想象这是为什么。到这个时候,罗马共和国已经根基稳固,并且仍在积极扩张。罗马正处于强势崛起时期,赢得了邻国的敬畏和钦佩。他们的军事力量已经相当强大,让他们感到意外是根本不可能的事。
汉尼拔试图(并成功地)在冬天率领一支军队穿越阿尔卑斯山,这本身就令人印象深刻。他打了罗马人一个措手不及,并入侵了他们的家园,这是不可想象的。(想象一下,你是一名罗马乡村警卫,正在值班,却亲眼目睹了你见过的第一头大象从白雪皑皑的山脉背景中出现)
对罗马人来说,他们对事态的发展感到恼火是可以理解的。他们原本打算利用整个春季时间集结一支入侵部队,目的是征服汉尼拔的祖国迦太基。说这对他们的计划造成了一点阻碍,那是轻描淡写。
此外,罗马人在军事上也异常混乱。鉴于通常的做法是让他们的军队回家过冬,他们的军队基本上处于解散和毫无准备的状态,无法发动战争,更不用说抵御发生在自己国土上的入侵了。结果,汉尼拔迅速取得了进展,赢得了一系列胜利,并从先前被罗马人征服的部落中获得了更多的士兵。
当罗马的将军们尽其所能地匆忙集结军队,准备在战场上与他会面时,他的军队却在不断壮大。汉尼拔逐一地摧毁了集结起来的军队,要么是凭借 superior 的数量和机动性,要么是通过伏击和对傲慢自大的罗马军队指挥部的巧妙挑衅。
随着恐慌情绪达到顶峰,汉尼拔迅速逼近罗马城门,元老院决定任命一名临时独裁官——这是危机时期由来已久的传统。他们选择了谁呢?罗马前两届执政官,昆图斯·费边·马克西姆斯(Quintus Fabius Maximus)。
他们选择费边·马克西姆斯,既是出于无奈,也是出于滑稽。费边长期以来被认为性格温和,说话缓慢,在行政管理方面备受尊敬。他以谨慎著称,而不是他的激情,这在军事意义上被认为是一个相对的弱点。
事实上,在对付汉尼拔的军队时,他已经建议元老院和罗马的将军们采取更加防御性的策略。在观察和研究了每一次越来越大的失败后,他越来越确信汉尼拔的军事实力和他更加谨慎的战略的合理性。
费边在接管了罗马军队残部后,将军队分成规模较小的部队,并部署了一种我们现在更常称为游击战的战术。
他命令罗马军队攻击汉尼拔军队的边缘地带,在造成损失后撤退,只有在丘陵和山区,并且在兵力占优的情况下才全面交战。最重要的是,他命令他们摧毁汉尼拔军队附近的任何农作物,并在可能的情况下攻击他的补给线。
结果,罗马人开始赢得规模虽小但具有破坏性的胜利。汉尼拔无法建立围攻罗马所需的防御工事和补给线。而且,渐渐地,汉尼拔的非迦太基士兵开始开小差,返回家园。
由于没有主要的罗马军团与之对抗,而且他的军队也在减少,汉尼拔的剩余军队变成了没有威胁的军队,因为罗马人重建了他们的军队,无法围攻他们的首都,甚至无法在不对其补给线构成威胁的情况下前进。
利用他们争取到的时间,罗马人得以组建了十几支军团(10万多人),并在公元前205年,普布利乌斯·科尼利厄斯·西庇阿(也被称为西庇阿·阿非利加努斯)被任命为一支志愿军军队的指挥官,他随后用这支军队入侵迦太基,并摧毁了他们的庄稼、补给和城市。
在占领意大利13年之后,汉尼拔被迫两手空空地 sailed 回到迦太基。两年后,他在扎马战役中遭遇了他对罗马人的唯一一次重大失败。迦太基沦陷了。战争结束了。罗马宣布自己成为当时的统治世界大国。
那么,这与圣安东尼奥马刺队有什么关系呢?他们与第二次布匿战争相隔2000多年和5834英里。
在某些方面,一切都有关系。
马刺在这个比喻中就是罗马。他们是根基稳固的赢家,但还没有达到凯尔特人和湖人队那样高不可攀的高度。毫无疑问,在过去的25年里,马刺队大部分时间都在NBA历史上留下了自己的印记。
然而,目前他们正站在悬崖边上。最近,他们得到了一位年轻且仍在成长中的篮球“半神”,但仍有一些决定要做,还有一些路线要规划。
关于维克多·文班亚马(Victor Wembanyama)和马刺队交织在一起的未来的看法截然不同。马刺队是否应该现在就采取更积极的行动,试图早日获得成功,并充分利用他仍然合理的菜鸟合同和年轻的身体?或者马刺队应该放慢脚步,继续逐步建队,希望在未来更长时间、更可持续地达到顶峰?
这是一个公平的问题,仅仅通过回顾蒂姆·邓肯的职业生涯和圣安东尼奥最近的过去,并不能轻易地解决这个问题。我建议我们回到更久远的过去,问问自己,昆图斯·费边·马克西姆斯会怎么做?
毕竟,是费边为罗马最伟大的胜利之一奠定了基础,而这场胜利就发生在他们可能遭遇最大失败的边缘。人们很容易不知道,正是这种策略(今天被世界各地的军队称为费边主义战略)招致了当时罗马民众、将军和政治家的嘲笑和蔑视。
“拖延者”,他们给费边·马克西姆斯起了这样一个绰号(这仍然是有史以来最难听的军事绰号之一)——“拖延者”,他们确信,尽管他在年轻时就取得了辉煌的军事胜利,但他已经失去了战斗的勇气;他已经忘记了如何取胜。
随着时间的推移,他们指责他不作为,指责他懦弱,最后指责他叛国。而费边始终平静地巩固和重建军队,比他的将军同僚和政治对手,最终也比汉尼拔本人更持久。
如果这一切听起来很耳熟,甚至是最近才发生的,或者让你想起了某个老人的身影,那很可能是有原因的。
除了今年之外,还有一个真正的问题是,如何处理银黑军团堆积如山的闪光资产。在某个时刻,就像第二次布匿战争一样,马刺队将不得不采取积极的行动,将不得不把指挥权交给他们自己的西庇阿·阿非利加努斯,将不得不入侵迦太基。
但就目前而言,最好的办法是战略性地拖延。
在新任的精明球场将军和一位老练但仍然老谋深算的最高指挥官的领导下,马刺队本赛季将不得不选择他们的时机。他们不能再像过去几年那样输球了。他们将不得不适应更新的战略和不断变化的环境,并学习如何最大限度地利用他们的数字来战胜逆境和 superior 的力量。作为一个整体,作为一个团队,他们还有很多东西要学。
他们的胜利将是微弱的、安静的,不会势如破竹。很可能会有一种压倒一切的感觉,那就是他们只是在等待时机。毫无疑问,普通民众和外部批评者会感到不安。但至少在今年,通往长期胜利的道路是清晰的。
就像罗马的情况一样,时间将会摧毁他们的对手,并使马刺队恢复实力。援军正在赶来,大军正在等待。
到费边·马克西姆斯独裁官任期结束时,无论是在战场上还是在国内,形势都已经发生了逆转。罗马在他极不受欢迎的战略下得以保全,这证明了他的才华横溢,而“拖延者”的绰号也成为罗马人民心目中的一个荣誉称号。
费边后来又三次当选执政官,在离任后被保留了一个永久的政府席位,并在他的余生中被称为“罗马之盾”。他在战争正式结束前不久,在汉尼拔离开意大利海岸后不久病倒去世。
根据传说,他的墓碑上刻着这样一句话:unus homo nobis cunctando restituit rem——“一个人,用拖延的方式,为我们恢复了国家”。
正如罗马人自己所承认的那样,英雄主义和才华有多种形式。时间可以让大多数人看清真相。我想知道,15年后,马刺队的球迷们会清楚地看到什么。
本赛季主题曲:
罗马不是一天建成的,演唱者:萨姆·库克
作者/编辑注:本文的部分灵感来自詹姆斯·汉森为SBNation的SLC Dunk撰写的优秀文章。
点击查看原文:What the Spurs can learn from Hannibal, Fabius Maximus, and Rome’s Second Punic War
What the Spurs can learn from Hannibal, Fabius Maximus, and Rome’s Second Punic War
The Spurs need to be more like Fabius than Hannibal, for now
Ah, the Fall. That russet time of year when a young man’s fancies turn from coastal recreation to biergartens, basketball, and the battles of Rome’s 2nd Punic War.
I know you’ve all been on the edge of your seats wondering how we could apply the lessons of Roman imperial conquest to the sport of professional basketball. After all, men think about the Roman Empire every day it seems. And that’s just half the population.
In the past you’ve asked us so many times (realistically, not even once) why our content doesn’t feature more practical and strategic guidance from classical history. Never fear. That’s what we do here at Pounding the Rock; catering to your every sporting (and historical) need. Your cries have not gone unheeded. But first, allow me to quickly sum up most of the Spurs’ offseason:
- The Spurs signed Chris Paul and drafted Stephon Castle. In theory, this gives them enough depth to have a player who has actually played point guard running the point at all times.
- The Spurs traded for Harrison Barnes, which adds another player who can reliably convert from long distance and play solid defense. However, they did not retain Cedi Osman, so this largely profiles as a wash depth-wise for shooting.
- The Spurs did not draft or acquire another backup big man. Should the fierce-yet-frangible Zach Collins again sustain an injury of any length, they will again find themselves very thin at the 5.
I mention these points not as condemnation of San Antonio’s off-season, but rather as points of legitimate concern. And largely, to tamp down some of the loftier team/season expectations that I’ve seen circulating about the interwebs.
What does any of this have to do with ancient Rome, you ask?
Specifically, not a damn thing. Symbolically, though? Well, let’s see just how far I can stretch this metaphor.
When Hannibal and his elephants emerged from the base of the Alps in northern Italy, in the early winter of 218 BC, it sent a shockwave though the world at the time. It’s not hard to imagine why. By this time the Roman Republic was both well established, and still aggressively expanding. Powerfully on the rise, Rome had won the fear and admiration of neighboring countries. Their military might was already considerable and surprising them was something that simply wasn’t done.
That Hannibal had attempted (and succeeded) in crossing an entire army across the Alps in the winter was impressive enough. That he had caught the Romans off guard and invaded their homeland was unthinkable. (Imagine being a rural Roman guard on watch and witnessing the first elephant you’ve ever seen emerging from the backdrop of a snowy mountain range)
For their part, the Romans were understandably peeved by this development. They had intended to spend the spring building up an invading force with the intent of conquering Hannibal’s native Carthage. To say that this put a bit of a hitch in their plans would be quite the understatement.
Additionally, the Romans were unusually disorganized militarily. Seeing as it was customary to send their troops home to winter quarters, their armies were largely unassembled and unprepared to wage war, much less defend an invasion taking place on their own ground. As a result, Hannibal gained ground quickly, winning a series of victories, as well as additional fighting men from tribes previously conquered by the Romans.
His army swelled as Rome’s generals did their best to hastily assemble armies to meet him on the battlefield. One by one Hannibal decimated the assembled forces, either by superior numbers and maneuverability or through ambushes and the shrewd provocation of an arrogant and self-assured Roman military command.
With panic reaching a fever-pitch, and Hannibal rapidly advancing on the gates of Rome, the senate elected to appoint a temporary dictator — a time-honored tradition in times of crisis. Their selection? A former two-time consul of Rome, Quintus Fabius Maximus.
Their choice of Fabius Maximus was equal parts desperate and amusing. Long considered to be mild of temper and slow of speech, Fabius was well-respected when it came to more administrative governing matters. He was known for his prudence rather than his passions and this was something that was considered a relative weakness in the military sense.
He had, in fact, already advised the senate and Rome’s generals to take a more defensive approach when dealing with Hannibal’s forces. Observing and studying each mounting defeat, he became more and more certain of both Hannibal’s military prowess and the soundness of his more cautious strategy.
Upon taking charge of what remained of Rome’s forces, Fabius split the army up into smaller units and deployed a tactic we now more commonly refer to as guerrilla warfare.
He ordered Rome’s forces to attack the fringes of Hannibal’s army, to retreat after inflicting damage, and only fully engage when in the hills and mountains, and when sure of numerical advantage. And most of all he ordered them to destroy any crops near Hannibal’s men and to attack his supply lines whenever able.
As a result, the Romans began to win small but disruptive victories. Hannibal was unable to set up the entrenchments and supply lines necessary for a siege of Rome. And, little by little, Hannibal’s non-Carthaginian soldiers began to desert and return to their homes.
With no primary Roman legions to oppose, and his forces decreasing, Hannibal’s remaining army was rendered a non-threat as Rome rebuilt their military, unable to lay siege to their capital, or even advance without threat to his supply lines.
With the time they were able to carve out, Rome was able to raise over a dozen legions (100,000+ men), and in 205 BC Publius Cornelius Scipio (also known as Scipio Africanus) was given command of an army of volunteers, which in a karmic twist he then used to invade Carthage and lay waste to their crops, supplies, and cities.
After 13 years of occupying Italy, Hannibal was forced to sail back to Carthage empty-handed. Two years later he suffered his only significant defeat in battle to the Romans at the Battle of Zama. Carthage had fallen. The war was over. And Rome had announced itself as the dominant world power of the time.
And what does that have to do with the San Antonio Spurs, 2000+ years and 5,834 miles separated from the 2nd Punic War?
In some ways, everything.
The Spurs are Rome in this metaphor. Well-established winners not yet vaulted to the lofty heights of the Celtics and Lakers. There can be no question that the Spurs have spent most of the last 25 years making their mark on NBA history.
Currently, however, they stand at a precipice. Recently gifted a youthful and still-developing basketball demigod, there are decisions still to be made, and courses still to be charted.
Opinions on the subject of Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs’ entwined futures are sharply divided. Should the Spurs make more aggressive moves now, in an attempt to strike gold early and often, and make the most of his still-reasonable rookie contract and youthful body? Or should the Spurs slow-play this, and continue to build gradually, hoping to peak longer and more sustainably in the future?
It’s a fair question, and one not easily solved by looking into the career of Timothy Theodore Duncan and San Antonio’s recent past. I suggest we go back much, much further, and ask ourselves, what would Quintus Fabius Maximus do?
It was Fabius after all who would set the stage for one of Rome greatest victories, on the doorstep of what could have been their greatest defeat. It’s easy not to know that it was that very strategy (today known to militaries everywhere as the Fabian Strategy) that earned the scorn and mockery of the Roman populace, generals, and politicians of the time.
‘Cunctator’ they dubbed Fabius Maximus (still one of the hardest military nicknames of all time) – ‘The Delayer’, convinced that he had lost his stomach for conflict in spite of the brilliant military victories he’d won in his youth; that he’d forgotten how to win.
As time went on they accused him of inactivity, of cowardice, and eventually, of treasonous conduct. All the while Fabius calmly bolstered and rebuilt the military, outlasting the aggression and recklessness of his fellow generals and political opponents, and eventually Hannibal himself.
If any of this sounds familiar, even recent, or is drawing up the figure of an aging silhouette, there’s probably a reason why.
Beyond this year there’s a real question of what to do with the Silver and Black’s mound of twinkling assets. At some point, as in the case of the 2nd Punic War, the Spurs will have to make an aggressive move, will have to give command over to their own Scipio Africanus, will have to invade Carthage.
For now though, it’s best to strategically delay.
Led by shrewd new on-court generals, and an aging but still canny high command, the Spurs will have to pick their spots this season. They cannot afford to lose the way that they have in past years. They’ll have to adapt to newer strategies and a changing landscape and learn how to maximize their numbers to win against the odds and superior forces. There’s still so much to learn as a unit – as a team.
Their victories will be narrow, and quiet, and less than overwhelming. There will likely be an overriding sense that they’re just biding time. There will undoubtedly be unrest in the general populace and from exterior critics. For at least this year though, the path to long-term victory is clear.
As in the case of Rome, time will be the undoing of their opposition, and the renewal of the Spurs’ strength. Reinforcement is coming, legions await.
By the end of Fabius Maximus’ term as dictator, the tides had turned, both on the battlefield and at home. Rome’s preservation at the hands of his highly unpopular strategy was proof of his brilliance, and the nickname ‘Cunctator’ became an honorific title among the people of Rome.
Fabius would be elected consul three more times, was reserved a permanent seat in government after leaving office, and spent the rest of his days referred to as ‘The Shield of Rome’. He fell ill and died before the official end of the war, shortly after Hannibal sailed away from the shores of Italy.
Per legend, his tomb bore the inscription: unus homo nobis cunctando restituit rem – “one man, by delaying, restored the state to us.”
As the Romans themselves acknowledged, heroism and brilliance take many forms. Time has a way of opening most eyes. I wonder what things Spurs fans will see clearly 15 years from now.
Playing You Out – The Theme Song of the Season:
Rome Wasn’t Built In A Day by Sam Cooke
Author/Editor’s Note: This article was partially inspired by James Hansen’s excellent piece for SBNation’s SLC Dunk.
By Devon Birdsong, via Pounding The Rock