By Jeff McDonald, Staff writer | San Antonio Express-News (SAEN), 2024-10-21 14:28:38
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 4 月 9 日，田纳西州孟菲斯，在联邦快递广场举行的下半场比赛中，圣安东尼奥马刺队的 14 号球员布雷克·韦斯利(Blake Wesley)在孟菲斯灰熊队的 14 号球员杰克·怀特面前上篮。
然而，当他穿上篮球短裤和运动鞋时，韦斯利就变成了他的另一个自我：闪电侠。
韦斯利从四年级起就有了这个绰号，当时他的一位业余体育联合会教练注意到，这个年轻人凭借他的速度在球场上跑动时，几乎留下了类似哔哔鸟的蒸汽痕迹。
“直到今天，他们仍然这么叫我，”21 岁的韦斯利说。“我不像其他人那么高大，所以我必须利用我的速度来获得优势。”
韦斯利花了两个赛季的时间才让自己有机会进入马刺队的轮换阵容。
为了实现这个目标，“闪电侠”首先必须学会放慢脚步。
“头两年，比赛对我来说在加速，”韦斯利说。“我觉得现在对我来说已经慢了很多。”
韦斯利是马刺队刚刚结束的季前赛中表现最出色的球员之一。他和其他人一样，都希望将这种势头带入常规赛，马刺队将于周四在达拉斯开启他们的常规赛之旅。
这位来自圣母大学的前首轮秀参加了全部五场季前赛，并在仅出现 6 次失误的情况下领衔马刺队，送出 25 次助攻。
与此同时，韦斯利在防守端的决心在训练营初期就引起了轰动。
“他在防守端全场紧逼对手、积极拼抢、抢断方面做得非常出色，”老将前锋哈里森·巴恩斯(Harrison Barnes)说。
稳定的季前赛表现似乎已经让身高 6 英尺 3 英寸的韦斯利在新赛季伊始就进入了替补阵容的争夺中。教练格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)经常将韦斯利与新秀斯蒂芬·卡斯尔(Stephon Castle)搭档后场，为马刺队的第二阵容带来防守优势。
波波维奇在整个季前赛中都发现了一个事实：只要召唤“闪电侠”，他就会迅速赶到。
以下是一些自训练营开始以来身价上涨或下跌的球员，需要注意的是，季前赛的表现并不总是能预测常规赛的表现：
德文·瓦塞尔（下跌）
瓦塞尔的赛季末开始无疑令人失望，但这只是一个小问题。一旦他满血回归赛场，预计瓦塞尔将延续上赛季场均 19.5 分的表现。
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 季前赛上半场，圣安东尼奥马刺队后卫克里斯·保罗（3 号）、维克多·文班亚马(Victor Wembanyama)（1 号）和德文·瓦塞尔（24 号）观看了他们的队友对阵俄克拉荷马城雷霆队的比赛。
朱利安·尚帕尼（上涨）
瓦塞尔的受伤让尚帕尼向前迈进了一步，他已经成为目前替代瓦塞尔首发阵容的最热门人选。
这位三年级侧翼球员在五场季前赛中场均得到 12.4 分，三分球命中率高达 42.1%（38 投 16 中）。
如果 23 岁的尚帕尼想要在瓦塞尔回归后还能获得上场时间，他就需要继续保持这样的节奏。
2024 年 10 月 15 日，佛罗里达州迈阿密，在凯塞亚中心举行的季前赛第三节比赛中，圣安东尼奥马刺队的 30 号球员朱利安·尚帕尼在迈阿密热火队的 14 号球员泰勒·希罗面前投篮。
哈里森·巴恩斯（下跌）
在休赛期与萨克拉门托国王队的交易中来到马刺队后，巴恩斯似乎已经锁定了马刺队的首发阵容，他在球队五场季前赛中均首发出战。
这位 32 岁的球员在这些比赛中场均得到 7.2 分，投篮命中率平平，只有 36.7%。唯一一位出场超过一场季前赛且投篮命中率更低的球员是谁？维克多·文班亚马(Victor Wembanyama)，他在两场季前赛中投篮命中率为 33%。
巴恩斯在马刺队的职业生涯开局缓慢，这也许并不令人意外。他当然不是第一个在季前赛中表现平平的经验丰富的老将。
由于上场时间有限，这位征战了 12 年的球员可能要考虑尽早找回常规赛的状态了。
2024 年 10 月 17 日，星期四，在休斯敦举行的 NBA 季前赛下半场，圣安东尼奥马刺队前锋哈里森·巴恩斯（40 号）在对阵休斯敦火箭队的比赛中投篮。（美联社照片/埃里克·克里斯蒂安·史密斯）
桑德罗·马穆克拉什维利（上涨）
对于一支过去两个赛季都只取得了 22 胜 60 负的球队来说，这似乎有些违反直觉，但马刺队在进入训练营时，有资格获得上场时间的球员人数超过了他们 10 人轮换阵容的名额。
马穆克拉什维利可能仍然会发现自己只能作壁上观，但他并非缺乏努力。这位 25 岁的替补前锋在季前赛中火力全开，22 次三分球出手命中了 12 次（54.5%）。
波波维奇曾谈到要为马穆克拉什维利争取一个固定的角色，但在马刺队唯一一场被视为全阵容预演的季前赛——周二对阵迈阿密热火队的比赛——这位身高 6 英尺 10 英寸的格鲁吉亚球员直到下半场才出场。
马穆克拉什维利在新赛季开始时可能不会获得固定的上场时间，但如果这样的角色出现空缺，他将在场边等待机会。
2024 年 10 月 17 日，德克萨斯州休斯敦，在丰田中心举行的季前赛下半场，圣安东尼奥马刺队的 54 号球员桑德罗·马穆克拉什维利在对阵休斯敦火箭队的 28 号球员阿尔佩伦·申京的比赛中投篮。
马拉基·布拉纳姆（下跌）
马刺队在本月截止日期前执行了布拉纳姆的第四年球队选项，这意味着这位前首轮秀的合同将得到保障，直至 2025-26 赛季结束。
从短期来看，布拉纳姆和韦斯利都是 2022 届新秀，但他们争夺上场时间的方式却截然不同。
布拉纳姆是马刺队在季前赛中的第三得分点，在四场比赛中场均得到 13.3 分。然而，他的效率并不高，投篮命中率为 39.2%，三分球命中率更是只有 21.7%。
样本量很小，但布拉纳姆并没有表现出与他前两个 NBA 赛季有什么不同。由于本赛季的上场时间更加难以获得，布拉纳姆必须提高投篮命中率，才能证明自己有资格成为一名微波炉型替补得分手。
2024 年 10 月 17 日，星期四，在休斯敦举行的 NBA 季前赛上半场，圣安东尼奥马刺队后卫马拉基·布拉纳姆（22 号）在休斯敦火箭队后卫杰伦·格林（4 号）的防守下投篮。（美联社照片/埃里克·克里斯蒂安·史密斯）
点击查看原文：Spurs' Blake Wesley sees stock rise after successful preseason
Spurs’ Blake Wesley sees stock rise after successful preseason
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE - APRIL 09: Blake Wesley #14 of the San Antonio Spurs goes to the basket against Jack White #14 of the Memphis Grizzlies during the second half at FedExForum on April 09, 2024 in Memphis, Tennessee.
Put him in a basketball shorts and gym shoes, however, and Wesley morphs into his alter ego: The Flash.
That has been Wesley’s moniker since the fourth grade, when one of his AAU coaches noticed the youngster practically leaving Road Runner-esque vapor trails across the court with his speed.
“That’s what they still call me to this day,” the 21-year-old Wesley said. “I’m not as big as everybody else, so I’ve got to use my speed to my advantage.”
It has taken Wesley two seasons to put himself in line for a spot in the Spurs’ playing rotation.
In order to get there, The Flash had to first learn to slow down.
“The first two years, the game was speeding up for me,” Wesley said. “I feel like it’s slowed down for me a lot.”
Wesley was one of the standouts of the Spurs’ just-completed preseason. He and others are hoping to carry that momentum into the regular season, which the Spurs open Thursday at Dallas.
The former first-round pick from Notre Dame played in all five exhibition contests and led the Spurs in total assists (25) while committing only six turnovers.
Wesley’s determination on defense, meanwhile, created an early buzz in training camp.
“He’s done an unbelievable job of just picking up guys defensively full court, getting active, getting steals,” veteran forward Harrison Barnes said.
A solid preseason appears to have put the 6-foot-3 Wesley in the mix for minutes off the bench to open the season. Coach Gregg Popovich has been often pairing Wesley with rookie Stephon Castle in the backcourt to bring a defensive edge to the Spurs’ second unit.
Popovich has found this much to be true throughout the preseason: Just call on The Flash, and he will get there in a hurry.
Here is a look at other players who have seen their stock rise or fall since the start of training camp, with the caveat that preseason results are not always predictive of regular-season performance:
Devin Vassell (faller)
The late start to the season for Vassell is a disappointment for sure, but only a minor one. Once he returns to the court full bore, Vassell is expected to pick up where he left off after averaging 19.5 points last season.
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 first half of the pre-season NBA match-up at Frost Bank Center on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas.
Julian Champagnie (riser)
Vassell’s setback has resulted in a step forward for Champagnie, who has become the favorite to replace him in the starting lineup for the time being.
The third-year swingman averaged 12.4 points across five preseason games, and hit a blistering 42.1% from 3-point range (16 of 38).
It is a pace the 23-year-old Champagnie will need to continue if he aims to get minutes even after Vassell returns.
MIAMI, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 15: Julian Champagnie #30 of the San Antonio Spurs shoots the ball against Tyler Herro #14 of the Miami Heat during the third quarter of a preseason game at Kaseya Center on October 15, 2024 in Miami, Florida.
Harrison Barnes (faller)
Having arrived in an offseason trade with Sacramento, Barnes appears a lock for the Spurs’ opening-day starting lineup after starting each of the team’s five preseason games.
The 32-year-old averaged 7.2 points in those contests, shooting a mediocre 36.7%. The only player who appeared in more than one preseason game and shot worse? Victor Wembanyama, who made 33% of his shots over two exhibition appearances.
Barnes’ slow start to his Spurs career is perhaps not all that surprising. He certainly isn’t the first gray-toothed veteran to put up nondescript numbers in the preseason.
With minutes at a premium, the 12-year vet might want to think about rounding into regular-season form sooner rather than later.
San Antonio Spurs forward Harrison Barnes (40) shoots against the Houston Rockets during the second half of an NBA preseason basketball game Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Sandro Mamukelashvili (riser)
As counter-intuitive as it seems for a team that went 22-60 the past two seasons, the Spurs came into camp with more players deserving minutes than there are spots in their 10-man rotation.
Mamukelashvili might still find himself on the outside looking in for playing time, but it isn’t for lack of effort. The 25-year-old reserve forward shot the lights out during the preseason, hitting 12 of his 22 3-point tries (54.5%).
Popovich has talked about doing more to carve a regular role for Mamukelashvili, but in the one preseason game the Spurs approached as a full dress rehearsal – Tuesday at Miami – the 6-10 Georgian did not make an appearance until the second half.
Mamukelashvili might not begin the season in line for regular minutes, but he will be waiting in the wings should such a role become available.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 17: Sandro Mamukelashvili #54 of the San Antonio Spurs shoots against Alperen Sengun #28 of the Houston Rockets during the second half of a preseason game at Toyota Center on October 17, 2024 in Houston, Texas.
Malaki Branham (faller)
The Spurs picked up Branham’s fourth-year contract option ahead of this month’s deadline, meaning the former first-round draft pick is guaranteed money through the end of the 2025-26 campaign.
In the near term, the fight for minutes is going differently for Branham than it is for Wesley, both members of the 2022 draft class.
Branham was the Spurs’ third-leading scorer during the preseason, averaging 13.3 points in four appearances. He did not get there efficiently, however, shooting 39.2% from the field and a dreadful 21.7% from the 3-point arc.
The sample size is small, but Branham didn’t show much of anything different than what he has over his first two NBA seasons. With playing time harder to come by this season, Branham will have to shoot better to justify a role as a microwave bench scorer.
San Antonio Spurs guard Malaki Branham (22) shoots as Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green (4) defends during the first half of an NBA preseason basketball game Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
By Jeff McDonald, Staff writer, via San Antonio Express-News
