By Jeff McDonald, Staff writer | San Antonio Express-News (SAEN), 2024-10-25 10:48:59
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。
10 月 24 日,德克萨斯州达拉斯:在 2024 年 10 月 24 日达拉斯美航中心的比赛中,圣安东尼奥马刺队的维克多·文班亚马 (Victor Wembanyama) 1 号在球队对阵达拉斯独行侠队的比赛中观战。达拉斯独行侠队以 120-109 获胜。
马刺队主教练格雷格·波波维奇 (Gregg Popovich) 不会说“我早就告诉过你了”,但他早就预料到了这一点。
在季前赛两场低强度的比赛中,维克多·文班亚马 (Victor Wembanyama) 的出场时间仅略高于 39 分钟。之后,波波维奇告诉所有愿意听的人,如果这位球星中锋在第二个 NBA 赛季开始时状态不佳,他不会感到惊讶。
在周四客场挑战达拉斯独行侠队的赛季揭幕战前,文班亚马只想证明他的教练错了。
但他没有做到。
“有些时候感觉很棒,”在马刺队在美国航空中心以 109 比 121 输球后,文班亚马说道。“一开始在体能方面有点吃力,正如我预料的那样。但我认为我们有一些很棒的篮球时刻,也有一些非常糟糕的时刻。”
这是这位 20 岁的球员六个多月以来的第一场 NBA 正式比赛,文班亚马看起来就像一个被雨淋了的铁皮人一样生锈。
他的最终数据——17 分和 9 个篮板——还算过得去。但投篮命中率——18 投 5 中,三分球 8 投 1 中——却惨不忍睹。
文班亚马上赛季全票当选最佳新秀,并且有望在本赛季争夺最佳阵容的荣誉,但在面对卫冕西部冠军的比赛中,他很难找到自己的位置或获得轻松出手的机会。
无论他走到哪里,独行侠队的三人组丹尼尔·加福德 (Daniel Gafford)、P.J.·华盛顿 (P.J. Washington) 和德里克·莱弗利二世 (Dereck Lively) 都会对他进行挤压和欺凌。
文班亚马上半场 8 投 2 中,直到第四节中段才似乎找到了一些比赛节奏,当时他连续命中了两记高难度的跳投。
10 月 24 日,德克萨斯州达拉斯:在 2024 年 10 月 24 日达拉斯美航中心举行的比赛中,圣安东尼奥马刺队的维克多·文班亚马 (Victor Wembanyama) 1 号在被判走步后做出了反应。
这就是波波维奇上周预测文班亚马时所说的:“我不认为他在赛季开始时会很有节奏。”
这不是批评,只是承认现实。
在周四的糟糕表现之后,波波维奇没有心情再去谈论文班亚马在揭幕战中的问题。
“他还好,”波波维奇说。
至于文班亚马在打了 29 分钟后的体能状况?
“我没看出他状态好还是不好,”波波维奇说。
无论如何,马刺队都希望文班亚马能够及时调整状态,以迎接周六在冰霜银行中心对阵另一支州内对手休斯顿火箭队的比赛。
文班亚马上一次面对休斯顿中锋阿尔珀伦·申京 (Alperen Sengun) 是在去年 3 月,当时这位火箭中锋狂砍 45 分和 16 个篮板。
“对我来说,我只是在按节奏投篮,”在季前赛中投篮命中率仅为全队最低的 33% 的文班亚马说道。“这对我来说是最重要的。我对球场上的每个区域都很适应。但与此同时,如果我在任何区域都没有节奏,我就会投丢。”
文班亚马在周四揭幕战前的几天里曾表示,在经历了一个相对缓慢的季前赛后,他希望能够“打开开关”。除了季前赛的两次亮相外,文班亚马自 8 月份的巴黎奥运会以来,就再也没有在球迷面前打过高风险、高水平的篮球比赛。
当文班亚马在达拉斯试图打开那个开关时,却没有任何反应。
文班亚马在第一节还剩 7 分 16 秒时被扎克·柯林斯 (Zach Collins) 换下,早早地结束了首节比赛。他的体能储备显然已经耗尽。
文班亚马的第一次出场毫无成果。他在 2 投 0 中一分未得,还有两次失误。这位身高 7 英尺 3 英寸的法国人表示,他对自己的体能和节奏感不佳并不感到惊讶。
“我们都没有真正打过比赛(最近),”文班亚马说。“这是每个 NBA 球员都会遇到的困难。”
更长的休赛期似乎并没有影响到独行侠队的球星卢卡·东契奇 (Luka Doncic),他缺席了独行侠队整个季前赛,但在周四的下半场打出了 MVP 的状态。
东契奇在前五次出手中错失了四次,但最终得到 28 分和 10 个篮板。
他与新援克莱·汤普森 (Klay Thompson) 迅速产生了化学反应,这位金州弃将砍下 22 分并命中 6 记三分球。
如果说文班亚马这场备受瞩目的揭幕战还有什么亮点的话,那就是马刺队——至少在一段时间内——在他们的球星苦苦挣扎时稳住了阵脚。
朱利安·尚帕尼 (Julian Champagnie) 手感火热,得到 18 分。哈里森·巴恩斯 (Harrison Barnes) 前五次投篮全部命中,得到 17 分。杰里米·索汉 (Jeremy Sochan) 在比赛中似乎无处不在,得到 18 分。
尽管前两节比赛文班亚马的表现不佳,但马刺队在半场结束时仍领先 2 分。
“伙计,我喜欢我们展现出的斗志,”控球后卫克里斯·保罗 (Chris Paul) 说道,他在马刺队的首秀中得到 8 次助攻和 3 分。“没有道义上的胜利,但我们面对的是一支进入过总决赛的球队……说实话,我对我们所展现出的冲劲以及我对我们球队的实力感到非常兴奋。”
特别是,马刺队知道文班亚马的能力。
上个赛季,他一次又一次地证明了这一点,这位 19 岁的现象级球员统治了这个成年人的联盟。
文班亚马认为自己需要多长时间才能再次成为那样的球员?
“一两场比赛,”文班亚马说道。“应该很快。”
对于马刺队来说,随着火箭队的到来,这已经刻不容缓了。
10 月 24 日,德克萨斯州达拉斯:在 2024 年 10 月 24 日达拉斯美航中心举行的比赛中,圣安东尼奥马刺队的维克多·文班亚马 (Victor Wembanyama) 1 号在比赛首节被达拉斯独行侠队的德里克·莱弗利二世 (Dereck Lively II) 2 号防守。
10 月 24 日,德克萨斯州达拉斯:在 2024 年 10 月 24 日达拉斯美航中心的比赛中,圣安东尼奥马刺队的维克多·文班亚马 (Victor Wembanyama) 1 号在球队对阵达拉斯独行侠队的比赛前观战。
10 月 24 日,德克萨斯州达拉斯:在 2024 年 10 月 24 日达拉斯美航中心举行的比赛中,圣安东尼奥马刺队的维克多·文班亚马 (Victor Wembanyama) 1 号和队友克里斯·保罗 (Chris Paul) 3 号在球队对阵达拉斯独行侠队的第二节比赛中观战。
10 月 24 日,德克萨斯州达拉斯:在 2024 年 10 月 24 日达拉斯美航中心举行的比赛中,圣安东尼奥马刺队的维克多·文班亚马 (Victor Wembanyama) 1 号在球队对阵达拉斯独行侠队的比赛首节等待上场。
10 月 24 日,德克萨斯州达拉斯:在 2024 年 10 月 24 日达拉斯美航中心举行的比赛中,圣安东尼奥马刺队的维克多·文班亚马 (Victor Wembanyama) 1 号在第四节比赛中将球传给队友杰里米·索汉 (Jeremy Sochan) 10 号,对手是达拉斯独行侠队的马克西·克莱伯 (Maxi Kleber) 42 号。
在 2024 年 10 月 24 日星期四于德克萨斯州达拉斯举行的 NBA 篮球比赛的上半场,圣安东尼奥马刺队的维克多·文班亚马(右)被达拉斯独行侠队的后卫卢卡·东契奇(左前)防守。(美联社照片/阿尔伯特·佩纳)
在 2024 年 10 月 24 日星期四于德克萨斯州达拉斯举行的 NBA 篮球比赛的上半场,圣安东尼奥马刺队的中锋维克多·文班亚马(前景)带球突破达拉斯独行侠队的防守。(美联社照片/阿尔伯特·佩纳)
在 2024 年 10 月 24 日星期四于德克萨斯州达拉斯举行的 NBA 篮球比赛的上半场,圣安东尼奥马刺队的维克多·文班亚马(右)带球突破达拉斯独行侠队的德里克·莱弗利二世(左)的防守。(美联社照片/阿尔伯特·佩纳)
在 2024 年 10 月 24 日星期四于德克萨斯州达拉斯举行的 NBA 篮球比赛的下半场,圣安东尼奥马刺队的维克多·文班亚马(中)被达拉斯独行侠队的杰登·哈迪(左)和丹尼尔·加福德(21 号)逼迫失误。(美联社照片/阿尔伯特·佩纳)
在 2024 年 10 月 24 日星期四于德克萨斯州达拉斯举行的 NBA 篮球比赛的上半场,圣安东尼奥马刺队的中锋维克多·文班亚马(中右)在跳投时被达拉斯独行侠队的前锋马克西·克莱伯(中左)防守。(美联社照片/阿尔伯特·佩纳)
在 2024 年 10 月 24 日星期四于德克萨斯州达拉斯举行的 NBA 篮球比赛的下半场,达拉斯独行侠队的卢卡·东契奇(左前)从圣安东尼奥马刺队的维克多·文班亚马的臂下完成了一次不看人传球。(美联社照片/阿尔伯特·佩纳)
在 2024 年 10 月 24 日星期四于德克萨斯州达拉斯举行的 NBA 篮球比赛的下半场,达拉斯独行侠队的德里克·莱弗利二世(2 号)抢到一个篮板球,而圣安东尼奥马刺队的维克多·文班亚马(1 号)和前锋哈里森·巴恩斯(右)也在争抢这个球。(美联社照片/阿尔伯特·佩纳)
在 2024 年 10 月 24 日星期四于达拉斯美航中心举行的比赛的上半场,达拉斯独行侠队的卢卡·东契奇(77 号)从圣安东尼奥马刺队的维克多·文班亚马(1 号)手中断球,而独行侠队的克莱·汤普森(31 号)在防守。
10 月 24 日,德克萨斯州达拉斯:在 2024 年 10 月 24 日达拉斯美航中心举行的比赛首节,圣安东尼奥马刺队的维克多·文班亚马 (Victor Wembanyama) 1 号被达拉斯独行侠队的卢卡·东契奇 (Luka Doncic) 77 号防守,丹尼尔·加福德 (Daniel Gafford) 21 号在一旁观战。
点击查看原文:With Rockets on tap, Spurs' Victor Wembanyama looks to find footing
With Rockets on tap, Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama looks to find footing
DALLAS, TEXAS - OCTOBER 24: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs looks on as they play the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center on October 24, 2024 in Dallas, Texas. The Dallas Mavericks won 120-109.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich won’t say he told you so, but he saw this coming from a mile away.
After Victor Wembanyama was limited to a little more than 39 minutes over two low-impact appearances in the preseason, Popovich told anyone who would listen he would not be surprised if the star center began his second NBA season a bit out of sorts.
Heading into Thursday’s season opener at Dallas, Wembanyama wanted nothing more than to prove his coach wrong.
He did not.
“Some moments felt great,” Wembanyama said after the Spurs absorbed a 121-109 beating at the American Airlines Center. “A little hard conditioning-wise at first, as I expected. But I think we had some good basketball moments and some really bad ones.”
Playing in his first competitive NBA game in more than six months, the 20-year-old Wembanyama looked as rusty as a tin man left out in the rain.
His final numbers – 17 points and nine rebounds – were passable enough. The shooting percentages – 5 of 18 overall and an unsightly 1 of 8 from 3-point range – were not.
Wembanyama, last season’s unanimous Rookie of the Year and a player expected to challenge for All-NBA honors as a sophomore, had trouble finding his spots or many good looks against the defending Western Conference champions.
The Mavericks trio of Daniel Gafford, P.J. Washington and Dereck Lively pushed and bullied him no matter where he went.
Wembanyama went 2-of-8 in the first half and did not seem to settle into anything resembling a groove until midway through the fourth quarter, when he made back-to-back difficult jumpers.
DALLAS, TEXAS - OCTOBER 24: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs reacts after being called for traveling while playing the Dallas Mavericks during the first quarter of the game at American Airlines Center on October 24, 2024 in Dallas, Texas.
This is what Popovich meant last week when he predicted of Wembanyama: “I don’t think he’ll be in great rhythm to start the season.”
It was not a critique, only an admission of reality.
After Thursday’s clunker, Popovich was in no mood to harp on Wembanyama’s opening-night issues.
“He was fine,” Popovich said.
As for Wembanyama’s conditioning, after playing 29 minutes?
“I didn’t see that he was in or out of shape,” Popovich said.
At any rate, the Spurs hope Wembanyama can regroup in time for Saturday’s home opener at the Frost Bank Center against another in-state rival, the Houston Rockets.
The last time Wembanyama faced Houston center Alperen Sengun last March, the Rockets center blasted the Spurs for 45 points and 16 rebounds.
“For me, it is just taking shots in rhythm,” said Wembanyama, who made a team-low 33% of his shots during the preseason. “That’s the most important for me. I’m comfortable in every area of the floor. At the same time, if I’m not in rhythm in any area of the floor, I’ll miss.”
Wembanyama said in the days leading up to Thursday’s opener he was hoping to “flip the switch” after a relatively slow exhibition season. Aside from a pair of preseason cameos, Wembanyama had not played high-stakes, high-level basketball in front of fans since the Paris Olympics in August.
When Wembanyama went to flip that switch in Dallas, nothing happened.
Wembanyama came out of Thursday’s game early in the first quarter, replaced by Zach Collins with 7:16 remaining in the frame. His gas tank was clearly on empty.
Wembanyama’s first shift was fruitless. He was scoreless on 0-of-2 shooting with a pair of turnovers to that point. The 7-foot-3 Frenchman said he was not surprised his conditioning and timing seemed off.
“None of us really have played (recently),” Wembanyama said. “It’s a struggle every player in the NBA goes through.”
An even more pronounced layoff did not seem to affect Dallas star Luka Doncic, who sat out the entirety of the Mavs’ preseason slate but was able to play his way into MVP form by the second half Thursday.
Doncic missed four of his first five shots, but finished with 28 points and 10 rebounds.
He found quick chemistry with newcomer Klay Thompson, a Golden State castoff who pumped in 22 points and made six 3-pointers.
If there was any silver lining surrounding Wembanyama’s rough, nationally televised opener it’s that the Spurs – at least for a while – held the rope while their star struggled.
Julian Champagnie got off to a hot shooting start en route to 18 points. Harrison Barnes made his first five field goals and finished with 17 points. Jeremy Sochan seemed at times omnipresent on his way to 18.
Despite getting little from Wembanyama over the first two quarters, the Spurs led by two points at half.
“Man, I love the fight we showed,” said point guard Chris Paul, who had eight assists and three points in his Spurs debut. “There are no moral victories, but we played against a team that went to the Finals. … I’m honestly so excited about the spurts that I’ve seen and what I know our team is capable of.”
In particular, the Spurs know what Wembanyama is capable of.
He proved it over and over last season, dominating a league of grown men as a 19-year-old phenom.
How long does Wembanyama surmise it will take for him to become that player again?
“One or two games,” Wembanyama said. “It should be quick.”
For the Spurs, with the Rockets coming to town, that can’t come quickly enough.
DALLAS, TEXAS - OCTOBER 24: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs is defended by Dereck Lively II #2 of the Dallas Mavericks during the first quarter of the game at American Airlines Center on October 24, 2024 in Dallas, Texas.
DALLAS, TEXAS - OCTOBER 24: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs looks on before playing the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center on October 24, 2024 in Dallas, Texas.
DALLAS, TEXAS - OCTOBER 24: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs and teammate Chris Paul #3 look on while playing the Dallas Mavericks during the second quarter at American Airlines Center on October 24, 2024 in Dallas, Texas.
DALLAS, TEXAS - OCTOBER 24: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs waits to enter the game against the Dallas Mavericks during the first quarter of the game at American Airlines Center on October 24, 2024 in Dallas, Texas.
DALLAS, TEXAS - OCTOBER 24: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs passes to teammate Jeremy Sochan #10 against Maxi Kleber #42 of the Dallas Mavericks during the fourth quarter at American Airlines Center on October 24, 2024 in Dallas, Texas.
San Antonio Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama, right, is defended by Dallas Mavericks’ guard Luka Doncic, front left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, in Dallas, Texas. (AP Photo/Albert Pena)
San Antonio Spurs’ center Victor Wembanyama, foreground, drives to the basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Dallas Mavericks, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, in Dallas, Texas. (AP Photo/Albert Pena)
San Antonio Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama, right, drives against Dallas Mavericks’ Dereck Lively II, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, in Dallas, Texas. (AP Photo/Albert Pena)
San Antonio Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama, center, is forced to turn over the ball by Dallas Mavericks’ Jaden Hardy, left, and Daniel Gafford (21) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, in Dallas, Texas. (AP Photo/Albert Pena)
San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama, center right, is defended by Dallas Mavericks forward Maxi Kleber, center left, as he shoots a jump shot during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, in Dallas, Texas. (AP Photo/Albert Pena)
Dallas Mavericks’ Luka Doncic , front left, makes a no-look pass behind him through San Antonio Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama’s arms during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, in Dallas, Texas. (AP Photo/Albert Pena)
Dallas Mavericks’ Dereck Lively II (2) pulls down a rebound as San Antonio Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama (1) and forward Harrison Barnes, right, reach for the ball during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, in Dallas, Texas. (AP Photo/Albert Pena)
The Dallas Mavericks’ Luka Doncic (77) takes the ball away from the San Antonio Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama (1) as the Mavs’ Klay Thompson (31) defends during the first half at American Airlines Center on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, in Dallas.
DALLAS, TEXAS - OCTOBER 24: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs is defended by Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks as Daniel Gafford #21 looks on during the first quarter of the game at American Airlines Center on October 24, 2024 in Dallas, Texas.
By Jeff McDonald, Staff writer, via San Antonio Express-News