By Jeff McDonald, Staff writer | San Antonio Express-News (SAEN), 2024-10-27 14:09:41
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。
周六，在第四节末段，休斯顿火箭队后卫杰伦·格林(Jalen Green)的一次上篮将马刺队一度健康的领先优势缩小到两分，克里斯·保罗(Chris Paul)将此视为他的提示。
皮球还没入网，他就从马刺队的板凳席上站了起来，走到一半就到了记录台。
这在很大程度上就是这位 39 岁的控球大师被带到圣安东尼奥的原因——为混乱带来平静，并帮助一支年轻的马刺队学会如何驾驭这种紧张的关键时刻。
即使在马刺队以 109-106 赢得主场揭幕战战胜火箭队之后，保罗也不愿给自己在银黑军团的第一次关键时刻考验打上 A+ 的分数。
“我可以做得更好，”保罗说。
尽管如此，球队并不能一蹴而就。保罗也知道这一点。
如果周六的第四节比赛要以及格或不及格来评分，那么在保罗的掌舵下，马刺队通过了他们的第一次关键时刻考试。
是的，他们挥霍了进入第四节时的大部分 18 分的领先优势。但他们并没有挥霍掉所有的领先优势，这算是一种进步。
维克托·文班亚马(Victor Wembanyama)摆脱了赛季揭幕战的低迷状态，得到 29 分和 3 次盖帽，杰里米·索汉(Jeremy Sochan)贡献 17 分和 12 个篮板的两双，凯尔登·约翰逊(Keldon Johnson)替补出场得到 16 分，马刺队在座无虚席的弗罗斯特银行中心队史首次获胜。
“我们都还在互相学习，摸索，”保罗在赛后说。“我们刚刚在更衣室里谈到了这一点：我们希望在学习的同时也能赢球。”
周六为马刺队提供了两全其美的结果，他们在达拉斯的赛季揭幕战中以 17 分的失利吸取了惨痛的教训。
马刺队从输给独行侠队的比赛中得到的最大收获是身体对抗和防守。马刺队在达拉斯并没有表现出太多这两方面的能力。
在周一面向休斯顿的比赛前的例行演练中，马刺队的重点是篮板球。他们在赛季揭幕战中在篮板上被彻底击败。
“我认为篮板球将决定我们的成败，”中锋扎克·科林斯(Zach Collins)说。
这一点得到了回报。
在达拉斯让对手抢到 17 个进攻篮板后，马刺队在对阵休斯顿的上半场只让对手抢到 1 个。
马刺队的防守韧性——让火箭队在第二节 9 分 07 秒的时间里一分未得——推动他们在上半场取得了高达 22 分的领先优势。
“我们明白我们必须要有身体对抗，我们不能让球队打败我们，”科林斯说，他的球队接下来将在周一在弗罗斯特银行中心与休斯顿再次交手。“我们必须成为那支球队。我们必须从一开始就更有身体对抗。”
带着 62-41 的优势进入中场休息后，马刺队——也许是可以预见的——在下半场经历了复发。
马刺队上赛季失去了 20 个两位数的领先优势，排名联盟第一。他们失去了 20 个第四节的领先优势，排名联盟第二。
有一段时间，周六的比赛似乎也朝着这个方向发展。
格林以 29 分的成绩带领火箭队反击，而弗雷德·范弗利特(Fred VanVleet)贡献了 18 分，狄龙·布鲁克斯(Dillon Brooks)贡献了 16 分。
在比赛还剩 4 分 08 秒时，格林轻松突破上篮，将比分追至 98-96，弗罗斯特银行中心内的 18715 名球迷似乎同时屏住了呼吸。
保罗登场了，他 20 年的职业生涯就是为这样的时刻而生的。
“他经历过很多这样的时刻，”马刺队的约翰逊说。“无数次这样的时刻。”
然而，保罗在比赛还剩 3 分 46 秒时重返球场并没有立即扭转局面。
他在第一次进攻中投失了一个 10 英尺的跳投。马刺队让火箭队轻松上篮。文班亚马在遭遇包夹时出现失误。
最经典的克里斯·保罗时刻出现在比赛还剩 1 分 35 秒时，当时他在右侧三分线外利用文班亚马的掩护玩起了捉迷藏，攻击篮下，然后找到了切入篮下的索汉，后者上篮得分，帮助马刺队领先 5 分。
“他从一个完全不同的角度看待比赛，”后卫朱利安·尚帕尼(Julian Champagnie)谈到保罗时说。“无论什么时候，有他在场上都是一件好事。特别是在那样一场关键时刻的比赛中，他能够向我们解释很多事情。”
马刺队在周六的比赛中并没有教科书式的完美表现，但他们做得足以赢得一场上赛季可能无法赢得的比赛。
当格林在终场哨响时有可能追平比分的 3 分球弹筐而出时，马刺队有理由庆祝。
一个赛季前，马刺队输掉了联盟最多的 28 场关键时刻的比赛，定义为在最后 5 分钟内分差在 5 分以内的比赛。本赛季，马刺队在关键时刻的战绩是 1 胜 0 负。
“赢得一场 NBA 比赛一直以来都很困难，”马刺队教练格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)说。“他们在那里打仗，所以任何一场胜利都是一场伟大的胜利。”
马刺队年纪最大、经验最丰富、荣誉最高的球员也同意他教练的观点。
保罗说，第四节的情况会好转的。随着时间的推移，事情会变得更加顺利。
“在这个联盟中获胜很难，”保罗说。“任何时候，只要你能赢球，然后进入录像分析环节，看看你能在哪些方面做得更好，每个人都会放松下来。1 胜 1 负总比 0 胜 2 负好得多。”
通过学习和获胜，马刺队在周六享受到了两全其美的结果。就目前而言，这可能就足够了。
2024 年 10 月 26 日，星期六，在德克萨斯州圣安东尼奥市的弗罗斯特银行中心，圣安东尼奥马刺队后卫克里斯·保罗（3 号）在下半场与圣安东尼奥马刺队前锋杰里米·索汉（10 号）交谈。马刺队在赛季首个主场比赛中以 109-106 击败了火箭队。
2024 年 10 月 26 日，星期六，在弗罗斯特银行中心举行的 NBA 主场揭幕战中，圣安东尼奥马刺队教练格雷格·波波维奇在下半场与后卫克里斯·保罗（3 号）交谈。马刺队以 109-106 击败了火箭队。
2024 年 10 月 26 日，星期六，在弗罗斯特银行中心举行的 NBA 主场揭幕战的上半场，圣安东尼奥马刺队教练格雷格·波波维奇和后卫克里斯·保罗与裁判肖恩·莱特(Sean Wright)讨论判罚。马刺队以 109-106 击败了火箭队。
2024 年 10 月 26 日，星期六，在弗罗斯特银行中心举行的 NBA 主场揭幕战开始前，圣安东尼奥马刺队后卫克里斯·保罗在首发阵容介绍期间亮相。马刺队以 109-106 击败了火箭队。
2024 年 10 月 26 日，星期六，在德克萨斯州圣安东尼奥市的弗罗斯特银行中心，圣安东尼奥马刺队前锋杰里米·索汉（10 号）在下半场对阵休斯顿火箭队的比赛中带球突破。马刺队在赛季首个主场比赛中以 109-106 击败了火箭队。
2024 年 10 月 26 日，星期六，在弗罗斯特银行中心举行的 NBA 主场揭幕战的下半场，圣安东尼奥马刺队前锋维克多·文班亚马（1 号）在休斯顿火箭队前锋小贾巴里·史密斯(Jabari Smith Jr.)面前上篮。马刺队以 109-106 击败了火箭队。
2024 年 10 月 26 日，星期六，在弗罗斯特银行中心举行的马刺队 NBA 主场揭幕战的下半场，球迷们自拍，希望能出现在大屏幕上的“自拍相机”中。马刺队以 109-106 击败了火箭队。
2024 年 10 月 26 日，星期六，在德克萨斯州圣安东尼奥市的弗罗斯特银行中心，圣安东尼奥马刺队中锋维克多·文班亚马（1 号）在下半场对阵休斯顿火箭队的比赛中投篮得分后，望向欢呼的人群。马刺队在赛季首个主场比赛中以 109-106 击败了火箭队。
2024 年 10 月 26 日，星期六，在弗罗斯特银行中心举行的 NBA 主场揭幕战的下半场，圣安东尼奥马刺队后卫斯蒂芬·卡斯尔(Stephon Castle)（5 号）和前锋维克多·文班亚马（1 号）试图封盖休斯顿火箭队后卫杰伦·格林（4 号）的投篮。马刺队以 109-106 击败了火箭队。
2024 年 10 月 26 日，星期六，在弗罗斯特银行中心举行的马刺队 NBA 主场揭幕战的下半场，休斯顿火箭队后卫杰伦·格林（4 号）和前锋小贾巴里·史密斯（10 号）试图封盖圣安东尼奥马刺队后卫斯蒂芬·卡斯尔的投篮。马刺队以 109-106 击败了火箭队。
2024 年 10 月 26 日，星期六，在德克萨斯州圣安东尼奥市的弗罗斯特银行中心，圣安东尼奥马刺队前锋杰里米·索汉（10 号）在下半场与休斯顿火箭队后卫弗雷德·范弗利特（5 号）和后卫杰伦·格林（4 号）相撞。马刺队在赛季首个主场比赛中以 109-106 击败了火箭队。
2024 年 10 月 26 日，星期六，在德克萨斯州圣安东尼奥市的弗罗斯特银行中心，圣安东尼奥马刺队后卫斯蒂芬·卡斯尔（5 号）在下半场对阵休斯顿火箭队的比赛中，在休斯顿火箭队前锋小贾巴里·史密斯（10 号）面前投篮。马刺队在赛季首个主场比赛中以 109-106 击败了火箭队。
2024 年 10 月 26 日，星期六，在德克萨斯州圣安东尼奥市的弗罗斯特银行中心，圣安东尼奥马刺队的板凳席上的球员们站起来观看他们的球队在对阵休斯顿火箭队的比赛的最后一分钟。马刺队在赛季首个主场比赛中以 109-106 击败了火箭队。
2024 年 10 月 26 日，星期六，在德克萨斯州圣安东尼奥市的弗罗斯特银行中心，圣安东尼奥马刺队主教练格雷格·波波维奇在下半场对阵休斯顿火箭队的比赛中向他的球队大喊大叫。马刺队在赛季首个主场比赛中以 109-106 击败了火箭队。
2024 年 10 月 26 日，星期六，在德克萨斯州圣安东尼奥市的弗罗斯特银行中心，圣安东尼奥马刺队前锋杰里米·索汉（10 号）对他的球队在赛季首个主场比赛中以 109-106 战胜休斯顿火箭队的比赛做出反应。
2024 年 10 月 26 日，星期六，在德克萨斯州圣安东尼奥市的弗罗斯特银行中心，圣安东尼奥马刺队在 NBA 赛季首个主场比赛中以 109-106 战胜休斯顿火箭队后，球迷们为他们走下球场而欢呼。
点击查看原文：Spurs pass first crunch-time test vs. Rockets
Spurs pass first crunch-time test vs. Rockets
Houston guard Jalen Green scurried for a layup late in the fourth quarter Saturday, the Spurs’ once healthy lead whittled to two points, and Chris Paul took that as his cue.
He was up off the Spurs’ bench and halfway to the scorer’s table before the ball had finished passing through the net.
This, in large part, was why the 39-year-old point guard maestro had been brought to San Antonio – to bring calm to chaos, and help a young Spurs team learn to navigate these sorts of white-knuckle, late-game moments.
Even after the Spurs held on for a 109-106 home-opening victory over the Rockets, Paul wouldn’t give himself an A-plus grade on his first crunch-time test in silver and black.
“I could have been a lot better,” Paul said.
Still, teams don’t make such leaps all in one bound. Paul knows this too.
If Saturday’s fourth quarter is to be scored on a pass-fail basis, the Spurs passed their first clutch-time exam with Paul at the helm.
Yes, they squandered most of an 18-point lead heading into the fourth quarter. But they did not squander all of it, and this counts as progress.
Victor Wembanyma shook off a rusty season opener to score 29 points with three blocks, Jeremy Sochan added a 17-point, 12-rebound double-double and Keldon Johnson chipped in 16 points off the bench as the Spurs survived for their first victory of the season before a sold-out Frost Bank Center.
“We are all still learning each other, figuring it out,” Paul said after the game. “We just talked about it here in the locker room: We want to learn and win at the same time.”
Saturday provided the best of both worlds for the Spurs, who were coming off a season opener at Dallas in which the hard lessons came in a 17-point defeat.
The Spurs’ biggest takeaway from the loss to the Mavericks involved physicality and defense. The Spurs did not display much of either in Dallas.
At walkthrough Monday morning before facing Houston, the Spurs’ focus was on rebounding. They were wiped out on the glass in the season opener.
“I think rebounding is what is going to make or break us,” center Zach Collins said.
That point of emphasis paid off.
After allowing 17 offensive rebounds in Dallas, the Spurs gave up only one in the first half against Houston.
The Spurs’ defensive tenacity – which kept the Rockets scoreless for a span of 9:07 of the second quarter – propelled them to a lead that grew as high as 22 points before halftime.
“We understand that we have to be physical and we can’t let teams beat us up,” said Collins, whose team next faces a rematch with Houston at the Frost Bank Center on Monday. “We have to be that team. We have to be more physical from the jump.”
After carrying a 62-41 edge into intermission, the Spurs – perhaps predictably – suffered through a second-half relapse.
The Spurs lost 20 double-digit leads last season, most in the NBA. They lost 20 fourth-quarter leads, second most in the league.
For a time, Saturday seemed headed that direction too.
Green powered the Rockets’ comeback with 29 points, while Fred VanVleet contributed 18 points and Dillon Brooks 16.
When Green breezed through the lane for an easy bucket to draw Houston within 98-96 win with 4:08 to play, 18,715 fans inside the Frost Bank Center seemed to hold their breath at once.
Enter Paul, whose 20-year career was made of times like these.
“He’s been in a lot of those moments,” the Spurs’ Johnson said. “Tons of those moments.”
Nevertheless, Paul’s return to the court with 3:46 remaining did not immediately save the day.
He missed a 10-footer on his first offensive possession. The Spurs let the Rockets get loose for layups. Wembanyama coughed up the ball when double-teamed.
The most vintage Chris Paul moment came with 1:35 left, when he played hide and seek behind a Wembanyama screen on the right arc, attacked the paint and then found Sochan cutting for a layup to put the Spurs ahead by five.
“He sees the game in a whole different light,” guard Julian Champagnie said of Paul. “Having him out there any time of the game is a plus. Especially in a crunch-time game like that, he was able to talk us through a lot of things.”
The Spurs were not textbook perfect down the stretch Saturday, but they did enough to win a game they might not have last season.
And when Green’s potentially game-tying 3-pointer clanged off the iron at the final horn, the Spurs had reason to celebrate.
A season ago, the Spurs lost a league-most 28 crunch-time games, defined as those within five points in the final five minutes. This season, the Spurs are 1-0 in the clutch.
“To win an NBA game is and always has been difficult,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “They are wars out there, so any win is a great win.”
The Spurs’ oldest, most experienced and most decorated player agreed with his coach.
Things will get better in the fourth quarters, Paul said. In time, things will look smoother.
“It’s hard to win in this league,” Paul said. “Any time you can win and then go into the film session and see what you can do better, it relaxes everybody. One-and-one is a lot better than 0-2.”
By learning and winning, the Spurs were able to enjoy the best of both worlds Saturday. That might be enough for now.
San Antonio Spurs guard Chris Paul (3) talks with San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan (10) during the second half against the Houston Rockets at Frost Bank Center on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. The Spurs defeated the Rockets, 109-106, in their first home game of the season.
San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich talks with guard Chris Paul (3) during a time out in the second half of their NBA home opener with the Houston Rockets at the Frost Bank Center on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024. The Spurs beat the Rockets 109-106.
San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich and guard Chris Paul discuss a call with referee Sean Wright during the first half of their NBA home opener with the Houston Rockets at the Frost Bank Center on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024. The Spurs beat the Rockets 109-106.
San Antonio Spurs guard Chris Paul is introduced during starting lineups prior to the start of their NBA home opener with the Houston Rockets at the Frost Bank Center on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024. The Spurs beat the Rockets 109-106.
San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan (10) drives to the net during the second half against the Houston Rockets at Frost Bank Center on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. The Spurs defeated the Rockets, 109-106, in their first home game of the season.
San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) goes to the basket over Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. during the second half of their NBA home opener with the Ho Rockets at the Frost Bank Center on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024. The Spurs beat the Rockets 109-106.
Fans take selfies in hopes of being shown on the Self. Selfie Cam on the Jumbotron during the second half of the Spurs NBA home opener with the Houston Rockets at the Frost Bank Center on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024. The Spurs beat the Rockets 109-106.
After making a shot against the Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) looks towards the cheering crowd during the second half at Frost Bank Center on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. The Spurs defeated the Rockets, 109-106, in their first home game of the season.
San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) and forward Victor Wembanyama (1) try to block a shot by Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green (4) during the second half of their NBA home opener with the Rockets at the Frost Bank Center on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024. The Spurs beat the Rockets 109-106.
Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green (4) and forward Jabari Smith Jr. (10) try to block a shot by San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) during the second half of the Spurs NBA home opener with the Rockets at the Frost Bank Center on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024. The Spurs beat the Rockets 109-106.
San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan (10) collides with Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet (5) and guard Jalen Green (4) during the second half at Frost Bank Center on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. The Spurs defeated the Rockets, 109-106, in their first home game of the season.
San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) shoots over Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. (10) during the second half at Frost Bank Center on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. The Spurs defeated the Rockets, 109-106, in their first home game of the season.
The San Antonio Spurs bench stand to watch their team play the final minute against the Houston Rockets at Frost Bank Center on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. The Spurs defeated the Rockets, 109-106, in their first home game of the season.
San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich yells at his team during the second half against the Houston Rockets at Frost Bank Center on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. The Spurs defeated the Rockets, 109-106, in their first home game of the season.
San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan (10) reacts to his team’s 109-106 victory over the Houston Rockets in the first home game of the season at Frost Bank Center on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas.
The crowd cheers for the San Antonio Spurs as they walk off the court following a 109-106 victory over the Houston Rockets in their first home game of the NBA season at Frost Bank Center on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas.
By Jeff McDonald, Staff writer, via San Antonio Express-News