By Nick Moyle, Staff writer | San Antonio Express-News (SAEN), 2024-10-28 15:25:13
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 10 月 24 日，德克萨斯州达拉斯，在美航中心的第二节比赛中，达拉斯独行侠队的卢卡·东契奇 (Luka Doncic) 77 号正准备突破圣安东尼奥马刺队的杰里米·索汉 (Jeremy Sochan) 10 号。
“曾经有过这样的时刻，我会想，‘哟，我不想这么做，’”索汉在去年 11 月谈到担任控球后卫的经历时说道，“这真是太 (脏话) 糟糕了。”
如今，距离那次命运多舛的尝试已经过去很久了，年仅 21 岁的索汉在自己合适的场上位置上展现出自信和活力。充满活力的防守，强硬的终结，大量的篮板，散发出波波维奇教练喜欢的那种强硬气质。
在过去的两场比赛中，索汉以场均 9.0 个篮板球领衔全队，场均得分 17.5 分排名第二，投篮命中率高达 56%。他近 70% 的得分来自油漆区。他在场上目标明确地冲击篮筐，享受着与依然技艺精湛的克里斯·保罗 (Chris Paul) 并肩作战的优势，并凭借保罗精准的传球完成强力终结。
索汉在防守端的价值同样重要，甚至有过之而无不及。
本赛季，当他在防守端对位时，对手的投篮命中率仅为 36 投 12 中 (33%)，并出现 3 次失误。在他的队友中，只有朱利安·尚帕尼 (Julian Champagnie) 的防守投篮命中率 (24.2%) 比他更高，而尚帕尼每场比赛的防守投篮次数至少为 15 次。总的来说，当对手面对这位马刺队的猛将防守时，他们的投篮命中率比正常水平低 5.8%，在每场比赛至少防守 15 次投篮的球员中排名第十。
这些数据没有体现的一点是，索汉防守的球员类型非常多样化，这也使他成为联盟现任盖帽王维克托·文班亚马 (Victor Wembanyama) 的理想搭档。
在马刺队揭幕战输给达拉斯的比赛中，当面对索汉的防守时，常年 MVP 候选人卢卡·东契奇 (Luka Doncic) 33 投仅得 13 分。然后，在上周六以 109-16 战胜火箭队的比赛中，索汉积极防守了从身材矮小的控球后卫弗雷德·范弗利特 (Fred VanVleet) 到速度型得分后卫杰伦·格林 (Jalen Green)，再到身高接近 7 英尺的阿尔佩伦·申京 (Alperen Sengun) 等各种类型的球员。
在联盟中，很少有球员能够胜任防守如此多不同类型得分手的工作。对索汉来说，这只是他日常工作的一部分。
“他就是杰里米，”波波维奇说，“他跑动积极，抢篮板，在防守端尽职尽责。他在场上就是为了赢球，为了竞争。”
在上赛季波波维奇叫停控球后卫实验很久之后，索汉即将爆发的迹象已经变得越来越明显，特别是在 3 月下旬连续两场比赛中。
在赛季末因脚踝受伤对阵尼克斯队之前，索汉在背靠背战胜太阳队和爵士队的比赛中，场均得到 21.5 分、13.5 个篮板、3.0 次抢断和 1.5 个三分球。他在那些比赛中建立起的自信心似乎延续到了本赛季。
在进入联盟的第三年及以后，索汉还有很大的成长空间，但在这最初的两场比赛中，他已经接近成为一个完美的角色球员，而马刺队也渴望在连续两个赛季输掉 60 场比赛后，再次争夺季后赛席位。他已经回到了属于他的位置，而马刺队也因此变得更加出色。
“索汉在本月早些时候表示：“打回我熟悉的位置感觉很棒，我不用再想那么多了，一切都会变得更加自然。”
2024 年 10 月 26 日，德克萨斯州圣安东尼奥，在 AT&T 中心举行的本赛季首场主场比赛中，圣安东尼奥马刺队以 109-106 击败休斯顿火箭队后，前锋杰里米·索汉 (10 号) 作出反应。
2024 年 10 月 26 日，德克萨斯州圣安东尼奥，在下半场于 AT&T 中心举行的比赛中，圣安东尼奥马刺队前锋杰里米·索汉 (10 号) 正准备越过休斯顿火箭队中锋乔克·兰代尔 (Jock Landale) (2 号) 投篮。马刺队在本赛季的首场主场比赛中以 109-106 击败了火箭队。
2024 年 10 月 26 日，星期六，在 AT&T 中心举行的 NBA 主场揭幕战中，圣安东尼奥马刺队前锋杰里米·索汉在下半场对阵休斯顿火箭队的比赛中采用单手罚球。索汉得到 17 分，帮助马刺队以 109-106 击败火箭队。
2024 年 10 月 26 日，星期六，在 AT&T 中心举行的 NBA 主场揭幕战上半场，圣安东尼奥马刺队前锋杰里米·索汉 (10 号) 试图从休斯顿火箭队后卫杰伦·格林手中抢断。马刺队以 109-106 击败了火箭队。
2024 年 10 月 26 日，德克萨斯州圣安东尼奥，在下半场于 AT&T 中心举行的比赛中，圣安东尼奥马刺队前锋杰里米·索汉 (10 号) 从休斯顿火箭队前锋阿门·汤普森 (Amen Thompson) (1 号) 头上抢下篮板。马刺队在本赛季的首场主场比赛中以 109-106 击败了火箭队。
2024 年 10 月 24 日，德克萨斯州达拉斯，在 NBA 篮球赛的下半场，达拉斯独行侠队的卢卡·东契奇（左上）在圣安东尼奥马刺队前锋杰里米·索汉 (10 号) 的防守下上篮。(美联社照片/Albert Pena)
2024 年 10 月 24 日，德克萨斯州达拉斯，在 NBA 篮球赛的上半场，达拉斯独行侠队后卫卢卡·东契奇（左）受到圣安东尼奥马刺队前锋杰里米·索汉（右）的防守。(美联社照片/Albert Pena)
2024 年 10 月 24 日，德克萨斯州达拉斯，在 NBA 篮球赛的下半场，圣安东尼奥马刺队的杰里米·索汉 (10 号) 正准备突破达拉斯独行侠队的丹尼尔·加福德 (Daniel Gafford) (21 号)，马刺队的扎克·科林斯 (Zach Collins) (23 号) 正在观望。(美联社照片/Albert Pena)
2024 年 10 月 24 日，德克萨斯州达拉斯，在美航中心举行的比赛的第一节，达拉斯独行侠队的卢卡·东契奇 77 号正准备突破圣安东尼奥马刺队的杰里米·索汉 10 号。
点击查看原文：Playing confident and loose, Spurs' Sochan looks ready to make a leap
Playing confident and loose, Spurs’ Sochan looks ready to make a leap
DALLAS, TEXAS - OCTOBER 24: Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks drives against Jeremy Sochan #10 of the San Antonio Spurs during the second quarter at American Airlines Center on October 24, 2024 in Dallas, Texas.
“There have been moments where it’s like, ‘Yo, I don’t want to,’ ” Sochan last November of running point. “It’s like (expletive) this (expletive).”
Now far removed from that ill-fated trial, Sochan – still only 21 years old – is playing with a confident verve in his proper role. Vigorous defense. Physical finishes. An abundance of boards. Exuding the sort of nasty edge Popovich loves.
Through two games, Sochan leads the team in rebounding (9.0) and ranks second in scoring (17.5) while shooting at a 56% clip. Nearly 70% of his points have come in the paint. He’s slashing to the rim with purpose, reaping the benefits of playing with the still-masterful Chris Paul and finishing with power off of crisp passes.
Sochan has been just as valuable, if not more, on the other end.
Opposing players have shot 12 of 36 (33%) with three turnovers when guarded by him this season. Only teammate Julian Champagnie has a better defensive field goal percentage (24.2%) among players who defend at least 15 shots per game. Overall, opponents are shooting 5.8% below their normal percentage when guarded by the Spurs’ bruiser, the 10th-best mark among player who defend at least 15 shots per game.
One thing those numbers don’t show is the variety of players Sochan guards, an aspect that’s made him an ideal partner to reigning NBA blocks leader Wembanyama.
In the Spurs’ season-opening loss to Dallas, perennial MVP candidate Luka Doncic scored 13 points on 33% shooting when guarded by Sochan. Then, in last Saturday’s 109-16 win over the Rockets, Sochan eagerly defended everyone from diminutive point guard Fred VanVleet to speedy shooting guard Jalen Green to near 7-footer Alperen Sengun.
Few players in the league are capable of ably manning up such an array of scorers. For Sochan, it’s another day at the office.
“He’s Jeremy,” Popovich said. “He runs the floor. He rebounds. He does his best job on defense. He’s just out there to win, compete.”
The hints of a looming breakout became evident last season long after Popovich pulled the plug on the point guard experiment. Partiuclarly in a pair of consecutive late-March outings.
Sochan averaged 21.5 points, 13.5 rebounds, 3.0 steals and 1.5 3-pointers in back-to-back wins over the Suns and Jazz before suffering a season-ending ankle injury against the Knicks. And the self-confidence he built up in those games sure seems to have carried over to this season.
There is still much room for growth in Year 3 and beyond, but through these first two games Sochan has been close to a pitch-perfect role player for a franchise that’s eager to contend for a playoff spot after two straight 60-loss seasons. He’s right back where he belongs, and the Spurs are all the better for it.
“Playing my normal position is going to be great,” Sochan said earlier this month. “I’m not going to be thinking as much. It’s going to come more natural.”
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.
San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan (10) shoots over Houston Rockets center Jock Landale (2) 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 forward Jeremy Sochan shoots a one-handed free throw during the second half of their NBA home opener with the Houston Rockets at the Frost Bank Center on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024. Sochan scored 17-points to help the Spurs beat the Rockets 109-106.
San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan (10) tries to steal the ball from Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green during the first half of their NBA home opener at the Frost Bank Center on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024. The Spurs beat the Rockets 109-106.
San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan (10) pulls down the rebound over Houston Rockets forward Amen Thompson (1) 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.
Dallas Mavericks’ Luka Doncic, top left, makes a layup as he is guarded by San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan (10) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, in Dallas, Texas. (AP Photo/Albert Pena)
Dallas Mavericks’ guard Luka Doncic, left, is defended by San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, in Dallas, Texas. (AP Photo/Albert Pena)
San Antonio Spurs’ Jeremy Sochan (10) drives against Dallas Mavericks’ Daniel Gafford (21) as Spurs’ Zach Collins (23) looks on during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, in Dallas, Texas. (AP Photo/Albert Pena)
DALLAS, TEXAS - OCTOBER 24: Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks drives against Jeremy Sochan #10 of the San Antonio Spurs during the first quarter of the game at American Airlines Center on October 24, 2024 in Dallas, Texas.
By Nick Moyle, Staff writer, via San Antonio Express-News