🎧 Spurs Insider️ 播客: 马刺“外星人”文班亚马的脚踏实地之旅

Spurs Insider Podcast, 2024-10-30 06:50:00

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。

专栏作家迈克·芬格(Mike Finger)和马刺随队记者杰夫·麦克唐纳(Jeff McDonald)以及汤姆·奥斯本(Tom Orsborn)讨论了维克托·文班亚马(Victor Wembanyama)的“慢热开局”,杰里米·索汉(Jeremy Sochan)成为马刺的执行者,并预测了马刺本周的战绩。

推荐阅读:

马刺的维克托·文班亚马和雷霆的切特·霍姆格伦将重燃竞争

沟通失误导致马刺输给火箭

马刺的斯蒂芬·卡斯尔(Stephon Castle)已准备好学习并茁壮成长

马刺的索汉享受着精彩绝伦的揭幕战

博萨和波波维奇都发表了声明,但只有一人给出了理由


以下是播客的文字记录:

迈克·芬格:这里是来自南德克萨斯各地高度安全的绝密网络的马刺内幕消息。赛季已经开始。我们准备好讨论真正的比赛,而不是休赛期的废话。也许我们会有新的赛季废话。我是你们的主持人,迈克·芬格。像往常一样,与我一起的是《快报新闻》马刺随队记者杰夫·麦克唐纳和汤姆·奥斯本。上周,我们留给你们三个关于下次我们再次聚首时马刺战绩的预测。我们甚至对马刺会输掉哪些比赛以及会赢得哪些比赛做出了具体的预测。而且,我认为在马刺内幕播客的历史上,第一次每个预测都成真了。伙计们,我们都搞清楚了。杰夫,你为预见到这一切而感到自豪吗?

杰夫·麦克唐纳:当然。我是个——我是个天才。

迈克·芬格:马刺输掉了揭幕战,赢得了主场揭幕战,然后在与火箭队的两场比赛中的第二场中,输给了——令人憎恨的火箭队,这场比赛重新点燃了宿敌之争。这正如我们所料,但也有一些小波折,一些我们没有预料到的小进展。我们将从大家伙开始,就在我们录制这个节目的大约12小时前,我们在弗罗斯特银行中心都和他谈过了。汤姆,他听起来像你身体不舒服时的样子。你觉得文班怎么样?

汤姆·奥斯本:你知道,我为他感到难过,这在目前是一种趋势。他,呃,你知道,我不知道是什么原因,但我的意思是,就像南德克萨斯的许多人一样,他很痛苦。而且,是的,我的意思是,这不是第一次。呃,他,你知道,我没有感觉太好。

迈克·芬格:我们怎么看他目前的开局?就精彩片段、统计数据和所有这些东西而言,这并不是一个“外星人”式的、世界级的、席卷互联网的开局。他表现得很稳固。但是,我认为我们在之前的播客中预测的另一件事是,在他轻松的季前赛和忙碌的夏天之后,他不会接近赛季中期状态。杰夫,他还远没有达到赛季中期状态。

杰夫·麦克唐纳:我的意思是,我们预见到了这一点,对吧?波波维奇甚至在季前赛结束时告诉我们,他不会以良好的节奏开始常规赛。而且,我们可以争论其原因,以及马刺是否可以避免这种情况。我不在乎。我理解这个问题的双方观点,但正如我们被告知的那样,文班没有以良好的节奏开始赛季。即便如此,即使我们预料到了,这还是有点令人失望。你知道,每个人都期待着文班重返赛场,延续上赛季的表现,看到所有那些精彩片段和惊人的数据,而对于他来说,昨晚只有14分和20个篮板,这有点——有点令人沮丧。

迈克·芬格:这仍然——这对他来说真是太疯狂了。你知道,他有过29分、20个篮板、4个盖帽的比赛,你知道。而我们——我们说他不如——不如伟大。在与休斯顿的第二场比赛的第四节开始前,你知道,他正在挑战,也许是他职业生涯中最糟糕的比赛。他在进入第四节时得了5分。如果他因为某种原因被困在那里,那将是他职业生涯的最低分。然后,他最终,就像你看到的那样,比赛结束时,14分和20个篮板,还有4个盖帽。投篮仍然不好。在任何比赛中都没有投好。也许在第二场对阵休斯顿的比赛中,他还不错,但是,效率不高,但数据在那里,而且就像他是第四节反击的重要组成部分。在第二场对阵休斯顿的比赛中,他在那场——在那场反击中做出了一些重要的贡献。对他来说,本赛季到目前为止有三分之二的赛程……

杰夫·麦克唐纳:好吧,我猜三分之一是对阵卫冕西部冠军,他们的轮换阵容中有两个相当稳固的中锋。呃,在杰森·基德的带领下,球队的防守还不错。然后,他三分之二的赛程是对阵联盟中的一支球队,这支球队在他职业生涯的一个赛季和三场比赛中,可能是最擅长防守他的。我喜欢——我会这样说迪伦·布鲁克斯,由于可以理解的原因,似乎没有人喜欢他。你知道,他有,我认为可以公平地说,他有滑稽行为的历史,无论是与勒布朗的对峙还是其他什么。但是,这个联盟中没有人——没有人,我想我可以这么说,想防守维克托·文班亚马。就像这是一个没有好处的提议,因为即使是——即使是喜欢防守的大个子,也像是你冒着被做成精彩片段、海报或其他什么的风险。就像,对任何人来说,想做这件事似乎都不有趣。迪伦·布鲁克斯是联盟中唯一一个真正喜欢这样做的人。而且,他放弃了像8英寸的优势,呃,而且——而且他乐在其中。而且,我——我——尽管迪伦·布鲁克斯有时很荒谬,而且他在过去三天里在弗罗斯特银行中心也很荒谬,我必须称赞他接受了这件事,并且——并且全力以赴。就像,他真的想这样做,而且他确实有困扰文班的诀窍。

迈克·芬格:而且,火箭队从一开始就进行包夹和三夹。就像他得到了很多帮助,而且包夹和三夹来自不同的角度和位置,文班在火箭队只是——只是赌其他马刺球员不会打得太好。你知道,这有时是一个不错的赌注。我的意思是,如果你看看马刺在对阵火箭队的两场比赛中真正打得好的时候,那就是其他球员站出来做了一些事情的时候。你知道,在第一场比赛中,是朱利安·尚帕尼,投进了一些早期的投篮,哈里森·巴恩斯投进了一些投篮,索汉在两场比赛中都表现出色。然后,呃,你知道,在第二场比赛中,马——令人惊讶的是,是马拉基·布拉纳姆在第四节把他们投回了比赛。所以,当其他球员站出来的时候,就更容易破解这个策略了,我猜。另一方面,文班也可以帮助自己,在前三场比赛中有很多很多东西。把功劳归于达拉斯,把功劳归于休斯顿。但这也是投篮选择,以及到达对他来说更好——而不是更糟的位置。不要把事情弄得比原本更难。而且,也许这与节奏和时机有关,以及在漫长的夏季休赛期后重新找回这一切。我认为有一个例子,昨晚还剩大约2分钟时,申京有5次犯规,文班在外线和他一对一,然后出手投了一个远距离三分。

杰夫·麦克唐纳:什么——那甚至可能是一个远距离两分,汤姆。这——这更糟糕。

汤姆·奥斯本:是的。他可能会后悔这个决定。是的。有一个——在第四节早些时候有一个,马刺第一次将分差缩小到5分。然后,文班下来,在进攻时间还剩15秒时投了一个30英尺的球。就像,没有必要这样做。即使他有可能投进。没有——没有必要这样做。这正在变成抨击维克托·文班亚马的播客。

迈克·芬格:好吧,这是——好吧,另一方面,你永远不能怀疑他的自信。没错。你永远不能怀疑他的自信。他——呃,我有点笑了,好吧,在季前赛的两场比赛中,他三分球9投1中。我相信是对阵达拉斯,他在揭幕战中三分球8投1中。他在对阵休斯顿的第一场比赛中投出的第一个球是从logo位置投出的。而且,他投进了。这不是夸张。就像,你听到logo三分,就像他的左——他的左脚后跟在——在马刺的logo上,对阵,是的。呃,他投进了。他投进了。所以,呃,我的意思是,就像人们在那些比赛之间,你知道,达拉斯和休斯顿的比赛之间,文班需要进入低位。他需要让事情变得简单,他不需要投——他投出的第一个球就是30英尺的。这太神奇了。如果——如果我们现在想说点积极的话,我们——我们已经有点纠结于——我们一直在挑剔文班。我要毫不掩饰地说,我对年轻的杰里米·索汉在前三场比赛中的表现印象非常深刻。

杰夫·麦克唐纳:说到让人生气的人,由于显而易见的原因。是的,呃,是的,但是——就像——迪伦·布鲁克斯和第一个,我的意思是,这是一个有趣的比较,但是,就像这个孩子有潜力。而且——而且我在过去几天里马刺和休斯顿的一场比赛中想到,我们多么快就忘记了不久前,杰里米·索汉是马刺在20多年里选中的最高的——选秀权?是的,而且,呃,就像他——他——他只是基于这一点,他应该是有史以来最有天赋的年轻球员之一。而且,由于他在圣安东尼奥的第一个赛季的各种因素,我认为这有点被忽视了,这是一个有天赋的球员,有一些潜力。而且,本赛季的前三场比赛有点提醒了每个人这一点。就像,我不认为他会成为一名全明星球员,但他是一个合法的球员,可以作为这个核心的一部分来打造,当他头脑清醒,自信,扮演正确的角色时。而且,呃,他为这支球队做了很多有趣的事情。即使球队一胜两负,你知道,他仍然有自己的时刻,你知道他没有完成篮下的投篮,你知道他的跳投看起来仍然不怎么样,但是,就像那个球员身上有一套非常好的技能,而且,呃,我认为马刺对他们到目前为止从他身上看到的东西感到兴奋。

迈克·芬格:我认为这是,继续,汤米。

汤姆·奥斯本:好吧,这,你知道,这一切都归结为他做自己,有点,你知道。是的。他又回到了单手罚球,也是。在,是的。你知道,这就像,只要对这个人有效,只要他认为对自

点击查看原文:A decidedly down-to-earth start for Spurs' alien Wemby

A decidedly down-to-earth start for Spurs’ alien Wemby

Columnist Mike Finger and Spurs beat reporters Jeff McDonald and Tom Orsborn discuss Victor Wembanyama’s “slow start,” Jeremy Sochan becoming the Spurs’ enforcer and make predictions for how the Spurs will fare this week.

Suggested reading:

Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama, Thunder’s Chet Holmgren set to renew rivalry

Communication breakdown played role in Spurs’ loss to Rockets

Spurs’ Stephon Castle is ready to learn and ready to thrive

Spurs’ Sochan enjoys flagrantly good opener

Bosa and Popovich both make statements, but only one gives his reasons

\

Here is the transcript of the podcast:

Mike Finger: From a highly secure network of top-secret locations across South Texas, this is the Spurs Insider. The season is underway. We’re ready to talk about actual games instead of offseason nonsense. Maybe we’ll have some in-season nonsense. I am your host, Mike Finger. Joined as always by Express-News Spurs beat writers Jeff McDonald and Tom Orsborn. Last week, we left you with three predictions of what the Spurs record would be the next time we all convened. We even gave specific predictions as to which games the Spurs would lose and which games they’d win. And, for the first time in Spurs Insider podcast history, I think every prediction came true. We’ve got it all figured out, guys. Jeff, you feel proud of that - that that you saw this coming?

Jeff McDonald: Of course. I’m a - I’m a freaking genius.

Mike Finger: The Spurs lost their opener, won their home opener, then fell to the - the hated Rockets in in a rekindled bad-blood rivalry uh in in the second of uh a two-game series with the Rockets. It’s It’s what we expected, but also a lot to get into, some little wrinkles, some little developments that we didn’t see coming. We will start with the big fella, who uh a few hours uh the just uh 12 hours or so before we’re recording this, we all spoke to at the Frost Bank Center. And And Tom, he he sounded like you sometimes sound when you’re under the weather. How do you think Victor’s doing?

Tom Orsborn: You know, I I I feel for him, and it’s It’s a trend at this point. He He uh you know, I I don’t know what it is, but I mean, like many people in South Texas, he he suffers. And uh yeah, I mean it’s It’s been It’s not the first time. Uh he he He He’s had it - he He, you know, he He shrugged it off, but he he definitely, you know, wasn’t feeling too great.

Mike Finger: What do we think about his start? It hasn’t been uh an alien uh all-world just uh take the internet by storm start in terms of highlights and stats and all that type of stuff. He’s been solid. But, I think uh another thing that we we we predicted in previous podcasts is that he wasn’t going to be anything close to midseason form after his light preseason and busy summer. And, Jeff, he is not close to midseason form yet.

Jeff McDonald: I mean, we saw this coming, right? Pop even told us at the end of the preseason, he’s not going to start the regular season in in good rhythm. And, we can argue over the reasons for that, and whether the Spurs could have mitigated that for not - or not. I don’t care. I understand both sides of that question, but he Victor has not started uh the season in good rhythm, as we were told he would not. Even so, and even though we we expected it, it is kind of a letdown, though. You know, it was Everyone’s been looking forward to uh Victor back on the floor and picking up where he left off last season and seeing all those highlight-reel plays and monster stat lines, and Like for him to only have 14 and 20 last night, it was a little It was a little disheartening.

Mike Finger: It’s Still It’s crazy what a credit to him, though. You know, he he’s had games of 29 points, 20 rebounds, four blocks, you know. And, we’re We’re talking about him being less than uh less than great. Going into the fourth quarter of the second game against Houston, he was you know challenging, from like maybe the worst game of his career. He had five points going into that fourth quarter. If he had been stuck there for some reason, th- that would have been a career low. And, then he ends up, like you look at it end of the game, 14 and 20 with four blocks. Still hasn’t shot it well. Um really in any game. Maybe that second Houston game, he was he was all right, but um so, not very efficient, but the numbers over there and like he was a big part of that fourth-quarter comeback. Uh you know, in that second game against Houston, he made some big plays in that in that you know in that rally. It’s It’s a bit tough for him to have two-thirds of his schedule so far this season.

Jeff McDonald: Well, I guess one-third of it against the defending Western Conference champions, who have two pretty solid centers in their rotation. Uh the the play the play some decent defense under Jason Kidd. And, then two-thirds of his schedule against the team in the league that probably does the best job of defending him in his in his w- one season and and three games so far in his career. Like the I I will say this about Dylan Brooks, who Nobody seems to like, for understandable reasons. Um you know, he he does have a a history of, I think it’s fair to say, clownish behavior, whether it’s his his confrontations with LeBron or whatever. But, nobody in this league Nobody that I can think of wants to to guard Victor Wembanyama. Like there’s It’s sort of a no-upside proposition, because even the even the big guys who like playing defense, it’s like there’s you run the risk of getting highlight-reeled. And, he’s this guy, it’s not that Victor Wembanyama is unstoppable, but you’re signing up to be on the wrong side of a video clip, or a poster, or whatever. Like, i- it doesn’t seem fun for anybody to to want to do that. Dylan Brooks is the one guy in the league who really seems to enjoy it. And, he’s giving up like 8 in on the guy, and uh and and he he revels in it. And, I I just As As ridiculous as Dylan Brooks can be at times, and he was ridiculous at the Frost Bank Center uh a couple of instances over the past three days, like I got to give credit to that guy for signing up for it and and and going all in on it. Like, he really wants to do it, and he and he does have a knack for bothering Victor.

Mike Finger: And, the Rockets are sending doubles and triples, like from from the jump. Like he’s getting a lot of help, and the the doubles and triples are coming from different angles and places, and Victor’s really got to think it through when the Rockets in those situations are just are just betting the other Spurs won’t beat them too badly. And, you know, it it It’s a good bet at times. I mean, if you look at really the times when the Spurs played well in the la- in the two games against the Rockets, it’s when those other guys stepped up and did some stuff. You know, in the first game, it was Julian Champagnie, um knocking down some early shots, and Harrison Barnes knocking down some shots, and and Sochan’s been great in both games. And, then uh you know, in game two, ma- Malachi surprisingly, it was Malachi Branham who kind of shot them back in the game in the fourth quarter. So, when the other guys are stepping up, it makes that strategy a little more um uh uh a little more easier to beat, I guess. The other thing is, Victor can help himself, too, in the a lot a lot a lot of the stuff in the first three games. Give credit to Dallas, give credit for Houston to Houston. But, it’s also shot selection and getting to spots that are that are uh better for him that versus worse for him. Um not making things harder on himself than they need to be. And, maybe that goes into rhythm and timing, and just getting all that back after the long summertime layoff. I think there was an example of that um with about 2 minutes left last night, when Sengun had five fouls and Victor’s out on the perimeter with him one-on-one, and pulled up for a long three.

Jeff McDonald: What a - it might have even been a long two, Tom. Which Which is sort of worse.

Tom Orsborn: Yeah. It’s probably regretted that decision. Yeah. There was one - there was one earlier where in that in the fourth quarter where the Spurs got it to five for the first time. And, Victor comes down and takes like a 30-footer with 15 on the shot clock. Like, there’s just no need for that. Even though he can possibly make it. There’s There’s no - There’s no need for that. This is This is becoming the bash Victor Wembanyama podcast.

Mike Finger: Well, it’s Well, on the flip on the flip side, you can never doubt his confidence. That’s right. You can never doubt his confidence. He sta- uh I kind of laughed, kay, during the preseason in the two games he played, he was like one of nine from three. I believe it was against Dallas, he was one of eight in the opener from three. And, the first shot he takes against Houston in that first game against Houston was from the logo. And, he made it. That’s not an exaggeration. Like, you hear logo three, just as His His left - his left heel was on - was on the Spurs logo against Yeah. Uh and he made it. He made it. So, uh I mean like and people in between those games, you know, the Dallas and Houston games, Victor needs to get in the post. He needs to make it easy, he doesn’t need to be taking the the first shot he takes is from 30 ft. It was amazing. Um If If we want to go positive now, we we’ve we’ve kind of harped on on We’ve been nitpicking with with Victor. I will say unabashedly that I have been super impressed with young Jeremy Sochan through three games.

Jeff McDonald: Speaking of guys that uh make people make people mad for obvious reasons. Yeah, uh Yeah, but - like - the Dylan Brooks with the first I mean that’s a that’s a funny comparison, but like the the upside is there with this kid. And And I was thinking during one of those Spurs - Houston games the past few days about how quickly we forget that there was a point not too long ago when Jeremy Sochan was the highest um draft pick the Spurs had taken in what, 20 something years? Yeah, um and uh like he he he just based on that, he’s supposed to be one of the most talented young players ever. And, because of a variety of factors throughout his first two seasons in San Antonio, I think that’s sort of gotten overlooked, that this is this is a talented player with some upside. And, these first three games of this season have sort of reminded everyone of that. Like, I don’t think he’s ever going to be an all-NBA player, but he’s a legitimate guy to build around as part of this nucleus, when his head’s on straight, when he’s confident, when he’s in the right roll. And uh he’s doing a lot of fun stuff for this team. Even though the team’s one and two, you know, he still has his moments where you know he doesn’t finish a shot at the rim, where you know his his jumper still doesn’t look awesome, but like there’s there’s a really nice skill set on on that player, and uh I think the Spurs are thrilled with what they’ve seen from him so far.

Mike Finger: I I think this is Go ahead, Tommy.

Tom Orsborn: Well, it’s You know, it it all boils down to just letting him be him kind of, um you know. Yeah. He He’s back to that one-handed free throw now, too. After Yeah. You know, it’s like just Whatever works for the guy, whatever he thinks works for him, just let him do it. You know. It’s It’s a - it’s completely a role and fit thing for him. If you have him in the right thing, right role, with the right people around him, and just let him do this batch of things that he does really well. Cutting, rebounding, pushing the pace when he gets that rebound, defending. Uh um you know you know, not asking him to create anything. He - I mean he he he’s actually a good passer. I know I know the f- a decent passer, a passable passer. I know the point guard experiment last year did not go well, but If If you give him the you know the ball in the break, he can make some plays that way. Like he has a lot of skills, and if you just ask him to do just do these things that are in your wheelhouse, really well, be a role player, he can he’s really shown he’s shown that as a rookie, too, in my opinion. Really the the the times where we lost track of who Jeremy Sochan is and what he can do is when the Spurs lost track of who Jeremy Sochan is and what he can and cannot do. Uh bu- bu- but we’re in know. Let’s go over the rest of - let’s go over the rest of the start to his season. Uh in Dallas, he gets his first flagrant foul. Yeah. Um That’s the season opener. Uh in the second game, not really his fault, but there’s the Wembanyama-Dylan Brooks little brouhaha, and Jeremy’s in the middle of that uh either breaking it up or uh inflaming it. I don’t know which one. And, then uh he gets the double-tech with Jabari Smith last night, uh and then he and Fred VanVleet get into it coming off the floor after the game. Like, this is he’s - season, like midseason form when it comes to that kind of stuff. And, he’s starting to shoot around. It’s the bleep Houston comment. Oh yeah. I forgot about that. He’s bleeping Houston. We We We I don’t know. Sometimes, I wonder does I do- do you think Pop heard about that, the bleep Houston? Or do you think he just You know, they’ll keep people wise probably not to alert Pop to that. Um Going through that, but I I I will I will defend him on the I’m not even saying it’s bad. I’m j- No, no, no, no, no, no. I’m I’m not either, but to be honest, I kind of like it a little bit. Defend is the wrong word. I will say about the flagrant in Dallas, that that was a result of his reputation, I think, already. I think there’s a lot of players who wouldn’t have got a flagrant on that. Oh, I don’t know. In In walking out uh of the arena that night with Jeremy, I I I asked him, is there any way you were trying to finish a layup with one hand and thought to slap a dude’s face while you’re trying to finish a layup with your left hand? And, he said, bleep no. But, he also said he he said there’s no way that’s a flagrant, but he also said, um uh It’s probably not going to be the last one I have this year, and I might as well get it out of the way. Just So, he’s got a good sense of humor about it. He’s got a good sense of humor about his his uh uh little tibs with the Rockets. Um Asked him after the first Rockets game if he was aware about who, like, Charles Oakley was, the the the the old enforcers of old that would step in for the superstars and He said yeah, he’d he he He was aware of that and that he would he would step in there for Victor, cuz that’s what it was. He was jumping in to defend Victor in that second game. And, then after the third game, the second against the Rockets, someone with - I think Jeff might have asked you, you’re you’re glad not to see these guys anymore after seeing them twice? And, he was like, I wouldn’t mind seeing them again. He He’s just got a a really cool attitude. I like when I like when someone asked him last night if uh you know, he takes the trash talk personally, and he says, no, never, but you know I think they do. It’s That was a funny little little dig, too. And, that’s a sign of how effective he is that, it is if the other team is more bothered by him than he is by them. Like, that’s that’s that’s some success there. Um Another facet to his strong start, we asked Victor last night about um We We’ve seen multiple through through three games, and two last night pretty pretty quickly, um in in in a short frame of of time, of lob passes from Victor Wembanyama on the wing to Jeremy Sochan finishing the oop dunks. And uh Victor seemed really excited about that, even through his his sniffles and his head cold and whatever it was. Like his eyes kind of lit up talking about I think he he said it it’s a new important dimension of our offense to be able to kind of flip it inside out like that, and to have Victor on the outside throwing those passes to Jeremy on the inside. And, he was really complimentary of Jeremy, and and saying that, you know, he’s not a center, but he can jump like he can jump as high as one. And uh if they can get that part of the offense going, that adds a whole new dimension. And uh I I I really thought that was cool. I’ve seen I think maybe three Victor to Jeremy alley-oops so far this season, and uh They did it in Miami a couple of times in the preseason. Yeah. Yeah. And uh It was a very Go ahead. It was a very interesting, um answer from Vic. Because, that - I I remember part of the quote was something along the lines of it it It solves a lot of things for us. That’s what it was. Sol- It solves the - like a double-team. It solves the double-teams because we can you know we can work around that. And, like you said, um Jeremy is is uh quicker than most centers, but can still get up to the rim, like most centers. So, that play is available, and he’s making himself available for those plays. It was It was It was interesting to watch. I think they did try it a third time, and it didn’t work out. I think the Rockets got wise. It’s almost like It’s almost like a trick play in football, you can only run so many times before. Sure. But, I think one issue with the tallest guy on the court, unless you’re playing the Cowboys. Good point. One issue with the tallest guy on the court, the center, what have you, shooting three pointers, is on on a lot of teams, when that happens, there’s no- nobody under the rim. It’s just It’s just everybody on the wing because the big guy is gone outside the arc, and there’s nobody down there. And, there’s really no threat underneath. So, the defense is kind of all around the outside, it doesn’t need to worry about underneath. And, what Victor’s saying is if there’s that threat of Jeremy still being down there, while Victor is is on the outside, like that’s something for the defense to consider. They can’t just rush two guys out of Victor on the on the perimeter. And uh so, even though the third one didn’t work on Monday night, it the Rockets were thinking about it. Like they they can not give up another lob to Jeremy. And, there’s lot all kinds of permutations, all kinds of plays that can come out of that. I think establishing that early in the season could be beneficial down the line for the local cagers. We’ve done 17 minutes something like that on Victor and Jeremy. Who should we discuss next, Jeff?

Jeff McDonald: Oh, man, you put me on the spot. I don’t know. Uh you want to talk about - you want to talk about the rookie?

Mike Finger: Oh yeah. That That’s That’s a That’s a good topic. He He’s been really impressive. Not not in the the second game against Houston, but okay. Um but the first two in Dallas and and the first game against Houston really really pretty special.

Jeff McDonald: Yeah. I think he’s going to be and and and to start with I think the first encouraging thing is how much Gregg Popovich already is relying on him. Like that Gregg Popovich, notorious for uh not trusting in rookies early on. And, from the beginning, like he’s out there in crunch time, important minutes against I guess there wasn’t no crunch time in Dallas. But, he gave him important minutes at Dallas, um in the closing minutes of the Spurs first victory at home against the Rockets. Yeah, not in the second one, curiously enough. But the the Steph Cassel was part of the of the crunch time crew. And uh you know, he’s had his rookie mistakes, but really impressed with the way uh to to use a a Chris Paul Tom Orsborn uh pet phrase, the the the calm he has in some of these bigger moments. He does not seem to force anything. Um he’s willing to make the pass. And, in fact, he he seems to want to make the pass on these drives. Um And, just defends like crazy, which is what they expected from him. He made a couple of jump shots. His defense is really something special. And, it’s not even just something maybe sometimes you just have to sit there and watch him for a possession. Like, it might not be he even gets his hands on the ball. Yeah. But, it’s really special. There was a clip I watched at the end of the game they won against Houston, kind of in the last minute when he was on the floor, and Houston needed a basket. And uh the the three guys at the top defending all this were were uh Victor Wembanyama, Steph Cassel, and Jeremy Sochan. Yeah. And Houston couldn’t figure it out. They would keep running pick-and-rolls, trying to get somebody open. And, it would just go here and like Vic’s got it covered up. And, it would go there, and there’s Cassel. It would go there, and finally, I think whoever it was, and I’m just having a jack- shot clock contested three over stuff that didn’t go in. But, like you can see what they’re thinking with their last three drafts, really. In that moment, those three guys all defending at once are are pretty tough. Like on paper, they should have a pretty good defense. At some point. I don’t I don’t know when that comes. But, on paper, they should have a pretty good defense. Uh Since it’s uh w- we’ve already got three games under our belt, and I know you love to talk about these sorts of things. Is um Is Steph the front-runner for rookie of the year now? Oh, my god. I’m just kidding. Tom, what are you doing? I I was just I I’m just kidding. I was messing with you. They - they had much different different routes, much different backgrounds, but I think that Derek White, you know, um Pop’s it was a project of his for those first well, I guess until Derek left, really. To convince him, you belong. Mhmm. You know, like I said, the routes are much different, but with Steph, there’s no you belong at all. He he He knows he belongs. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Steph knows he belongs. Yeah. Yeah, there’s no There’s no getting him past that self-doubt. I think he’s going to be a star. I don’t know what I mean by that, but I I think he’s going to be a star. Yeah, he might - he might be like a Drew Holiday, you know when he’s 26, 27? Big - He’s bigger, I think. Bigger? He’s bigger than Drew Holiday? Yeah, I think I think so. I mean, I’m not going to - yeah, we’re not going to say Kawhi, but No. Um Maybe, but my favorite Steph Cassel play so far this year. Yeah. And, there’s there’s been several, but in it was Midway through the the victory against the Rockets in that first game uh at the Frost Bank Center, um he had played Steph Cassel defense, um grabs either a rebound or a loose ball under the the basket and is is going to the floor and fires this ba- It turns into like a full-court hockey assist. He fires this outlet pass from under the basket, falling down to Malachi Branham uh sprinting up the right sideline, who then lobs up a a pretty perfect alley-oop pass to finish off a fast break. Um That’s That’s Steph Cassel seeing a pass ahead from the total opposite end of the of the floor of the Spurs basket. It’s just like he he seems to have a knack for knowing where the ball needs to go in those situations. Um He’s done a lot of a lot of other stuff, too. Yeah. He made a skip pass late in that game against Dallas, that I don’t know people might not have even noticed, cuz the game was already out of hand. But, it was like a skipped pass across the lane to Malachi Branham for a three that like went right behind some Mavericks guy’s head. It was like not the pass you you saw, not the pass you expected him to throw. He throws a lot of passes that you don’t expect him to throw, and yet when after he does it, you’re like, oh, yeah, that was that was a that was a great that was the right pass. And, I’m not - I’m never going to put anybody in the Manu Ginobili category when it comes to that. Like, he’s one of one, but that’s one of the first things I noticed about Manu, when I start to be able to sit like on the floor and see things from floor level. And, there’d be a pass for like Th- How did he even see that? Um, you get a little of that from Steph Cassel. We We’re making a huge comparison. No, I’m not saying they’re the same. I’m just saying it’s No, that’s good. You know, he’s the he’s like the JV version of that. Maybe he’s just got to - You know what I’m saying? You know, it’s just a hockey assist with the uh with the uh NHL I think they should What’s that, Tom? I think the NBA the NBA and the NHL share seasons. I think the NBA should adopt that hockey assist, that Yeah, there you go. I And I I Hear if we’re talk about rule changes on assists, I think if you get a free throw? Yeah. I mean, you you can’t do it now, cuz it would just mess up th- all the record books, I guess. But, I still think that was always a that was always a uh uh You know, not fair. You make this amazing pass, and um it’s so amazing, the only thing the defense can do is just hammer the guy you threw it to, to prevent a layup. And, you don’t get any any credit for it. You just think if they made that change, how aggrieved, how upset, or aggrieved John Stockton would feel. The man with so many grievances these days. That’s true, about people doing him wrong. That’s true. He would Yeah. He would probably He would probably do his own research, and figure out how much uh how many more assists he should have had. He probably would - He would do He He’s He’s He’s something about his own research. Um Speaking of point guards, we haven’t mentioned the uh the future Hall of Famer who is now the starting point guard for your local cagers at all today, I don’t think. What’s What’s What’s the Chris Paul experience been like through three games?

Jeff McDonald: I think it’s fun. It’s fun. It’s kind of like I was talking about earlier. Every so often they’ll just be a Oh, that’s that’s how a textbook pick-and-roll is supposed to be run. I had forgotten over the last couple of years. But, like, he had one to Zach Collins last night in in uh Houston. That was just textbook. Just run the pick-and-roll, throw a bounce pass through traffic, dunk. Um And, it’s also just fun watching him just - I we’ve talked about it before, but this coach, just he never stops. Never stops, even when he’s out of the game, he’s never stops. He’s a budding us - budding sports senator, too. I I I asked him about the uh uh you know, the overzealous attempt by the That’s the one. Dylan Brooks to wrestle the ball away from uh Wembanyama. And, he he uh You know, the sage veteran that he is, he says don’t make a big deal out of that. Yeah. Y’all have seen worse. You remember Steve You remember Steve Nash getting knocked into the scorer’s table, coming up all bloody? Yeah. Yeah. How many o- How many other - How many other uh players in that locker room uh would have been able to reference the Steve Nash Robert Horry hip check? He might have been one of them. Yeah, might have gone scores table. Well, that’s what I was going to at- I wanted to Chris Chris Paul was in the league when that happened. Yes. Yes. Uh Tom, I wanted to check with you, because you are the the the best transcriber, transcriptionist, uh maybe in the league. And, you’re you’re really good at listening to the audio uh at at at pouring over the interviews and getting the exact wording. I I wanted to check with you on that. Was it daggum or doggone scores table? No, it was doggone, yeah. Doggone. Yeah. Yeah. Which Which was just great. To hear it - to That’s how you know you have a 39-year-old in the locker room, when when the quotes are full of the phrase, doggone. Yeah, It’s It’s That’s pretty good. He He slammed Steve Nash slammed into the doggone scores table. Pretty great. Don’t Don’t make a big deal out of that, I said. I’m not, I’m not. He says, come on, NBA players. Come on. He did see him in crunch time two nights in a row. Yeah. Little bit. Yeah. I I don’t know, I don’t know if that’s really a It’s gone ex- I mean, they won one, lost one. I don’t know if the whole thing has been as seamless as you would want, but it’s early. And, probably still one Probably still better than last year. Yeah. The one they won was uh one in which they had given up a uh We We’re on the verge of giving up a 20 two-point lead and hung on. And that’s good that they hung on. That’s great. Like, like the last minute went well. The uh early part of the fourth quarter did not. But, that’ll be work in progress, like you said. It’s not seamless. Chris Chris did make one play in that win in crunch time that was kind of big. You know, he he he he kind of hit behind the Vic’s It was vintage uh Chris Paul, just hit behind the Vic’s screen. If this guy guarding him couldn’t pick him up, he gives him some space to get to the lane. Somebody else has to come over to help. Dish to Jeremy Sochan for a layup, and it’s a five-point lead. Like when they needed a big basket, Chris got them a basket. There were other moments down the stretch of that game and the other ones that were not so pretty, but there was one where you’re like, oh, that’s That’s something they could not have done last year with whoever they had on the floor in that situation. So, there’s Well, since we did - go ahead, Tom. Did they get a split at the Comerciti? They’re playing awfully well. Awfully well. Chet Holmgren’s off to a great start, then Utah, I guess uh Can we see this book there, maybe? You read my mind, Tom. We Since we did such I was about to say, since we did such a flawless job last week of spending it forward, we will conclude this week’s podcast by trying to repeat that feat before we see you next time. Your local cagers will pay a visit to those aforementioned Oklahoma City Thunder on the second half of a back-to-back. They will visit Will Hardy and the Utah Jazz this Saturday. Another home date against uh Julius Randle and the Minnesota Timberwolves, is that right? And uh then, Monday visit to the spanking new sparkling Intuit Dome in Los Angeles. That is four games before we convene again. Uh I will start with Tom Orsborn. Give me a record in those four games, and which games, if any, you project the local cagers to triumph in.

Tom Orsborn: Uh Well, I’m wondering does Wembanyama play uh the back-to-back, uh at Utah? Probably does. Um So, Yeah, one and two again. No, I I’m asking for four. But, with the w- the win over Utah, although Utah’s two and two, I don’t know who they played, but they’re two and two. But, I’m asking for four games of - Oh, four games. I’m sorry. I’m sorry, Mike. Not two. I was transcribing. I’m sorry. Uh So, you got them starting one and one, and then the then the next two games, what are they doing there? We go to uh uh back-to-back wins at Utah and over Minnesota. Uh-huh. And, then a loss to the Clippers? Well, I don’t want to say three and one, that’s a little too, ye- Okay. Well, so I’m going to stick with two and two. Yeah, a loss Two and two with the victories at Utah, and at home against the Timberwolves. That’s That’s where we’re putting that We We’re We’re We’re sending it in there, for Tom. That’s the prediction. Jeff McDonald. They better get that Jazz game. Uh Just to correct the record, the Jazz are 0 and 3. They’re winless. They’re the only winless team Wait a minute. I was looking at the standings here. They’re They’re the only winless team in the uh in the Western Conference. Come on, Tom. Get it together. Get Stop transcribing and pay attention. They be- They better win that game. And, even if it’s the second night of a back-to-back, I’d go so far, like I I know that the Spurs hardly ever do this, but I’d go so far as if you have to punt that first game at Oklahoma City to win the second game at Utah, just do it. Yeah. And, it might it might happen organically. Like Ok- Oklahoma City might just beat them so badly in the first game that guys can have kind of a a a short night. Like Chris Paul doesn’t play 30 minutes and can play again the next night, that sort of thing. Mhm. Um But, I think they better win that Utah game, cuz uh I was looking at the Grizzlies. Two and two. Come on, Tom. So, what do you got, Jeff? Four game record? One and three. Man, I’m just going to go conservative, and say one and three. Okay. I think they could get one of those other two at Minnesota, or against Minnesota, or at the Clippers, but I I I don’t have a lot of faith, right now at this point of the season. If you want me to spend it into something positive, like we mentioned last week. After that, after that road trip, it g- things get a l- little uh a little looser. They have some teams they should be able to to handle a little easier. Okay. More like, just just a- a little bit for this positive headline from this uh podcast. Jeff uh Jeff McDonald says, heading into the first week of November, he’s going conservative. Uh I will say that uh uh uh I I I will say that the local cagers I don’t want to make so many jokes, and I can’t. That’s