By Eric Moody | ESPN, 2024-10-31 00:02:00
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。
上赛季，维克托·文班亚马(Victor Wembanyama)和切特·霍姆格伦(Chet Holmgren)之间的竞争超越了所有人的预期，为NBA球迷带来了另一场经典的中锋对决，这场对决可能会从乔尔·恩比德和尼古拉·约基奇手中接过火炬。NBA历史上充满了这样的标志性对决，从比尔·拉塞尔对阵威尔特·张伯伦到蒂姆·邓肯对阵凯文·加内特。现在，文班亚马和霍姆格伦似乎已经准备好将他们的名字添加到这份名单中。
上赛季，他们三次正面交锋，雷霆赢下了其中的两场。在这些对决中，文班亚马场均得到20.0分、13.0个篮板和3.7次盖帽，而霍姆格伦场均得到16.3分、7.7个篮板和1.7次盖帽。他们在年度最佳新秀的投票中分列第一和第二，文班亚马在年度最佳防守球员的投票中排名第二。
是什么让这场竞争更加有趣？这两个人在进入NBA之前就已经互相了解对方的比赛风格。2021年7月，霍姆格伦代表美国U19队参加了在拉脱维亚举行的国际篮联世界杯，并与其他未来的NBA球星一起比赛。在金牌争夺战中，美国队对阵法国队，霍姆格伦和文班亚马首次交锋。尽管他们是在不同的选秀届进入NBA的——霍姆格伦因脚伤缺席了第一个赛季——但他们的职业道路已经交织在一起。
本赛季，文班亚马和霍姆格伦将于周三晚上在俄克拉荷马城再次相遇。以下是一些关于两位球员的未来投注建议。
关于切特·霍姆格伦的两个未来投注建议
霍姆格伦赢得年度最佳防守球员 (+350)
切特·霍姆格伦目前以场均4.0次盖帽领跑NBA。美联社照片/David Zalubowski。虽然上赛季维克托·文班亚马的防守天赋备受关注，但不要忽视霍姆格伦。雷霆在2022年以榜眼签选中他，正是看中了他的防守影响力。上赛季，霍姆格伦场均出场不到30分钟，贡献8.0个篮板和2.3次盖帽，并且他出战了全部82场比赛。
本赛季，他的数据更上一层楼：三场比赛中，他场均出场约33分钟，得到13.0个篮板和4.0次盖帽。但对于投票者来说，关键在于——故事很重要。俄克拉荷马城雷霆上赛季赢了57场比赛，防守效率排名前四，并在季后赛中走得很远。雷霆的成功和强大的防守体系可能会对霍姆格伦的获奖起到重要作用，尤其是因为防守出色的球队有助于球员赢得该奖项。自2001年以来，上一个来自非前十防守球队的年度最佳防守球员是谁？那是2007年的马库斯·坎比。雷霆的成功故事可能是霍姆格伦冲击最佳防守球员奖的重要组成部分。
霍姆格伦赢得最快进步球员 (+1800)
最快进步球员奖是最难预测的奖项之一。但是，正如孙子所说：“乱生于治，怯生于勇。”自2019-20赛季以来，该奖项的每位获奖者都在同年首次入选全明星阵容。在过去的二十年中，大多数获奖者在得分、篮板和助攻方面都取得了显著的进步。超过一半的获奖者在获奖当年和前一年都是主要首发球员。
霍姆格伦正朝着这种飞跃的方向发展，他有可能在西部入选全明星，特别是如果雷霆能够冲击第一种子的话。上赛季，他场均得到16.5分、8.0个篮板和2.3次盖帽。本赛季，他的数据提升至23.7分、13.0个篮板和4.0次盖帽。虽然只打了三场比赛，但这正是一个为该赌注增加一些筹码的绝佳时机。
关于维克托·文班亚马的两个未来投注建议
文班亚马成为篮板王 (+850)
维克托·文班亚马本赛季场均出场31.0分钟，得到12.0个篮板。美联社照片/Darren Abate。周一晚上对阵休斯顿火箭的比赛中，文班亚马创造了历史，成为马刺队史第四位多次得到20个篮板和5次助攻的球员。他加入了蒂姆·邓肯、大卫·罗宾逊和丹尼斯·罗德曼的专属俱乐部。然而，文班亚马本赛季只有一场比赛篮板球上双，这使得现在是考虑这个赌注的好时机。
到目前为止，本赛季文班亚马场均出场31.0分钟，得到12.0个篮板。排在他前面的只有鲁迪·戈贝尔(12.3)、阿尔佩伦·申京(12.5)、切特·霍姆格伦(13.0)、安德烈·德拉蒙德(13.0)和伊维察·祖巴茨(14.0)。
他的休赛期力量训练已经初见成效，但更突出的是他的心理成长，尤其是他的拼搏精神和竞争力。这一点很重要，因为在扎克·科林斯作为他名单上唯一的支持的情况下，文班亚马将在篮板球方面承担重任。
文班亚马成为圣诞大战得分王 (+2200)
尼克斯队将在12月25日主场迎战卫冕年度最佳新秀和马刺队。上赛季，文班亚马在对阵尼克斯队的比赛中打出了他新秀赛季的最佳表现，在圣安东尼奥砍下40分和20个篮板。现在，他将在圣诞节重返麦迪逊广场花园，希望在第一次在那里失利后寻求救赎。
上赛季，米切尔·罗宾逊将文班亚马的得分限制在14分，14投4中，效率低下。但根据ESPN的沙姆斯·查拉尼亚的消息，罗宾逊因脚踝受伤将缺席今年剩余的比赛。文班亚马将面对尼克斯休赛期新援卡尔-安东尼·唐斯，唐斯的防守声誉不如罗宾逊。投注者应该考虑在这里押注文班亚马，因为客场球星经常在麦迪逊广场花园上演精彩的表演。
点击查看原文：NBA betting: Four bets to make on Wembanyama, Holmgren
NBA betting: Four bets to make on Wembanyama, Holmgren
The rivalry between Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren surpassed all expectations last season, giving NBA fans another classic big-man showdown that might just carry the torch from Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic. NBA history is loaded with iconic matchups like these, from Bill Russell vs. Wilt Chamberlain to Tim Duncan vs. Kevin Garnett. Now, it looks like Wembanyama and Holmgren are ready to add their names to that list.
Last season, they went head-to-head three times, with the Thunder winning two of those games. Wembanyama averaged 20.0 PPG, 13.0 RPG and 3.7 BPG, while Holmgren put up 16.3 PPG, 7.7 RPG and 1.7 BPG in their matchups. They finished first and second in Rookie of the Year voting, and Wembanyama landed second in Defensive Player of the Year voting.
What makes this rivalry even more interesting? These two have known each other’s game since before they got to the NBA. Holmgren represented Team USA’s Under-19 squad at the FIBA World Cup in Latvia in July 2021, playing with other future NBA stars. The gold-medal game saw USA face France, where Holmgren and Wembanyama squared off for the first time. Although they entered the NBA in different draft classes – Holmgren missing his first year with a foot injury – their paths are already intertwined.
Wembanyama and Holmgren meet again for the first time this season on Wednesday night in Oklahoma City. Here are some futures bets to make on both players this season.
Two futures bets to make on Chet Holmgren
Holmgren to win Defensive Player of the Year (+350)
Chet Holmgren currently leads the NBA in blocks with 4.0 BPG. AP Photo/David ZalubowskiNow, while Victor Wembanyama got a lot of attention last season for his defensive talent, don’t sleep on Holmgren. The Thunder selected him No. 2 overall in 2022 for his defensive impact. Last season, Holmgren averaged 8.0 RPG and 2.3 BPG in just under 30 minutes per game, and he played all 82 games.
This season, he’s taken it up a notch: 13.0 RPG and 4.0 BPG in about 33 minutes per game over three games. But here’s what’s key for voters-narratives matter. Oklahoma City won 57 games last season, finished top-four in defensive rating, and went deep in the playoffs. The Thunder’s success and strong defensive identity could play a major role in Holmgren’s case, especially since teams that excel defensively helps their player’s chance for winning the award. The last Defensive Player of the Year winner from outside a top-10 defensive team since 2001? That was Marcus Camby back in 2007. The Thunder’s success story could be a big part of Holmgren’s DPOY push.
Holmgren to win Most Improved Player (+1800)
The Most Improved Player market is one of the hardest to predict. But, as Sun Tzu said, “In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity.” Since the 2019-20 season, every winner of this award also made their first All-Star appearance that same year. Over the past two decades, most winners showed significant increases in points, rebounds and assists per game. More than half were primary starters both the year they won and the year before.
Holmgren is on track for that type of jump, potentially making All-Star noise in the Western Conference, especially if the Thunder can make a push for the No. 1 seed. Last season, he averaged 16.5 PPG, 8.0 RPG, and 2.3 BPG. This season, he’s up to 23.7 PPG, 13.0 RPG, and 4.0 BPG. It’s only three games, but this is a prime spot to add a few units to this bet.
Two futures bets to make on Victor Wembanyama
Wembanyama rebounds per game leader (+850)
Victor Wembanyama has averaged 12.0 RPG in 31.0 MPG so far this season. AP Photo/Darren AbateWembanyama made history Monday night against the Houston Rockets, becoming the fourth Spur ever to record 20 rebounds and five assists in multiple games. He joins legends Tim Duncan, David Robinson and Dennis Rodman in that exclusive club. However, Wembanyama has only had one game with double-digit rebounds so far this season, which makes this a great time to consider this bet.
So far this season, Wembanyama has averaged 12.0 RPG in 31.0 MPG. The only players ahead of him are Rudy Gobert (12.3), Alperen Sengun (12.5), Chet Holmgren (13.0), Andre Drummond (13.0) and Ivica Zubac (14.0).
His offseason strength training is already paying off, but it’s his mental growth that stands out, particularly his hustle and competitiveness. This is important because Wembanyama will be leaned on heavily in the rebounding department with Zach Collins as his only support on the roster.
Wembanyama top points scorer on Christmas Day (+2200)
The Knicks will host the reigning Rookie of the Year and the Spurs on Dec. 25. Wembanyama had his best rookie performance against the Knicks last season, dropping 40 points and stockpiling 20 boards in San Antonio. Now he’s back at Madison Square Garden for Christmas, looking for redemption after a tough first outing there.
Last season, Mitchell Robinson held Wembanyama to an inefficient 14 points on 4-of-14 shooting. But Robinson is sidelined with an ankle injury and will be out for the rest of the calendar year, per ESPN’s Shams Charania. Wembanyama will instead face Knicks offseason addition Karl-Anthony Towns, who doesn’t have the same defensive reputation as Robinson. Bettors should consider a play on Wembanyama here, as visiting stars often put on a show at Madison Square Garden.
By Eric Moody | ESPN, via ESPN