By Tom Orsborn, Staff writer | San Antonio Express-News (SAEN), 2024-10-31 08:29:46
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30日星期三，在俄克拉荷马城举行的NBA篮球比赛下半场，俄克拉荷马雷霆队后卫以赛亚·乔（Isaiah Joe）（右）从圣安东尼奥马刺队前锋扎克·科林斯（Zach Collins）（左）手中将球打掉。(美联社照片/内特·比林斯)
盐湖城——格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)通常在终场哨响几分钟后就开始他的赛后新闻发布会。
“抱歉让你们久等了。我先跟我的队员们说了几句话。”波波维奇告诉记者。
这位教练拒绝透露他的具体讲话内容，但他明确表示，他对球队无法打满48分钟感到不满。这是他在过去两个赛季经常抱怨的问题，这两个赛季马刺都只赢了22场。
“那是一支非常优秀的防守型球队，一支非常优秀的球队。”波波维奇谈到4胜0负的雷霆队时说道。“这是一支季后赛球队，很可能会在季后赛中走得很远，甚至可能取得更好的成绩。所以，这是事实。他们比我们更强。”
“但这无关紧要。我们正在努力达到他们的水平，这是篮球。让每个人都更上一层楼的都是一样的东西，一层又一层。对我们来说，首先要意识到这是一场48分钟的比赛。”
马刺队在周四晚上对阵爵士队的比赛前战绩为1胜3负，半场以44-59落后，并在第三节初一度落后多达19分。
“下半场，我们和他们打平了。”波波维奇说。“但那是24分钟，不是48分钟。我认为这可能是我们最需要理解的事情，你必须在每一节，每一个回合都全力以赴。”
哈里森·巴恩斯(Harrison Barnes)以18分领跑马刺队，他补充道：“我们需要带着气势打球，带着目标打球，并保持这种努力和专注。”
扎克·科林斯表示赞同。
“我认为这是一个很好的观点——48分钟的比赛。”他说。“我们一度将分差缩小到10分。我们赢了下半场。我们就是不能给自己挖坑。我们在对阵休斯顿的比赛中（周一输给火箭队）也犯了同样的错误。我们落后20分，然后我们追了回来，让比赛变得有悬念。我们只是需要在比赛初期打得更好。”
糟糕的控球——22次失误——也是对阵雷霆队的一大问题，雷霆队利用这些失误得到了27分。文班亚马(Victor Wembanyama)出现了全队最高的4次失误。
文班亚马说：“我们肯定付出了努力，但可能是失误的问题。有时我们确实会有些不太稳定。我认为这是比投入度更大的问题。”
马刺队的开局很慢，切特·霍姆格伦(Chet Holmgren)盖掉了他们的第一次投篮尝试，杰里米·索汉(Jeremy Sochan)的上篮，就突显了这一点。他们在前12分钟的投篮命中率为29投7中（29.2%），其中三分球10投1中。他们还出现了6次失误，这为雷霆队贡献了6分。
巴恩斯说，进攻在整场比赛中都缺乏活力。
“这是球的转移，球员的移动。”他说。“他们是一支拥有很多优秀防守球员的伟大球队。但归根结底，如果我们不转移球，如果不移动身体，无论我们和谁比赛，都会很困难。”
雷霆队在上半场三分球26投13中，以39-12领先马刺队。他们全场三分球41投17中（41.5%），而马刺队在面对联盟顶级防守时，三分球36投12中（33.3%）。
“我认为今晚就是一个糟糕的夜晚。”科林斯说。“我认为我们的防守说实话一直都很好。他们可能是联盟中最好的突破分球的球队，而且他们投进了球。你必须向他们脱帽致敬。我们犯了一些错误，但他们的手感火热，我们的三分球命中率只有33%，而且我们还出现了失误……他们从我们的失误中得到了27分，这就是比赛的胜负所在。”
卢·多尔特(Lu Dortz)凭借三分球8投6中，以20分领跑俄克拉荷马城。切特·霍姆格伦10投7中得到19分，其中三分球3投3中。
波波维奇祝贺盖伊
波波维奇说，鲁迪·盖伊(Rudy Gay)在宣布结束17年的NBA职业生涯后，他于周二与他进行了交谈。
盖伊在他的职业生涯中效力过五支不同的球队，其中包括2017-2021年在马刺队的四年。
“我祝贺了他。”波波维奇说。“他是一个很好的人，有着漫长而成功的职业生涯。很棒的队友。每个人都喜欢他。总是面带微笑，很有幽默感。他是一个优秀的职业球员。”
这位前锋在马刺队的256场比赛中场均得到11.5分。他在圣安东尼奥的每个赛季场均得分都至少达到10分以上。
2019年1月29日，在圣安东尼奥举行的比赛上半场，圣安东尼奥马刺队主教练格雷格·波波维奇（左）与马刺队前锋鲁迪·盖伊交谈。马刺队以126-124获胜。
2018年10月7日，周日，在圣安东尼奥举行的NBA季前赛下半场，圣安东尼奥马刺队主教练格雷格·波波维奇（右）与前锋鲁迪·盖伊交谈。(美联社照片/达伦·阿贝特)
2019年1月29日，星期二，在圣安东尼奥举行的NBA篮球比赛上半场，圣安东尼奥马刺队主教练格雷格·波波维奇（左）与马刺队前锋鲁迪·盖伊交谈。圣安东尼奥以126-124获胜。(美联社照片/达伦·阿贝特)
10月30日星期三，在俄克拉荷马城举行的NBA篮球比赛下半场，俄克拉荷马雷霆队后卫阿贾伊·米切尔（Ajay Mitchell）（25号）试图从圣安东尼奥马刺队中锋维克多·文班亚马（右）手中抢断，而雷霆队前锋切特·霍姆格伦（中）正在防守。(美联社照片/内特·比林斯)
10月30日星期三，在俄克拉荷马城举行的NBA篮球比赛下半场，俄克拉荷马雷霆队后卫谢伊·吉尔杰斯-亚历山大(Shai Gilgeous-Alexander)（2号）在圣安东尼奥马刺队前锋杰里米·索汉（10号）面前投篮。(美联社照片/内特·比林斯)
10月30日星期三，在俄克拉荷马城举行的NBA篮球比赛下半场，圣安东尼奥马刺队前锋杰里米·索汉（左）在俄克拉荷马雷霆队后卫卡森·华莱士（Cason Wallace）（22号）面前投篮。(美联社照片/内特·比林斯)
10月30日星期三，在俄克拉荷马城举行的NBA篮球比赛下半场，俄克拉荷马雷霆队后卫谢伊·吉尔杰斯-亚历山大（2号）突破圣安东尼奥马刺队中锋维克多·文班亚马（1号）。(美联社照片/内特·比林斯)
10月30日星期三，在俄克拉荷马城举行的NBA篮球比赛下半场，圣安东尼奥马刺队教练格雷格·波波维奇正在指导他的球员。(美联社照片/内特·比林斯)
10月30日星期三，在俄克拉荷马城举行的NBA篮球比赛上半场，俄克拉荷马雷霆队后卫谢伊·吉尔杰斯-亚历山大（2号）试图从圣安东尼奥马刺队前锋哈里森·巴恩斯（40号）面前传球。(美联社照片/内特·比林斯)
点击查看原文：After sloppy loss, Popovich again implores Spurs to play full game
After sloppy loss, Popovich again implores Spurs to play full game
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Isaiah Joe, right, knocks the ball away from San Antonio Spurs forward Zach Collins, left, during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)
SALT LAKE CITY – Gregg Popovich usually starts his post-game press conference just minutes after the final buzzer sounds.
“Sorry to keep you waiting. I had a few things to say to my team first,” Popovich told reporters.
The coach declined to share his specific message, but he made it clear he was upset with his team’s inability to perform for 48 minutes. It’s a complaint he issued frequently the last two seasons, both of which ended with just 22 wins.
“That’s a very good defensive team, a very good team altogether,” Popovich said of the 4-0 Thunder. "It’s a playoff team that very possibly will go very deep into the playoffs and maybe even do better than that. So, that’s a fact. They’re a better team than we are.
“But it’s also beside the point. We’re trying to get to their level, and it’s basketball. It’s the same things that get everybody to the next level, the next level, next level. And the first thing for us is to realize it’s a 48-minute game.”
The Spurs, who were 1-3 heading into Thursday night’s game against the Jazz, trailed 59-44 at halftime and by as many as 19 points early in the third quarter.
“The second half, we played them even,” Popovich said. “But that’s 24 minutes, not 48. I think that’s probably the biggest thing for us to understand, you have to bring it every quarter, every possession.”
Harrison Barnes, who led the Spurs with 18 points, added, “We need to play with presence, play with intention and sustain that effort and focus.”
Zach Collins agreed.
“I think it’s a good point – 48-minute game,” he said. “We had it down to 10. We won the second half. We just can’t dig ourselves a hole. We did the same thing against Houston (in losing to the Rockets on Monday). We were down 20 and we came back and made it a game. We just got to play better early.”]
Poor ball security — 22 turnovers — was also a big problem against the Thunder, who scored 27 points off the miscues. Wembanyama committed a team-high four turnovers.
Said Wembanyama, “The effort is definitely there, but it’s maybe the turnovers. Sometimes we get a little less solid at times, for sure. I think this is the issue more than engagement.”
The Spurs came out of the gate slow, a fact underscored by Chet Holmgren blocking their first shot attempt, a layup by Jeremy Sochan. They were 7 for 29 from the field (29.2%) in the first 12 minutes, including 1 for 10 from beyond the arc. They also committed six turnovers, which led to six points for OKC.
Barnes said the offense suffered from a lack of movement throughout the game.
“It’s ball movement, player movement,” he said. “They are a great team with a lot of great defensive players. But at the end of the day, if we are not moving the ball, if we are not moving bodies, it’s going to be difficult regardless of who we are playing.”
The Thunder held a 39-12 lead in points from 3-point range in the first half after sinking 13 of 26. They finished the game 17 for 41 from deep (41.5%), while the Spurs hit just 12 of 36 (33.3%) against the NBA’s top defense.
“I just think tonight was a bad night," Collins said. “I think our defense honestly has been really good. They are probably the best team in the league at driving and kicking, and they made shots. You’ve got to tip your cap to them. We made some mistakes, but they were hot and we shot 33 percent from three and then we turned the ball over. … They had 27 points off our turnovers, and that’s the game.”
Lu Dortz led Oklahoma City with 20 points on the strength of 6 for 8 from distance. Chet Holmgren finished with 19 points on 7 for 10 from the field, including a perfect 3 for 3 from downtown.
Popovich congratulates Gay
Popovich said he spoke with Rudy Gay on Tuesday after he announced his retirement from the NBA after 17 seasons.
Gay played for five different teams during his career, including a four-year stint with the Spurs from 2017-2021.
“I congratulated him,” Popovich said. “He’s a sweet man and had a good long career,. Great teammate. Everybody loved him. Always had a smile, great sense of humor. He was a good pro.”
The forward averaged 11.5 points per game for the Spurs over 256 games. He averaged at least 10-plus points per outing in each of his seasons in San Antonio.
San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich, left, talks to Spurs forward Rudy Gay during the first half against the Phoenix Suns, Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2019, in San Antonio. The Spurs won 126-124.
San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich, right, talks to forward Rudy Gay during the second half of an NBA preseason basketball game against the Houston Rockets, Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)
San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich, left, talks to Spurs forward Rudy Gay during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Phoenix Suns, Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2019, in San Antonio. San Antonio won 126-124. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Ajay Mitchell (25) tries to steal the ball from San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama, right, as Thunder forward Chet Holmgren, center, defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) shoots against San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan (10) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)
San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan, left, shoots against Oklahoma City Thunder guard Cason Wallace (22) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) drives past San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)
San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich gives instructions to his players during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) looks to pass the ball away from San Antonio Spurs forward Harrison Barnes (40) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)
By Tom Orsborn, Staff writer, via San Antonio Express-News