By Tom Orsborn, Staff writer | San Antonio Express-News (SAEN), 2024-11-01 11:28:31
由生成式 AI 翻译，译文内容可能不准确或不完整，以原文为准。
2024年10月31日，星期四，在盐湖城举行的NBA篮球比赛下半场，圣安东尼奥马刺队前锋杰里米·索汉(Jeremy Sochan)（上）与犹他爵士队前锋布莱斯·森萨博（下）在争抢一个地板球时发生碰撞。(美联社照片/里克·伊根)
盐湖城——马刺队努力打造防守特色的工作在周四晚上取得了重大进展，他们奉献了一场令人窒息的防守表演。
在以106-88战胜犹他的比赛中，文班亚马(Victor Wembanyama)和他的队友们迫使对手出现26次失误，这是自2015年11月23日对阵菲尼克斯太阳队迫使对手出现28次失误以来，马刺队的单场最高纪录。他们还完成了17次抢断，这是自2018年10月29日对阵达拉斯独行侠队完成17次抢断以来，俱乐部的单场最高纪录。
“我们离成为联盟前五的防守强队还差得很远，但我们知道这是重点，而且我们整个赛季的防守都很好，”马刺队主教练格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)说道。“我们延续了去年的势头。我对他们的理解和享受防守带来的好处印象深刻。”
实际上，马刺队 是 一支排名前五的防守强队。截至周五，他们的防守效率为107.1，排名联盟第五。他们还有三名球员的防守投篮命中率排名前十：索汉（33.3%，排名第四）、朱利安·尚帕尼(Julian Champagnie)（33.9%，排名第五）和文班亚马（34.6%，排名第六）。
但波波维奇的观点很明确：现在就把他们贴上防守强队的标签还为时过早，控球后卫克里斯·保罗(Chris Paul)也认同这一观点。
“我们只是想打好几场比赛，”保罗说道。“我们不想好高骛远或类似的事情。这是一场很棒的胜利。我们需要看看我们做得好的地方以及我们可以改进的地方。”
在第三节将爵士队的得分限制在仅14分的同时，马刺队完成了9次抢断。整个第三节，犹他出现了13次失误，为马刺队贡献了16分。
整场比赛，马刺队利用爵士队的失误得到了惊人的35分。
文班，他以5次抢断领衔全队，表示打造防守特色对球队来说是“必不可少的”。
“而且我们有机会做到这一点，因为我们有像索汉和凯尔登·约翰逊(Keldon Johnson)这样的球员，他们可以用非常高的活力给持球人施加压力，”文班说道。“当然，我也在努力做好我的角色。这应该是我们进入比赛的首要关注点。”
前锋桑德罗·马穆克拉什维利(Sandro Mamukelashvili)表示同意。
“(波波维奇)总是告诉我们要用防守带动比赛，防守才能赢得比赛，”他说道。“我们都明白防守的重要性。总的来说，球队明白，如果我们上场打出好的防守，我们就会有好的进攻。”
前锋称赞教练组对他的信任
马穆克拉什维利认为他上场时间的增加要归功于教练组对他的帮助。
“教练组对我做得很好，让我的心态保持正确，告诉我我已经很接近了，要保持自信，做好准备，”
在连续两场对阵休斯顿的比赛中未能出场后，这位前锋在周三晚上输给俄克拉荷马城的比赛中出场8分钟，然后在对阵犹他的比赛中出场了赛季最高的11分钟。
在第二节替补出场后，马穆克拉什维利对阵爵士的比赛中得到赛季最高的10分，投篮5投4中。
“他移动得很好。他懂得如何打球，”当被问及马穆克拉什维利上场时间增加的原因时，波波维奇说道。“他是一名国际球员，这些球员知道如何打球。所以，他适应大多数情况，而且他不害怕出手。在板凳席上看到他感觉很好。”
在对阵爵士的第四节，马穆克拉什维利3投3中得到8分，当时马刺队建立了20分的领先优势。
“今天感觉很棒，”他说道。“我不知道明天会发生什么，但我很高兴今天的结果。”
哈迪借鉴从波波维奇那里学到的经验
爵士队主教练、前马刺队助理教练威尔·哈迪(Will Hardy)正在借鉴他从波波维奇那里学到的一些关于如何应对逆境的经验，以帮助他年轻的球队度过这个艰难的赛季开局。
“我从波普那里学到了很多关于看待问题和处理问题的方法，比如今天不是成败的关键，昨天发生的事情并不能最终定义我们将会成为什么样的人，”哈迪说道。
哈迪指出，当他在马刺队的时候，球队是在“追逐总冠军”。在盐湖城情况有所不同，球队正在耐心地努力将年轻球员培养成一个有凝聚力、有竞争力的整体。
“对于我们的团队来说，这不仅仅关乎赛季末（就像在马刺队时那样），”他说道。“我试图看看他们在职业生涯早期将如何发展。……我们只需要根据年轻球员的情况稍微调整一下，试图帮助他们不仅了解他们现在是谁，还要了解他们在一个月、三个月、六个月、一年后想要成为什么样的人。
“我们不能每天都坐情绪过山车。这太难了。我们必须分阶段地看待事情，希望这种方法能让他们冷静下来，这样他们就不必做出任何过激的反应。”
2024年10月31日，星期四，在盐湖城举行的NBA篮球比赛上半场，圣安东尼奥马刺队前锋哈里森·巴恩斯(Harrison Barnes)（40号）防守犹他爵士队前锋凯尔·菲利波夫斯基(Kyle Filipowski)（22号），圣安东尼奥马刺队中锋文班亚马（1号）防守犹他爵士队中锋沃克·凯斯勒(Walker Kessler)（24号）。(美联社照片/里克·伊根)
2024年10月31日，星期四，在盐湖城举行的NBA篮球比赛下半场，圣安东尼奥马刺队中锋文班亚马（1号）从犹他爵士队前锋约翰·科林斯(John Collins)（20号）手中抢下篮板。(美联社照片/里克·伊根)
2024年10月31日，星期四，在盐湖城举行的NBA篮球比赛下半场，犹他爵士队前锋布莱斯·森萨博（28号）与圣安东尼奥马刺队前锋索汉（10号）一起争抢一个地板球。(美联社照片/里克·伊根)
2024年10月31日，星期四，在盐湖城举行的NBA篮球比赛下半场，圣安东尼奥马刺队前锋索汉（左）与犹他爵士队前锋布莱斯·森萨博（下）一起争抢球。(美联社照片/里克·伊根)
2024年10月31日，星期四，在盐湖城举行的NBA篮球比赛上半场，犹他爵士队后卫乔丹·克拉克森(Jordan Clarkson)（00号）带球进入内线，圣安东尼奥马刺队后卫保罗（3号）和马刺队中锋文班亚马（1号）进行防守。(美联社照片/里克·伊根)
2024年10月31日，星期四，在盐湖城举行的NBA篮球比赛下半场，犹他爵士队后卫科林·塞克斯顿(Collin Sexton)封盖了索汉的传球。(美联社照片/里克·伊根)
2024年10月31日，星期四，在盐湖城举行的NBA篮球比赛下半场，圣安东尼奥马刺队前锋尚帕尼（30号）带球推进，犹他爵士队后卫约翰尼·朱赞(Johnny Juzang)（左）进行防守。(美联社照片/里克·伊根)
2024年10月31日，星期四，在盐湖城举行的NBA篮球比赛下半场，马刺队主教练波波维奇对裁判的判罚做出反应。(美联社照片/里克·伊根)
2024年10月31日，星期四，在盐湖城举行的NBA篮球比赛下半场，圣安东尼奥马刺队后卫特雷·琼斯(Tre Jones)（22号）从犹他爵士队前锋菲利波夫斯基（22号）手中抢到球，马刺队前锋马穆克拉什维利（左）进行防守。(美联社照片/里克·伊根)
2024年10月31日，星期四，在盐湖城举行的NBA篮球比赛下半场，马刺队后卫保罗与马刺队主教练波波维奇交谈。(美联社照片/里克·伊根)
2024年10月31日，星期四，在盐湖城举行的NBA篮球比赛上半场，犹他爵士队后卫基翁特·乔治(Keyonte George)（3号）将球传到外线，圣安东尼奥马刺队前锋扎克·科林斯(Zach Collins)（23号）进行防守。(美联社照片/里克·伊根)
2024年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，圣安东尼奥马刺队前锋索汉（左）在俄克拉荷马雷霆队后卫卢根茨·多尔特(Luguentz Dort)（5号）身旁投篮。(美联社照片/内特·比林斯)
2024年10月31日，犹他州盐湖城：犹他爵士队的凯尔·菲利波夫斯基（22号）在2024年10月31日于盐湖城三角洲中心举行的对阵圣安东尼奥马刺队的比赛上半场庆祝一次三分球。
点击查看原文：Forcing mistakes key part of Spurs' win over Jazz
Forcing mistakes key part of Spurs’ win over Jazz
San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan, top, collides with Utah Jazz forward Brice Sensabaugh, bottom, as he goes for a loose ball, during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Egan)
SALT LAKE CITY – The Spurs’ efforts to forge a defensive identity received a major boost Thursday night when they turned in a smothering performance.
Victor Wembanyama and company forced 26 turnovers in the 106-88 win over Utah, the most by a Spurs team since forcing 28 against Phoenix on Nov. 23, 2015. They also had 17 steals against the Jazz, the club’s most thefts in a game since it had 17 against Dallas on Oct. 29, 2018.
“We’re not ready to be a top-five defensive team by any stretch of the imagination, but we know that is the focus and we have played good defense throughout the season,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “We picked up where we left off from last year. I am really impressed with their understanding and enjoying what the defense can do for them.”
Actually, the Spurs are a top-five defensive team. Entering play on Friday, they ranked fifth in the league with a 107.1 rating. They also have three players ranked in the top 10 in defensive field goal percentage: Jeremy Sochan (fourth at 33.3%), Julian Champagnie (fifth at 33.9%) and Wembanyama (sixth at 34.6%).
But Popovich’s point is clear: It’s too early to label them a defensive juggernaut, a belief point guard Chris Paul also shares.
“We are just trying to put a few good games together,” Paul said. “We aren’t trying to get ahead of ourselves or nothing like that. It was a good win. We need to see what we did well and what we can get better at.”
In holding the Jazz to just 14 points in the third quarter, the Spurs recorded nine steals. In all, Utah committed 13 turnovers in the third quarter, leading to 16 points for the Spurs.
For the game, the Spurs scored a whopping 35 points off the Jazz turnovers.
Wembanyama, who led the Spurs with five steals, said adopting a defensive identity is a “must have” for the team.
“And we have the opportunity to do it, with guys like Jeremy (Sochan) and Keldon (Johnson), who can put pressure on the ball with a very high motor,” Wembanyama said. “And, of course, I am trying to do my role, too. It should be our first focus coming into a game.”
Forward Sandro Mamukelashvili agreed.
“(Popovich) always tells us to defend ourselves into games, that defense wins games,” he said. “We are all understanding how important it is. Overall, the team is understanding that if we go out there and have a good defense we are going to have a good offense.”
Forward praises coaching staff for believing in him
Mamukelashvili views his increased playing time as a credit to the coaching staff’s work with him.
“The coaching staff has done a great job with me, getting my head in the right place and telling me I am right there, to stay confident, to stay ready,”
After failing to leave the bench in the back-to-back games against Houston, the forward played 8 minutes in the loss at Oklahoma City on Wednesday night before logging a season-best 11 against Utah.
Mamukelashvili had a season-high 10 points against the Jazz on 4-for-5 shooting from the field after first entering the game in the second quarter.
“He moves well. He understands how to play,” Popovich said when asked about Mamukelashvili’s hike in minutes. “He is an international player and those guys know how to do it. So, he fits in to most any situation and he wasn’t hesitant to shoot it. It’s nice to look at the bench and see him there.”
Mamukelashvili had eight points on 3 for 3 from the field in the fourth quarter against the Jazz, when the Spurs built a 20-point lead.
“It felt amazing today,” he said. “I don’t know what tomorrow brings, but I am happy with today.”
Hardy leans on lessons learned from Popovich
Jazz coach Will Hardy, the former Spurs assistant, is leaning on some lessons he learned from Popovich about handling adversity to help his young team survive this rocky start to the season.
“I learned a lot from Pop about perspective and approach in terms of today isn’t make or break, what happened yesterday doesn’t ultimately define who we are going to be,” Hardy said.
Hardy noted when he was with the Spurs, the franchise was “hunting championships.” Things are different in Salt Lake City, where the organization is patiently trying to develop young players into a cohesive, competitive unit.
“With our group, it’s about not just the end of the year (like it was with the Spurs),” he said. "I am trying to see how they are going to develop during the early part of their career. … We just have to re-frame it a little bit with the younger players in terms of trying to help them understand not just who they are now but who they are trying to be in a month, in three months, in six months, in a year.
“We can’t ride the emotional roller-coaster day by day. It’s just way too hard. We have to look at things in chunks of time and hopefully that approach will settle their brains some so they don’t have to have any type of drastic reaction.”
San Antonio Spurs forward Harrison Barnes (40) guards Utah Jazz forward Kyle Filipowski (22), as San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) guards Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler (24), during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Egan)
San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) grabs a rebound from Utah Jazz forward John Collins (20) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Egan)
Utah Jazz forward Brice Sensabaugh (28) goes for a loose ball along with San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan (10), during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Egan)
San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan, left, goes for the ball along with Utah Jazz forward Brice Sensabaugh, bottom, during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Egan)
Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson (00) takes the ball inside, as San Antonio Spurs guard Chris Paul (3) and San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) defend during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Egan)
Utah Jazz guard Collin Sexton blocks a pass by San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Egan)
San Antonio Spurs forward Julian Champagnie (30) brings the ball up court, as Utah Jazz guard Johnny Juzang, left, defends, during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Egan)
San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich reacts after a call by the official, during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Egan)
San Antonio Spurs guard Tre Jones (22) grabs the ball from Utah Jazz forward Kyle Filipowski (22) as San Antonio Spurs forward Sandro Mamukelashvili, left, defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Egan)
San Antonio Spurs guard Chris Paul has a word with Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich, during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Egan)
Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George (3) passes the ball outside as San Antonio Spurs forward Zach Collins (23) defends, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Egan)
San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan, left, shoots next to Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort (5) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - OCTOBER 31: Kyle Filipowski #22 of the Utah Jazz celebrates a three point play during the first half of a game against the San Antonio Spurs at Delta Center on October 31, 2024 in Salt Lake City, Utah.
By Tom Orsborn, Staff writer, via San Antonio Express-News