By Tom Orsborn, Staff writer | San Antonio Express-News (SAEN), 2024-11-07 20:35:19
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11月6日，德克萨斯州休斯顿：圣安东尼奥马刺队助理教练米奇·约翰逊(Mitch Johnson)在上半场对阵休斯顿火箭队的比赛中在场边做出反应。比赛地点为丰田中心。
“我们没怎么听到波波（Gregg Popovich）的消息，”文班亚马(Victor Wembanyama)在周四晚上马刺118-105战胜波特兰的比赛后说道。“他们会尽可能地让我们了解情况。所以，我不担心他。我知道他很快就会回来。”
在周六对阵明尼苏达的比赛开始前约2个半小时，一位马刺发言人首次告知媒体，波波维奇“身体不适”，之后他便无限期缺席。
马刺队没有透露任何关于波波维奇病情的细节，也没有说明在他身上究竟发生了什么。
波波维奇正处于他执教马刺的第29个赛季，他之前也曾缺席过比赛，但从未因为健康原因在一个赛季中连续缺席超过两场。
当被问及波波维奇本赛季是否会回归时，临时主教练米奇·约翰逊(Mitch Johnson)给出了一个模糊的答案。
“我想说他做得很好，我们一直在沟通，”约翰逊说。“我一直在全力以赴地处理这件事，努力保持不落后。所以，还没有谈到细节，我也不确定……没有细节。”
在约翰逊的带领下，马刺的战绩为2胜2负。
“到目前为止，他在比赛中所做的，满足了你对一个教练的所有需求……他做得很好，”文班亚马说。
波波维奇本周的缺席恰逢马刺队正遭受另一打击：主力大前锋杰里米·索汉(Jeremy Sochan)在周一输给洛杉矶快船队的比赛中左拇指骨折。
索汉在周三接受了手术，目前还没有关于他回归时间表的消息。这位21岁的贝勒大学校友在受伤前的场均数据为职业生涯最佳的15.4分，以及职业生涯新高的7.7个篮板、3.0次助攻和1.0次抢断。
周四，索汉身着便服坐在马刺队的替补席上。顶替他的位置，新秀斯蒂芬·卡斯尔(Stephon Castle)连续第二场首发出场，并在25分钟内得到了赛季最高的14分和6次助攻。
当被问及预计索汉将缺席多久时，约翰逊说：“我们会采取保守和安全的做法，但我想说，几周后我们会有更清楚的了解。”
尽管面临逆境，但马刺队的士气“一直很好，”约翰逊说。
“我们的更衣室里充满了优秀的球员，经历过一些事情的优秀领袖，以及在波波维奇等人奠定的良好基础上成长起来的年轻球员，所以我认为我们对士气感觉良好，”他说。“伤病会发生，意外情况也会发生，我们只是在努力巩固过去几年一直在谈论的，以及自训练营以来一直在真正强调的一些事情。”
科林斯的目标很明确
扎克·科林斯(Zach Collins)的高效投篮帮助他在周四的比赛中得到了赛季最高的14分。
这位马刺队的替补中锋7投6中，包括3次三分球出手命中2球。本赛季，他场均出手2.0次三分，命中率为43.8%，而上赛季他的三分命中率仅为令人失望的32.0%，场均出手2.6次。
“也许我们过去太强调这一点，过分期望他成为一名三分射手，而不是仅仅把它作为他比赛的一部分，”约翰逊说。“我认为他现在终于稳定下来了。在他职业生涯的大部分时间里，他一直是一名非常出色的射手（七个赛季场均出手2.0次，命中率34.0%）。如果你看看上上个赛季，他在赛季末表现非常强劲，上赛季末他也表现得很出色。所以很高兴看到他稳定下来，投出正确的球，不强求，并且仍然保持出手。”
随着马刺队强调改善场上空间，科林斯提升的投篮能力来得正是时候，这支球队在对阵开拓者队的比赛中得到了赛季最高的得分和助攻数（35次）。
“我们现在需要空间，”科林斯说。“每个人都需要更多地投篮，不仅仅是我。我们觉得当我们都在场上拉开空间时，我们的进攻会更加流畅。可能会有更多的三分球传到我手里，所以我需要做好投篮的准备。”
Portland Trail Blazers’ Toumani Camara, left, collides with San Antonio Spurs’ Zach Collins during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)
San Antonio Spurs forward Zach Collins (23) brings the ball up court as Utah Jazz guard Johnny Juzang (33) defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game, 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)
Portland Trail Blazers’ Donovan Clingan, left, and San Antonio Spurs’ Zach Collins chase the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)
San Antonio Spurs’ Zach Collins (23) and Keldon Johnson (0) tangle with Portland Trail Blazers’ Deni Avdija (8) and Deandre Ayton during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, in San Antonio. San Antonio won 118-105. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)
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 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)
San Antonio Spurs interim head coach Mitch Johnson, left, talks with guard Blake Wesley (14) at the bench during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Houston Rockets Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
SAN ANTONIO, TX - NOVEMBER 7: Mitch Johnson assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs talks with his team during the game against the PortlandTrail Blazers in the second half at Frost Bank Center on November 7, 2024 in San Antonio, Texas.
点击查看原文：As Spurs start homestand, questions about Popovich's health remain
As Spurs start homestand, questions about Popovich’s health remain
HOUSTON, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 06: Assistant coach Mitch Johnson of the San Antonio Spurs reacts on the sideline in the first half against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on November 06, 2024 in Houston, Texas.
“We don’t hear a lot from Pop,” Wembanyama said after the Spurs’ 118-105 win over Portland on Thursday night. “They keep us informed as much as we’re allowed to know. So, I’m not worried about him. I know he’s going to come back soon.”
Popovich is out indefinitely after a Spurs spokesperson first informed the media before last Saturday’s game against Minnesota that he was “under the weather”.
The Spurs have not released any details about Popovich’s condition or what exactly happened to him about 2 1/2 hours before Saturday’s tipoff.
Popovich, who is in his 29th campaign as coach of the Spurs, has missed games before but never more than two in a row in a season for health reasons.
Interim head coach Mitch Johnson gave a vague answer when asked if there was any clarity about whether Popovich would return this season.
“I would say he’s doing good, and we have been talking,” Johnson said. “I have had my hands full with this in trying to stay above water. So, have not talked details and I am not sure. … No details.”
With Johnson at the helm, the Spurs are 2-2.
“He’s answered so far in the games, all what you need from a coach … He is doing a great job,” Wembanyama said.
Popovich’s absence this week comes at the same time the Spurs are dealing with the loss of surging starting power forward Jeremy Sochan to a fractured left thumb he sustained in Monday’s loss at the Los Angeles Clippers.
There is no timetable for Sochan’s return after he underwent surgery Wednesday. The 21-year-old Baylor alumnus exited averaging a career-best 15.4 points, a career-high 7.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.0 steals.
Sochan was on the Spurs bench Thursday dressed in street clothes. In his place, rookie Stephon Castle collected his second start in a row and finished with season highs for points (14) and assists (6) in 25 minutes.
“We will be conservative and safe with it, but we will have a better idea, I would say, in a few weeks,” Johnson said when asked how long he expected Sochan to be sidelined.
Despite the adversity, the Spurs’ morale “has been good,” Johnson said.
“We have a locker room full of good guys, good leaders who have been through some stuff and young guys that have had a good foundation laid by Pop on down, so I think we feel good about the morale,” he said. “Injuries happen, circumstances happen and we are just trying to build on some of these things we have been talking about for the past few years and really emphasizing since camp.”
Collins’ aim is true
Zach Collins’ efficient shooting helped him finish Thursday’s game with a season-high 14 points.
The Spurs backup center was 6 for 7 from the field, including sinking 2 of his 3 attempts from 3-point range. For the season, he’s shooting 43.8% from beyond the arc on 2.0 attempts per game after connecting on a disappointing 32.0% on 2.6 attempts per outing last season.
“Maybe we put too much of a emphasis on it just in terms of over-expecting him to become some bomber instead of just adding it to a part of his game,” Johnson said. “And I think he’s finally settled in. He’s been a really good shooter most of his career (34.0% on 2.0 attempts per game over seven seasons). And if you look at the year prior to last, at the end of it, he finished really strong and he finished strong last year as well. So it’s nice to see him settled in shooting the right ones and not forcing it and still taking him.”
With the Spurs putting an emphasis on improved spacing, Collins’ improved aim is coming at the right time for a team that had a season high for points and assists (35) against the Blazers.
“We just need space right now,” Collins said. “Everyone needs to shoot more, not just me. We feel like our offense runs a little more fluid when we are all spaced out. More threes are probably going to come my way, so I need to be ready to shoot it.”
Portland Trail Blazers’ Toumani Camara, left, collides with San Antonio Spurs’ Zach Collins during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)
San Antonio Spurs forward Zach Collins (23) brings the ball up court as Utah Jazz guard Johnny Juzang (33) defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game, 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)
Portland Trail Blazers’ Donovan Clingan, left, and San Antonio Spurs’ Zach Collins chase the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)
San Antonio Spurs’ Zach Collins (23) and Keldon Johnson (0) tangle with Portland Trail Blazers’ Deni Avdija (8) and Deandre Ayton during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, in San Antonio. San Antonio won 118-105. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)
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 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)
San Antonio Spurs interim head coach Mitch Johnson, left, talks with guard Blake Wesley (14) at the bench during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Houston Rockets Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
SAN ANTONIO, TX - NOVEMBER 7: Mitch Johnson assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs talks with his team during the game against the PortlandTrail Blazers in the second half at Frost Bank Center on November 7, 2024 in San Antonio, Texas.
By Tom Orsborn, Staff writer, via San Antonio Express-News