By Jeff McDonald, Staff Writer | San Antonio Express-News (SAEN), 2024-11-08 10:55:24
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7日星期四，在圣安东尼奥进行的NBA篮球比赛上半场，波特兰开拓者队的多诺万·克林根(Donovan Clingan)（23号）在圣安东尼奥马刺队的凯尔登·约翰逊(Keldon Johnson)（0号）和斯蒂芬·卡斯尔(Stephon Castle)的防守下上篮。（美联社照片/达伦·阿贝特）
周四在弗罗斯特银行中心，马刺队后卫凯尔登·约翰逊(Keldon Johnson)蹲在罚球线附近，抬头凝视着面前的“大山”。
埃德蒙·希拉里爵士征服的是珠穆朗玛峰，而约翰逊面对的则是多诺万·克林根(Donovan Clingan)。
这位开拓者队的中锋身高7英尺2英寸（约2.18米），体重280磅（约127公斤）。而约翰逊身高只有6英尺5英寸（约1.96米）。
这就是约翰逊要争球的对象？除了约翰逊本人，每个人都觉得结果显而易见。
“哦，我知道我会赢的，”约翰逊说。“我弹跳力很好。”
当被问及约翰逊在第三节跳球中战胜开拓者队巨人的几率时，前锋朱利安·尚帕尼(Julian Champagnie)认为这就像马刺队的下一场主场比赛因为下雪而取消一样不可能。
“真的吗？”尚帕尼思考着这个问题。“零可能性。”
约翰逊不知怎么地赢得了跳球，证明了即使是最令人生畏的高峰，对于那些有信心且足够勇敢去尝试的人来说也是可以征服的。
这对马刺队来说是一个寓意深刻的教训，他们正处于漫长赛季的攀登初期，甚至还没有到达大本营。
马刺队凭借全面的得分——八名球员得分上双——以118-103击败了开拓者队，将他们的战绩提升至4胜5负。
这一战绩本身就代表着进步。
上个赛季，马刺队直到12月14日才取得第四场胜利，当时他们击败了洛杉矶湖人队，结束了18连败，战绩提升至4胜20负。
周四战胜波特兰是马刺队本赛季较为令人满意的一场胜利，此前一晚他们在休斯顿以100-127惨败。
“背靠背的第二场比赛，我们（周三）被打得措手不及，”马刺队代理主教练米奇·约翰逊说。“所以球队的反应和回应都很棒。”
马刺队将在周六下午在弗罗斯特银行中心迎战犹他爵士队，希望为这艰难的一周画上一个圆满的句号。
马刺队主教练格雷格·波波维奇已经缺席了四场比赛，这位名人堂教练因医疗原因缺阵。波波维奇37岁的助理教练约翰逊很好地填补了空缺，带领马刺队取得了2胜2负的战绩。
如果这还不够的话，球队在前锋杰里米·索汉(Jeremy Sochan)在周一输给洛杉矶快船队的比赛上半场拇指骨折后失去了他。
索汉的开局非常出色，场均15.7分、7.7个篮板和3次助攻，他的表现可能是马刺队除维克多·文班亚马(Victor Wembanyama)之外最重要的防守球员。
马刺队能够克服所有这些困难，并在整个星期保持0.500的胜率，这说明了一些问题。
“我们有一些韧性，”尚帕尼说。“一个人倒下，另一个人就会站出来。这就是比赛的规则。”
2024年11月7日星期四，在圣安东尼奥进行的NBA篮球比赛下半场，圣安东尼奥马刺队的斯蒂芬·卡斯尔（左）与波特兰开拓者队的安芬尼·西蒙斯纠缠在一起。圣安东尼奥以118-105获胜。（美联社照片/达伦·阿贝特）
与此同时，马刺队得到了一些好消息，这将以更积极的方式重新调整他们的阵容。
自初夏以来一直因足部手术而缺阵的得分后卫德文·瓦塞尔(Devin Vassell)已被允许进行篮球活动。预计他将在马刺队目前的主场比赛中完成赛季首秀，最快可能在周六对阵爵士队的比赛中复出。
瓦塞尔是上赛季马刺队的第二得分手，场均19.5分，他的回归应该会给马刺队低迷的进攻注入额外的活力。
“他将成为我们故事的重要组成部分，”文班亚马说。“我们迫不及待地想和他一起变得更好。”
赛季开始前，人们都认为瓦塞尔回归后马刺队的首发阵容将会面临调整。虽然索汉的受伤很不幸，但这简化了事情。
约翰逊在过去的两场比赛中一直让新秀斯蒂芬·卡斯尔首发出场。一旦瓦塞尔复出，这位新秀后卫很可能会回到替补席。
瓦塞尔的回归可能会对马刺队的第二阵容产生多米诺骨牌效应，马拉基·布拉纳姆(Malaki Branham)或布莱克·韦斯利(Blake Wesley)可能会减少上场时间。
这两位三年级后卫在战胜波特兰的比赛中都发挥了重要作用，布拉纳姆得到赛季最高的17分，韦斯利则创下赛季得分（10分）和助攻（8次）的新高。
总的来说，马刺队替补席以61-31击败了波特兰，替补球员布拉纳姆、韦斯利、凯尔登·约翰逊（17分，11个篮板）和扎克·科林斯(Zach Collins)（14分）都得分上双。
经常被人诟病的布拉纳姆、韦斯利和科林斯三人组合计19投16中。
“我们是一支阵容深厚的球队，”米奇·约翰逊说。“我认为即使球员们感到沮丧，他们也明白我们是一支拥有很多优秀球员的好球队，而且都是年轻球员。我们需要每个人。”
布拉纳姆在第三节扭伤脚踝后提前离开了周四的比赛，不过他在更衣室里行动正常。
“会没事的，”布拉纳姆说。“这不是我经历过的最糟糕的一次。”
在这个多灾多难的赛季里，这算是最积极的医疗消息了。
现在，马刺队感觉到了一个在赛季中取得进展的黄金机会。
瓦塞尔即将回归。周四对阵波特兰的比赛开始了一段九场比赛中有八场是主场比赛的赛程。马刺队的下一场比赛将是对阵1胜7负的爵士队，他们在万圣节之夜以106-88大胜了爵士队。
“在我看来，”尚帕尼说，“唯一的出路就是向上。”
正如马刺队在周四学到的那样，这是攀登一座山的唯一途径。
San Antonio Spurs’ Sandro Mamukelashvili (54) blocks a shot attempt by Portland Trail Blazers’ Dalano Banton, left, 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’ Victor Wembanyama (1) goes to the basket against Portland Trail Blazers’ Jerami Grant (9) 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’ Blake Wesley, center, tangles with Portland Trail Blazers’ Scoot Henderson, left, and Dalano Banton 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’ Victor Wembanyama (1) shoots against Portland Trail Blazers’ Jerami Grant 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)
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)
Portland Trail Blazers’ Deni Avdija attempts to shoot as he is defended by San Antonio Spurs’ Keldon Johnson, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)
San Antonio Spurs’ Malaki Branham (22) passes as he is defended by Portland Trail Blazers’ Anfernee Simons (1) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)
Portland Trail Blazers’ Deandre Ayton (2) guards San Antonio Spurs’ Stephon Castle (5) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)
点击查看原文：Spurs making progress, despite obstacles
Spurs making progress, despite obstacles
Portland Trail Blazers’ Donovan Clingan (23) goes to the basket as he is defended by San Antonio Spurs’ Keldon Johnson (0) and Stephon Castle during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)
Spurs guard Keldon Johnson crouched down near the free-throw line at the Frost Bank Center on Thursday and stared up at the mountain before him.
Sir Edmund Hilary had Mt. Everest. Johnson had Donovan Clingan.
The Portland center stands 7-foot-2 and 280 pounds. Johnson is 6-5.
This was the colossus Johnson was being asked to scale to win a jump ball? The outcome appeared evident to everyone but Johnson.
“Oh, I knew I was going to win it,” Johnson said. “I’ve got bounce.”
Asked to assess the odds of Johnson winning that third-quarter jump against the Trail Blazers’ titan, forward Julian Champagnie figured they were about as likely as the Spurs’ next home game getting called on account of snow.
“For real?” Champagnie said, pondering the question. “Zero.”
Johnson somehow beat Clingan to the tip, proving that even the most daunting peaks are surmountable to those who are confident and crazy enough to try.
There is an object lesson there somewhere for the Spurs, still early in a season-long climb that has yet to reach base camp.
The Spurs used an all-around scoring effort that put eight players in double figures to beat the Trail Blazers 118-103, boosting their record to 4-5.
That mark in itself represents progress.
A season ago, the Spurs did not pick up their fourth victory until Dec. 14, when they beat the Los Angeles Lakers to end an 18-game losing skid and improve to 4-20.
Thursday’s triumph over Portland was one of the Spurs’ more satisfying of the season, coming a night after they were bludgeoned in Houston 127-100.
“Second night of a back-to-back, and we got punched in the mouth (Wednesday),” Spurs acting head coach Mitch Johnson said. “So the reaction and response was awesome.”
The Spurs head into a Saturday afternoon matinee against Utah at the Frost Bank Center looking to put a capstone on what has been a trying week.
The Spurs have been without coach Gregg Popovich for four games, the Hall of Famer sidelined for medical reasons. Johnson, Popovich’s 37-year-old assistant, has filled in ably, guiding the Spurs to a 2-2 mark.
If that were not enough, the team lost forward Jeremy Sochan to a broken thumb suffered in the first half of Monday’s loss at the Los Angeles Clippers.
Sochan had been off to a stellar start, averaging 15.7 points, 7.7 rebounds and three assists while performing as perhaps the Spurs’ most important defensive player not named Victor Wembanyama.
That the Spurs were able to weather all that and go .500 throughout the week says something.
“We have some fight,” Champagnie said. “One guy goes down, one guy steps up. It’s just the name of the game.”
San Antonio Spurs’ Stephon Castle, left, tangles with Portland Trail Blazers’ Anfernee Simons 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)
Meanwhile, the Spurs got some good news that will shuffle their lineup again in a more positive way.
Shooting guard Devin Vassell, who had been out since the early summer recovering from foot surgery, has been cleared for basketball activity. He is projected to make his season debut on the Spurs’ current homestand, perhaps as soon as Saturday against the Jazz.
Vassell was the Spurs’ second-leading scorer last season at 19.5 points per game and should provide the Spurs’ flagging offense with an extra jolt.
“He’s going to be a major part of our story,” Wembanyama said. “We can’t wait to get back to getting better together.”
Before the season began, it was assumed the Spurs’ starting lineup would experience a crunch when Vassell returned. Sochan’s injury, though unfortunate, simplifies things.
Johnson had been using rookie Stephon Castle in the starting lineup for the past two games. It is likely the rookie guard returns to the bench once Vassell is activated.
Vassell’s return could create a domino effect on the Spurs’ second unit, with either Malaki Branham or Blake Wesley potentially losing minutes.
Both third-year guards played a heavy role in the victory over Portland, with Branham going for a season-high 17 points and Wesley setting season bests in points (10) and assists (eight).
In all, the Spurs clobbered Portland 61-31 off the bench, with reserves Branham, Wesley, Keldon Johnson (17 points, 11 rebounds) and Zach Collins (14 points) all chipping in double-digit nights.
The oft-maligned trio of Branham, Wesley and Collins combined to go 16 of 19.
“We’re a deep team,” Mitch Johnson said. “I think even when guys have been frustrated, they’ve understood we’re a good team with a lot of good players, young players at that. We’re going to need everybody.”
Branham left Thursday’s game early after tweaking an ankle in the third quarter, though he was moving normally in the locker room afterward.
“It’s going to be alright,” Branham said. “Not the worst one I’ve had.”
In a somewhat snakebitten season such as this one, that constitutes as positive a medical update as any.
Now the Spurs sense a golden opportunity to gain traction in their season.
Vassell is on the way back. Thursday’s game against Portland began a stretch in which eight of nine are at home. The Spurs’ next game is against a 1-7 Jazz team they smashed 106-88 in Salt Lake City on Halloween night.
“The way I see it,” Champagnie said, “the only way to go is up.”
As the Spurs learned Thursday, that is the only way there is to climb a mountain.
San Antonio Spurs’ Sandro Mamukelashvili (54) blocks a shot attempt by Portland Trail Blazers’ Dalano Banton, left, 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’ Victor Wembanyama (1) goes to the basket against Portland Trail Blazers’ Jerami Grant (9) 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’ Blake Wesley, center, tangles with Portland Trail Blazers’ Scoot Henderson, left, and Dalano Banton 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’ Victor Wembanyama (1) shoots against Portland Trail Blazers’ Jerami Grant 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)
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)
Portland Trail Blazers’ Deni Avdija attempts to shoot as he is defended by San Antonio Spurs’ Keldon Johnson, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)
San Antonio Spurs’ Malaki Branham (22) passes as he is defended by Portland Trail Blazers’ Anfernee Simons (1) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)
Portland Trail Blazers’ Deandre Ayton (2) guards San Antonio Spurs’ Stephon Castle (5) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)
By Jeff McDonald, Staff Writer, via San Antonio Express-News