Spurs Insider Podcast, 2024-11-13 05:24:00
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。
专栏作家迈克·芬格(Mike Finger)和马刺队随队记者杰夫·麦克唐纳(Jeff McDonald)以及汤姆·奥斯本(Tom Orsborn)讨论了维克托·文班亚马(Victor Wembanyama)和马刺队的进步，以及文班还能如何在其 dominant 的表现上更上一层楼。
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以下是播客的文字记录：
迈克·芬格：这里是来自南德克萨斯州多个绝密地点高度安全网络的马刺队内幕消息，“感觉像是隆冬版”。我是你们的主持人迈克·芬格，和往常一样，与我们《快报新闻》马刺队随队记者杰夫·麦克唐纳和汤姆·奥斯本，以及《快报新闻》体育编辑尼克·塔尔博特一起。我们称之为“感觉像是隆冬版”，是因为上次你们的本地球员带着五场胜利进入这个播客时，已经是1月的第二周了。当时他们5胜30负，而本周三晚上马刺队对阵华盛顿奇才队时，他们的胜场数将再次达到五场。这次他们是5胜6负。杰夫·麦克唐纳，我先问你。你穿暖和了吗？你穿外套了吗？
杰夫·麦克唐纳：呃，昨晚在那个名字恰如其分的弗罗斯特银行中心的媒体室里，我穿了，因为那里太冷了。
迈克·芬格：确实。马刺队可不冷，他们正火热。他们5胜6负。
杰夫·麦克唐纳：你想把话题从空调上岔开？
迈克·芬格：是的，因为我们收听马刺队内幕消息是为了了解篮球。我们该如何解释马刺队如此火热的原因？
杰夫·麦克唐纳：我的意思是，他们比去年这个时候要强。我认为这很明显。而且赛程对他们也有点帮助。我们也讨论过这个问题。在经历了残酷的开局之后，11月的赛程对他们会更有利一些，他们正在利用这一点。尽管他们输给了一支，你提到的爵士队。昨晚击败萨克拉门托算是弥补了这一点。所以，也许他们没有赢，我想我们都预测了这四场比赛的战绩是2胜2负。
迈克·芬格：我不认为我们预测了确切的胜负场次和顺序，但我们预测了2胜2负。所以，也许我们应该这样做，因为昨晚对阵萨克拉门托国王队的比赛和战胜明尼苏达的比赛一样，对手是背靠背作战，而且前一天晚上比赛很晚。汤姆·奥斯本，你的连胜纪录还在继续，整个播客到目前为止每周的战绩预测也都正确。我们在开场时开玩笑说，这是一支火热的球队，一支比去年同期领先很多的球队。但根据我们的预测，他们现在应该是5胜6负。他们也确实是。汤姆，你对自上次播客以来的情况感到惊讶吗？
汤姆·奥斯本：不，并没有。你知道，我惊讶的是我们已经开始把维克托视为理所当然了，你知道，他昨晚的数据，34分，14个篮板，6次助攻，3次盖帽。我的意思是，你知道，这家伙，他所能做的事情真是太令人震惊了。现在他的三分球也投进了。过去两场比赛，他的命中率很高。你看我最近看维克托·文班亚马打球是不是有点不对劲？就像我，我甚至昨晚，我觉得我花了很多时间坐在弗罗斯特银行中心上方的平台上，想着他在干什么？他为什么要投那个球？这是怎么回事？那可不是我会投的球。然后在比赛结束时，他得到了34分，14个篮板，3次盖帽。昨晚他的投篮命中率超过了一半，三分球命中率也超过了一半，所以有时候你会想，你在抱怨什么？你在抱怨什么？就像你，你有点吹毛求疵，所以我想正式向维克托·文班亚马道歉，因为我偶尔会质疑他的投篮选择。
迈克·芬格：我们在这个播客里已经讨论了很长时间，关于圣安东尼奥马刺队的历史性成功如何让人们变得被宠坏了。让关注他们的人对他们的期望被宠坏了。就像维克托几乎是以一种微缩的形式在做这件事。只是关于他，即使在一个艰难的赛季，他作为一名NBA球员也表现得如此出色，以至于你被宠坏了，你会认为你每晚都能看到一些你从未见过的东西。你会看到他每晚都打出超凡的篮球。我想知道我是否可以，我我要反其道而行之。我要，我要，我要违背听众的期望，我要，我要我要做那个乌鸦嘴。我，我，我，给你看，迈克·芬格，要变得消极悲观了？
杰夫·麦克唐纳：这听起来一点也不像你。
迈克·芬格：嗯哼。我不是悲观，我只是，我只是要提个警告。就像我们想要，我们想要维克托·文班亚马成为一个每晚都期待投进6个三分球的人吗？成为他比赛中不可或缺的核心部分？我，我只是，我仍然不喜欢这样，部分原因是比赛本身，对吧？这是NBA，这是现在球队所做的，这是现在球员所做的，你必须投进很多三分球才能赢球，对于一个身高7英尺3英寸半的人来说，我只是在一个完美的世界里，我想看到更多内线进攻。我认为这在周六输给当时1胜7负的犹他爵士队的比赛中体现出来了，在那场比赛的最后时刻，你没有，我要像个对着云朵 yelling 的老头子了。你没有那种球队需要得分，马刺队需要得分的情况。你不能像过去那样把球传给蒂姆·邓肯，然后说，“这就是我们得分的地方。”你不能去找科怀·伦纳德去投那个非常可靠的中距离跳投。他们似乎没有那种选择，也许以后会有。呃，我认为以后会有。那可能是一个意外的结局，他们今年到目前为止的最后时刻都打得很好。但我想，在我们庆祝维克托·文班亚马多么不可否认的伟大，并且你想继续看到他投三分球，并且他投进更多三分球很棒的同时，你，我，我，我仍然认为缺少的部分就是去，呃，不一定是背身单打，而是他可以在需要的时候，在马刺队需要的时候，可以依靠的更高命中率的投篮。呃，抱歉，有点负能量。
杰夫·麦克唐纳：我想进一步限制那些在进攻时间还剩14秒时，球一次都没传过就出手的28英尺远投。
迈克·芬格：是的，就像他会时不时地投进那些球，所以很难完全说永远不要投。但我认为有些时候他会爱上那种投篮。那些就是，那，那将，那将是我唯一的抱怨。就像我不介意他打得像凯文·杜兰特，但我真的不希望他打得像特雷·杨。
杰夫·麦克唐纳：是的。他真的不需要像凯尔登·约翰逊那样打球，对吧。呃，NBA得分榜上两位领先的球员加起来每场投进的三分球还不到一个。所以，这并不是说你必须这样做才能在如今的NBA中击败领先的得分手。但是，这是维克托比赛的一部分，但是一场比赛投7个半三分，这在我看来似乎太多了。这有点过头了，但是，你知道，也许，也许他只是需要慢慢适应，这就是，你知道，如果他，他仍然会这样做得很出色。所以这并不是说他仍然可能会这样做进入NBA最佳阵容。所以，很难吹毛求疵。当然，除非你是迈克·芬格，然后你知道你，你，你是乌鸦嘴。如果他不开发背身单打技术，他能击败凯文·杜兰特吗？或者说凯文·杜兰特的背身单打技术比我们想象的要好吗？我，我，我认为，我认为杜兰特，显然，他是一个，我的意思是，我的意思是，多次MVP，他是多届MVP，他是总决赛MVP。他是NBA历史上最好的球员之一。我认为可以肯定地说，凯文·杜兰特现在的背身单打技术比维克托·文班亚马要好。我认为，但是他在20岁的时候呢？你希望，不，他不是。而且，而且你希望到最后，再说一遍，凯文·杜兰特是一个历史级的、杰出的球员，对一个20岁的球员说这话很荒谬，但这就是我们对维克托·文班亚马的态度。就像如果维克托·文班亚马最终没有比凯文·杜兰特更好的背身单打技术，我会有点失望。是的。当他们选中他时，我以为，呃，类似于在进攻端像波尔津吉斯，在防守端像戈贝尔，是维克托的下限，但我想每个人都希望他在进攻端像凯文·杜兰特，然后在防守端像戈贝尔，这种组合是超凡脱俗的，这是，你知道，永远，当你说你，当你说每个人都希望，这里的关键人物是维克托·文班亚马，希望他，他想成为凯文·杜兰特，这就是问题所在，而且像我们是谁，一群笨蛋，来告诉维克托·文班亚马他应该想成为谁，他不应该想成为谁？就像如果他想成为维克托·文班亚马，那就太好了。我认为为了让他达到我们不切实际的超高期望，你需要更多一种关键时刻的得分手段。我认为这会来的。它可能不会在第二年出现，它可能不会在第三年出现，它最终会出现，我们只是变得贪婪，我们只是变得，呃，就像我说的，对事情有点，呃，不切实际。你也可以仍然仍然没有那种，没有那种关键时刻的得分手段，我的意思是，我，我明白你的意思，就像在紧要关头，他需要一些可以依靠的，这就是为什么它被称为关键时刻的得分手段。这很好，但是，他仍然能够通过身高在篮下完成很多事情。他是。我看到他昨晚抢到一个进攻篮板，然后，我的意思是，立即补篮。其中一部分只是他决定这样做。我认为，是的。在赛季初，他有时会忘记自己身高7英尺3英寸，如果你在篮下拿到球，就立即出手。不要把球拉下来，不要想着传球。现在很难直接把球传给他进行背身单打，因为他会被，我们会之前讨论过，会被比他矮的人包围。是的。维克托的重心很高，那些小个子可以稍微移动他一下。所以如果你想让他有一个关键时刻的背身单打技术，你必须让他变得更强壮。是的。如果他变得更强壮，我想其他的事情，我不知道。你说的那个，那个，进攻篮板，当这种情况发生时，它看起来很容易，而且，而且，是的。像我们这样的穴居人会想，你知道，为什么这种情况不会一直发生。部分原因是，你必须在那里才能抢到进攻篮板，而且，正确。当他在外线游走时，他应该这样做，再说一遍，我们绝对是在吹毛求疵。当他在外线游走时，球被转移了，那么他就没有位置抢到那些进攻篮板，所以你只是想看到他花更多的时间靠近篮筐，以便完成那些非常容易的补篮。事情是这样的，那更难，需要更多的能量。这是真的。这会让你更累。这是真的。所以，这就是为什么你会经常发现他在外线游走。这是，这是他投那些28英尺远投的原因之一，因为那是一个空位投篮，很容易出手。也许投进并不容易，但他不需要太费力就能投出一个空位28英尺远投。我不是说这是对的。我是说我保证这就是他有点爱上那种投篮的原因。也许，也许这只是一个，也许这是因为他仍然处于赛季初期，他必须提高他的体能才能，在，在35分钟的比赛中领先于，呃，另一个把他视为理所当然的方面。他，他比去年这个时候领先，就像他，他，他是，呃，他去年赛季末达到了巅峰，我认为他今年也会在赛季末达到巅峰。做着历史性的 things ，就像NBA历史上和马刺队历史上没有多少人能够连续两场比赛投进6个三分球。这有点惊人。我看到查克·珀森在这个名单上。呃，查克·珀森，我在想马努·吉诺比利和丹尼·格林是加入维克托·文班亚马行列的另外两人。名副其实的查克·珀森。是的。是的，所以他，我的意思是，这是历史性的，这是不可思议的，呃，仍然有很大的进步空间。回顾这一周，除了维克托·文班亚马，我们还错过了什么？我自愿，我真的很喜欢，马刺队在维克托·文班亚马之后选中的首轮秀。呃，不会赢得年度最佳新秀。罗伯特·迪林汉姆呢？他在明尼苏达几乎没怎么打球。你在说什么？是的。是的，那是维克托·文班亚马之后选中的第二个首轮秀，我太糟糕了。斯蒂芬·卡斯尔(Stephon Castle)，我认为他会成功的。我认为他们可能没有搞砸这次选秀。他不会每晚都刷爆数据统计，但他会成为一名球员。他做了很多事情都很好，头脑也很清醒。为胜利做出贡献，这是你对康涅狄格大学全国冠军球队的关键成员所期望的。是的，再次，突发新闻，并不完全是，呃，呃，那种会产生病毒式传播的播客的标题。但是斯蒂芬·卡斯尔，我认为他很不错。我已经对他充满了信心，这太不可思议了。真的是。他让我想起了一点，我不想把这个压力放在这个可怜的年轻人身上，但他的确让我想起了一点科怀还是新秀的时候。你可以看出这家伙很不错，但当时作为一名新秀，他只是在做一些粘合剂的事情。是的。比如抢篮板，对于斯蒂芬来说，是传出正确的球。偶尔在篮下完成进攻，防守。那是科怀作为新秀时的样子。你没有真正看到他，他，他做了，他还不是全明星球员。他有点像个粘合剂，但你可以看到他身上那些正在发展的技能，而且科怀非常努力地训练他的进攻技术，如果斯蒂芬·卡斯尔，据说他确实有这种奉献精神，但我们会看到他是否和科怀一样有这种奉献精神，他可能会成为一个非常非常特别的球员。这，这应该出现在你的报纸上，呃，圣安东尼奥《快报新闻》，expressnews.com，也许在本周的马刺队国家通讯中，但是，呃，昨晚在主队更衣室里和这个新秀聊了很久，我发现我正在问他关于慢步的事情，我知道杰夫也一直在问，而且，而且这个他做的动作，我们，我们有凯尔·安德森，呃，绰号“慢动作”，我们在这里圣安东尼奥报道他很长时间。斯蒂芬·卡斯尔几乎把它带到了一个新的高度。而且，当他在篮下完成他的欧洲步，呃，慢步时，有时，他在上篮前的最后一步会完全停下来。这真是令人叹为观止，而且这让防守球员失去了平衡。我发现一件有趣的事情，这与杰夫谈到的科怀每年夏天休赛期训练时想出的动作有关。斯蒂芬告诉我，在他来到圣安东尼奥之前，他从来没有过类似慢步的动作。就像，这是他比赛中新增加的。我，我记不清是哪个新助理教练了，杰夫，是迈克·诺伊斯吗？是的。迈克·诺伊斯。他说，迈克·诺伊斯是今年夏天在训练馆里教他这个动作的人，而且他练习得很快，以至于，就像，它是一个，它是一个绝对的武器。而且斯蒂芬说，有时如果他，在人们看来像走步，确实如此，因为他来了，他是，他是在上篮前的最后一步停住了，防守球员会飞过去，他会因此得到上篮机会。这真是个很酷的动作。呃，不是，不是他打得好的唯一原因，但我认为这说明他有能力增加东西，并投入努力。而且，呃，就像，呃，他，他不是这支球队的头号选择，他可能也不是三号选择，但正如汤姆所说，他们信任他，他们很早就给了他各种各样的责任，各种各样的责任，我认为他会很棒的。他改变持球速度的方式是，是值得一看的。他不像速度恶魔，比如他不像布雷克·韦斯利。对。或者托尼，或者托尼·帕克。但是，他改变速度的方式让防守者很难判断他的速度。就像，就像格雷格·麦达克斯以前投球的方式一样。你知道，他不会用100英里每小时的快速球把你击倒，但他会不断地改变速度，让你，他保持，他让防守者完全失去平衡，他就是这样得到篮下机会的。这真的很有趣。那是，那是康涅狄格大学的前板凳球员迈克·诺伊斯，帮助康涅狄格大学的前球星斯蒂芬·卡斯尔。好消息，汤姆。哈士奇，哈士奇们团结在一起，我猜。是的。嘿，我们还没谈到德文·瓦塞尔的回归。我们只是要，是的，稍微提一下。我不确定那是重点，但是，是的，这是个大，这是个大新闻，他替补出场，慢慢地恢复到他，呃，到他通常的出场时间。他还不会达到那个水平，但是，呃，呃，汤姆，你在现场观看了他对阵犹他爵士队的首场比赛。我们现在离，呃，巅峰德文·瓦塞尔还有多远？
汤姆·奥斯本：我的意思是每个人都一致认为，在长时间的休战之后，他几乎没有生锈。嗯。你知道，去年缺席了最后八场比赛，六月份做了手术，今年缺席了前九场比赛，但他回来后几乎没有生锈，而且，代理主教练米奇·约翰逊在昨晚的比赛前说，他将在可预见的未来替补出场，德文告诉我，他完全同意这个计划。他说，“我并不在意，”“我并不在意首发还是替补出场，”所以他们会慢慢地让他恢复。呃，但是，但是，是的，好消息是他的脚感觉很好，而且，几乎没有生锈。
迈克·芬格：这增加了什么，杰夫？
杰夫·麦克唐纳：它，它，它，它增加了更多，更多得分。更多得分火力，更多空间。再说一次，你知道，我们已经多次谈论过这支球队，没有太多能真正让你在三分线外感到害怕的球员。但是德文是那种，那种会的。当他状态火热时，他，当他状态火热时，他是一个可以在你需要的时候为你拿下关键球的人。所以，所有这些，他将会进入首发阵容，我们接下来可能会在这里进行的每一种辩论都是他取代谁。我们刚刚谈到斯蒂芬·卡斯尔在首发阵容中表现得多么出色，但是一旦瓦塞尔，你知道，完全恢复了，他可能会是那个回到替补席的人。是的。我想到了新年，这，他昨晚在第三节连续投进了两个三分球，其中一个变成了一个四分球，这就是，这就是他带来的，你知道的。是的。在需要的时候拿下那些分数。关于阵容，我想到了新年，会有两个，两个变化。就像，呃，正如杰夫和汤姆指出的，米奇说德文将在可预见的未来替补出场，但这与慢慢增加他的出场时间有很大关系。呃，没有参加季前赛，没有参加前九场比赛。呃，而且你想在比赛焦灼的时候让德文·瓦塞尔在场。如果你想让他在最后时刻在场，而他的出场时间还没有达到，你可能就不能让他首发。所以，就是这样。但是到了新年，你可能会把德文·瓦塞尔加回首发阵容。你可能会把杰里米·索汉(Jeremy Sochan)加回去。当他，我们上次做播客时讨论过索汉的伤势吗？我想我们没有。我真为他感到失望。你说得对。那，那是一个，你说得对。他一直打得非常好。我们讨论过吗？我不记得了。不，我们没有，因为我会告诉你。我不想重提旧事，我不想把事情搞砸。我们录制播客时，你和我都在西海岸的一个安全地点，而且，呃，那是我在这个播客上做了一个非常糟糕的预测的那天，我想。我们不会，我们本周不会讨论这个问题。呃，但是在西海岸录制完播客后，我登上了回家的航班，杰里米·索汉也在同一架航班上，而且，呃，当我看到他飞往圣安东尼奥而不是休斯顿时，我，我，我，我，我是一个非常聪明的人，是聪明的人还是聪明的人？我，我计算了一下，意识到，呃，关于他伤势的新闻，关于他，关于他左拇指的新闻可能不太好。呃，和他简短地聊了几句。他对事情的态度非常积极，但是，呃，伙计，他在前八场比赛或不管是什么比赛中都表现得非常非常出色。已经进步了很多。在马刺球迷的土地上没有人关心，但他和媒体的关系一直很好。和他聊天真的很有趣。我在飞机上告诉他，就像，呃，期待再次这样做。等不及你回来。他，他带着他那标志性的小虎牙咧嘴笑着，对此很乐观，但是，但是他会因为一个，就像很难带着断拇指打球，至少缺席一个月。呃，但是，但是，但是，继续说。让我，让我记住。是左拇指吗？是的。所以，我几乎不，我不是真的在开玩笑，但是他真的需要左拇指吗？他单手投篮，他主要是一个防守球员。是的。是的。也许他恢复得更快，因为他不需要左拇指。这，这，对于一个右手球员来说，弄伤左拇指比弄伤右拇指要好，这是真的。这让我想起了，呃，鲍里斯·迪奥伤了他的左手，或者我认为他只是扭伤了一根手指。他的说法是，我不需要，我不需要我的左手，这是真的。他，鲍里斯出名的是，在他的整个职业生涯中，他从来没有用左手投过球。是的。一次也没有。是，是肖恩·埃利奥特很久以前说过的一句话，呃，关于，呃，如果有人砍断了大卫·罗宾逊的右手，就像他一个星期都不会注意到。因为大卫从不使用他的右手，我曾经，他是左撇子，他从不使用他的非惯用手。是的，是的，你说得对，那就是，那就是积极的一面。是他的左拇指而不是右拇指。把那玩意儿包起来，让他上去，然后出去，就像，呃，你知道，惹恼狄龙·布鲁克斯。你只需要那样就行了。对。但那就是导致斯蒂芬·卡斯尔进入首发阵容的原因。呃，德文·瓦塞尔赛季初的缺席导致朱利安·尚帕尼进入首发阵容。而且，呃，如果这两个人都恢复了工作，那么我们提到的那两个人可能会回到替补席。但是，谁知道呢？有，有各种各样的方法，而且可能会出现新的伤病。米奇·约翰逊需要做出新的调整。我们可能应该提到，呃，关于格雷格·波波维奇，自我们上次播客以来，情况并没有太大变化。关于他是否或何时在本赛季回归，仍然没有明确的说法。汤姆甚至试图让，呃，米奇·约翰逊说得更具体一些，比如，呃，你确定他会在本赛季回归吗？而米奇，呃，有点回避了这个问题。这并不是说他们不希望他本赛季回归，但这也不是保证。他们会继续前进。每个人都说，呃，格雷格·波波维奇没事，呃，祝他一切顺利，但我认为，呃，可以公平地说，呃，这将是未来的现状，而且，呃，我想在结束本周的节目之前听听你们的看法，关于你们认为，呃，你们认为米奇做得怎么样。我，我，我认为他，你知道，输给了，呃，快船队。在主场输给了犹他队，很艰难，但是，但是我认为他到目前为止做得很好。是的，看起来他们没有受到任何影响，这，你知道，波波执教时他们也经常浪费领先优势，所以，正是。我，我很难，很难真正判断，很难判断，就像教练到底有什么区别。是的。我认为这么说很蠢，很愚蠢。很多幕后发生的事情，是，是，是，就像人际关系方面的事情。是的。知道如何与球员们交谈，知道如何让球员们发挥出最佳水平。这不是你，你真的能够在一周半或两周内评估米奇·约翰逊的事情。场上的结果看起来，看起来还不错。看，我的意思是，就像昨晚在那个糟糕的网站上有人说。而且，他们看起来，当第一节失误很多时，他们看起来缺乏纪律性，波波不在时更缺乏纪律性。我说，“不，波波在的时候他们也经常失误。”所以，我不知道我该说什么，我会说米奇·约翰逊有很多漂亮的暂停后战术。就像，叫暂停，然后得到一个上篮，就像，那，那看起来很有趣。是的，那很好。也许，也许他做的最聪明的事情就是听克里斯·保罗的。是的。两个，呃，克里斯，克里斯·保罗昨晚有两个，呃，重新，呃，挑战。他，他表现得很谦虚，说，“嘿，他比我缺席的时间长得多。”这是真的，呃，克里斯·保罗比他的代理主教练年龄大。是的。是的，我们，我们正在谈论，我们正在谈论执教和鼓励人们，这让我想起了播客的朋友，《快报新闻》的朋友桑德罗·马穆克拉什维利(Sandro Mamukelashvili)，他这周表现得非常好。呃，你知道，他，他，他在赛后很健谈，因为他对比赛的心理方面非常坦诚，以及如何，我必须不去想太多，我在那里是为了投篮，我必须投篮，而且，呃，他正在这样做。他在周一晚上对阵，我刚刚看他们和谁打的？国王队。桑德罗·马穆克拉什维利被派上场投空位三分球。我记得有一个回合他投丢了一个，显然很失望。维克托·文班亚马在弧顶拿到了球，要么是篮板球，要么是传球，立即把球传回给了桑德罗·马穆克拉什维利，马穆克拉什维利毫不犹豫地再次出手，命中。这就是进步。就像，如果你，这很有趣。我想杰夫和我当时在洛杉矶和他聊天，而且，呃，有一个，有一个投篮他放弃了，因为他之前投丢了一个，而且他觉得自己不像一个足够有明星相的球员，比如我为什么要连续投丢？你在那里是为了投篮。就像投，或者投，而且，呃，他们希望他这样做。而且我认为他真的可以成为，我，我仍然喜欢看他打球。我认为如果他能投进那个球，他会成为他们的一个武器。对于一个如此乐天派、像小狗一样健谈的人来说，他对自己真的很苛刻。他是。就像，呃，我昨晚和他谈过，因为记得在赛前我们问米奇关于德玛尔和他的假动作的事情。是的。而且你知道他，哦，是的，我们讨论过。米奇说，“但是，你知道，总会有人上当的。”而上当的人是马穆。嗯哼。所以我赛后问了他这件事，他只是说，“我对自己很生气。”但是，就像，但是，就像，看起来他要起跳了，而且，我只是很生气，因为，他说的和他那天晚上告诉我们的一样。就像，我不怎么上场，我没有很多机会。所以，我不能出去搞砸。是的。因为我可能没有第二次机会了。这就是他的看法。而且我会说在比赛后期，他和德玛尔有类似的，呃，对位，他站稳了脚跟，所以他正在学习。我认为他是我们所有人的好榜样。我们，我认为我们都害怕搞砸。我们可能搞砸了这个播客。就像，那里的人们可能已经不听了，只是这些，这些白痴。他们在说什么？我们下次会做得更好。我们会坚持下去。我认为每个人都应该这样做。我本周不会对其他事情做任何预测，上周的预测不太好。但是，在下一次之前，保重，保持真实。
点击查看原文：Can Victor Wembanyama get even better?
Can Victor Wembanyama get even better?
Columnist Mike Finger and Spurs beat reporters Jeff McDonald and Tom Orsborn discuss Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs getting better and how Wemby could still improve on his dominant performances.
Suggested reading:
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Vassell on board with reserve role
3 takeaways as Wembanyama explodes against the Kings
In return, Vassell received boost from Paul
As league adjusts to Wemby, Spurs look for a counter
Here is the transcript of the podcast:
Mike Finger: From a highly secure network of top secret locations across South Texas. This is the Spurs Insider Feels Like Midwinter Edition. I am your host Mike Finger, joined as always by our panel of Express News Spurs beat writers, Jeff McDonald and Tom Orsborn, with Express News Sports Editor Nick Talbot. We dubbed this the Feels Like Midwinter Edition because of this. The last time your local cagers heading into this podcast entered a a regular season NBA basketball game with a five in the win column was the second week of January. They were five and 30 when the local cagers when the Spurs face the Washington Wizards this Wednesday night. They will once again have a five in the win column. This time they are five and six. Jeff McDonald, I’ll start with you. Are you bundled up? Do you have your coat on?
Jeff McDonald: Uh, I did last night in the media room at the at the aptly named Frost Bank Center, cuz man that place is freezing.
Mike Finger: It is. They’re The Spurs are not freezing, they’re hot. They’re five and six.
Jeff McDonald: You’re trying to You’re trying to change the subject away away from air conditioning?
Mike Finger: Yeah, cuz we’re we’re tune in to the Spurs Insider to hear about basketball. How do we explain how the Spurs are so hot?
Jeff McDonald: Um, I mean they’re better they’re a better team than they were last year at this time. I mean, I think that’s pretty pretty evident. And the schedule helps them a little bit. Um, you know, we we we kind of talked about that too. The schedule was going to get a little bit more favorable for them in November after a kind of a brutal start and they’re kind of taking advantage of that. Although they did blow one to the one when you talked about jazz team. Kind Kind of made that up by beating Sacramento last night. So, maybe they’re not winning, I think we all predicted two and two for this little stretch of four games.
Mike Finger: I don’t think we predicted the exact games wins and losses in order but we got the two and two. So, maybe we should have because the the one last night against the Sacramento Kings was sort of set up in the same way the Minnesota victory was and that the team coming in uh was on the second night of a back-to-back after a late evening. Uh Uh Tom Orsborn your streak continues as does the streak of the entire podcast of picking every week’s record correctly so far this year. We We kind of joked at the open that this is a this is a hot team, this is a a a team that uh is way ahead of last year. But according to our predictions they’re supposed to be five and six now. That’s what they are. Tom uh are you surprised in any way by uh what we saw since the last podcast?
Tom Orsborn: No, not really. Um, you know, um I am surprised that we’re kind of taking for granted already you know Victor, what a what a line you know 34 points last night, 14 rebounds, six assists, uh three blocks. I mean, you know the guy just he’s just stunning to me, what he what he’s capable of. And now he’s hitting his three-pointers. He got to add in efficient rate the last two games. You You tell me if I’m out of line when it comes to watching Victor Wembanyama play basketball lately. Like I’m I I even last night, I feel like I spent a lot of time sitting up there on the platform above the Frost Bank Center going what is he doing? Why did he take that shot? What is going on? Well, that’s not one I would take. And then at the end of the game he’s got 34 points, 14 rebounds, three blocks. Last night he had made more than half his shots, more than half his three-pointers and so sometimes it’s like what are you complaining about? What are you complaining about like Like you’re you’re kind of nitpicking, so I guess I would like to formally apologize to Victor Wembanyama for occasionally second guessing his shot selection.
Mike Finger: Well, we’ve talked for a long time on this podcast about um how the the historical success of the San Antonio Spurs sort of uh made people spoiled. Made people who followed them spoiled as to what they expect. Like Victor is almost doing that in a a a miniature form. Just about him and and that he’s been so great as an NBA player even during a rough season that you’re sort of spoiled, that you’re going to see something that you’ve never seen before. That you’re going to see just transcendent basketball every night you watch him. I do wonder if I can I’m I’m going to go against type here. I’m going to I’m going to I’m going to violate the expectations of the listeners, I’m going to I’m going to I’m going to be the black cloud a little a little bit here. I just I I I here Here you go, Mike Finger, is going to be like, down and pessimistic?
Jeff McDonald: That doesn’t sound like you at all.
Mike Finger: Uh-huh. I’m I And that’s not pessimism, it’s just I’m I’m going to throw a caveat on this. It’s like do do we want If do do we want Victor Wembanyama to be a guy who who who expects to make six three-pointers every night to be like a a a integral central part of his game? I I just I still am not in love with that and part of that is is the game itself right? It’s the NBA that’s what teams do now that’s what players do now you have to make a bunch of three-pointers to win to do to seven foot three and a half and I just in in a perfect world I’d like to see a little more of the inside game. I think that comes up in a game like the loss to the then one and seven Utah Jazz on Saturday when in the closing minutes of that game you didn’t have the and I’m going to sound like an old man yelling at a cloud here. You didn’t have the situation where a team needs a bucket, the Spurs need a bucket. You can’t throw it down to you know, Tim Duncan like in the old days and say, “This is where we’re going to get our bucket.” You can’t go to Kawhi Leonard to get your mid-range jumper that’s really really reliable. They sort of didn’t didn’t have that option and maybe that’ll come. Uh I think it will come. That was a That could have been a fluke ending there, they they finished really well so far this year. But I would just like while we’re celebrating how undeniably great Victor Wembanyama has been and you want to continue to see him shoot three-pointers and it’s great that he’s making more of them. You I I I still think that’s the missing part is just to go to uh not necessarily even a post move but but a higher percentage shot that he can turn to when when he needs it when the Spurs need it. Uh, sorry to be negative there.
Jeff McDonald: I would like to further limit the like 28 footers with 14 seconds on the shot clock where the ball has not been passed once.
Mike Finger: Yeah, like He’ll hit those He’ll hit those every now and then so it’s hard to completely just say never do it. But I think there’s some times he falls in love with that. Um, those would be that That would That would be my only quibble. Like I I don’t mind if he plays like Kevin Durant, but I don’t really want him to play like Trey Young.
Jeff McDonald: Yeah. It doesn’t really need to play like Keldon Clark right there out there right. Uh The two le the two leaders in the NBA scoring combined for less than one three-pointer a game. So, it’s not like you have to do that in beat the leading scoring NBA these days. But, it is part of Victor’s game but seven and a half threes in a game, it does seem like a lot. That’s Um, That’s overkill in my opinion, but, you know, maybe maybe he just has to grow into it more and this is, you know, if he’s he’s still going to be great doing this. So it’s not like he still might make the all NBA team doing this. So, it’s hard to be nit picky. Unless you’re Mike Finger of course and then you know you’re You’re you’re the dark cloud. If if he doesn’t develop a back to the basket game could he beat Kevin Durant though? Or does Kevin have a better back to the basket game than we sort of um give him credit for? I I I think I think Durant right obviously, he’s a He’s a I mean, I mean many times an MVP, he’s he’s a multiple MVP, he’s a Finals MVP. He’s a one of the best players in NBA history. I think that It’s safe to say Kevin Durant has a better post game right now than Victor Wembanyama does. I think that That But did he at age 20? You would hope Well no he didn’t. And uh And you would hope that by the end of this, and again Kevin Durant is an all-time just spectacular player and this is this is a ridiculous thing to say about a 20 year old player, but that’s that’s what we do with Victor Wembanyama. Like I’d I’d be a bit disappointed if Victor Wembanyama didn’t end up with a better post game than Kevin Durant ended up with. Yeah. Um, Yeah. When we When they When they drafted him I I thought uh something like being Porzingis on offense and Gobert on defense was kind of the floor for Victor, but I think everyone wanted him to be Kevin Durant on offense and then Gobert and that that that combination is on other worldly which is, you know, never Well, when you say you When you say everyone wanted the key person there is Victor Wembanyama, wanted to He wants to be Kevin Durant that’s that’s the issue here, and and like who are we a bunch of schlubs to tell Victor Wembanyama who he should want to be and who he shouldn’t want to be? Like That’s great if he wants to be Victor Wembanyama, that’s great. I think for him to live up to our just unrealistic sky-high expectations, you want a little more of a go-to move. And I think that’ll come. It might not come in year two, it might not come in year three, it’ll come eventually, we just get greedy, we just get uh, like I said a little uh unrealistic about things. You can also still still without that without that go-to move, I mean I I see what you’re I I get what you’re saying like in a in a tight spot he needs something to go to, that’s why it’s called a go-to. It’s very good, but um, he’s still able to get a lot of stuff done around the basket just by being super tall. He is. I saw the one last night where he just grabs an offensive rebound and just I mean puts it back immediately. And some of it is just him deciding to do that. I think Yeah. early in the season he sometimes was forgetting that he’s 7’3 and if you get the ball around the basket, just go up with it immediately. Don’t pull it down, don’t look to pass out of it. It’s hard to just dump him the ball in the post right now because he’s going to he’s going to get swarmed. Um, he’s going to have someone, we’ve talked about it before, it’s someone that’s shorter than him, so it looks like he should score on them, but that person guarding him is like a Dylan Brooks type who’s just going to shove him around. Yeah. Victor has such a high center of gravity those little guys can kind of move him a little bit. So if you want him to have a go-to post move, you’re going to have to get he’s going to have to get stronger. Yeah. And if he gets stronger I think about the other things, I don’t know. The The play that you’re talking about the the um offensive rebound which when that happens it just looks so easy and and and Yeah. Troglodytes like us are thinking you know why doesn’t that happen all the time. Part of it is like you have to be down there to get the offensive rebound and Correct. And when he’s when he’s out there roaming the perimeter, which he should do, again we’re we are absolutely nitpicking here. When he’s roaming the perimeter, and the ball gets swung, well then he’s not in position to get those offensive rebounds and so you’d just like to see him spend a little more time closer to the basket to allow those really easy tip-of-foot backs. Here’s the thing, that’s harder, and takes more energy. That’s true. That’s true. Tiers you out more. That’s true. So, that’s why you find him floating on the perimeter a lot. This That’s one of the reasons he’s taking those 28 footers is cuz that’s an open shot that’s easy to get off. Maybe it’s not easy to make, but he doesn’t have to work too hard to get off an open 28 footer. I’m not saying that’s right. I’m saying I guarantee you that’s the reason he kind of falls in love with that. Maybe Maybe this is just a Maybe it’s a function of it’s still early in the season, he’s got a he’s got to ramp up his conditioning to be able to uh um you know, 35 minutes ahead of uh another part of taking them for granted. He’s He’s ahead of his pace last year at this time, like he’s He is He is uh He peaked late last year, I think he’ll peak late again. Um, doing just historic stuff like not many people in NBA history and Spurs history for sure have made six three-pointers in back-to-back games. It’s sort of staggering. Um, I think I saw Chuck Person on that list. Uh Chuck Person I was thinking Manu Ginobili and Danny Green are the three that joined Victor Wembanyama. The rightful man Chuck Person. Um Yeah. Yeah, so he I mean it’s historic, it’s incredible, uh still so much room to improve. Um, to look back at the week, what else did we miss besides Victor Wembanyama? I will uh volunteer that I’m really liking the um the first round pick that the Spurs made after the Victor Wembanyama draft. Uh, Not going to win rookie of the year. What about Rob Dillinghan? He’s barely playing in Minnesota. What are you talking about? Yeah. Yeah, that was the second first round pick that was made after Victor Wembanyama, I’m so bad. Stephon Castle, um I think he’s going to work out. I think they might not have screwed that up. He’s not lighting up the stat sheet every night, but he’s going to be a player. He does a lot of stuff well, has a good head about him. Contributes to winning plays which you would expect from a guy who was a key member of a national championship team at UConn. Um Yeah, the Again breaking news, not exactly uh uh the shocking type of headline that uh generate viral podcasts. But Stephon Castle, I think is pretty good. I have so much faith in him already, it’s it’s incredible. It really is. He reminds me a little, I don’t want to maybe put this on that poor young man’s shoulders, but it does remind me a little bit of when Kawhi was a rookie. And you could tell this guy’s pretty good but at that time as a rookie, he’s he’s just doing kind of glue guy things. Yeah. Like grabbing rebounds, making the for Steph, it’s making the right pass. Um, occasionally finishing around the rim, defending. That was Kawhi as a rookie. You didn’t really see he he he did He wasn’t an All-Star yet. He was kind of a glue guy, but you could see those little skills that he had coming along and and Kawhi worked on his offensive game so much and if Stephon Castle, and by all accounts he does have this dedication but we’ll have that same kind of dedication that Kawhi does, he could be a really really special player. This This should be in your newspaper, uh the the the San Antonio Express News, expressnews.com, maybe in the Spurs Nation newsletter at some point this week, but uh hang out late last night in the the home locker room with the rookie, and found I was asking him about the slow step which I know Jeff’s also been asking about, and and this this move that he makes that we we had Kyle Anderson uh nicknamed Slow-Mo, we covered him for a long time here in San Antonio. Stephon Castle is almost taking it to to a new extreme. And that, when he finishes his Euro uh slow step at under the basket sometimes, he comes to a complete stop on that last that last step that you get before the travel. And it’s really like he will go from full speed to full stop. It’s It’s breathtaking and it and it throws defenders off balance. And one thing I found interesting that leads to what Jeff was talking about with the moves that Kawhi would come up with with his off-season work every summer. Stephon told me that he had never had anything resembling a slow step before he got to San Antonio. Like, that was added to his game. What I’m I’m blanking on the new uh assistant Jeff, is it Mike Noise? That’s correct. Mike Noise. He said, Mike Noise is the one who taught him that in in the gym this summer and he’s worked on it, he’s developed it so fast that like, it’s a It’s an absolute weapon. And and Stephon was saying sometimes if he it looks to people like a travel, which it does because he is coming he is he is freezing his body on that last step before getting that layup off and the defender will blow by and he’ll get layups out of it. It’s really cool move. Uh, not not the only reason he’s playing well, but I think it speaks to his ability to add things and to put in the work. And uh like uh He he’s not option number one on this team, he might not be option number three, but as Tom said, they trust in him, they are giving him all kinds of responsibility all kinds of responsibilities early on and I think he’s just going to be great. The way he ch the way he changes speeds with the ball is is something to behold. He’s not like a speed demon like he’s not Blake Wesley. Right. Or Tony Or Tony Parker. But, the way he changes speeds makes them really hard to get a gauge on in defense. It’s like It’s like how Greg Maddux used to pitch. You know, he’s not going to blow you away with a 100 mile an hour heater, but he’s going to change speeds so much that you he keeps he keeps the defenders totally off balance and he gets he gets looks at the rim that way. It’s It’s really fun. And that’s um that’s former Connecticut bench warmer, Mike Noise, helping former Connecticut star Stephon Castle. Good information, Tom. Huskies Huskies stick together, I guess. Yep. Hey, we haven’t talked about Devin Vassell coming back. We’re just going to Yeah, a little bit there. I’m not sure that was the lead, but yeah, it’s a big it’s big news, he’s coming off the bench, working him back in slowly to his uh to his usual minutes. He’s not going to get there yet, but uh uh Tom, you were on hand for his first game back against the Utah Jazz. How how close to uh peak Devin Vassell are we getting to here?
Tom Orsborn: Well, I mean everyone the consensus was very little rust after that long layoff. Mhm. You know, missing last eight games last year, surgery in June, missing the first nine this year, but he came back with little to no rust and um you know, Mitch Johnson, acting head coach, said before last night’s game that he will come off the bench for the foreseeable future and Devin told me he’s all on board with that plan. I’m not tripping, he says, I’m not tripping about starting or coming off the bench, so they’re going to ease him back slowly. Uh, but but yeah the good thing is the foot feels great and um little to no rust.
Mike Finger: What does that add, Jeff?
Jeff McDonald: Well, i- i- i- It it adds more more scoring. More scoring punch, more spacing. Again, you know, we’ve talked a lot about this team, doesn’t have an overabundance of guys that really scare you from three-point range. But Devin’s one that that kind of will. Um, when he’s hot he when he’s hot he’s a guy that can get you a tough basket when you need it. So, all that and he will be in the starting lineup, every kind of the next kind of debate we’ll probably have on here is who does he replace. We just talked about how great Stephon Castle has been in that starting lineup, but he might be the one that that goes back to the bench once once Vassell um you know, is is full go. Yeah. I think about the new year, this He had those back-to-back threes in the third quarter last night, one that turned into a four point play and that’s that’s kind of what he brings, you know. Yeah. Getting Getting those baskets when needed. On on the lineup, I think by the new year um there’s going to be two two changes. Like that as as Jeff and Tom pointed out, Mitch said Devin’s coming off the bench for the foreseeable future, but that has a lot to do with just ramping up his minutes. Uh has did not have a preseason, did not play in those first nine games. Uh and you want to in a close game, have Devin Vassell out there on the floor at the end. And if you want to have him on the floor at the end and he doesn’t have his minutes up yet you probably can’t start him. So, that’s the deal there. But by the New Years, you’re going to probably add Devin Vassell back to the starting lineup. You’re probably going to add Jeremy Sochan back. When he get have Did we talk about Sochan’s injury when we did our last podcast? I don’t think we did. I was really disappointed for him. You’re right. That That was a You’re right. He’s been playing so dang well. Had we talked about it? I can’t remember. No, we didn’t because I’ll tell you this. I I don’t want to rehash stuff and I don’t want to bring the thing down. We recorded our podcast when you and I were were in a secure location on the West Coast and uh it was on on a day that I made a really bad prediction on this podcast, I think. And we will not we will not address this week. Uh But on the after recording that podcast on the West Coast, I boarded my my flight home with Jeremy Sochan on the same flight and uh when I saw him heading to San Antonio as opposed to Houston on the team plane, I I I I I I’m I’m a pretty sharp cookie, is it or cookie sharp? I I I did the math and realized that uh the news on his injury on his on his left thumb probably wasn’t good. Uh spoke with him briefly. He had a really positive attitude about things, but uh man he had been really really great for them through those first eight games or whatever it was. Um, had come on a long way. No one out there in in Spurs fan land cares, but he’d been great with the media. Been a really fun guy to talk to. I told him on the plane like uh looking forward to doing this again. Can’t wait to have you back. He was he was with his little gap-tooth grin up beat about it, but he’s going to be out for probably uh at least a month with a like it’s hard to play with a broken thumb. Uh But it’s It’s It’s It’s Go ahead. Let me Let me remember. Is it the left thumb? It is. Yeah. So, I’m almost not I’m not really being flipping here, but does he really need the left thumb? He shoots one-handed, he’s mostly a defensive guy anyway. Yeah. Yeah. Maybe he gets back quicker cuz he doesn’t need the left thumb. Well, It’s It’s Breaking your left thumb as a right-handed player is better than breaking your right thumb, that’s true. It Reminding me of uh Boris Diaw injured his left hand, or it was I think he just like sprained a finger. And his thing was I don’t need I don’t need my left hand anyway, which is true. He fam Boris famously never shot a ball his entire career with his left hand. Yeah. Not once. Was it a I think it was a Sean Elliot line way back in the day uh about uh if if someone severed David Robinson’s right hand like he wouldn’t notice it for a week. because David never used his right I was He was a left-handed he never used his off hand. Um Yeah, yeah, you’re right, that that is the the silver lining on the bright side there. It was his left thumb instead of his right thumb. Just wrap that thing up, let him go up there and go out there and like uh, you know, piss off Dylan Brooks. That’s all you need. Right. But that is what led to Stephon Castle making the starting lineup. Uh, Devin Vassell’s absence to start the season is what led to Julian Champagnie in the starting lineup. And uh if both those guys get their job back then those two guys we mentioned might move to the bench. But, who knows? There’s There’s all kinds of ways and there could be new injuries pop up. New adjustments for Mitch Johnson to make. We probably should mention that uh not a lot has changed since our last podcast regarding Gregg Popovich. Um, still no clarity as to if or when he will return this season. Um, Tom even tried to get uh specific with Mitch Johnson as to uh will do you know for sure he’s going to be back this season? And Mitch uh sort of shut that down. This isn’t to say that they don’t expect him back this season, but but that’s not guaranteed either. Um, they’re going to keep forging on. Everyone says that uh that Gregg Popovich is okay, uh wishing him well, but I think uh it’s fair to say that uh this is going to be the status quo moving forward and uh I wanted to get your guys take before we shut down for the week, just on how you think uh how you think Mitch is doing. I I I think he’s you know, there was a blown lead to uh the Clippers. There was a tough home loss to Utah, but I I think that he’s held up pretty well so far. Yeah, it doesn’t seem like they’ve missed a beat, which, you know, they were also blowing leads when Pop was coaching, so Exactly. It’s It’s kind of hard for me to like really judge like what difference a coach makes anyway. Yeah. Which I think is stupid to say is silly to say. Um a lot of what happens behind the scenes, it’s the it’s the It’s the like the people person part of it. Yeah. Knowing how to talk to the guys, knowing how to get the best out of guys. That’s not something you’re really going to be able to evaluate like a Mitch Johnson on a week and a half or two weeks. The product on the floor looks looks okay. Look show I mean there’s like someone last night on that bad website. And the They look like When the turnovers were going crazy in the first quarter, they just look undisciplined, more undisciplined with Pop out. I’m like, “No, they were turning the ball over like crazy when Pop was here.” So, I don’t know how much I will say there’ve been a lot of nice ATO plays from Mitch Johnson. Like, call a time out and get a layup, like that’s that’s that’s fun to see. Yeah, that’s nice. Maybe the uh Maybe the smartest thing he’s doing is listening to Chris Paul. Yeah. Two uh Chris Chris Paul had two re- uh review challenges last night. He He showed a lot of humility saying hey, he’s been out a lot longer than I have. It’s true, uh Chris Paul is older than his acting head coach. Yeah. Yeah, the We’re talking about the We’re talking about the taking coaching and and encouraging people that made me think of friend of the podcast, friend of the Express News Sandro Mamukelashvili, who had a really good week. Uh You know, he’s he’s he’s fun to talk to after games cuz he’s very open about the mental part of the game and how I got to get out of my head and I’m out there to shoot, I got to shoot, and uh he’s doing it. He’s got a really key moment uh in the in the game Monday night against the who did I just watch them play? The Kings. Sandro Mamukelashvili brought onto the floor to make open three-pointers. I believe there was a possession where he missed one, clearly disappointed. Victor Wembanyama got the ball at the top of the arc, either off a rebound, off a pass, immediately passed it back to Sandro Mamukelashvili and without hesitation Mamukelashvili tried again, swished it. That’s progress. Like, if you’re It It was funny. I think Jeff and I were talking to him in in LA and uh there was a there was a shot that he passed up because he had missed one earlier and he didn’t feel like he was a star enough player like why why should I be putting up multiple misses? Well, you’re out there to shoot. Like shoot or shoot, and uh they want him to do that. And I think he can really be I I I still enjoy watching him play. I think he can be a weapon for them, if he’s making that shot. For a guy that’s like so happy-go-lucky and like a puppy dog to talk to, he’s really hard on himself. He is. Like uh I talk to I talked to him last night because remember, before the game we asked Mitch about Demar and his pump fakes. Yeah. And you know he’s oh, yeah, we talked about it. Mitch says, “But you know, somebody’s going to fall for it.” And the guy that fell for it was Mamu. Uh-huh. And so I asked him about that after the game and he was just like, “I was so mad at myself.” But, like But, like, the the it looked like he was going up And, I was just so mad cuz and he’s what he said was kind of what he told us that night. Like I’m I don’t play a lot, I don’t get a lot of chances. So, I can’t go out there and screw up. Yeah. Cuz I might not get another one. And that’s kind of how he looks at it. And I will say later in the game he had a similar uh matchup with Demar and he stayed on his feet, so he’s he’s learning. I think he’s a good example for us all. We We, I think we’re all afraid of screwing up. We might’ve screwed up this podcast. Like, this people out there might have tuned out by now, just that these these idiots. What are they talking about? We’ll do better next time. We’ll stick with it. I think everybody should. I’m making no predictions about anything else this week that did not go so well last week. But, until next time, take care of each other and keep it real.