By Jeff McDonald, Staff Writer | San Antonio Express-News (SAEN), 2024-11-29 15:52:31
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16日星期六，在达拉斯举行的NBA篮球比赛下半场，圣安东尼奥马刺队后卫布雷克·韦斯利(Blake Wesley)带球突破达拉斯独行侠队的防线。达拉斯以110-93获胜。(美联社照片/Jeffrey McWhorter)
周二的早上，在盐湖城，马刺队后卫布雷克·韦斯利(Blake Wesley)正在进行一场对他来说至关重要的篮球训练。
在球队工作人员的注视下，韦斯利在一场四对四的对抗赛中奋力拼搏。参与这场比赛的球员包括一些很少上场的球员、几个刚从伤病中恢复的球员，以及为了凑齐八个人——几个教练实习生。
当晚与爵士队的NBA比赛可以等等。
“我们拼尽了全力，”21岁的韦斯利说道。
对于马刺队替补席末端的球员来说，在幕后挥汗如雨是有原因的，尤其是如果他们想要在正式比赛中获得上场时间的话。
“我们都在竞争，”韦斯利说，“我们都在努力争取机会。我们都在努力赚钱。我们都想要上场打球。……每当我们在场上时，我们都必须充分利用它。”
午餐前的训练在马刺队128-115战胜爵士队的比赛中为韦斯利带来了回报。
韦斯利获得了本赛季最高的22分钟上场时间，得到11分和两次抢断。
他和前锋桑德罗·马穆克拉什维利(Sandro Mamukelashvili)——也是球队早上四对四训练的参与者——在马刺队替补阵容的其他方面表现不佳的情况下，帮助激活了球队的替补席。
“我认为他们在下半场用他们的能量和活力引领了球队的进攻，”代理教练米奇·约翰逊(Mitch Johnson)说道。
一个晚上后，在圣安东尼奥，替补席的作用就没那么明显了，马刺队以101-119输给了洛杉矶湖人队。
韦斯利上场6分钟。马穆克拉什维利上场4分钟。
对于马刺队替补席末端的球员来说，这提醒他们，随着马刺队的阵容逐渐恢复完整，闪耀的机会将比以往任何时候都更加珍贵。
“我一直在轮换阵容内外徘徊，”韦斯利说，“我只是保持积极的心态。这是我唯一能做的。”
之前的首发前锋索汉(Jeremy Sochan)周五参加了五对五的训练，希望能从拇指骨折的伤势中恢复过来，参加周日开始的萨克拉门托的两场客场比赛。
如果他能复出，并且在此之前没有其他马刺球员遭遇不幸，这将是球队本赛季第一次拥有完整的健康阵容。
“希望我们能保持这种状态一段时间，继续培养我们之间的化学反应，并弄清楚该如何前进，”替补后卫特雷·琼斯(Tre Jones)说道。
“弄清楚该如何前进”必然意味着一些球员的上场时间会减少。
与金州勇士队不同，马刺队并不打算使用12人轮换阵容。勇士队是一个特例，他们是NBA中唯一一支每晚都使用如此多人轮换的球队。
对于一些球员来说，这意味着上场时间的争夺战已经打响。
对于控球后卫克里斯·保罗(Chris Paul)来说，他的上场时间不会受到威胁，这属于“幸福的烦恼”。
“球队拥有如此多的天赋真是太好了，”保罗说，“有很多不同的球员都在努力寻找自己的节奏。我们会继续坚持下去，直到每个人都达到他们想要的状态。”
上场时间的紧缺并不局限于替补后卫，随着德文·瓦塞尔(Devin Vassell)最近从伤病名单中复出，替补后卫的位置将变得更加拥挤。
大个子扎克·科林斯(Zach Collins)和查尔斯·巴斯(Charles Bassey)一直在争夺文班亚马(Victor Wembanyama)身后的替补中锋位置的少量上场时间。
在犹他的比赛中，科林斯上场6分钟，下半场没有上场。巴斯上场5分半钟，上半场没有上场。
一个晚上后，科林斯在对阵湖人队的比赛中上场11分钟。巴斯上场4分钟。
很明显，约翰逊并不觉得有必要坚持使用单一的轮换阵容。如果一个替补大个子状态不佳，约翰逊会毫不犹豫地启用另一个。
“我们很幸运，维克多、扎克和查理都给了我们很好的上场时间，”约翰逊说，“我们的阵容深度有望慢慢成为我们的优势之一。”
尽管如此，那些希望获得日常角色的边缘球员正在失去证明自己的机会。
周五训练结束后，后卫马拉基·布拉纳姆(Malaki Branham)留下来与球队的教练组进行额外的训练。
这位21岁的后卫在犹他的比赛中没有上场，对阵湖人队的比赛中上场4分钟。
和韦斯利一样，布拉纳姆也是盐湖城四对四训练小组的一员。
“看到我们付出了这么多努力真的很好，”琼斯一边看着布拉纳姆的训练一边说道，“你会看到一些年轻球员在训练前和训练后都投入了大量的时间。当他们被叫到名字的时候，他们已经准备好了。”
这就是马刺队替补席末端球员最近的处境。
练习并不一定能使人完美。
当谈到获得上场时间、打出名堂，以及——是的，赚钱——练习创造了可能性。
“这是动力，”韦斯利说，“当我的名字被叫到的时候，上场去表现。做我该做的。”
San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) chest bumps San Antonio Spurs forward Sandro Mamukelashvili (54) in celebration of Mamukelashvili’s back-to-back threes during the fourth quarter at Frost Bank Center on Monday, Nov. 11, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. The Spurs defeated the Kings, 116-96.
Utah Jazz guard Johnny Juzang (33) looks to pass as San Antonio Spurs forward Sandro Mamukelashvili (54) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Bethany Baker)
SAN ANTONIO, TX - NOVEMBER 15: Max Christie #12 of the Los Angeles Lakers blocks a shot from Blake Wesley #14 of the San Antonio Spurs in the first half of the Emirates NBA Cup game at the Frost Bank Center on November 15, 2024 in San Antonio, Texas.
DALLAS, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 16: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Dallas Mavericks guards Blake Wesley #14 of the San Antonio Spurs in the first half of an NBA game at American Airlines Center on November 16, 2024 in Dallas, Texas.
San Antonio Spurs forward Sandro Mamukelashvili (54) reacts after hitting back-to-back threes in the fourth quarter against the Sacramento Kings at Frost Bank Center on Monday, Nov. 11, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. The Spurs defeated the Kings, 116-96.
点击查看原文：As San Antonio Spurs approach full health, fight for minutes is on
As San Antonio Spurs approach full health, fight for minutes is on
San Antonio Spurs guard Blake Wesley drives the lane against the Dallas Mavericks during the second half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Dallas. Dallas won 110-93. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)
It was a Tuesday morning in Salt Lake City, and Spurs guard Blake Wesley was in the basketball fight of his life.
With team staffers looking on, Wesley was pushing his way through a four-on-four run involving a collection of little-used players, a few coming off of injury and – to round out the eightsome – a couple of coaching interns.
The NBA game later that night against the Jazz could wait.
“We got after it,” the 21-year-old Wesley said.
There is a reason for players at the end of the Spurs’ bench to break a sweat behind closed doors, especially if they aim to earn time in the games that count.
“We’re all competing,” Wesley said “We’re trying to make it. We’re trying to make money. We’re all trying to play. … Whenever we’re out there, we have to make the most of it.”
The pre-lunchtime workout paid off for Wesley in a 128-115 win over the Jazz.
Wesley logged a season-best 22 minutes and scored 11 points with a pair of steals.
He and forward Sandro Mamukelashvili – another member of the club’s morning 4-on-4 brigade – helped spark the Spurs’ bench on a night little else was working for the second unit.
“I thought they led the charge there in the second half with their energy and activity,” acting coach Mitch Johnson said.
The bench was less of a factor a night later in San Antonio, where the Spurs lost 119-101 against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Wesley logged six minutes. Mamukelashvili played four.
For those deep on the Spurs’ bench, it served notice that as the Spurs’ roster inches back to full health, the chances to shine stand to be at more of a premium than ever.
“I’ve been in the rotation and out of the rotation,” Wesley said. “I just stay positive. That’s all I can do.”
Erstwhile starting forward Jeremy Sochan participated in 5-on-5 work Friday, with an eye toward returning from his fractured thumb injury on the two-game road trip that begins Sunday in Sacramento.
If that happens, and no misfortune befalls another Spur between now and then, it would mark the first time the team has boasted a full healthy roster this season.
“Hopefully we can stay that way for a while and continue to build our chemistry together and kind of figure this thing out,” backup guard Tre Jones said.
The “figure this thing out” part necessarily means fewer minutes for some players.
Unlike Golden State, the Spurs do not plan on deploying a 12-man rotation. The Warriors are an anomaly, the only team in the NBA to dig that deep on a nightly basis.
For some players, that means the fight for minutes is on.
To point guard Chris Paul, whose minutes will not be threatened, this falls under the category of “good problem to have.”
“It’s so nice to have so much talent on his team,” Paul said. “There’s so many different guys trying to find their rhythm. We’re going to keep holding it down until guys get to where they want to be.”
The minutes crunch is not limited to the backup backcourt, which stands to be overcrowded with Devin Vassell’s most recent return from the injured list.
Big men Zach Collins and Charles Bassey have been engaged in a fight for scraps backing up Victor Wembanyama at center.
In Utah, Collins played six minutes and none in the second half. Bassey logged 5 ½ minutes, and none in the first half.
A night later, Collins totaled 11 minutes against the Lakers. Bassey played four.
It is clear Johnson does not feel compelled to stay wedded to a single rotation. If one backup big man is having an off night, Johnson will not be slow to deploy another one.
“We’ve been fortunate that Victor, Zach and Charlie have all given us good minutes,” Johnson said. “Our depth is hopefully slowly becoming one of our strengths.”
Still, bubble players hoping to earn an everyday role are running out of chances to do so.
As practice ended Friday, guard Malaki Branham stayed behind to get in extra work with the team’s development staff.
The 21-year-old guard logged four minutes against the Lakers after not playing at all in Utah.
Like Wesley, Branham was a member of the 4-on-4 group in Salt Lake City.
“It’s real good to see how much work we put in on days like this,” Jones said with one eye on Branham’s workout. “You see some of the young guys getting so much in before practice and after practice. When their number is called, they’re ready.”
That’s how it goes for the Spurs’ deep bench players these days.
Practice doesn’t necessarily make perfect.
When it comes to earning playing time, making a name and – yes, making money – practice makes for possibility.
“It’s motivation,” Wesley said. “When my name’s called, go out there and perform. Do what I do.”
San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) chest bumps San Antonio Spurs forward Sandro Mamukelashvili (54) in celebration of Mamukelashvili’s back-to-back threes during the fourth quarter at Frost Bank Center on Monday, Nov. 11, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. The Spurs defeated the Kings, 116-96.
Utah Jazz guard Johnny Juzang (33) looks to pass as San Antonio Spurs forward Sandro Mamukelashvili (54) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Bethany Baker)
SAN ANTONIO, TX - NOVEMBER 15: Max Christie #12 of the Los Angeles Lakers blocks a shot from Blake Wesley #14 of the San Antonio Spurs in the first half of the Emirates NBA Cup game at the Frost Bank Center on November 15, 2024 in San Antonio, Texas.
DALLAS, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 16: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Dallas Mavericks guards Blake Wesley #14 of the San Antonio Spurs in the first half of an NBA game at American Airlines Center on November 16, 2024 in Dallas, Texas.
San Antonio Spurs forward Sandro Mamukelashvili (54) reacts after hitting back-to-back threes in the fourth quarter against the Sacramento Kings at Frost Bank Center on Monday, Nov. 11, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. The Spurs defeated the Kings, 116-96.
By Jeff McDonald, Staff Writer, via San Antonio Express-News