By Tom Orsborn, Staff writer | San Antonio Express-News (SAEN), 2024-12-14 12:47:39
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12月13日星期五，在俄勒冈州波特兰市举行的NBA篮球比赛下半场，圣安东尼奥马刺队中锋维克托·文班亚马(Victor Wembanyama)躲避波特兰开拓者队前锋杰拉米·格兰特(Jerami Grant)。 圣安东尼奥马刺队以118-116获胜。(美联社照片/Amanda Loman)
周五晚上，马刺队在以118-116逆转战胜开拓者队的比赛中，在比赛还剩6.4秒时叫了暂停，比分打平。当德文·瓦塞尔(Devin Vassell)走向替补席时，他给维克托·文班亚马(Victor Wembanyama)布置了一项任务。
“是时候送他们回家了，”瓦塞尔说，他指的是波特兰莫达中心17025名观众。
马刺队代理教练米奇·约翰逊(Mitch Johnson)为他制定了一个战术，文班亚马在罚球线附近接到杰里米·索汉(Jeremy Sochan)的界外球，运球进入内线，在那里他用一个转身过掉了杰拉米·格兰特(Jerami Grant)，并在比赛还剩2.4秒时获得了罚球机会。
这位20岁的法国人冷静地罚进了两球，使马刺队（13胜12负）以最终比分领先，并在周日主场迎战明尼苏达队（13胜11负）的比赛中获得了气势。
“一切按计划进行，”文班亚马谈到制胜球时说。“如果不是犯规，那就是一个进球。”
在缺少五名轮换球员（包括在第一节末被罚下场的克里斯·保罗(Chris Paul)）的情况下，马刺队克服了第四节17分的落后，将他们在关键时刻的战绩提升至7胜3负。NBA将关键时刻定义为第四节或加时赛的最后五分钟，且两队分差不超过五分。
只有克利夫兰骑士队以10胜2负的战绩更好。
那么，过去两个赛季只赢了22场比赛的马刺队是如何在关键时刻变得如此出色呢？
一个重要因素是赛后在更衣室外用击掌、拥抱和握手迎接他们的那个人。
“我认为今晚我们肯定经历了一段一年前无法度过的难关，克里斯肯定在这方面发挥了作用，”文班亚马说。
39岁的控球后卫保罗给这支曾经在压力情况下崩溃的球队带来了一种冷静和目标感。
“这是竞争力，”文班亚马说。“你可以从电视上或作为球迷了解他，但作为队友，他不仅仅是半途而废，这简直令人难以置信。他从不只是为了上场而上场。他在努力争取胜利，努力寻找解决方案。这是一件独一无二的事情，也是所有那些坚持多年的大佬们身上都有的特质。
“他们来这里不仅仅是为了在这里。他真的很有目标。”
2024年12月13日星期五，在俄勒冈州波特兰市举行的NBA篮球比赛上半场，圣安东尼奥马刺队后卫克里斯·保罗(Chris Paul)对判罚做出反应。
当然，文班亚马的表现是另一个重要因素。当比赛进入关键时刻时，他希望球掌握在自己手中，正如他在波特兰的最后54.6秒内罚进四个罚球所证明的那样，当一切都取决于他投篮命中时，他毫不畏惧。
“这是通过反复练习得来的，”他在谈到对阵波特兰开拓者队（8胜17负）时10罚10中，并得到全队最高的28分时说道。“多年来，我已经投了数千个罚球，所以当我站在场上时，我想到的就是（所有这些练习）。这就是我的身体感觉。它感觉到了重复。这是肌肉记忆。”
在瓦塞尔身上，马刺队还有另一名渴望成为终结者的球员。他对阵开拓者队时替补出场得到23分，17投9中（三分球7投4中），包括在比赛还剩12.2秒时，他用一个转身后仰跳投为客队取得116-114的领先优势。
“他太冷静了，伙计，太冷静了，”马刺队前锋朱利安·尚帕尼(Julian Champagnie)说道，他得到了19分。“他是一个真正的得分手。无论如何他都会得分。他是一个得分机器。他很坚韧。他很顽强。他完成了任务。”
马刺队也受益于他们来之不易的信念，他们相信自己能够克服任何逆境，而本赛季已经出现了很多逆境。除了伤病接踵而至之外，他们在11月2日的一场比赛前失去了主教练格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)，球队称他患有轻度中风，将无限期缺阵。
在波特兰，他们在比赛开始前就失去了新秀斯蒂芬·卡斯尔(Stephon Castle)（肩膀）、扎克·科林斯(Zach Collins)（背部）、凯尔登·约翰逊(Keldon Johnson)（小腿）和特雷·琼斯(Tre Jones)（肩膀），然后又失去了保罗，因为他在第一节末尾11秒内连续吃到两个技术犯规，抱怨裁判的判罚。但他们坚持了下来。
尽管如此，马刺队还是在本赛季第四次完成了至少17分的逆转。
“这真是对整个赛季的证明，”瓦塞尔说。“每个人都缺席过。每个人都错过了一些比赛。今年一直都是下一个球员顶上，这证明了我们和我们球队的深度。”
马刺队也受益于索汉的成长，他成为了马刺队在2022年以第九顺位选中他时所设想的样子。由于卡斯尔缺阵，他回到了首发阵容，最终得到15分。
但他最大的影响是在防守端。安芬尼·西蒙斯(Anfernee Simons)在他的30分中，有15分是在第四节得到的，但索汉在限制他在最后9分钟内只得到4分方面发挥了重要作用，这使得他们能够重新回到比赛中。
“杰里米把他的意志强加给了比赛，”米奇·约翰逊说。“我不知道是什么时候，也许是六分钟左右，但杰里米以各种方式扭转了比赛的局面，强加了他的意志，真的给了我们火花。”
文班亚马说：“他完全改变了比赛的势头。”
最终，这是一场保罗可以为之骄傲的关键时刻的努力。
“今晚那些小伙子们支持他，他们站了出来，很多不同的人都付出了巨大的努力，”约翰逊说。
San Antonio Spurs guard Devin Vassell (24) drives to the basket as Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija (8) defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Amanda Loman)
San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) passes over Portland Trail Blazers forward Toumani Camara (33) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, in Portland, Ore.
San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) hugs forward Sandro Mamukelashvili (54) following their team’s 118-116 win over the Portland Trail Blazers in an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Amanda Loman)
San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) and forward Jeremy Sochan (10) react to their team’s 118-116 win over the Portland Trail Blazers in an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Amanda Loman)
San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) and Portland Trail Blazers center Donovan Clingan (23) vie for a jump ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Amanda Loman)
点击查看原文：San Antonio Spurs suddenly a clutch team
San Antonio Spurs suddenly a clutch team
San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) evades Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant (9) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, in Portland, Ore. The San Antonio Spurs won 118-116. (AP Photo/Amanda Loman)
As Devin Vassell walked toward the bench after the Spurs called timeout with the score knotted tied with 6.4 seconds left in Friday night’s come-from-behind 118-116 win over the Trail Blazers, he assigned a task to Victor Wembanyama.
“It’s time for you to send them home,” Vassell said, referring to the crowd of 17,025 at Portland’s Moda Center.
After acting Spurs coach Mitch Johnson drew up a play for him, Wembanyama caught the inbounds pass from Jeremy Sochan near the foul line and dribbled into the paint, where he put a spin move on Jerami Grant that resulted in a trip to the free-throw line with 2.4 seconds left.
The 20-year-old Frenchman calmly sank both shots to give the Spurs (13-12) the lead by the final score and momentum heading into Sunday’s home game against Minnesota (13-11).
“It went just as planned,” Wembanyama said of the game-winning possession. “If it wasn’t a foul, it was a bucket.”
In overcoming a 17-point fourth quarter deficit on a night they were without five rotation players, including Chris Paul after he was ejected late in the first period, the Spurs improved to 7-3 in crunch time, which the NBA defines as the final five minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime when neither team is ahead by more than five points.
Only Cleveland at 10-2 has a better record.
So how did the Spurs, who won just 22 games the last two seasons, become so good in the clutch?
A big factor has been the guy who greeted them outside the locker room after the game with high fives, hugs and handshakes.
“I think tonight we for sure went through a stretch that we wouldn’t have survived one year ago, and for sure Chris has played a role in that,” Wembanyama said.
Paul, the 39-year-old point guard, has brought a sense of calmness and purpose to a team that once crumbled in pressure situations.
“It’s the competitiveness,” Wembanyama said. “Something you can guess from TV or from knowing him as a fan, but as a teammate, it’s just incredible how he doesn’t just do things halfway. He’s never just on the court to be on the court. He’s trying to win, trying to find solutions. It’s a unique thing and it’s a trait you find in all those greats that stick around for years and years.
“They’re not here just to be here. He’s really purposeful.”
San Antonio Spurs guard Chris Paul (3) reacts to a call during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, in Portland, Ore.
The play of Wembanyama, of course, is another important ingredient. He wants the ball in his hands when the game is on the line and, as he proved in hitting four free throws in the final 54.6 seconds in Portland, he does not blink when it all comes down to him hitting a shot.
“That comes through repetition,” he said of going 10 of 10 at the foul line against Portland (8-17) on his way to a team-high 28 points. “I’ve shot thousands of free throws for many years, so (all of that practice) is what I think about when I’m out there.That’s what my body feels. It feels the repetition. It’s muscle memory.”
In Vassell, the Spurs also have another player with a burning desire to excel as a closer. He had 23 off the bench on 9-for-17 shooting (4 for 7 from 3-point range) against the Blazers, including two he collected on a turnaround fadeaway jumper to give the visitors a 116-114 lead with 12.2 seconds left.
“He was stone cold, man, stone cold,” said Spurs forward Julian Champagnie, who finished with 19 points. “He’s a bonafide scorer. He’s going to get buckets no matter what. He’s a bucket-getter. He’s gritty. He’s grimy. He gets it done.”
The Spurs are also benefiting from their hard-earned belief they can overcome any adversity thrown their way, and there has been plenty already this season. In addition to getting hit with injury after injury, they lost coach Gregg Popovich for an indefinite period to what the team called a mild stroke suffered before a game on Nov. 2.
In Portland, they persevered after coming into the game without rookie Stephon Castle (shoulder), Zach Collins (back), Keldon Johnson (calf) and Tre Jones (shoulder) and then losing Paul when he picked up two technical fouls in an 11-second span late in the first period for complaining about the officiating.
Despite it all, the Spurs notched their fourth comeback win this season from at least 17 points down.
“It’s really a testament to the whole season,” Vassell said. “Everybody’s been out. Everybody’s missed a little bit. It’s always been next man up this year, and that’s just a testament to us and how deep we are as a team.”
The Spurs have also benefited from Sochan blossoming into what the Spurs envisioned when they drafted him ninth overall in 2022. With Castle out, he was back in the starting lineup, finishing with 15 points.
But it was on the defensive end where he had the biggest impact. Anfernee Simons scored 15 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter, but Sochan was instrumental in the Spurs holding him to just four points in the final nine minutes, which allowed them to get back into the game.
“Jeremy imposed his will on the game,” Mitch Johnson said. “I don’t know when it was, maybe the six-minute mark or something like that, but Jeremy flipped the game on its head in a variety of ways and imposed his will and really gave us a spark.”
Said Wembanyama, “He changed the momentum of the game totally.”
In the end, it was a crunch-time effort that Paul could be proud of.
“Those guys had his back tonight and they stepped up and it was a heck of an effort from a lot of different people,” Johnson said.
By Tom Orsborn, Staff writer, via San Antonio Express-News