By Tom Orsborn, Staff writer | San Antonio Express-News (SAEN), 2024-12-17 14:56:13
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。
2023年11月22日，星期三，在德克萨斯州圣安东尼奥的弗罗斯特银行中心，马刺队主教练格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)与圣安东尼奥马刺队前锋杰里米·索汉(Jeremy Sochan)(10号)交谈，而洛杉矶快船队后卫詹姆斯·哈登(James Harden)(1号)正在罚球。马刺队以102-109输给了快船队。
格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)周一通过马刺队发表的声明增强了球员们的乐观情绪，他们相信这位75岁的主教练将充分康复并重返教练席。
“这再次带来了希望，”杰里米·索汉(Jeremy Sochan)在周二的训练后说道。“了解波波，他正在努力康复。”
自11月2日马刺队称其为轻度中风以来，波波维奇首次公开发表评论，他暗示自己计划重返教练席，继续执教这支他已带领了29个赛季的球队。
“没有人比那些一直在领导我康复过程的优秀人才更希望看到我重返教练席，”波波维奇说道。“他们很快就了解到，我可不是一个听话的病人。”
马刺队上个月在一份声明中表示，预计波波维奇将完全康复，但没有透露有关他康复计划或回归时间表的细节。
在助理教练米奇·约翰逊的带领下，马刺队在没有波波维奇的情况下取得了11胜10负的战绩。总的来说，他们在周四晚上主场迎战亚特兰大老鹰队之前战绩为13胜13负，而过去两个赛季他们每个赛季只赢了22场比赛。
波波维奇在声明的开头表示，他收到的“支持的涌现”对他和他的家人来说“真的是一种最好的压倒性的感受”。
“虽然我希望我能回复你们每一个人，但现在，请允许我说，我和我的家人永远感激，”波波维奇说道。“我们感谢我们美好的社区，整个马刺队组织，以及我们的家人和朋友。”
索汉说，读到波波维奇的声明让他感到很欣慰。
“这让你会心一笑，”这位21岁的前锋说道。“这让你感到温暖。”
索汉说，球队知道波波维奇“肯定在看比赛，可能试图保持冷静，但并不总是如此”。
新秀斯蒂芬·卡斯尔(Stephon Castle)说，他“很高兴看到”波波维奇向公众发布了他所谓的令人鼓舞的声明。他补充说，这位NBA历史上胜场最多的教练在他康复期间一直与球队保持联系。
“我知道他可能每天都和教练们交谈，”卡斯尔说道。“就我个人而言，我没有每天都和他交谈，但我的意思是，他时不时地会给球队一些鼓励。”
肩膀酸痛迫使卡斯尔打得“胆怯”
尽管他在周日以92-106输给明尼苏达森林狼队的比赛中重返赛场，但卡斯尔表示，他酸痛的左肩仍然没有完全康复。
“正在好转，”他说道。“只是要重新适应对抗，并且在比赛时不要总是想着它。”
在12月8日战胜新奥尔良鹈鹕队的比赛中受伤后，卡斯尔缺席了上周五客场战胜波特兰开拓者队的比赛。
在周日的复出之战中，卡斯尔在23分钟的出场时间里表现挣扎。这位第四顺位新秀在前17场比赛中都是首发，而本场比赛替补出场，仅得到2分，8投1中（三分球3投0中），此外还有5次助攻和2个篮板。
卡斯尔说，他在与身体对抗激烈的森林狼队比赛中遇到的一个问题是，他“打得有点胆怯，不敢对抗”。
“我经历的对抗越多，我就越能适应这些对抗，”他说道。“但是，是的，他们的防守确实很有身体对抗性，所以我相信这起到了一定的作用。”
由于费城76人队的杰瑞德·麦凯恩(Jared McCain)因左膝半月板撕裂无限期缺阵，卡斯尔现在被许多人认为是赢得NBA年度最佳新秀的最热门人选。
来自杜克大学的麦凯恩是第16顺位新秀，在前23场比赛中，他是新秀中的得分王，场均得到15.3分。
经过25场比赛，卡斯尔场均得到11.7分和3.9次助攻，同时他在联盟中以顽强的防守而闻名。
“我并没有真正考虑过这件事，”这位20岁的康涅狄格大学校友在谈到继维克多·文班亚马(Victor Wembanyama)上赛季获得该奖项后，他有可能成为马刺队第二个年度最佳新秀时说道。
“我只是一场一场地比赛，我觉得上帝会安排好一切。我很难过杰瑞德受伤了。他正在度过一个伟大的赛季。他是我兄弟。我一周前才和他聊过，所以我很遗憾看到他缺阵。”
Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray, second from left, battles San Antonio Spurs forward Keldon Johnson (0) and guard Stephon Castle, second from right, for a rebound during the second half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Friday, Dec. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
San Antonio Spurs guard Chris Paul (3) drives around a pick set by teammate guard Stephon Castle, right, as Minnesota Timberwolves guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker, left, attempts to defend during the second half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Billy Calzada)
点击查看原文：Spurs view Gregg Popovich's statement as encouraging sign
Spurs view Gregg Popovich’s statement as encouraging sign
Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich talks to San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan (10) as LA Clippers guard James Harden (1) shoots a free-throw at Frost Bank Center on Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023, in San Antonio, Texas. The Spurs fell to the Clippers, 109-102.
A statement from Gregg Popovich issued by the Spurs on Monday increased optimism among the players that the 75-year-old coach will recover sufficiently to return to the bench.
“It gives hope again,” Jeremy Sochan said after practice Tuesday. “Knowing Pop, he’s working hard.”
In making his first public comments since suffering what the Spurs termed a mild stroke Nov. 2, Popovich suggested he plans to return to coaching the team he has guided for 29 seasons.
“No one is more excited to see me return to the bench than the talented individuals who have been leading my rehabilitation process,” Popovich said. “They’ve quickly learned that I’m less than coachable.”
The Spurs said last month in a statement that Popovich was expected to make a full recovery but gave no details about his rehabilitation program or a timeline for his return.
With assistant coach Mitch Johnson holding the reins, the Spurs have gone 11-10 without Popovich. Overall, they are 13-13 heading into Thursday night’s home game against Atlanta after winning just 22 games each of the last two seasons.
Popovich began his statement by saying the “outpouring of support” he has received has “been truly overwhelming in the best possible way” for him and his family.
“While I wish I could get back to each one of you, for now, let me say that my family and I are forever grateful,” Popovich said. “We’re thankful for our wonderful community, the entire Spurs organization, and our family and friends.”
Sochan said reading Popovich’s statement was a feel-good moment for him.
“It makes you smile,” the 21-year-old forward said. “It makes you warm.”
Sochan said the team knows Popovich is “definitely watching the games, probably trying to stay calm but not always.”
Rookie Stephon Castle said he was “happy to see” Popovich release what he called an encouraging statement to the public. He added that the NBA’s all-time winningest coach has stayed connected with the team throughout his rehabilitation.
“I know he talks to the coaches probably every day,” Castle said. “Personally, I haven’t talked to him every day, but I mean, here and there, he’ll give some encouragement to the team.”
Sore shoulder forced Castle to play ‘timid’
Although he returned to the court in Sunday’s 106-92 loss to Minnesota, Castle said his sore left shoulder still has not fully healed.
“It’s getting there,” he said. “Just getting back comfortable to taking bumps again and not really having it in the back of my mind while I’m playing.”
After suffering the injury in a win over New Orleans on Dec. 8, Castle sat out last Friday’s win at Portland.
In his return Sunday, Castle struggled in logging 23 minutes. Coming off the bench after starting his previous 17 games, the fourth overall pick scored just two points on 1-for-8 shooting from the field (0 of 3 from 3-point range) to go along with five assists and two rebounds.
Castle said one of the problems he experienced against the physical Timberwolves was he was “playing kind of timid to not get hit.”
“The more reps I go through, the more comfortable I get with taking those bumps again,” he said. “But, yeah, they do have a pretty physical defense, so I’m sure that played a part.”
With Philadelphia’s Jared McCain out indefinitely due to a meniscus tear in his left knee, Castle is considered by many to now be the frontrunner to win NBA rookie of the year.
McCain, the 16th overall pick out of Duke, was the leading scorer among rookies, averaging 15.3 points through the first 23 games.
Through 25 games, Castle is averaging 11.7 points and 3.9 assists while gaining a reputation around the league for playing tenacious defense.
“I wasn’t really thinking about it,” the 20-year-old Connecticut alumnus said of potentially becoming the second rookie of the year from the Spurs after Victor Wembanyama won the award last season.
“I just take it game by game and I feel like God’s going to handle everything. I hate that Jared went out. He was having a great season. That’s one of my guys. I was just talking to him like a week ago, so I hate to see him sidelined.”
By Tom Orsborn, Staff writer, via San Antonio Express-News