By Jeff McDonald, Staff Writer | San Antonio Express-News (SAEN), 2025-01-16 13:37:37
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。
1月15日，周三，在德克萨斯州圣安东尼奥的弗罗斯特银行中心，圣安东尼奥马刺队后卫斯蒂芬·卡斯尔(5号)在下半场造成孟菲斯灰熊队犯规后，得到了包括前锋凯尔登·约翰逊(0号)在内的队友的赞扬。马刺最终以115-129输给了灰熊。
在斯蒂芬·卡斯尔看来，他只是在暂时替补。
由于杰里米·索汉(Jeremy Sochan)背部不适，在过去的六场比赛中缺席了四场，卡斯尔一直在马刺的首发阵容中填补空缺。
这位前康涅狄格大学的杰出球员充分利用了最近的机会，在他的新秀赛季中连续两场得分超过20分。
“这真的归结于机会，能够在这些时刻挺身而出，”去年六月选秀大会上排名第四的卡斯尔说道。
在卡斯尔职业生涯前半段，马刺已经了解了他的两个版本。
一个是与首发球员一起比赛的卡斯尔，一个超越年龄的版本，在周三输给孟菲斯的比赛中得到了赛季最高的26分。
另一个是从替补席出场的卡斯尔，那个看起来疑似仍像一个在NBA努力磨练的新秀。
“我觉得从替补席出场，这绝对是一项技能，”卡斯尔说。“我只是觉得我从替补席出场时必须表现得更好。”
一旦索汉回归，如何在更少的替补上场时间内产生类似的影响将是这位20岁球员面临的挑战。
在21场首发比赛中，其中大部分是索汉因各种疾病缺阵，卡斯尔场均得到14.8分，并且是年度最佳新秀的有力竞争者。
作为替补，卡斯尔的场均得分下降到7.2分。
上场时间也有很大差异，卡斯尔作为首发球员每晚上场超过30分钟，而作为替补球员则不到19分钟。
“我认为任何球员都会说上场时间越多越好，”马刺代理教练米奇·约翰逊说道。“尤其是一个年轻球员，他仍在成长，要适应一个需要数年才能学会的角色。”
卡斯尔在过去两场首发比赛中总共得到49分，其中包括在马刺周一战胜洛杉矶湖人队的比赛中得到23分。
在周三输给灰熊的比赛中，卡斯尔在第四节得到了15分，这是他本赛季第六次得分超过20分。
约翰逊对卡斯尔在首发阵容中的表现并不感到惊讶。
“他的技术特点与该阵容中的一些球员互补，”约翰逊说。“这是我们作为教练组正在不断研究的魔方拼图的一部分。”
在首发和替补角色之间的推拉是凯尔登·约翰逊(Keldon Johnson)非常了解的。
球队中效力时间最长的球员连续三个赛季都是稳定的首发球员，直到上赛季中期永久转为第六人角色。他比任何人都了解卡斯尔的挣扎。
“保持稳定，这是我的关键，”凯尔登·约翰逊说。“去年对我来说是全新的。有时我从替补席出场会很挣扎。今年，我尽可能多地做出能够赢球的举动。”
与球队中的其他人一样，凯尔登·约翰逊认为卡斯尔的未来一片光明，无论角色如何。
“斯蒂芬将会很特别，无论他是替补出场还是首发，”凯尔登·约翰逊说。“我毫不怀疑，无论他扮演什么角色，他都会脱颖而出。”
双向合同球员赛季报销
马刺官方宣布，新秀前锋莱利·米尼克斯(Riley Minix)在接受左肩盂唇撕裂修复手术后，将缺席本赛季剩余的比赛。
这位24岁的莫尔黑德州立大学球员一直以双向合同效力于马刺的G联赛附属球队奥斯汀马刺队。他在1月1日对阵爱荷华的比赛中受伤。
米尼克斯本赛季参加了一场NBA比赛，在11月6日以100-127输给休斯顿的比赛中，他在7分钟的上场时间里一分未得。
San Antonio Spurs forward Keldon Johnson (0) cheers on guard Stephon Castle (5) after Castle drew a Memphis Grizzlies foul in the second half at Frost Bank Center on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, in San Antonio, Texas. The Spurs fell to the Grizzles, 129-115.
San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) dunks on the Memphis Grizzlies in the second half at Frost Bank Center on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, in San Antonio, Texas. The Spurs fell to the Grizzles, 129-115.
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) makes a shot around San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) in the second half at Frost Bank Center on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, in San Antonio, Texas. The Spurs fell to the Grizzles, 129-115.
San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) guards Memphis Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane (22) in the first half at Frost Bank Center on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, in San Antonio, Texas.
点击查看原文：Steph Castle seeking place in Spurs' 'Rubik's Cube'
Steph Castle seeking place in Spurs’ ‘Rubik’s Cube’
San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) receives praise from his teammates including forward Keldon Johnson (0) after Castle drew a Memphis Grizzlies foul in the second half at Frost Bank Center on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, in San Antonio, Texas. The Spurs fell to the Grizzles, 129-115.
The way Stephon Castle understands it, he is simply keeping a seat warm.
With Jeremy Sochan sidelined by a troublesome back in four of the past six games, Castle has been serving as a fill in with the Spurs’ starting lineup.
The former Connecticut standout has made the most of his chances of late, notching consecutive 20-point outings for the first time in his rookie season.
“It really just comes down to opportunities, being able to step up in those moments,” said Castle, the No. 4 pick in last June’s draft.
Throughout the first half of Castle’s inaugural professional season, the Spurs have come to know two versions of him.
There is the Castle who plays with the starters, the beyond-his-years iteration who scored a season-best 26 points in Wednesday’s loss to Memphis.
Then there is the Castle who comes off the bench, the one that looks suspiciously like a rookie still trying to cut his teeth in the NBA.
“I feel like coming off the bench, I mean it is definitely a skill to have,” Castle said. “I just feel like I got to be better coming off the bench for sure.”
Figuring out a way to make a similar impact in fewer minutes off the bench will be the challenge for the 20-year-old Castle once Sochan returns.
In 21 games as a starter, most of them with Sochan shelved with one ailment or another, Castle has averaged 14.8 points and made a strong case for Rookie of the Year honors.
As a reserve, Castle’s average dips to 7.2 points.
There is a vast difference in minutes as well, with Castle logging more than 30 a night as a starter and less than 19 as a reserve.
“I think any player would say more minutes is better than less,” Spurs acting coach Mitch Johnson said. “Especially a young player who is still growing into a role that will take years (to learn).”
Castle has totaled 49 points in his past two games as a starter, which includes a 23-point effort in the Spurs’ victory at the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday.
In Wednesday’s loss to the Grizzlies, Castle scored 15 of his points in the fourth quarter on his way to his sixth 20-point outing of the season.
Johnson is not surprised Castle has produced when placed with the starting group.
“His skill set complements some of the guys in that lineup,” Johnson said. “It’s part of that Rubik’s Cube puzzle that we’re continuing to figure out as a staff.”
The push-and-pull between a starting and bench role is one Keldon Johnson knows well.
The team’s longest tenured player had been a consistent starter for three straight seasons before moving permanently to a Sixth Man role in the middle of last season. He more than anyone understands Castle’s struggle.
“Just being consistent, that’s been the key for me,” Keldon Johnson said. “It was new for me last year. At times I struggled coming off the bench. This year, I try to make winning plays as much as possible.”
Like others in the organization, Keldon Johnson sees Castle’s future to be bright, no matter the role.
“Steph is going to be special, whether it’s coming off the bench or starting,” Keldon Johnson said. “I have no doubt whatever role he is put in, he will excel.”
Two-way player lost for season
Rookie forward Riley Minix will miss the rest of the season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder, the Spurs announced.
The 24-year-old from Morehead State had been playing with the Spurs’ G-League affiliate in Austin on a two-way contract. He was injured during a Jan. 1 game against Iowa.
Minix appeared in one NBA game this season, going scoreless in seven minutes of a 127-100 defeat at Houston on Nov. 6.
By Jeff McDonald, Staff Writer, via San Antonio Express-News