By Tom Orsborn, Staff writer | San Antonio Express-News (SAEN), 2025-01-20 12:11:32
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19日星期天在迈阿密举行的NBA篮球比赛上半场，圣安东尼奥马刺队中锋维克托·文班亚马(Victor Wembanyama)(1号)与后卫克里斯·保罗(Chris Paul)(3号)和后卫德文·瓦塞尔(Devin Vassell)(24号)交谈。
迈阿密——巴黎并非球队解决场上问题的理想之地，但状态低迷的马刺相信他们能够做到。
“对家人来说，这是一次愉快的旅行，但对我们来说，这仍然是一次工作之旅，”前锋哈里森·巴恩斯(Harrison Barnes)说道。
卢浮宫博物馆、巴黎圣母院和红磨坊歌舞表演确实很诱人，但在热火队周日以128-107击败他们之后，马刺也需要专注于篮球，这是他们连续第三场失利，也是近七场比赛中的第六场失利。
“关键在于真正弄清楚我们需要做什么，尤其是在沟通方面，才能赢得这些比赛，”巴恩斯说道。
在经历了8小时的飞行后，马刺队周一抵达“光明之城”后立即投入工作，直接从机场前往南泰尔进行训练，维克托·文班亚马(Victor Wembanyama)正是在这里以15岁神童的身份开始了他的法国联赛职业生涯。
“这里有很多令人兴奋的事情，”文班亚马在训练后告诉记者。“看到我所有的队友都在我曾经待过这么久的这个房间里，感觉有点超现实。就像两个世界的相遇。”
在第二节初落后13分之后，迈阿密将马刺队（19胜22负）的得分限制在该节仅11分，然后在第三节以46-27的比分胜过他们，并在第四节最多领先27分。
马刺是否有罪于展望巴黎之行？代理主教练米奇·约翰逊(Mitch Johnson)并不这么认为。
“这不是我们篮球的最佳状态，有些事情我们需要改进，我们也和一些非常优秀的球队比赛过，他们暴露了我们的一些问题，”约翰逊说。“我们期待着巴黎之行，但我们并没有轻视这支球队或（在两场输给）孟菲斯的比赛。”
因此，当步行者队周一享受了一些观光活动，包括参观埃菲尔铁塔时，马刺队则试图解决他们的许多问题，包括糟糕的防守，在三连败期间，他们场均失分132.3分。
“我们可以期待的是，这些都是可控的，”后卫德文·瓦塞尔谈到马刺的防守问题时说道。“我不认为我们输球仅仅是因为对手比我们强或者其他类似的原因。我们在转换进攻中被打爆了。我们被直接突破得分，迫使我们协防，导致他们像今天这样获得空位三分球。”
迈阿密的投篮命中率为52.6%，其中三分球命中率为54.5%（33投18中）。
“我们在进攻回合结束时出现了一些失误，这很令人沮丧，当你防守了17秒，然后沟通出现问题，有人空切，或者有人睡着了，失去了对细节的关注，诸如此类，”约翰逊说道。
对马刺有利的一件事是，由于文班亚马，他们在巴黎将拥有球迷的支持，他在对阵热火的比赛中得到21分和10个篮板。
“老实说，这将是一场对我们不利的巨大客场，”印第安纳步行者队后卫安德鲁·内姆哈德(Andrew Nembhard)说道。
由于托尼·帕克(Tony Parker)的名人堂生涯，马刺长期以来与法国有着深厚的联系。鲍里斯·迪奥(Boris Diaw)是另一位在圣安东尼奥成名的法国球员，他帮助马刺赢得了2014年NBA总冠军，这是他们在蒂姆·邓肯(Tim Duncan)时代五个总冠军中的最后一个。
现在他们有了文班亚马，他在去年夏天输给美国队获得金牌后，帮助法国队在巴黎赢得了银牌。
“由于很多显而易见的原因，我们与法国有着悠久的历史。因此，我认为这只是另一个里程碑或机会，可能会加强这种联系，”约翰逊说。“对文班来说非常棒。显然，他刚刚参加完奥运会。”
文班亚马在他祖国将面临繁忙的一周。
“我肯定会享受这一周，无论我的日程安排有多紧张，”他说。“我将能够见到我的家人和朋友。”
但是解决球队的问题并击败步行者队是他的首要任务。
“胜利才是最重要的，所以我知道球队会为我创造条件，让我专注于这些比赛，而不被其他事情分心，”他说道。
约翰逊表示，为了重回胜轨，马刺必须专注于基本功，尤其是在防守端。杰里米·索汉(Jeremy Sochan)的预期回归应该会有所帮助，他因背伤缺席了过去五场比赛。
“当我们在半场落位时，我们的防守一直很好，但在那些时间段没有完成进攻的挫败感，（缺乏）成熟度是我们必须继续克服的，”他说。“当你与优秀的球队比赛时，你不能放弃罚球卡位。你不能在进攻时间还剩三秒时睡着。你不能不知道对方球员的特点，他是射手还是想突破的球员。当你领先10分时，你必须打好基本功，不要尝试做一些超出常规的事情。
“再说一遍，同样的事情，不要跳过步骤，打满48分钟扎实的基本功篮球。”
美联社对本报道有贡献。
Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro (14) drivers to the basket as San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025, in Miami.
San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) dunks over Miami Heat center Kel’el Ware (7) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025, in Miami.
San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) goes to the basket past Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (22) and forward Duncan Robinson (55) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
MIAMI, FLORIDA - JANUARY 19: Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat drives to the basket against the San Antonio Spurs during the second quarter of the game at Kaseya Center on January 19, 2025 in Miami, Florida.
点击查看原文：Spurs focus on business over pleasure in Paris
Spurs focus on business over pleasure in Paris
San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) talks with guard Chris Paul (3) and guard Devin Vassell (24) during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Miami Heat, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2025, in Miami.
MIAMI – Paris isn’t exactly a great setting for a team to solve its on-court problems, but the slumping Spurs believe they can pull it off.
“For the families, it’s a nice fun trip, but for us, it is still a work trip,” forward Harrison Barnes said.
The Louvre museum, Notre Dame cathedral and the Moulin Rouge cabaret are indeed tempting, but the Spurs also need to focus on basketball after the Heat shredded them 128-107 Sunday for their third loss in a row and sixth in the last seven games.
“It’s just a matter of really figuring out what we need to do, especially communication-wise to get these wins,” Barnes said.
The Spurs got to work immediately Monday after landing in the City of Light following their 8-hour flight, heading straight from the airport to a practice at Nanterre, where Victor Wembanyama began his professional career in the French League as a 15-year-old prodigy.
“There is a lot of excitement,” Wembanyama told reporters after practice. “It was even a bit surreal to see all my teammates in this room where I spent so much time. It’s like two worlds meeting.”
After trailing by 13 points early in the second quarter, Miami limited the Spurs (19-22) to just 11 points in that period before outscoring them 46-27 in the third and leading by as many as 27 points in the fourth.
Were the Spurs guilty of looking ahead to Paris? Acting head coach Mitch Johnson didn’t think so.
“This hasn’t been our best stretch of basketball and there are some things we need to shore up, and we’ve played some really good teams and they’ve exposed some things," Johnson said. “We are looking forward to Paris, but we didn’t overlook this team or (in the two losses to) Memphis.”
So while the Pacers enjoyed some sightseeing Monday that included a visit to the Eiffel Tower, the Spurs tried to iron out their many wrinkles, including a porous defense that has given up an average of 132.3 points during the three-game skid.
“The thing we can look forward to is they’re all controllable,” guard Devin Vassell said of the Spurs’ defensive issues. “I don’t think we’re losing and it’s just like the teams are better than us or nothing like that. We’ve been getting killed in transition. We’ve been getting killed off of straight line drives, causing us to help, causing them to have open threes like they did today.”
Miami shot 52.6% from the field, including 54.5% (18 of 33) from 3-point range.
“We had some breakdowns at the end of the possessions, which is frustrating when you guard for 17 seconds and then communication breaks down, someone goes back door or someone falls asleep, loses attention to detail, something like that,” Johnson said.
One thing working in the Spurs’ favor is that they will have the fans behind them in Paris thanks to Wembanyama, who had 21 points and 10 rebounds against the Heat.
“It’s going to be a big crowd against us, honestly,” Indiana guard Andrew Nembhard said.
The Spurs have long enjoyed deep ties to France thanks to Tony Parker’s Hall of Fame career. Boris Diaw was another French player who gained fame in San Antonio while helping the Spurs win the 2014 NBA title, the last of their five championships during the Tim Duncan era.
Now they have Wembanyama, who helped France win a silver medal in Paris last summer after falling to Team USA in the gold medal game.
“We have a long history with France for obvious reasons in many ways. So, it’s just another milestone or opportunity, I think, to probably strengthen that bond or connection,” Johnson said. “Very cool for Vic. Obviously, he just got done in the Olympics as well.”
Wembanyama faces a busy week in his home country.
“I’m going to enjoy this week for sure, regardless of how intense my schedule is going to be,” he said. “I’m going to be able to see my family and my friends.”
But solving the team’s problems and beating the Pacers is his No. 1 priority.
“Winning is all that matters, so I know they organization is going to put me in the conditions to lock in on these games and not be distracted by everything,” he said.
To get back on the winning track, Johnson said the Spurs must focus on the fundamentals, especially on the defensive end. The expected return of Jeremy Sochan, who has missed the last five games with a back injury, should help in that regard.
“Our defense has been pretty good in the half court when we’ve gotten set, but the frustration of not finishing plays in those stretches, the (lack of) maturity is something we have to continue to combat,” he said. "When you play good teams, you can’t give up free throw block outs. You can’t fall asleep with three seconds on the shot clock. You can’t not know personnel, if it’s a shooter or a guy that wants to turn the corner. When you’re up 10 points you have to be fundamental and don’t try to do something that’s out of the box.
“Just again, same stuff, not skipping steps and playing 48 minutes of solid fundamental basketball.”
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
By Tom Orsborn, Staff writer, via San Antonio Express-News