By Devon Birdsong | Pounding The Rock (PtR), 2025-03-21 15:00:00
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。
当伤病遇上渎职，马刺与76人狭路相逢
许多年前的一个冬日下午，我倒车撞上了一根柱子。
那天，我前往当地一家奥特莱斯商场上班，运气好，找到一个绝佳的停车位。通常，由于这家商场非常受欢迎，我不得不把车停在离工作地点很远的地方。连续几个月都是如此，我不再奢望能找到更近的停车位。然而，那天我上班迟到了，为了赶时间，我异想天开地把车开到了停车场的前面。
果不其然，在停车场狭窄且几乎隐蔽的前方角落里，我发现了一个空位。
我立刻把车开了进去，心里想着，车位边缘的路沿弯曲的形状让停车变得有些棘手。只有小型汽车才能舒适地停进去。更麻烦的是，在突出的路沿边缘，立着一根曾经是灯柱的圆柱形混凝土底座，迫使任何想要进入这个车位的人都必须从一个角度进入。这个角度很小，但如果你试图不这样做直接开进去，几乎肯定会撞到混凝土底座。
几个小时后，在冬日昏暗的傍晚，我疲惫地瘫坐在座位上。恐怕圣诞节并不会激发人们最好的一面，我只想尽快离开这个鬼地方。太想离开了，以至于在我疲惫的状态下，我完全忘记了那根旧灯柱的残骸（它太矮了，在后视镜里根本看不到），踩下油门倒车，随之而来的是令人作呕的撞击声。
就这样，我新买的车遭受了第一次损伤。尾灯很容易更换。然而，部分被压碎的保险杠，在车辆的整个寿命期内都保持着受损的状态。
我怎么会这么愚蠢？这么倒霉？这么粗心大意？
我一边没完没了地咒骂着，一边更小心地倒车，避免再次撞到混凝土障碍物。我继续在心里责备自己，然后把车开到停车场更远的一段，那里更开阔（而且光线更好），以便更全面地评估损失。
我刚开始给被毁坏的车尾拍照，就听到附近高速公路入口处传来连续不断的喇叭声。
一辆庞大的黑色福特F-450以超过限速的速度尖叫着驶入停车场，在拥挤的假日停车场里发现一个空位，径直朝它冲去。
混凝土的特性就是，它确实能很好地融入混凝土的背景中。尤其是在黑暗中。尤其是在高速行驶时。
我几乎能听到卡尔·奥尔夫(Carl Orff)的《布兰诗歌》中命运女神的旋律在我的脑海中回响，因为这辆卡车正冲向空位。在那样的距离上，我只能眼睁睁地看着。我看到尾灯突然变成红色——听到超大型车辆徒劳地刹车发出的尖叫声——然后是撞击。
其实也没那么可怕。实际上，卡车撞到柱子底座时，时速可能只有10英里。但从声音判断，左前角肯定需要大修，而且安全气囊可能已经启动。
我在那里逗留了几分钟，看着车里的人出来，路人跑过去查看他们的情况。每个人似乎都没事。
然后我坐进我那辆有瑕疵的车里，驶出停车场，带着一种好笑的笑容。“意外发生在任何人身上，”我心想。“但没有什么比别人的不幸更能让你对自己感觉好一些了。”
而这，本质上就是我今天这场比赛的前瞻。
尽管马刺队伤兵满营，他们的两位最佳球员都将因伤缺席本赛季剩余的比赛，但这并不是他们自己造成的烂摊子。坏事降临在了 他们 身上。
另一方面，76人队目前正被迫躺在他们自己造成的化脓的床上。在与乔尔·恩比德(Joel Embiid)和保罗·乔治(Paul George)签订了不明智的顶薪合同后，这个赛季的走向几乎与球迷和管理层的期望背道而驰。
再加上有前途的新秀（也是我选秀时的最爱）贾里德·麦凯恩(Jared McCain)的赛季报销，76人队的赛季几乎已经结束。
因此，他们似乎已经决定缴械投降，彻底摆烂，试图通过将他们阵容中每一个有像样贡献的球员都列入即将发布的伤病报告来保护他们的选秀顺位。
马刺队的球迷甚至无法享受到朗尼·沃克(Lonnie Walker IV)回家比赛的乐趣，因为他似乎注定也要穿上便服。
必须完全披露的是，在目睹他们为迈克尔·欧文(Michael Irvin)职业生涯终结的背伤欢呼之后，我承认我对费城球队（和球迷）几乎终身怀有敌意，所以看到他们的衰落总是令人愉快的（不，谢天谢地，我也不是牛仔队的球迷）。
为此，我希望马刺队能痛扁任何代表费城出战的球员，如果他们能凑够首发五虎的话。
在兴高采烈地战胜尼克斯队之后，我希望马穆今晚能得到五十分。这种懦弱行为不能容忍！早上七点…不，晚上七点，用手枪决斗！
费城76人队 vs. 圣安东尼奥马刺队
2025年3月21日 | 中部时间晚上7:00
观看：FanDuel Sports Network Southwest/NBA TV | 收听：WOAI (1200 AM)
马刺队伤病： 维克托·文班亚马(Victor Wembanyama) - 缺席（沉睡的野兽），达龙·福克斯(DeAaron Fox) - 缺席（手部），查尔斯·贝西(Charles Bassey) - 缺席（膝盖）
76人队伤病： 阿德姆·博纳(Adem Bona) - 缺席（脚踝），安德烈·德拉蒙德(Andre Drummond) - 缺席（脚趾），凯尔·洛瑞(Kyle Lowry) - 缺席（臀部），凯利·乌布雷(Kelly Oubre Jr.) - 缺席（膝盖），朗尼·沃克 - 缺席（脑震荡），泰瑞斯·马克西(Tyrese Maxey) - 缺席（背部），保罗·乔治（膝盖），乔尔·恩比德 - 缺席（碳化），埃里克·戈登(Eric Gordon) - 缺席（手腕），贾里德·麦凯恩 - 缺席（膝盖）
如需了解76人队球迷的视角，请访问Liberty Ballers。
PtR的比赛讨论帖将在今晚发布，供那些想在比赛中聊天的人使用。您也可以通过 PtR的Twitter账号 关注比赛动态。
点击查看原文：Game Preview: San Antonio Spurs vs. Philadelphia 76ers
Game Preview: San Antonio Spurs vs. Philadelphia 76ers
The Spurs and Sixers face off as injury meets malfeasance
One winter afternoon, many years ago, I backed into a pole.
On my way to work at the hellish confines of a local outlet mall, I lucked into an excellent parking space. Normally, due to the popularity of said mall, I had to park a long way away from my workplace. Having been at it for several months, I no longer looked for closer parking. However, on this occasion, I had been running late, so in a harebrained attempt to reduce that deficit I drove to the front of the lot.
Lo and behold, off in the narrow, almost hidden, front corner of the lot, I saw a vacant space.
I immediately whipped into it, noting mentally that the way the curb curled back around the edge of the space made it a tricky fit. Only a compact car really could have fit there comfortably. Making it even trickier was the cylindrical concrete base of what had once been a light pole located at the edge of the jutting curb, which forced anyone entering the space to do so from an angle. It was only a slight angle, but if you tried to pull in without doing so, you’d almost certainly make contact with the concrete base.
Hours later, in the early dark of winter, I slumped into my seat, dead on my feet. Christmas, I’m afraid, does not bring out the best in human beings, and I was ready to get the heck out of dodge. So ready, that in my weary state, I forgot completely about the remains of the former light pole (which sat just low enough not to be visible in the rear-view mirror), and threw my car into reverse to the symphony of a sickening crunch.
And so my newly purchased car sustained its first disfigurement. The tail-light was easily replaced. The partially crushed bumper, however, remained in its lesser state for the lifespan of the vehicle.
How could I have been so stupid? So unlucky? So thoughtless?
I swore endlessly as I reversed my car more carefully, avoiding yet another tilt with the concrete barrier. I continued to kick myself mentally as I pulled into a much more open (and better lit) section of the lot further down the row to more fully assess the damage.
No sooner had I started taking pictures of the ruinous rear end than I heard repeated honking from the nearby highway entrance.
A hulking, black Ford F-450 squealed into the lot above recommended speeds, and spotting the close, open space in a packed holiday lot, made a beeline straight for it.
The thing about concrete is that it really blends well into a background of concrete. Especially in the dark. And especially at higher speeds.
I could almost hear Carl Orff’s O Fortuna section of Carmina Burana playing in my head as the truck sprinted towards the empty space. At that distance, there was nothing to do but watch. I saw the tail lights blush a sudden red — heard the squealing of the oversized vehicle braking in vain — and then impact.
It wasn’t too terrible. In all reality, the truck was probably only going 10 mph by the time it hit the pole base. Based on the sound, though, the front left corner was going to need some serious work, and the airbags had probably activated.
I lingered for a few minutes to see the occupants get out, as bystanders ran over to check on them. Everyone seemed okay.
Then I got in my blemished ride and made my way out of the lot, smiling a bemused smile. “Accidents can happen to anyone”, I thought to myself. “But there’s nothing like someone else’s misfortune to make you feel better about yours.”
And that is, in essence, my preview for tonight’s game.
As hobbled as the Spurs are, with their best two players riding pine for the rest of the season, it’s not exactly a mess of their making. Bad things have happened to them.
The Sixers, on the other hand, are currently being forced to lay down on a festering bed of their own making. Having signed both Joel Embiid and Paul George to ill-advised max contracts, the season has gone just about the opposite of the way fans and the front office hoped it would.
Throw in a season-ending injury to promising rookie (and my draft favorite) Jared McCain, and the Sixers’ season is all but over.
As a result, they appear to have decided to throw in the towel and fully tank, attempting to protect their draft position by placing every decently contributing player on their roster on the upcoming injury report.
Spurs fans won’t even get to enjoy the homecoming of fan-favorite Lonnie Walker as he appears to be destined for street clothes as well.
In full disclosure I must admit an almost lifelong animosity for Philadelphia sports teams (and fans) after witnessing them cheer Michael Irvin’s career-ending back injury, so to witness their downfall is always a delight (No, I’m not a Cowboys fan either, thank goodness).
To that end, I hope the Spurs beat the snot out of whoever does take the court for Philadelphia, supposing they have enough players for a starting five.
Coming on the exuberant heels of a highly enjoyable victory over the Knicks, I hope Mamu goes for fifty points tonight. This cowardice will not stand! Pistols at dawn…er, 7pm!
Philadelphia 76ers at San Antonio Spurs
March 21st, 2025 | 7:00 CT
Watch: FanDuel Sports Network Southwest/NBA TV | Listen: WOAI (1200 AM)
Spurs Injuries: Victor Wembanyama - Out (Slumbering Beast), DeAaron Fox - Out (Hand), Charles Bassey - Out (Knee)
Sixers Injuries: Adem Bona - Out (Ankle), Andre Drummond - Out (Toe), Kyle Lowry - Out (Hip), Kelly Oubre Jr. - Out (Knee), Lonnie Walker IV - Out (Concussion), Tyrese Maxey - Out (Back), Paul George (Knee), Joel Embiid - Out (Carbonite), Eric Gordon - Out (Wrist), Jared McCain - Out (Knee)
For the Sixers’ fan’s perspective, please visit Liberty Ballers.
PtR’s Game thread will be up this evening for those who want to chat through the game. You can also follow along with the action through PtR’s Twitter feed.
By Devon Birdsong, via Pounding The Rock