By Tom Orsborn, Staff writer | San Antonio Express-News (SAEN), 2025-03-24 15:42:05
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。
圣安东尼奥马刺队前锋索汉(Jeremy Sochan)(10号)和队友凯尔登·约翰逊(Keldon Johnson)(0号)在2025年3月23日（周日）在多伦多举行的NBA篮球比赛下半场对阵多伦多猛龙队时庆祝得分。(Thomas Skrlj/The Canadian Press via AP)
底特律——一个月前，当马刺队的全明星中锋文班亚马(Victor Wembanyama)因血栓赛季报销时，代理主教练米奇·约翰逊(Mitch Johnson)确保球队的其他成员明白，他们仍将被要求保持高标准。
一周前，前全明星后卫达龙·福克斯(De’Aaron Fox)因手指手术赛季报销，也没有改变这一点。
在过去的七场比赛中赢下五场，包括最近的三连胜，很明显，马刺队并没有自怨自艾，而是希望以一个好的姿态结束这个赛季。
“我们只是在努力继续发展我们的特点，打出我们已经讨论并承诺的比赛风格，”约翰逊说。“无论我们和谁比赛，无论谁能上场，或者无论赛季进行到什么阶段，能够做到这一点都很重要。无论情况如何，这都是我们努力坚持的东西。”
球员们显然赞同这种做法。
“标准是一样的，”马刺队前锋德文·瓦塞尔(Devin Vassell)说。“我们必须保持竞争力。我们每场比赛都全力争胜，这始终是我们的目标。”
马刺队（31胜39负）周一抵达底特律，此前他们刚刚以123-89的比分大胜人手不足的多伦多猛龙队多伦多猛龙队，瓦塞尔表现出色，仅用三节时间就以14投11中的高效命中率拿下25分。
如果马刺队在周二晚上击败活塞队，活塞队目前战绩为40胜32负，曾在2月21日在奥斯汀以125-110击败过马刺队，那么他们将追平本赛季的最佳连胜纪录，即11月份取得的四连胜，当时他们还在适应主教练格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)在本赛季开始仅仅五场比赛后因轻微中风而离队的情况。
在失去预计将完全康复并可能在下赛季回归的波波维奇，文班亚马，以及2月3日从萨克拉门托通过一笔重磅三方交易得到的福克斯之后，马刺队仍然坚持争取胜利，这让约翰逊感到非常高兴。
自从失去文班亚马后，马刺队的战绩为8胜10负，而没有福克斯的情况下，战绩为4胜2负。
“这个联盟不在乎谁在阵容中，谁能上场，或者战绩如何，”约翰逊说。“我们有一些球员正在影响胜利，或者正在学习如何影响胜利。而且，再说一次，这将从现在到永远都很有价值。所以，只要我们能把这种东西收集起来，在这方面成长，并且更加一致，好事情就会发生。”
前锋朱利安·尚帕尼(Julian Champagnie)在对阵猛龙队的比赛中替补出场，三分球6投4中，得到20分。对于马刺队在失去文班亚马和福克斯之后所做的事情，他耸了耸肩，认为这没有什么特别之处。
“老实说，这只是这个职业的一部分，”尚帕尼在谈到克服逆境时说。“这只是保持专业，随时准备好在被点到名字时挺身而出。”
2025年3月23日，周日，在多伦多举行的NBA篮球比赛上半场，圣安东尼奥马刺队前锋尚帕尼(30号)运球对抗多伦多猛龙队中锋科林·卡斯尔顿（左），前锋加莱特·坦普尔(Garrett Temple)(17号)和前锋乔纳森·莫格博（右）。 (Thomas Skrlj/The Canadian Press via AP)
约翰逊强调，对马刺队来说，坚持波波维奇的信念非常重要，即球员或球队现在所做的一切都应该考虑到这将在未来对他们有所帮助。
“我特别清楚的是，对于我们的球队来说，波波和教练组过去经常谈论我们现在所做的事情将会带来胜利，”约翰逊说。“它可能不会在明天带来胜利，也可能不会在下个月带来胜利，但它会在某个时候带来胜利，你必须相信这一点。只要那是你的北极星和指路明灯，它通常就能照顾好自己。”
在多伦多，马刺队在第一节就取得了36-16的领先优势，将对手的10次失误转化为18分。马刺队迫使对手出现了8次失误，克里斯·保罗(Chris Paul)，布雷克·韦斯利(Blake Wesley)和尚帕尼各抢断了两次。
马刺队在第一节也有5次盖帽，这是自2003年2月25日对阵迈阿密的第三节比赛以来，球队首次在一个单节中完成8次抢断和5次盖帽。
约翰逊说，第一节凶猛的“防守活力”为比赛定下了基调，马刺队最终以30-9的攻势结束了第一节。
“这是我们联系最紧密的一次，也是我们从替补席上听到的交流最多的一次，”约翰逊说。“只是球员们在处理动作、掩护以及场上发生的事情。这需要场上的五名球员来解决问题，我认为今晚他们做得非常出色。”
马刺队在上半场以62-40领先，第二节最多时曾领先27分。他们最终利用多伦多队的22次失误得到了30分。多伦多队遭遇四连败，战绩下滑至24胜47负，布兰登·英格拉姆(Brandon Ingram)和格雷迪·迪克(Gradey Dick)因伤缺阵，雅各布·珀尔特尔(Jakob Poeltl)和伊曼纽尔·奎克利(Immanuel Quickly)轮休。
在马刺队的连胜过程中，一个共同点是他们的防守努力，这帮助他们将对手的平均得分限制在每场比赛仅104.6分。
“我认为这只是防守，只是出去努力拼搏，积极主动，抢断，抢断，等等，”当被问及三场胜利的共同点时，尚帕尼说。
当被问到同样的问题时，约翰逊指出了球队在整个比赛中的一致性。
“这可能是我们三场比赛中打得最好的比赛，我们在48分钟内比其他球队打得更加稳定，”约翰逊说。“队员们应该为此感到高兴。这很艰难。NBA比赛很漫长，能够在48分钟内保持一致性是我们追求的标准。最近他们在这方面做得非常好。”
San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle, left, plays the ball against Toronto Raptors guard Jamal Shead (23) during the first half of NBA basketball game action in Toronto, Sunday, March 23, 2025. (Thomas Skrlj/The Canadian Press via AP)
San Antonio Spurs guard Devin Vassell, front left, lays up the ball against Toronto Raptors center Orlando Robinson (21) and forward Jamison Battle (77) during the first half of NBA basketball game action in Toronto, Sunday, March 23, 2025. (Thomas Skrlj/The Canadian Press via AP)
San Antonio Spurs forward Sandro Mamukelashvili (54) plays the ball against Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes (4) during the second half of NBA basketball game action in Toronto, Sunday, March 23, 2025. (Thomas Skrlj/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes, left, defends against San Antonio Spurs guard Chris Paul (3) during the second half of NBA basketball game action in Toronto, Sunday, March 23, 2025. (Thomas Skrlj/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes (4) passes the ball while under pressure from San Antonio Spurs guard Chris Paul, front left, during the second half of NBA basketball game action in Toronto, Sunday, March 23, 2025. (Thomas Skrlj/The Canadian Press via AP)
San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan (10) plays the ball against Toronto Raptors guard Jamal Shead (23) during the first half of NBA basketball game action in Toronto, Sunday, March 23, 2025. (Thomas Skrlj/The Canadian Press via AP)
San Antonio Spurs guard Devin Vassell, front left, lays up the ball against Toronto Raptors center Orlando Robinson (21) and forward Jamison Battle (77) during the first half of NBA basketball game action in Toronto, Sunday, March 23, 2025. (Thomas Skrlj/The Canadian Press via AP)
Devin Vassell (24), de los Spurs de San Antonio, se alista a encestar frente a Orlando Robinson (21) y Jamison Battle (77), de los Raptors de Toronto, durante la primera mitad del juego de baloncesto de la NBA, el domingo 23 de marzo de 2025, en Toronto. (Thomas Skrlj/The Canadian Press vía AP)
San Antonio Spurs guard Blake Wesley (14) dunks against the Toronto Raptors during the first half of NBA basketball game action in Toronto, Sunday, March 23, 2025. (Thomas Skrlj/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes (4) defends against San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle, left, during the first half of NBA basketball game action in Toronto, Sunday, March 23, 2025. (Thomas Skrlj/The Canadian Press via AP)
San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle, left, plays the ball against Toronto Raptors guard Jamal Shead (23) during the first half of NBA basketball game action in Toronto, Sunday, March 23, 2025. (Thomas Skrlj/The Canadian Press via AP)
San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) drives the net against Toronto Raptors center Colin Castleton (11) during the first half of NBA basketball game action in Toronto, Sunday, March 23, 2025. (Thomas Skrlj/The Canadian Press via AP)
San Antonio Spurs guard Devin Vassell, left, looks to shoo against Toronto Raptors guard Ochai Agbaji, right, during the first half of NBA basketball game action in Toronto, Sunday, March 23, 2025. (Thomas Skrlj/The Canadian Press via AP)
点击查看原文：Spurs keep standards high after losing stars
Spurs keep standards high after losing stars
San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan (10) and teammate Keldon Johnson (0) celebrate after a point during the second half of NBA basketball game action against the Toronto Raptors in Toronto, Sunday, March 23, 2025. (Thomas Skrlj/The Canadian Press via AP)
DETROIT – When the Spurs lost All-Star center Victor Wembanyama for the season to a blood clot a month ago, acting head coach Mitch Johnson made sure the rest of the team understood it would continue to be held to a high standard.
The loss of former All-Star guard De’Aaron Fox for the season to finger surgery a week ago didn’t change things.
With wins in five of their last seven games, including the last three in a row, it’s clear the Spurs aren’t feeling sorry for themselves and want to close out the season on a high note.
“We’re just trying to continue to grow our identity and play the style of play we’ve talked about and say we’re committing to,” Johnson said. “It’s been important to be able to do that no matter who we’re playing or who’s available for us or what part of the season it’s been. That’s something we’ve tried to anchor to regardless of the circumstances.”
SPURS AT PISTONS: How to watch the game, notable stats, player news
The players are clearly on board with the approach.
“The standards are the same,” Spurs forward Devin Vassell said. “We got to keep being competitive. We’re playing every game to win, and that’s always been our M.O.”
The Spurs (31-39) arrived in Detroit on Monday fresh off a 123-89 rout of undermanned Toronto powered by Vassell’s 25 points on an efficient 11 of 14 in just three quarters of work.
If the Spurs beat the Pistons, who are 40-32 and defeated the Spurs 125-110 Feb. 21 in Austin, on Tuesday night they will match their season-best winning streak of four games that came in November when they were still coming to grips with the loss of coach Gregg Popovich to a mild stroke just five games into the season.
That the Spurs continue to play to win after losing Popovich, who is expected to make a full recovery and could return next season; Wembanyama; and Fox, who they acquired Feb. 3 from Sacramento in a blockbuster three-team trade, has Johnson beaming.
The Spurs are 8-10 since losing Wembanyama and 4-2 without Fox.
“This league doesn’t care who’s in the lineup or who’s available or what the record is,” Johnson said. “And we have some guys that are impacting winning, or learning what it takes to impact winning. And, again, that will be valuable from now until forever. So, as long as we can bottle that up, grow in that regard and be more consistent with it, good things will come.”
Forward Julian Champagnie, who hit 4 of 6 from 3-point range on his way to 20 points off the bench against the Raptors, shrugged at the notion the Spurs are doing anything out of the ordinary after losing Wembanyama and Fox.
“Honestly and truly, that’s a part of this profession,” Champagnie said of fighting through adversity. “It’s just being professional and being ready for when your name is called.”
San Antonio Spurs forward Julian Champagnie (30) drives the ball against Toronto Raptors center Colin Castleton, left, forward Garrett Temple (17) and forward Jonathan Mogbo, right, during the first half of NBA basketball game action in Toronto, Sunday, March 23, 2025. (Thomas Skrlj/The Canadian Press via AP)
Johnson stressed it’s important for the Spurs to adhere to Popovich’s belief that everything a player or a team does in the present moment should be done with the thought t will help them in the future.
“I know specifically with our team, Pop and the staff used to talk a lot about what we were doing now is going to produce wins,” Johnson said. “It may not produce a win tomorrow, it may not produce a win next month, but it’s going to produce wins at some point, and you have to trust in that. As long as that’s your north star and guiding light, it usually can take care of itself.”
In Toronto, the Spurs jumped out to a 36-16 lead in the first quarter after converting 10 turnovers into 18 points. The Spurs forced eight of those turnovers, with Chris Paul, Blake Wesley and Champagnie each recording two steals.
The Spurs also had five blocks in the first period, marking the first time the club had eight steals and five blocks in a quarter since Feb. 25, 2003 in the third period against Miami.
Johnson said that fierce “defensive activity” in the first period, which ended with the Spurs on a 30-9 run, set the tone.
“It was the most connected we’ve been, the most communication we’ve heard from the bench,” Johnson said. “Just guys navigating actions, screens, things that were happening on the court. It has to take those five guys on the court to figure things out, and I thought tonight they were absolutely tremendous.”
The Spurs led 62-40 at halftime after leading by as many as 27 in the second quarter. They finished with 30 points off of 22 turnovers by Toronto, which lost its fourth in a row to drop to 24-47 and were without Brandon Ingram and Gradey Dick because of injuries and Jakob Poeltl and Immanuel Quickly due to rest.
A common thread throughout the winning streak for the Spurs has been their defensive effort, which has helped them hold their opponents to an average of just 104.6 points per game.
“I think it’s just been the defense, just going out there and playing hard, being active, deflection, steals, whatever it may be,” Champagnie said when asked what the common thread was in the three wins.
Asked the same question, Johnson pointed to the team’s consistency throughout the games.
“It is probably three of our best games of playing as consistent as we can for more of the 48 minutes than the other team,” Johnson said. “The guys get the credit for that. It’s tough. NBA games are long and to be able to string together consistency for 48 minutes is the standard we’re in pursuit of. They’ve done a really good job recently of executing that.”
By Tom Orsborn, Staff writer, via San Antonio Express-News
