🎧 Spurs Insider️ 播客: 马穆和卡斯尔带来值得庆祝的理由

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Spurs Insider Podcast, 2025-03-26 22:08:00

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。

专栏作家迈克·芬格(Mike Finger)和随队记者杰夫·麦克唐纳(Jeff McDonald)以及汤姆·奥斯本(Tom Orsborn)讨论了马刺队在一个艰难赛季接近尾声时找到的快乐时刻，这要归功于桑德罗·马穆克拉什维利(Sandro Mamukelashvili)，斯蒂芬·卡斯尔(Stephon Castle)和凯尔登·约翰逊(Keldon Johnson)。

建议阅读：

马穆风味：马穆克拉什维利生涯之夜是马刺传奇

在失去两位球星后，马刺保持高标准

瓦塞尔拿下25分，马刺取得三连胜

以下是播客的文字记录：

迈克·芬格：
来自北美顶级机密地点的安全网络。这是马刺内幕三月突围版。我是你们的主持人迈克·芬格，和往常一样，与我一起的是《快报新闻体育》的马刺随队记者。这是一波突袭，是马刺的一波突袭。两位随队记者杰夫·麦克唐纳和汤姆·奥斯本，后者身处美国中西部某个秘密地点，报道着NBA最火爆的球队之一，在穿越边境后。我想汤姆你回来的时候没发生什么意外吧。

汤姆·奥斯本：
是的，没有，我顺利回来了。他们没有，你知道，搜查我，搜查我的手机什么的，一切都好。

迈克·芬格：
那就好。你肯定不希望他们搜查你的手机，里面有那么多东西。你正在报道一支已经取得三连胜的球队，这是很久以来的第一次。当你回顾过去几年，就像我一直在读到的，NBA新闻界做了一些有趣的工作，关于三月是NBA赛程中最丑陋的部分，球队真正开始摆烂，超级球星开始轮休。我认为这是过去四年中第三次你的家乡球队打出他们一些最好的篮球。我不知道这是否以任何方式相关。这支球队往往即使在关键时刻也能坚持下去，坚持不懈，过去一周左右已经有了证据，不是吗？

汤姆·奥斯本：
是的，毫无疑问，你知道，他们打得更好了。德文·瓦塞尔(Devin Vassell)这个月表现出色。凯尔登·约翰逊(Keldon Johnson)很好地掌控着球队，你知道，正如他前几天所说，他们保持着高标准。这就是他们的座右铭，他们的口头禅。但即便如此，你知道，他们击败了没有布伦森的尼克斯，击败了76人，以这种方式击败了阵容不整的猛龙。所以他们今晚对阵活塞，接下来是对阵骑士，凯尔特人，勇士，掘金，骑士，你知道，所以这波突围可能会走下坡路。

迈克·芬格：
可能会变得很难看。而且这是一年中的这个时候，当球迷开始关注选秀时，你知道，新秀们在NCAA的三月疯狂中比赛。很多球迷爱上了他们可能会得到的新秀。这是一年中的这个时候，马刺的每一场胜利都伴随着一些不利因素，因为它在一定程度上损害了乐透抽签的几率。今年马刺可能，无论他们接下来输多少比赛，而且可能会有很多失利。我不认为他们会达到第七好的乐透抽签情况。他们不会以联盟中第七差的战绩之一结束比赛。他们欠亚特兰大的选秀权可能不会进入前十。他们都有可能进入乐透抽签，并且幸运地进入前四。但这又是另一个例子，杰夫，就是顺其自然，让胜利顺其自然，让失败顺其自然，不要太执着于百分比。

杰夫·麦克唐纳：
哦，抱歉，我没注意听。我正在预订我夏季的假期。不，我只是开玩笑。是的，这很有趣。我认为你仍然希望赢得比赛。我的意思是，就像你说的，你真的不会提高你的乐透抽签几率那么多。我想你可以通过更多的失利来避免在排名中上升，但赢得你应该赢得的比赛更有趣，但就像你们提到的，马刺队应该赢得的比赛已经不多了。在4月6日对阵波特兰之前，他们没有对阵另一支胜率低于500的球队，而且那支波特兰队打得还不错。他们只剩下两场对阵胜率低于500的球队的比赛了。他们以在多伦多的主场比赛结束，那是常规赛的最后一场比赛，其余的比赛大多是对阵那些为季后赛席位而战的强队，从现在开始，胜利将很难获得。所以你可能不必担心，你知道，所谓的摆烂。你只需要出去比赛，接受你的挫折，接受你的乐透签位，然后看看你能用它做什么。

汤姆·奥斯本：
即便如此。

迈克·芬格：
即便如此，在难以取得胜利的情况下，在可能积累失败的情况下。你是否从你找到的地方获得快乐，在NBA球馆里是否有可能比我们一周前看到的更多的快乐。不幸的是，我们的播客录制发生在可能整个赛季的亮点之后这么长时间，因为现在看来就像古代历史一样。但我们在霜冻银行中心见证了一个多么美好的夜晚。NBA历史上最伟大的表演之一。不，也许是篮球历史上最伟大的表演之一，可以追溯到内史密斯，在那里我们看到一位真正的艺术家，一位真正的技艺大师，做了一些NBA球员从未做过的事情。我当然说的是桑德罗·马穆克拉什维利(Sandro Mamukelashvili)在19分钟内得到34分，带领马刺战胜纽约尼克斯。杰夫，你和我一样会记住这一天吗。你的孙子们会听到关于这个夜晚的故事吗？亲身见证它对你来说意味着什么？

杰夫·麦克唐纳：
你知道，你开玩笑什么的，但我并没有真的。我很难想到，你知道，我不知道你是否了解我，但我已经做了很长时间了。我很难想到另一个像这样似乎凭空出现的马刺队的表现。我想有人指出，朗尼·沃克(Lonnie Walker)那年对阵休斯顿的比赛，但他得了大约22分，只是在第四节表现出色。桑德罗得了34分，第一节和第三节都没有上场。他基本上只用了两节，部分两节就做到了这一点。而且Flavor Flave在观众席上，因为他把他带到那里。我们当时坐在媒体餐厅里，一位马刺公关人员走过来说，嘿，只是想让你们知道Flavor Flave今晚在这里。我们说，为什么Flavor Flave在这里？作为桑德罗的客人。是啊，为什么Flavor Flave在这里？哦，桑德罗邀请了他。桑德罗是怎么认识Flavor Flave的？引发了很多问题。但也认识Flavor Flave。杰夫，当解释清楚的时候，我就坐在那里，当提到Flavor Flave是桑德罗今晚的客人时。这同时意味着两件事。这太疯狂了，而且这完全说得通，因为桑德罗就是那样的人。多年来，我们在这个播客上谈论了很多关于有趣的人和我们喜欢交谈的更衣室的人。我没有夸大其词。我不是因为他刚得了34分才这么说。在NBA更衣室里，或者说我在生活中遇到的人中，从来没有像桑德罗·马穆克拉什维利(Sandro Mamukelashvili)这样的人。你和那个人交谈，他来自格鲁吉亚，不是美国佐治亚州，而是格鲁吉亚共和国。他当然认识Flavor Flave。如果Flavor Flave遇到他，当然会喜欢桑德罗。那个人就是那种最热情乐观，热爱乐趣的人。看到他得意洋洋，杰夫在《快报新闻》的印刷版，expressnews.com，马刺国度通讯等等上都很好地捕捉到了这一点。桑德罗雄辩地谈论了这对他的意义，并感谢视频工作人员和器材管理员以及每个人为这次表演所做的一切。在一个小时之后，他站在他的更衣室里，环顾四周，没有特别对谁说，那是什么，杰夫，就像我仍然不相信这件事，或者这到底是怎么发生的？在这个行业中，真的很难真诚地为某人感到高兴，我真的为那个人感到高兴。因为他很享受，他也应该如此。

汤姆·奥斯本：
然后在下一场比赛中，他一分未得。当然。所以他是这样认识Flavor Flave的，他在拉斯维加斯的夏季联赛中认识了Flavor Flave。在拉斯维加斯的夏季联赛中有很多新秀。无名小卒。桑德罗没有被选中，我想。如果他被选中了，那也是一个中等水平的第二轮秀。你知道，他在拉斯维加斯的人群中基本上是个无名小卒。所以就像你说的，是的，当然他认识Flavor Flave，当然他们是朋友。

迈克·芬格：
是的。而且这是一种真正的友谊。而且在那里，就像在那个走廊里一样，我已经做了很长时间了。你，我和克里斯·保罗，汤姆。自从这个地方开放以来，22年来，我一直沿着那条走廊走到马刺更衣室外面的采访室，听到Flavor Flave在那附近尖叫的那种超现实的感觉。我想他这么做是因为我在这里。我想他是为我做的。就像我们从20世纪90年代初开始就在唱片和广播电台等上面听到的声音一样。就像我在哪里？这是什么生活，听到Flavor Flave谈论桑德罗·马穆克拉什维利(Sandro Mamukelashvili)得了34分，因为他在那里。我永远不会忘记那个夜晚。在一个对当地球队来说，很多事情都分崩离析的赛季里。参加其中一些无关紧要的比赛，见证并沉浸在其中是很特别的。

杰夫·麦克唐纳：
我不打算撒谎。你可以证实这一点。那天晚上我来的时候心情不好。我那天晚上对我的工作没有一个很好的态度。我想就像是又一场30分的大屠杀。没有什么好看的。没什么好写的，然后突然之间，你有了有史以来最有趣的事情可以写。所以让它成为，我知道你最近很喜欢给年轻的体育记者提建议。我认为这是一个很好的建议。你永远不知道故事会在什么时候出现。所以你必须做好准备去写那个故事。即使在那些看起来只是另一场平淡无奇，可预测的夜晚。也让Vanilla Ice也来吧。就像把所有90年代的嘻哈偶像都带来。我很抱歉。上好一课。我知道你是一个来自乡村的白人，但你不能把Vanilla Ice和Flavor Flave放在同一个句子里。拜托，伙计。你只是说Vanilla。好吧，你知道，他们都是。拜托。拜托。

汤姆·奥斯本：
对于马穆来说也是如此。想想他来到这里后所创造的精彩瞬间和欢乐。去年他的花式投篮令人难以置信。那是一个有趣的故事。那家伙是一位令人难以置信的花式投篮艺术家。然后在圣诞节期间，在他们去纽约的圣诞旅行中，他举办了一场非常棒的晚餐，在一家格鲁吉亚餐厅。然后他完成了世纪大劫案，策划了，你知道，执行了偷走斯蒂芬·卡斯尔(Stephon Castle) Wills的闹剧，这是一个好消息。然后是对阵尼克斯的这场比赛。我的意思是，那家伙真是太棒了。

迈克·芬格：
他太棒了。多年来，我们听到过很多关于朱·霍勒迪(Drew Holiday)的故事，他是个多么好的人。另一个在整个联盟中都备受欢迎的人。我们听到过很多关于他所做的事情的个人故事。他是一个真正的好人。我想我们在全明星赛前的波士顿，杰夫。我看到朱从凯尔特人队在TD花园的更衣室到客队更衣室走了很远很远的路，在赛后过来和桑德罗聊天，桑德罗在密尔沃基的时候是他队友，当时桑德罗还在成长。他是一个双向合同球员。朱是一名老将。赛后我问了桑德罗这件事，说朱过来真是太好了，他说，哦，朱是我的哥们。事实证明，朱·霍勒迪(Drew Holiday)是一个真正的好人，喜欢所有人。我相信你也会为很多人这样做。但是当朱·霍勒迪(Drew Holiday)作为密尔沃基雄鹿队的球员入选全明星时，桑德罗是一名双向合同球员。朱带着桑德罗一起去了全明星赛。这就是桑德罗对人们的影响。你知道，杰夫说，在所有去拉斯维加斯参加夏季联赛的球员中，桑德罗是如何成为Flavor Flave的朋友的？他就是对人们有那种影响。在朱·霍勒迪(Drew Holiday)的所有队友中，你如何选择桑德罗去参加全明星赛？他就是那样的人。就像汤姆说的，无论是策划这些“十一罗汉”式的对斯蒂芬·卡斯尔(Stephon Castle)的新秀恶作剧，还是花式投篮等等。他看起来只是真的让人觉得和他在一起很开心，当你在一支球队里的时候，我问过米奇这件事，在对阵尼克斯的比赛之后。当你在一支球队里输掉50场比赛，今年输掉60场比赛，可能超过45场。这可能是一种煎熬。你知道，你是否认为理所当然的是，你让一个让这一切不那么痛苦的人留在名单上。米奇特意强调说，这不仅仅是他的态度。他努力工作，你知道，他进来做他的工作。他不仅仅是一个爱开玩笑的人，他不是一个小丑。是的，当然，在工作场所拥有一种有感染力的态度是很棒的，我只是觉得他能有这样的高光时刻很酷。很高兴在播客上谈论这件事。

汤姆·奥斯本：
是的。是的，他一整年都在提供内容。

迈克·芬格：
提供内容。是的。

杰夫·麦克唐纳：
两年了。

迈克·芬格：
两年了。我的意思是，他几乎就像是在尽他所能让我们的工作更轻松。

杰夫·麦克唐纳：
是的。

迈克·芬格：
我们感谢你，桑德罗。为你高兴。还有什么其他内容吗？他并不是唯一一个带领他们取得三连胜的人。汤姆，斯蒂芬·卡斯尔(Stephon Castle)在不断成熟，他可能正在打，也可能没有在周二晚上进行的比赛中出场，这场比赛可能会在你的球员们听到这个播客之前进行。我认为他仍然对阵活塞的比赛存疑，但在铁福克斯缺席，维克多·文班亚马(Victor Wembanyama)缺席的情况下，斯蒂芬已经成为首选球员，并且他一直在进步，并利用给了他机会茁壮成长，这并非一帆风顺，但他已经显示出有潜力成为那样的人。

汤姆·奥斯本：
是的，是的。我知道这不重要，因为播客稍后才会发布，但他在投篮训练中看起来不错。我认为他会没事的。和他谈论了康涅狄格大学的事情。是的，是的，另一场比赛有14次助攻。你知道，你知道，他在高中时是一名控球后卫，那是他喜欢的位置，或者说一开始是这样，你知道，在马刺队选中他之后，但他对阵76人队时表现出了他的组织技巧，是的，每晚都有一些，你知道，每晚都有关于他的好故事，就像你说的，他继续学习，你知道，他从犯规麻烦中回来那天。你知道，他每晚都会遇到不同的事情。但他在对阵76人队时作为一名组织者真的很有指挥性，这很令人兴奋。

杰夫·麦克唐纳：
我知道这不是你最喜欢的话题，但我认为年度最佳新秀的竞争可能已经结束了。

迈克·芬格：
他也受益于叙事，我也认为NBA媒体，人们现在谈论这件事的方式就像是一个既定的结论。所有的赌博赔率都对他有利，而且我不认为有反对它的论点，我知道有一些像扎克·洛(Zach Lowe)这样的人站在那里，还有一些其他球员的支持者指出斯蒂芬·卡斯尔(Stephon Castle)在助攻失误方面并没有最有效率的赛季，而且他从三分线外的投篮命中率仍然低于30%。这是事实，但数据统计对他有利。杰夫说得对，我不喜欢谈论奖项。但我认为这几乎是一个既定的结论，我认为他也受益于今年这届新秀不是最强的。如果有一个像切特·霍姆格伦(Chet Holgren)那样显而易见的其他选择，他可能不会赢得这个奖项。但是，你知道，没有人真的在赢得这个奖项，这也导致了他。我现在没有这些数据，但他确实在新秀得分榜上领先，场均略高于14分。我认为这是多年来的最低水平。我现在没有这些数据，但如果他以场均14分领先新秀得分榜，大多数年份的领先新秀得分都会超过这个数字。你是对的，这不是像前一年或马刺队将拥有几个选秀权的那一届新秀。但他仍然是一个当之无愧的候选人，也是一个当之无愧的获胜者。我敢说这将是他未来六七八年中最糟糕的NBA赛季。他看起来像一个正在进步的人。几年后，他会回顾这件事，并意识到他在比赛的很多方面都取得了很大的进步。正如汤姆所说，他想成为一名控球后卫，他将在未来几年获得一些控球后卫的机会，但我认为马刺队非常喜欢他作为一名可以与铁福克斯并肩作战，与维克多·文班亚马(Victor Wembanyama)并肩作战的球员的方式，真正融入其中，防守很多回合，在他们需要他的时候承担进攻任务，但也融入其中，成为一名侧翼球员。

杰夫·麦克唐纳：
我们会继续看到斯蒂芬的东西。一旦他开发出可靠的跳投，我认为他会的。我甚至不是在说，但这今年是必要的。是的，我甚至不是在说三分球，那也很重要。但即使是稍微有点中距离投篮，也能让球队保持诚实。这样他就不必每次都冲到篮筐。这将是他的一大进步。

迈克·芬格：
是的。是的，是的。还有什么吗？我知道你可能想在某个时候谈论一些阴暗的事情，但实际上，你很了解我，但我想借此机会向凯尔登·约翰逊(Keldon Johnson)致敬。好的，很好。他一直在努力比赛，我的意思是，他总是这样做，但这是我最近在这段时间里注意到的一件事。他一直在努力比赛，虽然并不总是打得很好，但在这段时间里，很多时候他都打得很好。他总是一个，我的意思是，他是唯一一个，除去桑德罗和布莱克·韦斯利(Blake Wesley)那些必须全力以赴才能触及地板的人。我认为他是轮换阵容中唯一一个你可以说那个人不会浪费一秒钟上场时间的人。发动机永不停止。而且总是对他有利，虽然今年，特别是最近，对他有利的情况比过去更多。但我一直在看过去的几场比赛，我一直坐在平台上，你知道吗？我愿意要那个人。那个人，你知道，在地板上扑球，努力抢篮板，你知道，即使在他们被彻底击溃的比赛的最后，他仍然像头发着火一样打球。我愿意在任何时候都要那个人加入我的球队。当然，当然，当你经营一支NBA球队时，你必须考虑到价格标签和角色，但总的来说，我认为他可以为几乎任何球队带来一些东西。如果，所以我会随时要他加入我的球队。我对他的方式印象深刻，我想如果你想把它做成一个总体叙事，我认为他终于接受了成为第六人，成为一个板凳球员的想法，以及他可以从板凳席上做些什么，他如何影响替补出场的比赛以及他可以为球队带来的替补价值。他会告诉你，一开始做出这个改变很困难。他可能比去年这个时候阵容中的任何人都为马刺队首发了更多的比赛，当时他被要求永久替补。我不喜欢，你知道，马努·吉诺比利(Manu Ginobili)在他之前可能也不高兴。但他似乎已经接受了这个角色，而且他似乎已经找到了一种让他发挥作用的方法，你绝对可以看到一个适合他的位置以及他与这支球队未来的发展道路，以及当维克多·文班亚马(Victor Wembanyama)健康回归时，他如何与这群人融合，当所有人都健康，维克在那里时，你绝对可以看到凯尔登替补出场的角色。所以我认为这对他的发展来说是一个非常重要的阶段。

汤姆·奥斯本：
另一件事是，他似乎也不会浪费一秒钟的人生。你说得对。是的。是的。

迈克·芬格：
我在这里要承认一下这个播客。我们三个人所表现出的很多热情可能会被认为是假的。我们有点像是在玩过家家。我正在看那场比赛的结尾，尼克斯之后的比赛是什么？比赛很胶着，马刺队在最后时刻才取得胜利。76人队。76人队是一支糟糕的球队。而马刺队并不是一支伟大的球队。这些球队都没有考虑季后赛或附加赛的资格。如果你观看凯尔登·约翰逊(Keldon Johnson)在比赛最后五分钟以及整场比赛48分钟的表现，你会认为他们赢得了总冠军。他们赢得的每一次判罚，他们进的每一个球，76人队在最后几分钟的每一次失误，都是我很久以来在NBA球员身上看到的最真诚、最奔放、最令人震惊的热情。杰夫说得对，他就是那样的人。他不会停下来。我认为这不是假的。事实上，我知道这不是假的。他非常兴奋地击败了费城76人队，他们的战绩是23胜49负或其他什么。就是这样。这太特别了。你必须为此赞扬他，因为现在对联盟的一个主要批评，而且这是有效的，是三月份到场的球迷不一定能得到球队最好的产品，球员们最好的努力，从上到下，如果你在三月份到场，如果你在十月份到场，如果你在一年中的任何时候到场，你都会得到凯尔登·约翰逊(Keldon Johnson)能给你的最好的东西，而且我认为杰夫应该得到赞扬，你不应该认为这是理所当然的。这很棒。

杰夫·麦克唐纳：
是的，而且作为一个人，这让我希望，我最大的篮球愿望之一就是当马刺队再次变好并能打入季后赛时，凯尔登·约翰逊(Keldon Johnson)能在球队中。我同意。经历了这一切的糟糕经历和所有失利之后，他应该在他们再次获胜的时候在球队中。我认为如果他能够留在球队中，他的号码可能会悬挂在球馆上方。他们对历史地位的门槛并不高，他对凯尔登没有任何恶意，但他，你知道，而且谈到热情，我敢打赌桑德罗仍然有淤青，因为凯尔登在那场比赛结束时一直在击打他。他身上布满了红点。我的意思是凯尔登只是在捶打他。别往椅子上打。不要在这里扫兴，但总得有人来做。好吧。这并没有改变这样一个事实，如果马刺队再次达成交易，引进另一名球员，达到类似阿隆·福克斯水平的球员，甚至低于第三明星类型的球员，在这种情况下最引人注目的交易合同属于凯尔登·约翰逊(Keldon Johnson)。天啊，我们已经听过很多次了，你知道，可能不会发生。我知道。那是数学的一部分。从数学上讲，你是正确的。如果发生这种情况，那将是艰难的一天。是这样。我和你一样，作为一个试图讲述这支球队故事的人，就像我们三个人一样。就像你讲述一个更好的故事，如果凯尔登在身边。也许这是一个冷酷的生意。如果他们可以升级薪金上限的这一部分，就像他们摆脱了凯尔登的薪水，并得到一个更大的明星，一个更大的贡献者。我认为他们会这样做来赢得比赛。但我认为在像这样的赛季中花时间承认凯尔登对球队的意义是一件有价值的事情。我很高兴杰夫本周提到了这件事。

迈克·芬格：
杰夫，现在我们已经达到了这个高潮，你想以任何方式让我们情绪低落吗？

杰夫·麦克唐纳：
我从一开始就有点这么做了。我们对马刺队的突围大惊小怪，但他们只是击败了他们应该击败的球队，除了尼克斯队。

迈克·芬格：
是的。而且就像他们也输给了达拉斯的球队一样，他们也被夏洛特彻底击溃，我们现在还不能举行游行。他们今年剩下的时间可能不会再赢了，好吧。

汤姆·奥斯本：
他们可能不会赢。回到斯蒂芬·卡斯尔(Stephon Castle)的话题。我认为14分的场均得分具有误导性。你知道，自一月中旬以来，他的平均得分是18分，每场18分。正确。不，不。他今年有20多场比赛得分超过20分，包括一场33分的比赛。而且他一直在板凳和首发之间切换，而且，你知道，他和维克多一起打球。所以我认为他很容易获得更高的平均得分，他的上限比这高得多。

杰夫·麦克唐纳：
这就是米奇·约翰逊一直提到的事情，当你问斯蒂芬一年中最令人印象深刻的事情是什么时，米奇会说的是，我不认为这届新秀中的任何其他新秀被要求做这么多不同的事情。而且他处理得很好。就像你说的那样处理得很好，从板凳席上出发，首发，有球在手，无球，防守后卫。防守体型更大的球员。而且丹也很棒。是的，是的。因此，你知道，我认为这对那些真正看比赛的人来说也对他有利。

汤姆·奥斯本：
他将来会变得非常非常好。

杰夫·麦克唐纳：
他是。那么他们将从今年的“疯狂三月”中选拔谁呢？我应该关注谁呢？

迈克·芬格：
好吧，我不想像我们一样，我们将在未来几周和几个月里度过一些播客，我们将在那里寻找内容。我需要在本周被榨干。我无法用不同的方式看待桑德罗。但仅仅展望未来，我知道你们比我更了解马刺队的日常事务，不一定像我一样关注比赛，但有没有人看到马里兰大学的德里克·奎恩(Derrick Queen)前几天投中的制胜球？那个球即使在NBA也会被判走步？我不确定。也许不是NBA。你是对的。无论如何，那在NBA肯定会被判走步，你可能是对的。特别是，更大的愤怒是什么？如果你吹响了那个哨子，对我来说，那并不是很明目张胆，你会得到麻烦，你会在制胜球上遇到麻烦，我明白。你不能那样做。如果你能投出精彩的球，你就需要得到特别照顾。如果你做出了壮观的投篮，你就可以走步。这就是你的规则。

杰夫·麦克唐纳：
我根本不否认这一点。我甚至不喜欢。我不认为这像我见过的比那一次更明目张胆的走步在NBA没有被吹罚，我不认为这远超詹姆斯·哈登的聚球类型，但它确实是引用老朋友蒂姆·格里芬的话，他穿着马刺队的球衣看起来会很不错。也许不是很完美。德里克·奎恩，并不是说他性格古怪。他确实性格古怪。他的外线投篮不多，他是否能够在所有那些内线得分中脱颖而出？他是否在某种程度上与迪昂·维特(Dion Waiters)相似？这是否是他可能在NBA中的角色？他是一个非常出色的大学大个子得分手，在篮筐附近得分非常棒，而且观看他真的很有趣。马刺队更需要的是投篮。都是。像卡尼夫(Can Kniple)这样的人喜欢看杜克大学的比赛。那是我喜欢的人。我只是不想说这不仅仅是一个射手。他做很多事情，我认为这些事情会在胜利的球队中发挥作用。不仅仅是投篮，还有组织和防守等等。你可以正确地纠正我，如果我说错了，但马刺队可能正在达到一个他们不一定需要在选秀中选择未来全明星的程度。

迈克·芬格：
当然，特别是你可能会选中9号和13号。是的，14号。你只是在寻找球员，现在你已经拥有了一些你拥有的球员，现在你试图把球员插进去，我们都说过他们今年缺少的一件事是，假设维克多回来了，而且我们知道阿隆·福克斯会回来。你需要一个人站在那里，当阿隆·福克斯和维克多·文班亚马(Victor Wembanyama)进行挡拆时，防守必须有人收缩，你需要有人站在那里投进一个空位三分。卡尼夫可以做到这一点。而且几乎可以立即做到，我认为。所以，就像那种球员，你可以想象他立即适应一个角色。在另一个极端，为了完全反驳杰夫刚才所说的话，如果你在8到14之间选择，还有一件事是胜利，你不是在寻找一个20年的首发球员。你不是在寻找一个全明星。如果你只是有一个7尺2寸的球员可以在未来10年成为维克多出色的替补中锋，并且只是吞下每一个投篮，并且时不时地给你一个很酷的双塔组合。即使他不能投篮。即使他做了与杰夫刚才所说的相反的事情，并且不能从外面投篮，就像我一样。就像我一直在说的，卡梅隆·穆尔布雷(Cameron Moore)就像杜克大学的中锋一样，这给马刺队带来了有趣的东西，他们可以利用这些优势。他不会投篮。但是，你可以把那个人插进去，作为维克多在未来六七八年替补出场时带来的人，对手在48分钟内都无法轻松地看到篮筐。这对我来说很吸引人。

杰夫·麦克唐纳：
今年夏天，他们需要解决投篮问题以及维克多身后的深度问题，缺乏体型和身体对抗，你通过选秀和自由市场来解决这些问题。他们以某种方式解决了这两个问题。你可以在选秀中看到他们追逐体型，你可以看到他们追逐投篮，你可以看到他们追逐两者的组合，因为他们有两个选秀权。只是他们可以交易其中一个。你可以交易这两个选秀权，并向上交易得到一名球员。

[SAEN]

点击查看原文：Mamu and Castle provide reasons to celebrate

Mamu and Castle provide reasons to celebrate

Columnist Mike Finger and beat writers Jeff McDonald and Tom Orsborn discuss the moments of joy the Spurs have found near the end of a tough season, thanks to Sandro Mamukelashvili, Stephon Castle and Keldon Johnson.

Suggested reading:

Flavor of Mamu: Mamukelashvili’s career night the stuff of Spurs legend

Spurs keeping standards high after losing two stars

Spurs win third straight as Vassell scores 25

Here is the transcript of the podcast:

Mike Finger:
From a highly secure network of top secret locations across North America. This is the Spurs insider March surge edition. I’m your host Mike Finger joined as always by Express News Sports Spurs beat writers. It’s a spurt, it’s a Spurs spurt. The beat writers Jeff McDonald and Tom Orsborn, who’s secure location with one of the hottest teams in the NBA somewhere in the American Midwest after venturing back across the border. I think Tom you made it back without incident.

Tom Orsborn:
Yeah, no, I I made it back okay. They they didn’t, you know, search me, search my cell phone or anything, made it back all right.

Mike Finger:
That’s good. You don’t want them searching your cell phone for all the uh for all for all the stuff that’s on there. You are covering a team that has won three games in a row. for the first time in a long time. And when you look back over the over the past few years, like I’ve I I’ve been reading there’s there was there’s been some interesting work done out there in NBA journalism land on how March is how the ugliest part of the NBA schedule and how this is where teams really start to tank and superstars start to sit. And this I I think this is the third time in the last four years where your local cages are playing some of their best basketball. I don’t know if that’s related in any way. Uh, this team tends to even when things are on the on the line to uh to keep at it, to keep pounding the rock and there’s been evidence of that over the past week or so, hasn’t there?

Tom Orsborn:
Yeah, without a doubt, you know, they they are playing better. Uh Devin Vassell’s having a great month. It’s Johnson steering the ship well, you know, they they’re as he said the other day, they’re keeping their standards up. That’s kind of the motto, uh the mantra. But with all that said, you know, they they beat the Knicks without Brunson, beat the sixers, you know, in this way, the the undermanned Raptors. So now they got Detroit tonight, Cleveland next, Boston, Golden State, Denver, Cleveland, you know, so the surge could go south.

Mike Finger:
It could it could get ugly. And this is also a time of year when when um fans start looking towards the draft, you know, you have prospects playing in NCAA version of March Madness. Um a lot a lot of fans are falling in love with prospects that they might get here and there. And this is the time of year when uh every Spurs victory comes with a bit of a downside and that uh it hurts lottery odds to some degree. This is a year where the Spurs probably like they they’re not going to no matter how much they lose the rest of the way and there might be a lot of losses. I don’t see them getting to the seventh best uh lottery odd situation. They’re not going to finish with one of the seven worst records in the league. The the pick that they have owed to them from Atlanta probably isn’t going to be top 10. Uh there’s a chance that both of them could be in the lottery and you luck into one of those far-fetched top four spots. But this is this is another time, another example Jeff when it’s just kind of play it out, let the victories fall where they may, let the losses fall where they may and don’t get too obsessed about percentage points here and there.

Jeff McDonald:
Oh sorry, I wasn’t paying attention. I was booking my uh vacation for the summer. No, I’m just kidding. Um, uh, yeah, I I it’s interesting. It’s it’s almost you still want to win games, I think. I mean, I because like what like you said, it’s you’re not really going to improve your lottery odds that much. I guess you could um maybe avoid uh rising in the standings with some more losses, but it’s just more fun to to to to win the games you’re supposed to win, but like you guys have mentioned, there aren’t a whole lot left that the Spurs are supposed to win. They don’t have another game against the team uh under 500 until April 6th at Portland and that’s a Portland team that’s not playing half bad for what their record is. And they only have two games left against teams under 500 period. They they close uh with the home game at Toronto, that’s the regular season finale and the rest of it is just going to be mostly uh most of their opponents are good teams fighting for playoff off spots and the wins are going to be hard to come by from here on out. So you might not have to to worry about, you know, quote andunquote tanking. You just go out and play and take your lumps and take your lottery spot and go go see what you can uh what you can do with it.

Tom Orsborn:
That being said.

Mike Finger:
That being said with with with victories hard to come by with uh losses potential for them to to pile up. Do you do you take the joy where you find it and is there any more joy? Could there possibly be any more joy in an NBA arena than what we saw a week ago. and this is it’s unfortunate that this our podcast taping happens so long after possibly the highlight of the whole season uh because now it seems like ancient history. But what a night we witnessed at the Frost Bank Center. Uh, one of the greatest performances in NBA history. Nay, maybe in basketball history dating all the way back to Nay Smith, uh, where we saw a true artist, a true master of his craft, do something that no NBA player had ever done before. And I’m speaking of course of Sandro Mamukashvili scoring 34 points in 19 minutes to carry the Spurs over the New York Knicks. Jeff, will you remember this as long as I will. are your grandkids going to be regaled with stories about this night? And what did it mean to you to be there to witness it in person?

Jeff McDonald:
You know, you made jokes or or whatever, but I Not really. I’m I’m hard I’m hard I’m hard pressed to think of of you know, you know, I don’t know if if you know this about me but I’ve been doing this a long time. I’m hard pressed to think of another Spurs performance that just sort of seemed to come out of nowhere like that that I’ve covered. Um, I I I I think somebody pointed out like the Lonnie Walker game against Houston that year and but I mean he had like 22 or something like that, just had kind of a big fourth quarter. 34 points for Sandro, did not play in the first or third quarters. He basically did that with with in two quarters, parts of two quarters. And and and with Flavor Flave in the uh in the audience because he brought him there. Like we were sitting around the uh the media dining hall and uh one of the Spurs PR guys goes, hey just so you know Flavor Flaves here tonight. And we’re like, why is Flavor As Sandro’s guest. Yeah, why is Flavor Flave here? Oh, Sandro invited him. How does Sandro know Flavor invited a lot of questions. But also know Flavor Play. I Jeff when when that’s when that’s explained and I’m I’m sitting there when that’s mentioned that that Flavor Flavor is is um Sandro’s guest tonight. It was also two things at once. It was wow, that’s crazy and also that makes total sense because Sandro Sandro just has that kind of guy. And uh we talk a lot, we’ve talked a lot over the years on this podcast about just fun guys and all locker room guys we enjoy talking to. like I’m not exaggerating. I’m not talking about it just because he just scored 34 points. There has been no one like Sandro Mamo Kashville that I’ve ever met in the in an NBA locker that I’ve ever met in life. Just you talk to that guy and he’s from Georgia, like not not the state of Georgia, the the country of Georgia. Um, he he he he he’s he knows of course he knows Flavor Flave. And of course Flavor Flave would love Sandro if he met him. It’s just like that that guy is just one of the most enthusiastically optimistic, fun loving dudes that you’ll ever meet. And to watch him revel and Jeff did a great job of capturing this in the Express News print editions on expressnews.com, Spurs Nation newsletter, all that. Just the the after Sandro speaks eloquently about what it meant to him and and thanking like uh video guys and and uh equipment managers and everybody for this performance. like an hour after this is over with he’s standing there at his locker just looking around to no one in particular saying, what was it Jeff like uh like I still don’t believe this or where did how the hell did that happen? Like it’s just it it’s so rare in this business to just feel genuinely, so genuinely happy for somebody and I really felt genuinely happy for that dude. Uh, because he enjoyed it and he should have.

Tom Orsborn:
And then the next game he’s over for. Of course. You know, so he meets so the way I got the story is he just sort of met Flavor Flave at Summer League as a rookie in Las Vegas. like there’s tons there’s tons of rookies out there at Summer League in Las Vegas. No name guys. Uh Sandro was not drafted, I don’t think. If he was, he was a it was a mid mid second rounder. Um, you know, he’s he’s he’s a basic nobody among the people in Las Vegas. So you like you said, yeah, of course he meets Flavor Flave and of course they’re friends.

Mike Finger:
Yeah. And it’s a legitimate friendship. And and to be there in the uh like to how many times, I’ve been doing this a long time too. You, me and Chris Paul Tom. Uh I’ve walked down that hallway to that interview room right outside the Spur’s locker room for 22 years since the since the place opened and the surreal nature of of hearing Flavor Flave scream like right around the the the the corner there. like I I think he did it because I was here. I think he did it for me. It’s like and that and that voice that we’ve heard since, you know, the early 1990s on records and radio stations and things. like it’s just it it’s like where am I? What is this life to hear Flavor Flave talk about how Sandro Mamo Kashville scored 34 points because he was there. like it’s just I will never forget that night. It it in in a season where so much has sort of fallen apart for the local cagers. It’s been a slog showing up to some of these games some nights that don’t matter uh to to to witness and and and uh uh just just soak in that is is something else man.

Jeff McDonald:
I’m not going to lie. and you can vouch for this. I showed up that night not not in the best mood. I I was not Is true. I did not have a very good attitude about my job when I showed up at the arena that night. I was just like it’s going to be like another 30 point whipping. there’s just nothing you it’ll be boring to watch. There’s just nothing interesting to write and then lo and behold, you got the most interesting thing to write that there ever was. So let that be a I know, I know you’re big these days on giving advice to uh young young sports journalists. I think that I think that would be that’s a good piece of advice. You never know when the story is going to is going to be there. So you have to show up ready to uh, you know, ready to write that thing. Even even on nights when you it looks like it’s just going to be another vanilla um predictable, we know what’s going to happen night. Vanilla ice in there as well. like just bring all the the wrap icons from the 90s. I’m sorry. So good lesson. I know you’re a you’re a white man from the country, but you can’t put Vanilla Ice and Flavor Flave in the same sentence. Come on man. you just said vanilla Well, you know, they were they were both. Come on. Come on.

Tom Orsborn:
To you know, with with Mamo too. think think about the copy and the moments of joy that he’s he’s produced since he’s been here. Uh, last year his trick shots were incredible. That was that was a fun story. The guy’s an incredible trick shot artist. Then over Christmas on their Christmas trip to New York, he hosts by all accounts one hell of a dinner uh at a Georgian restaurant. Then he he pulls off the caper of the century swiping orchestrating uh, you know, executing the swiping of uh Stefan Castle’s Wills, which was a glad story. And then this performance against the Knicks. I mean the guy is incredible.

Mike Finger:
He’s awesome. And there was a I I’ve for years we’ve heard stories about um Drew Holiday, what a good guy he is. Just another guy who’s beloved throughout the league. Um, we’ve heard personal stories about things that he’s done. He’s just a genuinely good guy. And uh, I think we were in Boston Jeff uh before the All-Star break. And I saw Drew come over from and it’s a long, long, long way from the uh Celtic’s locker room in TD Garden to the visiting team locker room. And Drew had come around after the game to talk to Sandro, who uh was was a teammate with him in Milwaukee when Sandro was coming up. He was a two-way player. Drew was a veteran. And I asked Sandro about that after the game like that was nice of Drew to come over and he said, oh Drew’s my guy. Turns out like Drew Drew Holiday genuinely good guy, likes everybody. I’m sure you do that for a lot of people. But when Drew Holiday made the All-Star game as a Milwaukee Buck and Sandro was a two-way player. Um, Drew brought Sandro with him to the All-Star game. That’s just kind of the the effect that Sandro has on people. You know, Jeff was saying like, how does out of all these players that go to Vegas to the Summer League? How does Sandro end up being Flavor Flave’s friend? Well, he just has that effect on people. Of all the people that Drew Holiday has been teammates with, like how do you how do you choose Sandro to take to the All-Star game? It’s just he’s that kind of guy. And like Tom says, whether it’s like orchestrating the these Oceans 11 uh rookie pranks on Stefan Castle or trick shots or whatever. It’s it’s just uh he seems just genuinely fun to be around and when you are on a team, I asked Mitch about this um after the the next game. When you’re on a team that loses 50 games, uh 60 games this year over 45 probably. Uh, it can be a grind. you know, is is it do do you take for grand the fact that you keep someone on the roster that makes it a little less miserable. And uh Mitch went out of his way to say it’s not just his attitude. he works hard, you know, he he he comes in and does his work. He’s not just a jokester, he’s not a clown. Uh, but yeah, of course it’s it’s an infectious attitude um, to have in a workplace and uh I I just think that’s cool that he got his moment in the sun. Um, glad to talk about on the podcast too.

Tom Orsborn:
Yeah. Yeah, he’s been providing content all year long.

Mike Finger:
providing content. Yeah.

Jeff McDonald:
two years now.

Mike Finger:
For two years. I mean, it’s almost like he’s going out of out of his way to make our jobs easier.

Jeff McDonald:
Yep.

Mike Finger:
We appreciate it Sandro. Good for you. Um, what what other content has there been? He’s not the only one who has led them to three consecutive victories. uh Tom, uh you’ve had uh the continuing maturation of Stefan Castle uh who may or may not be playing in the uh in the game that might be played before this podcast reaches your your players on uh Tuesday night. I think he’s still questionable for Detroit, but has been uh coming along and thriving with the opportunity given to him uh with the Iron Fox out, with Victor Wembanyama out, Stefan’s kind of been the go-to guy and he’s uh it hasn’t been all smooth sailing, but he’s he’s he’s shown the potential to be that.

Tom Orsborn:
Yeah, yeah. I I know it doesn’t matter because the podcast comes out later, but he was at shoot around look fine. I think he’s going to be okay. Talk to him about Yukon. Um Yeah, yeah, the 14 assists the other night. You know, uh you know, he he was a point point guard in high school that that’s his preferred position or or it was at the beginning, you know, after the Spurs drafted him, but he showed that playmaking skill um, you know, against the sixers and uh yeah, it’s just something, something every night, you know, there’s a good story with him every night as you said his, you know, continuing education, you know, the night uh he came back from the uh foul trouble. You know, it’s just just different different things with him every night. But but he uh he was really in command uh as a playmaker against the sixers, that was fun to watch.

Jeff McDonald:
I know this isn’t your favorite topic, but I think the rookie of the year race might be over.

Mike Finger:
Well and and uh he he benefits from um, you know, the narrative too. Like I I think that the the NBA media, just the the uh, the way people are talking about this now is like a forgone conclusion. All the all the gambling odds are in his favor and there like that I I don’t know that there are arguments against it and there I know there are some like Zach reachet stands out there and some some uh proponents of other players pointing to the fact that Stefan Castle hasn’t had the most efficient season in terms of like assist to turnover and like he’s still shooting below 30% from three. Um, and then and that’s true, but the counting stats work in his favor. Um, and and again, Jeff’s right, I don’t love award talk. But I I think it’s kind of a forgone conclusion that he’s I think he also benefits from this this class isn’t the strongest. Like if there was if there was a Chet Holgren level obvious other choice, he might not win it. But um the fact that know, you know, that nobody else is really just running away with it either kind of leads him. I I don’t have this in front of me right now, but he he does lead the um the rookie class in scoring and 14, barely over 14 points per game. I think that’s I saw somewhere that’s the lowest in a good number of years. I I don’t have that on me right now, but it if he leads the rookie class with 14 points per game, most years the leading rookie score scores more than that. And you’re right, this isn’t the this isn’t a a class like the one before it or the one that’s coming that the Spurs will have a couple of draft picks in. Um but for like he’s he’s he’s still a deserving candidate for it and uh deserving winner of it. Um, and he’s going to be this is I will venture to say this is going to be his his worst NBA season of the next like six, seven, eight. He’s he looks like a guy who’s getting better. Uh, he will look back on this in a few years and and and realize how much he’s improved in a lot of areas of his game. As Tom said, he wanted to be a point guard, he will get some point guard opportunities over the years, but I think the Spurs really like the way he’s fitting in as a guy who could play alongside the Iron Fox, alongside Victor Wembanyama and really fit in there to to guard a bunch of possessions, to take the lead on offense when when they need him to, but also to fit in there as kind of a wing player.

Jeff McDonald:
And one We will continue to see stuff from Stefan. Once he develops a reliable jump shot, which I think he will. Yeah, I’m not even talking. But it’s necessary just this year. Yeah, I’m not even talking about necessarily the three ball, that’s important too. but even a little little bit of a mid-range game to get teams keep teams honest Uhhuh. where he doesn’t have to get all the way to the rim every single time. it’s it’s he’s going to be that’s going to be a big step for him.

Mike Finger:
Yeah. Yep, yep, yep. Anything else uh I I know you you probably want to get to some uh some dark cloud stuff at some point, but anything else that uh Actually, actually, you do know me well, but uh I was thinking coming into this thing, I want to take a second to salute one Keldon Johnson. Okay, that’s good. He’s been playing his I mean he always does, but that’s one thing I’ve been noticing lately during this stretch. is he is playing his butt off and not always well, although during this stretch, a lot of times he has played well. He is butt off. and found always one. But he’s always a guy I mean he never he’s the only guy in the like take out the Sandros and like the Blake Westleys who have to be trihard guys to even sniff the floor. I think he’s the only guy in the rotation that you can say that guy does not take a single second of his playing time off. The motor never never stops. And always work out for him although it’s worked out for him a lot more this year especially lately than it has in the past. But I I’ve been watch the last few games I’ve been sitting up there on the platform, you know what? I would take that guy. That guy that’s, you know, diving on the floor and hustling down rebounds and you know, even at the end of the games where they’re just getting smashed, he’s still you know, playing like a like a like his hair’s on fire. I would take that guy on my team any day of the week. You know, obviously, obviously when you run NBA team, you got to take like price tag and roll into account, but in general, I I think he can bring something to almost any team. If and so I would take him on my team any day of the week. I’ve been really impressed with the way he’s um, he and I guess if you want to make it like an overarching narrative, I think he’s finally embraced this idea of being the the sixth man, being a being a bench guy and what he could do coming off the bench, how he can affect games coming off a bench and and the value that he can bring a team coming off the bench. And he will tell you that at first it was difficult to make that move. He had probably been started more games than you know, for the Spurs than anybody on the roster at this team at this time last year when he had been asked to move to the bench permanently. I don’t like like you know, Manu Ginoble before him was probably not happy about it. Um, but he seems to have embraced that role now and he seems to have figured out a way to make it work out for him and you can definitely see um, a fit for him and a path for him going forward with this team and how he he kind of meshes with with with the group with the Victor Wembanya when you know, when everybody’s healthy and Vic there, you can definitely see a role for Keldon coming off the bench. and so I think it’s been a real big stretch for him.

Tom Orsborn:
The other thing is he doesn’t appear to take a second of life off either. You good points. Yeah. Yeah.

Mike Finger:
Um, I’ll make an admission here uh about this podcast. A lot of the enthusiasm that the three of us show is is can might be considered every now and then as as fake enthusiasm. That that we’re sort of uh we’re we’re sort of playing make believe. I was watching the end of that what was the game after the Knicks? Um uh that was kind of close and the Spurs pulled the way at the end. The sixers. And the sixers are a bad team. And this and the Spurs are not a great team. and these are these are not teams that are thinking about playoffs uh or play in by any starts of the imagination. If you watch Keldon Johnson in the last five minutes of the and in all 48 minutes of the game, but the last five minutes of the game, you would have thought that they won the freaking championship. Like the every call that went their way, every basket that went their way, every turnover that the sixers had in those last few minutes, it was the most genuine effusive just overwhelming enthusiasm that I’ve seen out of an NBA player in a long time. Jeff is right, like he is, he is something. He does not stop. And it’s not I don’t think it’s fake. I in fact, I know it’s not fake. Like he was so excited to beat the freaking Philadelphia 76ers who were 23 and 49 or whatever. Like that was. It’s it’s something man. It is something. And uh you got to give him credit for it because like a big criticism of the league these days and and it’s it’s um valid is that fans who show up in March don’t necessarily get the team’s best product, um the the players’s best effort, um, on down the line, if you show up in March, if you show up in October, if you show up any time of the year, you’re going to get the best that Keldon Johnson has to give you and I don’t think uh I’ll give Jeff credit here. you shouldn’t take that for granted. That’s good stuff.

Jeff McDonald:
Yeah, and like as a human being, it makes me wish like one of my greatest wishes basketball wise is that uh when the Spurs actually do get good again and are play could playoff runs and in the playoffs that Keldon Johnson’s on the team. I agree. Like having gone through all this all the crap and all the losing, like he deserves to be on the team when they’re winning again. And I think if he is his his number may hang from the rafters. They they don’t have a high standard with that uh historical place so he and that’s nothing against Keldon but his uh he could, you know, and talking about that enthusiasm, I bet Sandro still has bruises on him from from Keldon beating on him at the end of that game. He was he was covered with uh red spots. I mean Keldon was just banging away on him. Not to the chair. Not to be the downer here but somebody has to be. It’s Well well. It it it doesn’t it doesn’t change the fact that if the Spurs make another deal for another player at the the Aaron Fox type level, maybe even below it for a third star type guy, the most glaring contract to be traded in that situation belongs to Keldon Johnson. Boy, and we’ve heard that so often, you know. and it might not happen. No, I know. That’s that’s part of the the the math. That’s part of the Mathematically you are you are correct. and that’s that’s going to be a tough day if that happens. It is. It is. I’m with I I just as as somebody who tries to tell the story of this team as as all three of us do. Um, like the story you you tell a better story if Keldon is around for it. And maybe that’s you know, it’s a cold it is a business, it’s a cold business. If they can upgrade um that part of the salary cap, like you get rid of that Keldon’s salary and and get somebody who’s a bigger star, a bigger contributor. I think they do that to win games. Um but that I I I think taking the time during seasons like like this to acknowledge what Keldon has meant to the organization. I think that’s a worthwhile thing. and I’m glad Jeff brought it up this week.

Mike Finger:
Can we uh So do you want to bring us down in any way, Jeff uh now that we’ve we’ve had this high?

Jeff McDonald:
I kind of started from the beginning. like we’re making a big deal about the Spurs surge and they’ve just beaten the teams that they’re supposed to beat except for the Knicks.

Mike Finger:
Yeah. And also like they also lost to that Dallas team in there and they also like just got Yeah. blown out by Charlotte in there like let’s let’s not go uh, you know, throwing the river parade just yet. They might not win again the rest of the year but Okay.

Tom Orsborn:
They might not. Back to Steph Castle real quick. Um Uhhuh. I think that 14 the scoring average is misleading. Uh, you know, since mid January, he’s averaging 18, 18 a game. Correct. No, no. he’s had 20 he’s had 20 20 games of 20 plus this year including a 33 point game. You know, and he’s bounced between the bench and starting and then, you know, he’s playing with Victor too. So I think he can easily average, you know, his ceiling is is much, much, much higher than that.

Jeff McDonald:
That was the thing Mitch Johnson always brings up when you say what what’s the most impressive thing about Steph’s year and it’s that all the what Mitch will say is I don’t think any other rookie in this rookie class has been asked to do as many different things. And he’s handled it all well. And handle it like like you said, come off the bench, start, play on the ball, play off the ball, defend defend guards. Defend bigger guys. And Dan check. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, um so you know, I think that plays in his favor too for people that, you know, actually watch the games.

Tom Orsborn:
He’s just going to be really, really good.

Jeff McDonald:
He is. So who are they who are they going to draft out of this March Madness? Who should I be watching?

Mike Finger:
Well, I don’t want to be uh like we we’re going to have we’re going to have to get through some podcasts in the coming weeks and months uh where we’re going to be looking for content. It’s like I need to be run dry this week. Sandro I can’t see with separate. Um But but just looking forward like uh did did I know you that that you guys have more day-to-day Spurs stuff than I do and aren’t necessarily watching as much as the tournament as I did, but did anyone see that game winner from uh Derrick Queen of uh Maryland uh the other night? the one the one that would have even been a travel on the NBA? I I don’t for I don’t Maybe not the NBA. you’re right. You’re right. any way that’s a travel in the NBA, you’re probably. Especially like like what is the bigger outrage? if if you whistle that like to me that wasn’t so blatant where You get the you get the trouble, you get the trouble on game winners, I get it. You can’t do that. If you because the degree of difficulty on that was so high and and just so cool. But if you if a ref calls that, the ref deserves to just be. If you make a spectacular shot, you get to travel. that’s your that’s your rule.

Jeff McDonald:
I I don’t dispute that at all. I kind of don’t even. And I don’t think it was it was as crazy of a of a blatant like I’ve seen much more blatant travels not called in the NBA than that one. I don’t think that was so above and beyond the the the James Harden gather type stuff that but it was it like The to to quote old friend Tim Griffin, he would he would look pretty good in a Spur uniform. Um, maybe not the perfect bit. Derrick Queen, uh, he’s the the uh not to get all um wonky. Oh, he’s wonky. Uh, he doesn’t have much of an outside shot and is would he able to get away with all that interior type scoring? Like is he almost Duon Blair in a way? Like is is that uh the kind of player he is in the NBA maybe. He’s a really good scorer against college big men close to the basket and he’s really, really fun to watch. Um, Spurs needs are more along the lines of shooting. Um that’s both. A guy like Can Canle like what watching Duke? That’s a guy would like. Um I just don’t want to say it’s not just a shooter. he does he he he does a lot of stuff that I think will play on winning teams. Not just the shooting, but the playmaking and the defending and all that type of stuff. Um like you can you can correctly you can correctly if I’m wrong, but the Spurs might be reaching the point where they don’t necessarily have to draft a future all star at that.

Mike Finger:
No, for sure. especially You might be drafting. They might be drafting like nine and 13 this year. Yes and 14. You’re just looking for guy You have some you have your piece of you have a good number of pieces now and now you’re trying to slot guys in around that and and the one thing we’ve all said they’re missing in this year, you know, assuming Victor’s back and we we know that Derek uh the Aaron Fox is going to be back. Like you need a guy to stand over there when when Deron Fox and Victor Wembanyama have run their pick and roll and the defense is having to collapse on somebody, you need someone to stand over there hit an open three. Yeah. And so like Khan Kanipple can do that. and almost immediately, I think. So like that type of guy is a guy that you can just envision just kind of slotting in to a role immediately. And at the opposite end of the spectrum. like the to completely contradict what Jeff just said, um, another thing that is a win if you’re picking in the 8 to 14 range, like like you’re you’re not looking for a a 20-year starter. you’re not looking for an all-star. If you just have a guy who at 7’2 can be an amazing backup center for Victor for the next 10 years and just be just eat up every shot and give you like this cool twin towers look every now and then. even if he can’t hit a shot. even if he does the opposite of what Jeff just said and can’t hit from the outside but the come on Maloach. Uh, like I I don’t think that’s their first choice from that group, but the the the center there from Duke like that brings up fun stuff that the Spurs could could could take advantage of. and he’s not going to hit a shot. But like you you slot that guy in as the guy you bring off the bench whenever Victor goes to the bench for the next six, seven, eight years, like the defense the the the opponent never has an easy look at the basket for 48 minutes. Um that’s intriguing to me.

Jeff McDonald:
This this summer they need to address the shooting and the the lack of death behind Victor, lack of size physicality and and and you can you through the draft and free agency. like they they address both of those somehow. So you can see them in the draft going after size, you can see them going after shooting, you can see them going after a combination of both since they had two picks. Just they make trade one of those. you can play you could trade to both of those picks and move up to a guy, move up. I what I what I