🎧 Spurs Insider️ 播客: 冲刺终点线

[SAEN]

Spurs Insider Podcast, 2025-04-09 06:10:00

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。

随着马刺队进入最后一周的比赛，专栏作家迈克·芬格(Mike Finger)和随队记者杰夫·麦克唐纳(Jeff McDonald)和汤姆·奥斯本(Tom Orsborn)讨论了斯蒂芬·卡斯尔(Stephon Castle)为一个获奖赛季画上句号，推测克里斯·保罗(Chris Paul)成为播客主持人的可能性，并向长期担任电台解说员的比尔·舍宁(Bill Schoening)致敬。

建议阅读：

为何马刺队对超越上赛季的适度进步表示赞赏

对于马刺队来说，赢球并非易事

告别费城比利：长期电台解说员即将退休

以下是播客的文字稿：

来自北美各地高度安全的顶级机密网络，这是马刺队内幕消息，冲刺终点线版。仍然在比赛版，我们仍在谈论版。我是迈克·芬格。和我一起的是《圣安东尼奥快报》的马刺队随队记者杰夫·麦克唐纳和汤姆·奥斯本，他们正朝着季后赛的方向前进。没有季后赛可以报道。但是杰夫·麦克唐纳从他在西海岸某处的安全地点发来报道。你还在状态吗？对于这份在过去六个月左右经历了如此多曲折的工作，你仍然充满热情吗？

听了如此激动人心的介绍，我怎么可能不呢？我想我们还在继续。好吧，开始吧。我想我们还在继续。是的，他们让我如此兴奋。就像 Nut Rockney 一样。

你让我如此兴奋地做这个播客，让家里的孩子们，Z世代，甚至一些千禧一代向孩子们解释 Nut Rockney 是谁。他是摩托头乐队的主唱。完全正确。是的，是的。那么，对于当地的球员们来说，当他们进入赛季最后四场比赛时，是否有“为吉普拼一个”的演讲？是否有值得为之奋斗的东西？是否有荣誉感？是否有个人满足感？是否有动力延续到下个赛季？人们为什么在观看？为什么你们要在剩下四场比赛时进行报道？

这是他们在问，为什么我们观看？为什么我们在剩下四场比赛时进行报道？我的意思是，当然，有荣誉感或者其他什么东西，有动力。你可以随便说些什么。荣誉感或者其他什么。把这句话印在T恤上，在 Frost Bank Center 的球迷商店里出售。“荣誉感或者其他什么”。你可以说这些，但你知道，它要么发挥作用，要么不发挥作用，而现在只剩下四场比赛了，他们只是按部就班地完成任务。所以，无论如何，情况不太妙。让我们想想我们可以谈论些什么。你们要谈论些什么？汤姆最后一场客场比赛是在波特兰。

我认为那是一场重要的比赛，不仅因为它在数学上淘汰了马刺队参加附加赛的机会。而且我认为，当我们谈论赛季最后一周能产生什么影响时，它实际上巩固了马刺队本赛季 NBA 战绩倒数第八的位置。我不认为他们这周会做任何事情来以倒数第七的战绩结束。我不认为他们会做任何事情来以倒数第九的战绩结束。他们基本上就处于那个位置。而且这与我们赛季初对他们的期望相差不远。我认为我们都在本周要反思一下，在结束之前。我们下周会更多地反思。但回顾赛季初，我们都认为他们能赢大约34、35场比赛，最终无缘西部联盟的附加赛。即使维克托·文班亚马(Victor Winyamama)在牛仔竞技表演之旅的中途之后没有上场，他们也达到了我们认为他们会达到的目标。这比马刺队过去几年的进步更大，不是吗？你同意吗，汤姆？

是的，我想是这样的。我不记得我预测了多少，也许是30到35场，我猜。我不知道，但你是对的。他们确实在没有 文班亚马 的情况下做到了。他们对此感到自豪。是的，你说的对，那场比赛的潜在主题是巩固了第八的位置。但他们尽了最大努力，总是试图赢得比赛。所以，是的，那是“砰”的一声打开香槟的时刻，他们确实基本上锁定了那个位置，这增加了概率。这是件好事。所以，是的。

为了更具体地说明这一点，让我先…对不起，打断你，汤姆。没关系。你经常这样做。你经常这样做，而且你对此感到很酷。是的。通过以第八名结束，马刺队有26.3%的机会进入前四，这在今年可能非常重要。我认为今年的NBA选秀有明显的前四名新秀，马刺队会很高兴得到其中任何一个。我认为他们会很高兴得到前八名中的任何一个，并希望没有人从他们身后在乐透抽签中上升。我认为他们可以在第八顺位得到一名非常优秀的球员。我认为他们可以用亚特兰大的选秀权在十几顺位左右再得到一名非常优秀的球员。那里存在乐观情绪。但是，汤姆提到的数学概率是，如果他们跌至第九名，这个数字将从26%降至20%。至于获得状元签，选中库珀·弗拉格(Cooper Flagg)，我在这个周末在阿拉莫巨蛋的最终四强赛上和他交谈并观看了他的比赛， 文班亚马 也在昨晚被看到。从第八顺位抽中状元签的概率是6%。所以，这就是 文班亚马 有可能与库珀·弗拉格联手的机会。我们将在未来的播客中更多地谈论乐透和所有这些东西，但现在基本上已经确定了。我们知道概率会是多少，这很好。我想回到你这里，汤姆，关于我们几个月前所做的赛季展望，以及我们做出的胜利预测。我们也谈论了我们期望整个赛季会是什么样子。这很奇怪，我们只得到了 文班亚马 半个赛季，或者我猜是三分之二的赛季。格雷格·波波维奇(Greg Popovich)在赛季开始不到一个月就离开了。今年发生了太多奇怪的事情。但是，一块一块地，球员一个个地，趋势一个个地。你觉得怎么样？你觉得回顾一下你在10月份的期望，随着赛季的进行，总体上是如何实现的，汤姆？

我不认为有人预料到斯蒂芬·卡斯尔(Stephon Castle)会做到他所做的一切。我的意思是，我们，你知道，作为第四顺位被选中，你认为他会很出色，但他度过了一个多么棒的赛季，而且他正在以连续几场比赛拿下15分、5个篮板和5次助攻的强势表现结束这个赛季。我的意思是，你知道，他几乎两次拿到三双。我的意思是，你知道，他是亮点。我的意思是，他度过了一个多么棒的赛季，而且你知道，他的未来看起来非常光明。是的，我的意思是，这就是最让我印象深刻的事情。以及我记得我们在10月份季前赛中关于他的讨论。我认为我们之间达成了共识，他可能会成为那个选秀中最好的球员。马刺队对他的评价很高。他在康涅狄格大学打了一年，投篮非常生涩。我认为我们谈论的是，他可能不是那个会赢得年度最佳新秀的人，因为其他球员将有更多的机会上场并立即产生影响，但他将成为一个长期改变局势的人。我们在某种程度上弄错了第一部分，因为他成为了年度最佳新秀奖的当然之选，因为马刺队立即，即使格雷格·波波维奇在执教，从在达拉斯的第一场比赛开始，那似乎是很久以前的事了，波普在关键时刻或者在那场比赛最重要的时刻派他上场，马刺队在整个赛季的大部分时间里都保持了这一点。当他们得到德隆·福克斯(Deron Fox)时，他回到了替补的角色，但仍然打出了有意义的上场时间，然后当福克斯和 文班 都停止比赛时，他成为了领头羊，他在所有这些事情中蓬勃发展。我认为汤姆是对的，那是我们没有预料到的事情，他会如此迅速地融入一切，他会有多少机会上场，打出那些时间并获得年度最佳新秀的利用率，他充分利用了这一切，杰夫。

是的，我认为无论如何他都可能会赢得这个奖项，但是当维克托和德隆缺席时，他只是成为了那种首选的球员，某种程度上更多地将球掌握在自己手中，超过了那两个家伙还在的时候。我认为当那一刻发生，并且他抓住了它时，我认为这巩固了他的地位。他真的能够汇集那些我们喜欢的用于评选年度最佳新秀的数据，特别是在像今年这样的年份里，没有其他人让你感到惊艳。你知道。所以他很好地利用了呈现给他的各种情况，并且在几种不同的角色中蓬勃发展。我认为我们之前讨论过，你知道，他是一名首发球员，他从替补席上出来，他有球在手时打球，他无球时打球，他防守这个家伙，他防守那个家伙。马刺队作为一名新秀向他扔了很多东西，而且他处理得非常好，比你可能预期的要好。所以在我的眼里，他绝对是一个当之无愧的年度最佳新秀。我有一票，所以这算数。

好的。我不知道你是否想反思一下，或者你是否还记得我们在10月份预测这个赛季时所持有的其他观点，但是你能想到你当时认为的，并且让你对之后几个月发生的事情感到惊讶的事情吗？我记得我们关于哈里森·巴恩斯(Harrison Barnes)的讨论。是什么？哦。是真的，汤姆。是的，只有我一个人。当然你记得。把它扔到我们所有人脸上。他不是一个附带品。他将会，你知道，他仍然可以打球。哈里B仍然可以打球。我认为汤姆是我认为他履行了他的预测的一部分。同意。我认为争论的焦点是马刺队不需要他有多么出色才能有一个好的赛季，而且他对于他来说是很棒的，但是，你知道，他们赢了32场比赛。所以，是的。但是仍然。是的。好吧，有几件事。一件事是汤姆完全正确，而我认为是我错了，我将承担责任。我提到的一件事是，哈里森·巴恩斯似乎是那个将以首发身份开始这个赛季的人，因为他是一名老将，但是当年轻球员有所行动时，他最终可能会被转移到一边。是的，他明年也会首发每一场比赛。他首发了每一场比赛，打满了每一场比赛。而且他明年也会首发每一场比赛。他明年可能会首发每一场比赛。就像这是我绝对错误的部分。我认为杰夫和我在10月份提出的观点，我认为那是10月份，10月份的播客是，我们不认为哈里森·巴恩斯的表现是决定马刺队是否取得成功的前三或四或五个因素之一。在这一点上，我认为我们在某种程度上得到了证实，因为哈里森·巴恩斯度过了一个比我们任何人预期的都要好的赛季，而马刺队仍然会输掉48、49场比赛。所以，就像他很棒，他不仅仅是一个附带品。我认为我们从未称他为附带品。在社区里很棒，在更衣室里很棒，只是一个很棒的人。

来吧，汤姆。如果，如果你要批评我，就直说。我记得使用了这个词。我不打算把它具体地联系到你，迈克·芬格，但我认为这个词可能在某个地方被使用了。我要把它归咎于尼克·塔尔伯特，因为他不在场。我们就说他说的。好的。他可能会。他不会被包括在交易中。如果仅仅是为了平衡薪资，他不会被包括在内。就像这就是马刺队抓住这个家伙的原因，而且这在某种程度上仍然是真实的，但是他超出了所有人的期望。他很好。不，我只是在这里给他很多赞扬。天啊，多么稳定的人。是的，是的。哈里森在各个方面都是。我的天啊。他一直很棒。是的。我很享受我们的克里斯·保罗体验。我的意思是，是的。他可能就是他们在球场上和更衣室里想要的人，但是我们也很享受它。就像它一直很有趣。我走进了波特兰的赛前采访室。这位先生，我不认识他是谁，来自波特兰的一位先生，他们媒体队伍中的某人，他对我说的第一件事是，克里斯·保罗今晚会打球吗？我说，什么？等一下，什么？什么？他除了克里斯·保罗的年龄，以及赛季的这一点之外，没有任何依据。我想他没有关注马刺队。是的。我认为克里斯·保罗就像那个巨蟒剧团的黑骑士一样。就像如果他的胳膊被砍掉，他仍然会将他那残缺的躯干拖到地板上。完成那场比赛。就像在这个赛季的这个时候，他不会错过任何一场比赛。毫无疑问，毫无疑问。他肯定，他身上可能会伸出一根骨头，但他会把他的屁股放在地板上。是的，他非常渴望。是的。我喜欢我喜欢克里斯·保罗的一点，这大概不应该让我们感到惊讶，就是他的直率。我喜欢他对我们说实话。是的。他有很大的，你不能，是的，那太棒了。就像汤姆只是想让他说一些关于德文·瓦塞尔(Devin Vassell)的好话，以及他在今年这个时候，在球员缺席的情况下，是如何打球和提升了他的比赛。克里斯只是说，是的，这不算数。这不是真正的NBA。这不是真正的NBA。每个人都在没有…基本上阅读这些话的字里行间，就像，是的，但是德文必须弄清楚如何成为这个家伙的某种版本，当德隆和维克托缺席的时候。我认为这是一个非常敏锐的见解。这是一件不需要明说的事情。他没有确切地说出来，但我们知道他在说什么。对。换句话说，克里斯·保罗会成为一个非常棒的播客主持人。比我们这里的人好得多。我可以肯定。我的意思是，我，我，我，不要生气。如果我们用保罗取代你，我们绝对会。我不是。这是公平的。我认为你是最好的，并交易我。克里斯·保罗会进来并掌控一切。这是肯定的。我的意思是，这只是对的。他已经在联盟里很长时间了。我在联盟里待的时间稍微长一点。如果，我的意思是，我尊重他。我尊重他。但我不会为了他而坐在板凳上。如果你们引进他，就给我找另一个地方着陆。给我找一个着陆点。我的意思是，我可以帮你找到一个，因为我来这里是为了打球的。我不是来支持别人的观点的。我来这里是为了打球的。克里斯·保罗，如果你想和克里斯·保罗一起，那没问题。但是，你可以做到。绝对有其他更糟糕的播客可以把你送到。所以，冷静点。我的意思是，如果你把我送到一个更糟糕的播客，在那里我是主角，那对我来说没问题。我只是想得到我的分数。我想得到我的，我想得到我的数据。我想得到我的球。好吧，我已经太老了，不再担心总冠军了。如果你想把我送到一个，如果你想把我送到一个正在沉没的热门播客，如果我能得到我的上场时间，我可以忍受。就像如果我们把你送到一个播客，在那里你是一个主角，那肯定会更糟糕。我的意思是，无论如何，更糟糕是因为，好吧。而且你必须找到一个地方来交易我的合同。这是另一件事。你必须使数学可行。所以，祝你好运。祝你好运。汉堡王，汉堡王就是了。

我认为汉堡王可能会涨工资。无论如何。那是明年值得期待的事情。克里斯·保罗接管了这个播客。这对听众来说将是巨大的。可能对我来说不太好，但是，我们拭目以待。你总是要小心翼翼的。克里斯·保罗为德文·瓦塞尔提供了一个完美的过渡，我们每周都在谈论他。我认为克里斯·保罗说得比我们任何人都好。我认为他很真实。他已经展示了他的进步迹象，但是，他需要在重要的比赛中展示出来。这不是我说的，这是未来的马刺队内幕主持人克里斯·保罗说的。未来的篮球名人堂成员。是的。我仍然认为德文·瓦塞尔有很多潜力去做克里斯·保罗认为他应该做的事情。但是，他需要在明年再次证明这一点。谈到我们所做的事情。继续。不是要强调这一点，但是，如果克里斯·保罗是这个播客的主持人，他现在也会很难找到可以谈论的东西，因为他提出的观点是正确的。当两个最重要的球员不在身边时，很难判断或评估任何这些。所以，是的，德文做得很好。好吧，很难，你知道，很难看到当 文班 和德隆回来并拿走所有投篮时，这会如何推断。反之，如果有一个球员表现不佳，也许如果他们没有，他会表现更好，你知道，他没有，他没有被放在足够高的位置。就像没有人扮演他们将在两个主要球员在场时扮演的角色。所以很难评估谁做得好，谁做得不好。你们有没有注意到，克里斯·保罗总是给你几乎总是八九分钟的好表现。七、八、九分钟的好表现。然后就像，然后就像我必须去和我的家人说话，或者我必须去看电影。我认为这可能会影响播客，如果他接管的话，它不会那么长。我认为他有一个截止日期。因为，因为这正是这个播客的样子。七八分钟的好表现，然后我们都开始迷失方向。所以无论如何，我得走了。我得和我的家人打个招呼。洛杉矶。他们在这里。这就是克里斯·保罗的事情。我必须去看看我的家人在等我。我必须看电影。我必须在回答之前观看这部电影。也许我们都应该在评论篮球之前观看我们的电影。汤姆，请继续。他看很多篮球。哈里森·巴恩斯来填补空缺。我的意思是，我们已经知道了，但是哈里森在他离开最后的家庭比赛之后谈到了克里斯观看的篮球数量。我的手机在休息日的午夜响起，是克里斯想谈论任何比赛。他说，我没在看。你看过湖人勇士的比赛吗？不。就像生活。我不记得上次，或者说曾经，我们的播客主持人午夜打电话给我了。嗯。那是因为他睡着了。他睡着了。他正在观看《欢乐酒店》的重播，然后睡觉。我们的播客。这听起来像是在投射。这听起来不像我的生活。我的富有的，也许恰恰相反。也许他午夜在夜店，没法打电话给我们。他在夜店里。随着音乐跳舞。迈克有点像《欢乐酒店》里的教练，你知道，把酒吧聚在一起。你对这个播客的主持人给出了两个非常不同的描述。这就是让你应该重新考虑用克里斯·保罗取代我的原因，因为你必须喜欢播客主持人的一个方面是神秘感。我认为这就是我提供的，人们不知道。人们不知道我过着什么样的生活，当我把这个播客麦克风收起来的时候。我可能在夜店。我可能是《欢乐酒店》的教练。你永远不知道。我认为他更像迪埃斯。你知道。有点太花哨了。有点太自大了。偶尔会使用我们其他人不理解的大词。只是为了有点像个万事通。可能有点像艾迪。是的，绝对是个万事通。绝对是个万事通。我更像是，我更像是伍迪。我认为这是一个没有争议的事情。当然。再一次，我们失去了Z世代的听众，我们失去了千禧一代。我们失去了婴儿潮一代。不，我不知道。也许你应该得到克里斯·保罗。也许你确实需要升级。我们拭目以待。我不确定他能不能像克里斯一样给出欢呼声。说到升级，马刺队有多少个，我们来做这件事。回到这个赛季的开始。另一个讨论的话题是，马刺队什么时候会兑现他们的筹码，增加下一个家伙，为 文班亚马 增加一个搭档。他们在这个赛季这样做了。他们在交易截止日期之前做到了这一点，并增加了德隆·福克斯。这是本赛季一个非常值得注意的发展。现在的问题变成了，你是否会保留这个核心，增加两个选秀权，或者把两个选秀权放在一起，拿一个更高的选秀权，然后和这群人一起重来，还是你期望在今年休赛期再增加一个主要成员。通过自由球员或交易增加一个主要成员。

我不知道你是否需要另一个全明星。我的意思是那会很好。我认为现在人们都在议论凯文是否需要这样做。我的意思取决于什么。但我的意思是，现在的重点是，你有了维克托，你有了德隆。现在只是在他们周围填补漏洞，而有些漏洞是很重要的。比如你需要一个能够一锤定音的射手。是的。就像大多数球队都有的那样。可能需要不止一个这样的球员。可能需要不止一个这样的球员。所以，在选秀和自由球员市场之间，你必须去找到一个现在可以在这个领域帮助你的人。这就是我的想法。然后显然你需要维克托身后的尺寸。就像他们现在没有替补中锋的答案。在维克托受伤之前他们没有，在查尔斯·巴锡(Charles Bassie)受伤一段时间之前他们也没有。他们真的没有替补中锋的答案，他们只是需要在第二阵容中增加更多的尺寸，可能需要尺寸可以帮助你进行防守和篮板。所以每次维克托下场时，情况都不会那么糟糕。所以在尺寸和外线投篮之间，我认为你必须在本赛季解决这些问题，无论是通过选秀还是自由球员市场，或者某种交易，它可以是任何组合。但我认为你正在寻找角色球员，那些将扮演特定角色的特定球员。不一定是另一个全明星，他需要球在手中并抢走维克托和德隆的投篮机会。我几乎认为这可能会适得其反。我认为应该考虑填补特定的角色，特定的漏洞。我同意，汤姆。

是的，是的。稳定的射手，替补大个子。是的。开始工作吧，布莱恩·莱特(Wright)。我相信自由球员市场和交易市场会受到影响，就像那里的选择会受到你最终在选秀中获得的选秀权以及你用那个选秀权或那些选秀权获得的球员的影响一样。如果你最终得到了卡伊尔，我们在本周末在阿拉莫巨蛋看到了他与杜克蓝魔队的比赛。一名边锋球员，一名射手，那么也许你不需要在自由球员市场中追求那种类型的球员，或者不要让它成为自由球员市场中的首要任务。那么自由球员的首要任务就变成了尺寸，篮板，防守，那种类型的东西。如果你在选秀中得到了一名大个子，卡姆·马劳奇(Kamau Malwach)，你知道，有几个大个子可以在8、9、10、11范围内获得，他们可以为你提供篮板和防守。那么也许你会在自由球员市场和交易市场上瞄准投篮，或者你肯定会在自由球员市场和交易市场上瞄准投篮。我认为选秀彩票将在很多方面决定路线。你也会怀疑，就像我之前提到的，马刺队是保留所有的选秀权还是用两个选秀权交易来换取更高的顺位。这次选秀中有很多非常有吸引力的选择，我们会看看他们是否能在下赛季提供帮助。这个星期剩下的时间应该会很有趣。杰夫正在路上，今天在洛杉矶，杰夫？我相信是的，那就是我在的地方。好的。现在还很早。所以我还没有看向窗外。我有一个可以俯瞰机场的漂亮的阳台。可以很好地看到机场。你可以看到那些巨型喷气式飞机在我的窗外。你能看到洛杉矶国际机场附近的“In-N-Out”汉堡店吗？有点远。你有明天去旧金山的快速旅行。然后是去凤凰城的访问。在我们再次与听众交谈之前，这是件事。维克托·文班亚马预计将在周日，马刺队对阵多伦多猛龙队的最后一场比赛当天，在霜冻银行中心向未经清洗的媒体大众发表讲话。我个人非常期待与维克托·文班亚马交谈。自从他被诊断以来，我们还没有这样做过。我相信这次谈话会非常有启发性，就像大多数与维克托的谈话一样。合法地说，那应该是一个重要的日子。是的。是的。是的，我不知道听到他对所有这些事情的看法会很有趣，所有这些是如何发生的。我不知道我们会得到大量的新信息，也许我们会。我不知道。但是我会听到他经历了什么和他自己的故事会很有趣。我认为维克肯定比马刺队更愿意透露关于他自己的细节。可以理解的是，关于维克托的细节。就像他们在他发生时提出了诊断结果。他们很清楚他会缺席多久，他们预计他会缺席多久，除此之外，就像我们不会深入了解他是否接受了手术，计划是什么，所有这些类型的事情都是。我认为维克托可能会提供更多关于这方面的清晰信息。他可能不会逐周、逐日、逐步详细说明，但它应该会很有启发性。不过我们走着瞧吧。你可能是。嘿，我们应该向我们的朋友比尔·舍宁致敬。我们绝对应该。在我们，在我们之前。播客的好朋友。各地球迷的好朋友，担任马刺队的解说24年，杰夫。24年。杰夫和我在他还是长角牛队的解说员的时候就在他身边了，甚至更早之前。我们认识这个人很久了。杰夫和比尔在过去的许多次旅行中，在音乐方面建立了联系。一直非常支持我们《圣安东尼奥快报》和《马刺队内幕》播客的人。真是个好人，有趣的人。很高兴他能够按照自己的意愿离开。你知道，我写了关于他退休的文章，当我在写的时候，我意识到我没有问他的年龄，这对于写这样的东西来说是很重要的事情。所以我发短信给他，说比尔，你知道，我告诉了你你的年龄，他告诉我他66岁了。然后我问他，好的，但是胡子多大了？他说，60岁。我认为这很有趣。这真是个好故事，杰夫。我只是想象一个六岁的比尔·舍宁留着胡子。这让我笑了。我的意思是，我一直都是这样想象比尔的童年的，就是留着胡子。你怎么能想象他没有胡子呢？他提到了他的音乐生涯，你知道，他告诉我他写了五首歌。我的意思是，他以前发行过CD，但他写了五首新歌，而且没有录制，而且计划退休。我记得布伦特·巴里(Brent Barry)说过一句很棒的话，当时比尔发行了他的第一张CD，并向球员和马刺队的工作人员展示。布伦特告诉他，是的，比尔，我听过了。我认为它会卖到一百万张。真的，布伦特，那太好了。是的，是的，你的地下室里会有一百万张。好吧。我认为这很棒。比尔多年来多次讲过这个故事。是的，是的。可能有一百万张。可能大概有一百万张。你打算说什么，汤姆？哦，我可以想象他没有胡子，因为我看到了他打一垒时的照片，高中一垒手。在费城，没有胡子。所以，我很确定他生来就有胡子。他就像是长着胡子出来的。我认为我保存了一段时间。你知道，在你的故事里有很多很棒的引言，杰夫。我真的很欣赏麦克·卡拉汉(Mike Calla)说的关于即使在普通的比赛中，非冠军类型的场景中，非季后赛的场景中，他也能让它听起来像是一场冠军赛。你知道，我认为这是一个巨大的赞美。是的，当然。因为我们通常都在比赛现场。我没有太多机会听到比尔的声音。但是在一些我确实听他说话的场合，我知道他是一个好朋友。我们总是开玩笑。他在个人交往中只是一个快乐的人，你不会想到他在那份工作上有多么出色。在那些我听他做比赛的场合，还有一件事。联盟里很少有解说员是独自工作的。比尔基本上整个职业生涯都是独自工作的。他没有一个可以依靠的评论员。所以他每晚要说两个半小时，描述所有的事情，而且没有评论员可以依靠来填补空白。这需要一个非常特殊的技能，而且他在这方面超级棒。真的令人印象深刻。卡拉汉说的那件事是对的，他有合适的语气来让它听起来很重要，让它听起来很重要，并真正用语言描绘了一幅画面。就像他是一个出色的广播解说员。是一个出色的广播解说员。真的很擅长他的工作。我们去向他敬酒了。我们去，我们去了。请说下去。完成你的想法。不不，请说。好吧，我们昨晚在洛杉矶向他敬酒了。这将是我们和比尔的最后一次客场之旅，所以我们很多人都出来祝他一切顺利，你知道，那里有点激动。你知道。我意识到的一件事，这也是我告诉他的。这和比尔·兰退役时一样，因为我们在比赛现场，并没有看那么多，因为我们是现场观看的。我不知道我们是否真的能感受到这些家伙对马刺球迷来说有多么重要。我认为我们确实做到了，但我不认为我们真的做到了，而且我收到了很多关于他的反馈，就像我记得你知道比尔·舍宁的声音是声音，你知道，我听他解说，我爸爸会开车送我从棒球锦标赛回来，我听到了2005年总冠军赛季的结尾。那是比尔·舍宁的声音，你收到了很多这样的消息，你意识到这就像是马刺球迷的损失，你知道，就像这是一个巨大的变化。我知道这是我收到的另一条消息。就像，先是比尔·兰，现在是比尔·舍宁，接下来会是什么？就像马刺球迷有点经历了一些事情。这不像蒂姆·邓肯(Tim Duncan)退役那么重要，但这确实是结束了一个时代。我的意思是，我知道这是一个我们有时会用的陈词滥调，但它真的是一个时代的结束，事情将不再一样。在他的24年职业生涯中，他从未错过任何一场比赛，3000多场。

[SAEN]

点击查看原文：Hitting the homestretch

Hitting the homestretch

As the Spurs head into their final week, columnist Mike Finger and beat writers Jeff McDonald and Tom Orsborn discuss Stephon Castle putting the finishing touches on an award-winning season, speculate on Chris Paul becoming a podcast host, and pay tribute to longtime radio voice Bill Schoening.

Suggested reading:

Why the Spurs appreciate modest improvement over last season

For Spurs, winning is no slam dunk

Farewell to Philly Billy: Longtime radio voice set to retire

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Here is the transcript of the podcast:

From a highly secured network of top secret locations across North America. This is the Spurs Insider, hitting the home stretch edition. They’re still playing edition, we’re still talking edition. I’m Mike Finger. I’m joined by Express News Spurs beat writers Jeff McDonald and Tom Orsborn who are hitting their peak heading into the post season. There’s not a post season to cover. But Jeff McDonald from his secure location somewhere on the West Coast. Are are are are are you still in it? Are you still feeling the enthusiasm for this job that has taken so many twists and turns over the last six months or so?

I mean for that rousing introduction, how could I not? We’re still doing this I guess everybody. All right, here we go. We’re gonna do this. I guess we’re still doing it. Yeah, they got me so. It’s like Nut Rockney.

You got you got me so fired up to do this podcast with that the kids at home. The uh the Generation Z, uh the uh the even even some of the millennials explained to the kids who uh Nut Rockney was. He was the lead singer of Motorhead. Exactly right. Yes, yes. And uh you know, is there a win one for the Gipper speech for the local cagers as they hit the final four games of their season? Is there something to play for? Is there pride? Uh is there uh is is is is there personal satisfaction? Is there a momentum to take into another season next year? What why are people watching? Why are you covering with four games to go?

That’s them asking. Why why are we watching? And why are we covering with four? I mean, yeah, sure. There’s pride or whatever or momentum. You can you can say whatever. Pride or whatever. Put that on a t-shirt and sell it across bank center fan uh store. Pride or whatever. You can say all that but like you know, it kicks in or it doesn’t and there’s four games left and it’s just just play off the string and that’s what they’re doing. So anyway, this is not going well. Let’s think of something we could talk about. What are you going to talk about? Something uh we’ll we’ll we’ll let Tom uh Tom Tom Tom’s the last road game of the season was uh at Portland.

And uh I think that was a significant game not only because it mathematically mathematic mathematically mathematically eliminated the Spurs from uh the play in race. But I like like when we’re talking about what the last week of the season can affect, like I think it kind of cemented the Spurs in the uh position of having the eighth worst record in the NBA this season. I don’t see them doing anything this week now to uh to finish with the seventh worst record. I don’t see them doing anything to finish with the ninth worst record. They kind of are where they are. And uh that’s sort of not too far from where we expected them to be to start the season. I think we all this is what we’re going to talk about this week. We’re going to reflect before the end. We’ll reflect more next week. But uh looking back to start the season when we all had them I think around 34, 35 victories, um finishing out of the play in picture in the Western conference. And even though Victor Winyamama did not play after uh the midway point of the Rodeo Road trip. Um they got where they we thought they’d be. And this this this is more of a step forward than the Spurs had had the last couple of years, isn’t that uh wouldn’t you agree with that Tom?

Yeah, I I I think so. I think I I can’t remember what what I predicted maybe 30 35 I guess. I don’t I don’t know but but you’re right. Um and they uh yeah, I mean they they did it without Wembi. They’re they’re you know, they’re proud of that. And uh yeah, the unspoken theme of that game you’re right Mike was solidifying the the number eight spot. Um but they gave it a good go, tried to win it as they always do. But uh yeah, that was uh that was the pop the champagne quirk moment, you know, that they did they did uh lock up pretty much that it increases the odds. That’s a good thing. So, yeah.

And to to get into specifics on that, the um, I’ll let I sorry to cut you off there Tom. All right. You do it often. You do it often. And you sing so cool with it. Yeah. Um by by finishing in eighth, the Spurs will have a 26.3% chance to move up to a top four spot, which could be very significant this year. I think there’s a clear cut top four prospects in this NBA draft and the Spurs would be delighted to get any one of those four. I think they’d be delighted to get any one of the top eight uh to hope that no one behind them moves up in the lottery drawing. Uh I think they could get a really good player at eight. I think they could get another really good player with Atlanta’s pick somewhere in the mid teens or so. Um there’s an optimism there. But uh the the the mathematical probabilities that Tom was referring to uh if they would have dropped to ninth that number reduces to 20% from 20% 26%. Uh as for getting number one pick Cooper Flag, who I got to talk to and watch this weekend at the Alamodome at the final four where one Victor Winyamama was also seen last night. Uh number one pick is 6% from the eighth spot. So, those are your chances of uh possibly teaming Victor Winyamama with Cooper Flag. Um and we’ll we’ll be talking about the lottery and all that kind of stuff more in future podcasts, but that is sort of finalized now. We know what the percentages are going to be and that’s fine. Um, I do want to get back to you Tom on on thinking about the the season preview that we did lo those many months ago and um we made our our victory predictions. We also were kind of talking about what we expected um the whole season to look like. and it’s it’s weird, you know, we only got a half season of or I guess two-thirds of a season from Victor Winyamama. Greg Popovich was out less than a month into the season. so many weird things happened this year. But just kind of piece by piece uh player by player, trend by trend. Um how did you think look, you know, looking back on your expectations in in October had had how do you think overall it played out uh as as the season went on Tom?

Well, I don’t think anyone saw Steph Castle, I mean doing what he did. Uh I mean we, you know, being the fourth overall pick, you thought he was going to be good, but what a season he’s had and he’s he’s finishing it so strong with these consecutive games of 15, five and five. Um, you know, two near triple doubles. Um, I mean he’s you know, he’s the bright spot. I mean, what a what a season he’s had and and you know, the future looks so so damn bright for this guy. Um, yeah, I mean that that was that’s what sticks out to me most um. And and what I remember about our discussions about him in October in the preseason. I think there was consensus among us that he might turn out to be the best player in that draft. Spurs were really high on him. Uh, he played one year at Yukon had a really raw jump shot. and I think the what we talked about was that this might not be the guy who’s going to win rookie of the year because other players are going to get more of a chance to play more and and to be immediately impactful, but that he was going to be a difference maker in the long term. and we sort of got that the first part of that wrong because he he became sort of the runaway favorite for the rookie of the year award because the Spurs immediately even when Greg Popovich was was coaching. from that first game in Dallas, which seems like ages ago, um Pop had him out there in crunch time or in in in the most important moments of of of that game and the Spurs kept that up for most of the season. When they acquired Deron Fox, um he he he went back to his bench role but still played meaningful minutes and uh then when Fox and Wembi both shut it down, he became kind of the leading guy and and he’s thriving in all that stuff. And and I think Tom’s right, that’s something that we did not see coming how immediately uh uh integral he would be to everything and and how much of an opportunity he’d have to win to play play the minutes and get the get get get the um the usage that rookie of the years have and and he made the most of it, Jeff.

Yeah, he was he was I think probably going to win it anyway, but when Victor and Deron went out and he just became kind of kind of the go-to guy, kind of had the ball in his hands more than he would have had those two guys still been around. I think when that moment happened and he seized it, I think that’s what solidified it for him. Like he’s he’s been able to really compile those those counting stats that we love um to pick the rookie of the year on, especially in a year like this where there was not anybody else that’s just wowing you, you know. So he he he did a good job of taking advantage of the situ the the various situations that were presented to him and thriving in um kind of a couple different roles. I think we’ve talked about it before where um, you know, he’s been a starter, he’s come off the bench, he’s played on the ball, he’s played off the ball, he’s defended this guy, he’s defended that guy. Spurs threw a lot at him as a rookie and he he pretty much handled it all um, you know, better than probably you could have expected. So definitely a worthy rookie of the year in my eyes. And I get a vote so that that that counts.

There you go. Um I don’t I don’t know if if you want to get uh reflective or if if if you could even remember the other uh sentiments that you had back in October when we were advancing this season, but do you uh can you can you think of anything that you thought then that that uh sort of surprised you about what happened in the in the months that ensued? I I remember our Harrison Barnes discussion kind of What’s that? Oh. It’s true, Tom. Yeah, and and I I alone. Of course you remember that. Throw it in all our faces. He was not a throw in guy. He was going to have, you know, he was he’s he can still play. Harry B can still play. I I think the Tom was I I think uh the Well, hold on. I think he held up he held up his uh part of the prediction. Agreed. I think the argument was the Spurs don’t him to be great to have a good year and he was he was great for what he is, but you know, they won 32 games. So, yeah. Right. But still. Yeah. Well, there were a couple of things. One, one Tom absolutely got right uh where I I think I was and I I will take the bullet here. One thing I’d mentioned is um Harrison Barnes seemed to be the guy who was going to start the season in in the starting lineup because he’s a veteran, but that when the younger guys kind of made their moves that he eventually might be moved to the side. Um, Yeah, he’s gonna he’s gonna start every game next year too. He’s he started every game, played every game. And he’s gonna start every game next year too. he’s probably going to start every game next year too. Like that’s the part that I absolutely was wrong on. Um, I think the point that Jeff and I were making on that October I think it was October, the October podcast was that uh we we did not view the um performance of Harrison Barnes as one of the top three or four or five uh factors that would determine whether or not the Spurs had a successful season or not. And in on on that point, I think we were validated to a degree because Harrison Barnes had a better season than any of us could have expected and the Spurs still are going to lose 48, 49 games. So like like he he he was he’s great. he was more than a throw in. I don’t think we ever called him a throw in. uh great in the community, great in the locker room, just an awesome dude.

Um Come on Tom. if say it with your chest. If if if if you’re if you’re calling me out, say it with your chest. I I remember that word being used. I I don’t I’m not going to link it specifically to you Mike Finger, but I think that word might have been used somewhere. I I’m going to blame it on Nick Talbert because he’s not here. We’ll just say he said it. Okay. He might. The the the point he would not have been in the deal. Uh he he he he would not he would not have been uh included if uh if it wasn’t just to make salaries work. Like that’s why the the Spurs grabbed the guy and uh and that’s still sort of true but they he exceeded everyone’s expectations. He’s going. No I’m just I’m just I’m just giving him a lot of praise here. God what a steady steady, steady, steady guy that. Yeah, yeah. Harrison and in every respect. I mean my gosh. He’s been great. He has. I’ve enjoyed our our Chris Paul experience. I mean Yeah. He’s probably what they wanted uh you know, on the floor and in the locker room but We’ve also really enjoyed it. Like it’s been fun. I I walked into the uh uh interview uh pregame interview room in Portland. Uh and the gentleman, I I don’t know who it was, a gentleman from Portland, someone in their media contingent said, first thing he said to me is, is Chris Paul playing tonight? And I was like, What? What? Wait a minute, what? What? And he had nothing to base that on other than uh Chris Paul’s age, the the point of the season. I guess he hadn’t followed uh the Spurs. Yeah. I think Chris Paul, he can it’s like that Monty Python Black Knight guy. Like if he had his arms cut off, Right. he would still just drag his stump of a torso onto the floor. Yes. Get that game in. Like he we at this point of the season, he’s not missing a game. And no question, no question. He is No question. He could have a bone sticking out somewhere and he’s going to get his butt on that floor and. Yes, he wants it badly. Yes. I I like I like uh what I’ve liked about Chris Paul, which I guess shouldn’t surprise us is uh his his his uh you might call it keeping it real. I love his keeping it real when he talks to us. That’s the I that. He had a big. Yeah you can’t you can’t. yeah, that was great. Like Tom’s just trying to get him to say something nice about Devin Vassell and the way he’s played and kind of uh elevated his game at this time of year, late in the year uh when guys are out. Chris was just kind of like, yeah, it doesn’t count. It’s This isn’t the real NBA. This isn’t the real NBA. everyone’s playing without Yeah. basically read between the lines of that, it was like, yeah, but Devin’s got to figure out how to be some like what version of this guy can he be when Deron and Victor out. I thought that was a really astute. And when the games count, yeah. And when the games count, yeah. I thought that was an astute statement. It was a thing to say without saying it. He didn’t say that exactly, but we knew what he was talking about. Right. In other words, Chris Paul would make a pretty good uh podcaster. Much better than we’ve got here. That’s for sure. Like I’m I mean I I I don’t I don’t I don’t be mean if we Paul to replace you, we absolutely would. I I I’m not. And it’s fair. I I think you’re the best and trade me. Chris Paul would come in and take control. That’s for sure. I mean, that’s just right. He’s he’s he’s been in the league a long time. Uh I’ve been in the league a little longer. and uh if uh I mean, I I respect him. I respect him. But uh I’m not moving to the bench for him. And and if if you bring him in, you find me another place to find me another place to to land. Find me a landing spot. Uh I mean I can find you one because I’m here to hoop. I’m not here to to to support other people’s takes. I’m I’m here to hoop. And uh you know, Chris Paul, if if you want to go with Chris Paul, that’s fine. But um you can do it. There’s definitely other there’s definitely other worst podcasts we can send you to. So just be cool. I mean, if you send me to a worst podcast where I’m the lead dog, that’s fine with me. Like I just want to get my points. I want to get my I want to get my stats. I want to get my buckets. Yeah. Well I I’m too old to be worried about championships. Like if you want to send me to a if you want to send me to a a a a hot podcast that’s sinking. I can live with that if I get my if I get my minutes. Like if we send you to a podcast where you’re you’re uh you are the lead dog, it will definitely be worse. I mean, that’s fine as long as I get my minutes. I mean worst because of anyway, okay. And and you got to you got to find a place to to trade my contract too. That’s the other thing. You got to make the math work. So, good luck to you. Good luck to you. Burger King Burger King it is.

I I think uh I think Burger King might be a raise. Um anyway, Well that’s something to look forward to next year. Chris Paul takes Chris Paul takes over this podcast. That would be huge for the listeners. Maybe not great for me, but uh we’ll see how that works. You always got to be looking over your shoulder. Chris Paul provide the perfect segue to Devin Vassell, who we talk about every week. And I think Chris Paul put it better than any of us could have put it. I think that’s he was keeping it real. Um, he’s he’s shown his signs of progress, but uh he he needs to show it in the uh games that matter. and that’s not me, that’s future Spurs insider host Chris Paul saying it. Um Hall of Famer. Future basketball Hall of Famer. Yeah. Um, I still think there’s a lot of potential for Devin Vassell to do exactly what Chris Paul thinks he should do. Um, but uh he’s going to need to prove it again next year. Running to the what we’ve done. Go ahead. Not to belabor the move for, but uh if Chris Paul were the host of this podcast, he’d have trouble find stuff to talk about right now too because the point that he made is is correct. Like it’s hard to judge or evaluate any of this when the two most important players aren’t around. So yeah, the Devin’s doing great. Well, that’s hard to, you know, it’s hard to see what that, you know, how that extrapolates when uh Victor and Deron are back here taking all the shots. And conversely, if there’s a guy that’s not playing well, well maybe he would play better if they hadn’t, you know, he was he he wasn’t um uh as high in the pecking order as to be and uh he needs to go back. like no one’s in the role that they’re going to play when the two main guys are there. So it’s just hard to evaluate who’s doing good and who’s doing bad. So Have you guys noticed that uh Chris Paul always gives you almost always like eight nine really good minutes. seven, eight, nine really good minutes. And then it’s like uh and and just the best, just the best. love talking to him. But then it and then it’s like I got to go talk to my family or I got to go look at the film. and I think that might affect the podcast if he takes over like it wouldn’t be as long. I think for this there’s an expiration date with him. Because because that’s that’s exactly how this podcast is. Seven or eight really good minutes and then we all kind of just kind of kind of lose the thread. So anyway, I got go I got to go say hello to my family. LA. They’re here. That’s the Chris Fall thing. I got to go I got to go see my fa my family’s waiting on me. Uh I got to watch the film. I got to watch the film before I answer that. Maybe we all should watch our film before we comment on on basketball. Go ahead, Tom. He watches a lot of basketball. Harrison Barnes fill us in. I mean we knew that already, but Harrison uh talked about that at left uh after the last home game about the amount of basketball that Chris watches. my phone my phone ringing at midnight on an off night and it’s Chris want to talk about whatever game was on and he’s like, I I’m not watching. Did you see the Lakers did you see the Lakers Warriors game? No. like a life. I I can’t remember the last time or if ever our podcast host has called me at midnight. Huh. That’s cuz he’s asleep. He’s asleep. He he he watches the cheers, the reruns of cheers and goes to sleep. our our podcast. That sounds like projecting to me. That doesn’t sound like my life. My my rich. Yeah, maybe it’s the opposite. Maybe it’s the opposite. Maybe he’s clubbing at midnight and can’t he can’t talk he can’t call us at midnight. He’s at the clubs. dancing to the music. Mike’s kind of like Mike’s kind of like coach on cheers, you know, holding you holding the bar together. You’re giving two very different descriptions of the host of this podcast. and that and that’s that’s what makes um That should give you second thoughts about replacing me with Chris Paul because one thing you’ve got to like in a podcast host is an air of mystery. And I I I think that’s what I offer is people don’t know. People don’t know what kind of life I lead when the the when I put this podcast microphone away. I I might be clubbing. I might be coach from cheers. You never know. I think he’s more like a I think he’s more of a Dieers. You know. That little little too little too hoyy toy. Little too haughty. Occasionally loses uses big words that the rest of us don’t understand. Just to uh bit of a know it all like a. Maybe a little Eddie. Yeah, definitely a know it all. Definitely know it all. And I I’m I’m I’m more of a I’m I’m I’m Woody. I’m more of the Woody. That’s there’s no argument. here on that for sure. Um, again that we’ve lost generation Z listeners, we’ve lost the millennials. We’ve lost the boomers too. Like no, I I I don’t know. Maybe you should get Chris Paul. Um, maybe you do need an upgrade. We’ll see. I’m not sure he could give cheers as well as. Speaking of upgrades, how many the the Spurs, let’s let’s do this. Going back to the start of this season. Another discussion topic was uh uh when are the Spurs sort of going to cash their chips in and make the move of add the next guy, add a running mate for Victor Winyamama. They did that during this season. They did this before the trade uh deadline and adding Deron Fox. Uh that was a huge noteworthy development this season. The question now becomes do you sort of keep this nucleus, add two draft picks or um pull two draft picks together, take one higher draft pick and uh and run it back with this group or do you expect another major edition this off season? Uh, a major edition by free agency or uh or trade.

I I don’t know that you need another All star. I mean that would be nice. I think this this is now you’re with people are out there like buzzing about like Kevin need to do that necessarily. I mean depends depends on what for. But I mean the point now you’ve got Victor, you’ve got Deron. Now it’s just kind of plugging holes around them and and some of the holes are significant. Like you need someone who can be a knockdown shooter. Yes. Like most teams have that. Um Probably need more than one of those. and probably need more than one of those. So so but somewhere between the draft and and free agency, you’ve got to go find someone who can help you in that area right now. That’s what I think. And then obviously you need some size behind Victor. Like you you just there’s no like they they don’t have an answer at backup center right now. they didn’t before Victor was hurt and they didn’t before Charles Bassie was hurt for a while. They didn’t really have an answer at backup center and they need they just need some more size on that second unit and probably size that can help you with defense and rebounding. So it’s not just such a blood bath every time Victor goes to the bench. So between that and the and the shooting the perimeter shooting, I think you have to address those issues this and and whether that’s through the or free agency or some sort of trade, um it it can be any combination of that. But I I think you’re looking for role players right specific players that are going to play specific roles. not necessarily another All star that’s going to, you know, need the ball in their hands and to be taking shots away from Victor, shots away from Deron. I don’t know I almost think that might be counterproductive. I think about filling specific roles, specific holes right now. I would agree, Tom.

Yeah, yeah. um knockdown shooter, backup big. Yeah. Get to work, Brian right? Yeah. And it’ll I I would suspect that free agency and the trade market will uh be affected like the choices there are affected by which pick you end up with the draft and who you acquire with that pick or those picks. Um if you end up with a Connle, who we saw in the Alamodome this weekend with the Duke Blue Devils. a uh a wing player, a a shooter um then that then maybe you don’t need to go after that type of player in free agency. um or or not make it as high of a priority in free agency. then the free agent uh priority becomes the size, the rebounding, the defense, that type of thing. If you end up with uh big man in the draft, um Kamau Malwach, uh you know there there there’s several big bodies that could be available in the 8, 9, 10, 11 range that could provide you with that that rebounding and defense. Um then maybe you target the shooting or you definitely target the shooting in free agency and on the on the trade market. I think that the the draft lottery will be determine the course in a lot of ways. Um you also wonder whether uh again like I I sort of alluded to earlier whether whether the Spurs make both of the picks or if they go two for one to trade for a higher guy. Uh there’s a lot of really attractive options in this draft and uh we’ll see if they can help this coming season. Um should be fun to watch. This the rest of this week, Jeff’s on the road uh Los Angeles today, Jeff? I believe so, that’s where I am. Yeah. Okay. And then It’s it’s early here. so I’m not I haven’t I haven’t uh looked out my window. I’ve got a nice balcony overlooking the airport. Got a great view of the airport. can see those uh jumbo jets out my window. Can you see that in and out burger right there by LAX or is that Oh uh. A little further away. Um you got uh you got you got a quick jaunt to San Francisco tomorrow. Uh a visit to Phoenix. and then uh here’s here’s something before we talk to the listeners again. We will talk to one Victor Winyamama. is expected to uh address the unwashed media masses at the Frost Bank Center on Sunday, the day of the Spurs finale against uh Toronto and I I for one I’m really looking forward to talking to uh Victor Winyamama. We have not done that since his diagnosis. I’m sure that conversation will be very enlightening as most conversations with Victor are. And uh like legitimately that that’s that should be uh a a big day. Yes. Yeah. Yes. Yeah, I I don’t know like it’ll be interesting to hear uh, you know, his perspective on all this how all this went down. I don’t know that we’ll get a whole ton of like new information, maybe we will. I don’t know. But I would it’ll just be interesting to hear what he’s been going through and his his his story. I think I think Vic definitely will is more likely to be forthcoming about details about himself than uh the Spurs have been forthcoming about details understandably so about somebody about Victor. Like they they they’ve presented the the diagnosis when it happened. Um we’re very clear about how long he’d be out, when they expected him to be out and beyond that, it was like we’re not going to get into whether he’s had surgery, what the plan is, all that type of stuff is. Um and I think uh I think Victor might provide a little more clarity on that. He’s probably not going to go into week by week, day by day, step by step specifics, but uh it should be uh I think it’ll be enlighting. We’ll see though. You’re probably. Hey, we ought to give a shout out to our boy Bill Sning. We we definitely should. Before before we. a good good good friend of the podcast. Good friend to Spurs fans everywhere, voice of the Spurs for 24 years, Jeff. 24 years. Jeff and I uh were around him when he was the voice of the Longhorns even before that. We’d known the dude a long time. Uh Jeff and and uh and Bill have bonded over music over many, many, many uh road trips over the years. Uh been very supportive of those of us at the Express News and at the Spurs Insider podcast. Really good guy, fun guy. Uh glad he’s able to go out on his own terms. you know, I wrote I wrote the uh retirement piece on him and uh as I was writing it, I realized I didn’t ask, you know, his age and that’s like an important piece of information when you’re writing something like that. and so I had texted him and said Bill, you know, I for told you are and he told me he was 66. And then I asked him, okay, but how old’s the mustache? And he said uh six he said 60. I thought that was funny. That was a really good story, Jeff. I I just I just pictured I pictured a six-year-old Bill showing with a mustache. that made me laugh. I mean that’s how I’ve always pictured Bill in his childhood is is with a mustache. How could you how could you picture him without it? And and you he mentioned his uh music career that you know, he he’s told me he has five uh songs that he has written. Uh I mean he he’s put out CDs before, but he has five new songs that he’s written and it’s not recorded and that going right uh plans for retirement. I remember great Brent Barry line when um when Bill put out his first CD and was showing one around to to players and people at the uh people at the uh with the Spurs. and um Brent tells him, yeah, Bill, I listened to it. I think it’s going to be a million seller. Really Brent, that’s great. Yeah, yeah, yeah, you’re going to have a million of them in your seller. There you go. I thought that was great. And Bill told that many, many times over the years. Yes, yes. Probably a million. Probably probably a million. What were you going to say, Tom? Oh, I I can picture him without that mustache because I’ve seen the photo of him playing first base, high school first baseman. Uh Up in Philly. In Philly without the mustache. so uh I’m pretty sure he he was born with the mustache. Yeah, but. He just like came out with the mustache on. I think I saved it for a while. You know, there were so many great quotes in in your story Jeff. I really appreciated that one from Mike Calla about um, you know, even in ordinary games, non championship type settings, non playoff settings. You know, he made it sound like it was a championship game. You know, I thought that was a huge, huge compliment. Yeah, for sure. Because we’re most because we’re uh usually at the games. Um I don’t get to hear Bill a lot. Um, but on on the the in the instances where I do listen to him and and I know him he’s he’s a good friend. We joke around all the time. He’s it you know, in personal interactions, he’s just a jolly guy and uh and you don’t think of how just spectacular he is at that job. And what and on the occasions where I I’d listen to him do those games, here’s the other thing. Nobody few few play by play guys around the league work by themselves. And Bill worked by himself for basically his whole career. He didn’t have a color guy to lean on. So he’s talking for two and a half hours every night describing everything with no color guy to lean on to fill in the pauses. It it takes a really special skill and he’s he’s super awesome at it. Um really impressive. that Kick Rella thing was right. he he had the right tone to make it sound important. uh to make it sound like a big deal and uh and really painted a picture with the words. Like uh he was a uh spectacular radio voice. is a spectacular radio voice. really, really good at his job. Um we we we went we went we went Go ahead. Finish your thought. No no, go. Well we went and toasted him last night here in here in Los Angeles. This is going to be our last road trip with Billy so uh a lot of us came out to wish him well and you know, got a little got a little dusty in there and yeah. You know. Um one thing I kind of realized and this was kind of what I told him. It was the same when Bill Land retired because we’re at the I don’t know. I don’t know because we’re at the games and don’t watch as much or see as much because we’re there live. I don’t know we personally have a feel for how much these guys mean to Spurs fans. I think we think we do, but I don’t think we actually do and I get a lot just as it will land when I wrote that story. Um you get a lot of feedback about just him like I remember you know Bill Bill Sning’s voice is the voice of like, you know, I listen to him my dad would drive me back from a baseball tournament and I listen to, you know, the the end of the 2005 championship run. It was Bill Sning’s voice and you just got so many of those messages where you realize it’s like it’s a it’s a lost the Spurs fandom, you know, Like like it’s it’s it’s a big change. I I you know, that’s another message I got. It was like, first Bill Land, now Bill Sning, like what’s next? Like Spurs fans are kind of going through it a little bit with with this stuff and it’s not it’s not as big as like, you know, Tim Duncan retiring, but it is kind of a just a a loss and I the end of an era. I mean, I know that’s a cliche that we use sometimes, but it really is like an end of an era and things are not going to be the same. Never missed a game. in his 24 what 3,000 something