By Mike Finger, Columnist | San Antonio Express-News (SAEN), 2025-04-19 15:24:00
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。
圣安东尼奥马刺队的达龙·福克斯(De’Aaron Fox)(4)在比赛结束时与波士顿凯尔特人队的朱·霍勒迪(Jrue Holliday)(4)致意。 2025年3月29日星期六，波士顿凯尔特人队对阵圣安东尼奥马刺队
在NBA季后赛开始的前一天晚上，马刺队收到了他们最迫切的季后赛愿望。亚特兰大在周五的东部联盟附加赛中输给了迈阿密，这至少在三个方面对这支本地球队有所帮助。
首先，由于老鹰队欠圣安东尼奥今年六月NBA选秀中一个无保护的首轮选秀权（以及在2026年交换选秀权的权利和2027年的另一个首轮选秀权），马刺队现在可以保证在今年夏天拥有前14顺位选秀权中的两个。
其次，马刺队在五月份的乐透抽签中进入前四的机会（在拥有四个公认的精英球员的选秀中）提高到29.7%。第三，他们获得状元签的机会（几乎肯定是杜克大学的库珀·弗拉格(Cooper Flagg)）略微上升至6.7%。
三年前将德章泰·默里(Dejounte Murray)送到亚特兰大的交易已经看起来像是一场抢劫。对于马刺队来说，情况越来越好。现在，当他们在家观看比赛时，他们已经有了一个季后赛结果对他们有利，他们不妨继续关注自己的利益。
那么，在接下来的几个月里，马刺队应该支持哪些结果呢？无论如何，这可能并不重要，但这是一个系列赛的指南：
第一轮
雷霆 vs. 灰熊： 快乐地观看季后赛的首要任务是保持现实。俄克拉荷马城很可能在未来十年成为圣安东尼奥最大的竞争对手，但雷霆队不会输掉这个系列赛。所以马刺队不妨欣赏一下孟菲斯球队的痛苦，他们在最近几年一遍又一遍地折磨着他们。
火箭 vs. 勇士： 这个很简单。休斯顿正试图在年轻的马刺队的时间线上建立一支常胜劲旅。像阿门·汤普森(Amen Thompson)、杰伦·格林(Jalen Green)和阿尔佩伦·申京(Alperen Sengun)这样的球员获得的季后赛经验越多，火箭队就越有可能在未来利用这些经验来对抗维克多·文班亚马(Victor Wembanyama)。马刺队希望斯蒂芬·库里(Steph Curry)在这里闪耀。
湖人 vs. 森林狼： 下一次圣安东尼奥支持湖人赢得一些东西，将是圣安东尼奥第一次支持湖人赢得一些东西。
掘金 vs. 快船： 有朝一日，马刺队的球迷将能够以清晰的头脑、没有恶意、并且意识到球队历史上一个丑陋的篇章最终可能对每个人都是最好的方式来观看科怀·伦纳德(Kawhi Leonard)的比赛。
但还不是那一天。
骑士 vs. 热火： 为了感谢热火淘汰了老鹰队，马刺队认为他们应该支持迈阿密——以及老朋友凯尔·安德森(Kyle Anderson)——取得更大的胜利。
凯尔特人 vs. 魔术： 说到老朋友，马刺队怎么能不继续为德里克·怀特(Derrick White)欢呼呢？在他开始在波士顿掉牙之前，他就在圣安东尼奥掉牙了。
尼克斯 vs. 活塞： 马刺队在前三次NBA总决赛中击败的两支失利球队可能认为圣安东尼奥欠他们一些因果报应。但在过去的五个月里，马刺队错过了与一位可爱而古怪的主教练相处的乐趣，所以他们站在纽约队的汤姆·锡伯杜(Tom Thibodeau)一边。
步行者 vs. 雄鹿： 这个周六下午的开局并不顺利。但是，如果 文班亚马 的球队看到达米安·利拉德(Damian Lillard)以凯旋的姿态从血栓中恢复过来，那将是多么令人鼓舞？如果不必再被提醒泰瑞斯·哈利伯顿(Tyrese Haliburton)选秀，那该有多好？
第二轮
雷霆 vs. 掘金： 马刺队乐于让俄克拉荷马城打一个系列赛。他们也很乐于让尼古拉·约基奇(Nikola Jokic)在那里结束比赛。
勇士 vs. 森林狼： 你可能感觉到一个主题。明尼苏达是一支更年轻的球队。马刺队不需要安东尼·爱德华兹(Anthony Edwards)建立更多的季后赛不可战胜感。年迈的勇士队正接近他们最后的欢呼。让金州勇士队获得更多的荣耀，然后让路。
热火 vs. 雄鹿： 只要我们开创先例，那么关于扬尼斯·安特托昆博(Giannis Antetokounmpo)的情况如何：一位国际巨星，拥有联盟前所未见的身体和技术组合，在他选秀他的小市场球队赢得了一个总冠军，并继续在那里蓬勃发展，让那些认为他注定要离开的人闭嘴。像 文班亚马 这样的人会觉得这很有吸引力吗？
凯尔特人 vs. 尼克斯： 如果波士顿现在继续获胜，它可能会觉得有必要避免长期规划，转而保持其核心阵容在接下来的几个赛季中保持在一起，这可能意味着在2028年左右会跌到谷底。
巧合的是，那是马刺队拥有凯尔特人队首轮选秀权的那一年。
2025年1月4日星期六，在圣安东尼奥的Frost Bank Center举行的NBA比赛上半场，丹佛掘金队中锋尼古拉·约基奇(Nkola Jokic)（15号）防守圣安东尼奥马刺队前锋维克多·文班亚马(Victor Wembanyama)（1号）。 丹佛队在加时赛中以122-111击败马刺队。
分区决赛
掘金 vs. 勇士： 记住我们几段前关于安特托昆博所说的一切吗？约基奇也是如此。
雄鹿 vs. 凯尔特人： 当然，马刺队让桑德罗·马穆克拉什维利(Sandro Mamukelashvili)来解决这个问题。两年前他被密尔沃基裁掉时，他很沮丧，认为雄鹿队从未给他足够的机会。与此同时，凯尔特人队现在雇佣了朱·霍勒迪(Jrue Holiday)，他曾经送给马穆克拉什维利一辆新的皮卡，并带他参加了一场全明星赛。
优势：波士顿。
NBA总决赛
掘金 vs. 凯尔特人： 马刺队需要13个总冠军才能赶上波士顿。他们仍然领先丹佛四个。如果掘金队再赢一个，即使是在他们解雇了他们的主教练和总经理的赛季之后？
那将是一个相当精彩的故事。考虑到其他的选择，这将是马刺队完全不介意的故事。
点击查看原文：As Spurs watch playoffs from home, who should they root for?
As Spurs watch playoffs from home, who should they root for?
San Antonio Spurs De’Aaron Fox (4) greet Boston Celtics Jrue Holliday (4) at the end of the game. Boston Celtics v San Antonio Spurs on Saturday, March 29, 2025
The night before the NBA playoffs began, the Spurs received their most pressing postseason wish. Atlanta lost to Miami in an Eastern Conference play-in game Friday, which helps the local cagers in at least three ways.
First, because the Hawks owe San Antonio their unprotected first-round pick in this June’s NBA draft (along with the right to swap picks in 2026 and another first-rounder in 2027), the Spurs now are guaranteed two of the top 14 selections this summer.
Second, the Spurs’ May lottery chances of moving into the top four (in a draft that features four consensus elite standouts) improved to 29.7%. And third, their chances of landing the top overall pick (almost sure to be Duke’s Cooper Flagg) bumped up ever-so-slightly to 6.7%.
The trade that sent Dejounte Murray to Atlanta three years ago already looked like a heist. For the Spurs, it keeps getting better. And now that they’ve already had one postseason result work out in their favor while they watch from home, they might as well keep looking out for their own interests.
So which outcomes should the Spurs be rooting for over the next couple of months? It might not matter much either way, but here’s a series-by-series guide:
FIRST ROUND
Thunder vs. Grizzlies: Priority one in happy playoff viewing is to be realistic. Oklahoma City figures to be San Antonio’s biggest rival for much of the next decade, but the Thunder aren’t losing this series. So the Spurs might as well enjoy watching the misery of a Memphis team that has tormented them over and over in recent years.
Rockets vs. Warriors: This one is simple. Houston is trying to build a perennial power on the young Spurs’ timeline. The more playoff experience that is gained by guys like Amen Thompson, Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun, the more the Rockets might be able to use that experience against Victor Wembanyama later. The Spurs want Steph Curry to shine here.
Lakers vs. Timberwolves: The next time San Antonio roots for the Lakers to win something will be the first time San Antonio roots for the Lakers to win something.
Nuggets vs. Clippers: Someday, Spurs fans will be able to watch Kawhi Leonard play with clear heads, and with no ill will, and with the realization that an ugly chapter in franchise history probably worked out best for everyone in the end.
It’s not someday yet.
Cavaliers vs. Heat: As thanks for knocking out the Hawks, the Spurs figure they owe it to Miami – and to old friend Kyle Anderson – to pull for an even bigger upset.
Celtics vs. Magic: Speaking of old friends, how can the Spurs not keep cheering for Derrick White? Before he started losing teeth in Boston, he lost teeth in San Antonio.
Knicks vs. Pistons: Two of the losing franchises in the Spurs’ first three NBA Finals victories probably think San Antonio owes them some karma. But over the past five months, the Spurs have missed the joys of hanging around a lovably cantankerous head coach, so they side with New York’s Tom Thibodeau.
Pacers vs. Bucks: This one didn’t get off to the greatest start Saturday afternoon. But how encouraging would it be for Wembanyama’s team to watch Damian Lillard come back from a blood clot in triumphant style? And how nice would it be to not have to be reminded of the Tyrese Haliburton draft any more than necessary?
SECOND ROUND
Thunder vs. Nuggets: The Spurs were fine with letting Oklahoma City have one series. And they’d be fine with letting Nikola Jokic end it there.
Warriors vs. Timberwolves: You might be sensing a theme. Minnesota’s the younger team. The Spurs don’t need Anthony Edwards to build up any more feelings of playoff invincibility. The aged Warriors are nearing their last hurrah. Let Golden State get a little more glory, then get out of the way.
Heat vs. Bucks: As long as we’re setting precedents, how about this one involving Giannis Antetokounmpo: An international superstar, with a body and a skill set unlike any the league had seen before him, wins a championship with the small-market team that drafted him and keeps thriving there, quieting those who think he’s destined to move on. Might someone like Wembanyama might find that compelling?
Celtics vs. Knicks: If Boston keeps winning now, it might feel the need to eschew long-term planning in favor of keeping its core together for the next couple of seasons, which could mean the bottom could drop out around 2028.
Coincidentally, that’s the year the Spurs have the Celtics’ first-round pick.
Denver Nuggets center Nkola Jokic (15) defends San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) during the first half of their NBA game at the Frost Bank Center on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025 in San Antonio. Denver beat the Spurs 122-111 in overtime.
CONFERENCE FINALS
Nuggets vs. Warriors: Remember everything we said about Antetokounmpo a few paragraphs ago? The same goes for Jokic, too.
Bucks vs. Celtics: Naturally, the Spurs allow Sandro Mamukelashvili to settle this. When he was waived by Milwaukee two years ago, he was crushed, believing the Bucks never gave him enough of a chance. Meanwhile, the Celtics now employ Jrue Holiday, who once gifted Mamukelashvili with a new pickup and took him to an All-Star game.
Edge: Boston.
NBA FINALS
Nuggets vs. Celtics: The Spurs need 13 championships to catch Boston. They’re still four ahead of Denver. If the Nuggets win another one, even after a season in which they fired their head coach and general manager?
That would be quite a story. And considering the alternatives, it would be one the Spurs wouldn’t mind at all.
By Mike Finger, Columnist, via San Antonio Express-News