By Lee Dresie | Pounding The Rock (PtR), 2025-05-05 21:35:12
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。
回顾狂野的首轮季后赛。
在NBA季后赛首轮开始时，我写了一篇专栏文章，讲述我在首轮比赛中支持哪些球队。随着首轮比赛在周日晚上结束——尽管第二轮比赛已经开始——让我们回顾一下首轮比赛，看看我希望获胜的球队是否如愿。而且，因为我可以同时做多件事，我们还将展望一下第二轮比赛，看看我将支持谁。就像三月疯狂一样，在一场比赛或系列赛中支持一支球队，并不意味着我必须在他们对阵下一个对手时继续支持他们。
和之前的专栏文章一样，我将追随太阳的脚步，从东部开始，然后向西移动。
1. 克利夫兰骑士队 对阵 4. 印第安纳步行者队
在第一轮中，我希望热火队和雄鹿队获胜。对于骑士队对阵热火队的系列赛，我这样说（并且正确预测了结果）：
唉，我对热火队的残余感情，即使没有季后赛吉米，也让我支持他们——但这可能无关紧要。在第二轮中，我认为我将在骑士队和雄鹿队或步行者队之间做出选择。
对于步行者队对阵雄鹿队的比赛，我希望获胜的球队再次没有获胜，而且差距很大。更糟糕的是，这是我对达米安·利拉德(Damian Lillard)伤愈复出的评论：
虽然后两者已经离开，但雄鹿队仍然有扬尼斯(Giannis)，这对我来说已经足够了，尤其是如果达米安·利拉德从他类似于文班亚马的伤病中恢复过来。这对维克多的预后也是令人鼓舞的。
我没有，也不能预测达米安·利拉德的实际伤病——跟腱撕裂。这种伤病将使雄鹿队下赛季的命运岌岌可危，并被广泛认为是可能导致NBA第三好的球员被交易的事件。雄鹿队可能希望迅速聘请一位在那种类型的交易方面有经验的人：尼科·哈里森(Nico Harrison)。
骑士队对阵步行者队是一场引人入胜的第二轮对决，骑士队理所当然地被看好。惊人的事实——多诺万·米切尔(Donovan Mitchell)的季后赛历史得分排名第九，场均超过27分。但步行者队既出色又被低估。
即使我在第一轮中反对他们，我对他们都有轻微的积极感情。几个好朋友是骑士队的球迷，而步行者队则与ABA马刺队有关联。从教练的角度来看，骑士队的防守非常出色，而步行者队在进攻端的球的运转非常好。
我计划在比赛时做出决定。我在周日下午打开了比赛，我的心…无法决定。我想我只会支持一场七场大战。步行者队在克利夫兰的比赛中爆冷获胜，这使得这种可能性更大，尽管步行者队在第一场比赛中的胜利很大程度上是基于不可持续的三分球命中率差异。如果这种情况继续下去，步行者队可能会击败骑士队。
2. 波士顿凯尔特人队 对阵 3. 纽约尼克斯队
在第一轮中，我基本上放弃了凯尔特人队对阵魔术队的比赛：
即使我是一个改过自新的前湖人队球迷，仍然很难支持绿军。然而，这个系列赛感觉会和雷霆队对阵灰熊队的比赛一样。凯尔特人队可能会在4或5场比赛中获胜，因此无需在这个系列赛上浪费我宝贵的助威资本。
在另一个半区，我轻微地支持尼克斯队战胜活塞队。我对尼克斯队的暂时好感归结为两件事：
随着时间的流逝，我开始支持我朋友的球队，这样我的朋友就会快乐。奇怪的概念，我知道。我有几个好朋友是尼克斯队的铁杆球迷，所以我宁愿支持他们的快乐，而不是今年活塞队这个伟大的故事。而且，尼克斯队拥有所有那些维拉诺瓦的球员也有帮助。
然而，对于这位前教练和仍然是马刺队球迷的我来说，观看尼克斯队的比赛并不是很愉快。我喜欢传球和球的运转，很多球员都能触球。尼克斯队的进攻，尤其是在第四节，是杰伦·布伦森(Jalen Brunson)运球直到他的防守者失去平衡，这样他才能投篮。即使它运作得相当好，而且杰伦·布伦森非常擅长，我也不喜欢观看它。我确信格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)也有同样的感觉。
尼克斯队的进攻会让波波和我足够心烦意乱，以至于我们开始支持凯尔特人队和前马刺队球员德里克·怀特(Derrick White)吗？如果是这样，我将怪罪尼克斯队教练汤姆·锡伯杜(Tom Thibodeau)。
1. 俄克拉荷马城雷霆队 对阵 4. 丹佛掘金队
我对雷霆队对阵灰熊队的比赛的评论是1000%正确的：
就像路上的车祸一样，这里没什么好看的。走开走开。
另一场比赛也很容易预测。我第三喜欢的球队，掘金队，对阵埃尔塞贡多队，又名快船队。我说：
在我几年前的愚人节帖子中，亚当·萧华(Adam Silver)将他们重新命名为埃尔塞贡多队，因为他们将永远是洛杉矶的第二支球队。增加詹姆斯·哈登(James Harden)进一步改变了局面。
经过六场比赛，掘金队——快船队的系列赛是第一轮中最好的一场。人们认为快船队是更好的球队，尽管优势非常小。（还有人觉得通过改变一个字母，“though”、“thought”和“through”的发音是多么的不同而感到有趣吗？这就是为什么英语如此“tough”。明白我的意思了吗？）
然后第七场比赛发生了。詹姆斯·哈登打出了一场典型的哈登式终结比赛，8投2中只得到7分，但他确实有很多助攻。在快船队第一节领先5分之后，掘金队在第二节以16分击败了快船队。为了证明这不是侥幸，掘金队在第三节也以16分击败了快船队。几分钟后，掘金队将比分提高到了视觉上令人愉悦的99-66。在比赛被拉开差距的过程中，马刺队的球迷和我很幸运地看到了我们最喜欢的球员之一坐在我们最不喜欢的球员之一旁边。
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当这张照片出现在屏幕上时，我正在给一位朋友发短信，说掘金队需要换下他们所有的首发球员，以便在前往俄克拉荷马城之前获得更多的休息时间。
第一场比赛是周一晚上。我将竭尽全力支持掘金队，但我担心俄克拉荷马城雷霆队对于这支丹佛球队来说可能过于强大和有天赋。掘金队基本上只打7个人，其中一个是拉塞尔·威斯布鲁克(Russell Westbrook)，他要么做出很棒的动作，要么做出糟糕的动作，没有中间状态。
6. 明尼苏达森林狼队 对阵 7. 金州勇士队
当我宣布我将支持森林狼队而不是我以前最喜欢的球队湖人队时，我收到了一些来自洛杉矶朋友的严厉批评。我的朋友迈克宣布他将取消我们的友谊，并恳求我“支持该死的队服”。迈克回忆起我2013年10月28日的旧博客文章，宣布我放弃了湖人队的球迷身份，即使我参加的比赛是湖人队战胜快船队：
所以，当我在比赛现场时，很高兴快船队输了（我不是临时球迷），但这有点超现实。我最喜欢的湖人队球员保罗(Pau)只打了24分钟。前湖人队球员乔丹·法玛尔(Jordan Farmer)回归并表现出色——但他是和前面提到的7号，肖妮(Shawnee)，一个名叫约翰逊(Johnson)的人一起打球，谁在乎他呢卡曼(Kaman)，以及前南加州大学的糟糕投篮者尼克·杨(Nick Young)。我很难支持那些穿着这种颜色队服的家伙，仅仅因为过去我真正认识和关心的湖人队球员穿着同样的队服。”
在同一篇文章中，我宣布我已经用勇士队取代了湖人队，成为我“继马刺队之后的第二喜欢的球队”。请注意，这发生在勇士队变得非常出色之前，因为他们尚未解雇马克·杰克逊(Mark Jackson)作为教练——他们在2013-2014赛季末聘请了史蒂夫·科尔(Steve Kerr)：
斯蒂芬·库里(Steph Curry)去了戴维森学院，在那里他和哈弗福德学院室友和足球传奇人物菲尔·齐平(Phil Zipin)的儿子一起玩——菲尔的儿子说斯蒂芬是个好人。他也是一个伟大的射手，就像我梦想的那样。所以这是一点。湖人队的解说员和前湖人队球员迈克尔·汤普森(Michael Thompson)的儿子是另一名后卫，看起来也是个好人。也是一个伟大的射手。那是两点。安德鲁·博古特(Andrew Bogut)来自澳大利亚，我们有两个来自澳大利亚的好朋友。而且他是一个伟大的传球手。那是三点。伊戈达拉(Iguadola)是一位伟大的防守者，团队球员，看起来像个真正的好人。那是四点。哈里森·巴恩斯(Harrison Barnes)现在又回到了第六人的位置，他去了北卡罗来纳州，我通常不喜欢北卡罗来纳州，但是北卡罗来纳州的传奇人物鲍勃·贝内特(Bob Bennett)是世界上最好的人之一。所以这有帮助。我真的很喜欢勇士队的伟大球员里克·巴里(Rick Barry)的成长。前克莱蒙特球员和全美球员克里斯·格林(Chris Greene)也是勇士队的铁杆球迷。这对我来说已经足够了。勇士队万岁！
在勇士队在休斯顿取得令人印象深刻的胜利之后，我们迎来了一场6号对阵7号的对决，你知道我希望谁赢。勇士队万岁！
点击查看原文：Looking ahead to the second round of the NBA Playoffs
Looking ahead to the second round of the NBA Playoffs
While also looking back at a wild first round.
At the start of the first round of the NBA playoffs, I wrote a column about which teams I would be rooting for in the first round. With the first round ending Sunday night — though not before the second round began — let’s take a look back at the first round to see whether the teams I wanted to win did so. And because I can multi-task, we will also take a look forward as to who I will be rooting for in the second round. As in March Madness, rooting for a team in one game, or series, does not obligate me to stick with that team against their next opponent.
As with the prior column, I will follow the sun and start in the east, and then move west.
1. Cleveland Cavaliers vs. 4. Indiana Pacers
In the first round, I wanted the Heat and the Bucks to win. For the Cavs-Heat series, I said this (and correctly predicted the outcome):
Alas, my residual feelings for the Heat, even without Playoff Jimmy, have me rooting for them — but it likely won’t matter. In the second round, I assume I will be choosing between the Cavs and either the Bucks or Pacers.
For the Pacers-Bucks, the team I wanted to win once again did not, and it wasn’t very close. Even worse, this was my comment about Damian Lillard’s comeback from injury:
While the latter two have departed, the Bucks still have Giannis, which is enough for me, especially if Damian Lillard comes back from his Wembanyama-like injury. That would also be encouraging for Victor’s own prognosis.
I did not, and could not, predict Dame’s actual injury — a torn Achilles. That injury which will doom the Bucks for next season and has been widely seen as the event that may lead to a trade of the third best player in the NBA. The Bucks may want to quickly hire someone with experience in that type of trade: Nico Harrison.
Cavs vs. Pacers is a fascinating second round match-up, in which the Cavs are rightfully favored. Amazing fact — Donovan Mitchell has the 9th highest playoff scoring average all-time at over 27 points per game. But the Pacers are both good and underrated.
Even though I rooted against both in Round One, I have mildly positive feelings about both. Several good friends are Cavs fans, and the Pacers have the ABA Spurs connection. From a coach’s viewpoint, the Cavs play great D, and the Pacers move the ball extremely well on offense.
I planned to make this a game-time decision. I turned on the game Sunday afternoon and my heart … couldn’t decide. I think I will just root for a 7-game series. The Pacers’ Game One upset win in Cleveland makes that a bit more likely, though the Game One Pacers win was largely based on an unsustainable three-point shooting differential. If that continues, the Pacers may just blow out the Cavs.
2. Boston Celtics vs. 3. New York Knicks
In Round One, I essentially punted on Celtics vs. Magic:
Even though I am a reformed former Laker fan, it remains difficult to root for the Green. However, this series feels like it will go the same way as OKC-Memphis. The Celtics will probably win in 4 or 5 games, so no need to waste any of my precious rooting capital on this series.
On the other side of the bracket, I rooted mildly for the Knicks over the Pistons. My temporary affection for the Knicks came down to two things:
As time has gone by, I started rooting for my friends’ teams so my friends would be happy. Odd concept, I know. I have several good friends who are big Knick fans, so I will root for their happiness over the great story that is this year’s Pistons.It also helps that the Knicks have all those Villanova guys.
However, watching the Knicks actually play is not very enjoyable for this ex-coach and still Spurs fan. I like passing and ball movement, with a bunch of players touching the ball. The Knicks’ offense, especially in fourth quarters, is Jalen Brunson dribbling the ball around until his defender gets off-balance so he can shoot. Even though it works fairly well, and Brunson is very good at it, I don’t enjoy watching it. I am sure Gregg Popovich feels the same.
Will the Knicks offense upset Pop and me enough that we start to root for the Celtics and ex-Spur Derrick White? If so, I blame Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau.
1. Oklahoma City Thunder vs. 4. Denver Nuggets
I was 1000% correct with this comment about the Thunder-Grizzlies match-up:
Like a car accident on the road, nothing to see here. Just move along.
The other match-up was also an easy call. My third favorite team, the Nuggets, vs. the El Segundos a.k.a. the Clippers. I said:
In my April Fools’ post a few years back, Adam Silver re-named them the El Segundos because they will always be LA’s second team. Adding James Harden moved the needle even further away.
Through six games, the Nuggets — Clippers series was the best of the first round. The Clippers were thought to be the better team, though by the smallest of margins. (Is anyone else amused by how differently “though”, “thought” and “through” are pronounced by changing a single letter? Which is why the English language is so “tough”. See what I did there?)
And then Game Seven happened. James Harden had a classic Harden close-out game, with only 7 points on 2-8 shooting, though he did have a bunch of assists. After the Clippers led by 5 after the first quarter, the Nuggets outscored the Clippers by 16 in the second quarter. And to prove it was not a fluke, the Nuggets outscored the Clippers by 16 in the third quarter too. A few minutes later, the Nuggets went up by the visually pleasing score of 99-66. During the blow-out, Spurs fans and I were blessed with this shot of one of our favorite players sitting next to one of our least.
While that was on the screen, I was texting a friend that the Nuggets needed to sub out all their starters to get just a bit more rest before traveling to OKC.
Game 1 is Monday night. I will be rooting hard for the Nuggets, but I fear that OKC may be too deep and talented for this Denver team. The Nuggets essentially play only 7 guys, one of whom is Russell Westbrook, who will either make great or terrible plays, with nothing in between.
6. Minnesota Timberwolves vs. 7. Golden State Warriors
I received some harsh words from some of my LA friends when I announced that I would be rooting for the T’Wolves over my ex-favorite team, the Lakers. My buddy Mike announced he was revoking our friendship and implored me to just “root for the damn laundry”. Mike was harkening back to my old blog post from October 28, 2013 renouncing my Laker fandom, even though the game I attended was a Laker victory over the Clippers:
So, while I was at the game, and happy the Clippers lost (no band-wagon fan am I), it was rather surreal. My favorite Laker Pau played only 24 minutes. Former Laker Jordan Farmer returned and played well – but did so playing with the aforementioned No. 7, Shawnee, some guy named Johnson, who cares about him Kaman, and ex-Trojan bad shot taker Nick Young. It was hard for me to root for the guys wearing this color laundry just because in years past Laker players I really knew and cared about wore that same laundry.”
In that same post, I announced that I had replaced the Lakers with the Warriors as my “second to the Spurs favorite team”. Note that this was before the Warriors had become very good, as they had not yet disposed of Mark Jackson as coach — they hired Steve Kerr at the end of the 2103-2014 season:
Steph Curry went to Davidson, where he hung out with the son of Haverford College roommate and soccer legend Phil Zipin – Phil’s son says Steph is a good guy. He is also a great shooter, like I dream of being. So that’s one. Laker announcer and former Laker player Michael Thompson’s son is the other guard, also seems like a good guy. Also a great shooter. That’s two. Andrew Bogut is from Australia, and we have 2 great friends from Australia. And he is a great passer. That is three. Iguadola is a great defender, team player, seems like a real good guy. That’s four. Harrison Barnes, now back as 6th man, went to North Carolina, who I normally don’t like, but Tar Heel legend Bob Bennett is one of the best people in the world. So that helps. I really liked Warrior great Rick Barry growing up. And former Claremont player and All-American Chris Greene is a Warrior fan from way back. That is enough for me. Warriors all the way, baby!
After the Warriors’ impressive win at Houston, we have a 6 vs. 7 showdown, and you know who I want to win. Warriors all the way, baby!
By Lee Dresie, via Pounding The Rock