By Jeff McDonald, Staff Writer | San Antonio Express-News (SAEN), 2025-10-28 15:09:50
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。
2025年10月26日，周日，圣安东尼奥，霜岸中心球馆，主场揭幕战对阵布鲁克林篮网。比赛最后一分钟，随着领先优势扩大，圣安东尼奥马刺队前锋凯尔登·约翰逊 (3号) 与前锋维克托·文班亚马 (1号) 激情撞胸庆祝。最终马刺以118-107击败篮网。
上周，当马刺在客场加时战胜新奥尔良的终场哨声尖锐地响起时，那声音只意味着一件事。
狂欢节（Mardi Gras）时间到了，就在冰沙王中心球馆的客队更衣室里。
凯尔登·约翰逊 (Keldon Johnson) 负责提供音乐。他用一个迷你冰箱大小的派对音响，以足以撼动墙壁、连梅泰里都能听见的音量，不间断地播放着R&B热单。
球队的K歌之王、新秀卡特·布莱恩特 (Carter Bryant) 跟随音乐深情哼唱。其他人则用不同程度的欢呼、呐喊和善意的起哄为他助兴。
此情此景，唯一缺的就是夜店的卡座服务了。
在房间的另一角目睹着这一切，33岁的哈里森·巴恩斯 (Harrison Barnes) 不禁感觉自己像是误入年轻人夜店的大叔。
这位马刺队内最年长的球员并不打算阻止孩子们享受他们的乐趣，即便他看上去急需一副耳塞，或者一片雅维（Advil），或者两者都要。
“这氛围，”巴恩斯说，“简直是前所未有的高涨。”
那已是两场胜利之前的事了。
2025年10月26日，周日，圣安东尼奥，霜岸中心球馆，主场揭幕战对阵布鲁克林篮网。比赛期间，圣安东尼奥马刺队主教练米奇·约翰逊向他的队员发出指示。最终马刺以118-107击败篮网。
自“大快活”城（新奥尔良的昵称）归来后，马刺接连战胜布鲁克林和多伦多，帮助球队取得了自2017-18赛季以来的首次4-0开局。
马刺队史上没有任何一支球队——没错，即便是那五支NBA总冠军球队——曾取得过5-0的开局。
截至最新消息，这群曾一度陷入困境的马刺队员们，如今的队内氛围正冲破云霄，直奔天际。
“现在更衣室里的能量非常高涨，”后卫斯蒂芬·卡斯尔 (Stephon Castle) 说，“队员们心意相通，而且超级专注。”
马刺火箭般的开局使他们成为西部联盟仅有的两支仍保持不败的球队之一。另一支是卫冕冠军俄克拉荷马城雷霆。
对于主教练米奇·约翰逊 (Mitch Johnson) 来说，赛季初的氛围转变为他，以及他的前任格雷格·波波维奇 (Gregg Popovich)，都带来了许久未曾面对过的一道难题：
如何在一波实打实的连胜期间，防止球队被胜利冲昏头脑。
“年轻人身上本就有一种热情、兴奋和活力，”约翰逊说，“有时候，这是一种超能力，能带来好的结果。但有时候，我们需要深呼吸，保持冷静。有时候，我们需要有人来问责，确保我们不会得意忘形。”
约翰逊表示，到目前为止，球员们似乎很好地守住了这条界线。
“从训练营开始，这些家伙就做得很好，他们一步一个脚印，”他说，“努力不被漫长赛季的情绪起伏和过山车般的波动所左右。”
在过去几年里，马刺的教练组面临的恰恰是相反的问题。
在成功时期努力让球队保持脚踏实地，比起在一波例如18连败的颓势中竭力阻止球队放弃抵抗，无疑是一个有趣得多的难题。
加上季前赛的5胜0负，马刺自4月11日以来，还未输掉任何一场NBA比赛。
“从技术上讲，迪伦穿着马刺球衣还从没输过球呢，”巴恩斯在提到头号新秀迪伦·哈珀 (Dylan Harper) 时说。
2025年10月26日，周日，圣安东尼奥，霜岸中心球馆，主场揭幕战对阵布鲁克林篮网。上半场，圣安东尼奥马刺队后卫迪伦·哈珀 (2号) 在命中一球后庆祝。最终马刺以118-107击败篮网。
巴恩斯说，马刺在十月的出色表现所带来的良好氛围，并不仅仅局限于球场之上。
这种氛围早在训练营开始前就已然形成。
“整个夏天，大家经常一起出去玩，建立了深厚的场下化学反应，”巴恩斯说，“我认为这种凝聚力正在球场上显现出来。无论我们是4胜0负还是0胜4负，我就是感觉今年的能量不一样了。”
马刺冲刺般的开局并非虚假的繁荣，但确实也带有几分“拭目以待”的色彩。
马刺队击败的四个对手——达拉斯、新奥尔良、布鲁克林和多伦多——截至周二，总战绩仅为2胜13负。
前方将有更严峻的考验，马刺对此心知肚明。
“那四场比赛是我们理应拿下的，”维克托·文班亚马 (Victor Wembanyama) 说，“如果我们输了，那才会令人失望。”周一战胜猛龙的比赛中，文班亚马砍下24分和15个篮板，开启了他冲击个人连续第二周西部最佳球员荣誉的征程。
这一点，也体现了与以往赛季的不同。
在那些痛苦的重建赛季里，很长一段时间，马刺都是联盟其他29支球队眼中预计能够战胜的对手。
在他们自己的赛程表上，并没有多少“理应拿下的胜利”。
“很显然，我们以前没处在过现在这个位置，”后卫德文·瓦塞尔 (Devin Vassell) 说，“这绝对是一种改变，但我们不想因此变得自满。”
目前看来，面对成功，马刺球员们的表态都十分得体。他们明白这是一个漫长的赛季，四场比赛还不到整个赛季的5%。
未来会有艰难困苦，会有重重障碍，也会有失利和连败。
西部联盟仍将是一场绝对的血战。
“我们知道自己不可能取得82连胜，”卡斯尔说，“当失利来临时，我们也必须知道该如何应对。”
那一天终将到来，也许最快就在周四。但在那之前，马刺正在享受学习如何应对胜利的乐趣。
搬上那台巨型音响，让音乐继续奏响吧。
San Antonio Spurs forward Carter Bryant (11) signs autographs before the Spurs’ home game against the Toronto Raptors at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Monday, Oct. 27, 2025.
San Antonio Spurs forward Harrison Barnes (40) receives a high-five from San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) after making a three-pointer during the second quarter against the Toronto Raptors at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Monday, Oct. 27, 2025.
San Antonio Spurs guard Devin Vassell (24) drives down the court during the NBA game against the Toronto Raptors at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Monday, Oct. 27, 2025. The Spurs defeated the Raptors, 121-103.
Toronto Raptors forward Sandro Mamukelashvili (54) makes a shot over San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) during the NBA game at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Monday, Oct. 27, 2025. The Spurs defeated the Raptors, 121-103.
点击查看原文：Spurs' hot start presents Mitch Johnson's team with new challenge
Spurs’ hot start presents Mitch Johnson’s team with new challenge
San Antonio Spurs forward Keldon Johnson (3) and forward Victor Wembanyama (1) chest bump as they react to their growing lead in the final minute of the home opening game against the Brooklyn Nets at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025. The Spurs defeated the Nets, 118-107.
The final horn blared on the Spurs’ overtime victory at New Orleans last week, and that sound could only mean one thing.
It was time for Mardi Gras, right there in the visitors’ locker room at the Smoothie King Center.
Keldon Johnson provided the music. He blasted an unending stream of R&B hits through a party speaker the size of a mini fridge, cranked to a wall-rumbling volume that could be heard in Metairie.
Rookie Carter Bryant, the team’s resident karaoke king, crooned along. Others encouraged him with various levels of whooping and hollering and guff-giving.
All that was missing was the bottle service.
Watching this unfold in the opposite corner of the room, 33-year-old Harrison Barnes couldn’t help but feel like the old guy who had accidentally wandered into the wrong nightclub.
The Spurs’ eldest player wasn’t about to discourage the kids from having their fun, even if he looked in serious need of earplugs or an Advil or both.
“The vibes,” Barnes said, “are at an all-time high.”
That was two victories ago.
San Antonio Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson signals to his team during the home opener against the Brooklyn Nets at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025. The Spurs defeated the Nets, 118-107.
The Spurs have since returned from the Big Easy to record back-to-back wins over Brooklyn and Toronto, affording the club its first 4-0 start since 2017-18.
No team in Spurs history — no, not even one of the five NBA championship teams — has opened 5-0.
At last update, the vibes amongst this group of once-beleaguered Spurs are now hurtling somewhere between Mars and Jupiter.
“The energy is very high in the locker room right now,” guard Stephon Castle said. “Guys are connected. Guys are super locked in.”
The Spurs’ rocket-ship start leaves them as one of only two teams still left unbeaten in the Western Conference. The other is the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder.
For coach Mitch Johnson, the early-season vibe shift has created a conundrum neither he nor predecessor Gregg Popovich have faced in quite some time:
How to keep a team from getting too high on their own supply during a bona fide winning streak.
“There’s a certain level of enthusiasm, excitement and energy in young people, period,” Johnson said. “Sometimes it’s a superpower and it’s for good. Sometimes we need to take a deep breath and compose ourselves. Sometimes we need to be held accountable and not get ahead of ourselves.”
So far, Johnson says, it seems players are sticking to the appropriate side of that line.
“These guys have done a good job since the start of training camp of taking it day by day,” he said, “and not trying to ride the ebb and flow and roller coaster of emotions of a long season.”
For the past several years, the Spurs’ coaching staff has faced the opposite issue.
Trying to keep a team’s head out of the clouds during a period of success is a considerably more fun problem to have than trying to keep a team from letting go of the rope during, say, an 18-game losing skid.
Combined with a 5-0 preseason, the Spurs haven’t lost an NBA game of any kind since April 11.
“Technically, Dylan’s never lost a game in a Spurs uniform,” Barnes said, referring to top rookie Dylan Harper.
San Antonio Spurs guard Dylan Harper (2) reacts after making a shot during the first half of the home opener against the Brooklyn Nets at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025. The Spurs defeated the Nets, 118-107.
The good vibes of the Spurs’ awesome October extend beyond the court, Barnes said.
They also began well before training camp.
“There’s a lot of off-the-court chemistry that has been built up over the summer, just guys hanging out,” Barnes said. “I think that connectivity is showing up on the court. Whether we’re 4-0 or 0-4, I just feel like the energy is different.”
The Spurs’ sprinter start isn’t fool’s gold exactly, but it does come with a pinch of “wait and see.”
The four foes the Spurs have defeated — Dallas, New Orleans, Brooklyn and Toronto — entered Tuesday with a combined record of 2-13.
There will be tougher hurdles to come, and the Spurs know it.
“Those are four games that we were supposed to win,” said Victor Wembanyama, who kicked off a bid for his second straight Western Conference Player of the Week award with 24 points and 15 rebounds Monday against the Raptors. “If we lost them, we would have been disappointed.”
This, too, represents a shift from previous campaigns.
For so long during their agonizing rebuilding seasons, the Spurs were one of the teams most of the 29 others were projected to beat.
There were not many “supposed to wins” on their own schedule.
“Obviously, we haven’t been in this position before,” guard Devin Vassell said. “It’s definitely a change, but we don’t want to get complacent.”
For now, Spurs players are saying the right things in the face of success. They understand it is a long season, and four games equals less than 5% of it.
There will be hardships. There will be obstacles. There will be losses and losing streaks.
The Western Conference will still be an absolute bloodbath.
“We know we’re not going to win 82 straight,” Castle said. “We’ve got to know how to react when we lose one, too.”
That will happen, possibly as soon as Thursday. Until then, the Spurs are having a blast learning how to react to winning.
Wheel in the jumbo speaker, and let the band play on.
By Jeff McDonald, Staff Writer, via San Antonio Express-News