By Tom Orsborn, Staff Writer | San Antonio Express-News (SAEN), 2025-11-04 11:12:19
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。
洛杉矶——在周日 以118-130不敌菲尼克斯太阳 的比赛中，马刺队后卫斯蒂芬·卡斯尔 (Stephon Castle) 的大部分时间都在追防德文·布克 (Devin Booker)。而在周三晚上，他可能将面临一个更为严峻的挑战：湖人队球星卢卡·东契奇 (Luka Doncic)。
东契奇能否出战马刺尚不确定。此前，在湖人 以123-115战胜波特兰开拓者 的比赛中，他因左小腿挫伤的伤病管理而缺席。就在一天前，他刚刚在球队以130-120战胜迈阿密热火的比赛中砍下29分、11个篮板和10次助攻。
常规负责防守对手头号外线球员的卡斯尔表示，如果东契奇决定出战，他已经为这项挑战做好了准备。这位来自斯洛文尼亚的五届全明星球员在本赛季出战的四场比赛中场均得到41.3分，在过去三场比赛中分别得到44分、49分和43分。
“这可能是我在比赛中最享受的部分，”卡斯尔在谈到防守顶级得分手时说道。“从小看着这些球员打球，到现在能够成为他们的主要对位者，这绝对是一种荣幸。我期待着所有这些对位和所有这些比赛。我非常期待周三的这一场。”
这位2025届年度最佳新秀在防守布克时任务艰巨，后者在35分钟内15投10中，得到28分和13次助攻。
尽管在防守端承担了繁重任务，卡斯尔自己也交出了令人印象深刻的数据，在34分钟内16投10中，贡献了26分、7个篮板、5次助攻、2次抢断和1次盖帽。
卡斯尔和布克之间的对抗时而火药味十足。在上半场还剩一秒时，卡斯尔与马刺队教练米奇·约翰逊 (Mitch Johnson) 一同被吹罚了技术犯规。
卡斯尔将这次技术犯规归因于“可能只是比赛中的情绪宣泄”。
“就是一群渴望胜利的球员在场上竞争，”他说道。“双方有些言语交锋。显然，裁判不喜欢这样，所以吹罚了。但这就是比赛的一部分。”
在短短13秒内，卡斯尔就对这位四届全明星球员领到了三次犯规，这凸显了防守场均得到30.0分的布克是何等艰巨的挑战。
“这很正常，”卡斯尔说。“我得回去看看录像。我不知道我的防守技术有多好。我会对每一个吹罚提出异议。我不认为我犯规了。我想联盟里没人会认为自己犯规。那些球可能确实是犯规，也可能不是。”
约翰逊：全力以赴冲抢篮板
在本赛季初期的大部分时间里，身高6英尺6英寸的马刺队前锋凯尔登·约翰逊 (Keldon Johnson) 一直是NBA进攻篮板率排名前十的球员中，唯一一位身高低于6英尺10英寸的球员。
截至周二，约翰逊以12.5%的进攻篮板率排名联盟第13位。他场均贡献5.3个篮板，其中包括2.5个进攻篮板。
进攻篮板率是一项统计数据，用于衡量一名球员在场时，抢占了球队总进攻篮板数的百分比。
来自休斯顿火箭队、身高6英尺11英寸的史蒂文·亚当斯 (Steven Adams) 以27.0%的数据领跑全联盟。
“这是我的职责，”约翰逊说。“我的任务就是冲抢篮板。我必须成为球队的活力先生。无论我感觉如何，无论数据如何，我每晚都必须带来能量。我只需做好我的本职工作。那就是冲抢篮板、保持积极、争夺额外的进攻机会，做任何球队需要我做的事情，帮助我们赢得胜利。”
约翰逊的进攻篮板数在马刺队内排名第二。卢克·科内特 (Luke Kornet) 的场均5.0个进攻篮板比他更高，但这位7英尺1英寸的中锋/前锋因脚踝伤势仅出战了两场比赛。
“我太爱这一点了，”马刺队球星维克托·文班亚马 (Victor Wembanyama) 在谈到约翰逊创造额外进攻机会的能力时说。“这正是他理解并完全接受了一个经常被忽视、但却至关重要的事实的产物——他可以这样来帮助我们。我对他充满敬意。”
约翰逊的力量是他能够在低位占据优势的重要因素，但卡斯尔表示，这不仅仅是肌肉力量的功劳。
“他的力量是很大一部分原因，但他对比赛的理解同样重要，他知道何时该冲、何时不该冲，并且能持续不断地做到这一点，以至于对手球队几乎不得不在（针对马刺的）球探报告上对他进行重点标注。他总能出现在正确的位置上。”
菲尼克斯太阳队中锋马克·威廉姆斯 (Mark Williams) 在进攻篮板率上排名第16位，他表示约翰逊无所畏惧。
“这展现了他的侵略性和冲抢篮板的意愿，”威廉姆斯说。“在内线和那么多人肉搏并不容易，尤其是当你面对的球员通常比你高得多时。”
但约翰逊如此擅长冲抢篮板的最大原因，在于他那纯粹的、想要得到球的渴望。
“要为如何抢到进攻篮板总结出一个公式或经验蓝图是很难的，”马刺队教练米奇·约翰逊说，“更多的是依靠努力、韧性和不懈的拼搏精神。”
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) drives to the basket as San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles, Monday, March 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) shoots over San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles, Monday, March 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker, right, looks to pass the ball as San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle (5) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Nov 2, 2025, in Phoenix.
点击查看原文：Why Spurs' Stephon Castle up for defensive challenge vs Luka Doncic
Why Spurs’ Stephon Castle up for defensive challenge vs Luka Doncic
LOS ANGELES – Fresh off chasing Devin Booker for much of Sunday’s 130-118 loss at Phoenix, Spurs guard Stephon Castle could be facing an even bigger challenge Wednesday night: Lakers star Luka Doncic.
Doncic’s status against the Spurs is uncertain after he sat out the Lakers’ 123-115 win at Portland on Monday due to lower left leg contusion injury management a day after he had 29 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in a 130-120 win over Miami.
Castle, who routinely defends the opponent’s top perimeter player, said he’s ready for the challenge should Doncic suit up. In his four games this season, the five-time All-Star from Slovenia is averaging 41.3 points after scoring 44, 49 and 43 in his last three games.
“That’s probably the funnest part of the game for me,” Castle said of defending premium scoring threats. “Growing up watching all these guys and then being put on that primary matchup is definitely a blessing. I look forward to all these matchups and all these games. I’m definitely going to be looking forward to the one Wednesday.”
The 2025 rookie of the year had his hands full with Booker, who finished with 28 points on 10 of 15 from the floor and 13 assists in 35 minutes.
Despite a heavy workload defensively, Castle put up some impressive numbers himself, finishing with 26 points on 10 of 16, seven rebounds, five assists, two steals and a block in 34 minutes.
Things got heated at times between Castle and Booker. Castle got hit with a technical foul along with Spurs coach Mitch Johnson with one second left in first half.
Castle chalked up the technical to “probably just the emotion of the game.”
“Just a bunch of guys competing, wanting to win,” he said. “Words were said. Obviously, the ref didn’t like it and called it. But it’s part of (the game).”
The challenge of defending Booker, who is averaging 30.0 points, was underscored by Castle picking up three fouls against the four-time All-Star in the span of 13 seconds.
“It happens,” Castle said. “I got to go back and look at it. I don’t know how good my technique was. I’m going to argue every call. I don’t think I have any foul. I don’t think anybody in the league thinks they do. They might’ve been fouls, they might’ve not have been.”
Johnson attacking boards with abandon
For much of this young season, 6-foot-6 Spurs forward Keldon Johnson has been the only player ranked among the top 10 in the NBA in offensive rebound percentage standing under 6-10.
As of Tuesday, Johnson ranked 13th with a percentage of 12.5. He averages 5.3 rebounds per game, including 2.5 offensive boards.
Offensive rebound percentage is the statistic measuring the percentage of a team’s offensive rebounds a player has while on the court.
Houston’s Steven Adams, who stands 6-11, leads the league at 27.0%.
“It’s my role,” Johnson said. "That’s what I do – crash the glass. “I got to be the energy guy. I got to bring it every night regardless of how I feel and regardless of what the numbers say. I just got to do my role. That’s crashing the boards, being active, getting extra possessions, doing whatever my team needs to do so we can win.”
Johnson ranks second on the Spurs in offensive rebounds. Luke Kornet is averaging more at 5.0, but the 7-foot-1 center/forward has played in only two games due to an ankle injury.
“I love it,” Spurs star Victor Wembanyama said of Johnson’s ability to produce extra possessions. “It is just the product of him understanding a huge thing that often gets overlooked, but a huge piece of how he can help us and just totally buying on it. Total respect for him.”
Johnson’s strength is a big factor in his ability to gain position down low, but Castle said there’s more to it than just muscle.
“His strength is a big part of it, but so it his understanding of the game and knowing when and when not to crash and just doing it repeatedly to where teams have to damn near put it on their (scouting report for the Spurs). He’s just always in the right spot.”
Phoenix center Mark Williams, who ranks 16th in offensive rebound percentage, said Johnson is fearless.
“It just shows his aggressiveness, his willingness to crash,” Williams said. “It’s not easy being down there with everybody, especially dudes that are usually a lot taller than you.”
But the biggest reason why Johnson is so good at is his sheer desire to go get the ball.
“It’s tough to have an equation or anecdotal blueprint of how to get offense rebounds as much as it is effort, tenacity, relentlessness,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said.
By Tom Orsborn, Staff Writer, via San Antonio Express-News