Spurs Insider Podcast, 2025-12-17 03:16:00
专栏作家迈克·芬格 (Mike Finger) 和马刺跟队记者杰夫·麦克唐纳 (Jeff McDonald) 及汤姆·奥斯本 (Tom Orsborn) 讨论了维克托·文班亚马 (Victor Wembanyama) 的回归、马刺队在NBA杯中战胜俄克拉荷马城雷霆队的胜利，以及这一切对球队日益光明的赛季前景意味着什么。
推荐阅读：
以下是播客的文字实录：
迈克·芬格 ：这里是“马刺内幕”播客的拉斯维加斯特别版，信号来自遍布北美的绝密地点所组成的高度安全网络。我是迈克·芬格，与我同在的还有《快报新闻》的马刺跟队记者杰夫·麦克唐纳，以及本周在拉斯维加斯上演最受期待回归戏码的汤姆·奥斯本。
全城都在热议汤姆·奥斯本在缺席数周后回归“马刺内幕”播客，就像维克托·文班亚马本周重返球场一样，不过后者的庆祝声势要小一些。汤姆。
汤姆·奥斯本 ：没错。
迈克·芬格 ：呃，前几天晚上，你们二位在T-Mobile球馆组成了一对绝佳的，呃，搭档。呃，你们感觉如何？
汤姆·奥斯本 ：嗯，我的出场时间没有受限，但我，但我从一位好队友迈克·芬格那里得到了一个巨大的助攻，所以。
迈克·芬格 ：说到助攻，我们得先说明一下，如果今天这档播客的主持人听起来格外迷人悦耳，那是因为我，我忘了打包我的《快报新闻》播客麦克风，但我们得到了播客的好朋友、人民的伙计、来自ESPN的迈克尔·莱特 (Michael Wright) 的助攻。这是一个ESPN的麦克风，所以我们今天在播客里的声音会显得格外专业。不过请继续，汤姆。
汤姆·奥斯本 ：是的，嗯，是的，文班，我是说，是的，在拉斯维加斯这个反乌托邦式的噩梦之地，嗯，你知道，他上演了一场梦幻般的表演。呃，他推迟了登场时间，我认为这意义重大，标志着，你知道，米奇对这支球队的掌控力有多强。这在某种程度上也是米奇的一场正名之战。呃，我认为他做出了所有正确的决定。但是，是的，文班，你知道，跳过第一节，在第四节打了九分钟，你知道，在第四节砍下他22分中的15分。这结果简直不能再好了。嗯，是的，我认为看到这一幕真的很棒。
迈克·芬格 ：这远不是第一次有球员，甚至是明星球员，在重要比赛中带着出场时间限制复出。但杰夫，这是一种非常马刺式的处理方式，他们重新思考了20分钟背后的整个理念。我想，嗯，传统上你会尝试把这些时间分散开。如果你知道每节只能打五分钟，那你就会每节打五分钟凑够20分钟，或者你会打第一节的开局，第二节的末尾，确保为最后时刻存留一些时间，但把时间分散开对球员来说可能会很别扭，即使你想为最后时刻留出八分钟。嗯，很多球队都试图为最后时刻保留大量时间。我认为他们的方式很有趣，他们，他们有点重新思考了一切，然后说，嘿，我们干脆让他打一场接近三节的比赛，一场正常的三节比赛。然后，呃，让他替补出场。
而且，呃，就像汤姆说的，那是米奇的决策。我认为那是一个深思熟虑的团队计划，尽管在第一节，当全美国和整个南德州都为他们的想法感到愤怒时，这看起来很疯狂。嗯，冒险之处在于，比赛可能会在文班不在场时失控。但这真的是冒险吗？当同一支马刺队在他缺阵期间取得了九胜三负的战绩时？嗯，这很有道理。
杰夫·麦克唐纳 ：这有道理，但确实是一场冒险。而且不仅仅是你可能会陷入落后，而且，嗯，每个球员在那种情况下都是不同的。比如他们想如何处理。嗯，我知道，我知道马刺当年在蒂姆·邓肯 (Tim Duncan) 巅峰时期也这么做过。我记得是2010年的一场比赛，嗯，在多伦多。我，我不记得蒂姆是刚从长期伤病中恢复，还是只是背靠背的第二场，他们想尝试一下，但他们让他整个第一节都坐在场下，他讨厌透了。他说我们再也别这么干了。他就是无法进入节奏，呃，冷着身子上场。他就是不喜欢。
嗯，维克（指文班亚马）显然能更好地适应这种情况，我，我想，嗯，这也是一部分原因。我是说，他们，他们和维克谈过这件事。比如，你会，你，你，或者说，你知道，不是他做的决定，但他们咨询过他，“咨询”可能是更准确的说法。你知道，你觉得，嗯，第二节上场然后正常打完剩下的比赛会更舒服吗？你基本上是想早点上还是晚点上？然后，嗯，是的，这奏效了。这对每个人都奏效了，但在你真正去做之前，你不知道它会不会奏效。所以这是一场冒险，而且赌赢了。
迈克·芬格 ：嗯，在你做之前，你不知道它会奏效。这听起来很荒谬。听起来像是，呃，播客里那种为了骗点击而胡说八道的“热点锐评”。但马刺队知道这会奏效。周六下午他们走进那座球馆时，我从未，我，我是说，那几乎就像是旧时代的季后赛，他们知道自己会赢。而这是一支已经六年没进过季后赛的球队，面对的是一支整个赛季只输过一场的队伍。嗯，他们一直在痛宰对手，不只是击败每个人，而是痛宰对手，并且已经取得了16连胜。但当马刺队周六走进球馆时，他们知道自己会赢。而且，这是我很久很久没有在这个团队身上看到的一种，嗯，散发出的气场了。
而且，随队人员中有一些已经在团队里待了很长时间的人，面对一支已经16连胜的球队，嗯，曾是，嗯，卫冕NBA总冠军，全年只输过一次，一直在碾压对手。马刺队周六就知道他们会赢。嗯，我，我，我想对于一支球队来说，能以那种霸气行事，知道他们有正确的计划，并且知道他们部署文班的方式能够克制那个对手。这，这，很难对NBA杯的胜利做过多的解读，因为，你知道，我们都知道过去两届，也是仅有的两届NBA杯冠军都在季后赛首轮被淘汰了。所以这可能对每个人来说并不意味着一切。这可能不意味着马刺是总冠军争夺者。但对于这支特定的球队，一支，呃，需要重新找到自信的球队来说，我认为这是巨大的一步，对，对球队，对维克托，对每个人，对米奇，对团队里的每个人都是如此，他们开始展现出那种风范了。我，我听起来可能有点夸张了，但我认为这真的可以证明是有意义的。
杰夫·麦克唐纳 ：好吧，我告诉你，迈克，你已经说服我了。听完所有这些，我被说服了。
汤姆·奥斯本 ：而且我们应该，我们应该指出，你知道，我们谈了很多关于文班的事，这是理所应当的，但他得到了帮助。德文·瓦塞尔 (Devin Vassell) 得到23分。卡斯尔，22分。福克斯，22分。防守端在对阵，你知道，联盟进攻火力第二强的球队时表现出色。他们将对手得分限制在109分。对手本赛季场均可是123分。谢伊·吉尔杰斯-亚历山大 (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander)，他们让他得分略低于场均水平。呃，你知道，他们在整场比赛中都在防守端给对手制造了麻烦。所以…
迈克·芬格 ：尽管SGA也打出了他自己的，他自己的，嗯，得分高潮。
汤姆·奥斯本 ：是的。
迈克·芬格 ：但在最后两分钟有一个回合，斯蒂芬·卡斯尔简直把他锁死了。就像他无处可去。我记不清了，他，他最终投失了。我想他最后不得不把球传出去。但俄克拉荷马城在那个回合没有得分，因为斯蒂芬·卡斯尔把他锁死了。这并不是说卡斯尔整晚都防住了他。
汤姆·奥斯本 ：不。
迈克·芬格 ：但是，看到马刺队在一场万众瞩目、双方都极度想赢的比赛的关键时刻的反应，你不仅从文班身上看到了令人鼓舞的迹象——他表现出色，惊为天人，并且在这种关键时刻挺身而出，呃，他挺身而出的方式仍然让你难以置信。但斯蒂芬·卡斯尔也站了出来。汤姆提到的那些球员也都做到了。嗯，这意义重大。
汤姆·奥斯本 ：米奇也通过一些决策挺身而出…
迈克·芬格 ：他，呃，他领先三分时犯规，而且是三次。
汤姆·奥斯本 ：是的。
迈克·芬格 ：这是他的前任兼导师，呃，一直极力反对且从未做过的事情。
杰夫·麦克唐纳 ：如果，如果你们能容忍我一下，我现在就说。但是，呃，我最近所有的事情都判断错了，像是所有事情。这甚至要追溯到雷霆队比赛之前。就是那场，那场湖人队的比赛。芬格先生，我在我们上一期播客里怎么说那场比赛的？我称它为什么？
迈克·芬格 ：不可能赢的比赛。
杰夫·麦克唐纳 ：现在我在，呃，预测马刺不可能赢的比赛上，已经是0胜3负了。而且我没有在公开场合说雷霆队的比赛不可能赢，因为，呃，说实话，我不想打破我的（反向预测）连胜纪录，因为那场比赛确实是不可能赢的。他们不可能赢下那场比赛。他们没有任何可能赢下那场比赛。结果，他们真的赢了。所以我最近所有的事情都判断错了。我不知道为什么还有人听我说话。我不知道我为什么会出现在这档播客里。嗯，但是，我，我，我，无论我说什么，你们只要信相反的就行了。
但说真的，在那场雷霆队的比赛之前，我，我，我真的觉得，嗯，天哪，对维克托来说，那是一场艰难的复出之战。呃，对维克托来说，那是一个难缠的复出对手，而且，你知道，我当时警告大家，伙计们，场面不会好看的。维克托看起来不会像你们记忆中的那样，比如他会有出场时间限制，他会不在节奏，他会，我所有的一切都判断错了。所有的一切。所以我现在就想承认这一点。
迈克·芬格 ：我当时看着比赛，某种程度上是同意你的，嗯，呃，呃，呃，像是从心智上或者，或者理智上，我在找哪个词？认知上，我理解你的观点，但我真的很担心你会丢脸，因为维克托有过很长的历史，就是每当你认为他无法达到某种期望时，他几乎总能做到。嗯，这次他当然也做到了。甚至，甚至米奇都说，嗯，在某些方面，让维克托在这样的比赛中伤愈复出可能是最坏的情况，因为就像杰夫刚才说的，呃，每个人都会关注，比赛强度会很高，会是一种马戏团般的场面。但因为他是维克托·文班亚马，所以这成了他复出的最佳情况。我们最终会学到教训的，呃，也许下次吧。
杰夫·麦克唐纳 ：我现在觉得，我是说，是时候承认马刺是一支强队了。是的。就是一支强队。这其中没有什么虚张声势。这不意味着他们今年就能去争夺总冠军。我仍然，我仍然会，嗯，坚持这个观点。他们今年还不是总冠军争夺者，我不这么认为。但赛季前我们说的那些话，比如，哦，如果他们能拿到第九号种子，那将是多么棒的一年。现在那种想法已经过时了。从现在开始，如果最终只是第九名，那就是失败了。
迈克·芬格 ：昨天在德阿隆·福克斯 (De’Aaron Fox) 的采访中，汤姆有点用胳膊肘碰了我一下，或者说轻笑了一下，因为德阿隆在没人提问的情况下，他，他，他某种程度上和你的看法一致，杰夫，他提到了我曾经在谈论这支球队的期望时提过很多很多很多很多很多很多次的一点，那就是连续六年无缘季后赛的球队，不可能一转身就赢得总冠军。这在某种程度上，嗯，我有点敬佩德阿隆能如此坦诚，因为说些陈词滥调会很容易，比如直接说，是的，我们现在的目标就是赢得总冠军。
但我认为球员们，特别是老将们，足够现实，知道学习如何在季后赛中赢球是一个过程，他们不应该站出来说，就像维克托昨天指出的那样，现在还没有人能达到俄克拉荷马城的高度。你还没准备好说你是俄克拉荷马城的对手，那支球队近年来非常非常成功。我认为他们明白，今年仅仅取得进步，就是，就是打进季后收赛，赢下一轮、两轮或者三轮系列赛，就是一件好事。他们不是，他们不是说他们不会赢得总冠军，但我认为他们理解你刚才说的，从现在的位置到俄克拉荷马城现在以及去年的水平之间，还有很多步要走。
汤姆·奥斯本 ：而且很有趣的是，美联社的蒂姆·雷诺兹 (Tim Reynolds) 向德阿隆指出，过去两支前一年没进季后赛却最终夺冠的球队，如果我没记错的话，迈克，他说的是22年的金州勇士队和园区里的湖人队。而德阿隆，作为一名出色的比赛研究者，他指出，你知道，我们不应该把…
迈克·芬格 ：那些基本上不算数。
汤姆·奥斯本 ：是的，是的，比如勇士就是勇士，湖人就是湖人。
迈克·芬格 ：嗯，他说勇士队不算数，我当时想，湖人队也一样。他们有勒布朗·詹姆斯 (LeBron James)，你知道的。
汤姆·奥斯本 ：是的。
迈克·芬格 ：而且，你知道，五年前，虽然他……而且那两支球队都是由，由赢得过多次总冠军的球员领导的。
汤姆·奥斯本 ：是的。是的。而，呃，马刺队还不具备这一点。
迈克·芬格 ：那是一次很好的讨论。是的。
汤姆·奥斯本 ：那是一次很好的讨论。
杰夫·麦克唐纳 ：我，我有个问题想问你们这些在拉斯维加斯的伙计们。你们可能比我们这些，呃，在家里的人有更，呃，更好的见解。但是，嗯，你们认为维克托对俄克拉荷马城，特别是对切特（霍姆格伦），是否憋着一股劲？这个讨论可能会给我们惹麻烦。
迈克·芬格 ：说到，说到诱导性提问。
杰夫·麦克唐纳 ：是的。嗯，我，我本来想问你认为他为什么会这样，但我，我打算把假设放在一边，直接问，你认为他们是否能激发出他身上一些其他球队或许无法激发的东西？
迈克·芬格 ：维克托·文班亚马，嗯，自从我第一次在拉斯维加斯离这家酒店不远的地方看到并采访他，当时他还是大都会92队的一员，在一场对抗斯库特·亨德森 (Scoot Henderson) 的表演赛中，嗯，那差不多是快四年前了，他一直对，嗯，很多很多很多对手评价很高，对一些球员抱有敬佩之情，嗯，很多时候是他仰慕的球员，比他先进联盟的球员，呃，在他之后进入联盟的年轻球员。有一个人，我，我相信他非常尊重，但我觉得他从未从维克托那里得到过同等类型的赞扬，那就是切特。我一直猜测，因为他们某种程度上是同代人，如果这说得通的话，就像维克托和切特在青少年时期就在国际比赛中交过手，这可能仅仅是因为当你和这个家伙一起成长时，我，我不认为这是个人恩怨，但我认为这是一种，这是一种真正的、合情合理的，嗯，我想和他对抗，我想证明我比他强。
而当你，当你是切特，你是这样一个独角兽，在世界看到维克托·文班亚马之前，没人见过像切特这样的人，那么高，技术那么好，能做我们看到维克托做的所有有趣的事情，切特也能做到类似的版本。我只是觉得他们几乎，嗯，在年龄、技术水平、体型等等方面都太接近了。我认为这激发了他们之间很多健康的，嗯，竞争。
汤姆·奥斯本 ：是的。而且，他们想击败对方是绝对真实的。我认为这不需要像某种背景故事，比如某人对某人说了什么冒犯的话，或者，嗯，他们就是不喜欢对方之类的。我认为那只是，那只是健康的，你知道，老派的，嗯，NBA风格，就是球员们，他们，他们想击败对方。我认为这，这绝对可以被描述为“憋着一股劲”，如果你想击败另一个人。而且我认为切特可能也是如此。这真的很有趣。
汤姆·奥斯本 ：是的，你会寻找能激励你的东西，如果这对文班有用，那就太好了。
杰夫·麦克唐纳 ：维克从来没有，维克从来没有告诉过我或者我们任何人这个，我不这么认为，但他似乎确实非常喜欢痛扁切特。就像一对一，单挑，他似乎乐在其中，以至于我有时候几乎觉得，是的，这听起来会很糟糕，但我有时会为切特感到难过，因为他什么也没做，就让维克托把怒火转向他，或者把，你知道，把这变成一场宿敌对决。他，他什么也没做，但维克就是喜欢。我，我想，媒体中的人们有点把他们塑造成了对手，我不知道维克是否认为切特和他属于同一级别，同一层次。我认为这可能让他有点不爽，他想，他想确保在他们交手时让所有人都知道这一点。
迈克·芬格 ：很大一部分原因在于维克托，嗯，他身上有一种健康的、迷人的、可爱的傲气，他认为自己更强，他不想，而且，呃，他认为自己比很多人都强，但我认为你绝对说对了，他想证明去年在年度最佳新秀的竞争中，不是维克和切特并驾齐驱，比如，维克托认为自己比他强。而且，呃，在你为切特感到难过之前，切特在去年的比赛中对阵维克托时打得相当不错。而且俄克拉荷马城去年对阵维克托时也打得很好。并不是维克托一次又一次地痛扁切特。切特也打出过一些不错的比赛，而且，呃，切特对维克托的赞扬也并不夸张。我认为这很好。我认为这很好，像这样优秀球员之间的一些紧张关系，对联盟来说是健康的。
杰夫·麦克唐纳 ：顺便说一句，霍姆格伦是一名伟大的球员。我想强调这一点。就像，我不想表现得像在贬低他。只是他，他不是，我想我们已经看得够多了。他不是，他是一个伟大球队里的一名伟大球员。但作为一名个体球员，他和维克托·文班亚马不在同一个级别。
迈克·芬格 ：而且他的球队也没有要求他成为那样的人。
杰夫·麦克唐纳 ：正是如此。这就是为什么把他们放在一起比较几乎是不公平的。
汤姆·奥斯本 ：稍微回溯一下，你知道，杰夫谈到了，你知道，那场不可能赢的湖人队比赛。说真的，你知道，那，那真的，我是说，击败俄克拉荷马城，你知道，非常了不起，但那场湖人队的比赛也同样，你回头看时只能摇头。你知道，没有文班，他们在洛杉矶，湖人队打得相当不错。东契奇，呃，对马刺队取得了14连胜。而斯蒂芬·卡斯尔，一个你不能忽视他最近表现有多出色的斯蒂芬·卡斯尔，你知道，那场比赛得了30分。嗯，是的，所以我是说，这两场比赛对马刺来说相当，相当，相当，相当，相当不错。但是，你知道，回到那场湖人队的比赛，那也同样令人印象深刻。福克斯做着福克斯该做的事，呃，你知道，那场比赛贡献了20分。他们就是，他们就是不断地冲击你。哈珀，那场比赛得了13分。我是说，那三个人，呃，卡斯尔、福克斯、哈珀，那个后场三人组，他们就是不断地冲击你，这会让对手筋疲力尽。
迈克·芬格 ：一位历史级的历史级球员，勒布朗·詹姆斯，呃，一个扣篮，你见过的勒布朗·詹姆斯完成的最震撼的扣篮之一，这可是很高的评价，因为你见过他完成过一些相当震撼的扣篮。紧接着，立即就是一个历史级的、经典的勒布朗·詹姆斯式追身大帽。汤姆当时在场，crypto.com球馆陷入疯狂，就在上半场快结束时，湖人队正在反击，这简直，这简直就是这位40岁的历史级巨星上演的童话故事，做着他的事情，让整个球馆沸腾。而等你缓过神来，马刺队在半场时已经将领先优势扩大到12分，好像什么都没发生过一样。一支年轻的、没有维克托的马刺队。这在很大程度上总结了这支球队在这段时间里的特质。嗯，他们，他们有点耸耸肩说，好吧，我们就直接冲着你们来，老家伙们。是的。而且他们让斯蒂芬·卡斯尔、迪伦·哈珀和德阿隆·福克斯在那场比赛中确实让湖人队的全明星后场显得老态龙钟。是的。
汤姆·奥斯本 ：嗯，然后在第四节，湖人队发起了，你知道，预料之中的反击。马刺队顶住了。
迈克·芬格 ：是的。好样的。他们可能会转过头，呃，然后在这场比赛中输给尼克斯队，我们，我们是在冠军赛的早上录制这期播客。当然，很多人会在赛前听到，但也有一些人是在赛后听，所以我们不会过多关注与尼克斯的对决。但是，呃，我认为无论那场比赛发生什么，或者已经发生了什么，嗯，马刺队目前的状况都相当不错。但他们总会在某个时候再次输球的，对吧？你，你是说今年剩下的50场比赛不可能全赢吗？
杰夫·麦克唐纳 ：没错。我是说，剩下的50场比赛中有些是不可能赢的，但我只有在赛后才会知道是哪些场次。
迈克·芬格 ：好的。听起来不错。嗯，这周还发生了什么，汤姆？
汤姆·奥斯本 ：嗯，赛程，赛程，呃，你知道，展望未来，就像杰夫刚才做的那样，展望未来，赛程有点变化。他们接下来有一个主客场的背靠背。嗯，你知道，周四对阵奇才，周五客场对阵亚特兰大。所以也许他们会在那里遇到点麻烦，谁知道呢？但回到米奇·约翰逊 (Mitch Johnson)，我写了一篇文章，呃，今天刊登在《快报新闻》上，就是关于，你知道，迈克也提到了，你知道，我看了，我看了社交媒体，呃，在第一节的时候，天哪，他被骂惨了。我是说，呃，你知道，人们要求他下课。这家伙是傻子吗？他得走人。然后，呃…
迈克·芬格 ：你有没有在高速公路上见过，呃，有一辆，有一辆车在，在慢车道上开得很慢，然后，你知道，车后面有个牌子写着，这，这，这辆车时速不能超过65英里。你知道，那个，那个，上面有个限速器，或者这是一辆公司的车……
汤姆·奥斯本 ：新手司机。
迈克·芬格 ：不，不，甚至不是新手司机。我说的是那种，那种车辆物理上无法超过每小时65英里的车。
汤姆·奥斯本 ：就像，就像我那辆2004年的丰田卡罗拉。
迈克·芬格 ：对。有个，有个限速器，上面有个牌子写着，本车时速不能超过65英里。如果，如果你跟在那辆车后面，对着一个无法控制这一切的司机按喇叭，那就等同于因为米奇的，呃，出场时间限制而冲着米奇·约翰逊大喊大叫，因为这事，米奇·约翰逊说了不算，各位。这不是教练的决定。我们已经反复谈论过这一点了。让人们冲着米奇·约翰逊大喊大叫，而这事，如果他想让维克托打40分钟，他也做不到。这已经不是他的工作了。他说过，也许在2001年或者1999年，在所有这些医疗人员介入之前，在每个比赛计划都需要从组织最高层向下批准之前，这曾是格雷格·波波维奇 (Gregg Popovich) 的选择。但现在，选择不让维克托·文班亚马打更长时间的不是米奇·约翰逊，甚至在对阵雷霆队那场比赛使用时间的方式之前，让维克托缺席四周也不是他的选择。那根本不是米奇·约翰逊的选择。这超出了他的职权范围。
汤姆·奥斯本 ：赛前他被，赛前他被问到，呃，你有多擅长管理出场时间限制？他的回答是，我听从指令。
迈克·芬格 ：是的。没错。所以，就是这么回事。这，这，而且我理解他某种程度上是这件事的代表，当球迷感到沮丧时，他们想找个人来责备，但那不是他。那不在他的控制范围内。什么是，什么在他的控制范围内，而且，嗯，也许这正是部分沮丧的来源，那就是，嗯，米奇在制定如何使用那20分钟的计划中起了很大作用，让他第一节休息，结果证明这相当聪明。但这并不是说，是米奇选择说，今晚我们让你打20分钟而不是32分钟。不。他知道他有20分钟可以用，他想出了如何使用这些时间。而且，呃，我不是总说要听教练的，教练总是对的，但是，嗯…
杰夫·麦克唐纳 ：在这种情况下，一些愤怒是找错了发泄对象，我想。我从这次讨论中得出的结论是，呃，社交媒体上的球迷都相当无知。不，不是，不是那些听我们这个播客的球迷，显然，如果你在听我们说话，那你消息非常灵通，但外面那些人。
迈克·芬格 ：那些坐在家里，躲在南德州背后，想，想点火，在，在，在，在整个播客里给我们惹麻烦的人。试图谈论切特和文班。就像你回来做你自己的，你自己的康复一样。嗯，你也在恢复中。我们不需要谈细节，但是你知道，而且以为你不需要，你不需要为此负责。只是点燃火柴然后走开。那，那，那真是另一回事了，伙计。
杰夫·麦克唐纳 ：哦，我准备好迎接所有硝烟了。我不会走开的。我们不是在说社交媒体上的人的坏话。我们不是在说球迷的坏话。
迈克·芬格 ：哦，那我在说。
杰夫·麦克唐纳 ：我们说的是，我们，我们只是在说那些永远不会听“马刺内幕”播客的无知的人。对吧。好的。这就对了。
迈克·芬格 ：但你不应该对社交媒体上的人做宽泛的，呃，概括。社交媒体上有很多不同的人。而且社交媒体上有很多，很多非人类。
杰夫·麦克唐纳 ：是的，那也是一部分。非人类。
迈克·芬格 ：所以，迈克，这是反乌托邦第六天还是…
汤姆·奥斯本 ：天哪，已经很久了，汤姆。是的。在这个反乌托邦里已经很久了。
杰夫·麦克唐纳 ：你们每天能听到多少，呃，多少老虎机一样的噪音？
汤姆·奥斯本 ：零。
杰夫·麦克唐纳 ：就是那种叮叮当当的声音吗？是的，你在那家万丽酒店。
迈克·芬格 ：别透露地点。
杰夫·麦克唐纳 ：嗯，他不知道。人们不知道。他们是无知的。
迈克·芬格 ：好的。
汤姆·奥斯本 ：我想我知道我在哪。不，不。
迈克·芬格 ：这个，呃，在拉斯维加斯待的时间很长。但是，呃，这对马刺来说是一件，一件有趣的事。看着NBA杯的发展，顺便说一句，这将是最后一年有人为了NBA杯在拉斯维加斯待这么久，因为明年半决赛将回到主场球馆进行，如果今年也是这样的话，那场对阵雷霆的比赛就会在俄克拉荷马城打，这可能会改变比赛的一些变数。但是，嗯，但是是的，呃，我认为杯赛会保留下来。人们喜欢它。媒体关注度很高，全国各地的关注度都很高。马刺队会充分利用这次机会。是的。嗯，我想，呃，“豺狼队”要来了。呃，
汤姆·奥斯本 ：天哪，谢天谢地那要开始了，我听说。
杰夫·麦克唐纳 ：我听说了。是的，我听说了。
迈克·芬格 ：马刺队在等待“豺狼队”进入决赛。
杰夫·麦克唐纳 ：助威团也来了。但我前几天晚上没看到小野狼（马刺吉祥物）。你看到了吗，迈克？
迈克·芬格 ：所有这些，所有这些在这档播客里被点燃的火柴。不，我没看到小野狼，汤姆。我没看到他。我没有。而且，我，我还要说一点，那晚马刺和雷霆比赛的气氛最终相当不错。马刺球迷很给力。尼克斯和魔术的揭幕战就像个陵墓一样死气沉沉。球馆里一个人都没有。
汤姆·奥斯本 ：是的，确实是。
迈克·芬格 ：当马刺和雷霆的比赛开始时，有很多很多很多的空座位。然后你会想，为什么这么重要的比赛会在这样一个地方举行？但后来球馆坐得相当满了。到最后气氛非常非常棒。我相信周二晚上有助威团和“豺狼队”在，气氛会更好，汤姆。
杰夫·麦克唐纳 ：嗯，你们还撑得住。我，我有点想象出《宿醉4》的场景了，你们这群傻瓜在，呃，在拉斯维加斯待了六天。
迈克·芬格 ：没那么夸张。但我们，我们正在期待…
杰夫·麦克唐纳 ：我一直在群聊里关注着。听起来你们玩得还挺开心的。
汤姆·奥斯本 ：嗯，我，我一直挺安静的。迈克，迈克玩得正嗨，不是我。
迈克·芬格 ：我听说的就是这样。没人相信这些鬼话。我们要在杰夫再点三把火之前结束了。而且，呃，我们这周剩下的时间都会过得很愉快。我们下次再见。也许会谈论马刺队赢得NBA杯冠军。也许不会，但在那之前，请互相照顾，保持真实。
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。
点击查看原文：Why NBA should fear the return of Victor Wembanyama
Why NBA should fear the return of Victor Wembanyama
Columnist Mike Finger and Spurs beat reporters Jeff McDonald and Tom Orsborn discuss the Spurs the return of Victor Wembanyama and the victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Cup and what it means for the Spurs’ ever-growing season prospects.
Suggested reading:
How in Wembanyama’s grand return, Spurs turn whispered promise into a roar
In first season as head coach, Mitch Johnson firmly in control of Spurs
Spurs’ De’Aaron Fox gives teammates credit for his success
Victor Wembanyama thrived in limited minutes to lead Spurs past Thunder
Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama says he ‘trusted process’ during injury rehab
Here is the transcript of the podcast:
Mike Finger: From a highly secure network of top secret locations across North America, this is a Las Vegas edition of the Spurs Insider. I am Mike Finger, joined by Spurs beat writers for the Express News, Jeff McDonald, and making the most hyped Vegas return of the week, Tom Orsborn.
The city’s abuzz about Tom Orsborn coming back to the Spurs Insider podcast after a few weeks of absence, much like Victor Wembanyama made a lesser celebrated return to the basketball court this week. Tom.
Tom Orsborn: Right.
Mike Finger: Uh, you two formed quite the, uh, the duo the other night at T-Mobile Arena. Uh, what what did you think?
Tom Orsborn: Well, my minutes weren’t limited but, but I, but I had a huge assist from a good teammate in Mike Finger, so.
Mike Finger: Speaking of assists, we should get out of the way, if, if the host of this podcast sounds especially charming and delightful today, it’s because I, I did not, I neglected to pack my Express News podcast microphone, but we got an assist from good friend of the podcast, man of the people, Michael Wright of ESPN. This is an ESPN microphone, so we’re going to sound especially professional on this podcast today. But go ahead, Tom.
Tom Orsborn: Yeah, well, yeah, Wembey, I mean, yeah, in the, in the land, the dystopian nightmare that is Las Vegas, um, you know, he had a dream performance. Uh, with that delayed start, which I thought was really significant, signaling, you know, just how much, uh, Mitch is in control of this team. It was kind of a coming out game for Mitch as well. Uh, thought he made all the right moves. But yeah, Wembey, you know, skipping the first quarter, playing nine minutes in the, in the fourth, you know, scoring 15 of his 22 points in the fourth. It couldn’t have worked out better. Um, yeah, I thought it was really neat to see.
Mike Finger: This is far from the first time that a player, even a, even a star player has come back for a big game with the minutes restriction. But Jeff, this was a, a very Spurs-like approach to it in that they rethought the whole idea behind 20 minutes. And I think, um, traditionally you’ve, you’ve tried to space out those minutes. If you know you only have five per quarter, you’re going to play five per quarter to get you to 20, or you’re going to play the start of the first, the end of the second, save, make sure to save up some, some minutes late, but spacing them out can be awkward for a player, even if you’re trying to save eight for late. Um, many teams have tried to save a lot of minutes for late. I thought it was interesting the way they, they, they kind of rethought everything and said, hey, let’s just have him play something close to a three quarter game, a normal three quarter game. And, uh, and have him come off the bench.
And, uh, like Tom said, that was a, that was a Mitch move. I think that was an organizational plan that was a really well thought out one as crazy as it looked at during that first quarter when all of America and all of South Texas was up in arms about what in the world they were thinking. Um, it, the gamble was that the game gets out of hand while Wembey’s off the court. But is that really a gamble when those same Spurs had gone nine and three without him? Um, it made a lot of sense.
Jeff McDonald: It made sense, but it is a gamble. And and not just that you fall in a hole, but um, each player is different in that situation. Like how how they want to handle it. Um, I know that I know the Spurs did that with Tim Duncan in his prime back in the day. I think it was a 2010 game, um, in Toronto. I don’t, I don’t remember if Tim was coming off a long layoff or it was just the second night of the back-to-back and they wanted to try something, but they sat him out the whole first quarter and he hated it. He said we’re not doing that ever again. He just couldn’t get in a rhythm, uh, coming in, coming in cold. He just didn’t like it.
Um, Vic apparently was able to adapt to it better and I, I think, um, that’s part of it too. I mean, they, they, they talked to Vic about it. Like, what would, what what, what or, you know, he didn’t make the call, but they consult, consulted is probably the way to to put it. You know, how do you um, how would you feel more comfortable coming in the second quarter and playing the rest of the game normal? Would you rather be there there early or late, basically? And um, yeah, it worked out. It worked out for everybody and you don’t know it’s gonna work out until you do it. So it was a gamble and it paid off.
Mike Finger: Um, you didn’t know it would work out until, until they did it. This sounds ridiculous. It sounds like, uh, just podcast, uh, click-grabby, uh, uh, hot take nonsense. But the Spurs knew it was gonna work. They walked into that building on Saturday afternoon, and I’d never, I, I mean, it, it, it almost is like old era playoff games where they knew they were gonna win. And this is a team that hasn’t been in the playoffs in six years and was facing a team that had lost one time all season. Um, had been blowing teams out, not just beating everybody, but blowing teams out and had won 16 in a row. But when, when the Spurs walked into the arena on Saturday, they knew they were going to win. And, and this is something that I had not seen this organization, um, exude in a, in a really long time.
And when, and there were members of that traveling party who had been around the organization a long time who facing a team that had won 16 games in a row, um, had been, um, the reigning NBA champions, had lost one time all year, were just rolling teams. The Spurs knew they were going to win on Saturday. Um, and I, I, I think that for a, a team to act that way in, in with that type of swagger and to know that they had the right plan and and that they knew that the way they were going to deploy Wembey was going to work against that opponent. It’s, it’s, it’s tough to make too much of the NBA Cup because, you know, we all know the last two, the only two champions of the NBA Cup were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. So this might not mean everything to everybody. It might not mean that the Spurs are championship contenders. But for this specific team, a team that, uh, needs something to feel confident about again, I think it was a huge step for, for, for the team, for Victor, for everybody, for Mitch, for everybody in the organization, and they’re starting to carry themselves. I, I sound like I’m going over the top, but I think it really can prove to be meaningful.
Jeff McDonald: Well, I’ll tell you what, Mike, you’ve convinced me. And it’s convinced me after all of that.
Tom Orsborn: And we should, we should point out, you know, we’ve talked a lot about Wembey and rightfully so, but he had help. Devin Vassell, 23 points. Castle, 22. Fox, 22. The defense played great against the really, you know, the second best, uh, offensive points-wise team in the league. They held them to 109 points. They came in averaging 123. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, they held him slightly below his average. Uh, you know, they, they made it tough on them defensively throughout the game. So…
Mike Finger: As, as SGA got his, got his, um, buckets in stretches.
Tom Orsborn: Yeah.
Mike Finger: But there’s a possession in the final two minutes where Stefon Castle just has him in jail. Like he had nowhere to go. And I don’t think he, he, he ended up missing his shot. I think he finally had to get rid of it. But the Oklahoma City did not score on that position because Stefon Castle just had him in jail. And this isn’t to say that Castle locked him down all night.
Tom Orsborn: No.
Mike Finger: But to, to see the way that the Spurs reacted in crunch time of a game that everybody was watching that both teams really wanted to win, you did not just see encouraging signs from Wembey, who was awesome and spectacular and rose to the moment like, um, it still boggles your mind how he rises to moments. But Stefon Castle rose to the, to the occasion. All those guys that Tom mentioned did too. Um, it was a big deal.
Tom Orsborn: Mitch rose to the moment with some…
Mike Finger: He, uh, he fouled up three, three times.
Tom Orsborn: Yep.
Mike Finger: Something his predecessor and mentor, uh, always preached against and never did.
Jeff McDonald: If uh, if you guys will indulge me, I’ll I’ll do this now. But, uh, I I’ve been wrong about everything lately, like everything. And it goes back before even the OKC game. It was the, the the Lakers game. What, what did I say about that game on our last podcast, Mr. Finger? What did I call it?
Mike Finger: Unwinnable.
Jeff McDonald: And I am now 0 for three in uh, calling unwinnable games for the Spurs. and I did not call the OKC game unwinnable in public because, uh, I’ll be honest, I didn’t want to break my streak because it was unwinnable. They weren’t going to win that game. There was no way they were going to win that game. And sure enough, they did. So I’ve been wrong about everything lately. I don’t know why anyone listens to me. I don’t know why I’m on this podcast. Um, but I’ve, I’ve, I’ve, whatever I say, just believe the opposite.
But really going into that OKC game, I, I, I really did feel like, um, man, that’s a tough game for Victor to come back against. Uh, a tough team for Victor to come back against and, and, you know, I was warning people, guys, it’s not going to be pretty. It’s not going to look like you remember Victor, like he’s going to be on a minutes restriction, he’s going to be out of whack, and he’s going, I was wrong about everything. Everything. And so I just want to cop to that right now.
Mike Finger: I was watching this and sort of agreeing with you, um, uh, uh, uh, like mentally or or or reasonably, what what am I looking for? Cognitively, I understood it, but I was really worried that you were going to look bad because Victor has a long history of every time you think that he cannot live up to something, he almost always does. Um, and he sure did this time. Even, even Mitch said, um, in, in some ways it could have been the worst case scenario to bring Victor back from an injury because of what Jeff just said that, uh, everybody’s gonna be watching, the intensity was gonna be up, it was gonna be this kind of a circus situation. But because it’s Victor Wembanyama, it was the best case scenario to bring him back. And eventually we’re going to learn and, uh, maybe it’ll be next time.
Jeff McDonald: I think where I’m at now is, I mean, it’s just time to admit the Spurs have a good team. Yeah. Just have a good team. Like it’s just there’s no smoke and mirrors to it. That doesn’t mean they’re going to go on and compete for titles this year. I’m still going to, I’m still going to, um, stick to that. They’re not a title contender this year, I don’t think. But that stuff before the season where we were like, oh, if they could just get the nine seed, what a great year. Now that’s out the window. That’s, that’s, that’s, from this point forward, if it’s the nine seed, it’s, it’s been a failure.
Mike Finger: Tom kind of elbowed me or or or chuckled yesterday during, uh, De’Aaron Fox interview when unprompted, he, he’s, he’s sort of on the same page as you, Jeff, and and he mentioned something that I brought up many, many, many, many, many, many times when talking about expectations for this team, which is that teams that miss the playoffs six years in a row do not turn around and win titles. And it was sort of, um, I sort of respected De’Aaron for being that honest about it because it’d be very easy, very cliche just to say, yeah, we’re our goal is to win the title now.
But he, I think the players are realistic enough to know, and especially the veteran players, that learning to win in the playoffs is a process and that they shouldn’t come out and say, as Victor pointed out yesterday, nobody is in Oklahoma City’s tier yet. You’re not ready to say that you’re a rival of Oklahoma City, which is, has been so, so successful in recent years. I think they understand that just making progress this year, that, that that making the playoffs, winning a series or two or three would be a good thing. They’re not, they’re not saying they’re not going to win the title, but I think they understand what you just said that there are steps between here and what Oklahoma City is and was last year.
Tom Orsborn: And it was, it was interesting that Tim Reynolds from the Associated Press, uh, pointed out to De’Aaron that the last two teams that won titles without making the playoffs the year before, correct me if I’m wrong, Mike, he said 22 Golden State Warriors and the Bubble Lakers. And and De’Aaron, great student of the game that he is, pointed out, you know, let let’s not lump the…
Mike Finger: Those don’t count, basically.
Tom Orsborn: Yeah, yeah, like the Warriors were the Warriors and the Lakers were the Lakers.
Mike Finger: Well, he said the Warriors don’t count and I was thinking same, ditto for the Lakers. They had LeBron James, you know.
Tom Orsborn: Yes.
Mike Finger: And, you know, five years ago, although he’s… and they’re led, both of those teams were led by team by by players who have, who had won many titles before.
Tom Orsborn: Yes. Yes. And, uh, the Spurs don’t quite have that.
Mike Finger: It was a good discussion. Yeah.
Tom Orsborn: It was a good discussion.
Jeff McDonald: I, I got a question for you guys that were in Vegas. You might have more, uh, better insight on this than us, uh, people at home. But, um, do you think Victor has, uh, a chip on his shoulder about Oklahoma City and specifically Chet? This might get us in trouble this discussion.
Mike Finger: Talk about, talk about leading the witness.
Jeff McDonald: Yeah. Well, I, I was gonna ask why you think he does, but I’m, I’m gonna leave the, I’m gonna leave the assumption out of it and just say, do you think that they bring something out of him that, that other teams maybe don’t?
Mike Finger: Victor Wembanyama, um, since I first saw and interviewed him here not far from this hotel in Vegas when he was a member of the Metropolitans 92 in a showcase against Scoot Henderson, um, going on dang near four years ago, has spoken highly of, um, many, many, many opponents, has admiration for guys, um, and a lot of times it’s guys he’s looked up to, guys who are in the league before him, uh, young guys who come into the league after him. One guy who he, um, I believe he respects immensely, but doesn’t, I don’t think he’s ever received the same type of praise from him, is Chet. And I’ve long speculated that because they’re sort of contemporaries, if that makes sense, like Victor and Chet had gone up against each other in international competitions as teenagers, and it might just be that when you’re around the guy growing up, I, I don’t think it’s a personal beef, but I think it’s a, it, it is a true, legitimate, um, I want to go at this guy and I want to prove that I’m better than this guy.
And when you’re, when you’re Chet and you’re this unicorn that until the world had seen Victor Wembanyama, nobody had seen anybody like Chet to be that tall and that skilled and to do all the fun stuff that we see Victor does, Chet does versions of that. I just think they’re almost, um, too close in, in age and skill level and body type and all that stuff. I think that brings out a, a lot of healthy, um, competition in them.
Tom Orsborn: Yeah. And, and it’s absolutely true that they want to beat each other. I don’t think it needs to be like some kind of backstory where someone said something to someone that offended him or that, um, they just don’t like each other or whatever. I think that’s, that’s just a healthy, you know, old school type of, um, NBA thing where the, where the, where the guys don’t, they, they want to beat each other. And I think it’s, I think absolutely could be, uh, described as a chip on the shoulder if you want to beat the other guy. And I think that’s probably true with Chet too. It’s really fun to watch.
Tom Orsborn: Yeah, you look for things that motivate you, and that if that works for Wembey, great.
Jeff McDonald: Vic has never, Vic has never told me this or any of us this, I don’t think, but he sure does seem to love kicking Chet’s butt. Like one-on-one, mano a mano, he seems to revel in it to the point where I almost sometimes feel, yeah, this is gonna, this is gonna sound horrible, but I sometimes feel sorry for Chet because like he didn’t do anything for Victor just to like turn his ire on him or turn his, you know, his make this a rivalry. He, he didn’t do anything, but Vic just loves. I, I think, I think people in the media have have sort of made them rivals and I don’t know that Vic thinks Chet’s in his category, in his, uh, tier. And I think they kind of gets him a little bit and he wants to, he wants to make sure that everyone knows it when they play each other.
Mike Finger: That’s a big part of it is that Victor, um, who has some healthy, charming, lovable arrogance to him, thinks that he’s better and that he doesn’t want and and that, uh, he thinks he’s better than a lot of guys, but I think you’re absolutely right that he wants to prove that it’s not Vic and Chet as co, uh, leaders in the, in the rookie of the year race last year, for instance, like that Victor thought he was better than him. And, uh, and Chet, before you feel sorry for him, Chet in those games last year played pretty well against Victor. And OKC played pretty well against Victor last year. It’s not like Victor was just beating up on Chet over and over and over again. Chet’s had some good games and, uh, and Chet doesn’t go overboard in his praise of Victor either. I think it’s good. I think it’s good, some, some tension between good players like that is, is healthy for the league.
Jeff McDonald: And by the way, Holmgren is a great player. I want to put that out there too. Like, I don’t want to act like I’m denigrating him. It’s just he’s he’s not, I think we’ve seen it enough. He’s not, he’s a great, he’s a great player on a great team. He’s not in the same, as an individual player, he’s not in the same category as Victor Wembanyama.
Mike Finger: And he’s not asked to be by his team.
Jeff McDonald: Exactly. That’s why it’s almost like not fair to pit them against each other.
Tom Orsborn: Backing, backing up just a bit, you know, Jeff talked about, you know, the, the unwinnable Lakers game. And really, you know, that, that, that really, I mean, beating Oklahoma City, you know, was tremendous, but that Lakers game too, you just shake your head looking back at that. You know, no Wembey, they’re they’re in L.A. Lakers are playing pretty good. Dončić, uh, won 14 in a row against the Spurs. And Steph Castle, one Steph Castle who you can’t overlook how well he’s been playing, you know, 30 points in that game. Um, yeah, so I mean, this this two game set’s been pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty good for the Spurs. But, you know, going back to that Lakers game, that was, that was impressive too. And Fox is doing what Fox does, uh, you know, chipping in 20 points in that game. They’re just, they just keep coming at you. Harper, 13 points in that game. I mean, those three guys, uh, Castle, Fox, Harper, the, the, the guard trail, they just keep coming at you and it just wears teams down.
Mike Finger: An all-timer of an all-time player, LeBron James, uh, dunk, one of just most stunning dunks you’ve ever seen LeBron James pull off, which is saying something because you’ve seen him pull off some pretty stunning dunks. Followed by an all-time, followed, immediately followed by an all-time vintage chasedown block from LeBron James. Tom is there, crypto.com arena is in mayhem, just going crazy towards the end of that first half where the the Lakers are rallying and this is just, this is just storybook of of the for this 40-year-old all-time great doing his thing, bringing the arena on its feet. And with by the time you catch your breath, the Spurs are extending their lead to 12 points at halftime like it never happened. A young Spurs without Victor. That’s that sums up kind of what this team has been about during this this stretch as much as anything. Um, that they they kind of shrug their shoulders and said, okay, we’ll just come right at you, old guys. Yeah. And and they made Stefon Castle and Dylan Harper and De’Aaron Fox sure made that All-Star back court of the Lakers look old in that game. Yeah.
Tom Orsborn: Um, and and then in the fourth quarter, the Lakers make the, you know, the expected run. The Spurs weathered that.
Mike Finger: Yeah. It’s a good stuff. They could turn around and, uh, and and fall to the Knicks in this, we’re we’re recording this in the morning of the championship game. Sure a lot of you will hear it beforehand, but some of you are listening afterwards, so we’re not going to focus too much on the Knicks matchup. But, uh, I think regardless of what happens in that game, what happened in that game, um, the Spurs are in pretty good shape here. But they are going to lose again at some point, right? Are you are you saying that it’s unwinnable to to win the last 50 this year?
Jeff McDonald: Correct. I am saying some of the last 50 games will be unwinnable, but I won’t know which ones until after.
Mike Finger: Okay. That sounds good. Um, what else has happened this week, Tom?
Tom Orsborn: Well, the, the schedule, schedule’s, uh, you know, looking ahead, like as Jeff was doing there, looking, looking ahead, the schedule changed a bit. They’ve got a home and road back-to-back coming up. Um, you know, the Wizards on Thursday, at Atlanta on Friday. So maybe they get tripped up somewhere there, who knows? But back to Mitch Johnson, I wrote a piece, uh, that’s in today’s Express News just about, you know, and Mike, Mike made mention of this, you know, I looked at, I looked at social media, uh, in that first quarter, and man, he was getting carved up. I mean, uh, you know, folks were calling for his head. Is this guy stupid? He needs to go. And, uh…
Mike Finger: Have you ever been on the highway and, uh, there’s a, there’s a, there’s a car kind of moving slowly in the, in the, in the slow lane and there’s a, you know, the sign on the back of it says this, this, this car can’t go over 65. You know, the, the, the, the, there’s a regulator on it or it’s a company car and…
Tom Orsborn: Student driver.
Mike Finger: Or, no, no, not even a student drive. I’m talking about the, the, the vehicle is physically incapable of going over 65 miles an hour.
Tom Orsborn: It’s like, it’s like my Toyota Corolla, 2004 Toyota Corolla.
Mike Finger: Right. There, there, there’s a regulator, there’s a sign on it that says, this vehicle cannot go faster than 65. If, if you would, if you would drive behind that car and honk at the driver who is who does not control this, that is the equivalent of yelling at Mitch Johnson over Mitch’s, uh, minutes restriction, because it’s not, Mitch Johnson is not in charge of this, people. It’s not the coach’s decision. We’ve talked about this over and over and over again. And to have people yell at Mitch Johnson when this is not, if he wanted to play Victor 40 minutes, he couldn’t. It’s not his job anymore. And he said, maybe it was Gregg Popovich’s choice in, in, in 2001 or 1999 before all these medical people got involved and before every game plan became, uh, approved from the top of the organization down. But it’s, it’s not Mitch Johnson choosing to, uh, to not play Victor Wembanyama more, or even before the, the, the way the minutes were used against the Thunder, it was not his choice not to have Victor play for four weeks. Like that was not Mitch Johnson’s choice at all. And it’s above his paygrade.
Tom Orsborn: And pregame he was, pregame he was asked, uh, you know, how good are you at managing minute restrictions? And his answer was, I follow orders.
Mike Finger: Yes. Correct. So that, that’s the thing. It’s, it’s, it’s and, and I understand he’s sort of the face of it and that when fans are frustrated, they want somebody to blame, but it’s not him. That’s not in his control. What it is, what isn’t in his control, and, um, maybe this was some of the frustration, is that, um, Mitch had a had a lot to do with formulating that plan of how to use those 20 minutes and to save him for the first quarter and that turned out to be pretty smart. But it’s not like, it was Mitch’s choice to say, instead of playing you 30 two tonight, we’re going to play you 20. No. He knew he had 20 to deal to use and he figured out how to use those. And, uh, you know, I’m not always saying defer to the coach and the coach is always right, but, um…
Jeff McDonald: In this case, some of this anger is displaced, I think. What I’m, what I’m taking from this discussion is that, uh, fans on social media are pretty ignorant. Not, not the fan, not the ones that listen to this podcast, obviously, you’re very well informed if you’re listening to us, but people out there.
Mike Finger: People sitting at home behind South Texas trying to, trying to light matches in, in, in, in, and get us in trouble this whole podcast. Trying to talk about Chet and Wembey. It’s like you’re back doing your own, your own rehab. Um, you’re also on the mend. We don’t need to get into details, but you know, and and thinking that you don’t have to, you don’t have to answer for it. Just lighting the match and walking away. That’s that, that’s something else, man.
Jeff McDonald: Oh, I’m here for all the smoke. I’m not walking away. We’re not talking bad about people on social media. We’re not talking bad about fans.
Mike Finger: Oh, well I am.
Jeff McDonald: What, we’re talking, we’re, we’re, we’re just talking about the ignorant ones who would never listen to the Spurs Insider podcast. Correct. Okay. There you go.
Mike Finger: But you shouldn’t make broad, uh, generalizations about people on social media. Lots of different people are on social media. And lots of, lots of non-people are on social media.
Jeff McDonald: Yeah, that’s part of it too. The non-people.
Mike Finger: So Mike, what is this Dystopia day six or…
Tom Orsborn: Man, it’s been a long time, Tom. Yeah. It’s been a long time in this dystopia.
Jeff McDonald: How many uh, how many slot machine-like noises do you guys hear every day?
Tom Orsborn: Zilch.
Jeff McDonald: Is it just the ching? Yeah, you’re at that Renaissance.
Mike Finger: Don’t disclose locations.
Jeff McDonald: Well, he doesn’t know. People don’t know. They’re ignorant.
Mike Finger: Okay.
Tom Orsborn: I think I know where I’m at. No, no.
Mike Finger: The, um, the, uh, it’s a lot. It’s a long time to be in Vegas. But, uh, it’s, it’s been a, a fun thing for the Spurs. To to watch the NBA Cup evolve, this will be the last year by the way that someone will be in Vegas this long for the NBA Cup because next year the semifinals are moving back to home arenas, which if that had been in place this year, that game against OKC would have been in OKC, which might have changed, changed the wrinkles of it. But, um, but yeah, uh, it’s I I think that the cup is here to stay. People enjoy it. A lot of media attention, a lot of attention from around the country. And the Spurs are going to make the most of it. Yeah. Um, I think the, uh, the Jackals are coming up here. Uh,
Tom Orsborn: Boy, thank God that’s going, I heard.
Jeff McDonald: I heard. So I heard. Yeah.
Mike Finger: When be in the Spurs taken, waiting for the Jackals to be at the final.
Jeff McDonald: The hype squad made the trip. I didn’t see the Coyote the other night though. Did you, Mike?
Mike Finger: All these, all these matches being lit on this podcast. No, I did not see the Coyote, Tom. I didn’t see him. I didn’t. And and the, I I will say this too, the the atmosphere for that night game between the Spurs and Thunder ended up being pretty solid. It was a good Spurs. The the Knicks Magic opener was a mausoleum. No one was in the arena for that.
Tom Orsborn: Yeah, it was.
Mike Finger: And as the Spurs Thunder game started, there were a lots and lots and lots of empty seats. And and you’re thinking, why is this big game being played in a place like this? But it filled it filled up pretty well. And it was a, it was a great, great atmosphere at the end. And I’m sure that Tuesday night with the hype squad and the Jackals, it’ll be even better, Tom.
Jeff McDonald: Well, you guys are holding up though. I I’m kind of picturing like Hangover 4 with all you idiots in, uh, in Vegas for six days.
Mike Finger: Not quite that. But we’re we’re we’re looking…
Jeff McDonald: I’ve been following, I’ve been following along on on the group chat. It sounds like you guys are having a a nice time then.
Tom Orsborn: Well, I’ve, I’ve been kind of quiet. My Mike’s, Mike’s tearing it up, not me.
Mike Finger: That’s what I hear. Nobody believes any of this stuff. We’re going to get out of here before Jeff lights three more matches. And, uh, we’re going to all have a great rest of the week. We’re going to see everybody next time. Maybe talking about the Spurs NBA Cup championship. Maybe not, but until then, take care of each other and keep it real.