Spurs Insider Podcast, 2026-01-28 04:53:00
专栏作家迈克·芬格 (Mike Finger) 与马刺随队记者杰夫·麦克唐纳 (Jeff McDonald) 和汤姆·奥斯本 (Tom Orsborn) 共同探讨，为何马刺若想争夺NBA总冠军，就必须打得更具身体对抗性。此外，他们还将探讨为何凭借阵中的新秀挑战赛明星，马刺将在全明星周末获得充分的展示。
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》寒潮特别版，信号来自遍布南德克萨斯州、高度加密且寒冷无比的绝密地点。我是迈克·芬格，与我同在的是《快报新闻》的马刺随队记者汤姆·奥斯本和杰夫·麦克唐纳，他们已经让水龙头滴水，给水管做了保温。他们一直在报道本地的这支篮球队，尽管球队的进展仍然远超预期——截至本次录制时仍位列西部第二，拥有两、三位新秀挑战赛明星，以及一位全明星首发。呃，马刺在过去三场比赛中输掉了两场。共同点似乎是，杰夫，当其他球队与圣安东尼奥马刺交手时，他们觉得可以随意欺负马刺。
这……这难道成了新的球探报告吗？认为可以用强硬的打法压制技术流的圣安东尼奥马刺？
杰夫·麦克唐纳 ：是的，他们就像火柴盒二十乐队的罗伯·托马斯 (Rob Thomas) 一样。他们想要……他们想要把你推来搡去。
汤姆·奥斯本 ：或者，或者像奥利维亚·牛顿-约翰 (Olivia Newton-John) 那样，“让我们来点身体对抗”。
迈克·芬格 ：这下我们可真是跟上了年轻人的潮流。
汤姆·奥斯本 ：汤姆·奥斯本心想，我要用一个更古老的梗来碾压杰夫·麦克唐纳那个陈旧的90年代梗。现在我们已经精准命中目标受众了。马刺要被推来搡去，对手球队要上身体对抗，好戏开场了。我们的播客正式启动。
但这到底是怎么回事？
杰夫·麦克唐纳 ：这已经成了那些拥有合适人选的球队在面对马刺时，在攻防两端的首选比赛计划。你知道，新奥尔良有这样的人，休斯顿也有。而且马刺明天，我猜是明天，还要再打一次休斯顿。所以这将是一个看点。但是没错，他们……这是对维克托上身体，但不仅仅是针对维克托。那些现在能成功防守马刺的球队……顺便说一句，两天前，马刺面对西部战绩最差的球队只得到了95分。
迈克·芬格 ：这可不是2005年了。得分不到100分可不是什么理想状况。
杰夫·麦克唐纳 ：没错，而且这是赛季最差表现，95分，还是面对西部最差的球队。他们不只是对维克托上身体。各支球队已经发现，如果你有人手，如果你有那种他们所说的“壮汉”，在后场的一、二、三号位上都派上大个子，你就能在很大程度上抵消马刺在这些位置上的优势。你知道，马刺有像迪伦·哈珀 (Dylan Harper) 和斯蒂芬·卡斯尔这样的大个后卫，也有像达龙·福克斯 (De’Aaron Fox) 这样速度快、得分能力强的后卫，不过他身材偏小。所以，如果你有能与之匹配的球员，马刺就会发现比赛打起来更艰难。当对手能这么做时，处境会更艰难。而且马刺知道对手会这么干。这已经不是什么秘密了。球队用这种方式对付他们，并不会让他们感到意外，但他们必须找到回击的办法。这将是接下来对阵火箭队比赛中有趣的地方——他们能找到回击的方法吗？如果你还记得，马刺在很久以前，大概是十一月吧，在霜冻银行中心击败火箭队那次？你记得伊梅·乌度卡 (Ime Udoka) 赛后说了什么吗？
迈克·芬格 ：他说马刺教训了他们。
杰夫·麦克唐纳 ：是的，“马刺教训了我们。我们被好好上了一课。”马刺需要对火箭队和其他球队也来点“教训”。
迈克·芬格 ：这不仅仅是关于周三在休斯顿的一场比赛，尽管那场比赛应该会很有看头。火箭队是一支今年春天有可能挡在马刺面前的球队。当你看看西部联盟的其他顶尖球队，我想特别是像俄克拉荷马城，在身体对抗方面也绝非等闲之辈。他们也有一些硬汉。比如你的卢·多尔特 (Lu Dort)，还有，呃，不一定是身材高大，但像亚历克斯·卡鲁索 (Alex Caruso) 这样的球员，他们就是那种强硬、身体对抗激烈、从不畏惧接触的球员。他们的整个阵容都是如此。
所以，如果这是对付马刺的新战术手册、新蓝图，我认为这在七场四胜制的系列赛中只会被放大。我们都知道，听这个播客的每个人，说这个播客的每个人，都看过很多季后赛系列赛，而在季后赛中，比赛的身体对抗通常不会减少，只会更激烈。因此，我认为这是马刺必须面对和意识到的问题，它不会自行消失。我……我不想把这夸大成一个巨大的问题。重申一下，马刺今年的进度远超预期。对他们来说，一切都进行得相当成功。但我认为，这就是各支球队会用来对付马刺的方式，而且我不确定他们有……我的意思是，这不是冰球，也不是1990年代早期，你不需要一个“打手”，不需要一个“执行者”。但我认为马刺现在的阵容里并没有那样的球员。他们如何应对，这将很有趣。
杰夫·麦克唐纳 ：这在某种程度上印证了我们一直以来的观点，即一支球队从赢20场球，到赢30场球，成为一支季后赛球队，再到一支优秀的季后赛球队，最终成为总冠军争夺者，是需要经历不同阶段的。而你必须经历的其中一个阶段，就是学会如何处理这种情况。对手不会让你为所欲为。你知道，那些强队不会让你在每个晚上都随心所欲，你必须找出对策，以及对策的对策，找到一种变得更强硬的方式。所以，当马刺取得那波八连胜，并且每隔一晚就击败俄克拉荷马城时，人们都在说：“哦，这就是马刺，他们是今年的总冠军争夺者。他们的进度太超前了。”嗯，这就是为什么当时我们当中许多头脑清醒的人都在说，我们必须保持冷静，因为这些家伙还有很多阶段要走。他们还有很多考验需要通过，而我们还没看到。联盟现在已经适应了马刺，适应了他们在十二月和十一月的打法。而马刺还没有在持续的基础上找到调整回来的方法。所以，我认为这就是为什么我们所有人，我们当中头脑清醒的人，在大家为马刺今年的夺冠机会疯狂吹捧时，都敦促大家保持谨慎。他们现在还不是真正的总冠军争夺者。我认为，能打进季后赛并想办法在那里赢球，你就该感到满意了。而这些比赛，被新奥尔良、犹他或休斯顿痛击，以及其他会打得很强硬的球队，都是在为季后赛做准备。然后一个季后赛系列赛会让你为之做好准备。再往后，也许你就能准备好回击，成为大家心目中的那个总冠军争夺者。但我认为……你必须经历这些，才能学会如何去做。除了亲身经历，没有别的办法。没有别的路可走。
汤姆·奥斯本 ：你们觉得应该在交易截止日前解决这个问题吗？
杰夫·麦克唐纳 ：嗯，我不认为有什么神奇的……
汤姆·奥斯本 ：对。
杰夫·麦克唐纳 ：……魔豆能解决所有问题。而且，呃，我觉得杰夫·麦克唐纳说“我们当中头脑清醒的人”真是太经典了。你知道，他总是这样。这……这……这很不错。
迈克·芬格 ：嗯，是的，杰夫刚才说的话，我能想象到它会被断章取义、整合传播，说他认为马刺不是总冠军争夺者，这肯定会让一些人很生气。如果单独拿出来看，脱离上下文，是的，这确实是个有点争议的观点，杰夫。
杰夫·麦克唐纳 ：是吗？我不……
迈克·芬格 ：马刺不是，马刺不是总冠军争夺者，因为我猜这是一个有趣的话题，因为我明白你的观点。
杰夫·麦克唐纳 ：我的意思是，他们可以再次给我惊喜。
迈克·芬格 ：这是我过去几年里反复强调的一个观点，那就是你必须循序渐进，没有哪支球队能从马刺过去六年的处境，第一年就直接赢得总冠军。所以从这个意义上说，你说的没错。
但从另一个角度看，呃，你环顾联盟，看看谁是总冠军争夺者，如果马刺在西部联盟不算，那你基本上是在说西部只有一个争冠者，因为马刺和那些球队的水平相当。我想我在这里有点骑墙了。我试着解释你的观点，同时也从另一个角度看问题。嗯，我……我认为当你从整体上看，看这支球队的过往和它努力的目标，也许丹佛更有可能，也许休斯顿更有可能，因为他们经历过季后赛的洗礼。但很难坐下来，假设你管理着马刺，假设你是布莱恩·莱特 (Brian Wright)，假设你是执教马刺的米奇·约翰逊 (Mitch Johnson)。他们很难看着这一切说，我们今年不是总冠军争夺者。我……我认为你必须相信自己可以，如果不是赢得冠军，至少能竞争冠军，或者如果不是赢得，至少能为之竞争。嗯，只是，这里面有很多灰色地带，我不确定，呃，要区分你所说的“他们不是争冠者”和战绩所显示的“他们是争冠者”有那么容易。我说得有道理吗？就像我……
杰夫·麦克唐纳 ：我明白其中的脱节之处，但我也长了眼睛。那些将要竞争……我的意思是，我不想表现得像在泼冷水。我们好像走上了一条黑暗的道路。嗯……
迈克·芬格 ：好吧，我给你机会。当你说马刺不是总冠军争夺者时，你到底是什么意思？
杰夫·麦克唐纳 ：我认为他们是一支优秀的球队，就像我们说的，一支进度超前的优秀球队，地球上没有人会下重注赌他们在本赛季这个时候能赢下，多少场来着，31场比赛。嗯，但他们有我能看到的缺陷，而且很多缺陷只能通过经验来弥补。他们在很多位置上仍然很年轻，在很多方面也缺乏经验。我只是……我不是赌徒，但如果我赌很多钱，我不会在这支球队身上下太多注，赌他们能赢下三轮季后赛，以一个有利的顺位进入季后赛。我的意思是，他们肯定能进季后赛，但是否能以有利的顺位进入，赢下三轮系列赛并打进总决赛。就像，我没法下任何赌注并对此感到安心。
汤姆·奥斯本 ：是的，我的意思是，这个辩论的答案已经提出来了。季后赛完全是另一码事。马刺队中的球员，除少数例外，都没怎么经历过。你知道，这……这完全是另一回事，他们必须去适应。我们讨论过这个，我们之前就讨论过。他们需要经历那些季后赛的旅程，才能真正做好准备。
迈克·芬格 ：我完全同意，而且，我就是那个反复强调这一点的人。
汤姆·奥斯本 ：对，对。是你说的。
迈克·芬格 ：但……但我认为我们现在是在为“争夺者”的定义钻牛角尖。因为，嗯，“争夺者”对你意味着什么？一支有X%机会赢得今年NBA总冠军的球队？杰夫？
杰夫·麦克唐纳 ：可以这么说。可以。
迈克·芬格 ：比如，你如何定义一个“争夺者”，以及今年在国家篮球协会中，谁是真正的NBA总冠军争夺者？
杰夫·麦克唐纳 ：是的，我……我……我不知道现在能不能列出一个完整的名单。但我想说……
迈克·芬格 ：我明白了。
杰夫·麦克唐纳 ：你想听一个劲爆的观点吗？如果真要来个劲爆的，就像我半开玩笑地总说要拿我的房子去赌什么。
Mike Finger : It’s why you live in a van down by the river. But go ahead.
杰夫·麦克唐纳 ：如果我必须在“马刺进西部决赛”和“马刺是附加赛球队”之间赌上我的房子，我会把房子押在附加赛球队上。我认为后者的可能性更大。
迈克·芬格 ：哇哦。这可是个劲爆的观点。
汤姆·奥斯本 ：哇哦。这观点真劲爆。天啊。
杰夫·麦克唐纳 ：我是说，你看到明尼苏达发生了什么吗？一周表现不佳，就滑到了附加赛区。
迈克·芬格 ：是的。马刺可能在下周这个时候就掉到第七名了。
杰夫·麦克唐纳 ：哇哦不代表你错了。哇哦不代表我认为那是个不负责任的观点。哇哦只是意味着，那是个……那是个我没想到人们会料到的观点。但是它……
迈克·芬格 ：而且我觉得我说的这些，听起来好像很消极或悲观，但我……我的意思是，我必须重申，这支球队到目前为止的表现已经远远超出了所有人的预期。他们可能会赢50场比赛。嗯，我不认为他们会成为附加赛球队。我认为他们可以……他们会以前六名的成绩结束赛季。但我认为保住第二的位置相当危险。当你看看他们未来一周的赛程，嗯，你可能会看到这波连败延续到四场，那之后你会在哪里？你就不再是第二名了。
杰夫·麦克唐纳 ：没错。我……
迈克·芬格 ：对于这些家伙来说，这将是一个每周都在变化的情况。问题是，他们有那些令人目眩的高光时刻，看起来就像……他们确实看起来像那个总冠军争夺者。他们有那些阶段和比赛，确实看起来像那个总冠军争夺者，然后他们又有那些阶段，你看到他们被，所谓的，“打爆”，然后意识到这种情况可能会在季后赛系列赛中连续发生四场，然后系列赛就结束了。有时这甚至会在同一场比赛中发生，就像对新奥尔良那场比赛。他们被推来搡去，落后20分，然后哦，我们现在要好好打一会儿了，他们一路追了回来，然后在比赛最后又被推来搡去，然后输了。你知道，这支球队现在就是不稳定，而这正是在其成长曲线上这个阶段的球队你所能预料到的——一支不稳定的球队，无法在48分钟内都保持状态，每晚48分钟都拥有那种……你想怎么称呼它，冠军气质。他们就是做不到。在他们成长曲线的这个阶段，他们是做不到的。这也不是我们应该对他们抱有的期望。我认为人们……或许我的意思是，那些期望他们成为某种总冠军争夺者的人，可能……他们对于这段旅程的这个阶段设定的期望有点太高了。
迈克·芬格 ：我同意。
杰夫·麦克唐纳 ：我理解为什么会这样，因为十二月的那段表现确实……你知道，一下子把期望值拉高了。但我认为我们现在看到的是我们整个赛季以来所期待的那支球队。非常出色，进步巨大，能击败联盟中一些最强的球队，也将会击败一些最强的球队，但同样也会有那些让你不禁想“他们在干什么？”的夜晚。他们怎么会在主场输给犹他？怎么会在主场输给新奥尔良？你知道，他们怎么会在第四节对孟菲斯时挥霍掉那些领先优势？你知道，就像，他们也会有那样的夜晚。他们不会是蒂姆-托尼-马努时代的马刺，每晚都出来用执行力把你打得落花流水，即使状态不佳也能击败你。所以，我认为这就是你对一支处于冠军征程如此早期的球队所能期待的。我认为这不值得警惕。我只是认为这需要我们回归现实。
迈克·芬格 ：我完全同意所有这些。这里我要扮演一下唱反调的角色，过去一周在霜冻银行中心的媒体室里，就有人这么说我。嗯，我只想在你之前那个非常引人注目的声明上进行引申和微调，以便我能同意你的观点。如果有人问我，你认为马刺最终排名西部第六或更低的可能性，与他们打进分区决赛的可能性，哪个更高？我想我会选择……我会倾向于认为他们最终排名第六或更低的可能性可能更高，因为我认为西部有六支相当不错的球队，或者说我能看到有球队能后来居上，包括马刺在内。我的意思是，我不知道是否有七支，我不知道是否有六支球队比马刺更好。我只想说这个。就像你说的，要让马刺掉到附加赛区，那就需要像菲尼克斯、金州勇士、快船或者波特兰这样的球队超过他们。我……我不知道这会不会发生。但他们现在离第六名也就差几场比赛，这很容易发生。我只是想让人们为此做好准备，就像，如果马刺在这个赛季结束时——一个他们只想向前迈一步，并且被预测能赢多少，44场胜利之类的赛季——最终赢了52或53场比赛并排名第六，那仍然是巨大的进步。这不值得大家惊慌失措地上街游行。嗯，所以，是的，我想在这点上我同意你的看法。
杰夫·麦克唐纳 ：我不知道这支持了你的观点还是我的，但你知道过去20场比赛里西部最火的球队是谁吗？20场比赛，这可是个不小的样本量。你知道谁的战绩最好吗？
迈克·芬格 ：是那个具有生态意识、热衷植树的洛杉矶快船队，对吧？
杰夫·麦克唐纳 ：完全正确。所以这可以支持你的观点，即西部竞争非常激烈，以至于没有哪支球队是或不是争冠者。或者也可以支持我的观点，即像快船这样的球队可能会超过马刺。就像……在那团混战的底部，有一些比你想象中更强的球队。
迈克·芬格 ：我不认为快船……那会让我震惊。我不是……
杰夫·麦克唐纳 ：我……我也不完全这么认为。但我更倾向于认为，在那团混战的底部，有一些比人们想象中更强的球队。
迈克·芬格 ：好吧，让我们给这个迄今为止一直阴云密布的播客带来点积极的能量。
杰夫·麦克唐纳 ：让我们积极起来。
迈克·芬格 ：三位新秀挑战赛明星。三位新秀挑战赛明星，包括来自奥斯汀马刺队的戴维·琼斯·加西亚 (David Jones Garcia)，他将与迪伦·哈珀和斯蒂芬·卡斯尔一起参加那个所有人都理解、热爱并为之兴奋的活动——周五晚上的新秀挑战赛。比赛将在那个具有生态意识的Intuit穹顶球馆举行，汤姆·奥斯本将从那里为我们报道全明星周末。汤姆，你对新秀挑战赛感到兴奋吗？
汤姆·奥斯本 ：嗯，戴维·琼斯·加西亚，那是个不同的组合。而且，那正是他可能……你知道，他可能最终赢得MVP的比赛。呃，你知道……
迈克·芬格 ：哇哦，这是这个播客上又一个伟大的预测。我们真是敢说啊。
汤姆·奥斯本 ：从我们之前看他打球的样子来看，你知道，他……他能打出爆炸性表现，而那种氛围下，这完全可能发生。所以这很有趣。我很高兴，很高兴他被加了进去。呃，是的，仍然……
迈克·芬格 ：如果他赢得MVP那将是个大冷门，那将意味着G联赛球队席卷全场，击败了二年级和一年级新秀队。
汤姆·奥斯本 ：我跟你说，我们见过他打疯了的样子。哇哦。
杰夫·麦克唐纳 ：澄清一下……只是为了澄清这一点，因为这已经成了一个小问题。他从戴维·琼斯·加西亚说起。他……他是以G联赛球员身份入选的。就像……当……当官方统计马刺历史上有多少新秀挑战赛明星时，他……他是不算在内的。他是一名G联赛球员。
迈克·芬格 ：你想说什么？
杰夫·麦克唐纳 ：他们就是这么规定的。但他……他是一名G联赛参赛者。马刺队，马刺队今年的两位新秀挑战赛明星是斯蒂芬·卡斯尔和迪伦·哈珀。
迈克·芬格 ：你是想在这里较真，纠结新秀挑战赛记录的细枝末节吗？
杰夫·麦克唐纳 ：是的。是……是的，我就是。这就像不把拉里·凯农 (Larry Kenon) 算作参加过全明星赛一样。我的意思是……
迈克·芬格 ：我们都会看这场比赛的。就像美国其他人一样，这是收视率最高的……
杰夫·麦克唐纳 ：这个播客里只有一个人会看那场比赛，而且是因为他拿了钱才看的。
迈克·芬格 ：而且所有在全美客厅里观看新秀挑战赛的人都会记得戴维·琼斯·加西亚参加了新秀挑战赛，而且他今年为马刺队效力过。天啊，你为什么要试图贬低他的传奇？这……这对我来说简直是不可理喻。
杰夫·麦克唐纳 ：所以，比如五年后，十年后，当你说马刺历史上曾有过，呃，你知道，37位新秀挑战赛明星时，会有人说：“不不不不不不不。”实际上是38位，因为我清楚地记得2026年作为G联赛队成员的戴维·琼斯·加西亚。
迈克·芬格 ：好吧，首先，是的。其次，如果十年后我还在谈论新秀挑战赛和马刺队史，天啊，那一定是出了什么问题。
杰夫·麦克唐纳 ：不，实际上，我认为如果我们十年后还在关心新秀挑战赛，那说明一切都非常顺利。
迈克·芬格 ：我只是说对我个人而言。对我们作为一个……
杰夫·麦克唐纳 ：我正想说，那意味着人类幸存下来了。
迈克·芬格 ：是的，那将意味着有些事情进展顺利。有些事情进展顺利。你说得对。又一次，作为这个播客的一个主题，我必须承认杰夫·麦克唐纳说得有道理。干得好。嗯，是的，所以有这个。还有一种可能性，我知道杰夫在纠结全明星、新秀挑战赛、NBA规则细枝末节的时候，也想谈谈这个，那就是马刺队可能会有另一位代表让汤姆在Intuit穹顶球馆报道。我知道杰夫想深入探讨一下，伟大的年轻教练米奇·约翰逊如何能去那里，实现他参与全明星周末的梦想。
杰夫·麦克唐纳 ：嗯，基本上他们只需要在2月1日前排在第二位，这将很有趣，因为这周他们可能会掉出第二位。就像他可能在终点线前功亏一篑。但这是因为……
迈克·芬格 ：我们确定这个吗，杰夫？杰夫前几天用他那种嘲讽的语气提到了这件事，但是……情况是怎样的，今年有三支全明星队，去年是由TNT的解说团队担任三位教练，他们仍然把官方全明星教练的荣誉授予了东西部战绩最好的教练。但今年他们怎么做？今年谁来执教第三支球队？汤姆是我们的特派记者。你知道吗？
汤姆·奥斯本 ：G联赛的最佳教练。我只是……开个玩笑。
迈克·芬格 ：是啊，我不知道。这是个好问题。所以我不知道他们将如何解决这个问题。比如说，马刺和掘金，假设2月1日的排名和现在一样，马刺和掘金并列。你会让他们俩都去吗？因为……因为雷霆队没有资格，因为他们去年战绩最好。所以就轮到西部第二的球队了。我不知道他们会怎么做。作为一个报道NBA的播客，我们应该知道他们……
杰夫·麦克唐纳 ：每年规则都变，这有点荒谬。
迈克·芬格 ：他们就是边走边看，就像这个播客一样。
杰夫·麦克唐纳 ：这快把我逼疯了。比如新秀挑战赛就应该是新秀对二年级。那有什么问题吗？
迈克·芬格 ：所有全明星的东西都是他们临时想出来的。他们想让人们在乎，但根本没用。
杰夫·麦克唐纳 ：就像，NFL的职业碗不是改成腰旗橄榄球赛了吗？
迈克·芬格 ：基本上是，也没人看。
杰夫·麦克唐纳 ：所以我们应该这么做。NFL，他们职业碗打篮球赛，然后NBA，他们应该打一场腰旗橄榄球赛。
迈克·芬格 ：我同意。为什么不呢？他们其他东西都是编的。比如维克托·文班亚马 (Victor Wembanyama) 会打什么位置？天啊，他会是个多么出色的红区进攻目标，我想。
杰夫·麦克唐纳 ：他会的。
迈克·芬格 ：那个，呃，全明星赛，我们上周好像谈过这个，但赛制本身就很荒谬。你把所有最好的MVP候选人都放在国际队，然后又把美国队分开。这毫无道理。嗯，如果他们要有第三个教练，他们不妨，我提议，不妨让顶级的国际教练来，比如多伦多的达科 (Darko)，布鲁克林的霍尔迪·费尔南德斯 (Jordi Fernandez)，还有谁，你提到了蒂亚戈·斯普利特 (Thiago Splitter)，有很多国际教练。
杰夫·麦克唐纳 ：我以为你指的是像欧洲联赛的最佳教练。比如不管他愿不愿意，他都必须来这里执教全明星赛。
迈克·芬格 ：当然，为什么不呢？把我们的朋友埃托雷·梅西纳 (Ettore Messina) 请回来。他会很擅长这个的。这一切都很荒谬，但是，呃，但这对于……我不知道它对什么有好处。我想有些人喜欢吧。嗯，是的，所以我们接下来有一周的赛程。让我们谈谈这个。嗯，我们提到了周三晚上在休斯顿与火箭队的又一场重要对决。回到他们上周二被欺负的地方。然后是周末去夏洛特的客场之旅，以及一场主场比赛。我想是芝麻街之夜，杰夫，周日在霜冻银行中心对阵奥兰多魔术队。你期待霜冻银行中心的芝麻街之夜吗？
杰夫·麦克唐纳 ：是啊，我到时候就去现场表演我的奥斯卡（芝麻街角色）模仿秀。没人会发现有什么不同。是的。嗯……所以那是另一个，2026年到目前为止有很多背靠背比赛。我猜马刺已经习惯了。但这是……这是那种经典的背靠背比赛结束后的主场比赛，这意味着它其实不算真正的主场比赛。所以你说的对。你之前提到过，接下来有一些胜负难料，甚至是很艰难的比赛。我想那之后，在我们录制下一期播客后，还有第五场对阵雷霆的比赛。但是，嗯，你肯定不会说这些比赛中任何一场是赢不了的，但这周的赛程也绝不轻松。你对未来的路怎么看？
杰夫·麦克唐纳 ：我想指出，那场看起来像是囊中之物的夏洛特之战，其实并非如此。我的意思是，夏洛特的战绩是负的，我想如果你是普通球迷，不怎么关注，我的意思是，你为什么要关注……那些家伙赢球的时候都是大胜30分。他们赢球就是赢30分。所以……我不是说……过去10场6胜4负，他们取得了一波三连胜。
迈克·芬格 ：是的，我的意思是，他们……他们以50分的优势击败了犹他，他们还……他们有一些30分的胜利，一些28分的胜利，就像每次他们赢球，都是一场该死的屠杀。我有一个我读到的数据，现在可能过时了，但那是在他们大约落后50%胜率12场比赛的时候。夏洛特黄蜂队落后50%胜率12场，这意味着他们输的比赛远多于赢的，但他们赛季的正负值却是持平的，因为每次他们赢球，比分都大得离谱。他们能得分。所以如果……如果马刺抱着像对新奥尔良时那样的心态去比赛，“哦，这是联盟里最差的球队之一”，啦啦啦，他们会被痛击的。所以我不会说那场比赛赢不了，但我想说的是，那场看起来可能是轻松取胜的比赛，并不会那么轻松。所以，我们这里预测几场比赛？四场？你说的？
迈克·芬格 ：三场。
杰夫·麦克唐纳 ：三场？天啊，我……我猜他们一胜二负。我能预见到两胜一负，但我会给他们一胜二负。特别是因为其中一场是背靠背。你得从夏洛特一路赶回来，然后第二天晚上就在主场对阵奥兰多。那可不是理想情况。休斯顿那场比赛很难打。呃，我……说实话，给他们一场胜利我都觉得是仁慈了。
迈克·芬格 ：顺便说一下，夏洛特黄蜂队在东部联盟的排名，按传统胜负场次算，就是那个重要的排名，排在东部第12位。但在净胜分方面，他们排第七。他们是+1。他们场均净胜对手1.3分。嗯，所以这印证了你所说的。他们本赛季得分比对手多。嗯，总之，汤姆，你对未来三场比赛有什么看法？
汤姆·奥斯本 ：我还在试图找出第三位教练是谁。我到处都找不到。他们真的是在临时编造。
迈克·芬格 ：我……我前几天因为有人提起，出于好奇随便搜了一下，我相信如果我真的想知道，我能找到答案。你知道，你可以给联盟里的人打个电话问问。我没那么在乎，但它……我不认为有任何地方公布过。
汤姆·奥斯本 ：不，没有。
迈克·芬格 ：因为他们是边走边编的。
汤姆·奥斯本 ：你知道谁执教新秀挑战赛的球队吗？
迈克·芬格 ：我不知道，埃托雷·梅西纳？
杰夫·麦克唐纳 ：不，是特雷西·麦克格雷迪 (Tracy McGrady)，卡梅隆·安东尼 (Carmelo Anthony)，呃，那个节目里另一个家伙是谁？
迈克·芬格 ：是文斯·卡特 (Vince Carter) 吗？
杰夫·麦克唐纳 ：文斯·卡特。第四个人是谁？有四支球队吗？新秀挑战赛有四支球队？
迈克·芬格 ：哦，我想是奥斯汀·里弗斯 (Austin Rivers)。
杰夫·麦克唐纳 ：奥斯汀·里弗斯，没错。出于某种原因，就像，他输了赌局吗？他们是抽签抽中他的名字吗？呃，他是不是正好路过亚当·萧华 (Adam Silver) 的办公室被抓了壮丁？我不知道奥斯汀·里弗斯是怎么……他们是怎么决定让他来执教G联赛新秀挑战赛球队的。
迈克·芬格 ：这一切都非常……
杰夫·麦克唐纳 ：边走边编。他们就是边走边编的。
汤姆·奥斯本 ：不过继续说，汤姆，你的预测是什么？
迈克·芬格 ：我猜两胜一负。两胜一负。是的。
汤姆·奥斯本 ：他们，你知道，德文回来了。呃，他，你知道，前几天看起来还不错。他……他会慢慢找回状态的。我认为这会帮助他们。两胜一负。
迈克·芬格 ：理论上又恢复全员健康了。马刺今年全员健康的时候不多，但前几天是他们很长一段时间以来第一次全员健康，他们就输给了西部最差的球队。
杰夫·麦克唐纳 ：就像我们……我们没有深入讨论这个，但这真的取决于维克托·文班亚马投进了多少个三分球。当他投进五个、四个、七个或四个时，他们赢下了所有那些比赛，但最近的两场失利，他分别是7投0中和10投2中。我的意思是，这可不是什么好事，球队的进攻晴雨表竟然变成了一个7尺5寸的大个子三分球是否爆发。是的。
迈克·芬格 ：这又回到了我们开始时的话题，呃，如果你在内线被推来搡去，那么你某种程度上就必须依赖三分球。马刺绝不是NBA中唯一一支成也三分、败也三分的球队。太多球队都这样了。甚至可以追溯到格雷格·波波维奇 (Gregg Popovich) 执教的时候，他会说看看技术统计，谁投进的三分球数量更多、命中率更高，通常谁就赢了。就像，这是这个联盟大多数夜晚最重要的统计数据。但如果你在篮板和内线不被痛击，那肯定会有很大帮助。嗯，但我们会看看他们怎么打。我们会看看会发生什么。周三在休斯顿，他们又有机会对阵一支身体对抗非常激烈的球队。嗯，周末还有艰难的背靠背比赛。也许到那时，我们南德克萨斯州的天气也已经解冻了一些。在此之前，我们会……我们会努力保持真实，互相照顾。再见。
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：Title Contender? Why San Antonio needs to get tough
Title Contender? Why San Antonio needs to get tough
Columnist Mike Finger and Spurs beat reporters Jeff McDonald and Tom Orsborn discuss why the Spurs will need to get a lot more physical if they are going to contend for an NBA Championship. Also, why the Spurs will be well-represented at the All-Star weekend thanks to their Rising Stars.
Suggested reading:
Spurs’ Dylan Harper set for Rising Stars as reputation for smart play grows
Two more Spurs named Rising Stars
3 Takeaways as Spurs pratfall against Pelicans
Spurs players, coach react to Minneapolis deaths, unrest
Why the Spurs’ Mitch Johnson could be a busy man come All-Star weekend
Here is the transcript of the podcast:
Mike Finger: From a highly secured network of frigid top secret locations across South Texas, this is the Spurs Insider hard freeze edition. I am Mike Finger, joined by Express News Spurs beat writers Tom Orsborn and Jeff McDonald, who’ve had their faucets dripping, their pipes insulated. They’ve been covering the local cagers who, while things are still going well ahead of schedule, second in the West still as of this recording, two, three Rising Stars, one all-star All-Star starter. Uh, the Spurs have lost two of their last three. And the common thread, Jeff is when teams come into games against the San Antonio Spurs, it seems like they think they can push them around.
Is that is is is that the new scouting report? That people can out tough the finesse-driven San Antonio Spurs?
Jeff McDonald: Yeah, they come in here like Rob Thomas of Matchbox 20. They want to, they want to push you around.
Tom Orsborn: Or, or Olivia Newton-John, let’s get physical.
Mike Finger: Now we’re really connecting with the kids.
Tom Orsborn: Tom Orsborn said I’m going to just obliterate the the ancient 1990s reference that Jeff McDonald made with an even older reference. And now we’ve hit our target audience. We’re going to the Spurs are going to get pushed around and they’re and teams are going to get physical and here we go. The podcast is off and running.
But what’s what’s the deal?
Jeff McDonald: That has become sort of the uh, go-to defensive game plan and offensive game plan for teams that come in and face the Spurs if they have the the guys to do it. And you know, New Orleans had the guys to do it, Houston had the guys to do it, and the Spurs play Houston again um, tomorrow, I guess. Uh so that’ll be something to look at. But yeah, they it it’s being physical with Victor, but not just with Victor. Like the teams that are really having success defending the Spurs right now. And by the way, the Spurs managed 95 points against the worst team in the in the Western Conference, two two days ago.
Mike Finger: That ain’t 2005 anymore. 90, less than 100 points is not is not optimal.
Jeff McDonald: No, and and this was the worst, 95 points, is the worst of the season against the worst team in the West. Um, they’re not just being physical with Victor. They’re teams have found if you can if you have the bodies, if you have the the hosses as they say, um to go big one, two and three, like at the one, the two, the three in the back court, you can go a long way towards neutralizing uh the Spurs’ advantages there. You know, the Spurs have big guards in Dylan Harper and Steph Castle and quick guard and uh scoring guard in De’Aaron Fox, who’s a little on the smaller side. And so if you have the guys that that can match with that, um, the Spurs are finding it uh just a it’s a harder go. It’s tougher sledding when when teams can do that. And um the the Spurs know it’s coming. Like they they it’s not a secret. Teams aren’t surprising them with this approach, but they’ve got to find a way to to hit back. And that’s going to be what’s sort of interesting um moving forward to the next game against the Rockets is can they find a way to hit back? If you remember when the Spurs beat the Rockets um way back in was it November, back at the Frost Bank Center? Do you remember what Ime Udoka said afterwards?
Mike Finger: He said the Spurs punked us.
Jeff McDonald: Yeah, the Spurs punked us. We got punked. The Spurs need to do some punking against the Rockets and other teams.
Mike Finger: And it’s not just about one game in Houston on Wednesday, although that that should be a fun game to observe. Um, Rockets are a team that conceivably could be in the Spurs’ way this spring. Um when you look at other teams atop the Western Conference, I guess one in particular like um Oklahoma City is no pushover when it comes to the physicality department. Like they’ve got some big guys too. Your Lu Dorts and and uh, you know, not necessarily size, but Alex Caruso, you’ve got guys who are just tough and physical and and uh don’t shy away from contact. And up and down their roster it’s the same way.
And so if this is the new um playbook, the new blueprint for how to handle the Spurs, I think that’s only going to get magnified during the course of a seven-game series when we all know everyone listening to this podcast, everyone speaking on this podcast, seen a lot of playoff series and in the in the playoffs, typically games don’t get less physical, they get more physical. So this is something that I think the Spurs are going to have to come to terms with and realize that this isn’t going to go away. And I I’m not I don’t want to overstate it into this huge problem. Again, the Spurs are way ahead of schedule this year. Things are going pretty successfully for them. But this is, I think that’s going to be the way that teams approach the Spurs and I’m not sure they have, I mean this isn’t hockey, this isn’t the 19, early 1990s where you needed a a goon, where you needed an enforcer. But the Spurs don’t necessarily have that on their roster right now, I don’t think. And uh it’ll be interesting to see how they they handle it.
Jeff McDonald: It kind of underscores a point that we’ve made all along in that there’s steps to team’s growing from winning 20 games, winning 30 games, becoming a playoff team, becoming a good playoff team, becoming a contender. And this is a step you have to go through is is figuring out how to deal with this stuff. Teams aren’t going to just let you do whatever you want to do. You know, the teams, the good teams are not going to let you do whatever you want to do on every night and you have to figure out counters and and counters to counters and just a way to be tougher. So when when the Spurs were on that eight game winning streak and beating Oklahoma City every other night, and people were saying, “Oh, this is the Spurs, they’re they’re a title contender this year. They were way ahead of schedule.” Well, that’s why a lot of people were saying, we’ve got to hold our horses because there’s still a lot of a lot of steps these guys got to go through. It’s a lot of a lot of tests they have to pass and we haven’t seen it yet. The league has adjusted to the Spurs now and what they were doing in in December and and November. Um and they haven’t quite on a consistent basis figured out a way to adjust back. And so I think that’s why we were all, the sober among us uh were urging caution when everybody was going nutso on the on the Spurs title chances this year. Like they’re not really a title contender right now. I think you have to be happy with making the playoffs and figuring out how to how to win there. And these games, uh getting beat up against New Orleans, against Utah or Houston, um and the other teams that are going to be physical, they prepare you for that and then a playoff series will prepare you for that. And then in the future, maybe you’re ready to to hit back and be that title contender everybody thinks you are. But I don’t I you got to go through this stuff in order to learn how to do it. There’s no other way to way than to to go through it. There’s no other way.
Tom Orsborn: Do you try to address it at the the trade deadline?
Jeff McDonald: Well, I don’t think there’s a magic uh…
Tom Orsborn: Right.
Jeff McDonald: Magic bean there to to to solve that whole deal there. And uh, I just think that’s classic Jeff McDonald to say the sober among us. You know, he’s always, he’s always that way. That’s, that’s, that’s, that’s pretty good.
Mike Finger: Um, yeah, and and and what Jeff said there, like I I can picture it being like uh clipped and aggregated about how he’s saying Spurs are not title contenders and how angry that will uh, that is sure to make people. And and taken by itself out of context, yeah, that is a that’s that’s sort of a controversial take there, Jeff.
Jeff McDonald: Is it? I don’t…
Mike Finger: The Spurs are not, the Spurs are not title contenders because there’s I guess that’s a fun thing to talk about because I I get your point.
Jeff McDonald: I mean they can surprise me again.
Mike Finger: That’s a point that I’ve made over and over and over and over again for the past few years is that you have to take steps and that no team ever goes from where the Spurs were the last six years to winning a title the first year. So in that sense, what you said is correct.
In another sense, though, um you kind of just look around the league and who the title contenders are and if the Spurs are not that in the Western Conference, then what you’re essentially saying is there’s only one of them in the Western Conference because the Spurs are right there with those other teams. And I think I’m I’m riding the fence here. I’m trying to kind of explain your side and and look at it in a different way. Um, I I I think that when you look at the totality of it and and where this team has been and what it’s trying to get to, that maybe Denver is more likely, maybe Houston is more likely because they’ve been through the playoff battles before. And but it’s hard to sit back and let’s say you’re running the Spurs, let’s say you’re Brian Wright, let’s say you’re Mitch Johnson coaching the Spurs. It’s hard for them to look at it and say, we’re not a title contender this year. I I think you have to think that you can, if not compete for it, win it, or if not win it, compete for it this year. Um, it’s just, there there are shades of gray here that I’m not sure, um, it’s it’s that easy to to distinguish between what you’re saying, they’re they’re they’re not a title contender with what the standings say, which is that they are. Does that make any sense? Like I I…
Jeff McDonald: I I see the disconnect but I also have eyes. And teams that are going to compete for for a I mean, I don’t I don’t want to act like I’m just crapping. Like we’ve gone down a dark road. Um…
Mike Finger: Well what do you, I’m giving you the chance. What do you mean when you say Spurs aren’t a title contender?
Jeff McDonald: I I think they’re a good team that’s like we’re saying, a good team that’s ahead of schedule that nobody on planet Earth would would have bet a lot of money on them having won, what is it, 31 games by this point of the season. Um, but but they have they have flaws that I can see and um a lot of them can only be addressed through experience. They’re still just young in a lot of places and inexperienced in a lot of places. And I just would, I mean I don’t bet, but if I would bet a lot, I wouldn’t bet a whole lot of money on this team is going to win three playoffs, get get to the playoffs with a favorable seed. I mean, they’re going to get to the playoffs, but get there with a favorable seed, win three playoff series and get to the finals. Like I would bet, I just could not bet any amount of money on that and feel comfortable about it.
Tom Orsborn: Yeah, I mean the answer to this the debate’s already been brought up. The playoffs are a whole different animal. Spurs haven’t been there, you know, with a few exceptions, um players on their roster, but you know, it’s just it’s just a whole different animal and they they’ve got to get used to it. We’ve talked about this, we’ve talked about this before. They need to go through those playoff journeys before they’re ready.
Mike Finger: I I totally agree and again, I’m the one who said that over and over and over.
Tom Orsborn: Right, right. You did.
Mike Finger: But but I think what we’re getting we’re we’re splitting hairs about what the definition of contender is. Because, um, what what does contender mean to you? A team with an X percent chance to win the the NBA title this year? Jeff?
Jeff McDonald: Sure. Sure.
Mike Finger: Like what how would you define a contender and who are the championship the the true NBA championship contenders this year in the in the National Basketball Association?
Jeff McDonald: Yeah, I don’t I don’t I don’t know if I could go down a whole list of them right now. But I would say…
Mike Finger: I see.
Jeff McDonald: You want to do a whole hot take? If you really want a hot take, like I bet my house a lot, kind of facetiously, what I’m going to bet my house on.
Mike Finger: It’s why you live in a van down by the river. But go ahead.
Jeff McDonald: If I had to bet my house on Spurs making Western Conference finals or Spurs are a play-in team, I’d put my house on play-in team. I think that’s more likely.
Mike Finger: Wow. That’s a hot take.
Tom Orsborn: Wow. That’s a hot take. Damn.
Jeff McDonald: I’m saying, did you see what happened to Minnesota? Have one bad week, slid to the play-in.
Mike Finger: Yes. The Spurs could be in the, the Spurs could be in seventh place by this time next week.
Jeff McDonald: Wow does not mean you’re, wow does not mean you’re wrong. Wow does not mean I think that that’s an irresponsible take. Wow just means that’s a that’s a that’s a take that I don’t think people maybe expected. But it it it’s…
Mike Finger: And I feel like what I’m saying, like I again, it sounds like I’m being like negative or pessimistic, but I, I mean, again, I have to reiterate, this team has done way more than um anyone thought possible at this point. They’re probably going to win 50 games. Um, I don’t think they’re going to be a play-in team. I think they’ll they could finish, they’ll finish in the top six. But I I think that hold on number two is pretty precarious. And when you look at the week they have ahead, um, you could see this losing streak getting to like four games and then where are you after that? You’re not in second place anymore.
Jeff McDonald: Nope. I…
Mike Finger: It’s going to be a week-to-week thing with these guys. And the thing is they have these these dizzying highs where they look like, um, they do look like that title contender. They have these these stretches and these games where they do look like that title contender and then they have stretches where you see them get, quote unquote, punked and realize this is going to happen four games in a row in a playoff series and it’s going to be over. And sometimes that happens in the same game, like that New Orleans game. They were getting pushed around, get down by 20, and then oh, we’re going to play play for a while and they get all the way back and then get pushed around again at the end and lose. You know, it’s just an inconsistent team right now and that’s what you would expect from a team at this point in its growth curve is an inconsistent team that just doesn’t have it for 48 minutes, have that what do you want to call it, championship fiber for 48 minutes a night every night. They’re just not going to. They’re not going to at this point in their growth curve. That’s not what we should expect from them. I think people maybe what I’m getting at is I think people expecting them to be some kind of title contender are probably um, they’re setting their expectations a little too high for um, this point of the journey.
Mike Finger: I would agree.
Jeff McDonald: I understand why because that stretch in December just just, you know, kind of jolted those expectations up. But I I think what we’re seeing now is the team that we kind of expected all year. Really good, really improved, can beat some of the best teams in the league, will beat some of the best teams in the league, but also will have those nights where you’re just like, what are they doing? How are they losing at home to Utah? How are they losing at home to New Orleans? You know, how are they blowing these leads in the fourth quarter to, um, Memphis? You know, like, like they’re going to have those nights too. They’re not going to be the Tim-Tony-Manu Spurs that just come out and execute the crap out of you every night and just beat you even on a bad night. And and so I I think that’s what you expect from a team this early in in their in their championship journey. Like I don’t think it’s cause for alarm. I just think it’s cause for some realism.
Mike Finger: I would agree with all that. The to be a sort of a Boston mailman here, which I’ve been accused of in the past week in the media room at the Frost Bank Center. Um, I would just build upon the the very attention-grabbing statement that you made earlier and kind of fine tune it to say for me to agree with you, that I if if I were to be asked, do you think the chances are higher that the Spurs finish in sixth place or lower in the West or that they make the conference finals? I think I would take, I would I would give the nod to I think the chances are probably higher that they finish in sixth place or less because I think there are six pretty good teams in the Western Conference or teams that that I could see making a move counting the Spurs. Like the I don’t know if there’s seven, I mean I don’t know if there’s six teams that are better than the Spurs. That’s all I’m saying. Like for the for the Spurs to finish in that play-in like you said, that would require like a Phoenix or a Golden State or a Clippers or Portland to pass them. And I don’t, I don’t know if that happens. But easily they’re just, they’re just a few games out of sixth right now. And I don’t and just to just to prepare people for that, like I don’t think that it’s the end of the world if the Spurs at the end of this season when they were just trying to take a step forward and they were projected for what, 44 victories, something like that. Um, that was the betting line in Vegas for them to win 52 or 53 and finish sixth, like that’s still a huge step forward. That’s not a something to panic in the streets about. Um, so yeah, I think I’m with you on that.
Jeff McDonald: I don’t know if this goes to your point or mine, but you know who’s been the hottest team in the Western conference over the past 20 games? Like 20 games, that’s a pretty big sample size. You know who has the best record?
Mike Finger: That’s like the economic, ecologically conscious tree planting L. A. Clippers, right?
Jeff McDonald: Exactly. And so it could go to your point that the West is just so jumbled that that nobody is or isn’t a contender. Or it could go to my point that like the Clippers could pass the Spurs. Like they’re there’s there’s better teams at the bottom of that of that, um, jumble than than maybe you think.
Mike Finger: I don’t think the Clippers… That would shock me. I’m not…
Jeff McDonald: And I don’t I don’t really think entirely. But I think it’s more that there are better teams at the bottom of that jumble than than than people think.
Mike Finger: Well, to get positive on this podcast that’s been such a a dark cloud so far.
Jeff McDonald: Let’s get positive.
Mike Finger: Three rising stars. Three rising stars including David Jones Garcia of the Austin Spurs joining Dylan Harper and Stefan Castle in that event that everyone understands and loves and gets excited about, the Rising Stars tournament on Friday night at that ecologically conscious arena at the Intuit Dome that Tom Orsborn will be visiting and covering All-Star weekend from. Tom, are you are you excited about the Rising Stars tournament?
Tom Orsborn: Well, David Jones Garcia, that’s that’s a different mix there. And uh that’s the kind of game he could, you know, he could end up uh winning MVP at. Uh you know…
Mike Finger: Wow, that’s another great prediction on this podcast. We’re we’re going out there.
Tom Orsborn: From what we’ve seen from him before, you know, he he can uh he can light them up and that’s the kind of uh atmosphere where that could happen. So it’s it’s interesting. I’m glad, I’m glad he was added to it. Uh, yeah, still…
Mike Finger: That would be a big upset if he wins MVP and that would mean like the G League team takes the whole thing by storm and and and beats the uh sophomores and and rookies.
Tom Orsborn: I’m telling you, we we’ve seen him light it up. Wow.
Jeff McDonald: And just to be clear… Just just to be clear on this because this has been this has been a bit of an issue. He’s starting with David Jones Garcia. He’s he’s on the G League entry there. Like it he… when when the when the official accounting of number of Spurs Rising Stars in history goes down, like he he’s not on it. He’s a G leaguer.
Mike Finger: What are you trying to say?
Jeff McDonald: That’s just the way they do things. But he’s he’s a G, he’s a G League entry. The Spurs, the Spurs’ two rising stars this year are Steph Castle and Dylan Harper.
Mike Finger: Are you trying to go Cliff Clavin on like the minutia of Rising Stars record keeping here?
Jeff McDonald: Yes. It’s… yes I am. It’s not counting Larry Kenon as having gone to the All-Star game. I mean…
Mike Finger: We’re all going to watch this. Like everyone else in America, it’s one of the highest rated…
Jeff McDonald: There is only there is only one person on this podcast who is going to watch that and it’s because he’s being paid.
Mike Finger: And everyone who watches the Rising Stars in living rooms across America is going to remember that David Jones Garcia was at the Rising Stars game and he and he played for the Spurs this year. Man, why are you trying to to to diminish his legacy? That’s that’s just uh outrageous to me.
Jeff McDonald: So like five years from now, 10 years from now when you say the Spurs have had uh, you know, 37 Rising Stars in history, someone’s going to say, “No no no no no no no no no.” It’s actually 38 because I vividly recall David Jones Garcia as a member of the G League team in 2026.
Mike Finger: Well, okay, first of all, yes. Second of all, if I’m talking about Rising Stars 10 years from now and the Spurs first history, man, something has gone wrong.
Jeff McDonald: No, actually, I think if we’re talking about, if we’re still caring about the Rising Stars uh 10 years from now, uh something has gone very right.
Mike Finger: I just mean for me personally. For for us as a…
Jeff McDonald: I was going to say it means humanity has survived.
Mike Finger: Yeah something will have gone right. Something will have gone right. You’re right. Once again, a theme in this podcast, I have to acknowledge that Jeff McDonald has a point. Good job. Um yeah, so there there’s that. There’s the possibility, and I know Jeff wants to get into this minutia while he’s getting into All Star, Rising Star, NBA protocol minutia, like there’s a chance the Spurs could have another representative for Tom to cover at the Intuit Dome. And I know Jeff wants to get into the weeds as to how the great young coach Mitch Johnson can get there and and live his dream of being part of All-Star weekend.
Jeff McDonald: Um, well basically they just have to be in second place by February 1st, which that’s going to be interesting because this week they could fall out of second place. Like they he could lose it right at the uh, at the finish line here. But it’s it’s because of…
Mike Finger: Do we know this, Jeff? Jeff was bringing this up the other day kind of in his mocking way, but but what’s the, there’s three all-star teams this year and last year there was the TNT crew served as the three coaches and they they still awarded the the official all-star coach designation to the top coach in the West and the top coach in the East. But what are they doing this year? Who is coaching the third team this year? Tom is our our correspondent. Do you know?
Tom Orsborn: Top coach in the G League. I’m just… that that’s a jest.
Mike Finger: Yeah, I don’t know. That’s a good question. So I don’t I don’t know how they’re going to work that out. Like let’s say the Spurs and nuggets, let’s say the the standings on February 1st look like they do now with the Spurs and nuggets tied. Would you just let them both go? Cuz cuz the the Thunder are ineligible because they had the top record last year. So it comes down to the second team in the West. I don’t know how they’re going to do that. We should know that as a NBA coverage podcast, how they they…
Jeff McDonald: It’s kind of ridiculous how everything changes every year.
Mike Finger: They make it up as they go along, sort of like this podcast.
Jeff McDonald: Drives me crazy. Like the Rising Stars just should be rookies versus sophomores. What was wrong with that?
Mike Finger: All the All-Star stuff is just made up as they go along. They’re trying to make people care and it does not work.
Jeff McDonald: It’s like, did the NFL, didn’t the Pro Bowl go to like a flag football game?
Mike Finger: Basically, and no one watches that either.
Jeff McDonald: So here’s what we should do. The NFL, they play a basketball game for the Pro Bowl and then the NBA, they should play a flag football game.
Mike Finger: I agree. Why not? They’re making everything else up. Like what position would Victor Wembanyama be? Man, he would be such a red zone target, I think.
Jeff McDonald: He would be.
Mike Finger: The um, the uh, all star, we talked about this last week I think, but the the format itself is absurd. Like you’re getting all the best MVP candidates are on the international group and then you’re splitting up the US group. It makes no sense. Um, if if they’re going to have a third coach, they might as well, I throw this out there, you might as well have the top international coach, which is like Darko from Toronto, uh, Jordi Fernandez from Brooklyn, who else, you mentioned Thiago Splitter, there’s international coaches.
Jeff McDonald: I thought you meant like the top Euro League coach. Like whether he wants to or not, he has to come over here and coach the All-Star game.
Mike Finger: Sure, why not? Bring back our friend Ettore Messina. Like he’d be great at that. It’s all ridiculous, but uh, but it’s good for the, I don’t know what it’s good for. It’s some people enjoy it, I suppose. Um, yeah, so we have the the week ahead. Let’s get into that. Um, we mentioned the big showdown, another showdown against the Rockets on Wednesday night in Houston. Going back to where they were, they were bullied last Tuesday. And then following that up with a trip to Charlotte over the weekend and a home game. I think it’s Sesame Street night, Jeff, in the Frost Bank Center on Sunday against the Orlando Magic. You looking forward to Sesame Street night at the Frost?
Jeff McDonald: Yeah, I’m just going to show up and do my uh Oscar the Grouch impression. And no one will know the difference. Yeah. Um… so that’s that’s another, a lot of back-to-backs so far in 2026. I guess the Spurs are getting used to those. But the it’s the it’s that classic home game at the end of a back-to-back, which means it’s not really a home game. So you’re right. You mentioned this earlier, there there are some toss up if not tough games coming up. I think after that there’s a there’s a fifth game against the Thunder after we shoot, after we record the next podcast. But um, you’re not, I’m sure you’re not going to call any of these games unwinnable, but it’s not exactly an easy week. What what do you think about the road ahead?
Jeff McDonald: I want to point out that the one game that does look like the uh the layup in Charlotte is is not. I mean, Charlotte has a losing record and I think people if you’re if you’re casual, you’re not paying attention, I mean why would you pay attention to the… like those dudes win by 30 points when they win, they win by 30 points. Like they so… I’m not saying six and four in the last 10, they won three in a row.
Mike Finger: Yeah, I mean they, they I mean they beat Utah by 50, they’ve they’ve beat, um, they’ve got some 30-point wins in there, some 28, like every time they win, it’s a freaking blowout. I I had a stat that I read, it’s probably outdated now, but it was back when they were about 12 games under 500. The Charlotte Hornets were 12 games under 500, which means they had lost way more than they had won, yet their season plus minus was even because every time they win, it’s just some like atrociously huge score. Like they can put up points. So if the if if the Spurs go in there thinking like they did against New Orleans, oh, this is one of the worst teams in the league, la di da, they’re going to get trounced. So I’m not calling that one unwinnable, but I’m saying the one that looks like it could be the uh the the easy win is not going to be that. And so I don’t how many games are we predicting here? Four? Did you say?
Mike Finger: Three.
Jeff McDonald: Three? Man, I’m… I’m going to give them one and two, I think. I could see a two and one, but I’m going to give them one and two there. Especially because the one of them is a back-to-back. You’re like coming all the way back from Charlotte and then playing the next night at home against Orlando. That’s that’s not optimal. That Houston game’s tough. Uh, I’ll, I feel like I’m being charitable giving them one to be honest.
Mike Finger: By the way, the Charlotte Hornets in the Eastern Conference standings, one loss traditional, you know the standings that count, 12th place in the Eastern Conference. In point differential, seventh. They’re plus 1. They their average game is is they’re up 1.3 points. Um so that that leads into what you’re saying. They’ve scored more points than their opponents have this year. Um anyway, Tom, what what’s your thoughts on the three games ahead?
Tom Orsborn: I’m still trying to find out who that third coach is going to be. I I can’t find it anywhere. They literally are making it up.
Mike Finger: They I I gave like a haphazard uh search just out of curiosity because somebody brought it up the other day and and it’s I’m sure if I really wanted to know, I could figure it out. You know, you could call somebody at the league and ask them. I don’t I don’t care that much, but it’s not, I don’t think it’s been published anywhere.
Tom Orsborn: No, it hasn’t.
Mike Finger: Cause they’re making it up as they go along.
Tom Orsborn: You know who’s coaching the Rising Stars teams?
Mike Finger: I don’t know, Ettore Messina?
Jeff McDonald: No, it’s uh Tracy McGrady, Carmelo Anthony, uh who’s the other guy on that show?
Mike Finger: Was it Vince Carter?
Jeff McDonald: Vince Carter. And who’s the fourth guy? Is there’s four teams? The Rising Stars has four teams?
Mike Finger: Oh Austin Rivers I think.
Jeff McDonald: Austin Rivers, that’s correct. For some reason, for some reason, like, did he lose a bet? Did they pull his name out of a hat? Uh was he just walking by Adam Silver’s office and they grabbed… Like I don’t know how Austin Rivers, they they decided he was the guy to coach the G-League Rising Stars team.
Mike Finger: It’s all very…
Jeff McDonald: Making it up as they go. They’re making it up as they go along.
Tom Orsborn: But go ahead Tom, what’s your prediction?
Mike Finger: I’m going to go two and one. Two and one. Yeah.
Tom Orsborn: They, you know, Devin’s back. Uh, he, you know, didn’t look too bad the other day. He’s, he’s going to get, he’s going to get his feet under him a little bit more. I think that’s going to help them. Two and one.
Mike Finger: Theoretically full strength again. The Spurs haven’t been full strength a lot this year, but the other night the first time they’d been full strength in a long time, they they lose to the worst team in the Western conference.
Jeff McDonald: Like we we didn’t we didn’t get really into this, but it really just depends on how many three pointers Victor Wembanyama makes. Like when he makes five, four, seven or four, they’ve won all those games, but the two losses recently, he’s 0 for 7 and two for 10. Like it’s I mean, that’s not a good thing that that’s become like sort of the the barometer of their offense is does a 7-5 guy go nuts from three? Yeah.
Mike Finger: And it goes into what we started with with um, you know, if you’re getting pushed around, then you kind of have to to depend on the three-point shot. And the Spurs are by no means the only team in the in the NBA that lives and dies by the three pointer. Like so many teams. How many even going back to when Greg Popovich was coaching, he he say look at the box score and whoever hits a a higher volume and a higher percentage of threes usually wins. Like that’s the most important stat most nights in this league. But it sure does help when you’re not getting pummeled on the on the glass and inside. Um, but we’ll see how they go. We’ll we’ll see what happens. They get another chance to play a really physical team on Wednesday in Houston. Um, tough back-to-back over the weekend. Maybe by then we’ll have thawed out a little bit here in South Texas and until then, we will uh, we’ll we’ll try to keep it real and take care of each other. See you.