By J.R. Wilco | Pounding The Rock (PtR), 2026-06-08 13:30:00
第二场，剧本和第一场如出一辙。在总决赛第二场中，马刺的表现看起来比第一场要好，第一场他们在最后一分钟惜败给纽约尼克斯。他们的防守更紧密，进攻更有纪律性，马刺再次成功限制住了杰伦·布伦森 (Jalen Brunson)——直到最后时刻功亏一篑。在又经历了一场令人心碎的失利后（马刺本有机会赢下比赛，或者最差也能打进加时），那次致命的失误直接送给尼克斯2-0的领先优势，系列赛也随之移师纽约。
为此，我继续与我们尼克斯兄弟网站 Posting and Toasting 的总编辑拉塞尔·理查德森 (Russell Richardson) 进行《与敌共舞》对话。我们讨论了双方的得失，以及马刺是否还能发起最后一搏，抑或是尼克斯本赛季彻底吃定了他们。如果你想回顾 第一部分 或 第二部分，请点击相应链接。
J.R.
多么精彩的比赛。简直是一场不可思议的对决！我喜欢那种起伏跌宕，喜欢那种紧张感，喜欢逆转并取得领先的过程。我喜欢看到球队逼迫布伦森投篮不中并抢下篮板推进，让我们有机会确保最坏的结果也是打进加时。老兄，在一场关系重大的关键战中，当比赛悬念留到最后一个回合时，那种最后时刻的窒息感真的是无与伦比。
我想说，也就是从那一刻起，我不再享受这一切了。从抢下那个篮板开始，接下来的事情要么很糟，要么没那么糟。但绝对没有好事。多么精彩的比赛，但又是多么地……该怎么形容呢？我需要一个词来形容这种巨大的痛苦，单单用“痛苦”二字实在太轻了，根本无法承载这场失利带来的巨大打击。这种痛苦在你试图去接受它时，会不断蔓延，甚至让你怀疑自己是否会被它吞噬。这是一种你无法释怀的痛，一种让你重新审视自我以及对待重要事物方式的痛。痛彻心扉。就是这个词。
在找到合适的词之后，除了寻找积极的因素，就别无他法了。当然，我的意思是，除了这事，其实还有很多事可以做。比如沉溺于系列赛0-2落后的痛苦中；比如用功亏一篑的挫败感来折磨自己；比如抱怨漏判、糟糕的战术执行、罚球不中和失误。这些都可以。但这些都毫无建设性，所以我拒绝这样对待自己。我绝不接受让我对球队的热爱（我支持一支球队的状态和核心动力）变成一种怨恨。绝不！所以，还是寻找积极的因素吧。
整个赛季，文班在关键时刻都非常靠得住。他能审时度势，不仅能打出精彩表现，更能奉献伟大的回合。对他来说，看到自己倾尽全力却依然功亏一篑，正是那种能逼迫他更加专注、不断成长并加强团队协作的痛苦。正是这种痛苦，能让一支球队深挖潜力，将2013年的遗憾转化为2014年的辉煌。噢，这确实痛彻心扉。但他们要么痛定思痛——真正吸取教训并取得进步，要么就将大比分追至2-2。现在他们身上已经没有任何压力了。在连续三天听到“纽约会横扫吗？”的议论后，从现在开始，直到系列赛扳平或彻底结束，他们都可以毫无包袱地去战斗。
R.R.
天哪，最后两分钟我真是紧张得屁股都夹紧了！当维克托·文班亚马 (Victor Wembanyama) 帮助马刺以103-102反超比分时，我的叫声尖锐得就像个12岁的小太监。谢天谢地，我生儿育女的年纪已经过了。你能想象怎么跟专科医生解释吗？“本来一切都挺好的，直到那波14-0的冲击波，然后——啪嗒（断了）！”
你所说的那种特殊的痛苦，我们纽约人再熟悉不过了。那种深入骨髓的恐惧至今仍让我们不寒而栗。要知道，在马刺挂起五面总冠军旗帜的同时，我们经历了整整53年无冠的荒芜。（当然不是我个人经历了53年，我很老，但还没那么老！）当你们在庆祝狂欢时，我们却总是在谈论明年，谈论凯文·诺克斯 (Kevin Knox) 只需要再雕琢一下，谈论菲尔·杰克逊 (Phil Jackson) 将如何带领我们走向应许之地（只要他在球队训练时别再打瞌睡）。积极的因素？积极的因素？？ 我们曾拥有橙蓝相间的天空，但天边总是镶着一丝闪烁的银边。
如果换作是我们在你们的处境下——你完全可以相信我在这方面的专业经验，因为尼克斯球迷几乎从奈史密斯博士 (Dr. Naismith) 挂起桃子筐开始就一直处于你们这种处境——我们会说，没有比一支被彻底看扁的球队更危险的了。0-2落后？吼吼吼！ 没关系！这正是埃尔弗里德·佩顿 (Elfrid Payton) 爆发所需要的逆境——
抱歉。刚刚脑海里闪过了2021年季后赛的痛苦画面。我的心理医生管这叫“篮球引起的创伤后应激障碍 (PTSD)”。
回到2026年：我认为圣安东尼奥对第一场的调整基本上是奏效的。他们积极地对内线进行包夹，达龙·福克斯 (De’Aaron Fox) 和文班亚马的状态有所回升，防守端也更具身体对抗性。甚至当卡特·布莱恩特 (Carter Bryant) 像从摔角擂台高空跳下一样给布伦森来了一记肘击时，裁判托尼·兄弟 (Tony Brothers) 都摇了摇头。老托尼虽然没吹哨，但他确实用严厉的摇头警告了这种行为。你看到文班差点扭断何塞·阿尔瓦拉多 (Jose Alvarado) 脖子的视频了吗？希望布鲁克林有不错的整骨医生。
所以，马刺使出了更浑身的解数却依然功亏一篑，这对你们来说可不是个好兆头。与此同时，布伦森已经蓄势待发，准备迎来一场爆发；乔什·哈特 (Josh Hart) 还没投出他那些神经刀般的单场5记三分球；OG·阿奴诺比 (OG Anunoby) 和米卡尔·布里奇斯 (Mikal Bridges) 的防守简直像萨尔瓦多的警察一样凶悍；而威利斯·里德 (Willis Reed) 的英魂仿佛附体在了唐斯身上。带着2-0的领先优势回到主场，最让人振奋的是，尼克斯甚至还没有火力全开。
我们这边有人在猜测，约翰逊教练可能会在第三场让迪伦·哈珀 (Dylan Harper) 代替福克斯首发。福克斯的脚踝伤势似乎阻碍了马刺的进攻。哈珀体型更大、更强壮、对抗性更强，他可以进行下坡冲击，与文班亚马打出极具杀伤力的挡拆配合，并迫使布伦森在防守端投入大量精力，从而为马刺的投手和明星大个子创造机会。你怎么看？你觉得约翰逊会做出这个调整吗？
J.R.
不，先生。绝不。不可能。
尽管我很想看到迪伦的上场时间增加，但只要福克斯身体状况允许上场，我不认为米奇·约翰逊 (Mitch Johnson) 会让哈珀首发。我不是说波波会这么做，但当你接替一位活传奇时，你必须面对多得多的质疑。而如果是那位传奇在位，这些质疑只会被一句轻飘飘的话打发掉：“人家可是有五枚戒指，你觉得你比他更懂篮球吗？！”
我喜欢米奇。我坚信他是合适的人选。我认为圣安东尼奥在约翰逊教练身上找到了属于他们自己的埃里克·斯波尔斯特拉 (Eric Spoelstra)。你知道的，那个在热火体系中从录像分析师做起，一步步成为帕特·莱利 (Pat Riley) 的得力助手并最终成为继任者的人。米奇就是这样，只不过把南海滩换成了阿拉莫，把大背头换成了白胡子和标志性的坏笑。
我在赛季初对米奇的看法是：他今年是不是最合格带马刺进总决赛的人并不重要。重要的是，他是一个能与球队共同成长的人，这样当球队准备好打总决赛时，他也准备好了。只是我这个美好的小看法出了点问题。这支球队居然直接打进了总决赛！所以我们现在看到的是：一个22岁的球队核心在实战中摸索成长，而执教他的主教练也是第一年完整执教，同样在（跟我一起说）实战中摸索成长。如此巨大的潜力，他们的上限不可估量。今年他们能飞多高？没人知道，但到目前为止，这真的极具观赏性！
是的，甚至第二场比赛也精彩得令人屏息——就像一部电影杰作，给你带来巨大的情感冲击，以至于你不得不花1万美元去做心理咨询才能走出来。代价确实高昂，但确实精彩。
因此，伴随着埃尔弗里德·佩顿和斯蒂芬·马布里 (Stephon Marbury) 的阴影在后台徘徊，以及“这主意听起来足够疯狂，没准真能成”的低语在走廊回荡，系列赛回到了麦迪逊广场花园。你是否同意此时压力已经来到了尼克斯这边，还是说只有在马刺赢下第三场之后，压力才会真正显现？
R.R.
你对米奇教练的看法，有点像我们当初对锡伯杜教练的看法。他本该是一座桥梁——如果你愿意的话，可以理解为马克·杰克逊 (Mark Jackson) 之于史蒂夫·科尔 (Steve Kerr) 的角色。汤姆·锡伯杜 (Tom Thibodeau) 被雇来是为了确立纪律、基本功和赢球文化。他从未作为主教练带队打进过总决赛，我们也没指望他能做到。当球队上赛季打进东部决赛时，我们整个人都懵了。
当时大家意见不一。这个脾气古怪的老头已经实现了一个重大梦想（打进东部决赛）；他是否配得上一次冲击总决赛的机会，还是说他的短板正是通往荣耀的最后障碍？里昂·罗斯 (Leon Rose) 及其团队选择了后者。我想说，他们的选择已经得到了证明。
对锡伯杜的一个批评是，尼克斯的进攻变得太好预测了：弧顶手递手、突破分球，以及大量的布伦森单打。迈克·布朗 (Mike Brown) 被雇来就是为了改变这一点。然而，在整个常规赛期间，球队的进攻看起来却惊人地相似。记住，这可不是一支年轻的队伍，而是一群经验丰富的老将，他们有着自己的骄傲，对自己的个人技术有着根深蒂固的坚持。（好吧，嘘——问题主要出在唐斯 (KAT) 身上，但别出声。我们现在爱死他了！）
直到季后赛，迈克·布朗的战术体系才真正得以实现。尼克斯一直在持续转移球，让每个人都参与到进攻中。他们的执行速度是以前从未见过的。事实上，我怀疑他们的比赛计划——即通过加快节奏来消耗文班的体力——在第二场比赛中对他们自己的体力也产生了同样不利的影响。当他们气喘吁吁时，旧习惯又抬头了。比赛后期的进攻变得杂乱无章。幸运的是，他们及时清醒过来，挽救了比赛，这要特别感谢我们的“关键先生”。
布伦森在当晚的大部分时间里都遭到了严防死守，始终没能找到节奏。但在又一个伟大的时刻，他投中了追平比分的球，抢断了文班亚马的失误，并拿下了致胜分。这就是为什么他的球衣卖疯了。别忘了，他可是2024-25赛季的年度关键球员。
回到你的问题：压力本该在纽约这边，因为他们有机会在主场赢下第三场，从而彻底关上系列赛悬念的大门。但他们打得如此自信，以至于我怀疑他们根本不太担心。说真的，任何一个客观的旁观者看到这种情况都会说：“废话，我能回家了吗？”在常规赛和季后赛期间，纽约在五次交手中赢了马刺四次（对于所谓的下风方来说，这成绩相当不错，不是吗？）。圣安东尼奥能改写剧本、开启某种外挂并在接下来的五场比赛中赢下四场吗？有可能。但可别拿你家孩子的大学学费去赌这个。
由生成式 AI 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：The Spurs are free to play like there’s nothing left to lose
The Spurs are free to play like there’s nothing left to lose
Second verse, same as the first. In Game 2 of in the NBA Finals, the Spurs looked better than in Game 1, which they lost in the last minute to the New York Knicks. The defense was tighter, the offense was more disciplined, and the Spurs once again kept Jalen Brunson under wrap — until they didn’t. After another heartbreaking loss where the Spurs had a chance to win or, at worst, take it to overtime, the turnover of all turnovers handed the Knicks a 2-0 lead as the series heads to New York.
With that, I continue Fraternizing with the Enemy with Russell Richardson, editor-in-chief of our Knicks sister site Posting and Toasting, as we discuss what went right and wrong, and if the Spurs have one last push in them or if Knicks just flat out have their number this season. Click the links if you would like to revisit Part 1 or Part 2.
J.R.
What a game. What an incredible game! Loved the ebb and flow. Loved the tension. Loved the comeback and taking the lead. Loved forcing the Brunson miss and rebound to bring it up the court with a chance to make sure that overtime was the worst possible result. Man, there is nothing like the final moments of a huge game with tons riding on it when it comes down to the final possession.
I’d say that’s right about the point where I stopped loving things. From the point of that rebound it was either bad things or not so bad. But there were no good things. What a game, but how … what’s the word? I need a word for a pain so big that you can’t simply use the word pain because it’s too small to cover the enormity of the loss. The kind of pain that, as you come to terms with it, keeps growing to the point that you wonder if it’ll overwhelm you. A pain that you can’t get your arms around. A pain that makes you re-examine who you are and how you approach the things that matter. Excruciating. That’s the word.
After you’ve found the right word, there’s nothing left to do but find the silver linings. I mean, of course, there are plenty of things to do besides that. There’s wallowing in the pain of a 0-2 series. There’s torturing yourself with the frustration of coming up short. There’s bemoaning missed calls and bad plays and missed free throws and turnovers. There is all of that. But none of that is constructive and so I refuse to do that to myself. I reject the idea that my fandom (the state and the core of my rooting for a team) would be something that turns me to bitterness. Never! So finding silver linings it is.
Wemby has come through in the clutch all season. He’s taken the measure of the moment and made not just big but huge plays. For him to see his best fall short is just the kind of pain that forces more focus and development and teamwork. That’s the kind of pain that makes a team dig deep and turn 2013 into 2014. Oh, it’s excruciating. But they either get hurt enough to learn from — really learn and improve— or they get back to 2-2. There’s no pressure on them now. After three straight days of “will NY sweep?” it’s free and easy from here until the series is tied or it’s all over.
R.R.
Boy were my briefs tight in the final two minutes! When Victor Wembanyama put the Spurs ahead, 103-102, my voice squeaked like a 12-year-old eunuch’s. Thank goodness my baby-making days are over. Can you imagine explaining that to the specialist? “Everything was fine until that 14-0 run and then—sssnap!”
That particular pain you speak of is all too familiar to us in New York. That existential dread still gives us shivers. You see, while the Spurs were hanging five championship banners, we went 53 years without one. (Not me personally, I’m old but not that old!) While you were partying, we were always talking about next year, and how Kevin Knox just needed a little refinement, and how Phil Jackson would lead us to the Promised Land (if he’d quit napping at team practices). Silver linings? Silver linings?? We had orange and blue skies, but they were always trimmed by strands of twinkling silver.
What we would be saying in your position–and you can trust my expertise on this, because Knicks fans have been in your position practically since Dr. Naismith hung his peach crates–is that there is no team more dangerous than one that has been summarily written off. Down 2-0? Ho Ho Ho! No sweat! This is the exactly the adversity Elfrid Payton needs to kick in the next gea–
Sorry. Had a gnarly flashback to the 2021 playoffs. My therapist calls this basketball-induced PTSD.
Returning to 2026: I thought San Antonio’s response to Game One mostly worked. They doubled the paint aggressively, got better games from De’Aaron Fox and Wembanyama, and defended more physically. Even Tony Brothers shook his head when Carter Bryant dropped an elbow on Jalen Brunson from the top rope. Ol’ Tone didn’t blow his whistle, but he did admonish the behavior with a stern head shake. Did you see the clip of Wemby nearly snapping Jose Alvarado’s neck? I hope Brooklyn has good chiropractors.
So, the fact that they threw a mightier haymaker and still came up short doesn’t bode well for your guys. Meanwhile, Brunson is primed to have a breakout game; Josh Hart hasn’t yet had one of his random five-three-pointer games; OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges are playing defense like cops from El Salvador; and the ghost of Willis Reed has possessed the body of Towns. The most encouraging thing about heading home up 2-0 is that the Knicks haven’t even turned the dial all the way up yet.
Some on our side are speculating that Johnson might start Harper in place of Fox in Game Three. Fox’s ankle issues seem to be hindering San Antonio’s offense. Harper, being bigger, stronger, and more physical, would attack downhill, create tough pick-and-roll problems with Wembanyama, and force Brunson into heavy defensive work, opening up opportunities for the Spurs’ shooters and star big man. What do you think? Do you think Johnson will make the change?
J.R.
Nossir. Uh uh. Nope.
As much as I would love to see Dylan’s minutes increase, if Fox is healthy enough to play, I don’t see Mitch starting Harper. I’m not saying Pop would’ve done it, but one of the things that happens when you replace a living legend is that you deal with a lot more second-guessing of the kind that would’ve been waived away with a breezy, “The guys got five rings and do you think you know more about basketball than he does!?”
I love Mitch. I feel certain that he’s the right guy. I think San Antonio has their Eric Spoelstra in Coach Johnson. You know, the guy who started in the Heat’s system as a video coordinator and worked his way up to being Riley’s right hand man, and eventually successor. That’s Mitch, only swap South Beach for the Alamo and slicked back hairdo for a white beard and a smirk.
My take on Mitch from early season: it doesn’t matter if he’s the best qualified guy to take the Spurs to the Finals this year. It only matters that he’s the guy who will be able to grow with the team so that he’s finals-ready when the team is. Only there was a problem with that neat little take of mine. The team went out and made the finals! So we’re seeing what it looks like when a franchise’s 22-year-old best player who’s learning on the fly and is being coached by a first-full-year head coach who’s (say it with me) learning on the fly. So much potential that the sky is the limit. How high will they fly this year? No one knows but it’s been entertaining so far!
Yes, even Game 2 was stunningly entertaining – like a cinematic masterpiece that leaves you so emotionally impacted that you have to spend $10,000 in therapy to get over it. Costly, sure. But entertaining.
So, with the ghosts of Elfrid Payton and Stephon Marbury hanging in the wings, and with the words “it might just be crazy enough to work” echoing in the halls, the series moves back to MSG. Would you agree that the pressure is on the Knicks at this point, or would that only happen should the Spurs take Game 3?
R.R.
How you thought about coach Mitch is kinda how we regarded coach Thibs. He was going to be the bridge—the Mark Jackson to the Steve Kerr, if you will. Tom was hired to install discipline, fundamentals, and a winning culture. He had never (head) coached a team to the Finals, nor did we expect him to. When the team reached the ECF last season, our heads were sent reeling.
The camp was divided. The curmudgeon had delivered on one major dream (the ECF); did he deserve a chance at a Finals run, or were his weaknesses the last obstacles to glory? Leon Rose & Co. went with the latter. I’d say their choice has been vindicated.
One criticism of Thibs was that the Knicks’ offense became predictable: dribble handoffs at the top, drive-and-kicks, and heavy Brunson iso-ball. Mike Brown was hired to change that. Throughout the regular season, though, the offense looked eerily similar. Remember, this is not a young roster but one of seasoned vets, with pride and ingrained beliefs about their personal skills. (OK, psst—the problem was mostly KAT, but shhh. We love him now!)
Only in the playoffs has Mike Brown’s scheme been realized. The Knicks have consistently moved the ball and involved everyone in the offense. They’ve executed at a speed unseen from them before. In fact, I suspect their game plan—which is to push the pace to tire out Wemby—had the same deleterious effect on their stamina in Game Two. When they became winded, the old habits emerged. Late possessions became sloppy. Luckily, they snapped out of it enough to salvage the game, with special thanks to Captain Clutch.
Brunson was mauled for much of the night and never found a rhythm. In yet another massive moment, he hit the tying shot, recovered Wembanyama’s turnover, and scored the winning point. That’s why his jersey sells like hotcakes. The 2024-25 Clutch Player of the Year, remember.
To your question: the pressure should be on New York, with a chance to effectively slam the door with a Game Three victory on their home turf. But they are playing with such confidence that I doubt they’re overly concerned. Truly, an impartial juror would look at this scenario and say, “Duh. Can I go home now?” New York defeated the Spurs four out of five times between the regular season and postseason (pretty good for the purported underdogs, no?). Could San Antonio flip the script, unlock some cheat code, and win four of the next five? It’s possible. But don’t bet your kid’s college tuition on it.
By J.R. Wilco, via Pounding The Rock