By Mateo Mayorga | Pounding The Rock (PtR), 2026-06-18 14:17:34
圣安东尼奥马刺队在总决赛中功亏一篑，但如果因为输掉总决赛就将2025-26赛季定性为失败，显然是不公平的，因为他们在这一年里展现出了成长，也凝聚了更强的向心力。对他们而言，幸运的是，这支强大的核心阵容仍处于起步阶段，只要培养得当，他们未来还会有更多机会捧起奥布莱恩杯。
在很多情况下，挫败是人生最好的老师。在总决赛的四场失利中，马刺每次都在比赛尾声阶段崩盘，他们现在一定深感痛心。这正如13年前的2013年，当时他们眼睁睁看着总冠军在迈阿密溜走，但那次失利让他们在接下来的赛季中变得更加强大、更加坚决，从而踏上了复仇征途。
周一刚刚迎来夺冠12周年纪念的那支马刺，在当时因其无私的球风和坚韧的毅力而备受赞誉。然而，在被评判是否真正伟大时，他们很快就笼罩在了金州勇士王朝的阴影之下——勇士在马刺球风的基础上发扬光大，并在一位性格更加外向的超级巨星带领下，统治了那个十年的余下时间。（不过，也许他们未来会赢得更多尊重，就像那些当年被低估、后来却成为邪典经典的经典老电影一样。）
就像2013年的前辈们一样，现在的这支马刺也明白，仅仅做到“优秀”是远远不够的。62胜的战绩或许无法年年复制，但在2025-26赛季的某个时刻，马刺球迷开始期待赢下每一场比赛，而这应该成为未来的常态标准。
管理层和主教练米奇·约翰逊 (Mitch Johnson) 很可能已经在审视哪些领域需要改进。在马刺休赛期需要解决的问题中，以下是我希望看到的改变和调整，这些举措能够显著提升他们的战斗力，并决定他们最终是能举行夺冠游行，还是只能两手空空地回家。让我们逐一来看。
1. 传球
马刺并不是一支不擅长传球的球队，他们在季后赛中场均创造了45.7次潜在助攻，高居联盟第二。然而，他们在季后赛中的传球表现并不突出，传球次数在16支球队中仅排在第12位，护球表现也只是中规中矩。请记住，传球才是最强大的武器，因为球速永远比运球速度快。马刺的进攻过于依赖运球突破，而纽约尼克斯则运行了更多的无球跑动和传切配合。
此外，2024-25赛季的尼克斯在主教练汤姆·锡伯杜 (Tim Thibodeau) 执教下，其进攻远没有在迈克·布朗 (Mike Brown) 手下时那般犀利。作为前马刺助理教练，布朗帮助他们夺得了总冠军。在2025年东部决赛中输给印第安纳步行者队的那支尼克斯，场均传球次数比今年的冠军尼克斯少了25.8次。这种改变带来的最大好处之一，就是为杰伦·布伦森 (Jalen Brunson) 的双腿节省了体能，让他能在关键时刻接管比赛。
增加传球对维克托·文班亚马 (Victor Wembanyama) 也会大有裨益，因为他有相当一部分进攻是从外线运球开始的。相比于直接面对摆好防守架势的防守人强行突破，在防守人试图兼顾持球人与无球防守对象时，乘其不备空切过人显然要省力得多。
此外，任何见证过“团队篮球”时代马刺（Beautiful Game Spurs）的人，都很难觉得目前的球权轮转已经足够。在2014年，那支马刺的场均传球次数比现在的这支队伍多了44次，这完全是两个不同级别的球队。
想想达龙·福克斯 (De’Aaron Fox)、斯蒂芬·卡斯尔 (Stephon Castle) 和迪伦·哈珀 (Dylan Harper) 那迅捷的第一步。如果将他们放入一个球权移动更多的体系中，通过更多的接球即突破（catch-and-go）动作，他们的得分任务会变得更加轻松，也能减少面对协防球员的频率。
2024-25赛季的印第安纳步行者队之所以能横扫东部，原因之一就是他们场均传球达318次，比东部传球第二多的球队（奥兰多魔术队）多了49.4次，比总决赛中的俄克拉荷马雷霆队更是多了70.7次。步行者虽然在总决赛中失利，但如果泰雷斯·哈利伯顿 (Tyrese Haliburton) 没有遭遇阿喀琉斯腱断裂，谁知道结果会如何呢？（算你走运，切特·霍姆格伦 (Chet Holmgren)。）
只要球员们全心投入，再加上教练组的合理指导，这种调整完全可以在不牺牲球员个人特色的情况下完成。
2. 限制三分线
内线永远是防守的心脏，但随着三分球场均出手次数的逐年攀升，三分线防守的重要性也在与日俱增。最重要的是，相比过去的时代，如今的时代是最难防守的，因为许多翻腕违例根本不会被吹罚，这带来了极其不公平的进攻优势，而且防守端在半场需要覆盖的区域也变得更广。
在全明星周末的媒体群访中，主教练约翰逊曾向我解释过，之所以会出现如此多空位甚至大空位的三分出手，部分原因在于对手抢到进攻篮板、打防守反击以及一些临场即兴的战术。除非球队在其他方面做到完美，否则有些情况几乎是无法避免的。
尽管如此，通过在半场防守中更加注重细节，球队每场比赛可以少丢大约10分，马刺也不例外。全联盟最常犯的一个大错就是底角防守者站在“三不管”地带。当球传到他防守的球员手中时，大多数情况下，对手要么直接空位出手，要么防守人被迫猛扑导致防线崩溃。这种情况完全可以通过让底线防守者（在很多情况下是文班亚马）来协防解决。
此外，沉退防守（drop coverage）应该只针对那些在距离篮筐10英尺外没有威胁的球员。在面对极具爆发力的得分手时，第二防守者必须提到掩护人的高度（play at the level of the screen），以便在外线随时进行换防。
更好的底角和挡拆防守，以及在关键时刻（比如总决赛第四场最后五秒）各司其职、不盲目失位，这些都关乎信任。防守失位不仅会让对手获得空位跳投的机会，还可能让对手直插篮下。在最后四到五分钟的胶着时刻，或者在试图守住领先优势时，绝对不能盲目进行包夹。
还有就是防守大忌：对三分射手犯规。马刺下赛季的目标之一应该是成为全联盟此类犯规最少的球队。这是一个非常严重的问题，甚至应该规定球员每犯一次就罚款1000美元，季后赛罚款翻倍。在第五场比赛的下半场，哈珀、卡斯尔和福克斯对布伦森犯下的那三次三分犯规，恐怕让无数马刺球迷当场崩溃。
马刺只要在防守时保持重心、不轻易起跳，并保持手臂垂直，就能解决很大一部分防规问题。
3. 让文班获得更多近距离进攻机会
好吧，我承认。我是看着大卫·罗宾逊 (David Robinson) 的录像带和蒂姆·邓肯 (Tim Duncan) 的比赛长大的，胃口早就被养刁了。但你又怎么能怪我呢，尤其是当他们现在拥有了一位真正的继承人？
文班亚马在季后赛中确实有过高光时刻，但仍有提升空间。他在季后赛中合理冲撞区外的内线投篮命中率仅为42.5%，而在总决赛中，他在三秒区外的投篮命中率只有28.3%。他天生的打法就像一个更高大版的凯文·杜兰特 (Kevin Durant)，但有些外线出手是因为他的身体还不够强壮，无法在对抗卡尔-安东尼·唐斯 (Karl-Anthony Towns) 和米切尔·罗宾逊 (Mitchell Robinson) 这样的内线时占到便宜。
理想情况下，当他的身体准备就绪时，战术应该增加更多的低位单打。但需要明确的是，他不需要变成卡里姆·阿卜杜尔-贾巴尔 (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar)。然而，他应该在未来的某一天达到这样的水平：当球队需要做出调整时，他能落到低位并稳稳拿下分数。
这将对球队的传球产生积极影响，因为他将是一个巨大的错位优势，一旦他在近距离接球，就会立刻撕裂对手的防线，进而助攻跑动中的空位队友。将这一武器纳入武器库，将有助于他从如今的伟大球员蜕变为名垂青史的传奇。
伟大的低位球员通常在第二次接球时更具杀伤力。凭借他的身高优势，他可以轻松在防守人头顶上传球。想象一下，当防守人注意力分散时，文班亚马重新接到球的画面。沙奎尔·奥尼尔 (Shaquille O’Neal) 当年就在三角进攻创造的这些瞬间里如鱼得水。
今年，马刺在季后赛中的低位单打频率仅为1.7%。遗憾的是，NBA官方对低位单打的数据追踪只能追溯到2015-16赛季，但有趣的是，马刺在那个赛季以14.5%的频率高居联盟第一。那一年他们在第二轮输给了俄克拉荷马雷霆队，但在2016-17赛季，尽管低位单打频率减少了近三分之一，他们依然闯入了西部决赛，对阵实力恐怖的金州勇士队。因此，除了低位单打，还有其他途径可以让文班在近距离获得更多机会，比如让他更多地在罚球线两侧（elbow）和罚球线中点（nail）参与进攻，或者将他安排在“扣篮位”（dunker spot）。
无论通过何种方式，他都需要在三分线内更充分地展现自己的身材优势。
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：Three areas the Spurs can improve to take another leap
Three areas the Spurs can improve to take another leap
The San Antonio Spurs came up short in the Finals, but it’s unfair to call the season a failure because of the growth shown and the bonds strengthened in 2025-26. Fortunately, for them, their mighty nucleus is still in its infancy and with proper development, they will have more opportunities to raise the Larry O’Brien trophy.
In many cases, humiliation is one of life’s greatest teachers, and the Spurs must be feeling some of that after folding late in each of their four Finals losses. It’s what the team felt 13 years ago in 2013 when they let a title slip away in Miami, but it made them stronger and more determined the next season when they went on the warpath.
Those Spurs, who celebrated their 12th championship anniversary on Monday, were at the time recognized for their selfless style of play and determination, but in terms of being viewed as truly great, they quickly fell into the shadow of the dynastic Warriors, who built on that style and would dominate the rest of the decade, led by a much more socially outgoing superstar. (But maybe they’ll get more respect in the future, like old films that were under appreciated at the time but later become cult classics.)
Like their 2013 counterparts, the current Spurs team now knows that being good is not good enough. Sixty-two wins may not happen every year, but there was a point in time in the in 2025-26 season in which Spurs fans started expecting to win every game, and that needs to be the standard going forward.
The front office and Coach Mitch Johnson are likely already examining what areas need improvement. Among the things the Spurs will be addressing in the offseason, here are the changes and adjustments I’d like to see that could significantly raise their potency and be the difference between them hosting their own parade and going home empty-handed. Let’s review.
1. Passing
The Spurs were not a bad passing team, logging the second highest potential assists in the playoffs (45.7), but they were unremarkable in the playoffs as they were 12th of 16 in passes made and in the middle of ball security. Keep in mind that the greatest strength is the pass because it is faster than the dribble. The Spurs’ offense was too reliant on dribble penetration, while the New York Knicks ran more motion.
Additionally, the 2024-25 Knicks did not look this sharp offensively under coach Tim Thibodeau as they did with Mike Brown, a former Spurs assistant, who helped them win a championship. The Knicks that lost against the Indiana Pacers in the 2025 ECF made 25.8 less passes per game than this year’s champs. One of the biggest effects this had was saving some of the juice in Jalen Brunson’s legs for clutch time.
More passes could help Victor Wembanyama because a good chunk of his offense starts with him dribbling down from the perimeter. Greater effort is exerted getting past a man in a defensive stance than slipping past someone who is trying to pay attention to the ball while guarding an off-ball player.
Furthermore, it’s hard to have witnessed the Beautiful Game Spurs and think the current ball movement is enough. In 2014, they passed the ball 44 more times than the current squad, which makes them a completely different team.
Think of the swift first step De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper have. Putting them in a system with more ball movement could make their jobs easier with more catch-and-go moves, ensuring they see less help defenders.
One of the reasons the 2024-25 Indiana Pacers ripped through the East was because they averaged 318 passes per game, which was 49.4 more than the next East team (Orlando Magic), and 70.7 more than the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Finals. The Pacers lost in the finale, but who knows what happens if Tyrese Haliburton doesn’t pop his Achilles tendon? (Count yourself lucky, Chet Holmgren.)
With the right buy in and coaching, this adjustment can be done without the players sacrificing much of their identities.
2. Covering the 3-point line
The paint will always be the heart of the defense, but the importance of the 3-point line increases each year as the average attempts rise. On top of that, with respect to past eras, this one is the hardest to guard in since lots of carrying violations never get called, which is a ridiculously unfair advantage, and there are more areas of the half-court to cover.
Coach Johnson explained to me at All-Star weekend in the scrum that some of the reasons for so many open to wide-open 3-point attempts come from offensive rebounds, transition and unscripted plays. Some stuff is almost impossible to help unless the team is going to be perfect in other areas.
Nonetheless, teams can save themselves about 10 points per game by defending in the half-court with more attention to detail, and the Spurs are no different. One of the big mistakes made league wide is the corner defender standing in no man’s land. When the pass is made to his man, most times either an open shot is taken, or the hard close out causes a breakdown. This can be avoided by letting the backline defender, in a lot of cases Wembanyama, take care of it.
Additionally, drop coverage should be used only on players who aren’t threats outside of 10 feet from the rim. The second defender has to play at the level of the screen against dynamic scorers in case a switch has to be made on the perimeter.
Better corner and screen-roll defense plus staying home at important moments, like the last five seconds of Game 4 of the Finals, are about trust. Being out of position doesn’t just lead to an open jumper for the other side as it can cause a straight line to the hoop, too. Doubles can’t happen in the last four-to-five minutes when it’s a tight game or they are trying to preserve a lead.
And then there’s the cardinal sin: fouling 3-point shooters. One of the Spurs’ goals next season should be to commit the least amount of these. It’s such a serious concern that every player should be fined $1,000 every time they do it and double that in the playoffs. Those three 3-point fouls Harper, Castle and Fox committed on Brunson in the second half of Game 5 probably brought Spurs fans somewhere to their knees.
The Spurs will solve a great deal of the fouling part by staying down and keeping their arms vertical.
3. More close range action for Wemby
Ok, fine. I’ve been spoiled by tapes of David Robinson and saw Tim Duncan. How can you blame me, especially when they have a real successor?
Wembanyama had big-time moments in the playoffs, but there is still work to be done. He shot 42.5 percent in the paint non-restricted area in the playoffs and made 28.3 percent of attempts outside of the lane in the Finals. He naturally plays like a taller Kevin Durant but some of the outside shots happened because his body isn’t strong enough yet to take advantage of guys like Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson.
Preferably, the strategy would be more post play when his body is ready, but to be clear, he doesn’t need to turn into Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Yet, he should some day be good enough to where he can go to it as an adjustment and score a bucket every time.
This could positively affect the teams passing because he’d be such a mismatch that he would unfasten coverages as soon as he catches it close, and then hit the open man on the move. Having this in the arsenal would help take him from a great player today to one for the ages.
Great post players are usually more dangerous on the second catch, and with his size advantage passing over the top, imagine Wembanyama getting the ball back while his defender isn’t looking. Shaquille O’Neal thrived in those moments created by the triangle offense.
This year, the Spurs’ post-up frequency was 1.7 percent in the playoffs. Unfortunately, the NBA’s tracking data for post-ups only goes as far back as 2015-16, but interestingly, the Spurs were first in frequency that season at 14.5 percent. They fell in round two to the Oklahoma City Thunder that year, but made the Western Conference Finals in 2016-17 against the overkill Golden State Warriors, while running nearly a third less post-ups. So, there are other avenues aside from the post to get Wemby more looks at close range, like getting him involved more at the elbow and nail, or using him at the dunker spot.
It doesn’t matter how it happens. He needs to impose his size more inside the arc.
By Mateo Mayorga, via Pounding The Rock