The Best- and Worst-Case Scenarios Facing the Cavs
騎士隊面臨著天堂和地獄兩種劇本
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Welcome to If City. As the season opens, no team in the league has a higher ceiling and a lower floor than the Cleveland Cavaliers. If all goes well, they’re a playoff team; if it goes wrong, they’ll be back in the lottery. Let's take a look at the best-case and worst-case scenarios facing the Cavs and a few of their key players.
歡迎來到如果之都。當球季開打時，沒有一支球隊可以比騎士隊爬得更高，同時比騎士隊摔得更低。如果一切順利的話，他們將是支季後賽球隊；反之，他們又要拼狀元籤。就讓我們看看騎士隊面臨的天堂和地獄兩種劇本，和幾位關鍵球員。
The biggest “if,” both literally and physically, is Andrew Bynum. Although some would argue that Bynum’s health isn’t technically iffy because his knees are definitely broken down and he’s going to miss opening night, the Cavs believe he can play effectively again. There is no timetable for his return, but Bynum is currently playing basketball again, often in 3-on-3 half-court games with his teammates. After one such game, a local reporter quizzed Anderson Varejao about Bynum. “I’m not a doctor. He looked good, but I don’t know his knees."
最充滿「如果」的球員，無論字面上解讀還是說身體狀況，就是Andrew Bynum。雖然有些人會主張Bynum的健康狀況技術上來說並不這麼充滿不確定性，因為他的膝蓋確實爆了，而且他將會缺席開幕戰。但騎士隊相信他可以再次有效率的上場比賽。對於他的歸期並沒有定案，但Bynum現在已經重回球場，開始和隊友作半場三對三練習。在某場三對三練習後，一位當地記者向Anderson Varejao試探關於Bynum的事。「我不是個醫生。他看起來狀況不錯，但我不了解他的膝蓋狀況。」
If Bynum gets healthy and is able to return at a level resembling his past glories, it immediately changes the whole culture of the basketball team. Mike Brown is a defensive coach, and Bynum provides him with a legitimate stopper in the paint. Varejao (whose health is another huge “if”) can focus more on contesting shots and grabbing rebounds, and in turn Tyler Zeller becomes a garnish as opposed to a main course. “When healthy,” Andrew Bynum is one of a few guys in the league who can go toe-to-toe with dominant NBA bigs like Dwight Howard or Roy Hibbert. Without him, the Cavs' interior defense is much less daunting.
如果Bynum恢復健康而且可以回到他過去巔峰時期的身手，便馬上改變球隊的整個文化。Mike Brown是個防守為主的教練，而Bynum給予他一位適當的禁區鞏固者。Varejao（他的健康狀況也要打上大大的問號）可以更專注於影響對方出手和抓籃板，而至於Tyler Zeller在那些核心球員中將成為綠葉球員。「健康的話」Andrew Bynum是聯盟中少數可以和Dwight Howard或Roy Hibbert這種NBA統治禁區的球員放對的人。少了他，騎士隊的禁區防守便缺乏嚇阻力。
Bynum can also be a really valuable interior scorer. In 2011-12 he put up 19 points per game on a team that also featured Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol. Still, people around the league are doubtful that the old Bynum will ever come back. That’s why there was no real competition to sign him. Simply put, Bynum is the biggest question mark in the league. Knees are still knees, and that reality has killed many potentially great NBA seasons recently; just ask fans in Oklahoma City, Chicago, or Boston.
Bynum也可以成為價值不斐的禁區得分手。在2011-12球季，他在有Kobe Bryant和Pau Gasol的球隊中場均19分。仍然，聯盟中的人們都懷疑曾經的Bynum是否永遠回不來了。這也是為什麼自由市場中他並不搶手。簡言之，Bynum是聯盟中最大的問號。受傷的膝蓋依舊是膝蓋，而這個殘酷的現實最近扼殺了很多可能的美好NBA球季。問問雷霆、公牛或賽爾迪克球迷便知。
Best-case scenario: 19-and-10, gives the team a valid defensive identity.
Worst-case scenario: Playing with his hair on the sidelines for 82 games.
天堂劇本：場均19分10籃板，給予球隊有效的防守能量。
地獄劇本：在板凳玩82場頭髮。
The second big “if” also involves health; Kyrie Irving may be the star attraction in Cleveland right now, but he has a problem staying onstage. Going back to his time at Duke, Irving has had a depressing pattern of injury woes; it’s no wonder he has an arthritic old man as an alter ego. Based on his track record, it would be foolish to assume that those missed games are a thing of the past. From concussions to shoulder injuries (on both sides), a broken hand, and a broken jaw, Irving has had way too many bumps and bruises for his age.
第二個充滿「如果」得球員也是和健康有關。Kyrie Irving可能是騎士隊現在的看板球星，但他有健康問題。在過去Duke時代，Irving便有悲慘的傷病困擾。難怪他內心有個患有關節炎的老人。根據他的過往記錄，認為他的傷病已經是過去式是件愚蠢的事。從腦震盪到肩傷（兩邊都有）、斷手和碎下巴，以Irving的年紀來說，他實在有太多的傷痛了。
Still, if he escapes the injury plague, there is little doubt that he is one of the best young guards in the league. He’s a natural playmaker with the best handle anywhere on earth. He is an absolute treat to watch play (offensive) basketball. If that’s not enough, he’s already a great shooter with the rare ability to hit long jumpers off the dribble — a key trait that older “elite” point guards still yearn for.
仍然，若他能躲過傷病的侵害，他不容懷疑的是聯盟中最佳的年輕後衛之一。他是渾然天成的進攻發動機，加上地表上最佳控球。看他在進攻端表演毫無疑問的是場響宴。即使這都不夠，他已經是個優秀的射手並擁有運球後砍進長距離投籃這項稀有能力。而這個關鍵能力是某些年長的頂級控衛依舊渴望獲得的。
Best-case scenario: Leading scorer, All-Star, plays 80 games.
Worst-case scenario: Street clothes, directing more Pepsi commercials.
天堂劇本：球隊得分王，全明星，出賽80場。
地獄劇本：穿著便衣並執導更多百事可樂廣告。
With Irving leading the way, the Cavaliers have a potentially great backcourt, but a couple more things have to fall into place. Second-year shooting guard Dion Waiters must improve. He showed flashes last year — but many of these flashes were frustrating, including a brilliant moment against the Spurs that was immediately followed by a defensive lapse. As a scorer, Waiters has the right tools, but he needs to improve his efficiency, which many players do in their second year in the league.
由Irving領銜，騎士隊有著潛在性頂級的後場，但幾塊拼圖還需要拼上。二年級生得分後衛Dion Waiters必須進步。他在去年曾閃耀過，但很多這種發光發熱的時刻都令人洩氣，包括對上馬刺隊時展現出優異的一瞬間卻旋即發生防守錯誤。身為一個得分手，Waiters擁有適當的技巧，但他需要增加效率，而這個進步也是很多聯盟二年級生努力作的事。
Best-case scenario: Increases in volume, efficiency, and open looks.
Worst-case scenario: No improvements on offense or defense.
天堂劇本：增加得分量、得分效率和空檔出手。
地獄劇本：無論進攻還是防守都沒有進步可言。
Regardless of whether Waiters makes “the leap” this year, Cleveland’s backcourt will be better; in one of the sneakiest acquisitions this summer, they landed one of the league’s undervalued scoring threats. For years, unbeknownst to most fans, Jarrett Jack has been knocking down midrange jumpers at ridiculous rates. We all saw just how good Jack can be in the Warriors' playoff push last season. As a backup guard, Jack provides the kind of reliable scoring that most starting guards in the league can’t even muster. He also provides the team with a solid insurance plan if (or, more aptly, when) Irving misses games.
不管Waiters今年是否會「大躍進」，騎士的後場都將會更好。在今年夏天最默默的操作之一，他們得到了聯盟中最被低估的進攻威脅。多年來，不為球迷們所知的是，Jarrett Jack一直都以誇張的命中率砍進中距離跳投。我們都看到Jack在上季勇士隊的季後賽關鍵時刻表現多優異。身為一個替補後衛，Jack給予球隊多數聯盟先發後衛都及不上的值得依賴的得分能力。如果Irving缺賽，或更精確的說，是當Irving缺席比賽時，他也給予球隊牢靠的替代方案。
Sure, Jack has trouble scoring near the basket, but he’s one of the best jump-shooting guards in the NBA.
沒錯，Jack的籃下命中率很糟，但他是NBA中最棒的跳投後衛之一。
Best-case scenario: Sixth Man of the Year.
Worst-case scenario: Playing 35 minutes a game as Irving’s replacement.
天堂劇本：年度最佳第六人。
地獄劇本：補上Irving空缺並場均35分鐘。
The Cavs also had the no. 1 pick in the draft last year and shocked the basketball world by selecting Anthony Bennett. Bennett is a great athlete, but there are a lot of valid questions about what exactly he will bring to Cleveland. Critics argue that he is too big to be a 3 and too small to be a 4, and the Cavs will have trouble finding spots for him. But his wingspan makes Jay Bilas excited and his ability to score at the rim fills a nice gap in the offense’s portfolio. Some have expressed concern over the combination of Bennett's weight and diet, and he's already nursing a knee injury. One person close to the team told me, "He's nowhere close to being in physical condition to play a lot of NBA minutes."
騎士隊也握有去年的狀元籤，並選Anthony Bennett震驚全聯盟。Bennett是位優異的運動員，但有很多合理的質疑對於他到底能帶給騎士隊什麼。評論家認為他打三號太大但打四號又太小，而且對於該把他放什麼位置對騎士而言是個困擾。但他的臂展讓Jay Bilas感到興奮，同時他在籃下得分的能力將會填補騎士隊的進攻空缺。有些人對於Bennett體重搭配他的飲食習慣有所顧慮，並且他已經在治療膝蓋傷勢。一位內部人事和我說：「他的身體狀況完全無法適應大量的NBA出賽時間。」
Best-case scenario: Rookie of the Year.
Worst-case scenario: NBA version of Ryan Leaf.
天堂劇本：年度新人王。
地獄劇本：NBA版本的Ryan Leaf（譯按：NFL球員。生平詳見：http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryan_Leaf）
We haven’t even addressed Mike Brown’s suspicious offensive tactics, Tristan Thompson’s bizarre ambidexterity, or Anderson Varejao’s own serious injury problems. Still, the Cavs are in a much better position this year than last, and if things fall into place, they will have a really good center, a great young point guard, a potential Sixth Man of the Year, and really athletic role players. Mike Brown has the potential to develop a strong defensive identity and Kyrie Irving seems poised to lead a much-improved offense. However, there are many reasons to be skeptical, and many of them are unfortunately located in the trainer’s room. Regardless, one thing is certain: Nobody has any idea what’s going to happen with these guys this year.
我們甚至還沒提到Mike Brown令人懷疑的進攻戰術、Tristan Thompson詭譎的靈巧雙手、或是Anderson Varejao本身的嚴重傷病史。仍然，騎士隊今年的狀況比起去年好的多，而且若事情順利的話，他們將有一位很好的中鋒、一位優秀的年輕控衛、一位潛在的年度最佳第六人和體能優異的角色球員們。Mike Brown擁有建立堅強防守特色的可能性，而Kyrie Irving似乎準備好帶領一支更加進步的進攻球隊。然而，還是有很多理由去看壞這支球隊，而不幸的是很多原因都將歸因於訓練員。無論如何，有一件事是肯定的：沒人知道今年這些傢伙會發生什麼事。
心得：
地獄劇本總括結就是兩個字：痛痛
不過Bynum前兩戰都有上場。雖然狀況還沒調回來，但對騎士隊是個好消息
我想他能穩定上15min對球隊就是一件好事了。
裡面最尷尬的就是今年狀元Bennett。
KI和Jack的優異表現以及Waiters的進步，這三人為主的後場會讓Bennett毫無發揮空間。
他也不適合扛禁區。以目前他的出賽狀況，真的不明白騎士隊為什麼要跳過其他潛力大個選他。
不管怎麼說，騎士隊今年真的很有希望。
就祈禱他們健康無事打完一整季，衝擊季後賽！
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