Deja Vu in Chicago, Plus a Trip Through the NBA's Emergency Room
悲劇再次在芝加哥上演，外加在NBA的急診室走一遭（下）
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Oh, hey, more shitty news: Marc Gasol is out indefinitely (likely around two months) with an MCL sprain in his left knee. Thank the Grit-n-Grind gods for Kosta Koufos and his Amish-style beard, and for Memphis's savvy move taking advantage of Denver's bizarre belief in JaVale McGee and Timofey Mozgov over a guy who, you know, actually played well in actual basketball games.
喔！還有更多壞消息：Marc Gasol因為左膝內側副韌帶扭傷，將無限期休賽（可能要兩個月左右）。感謝灰熊隊的福神帶來阿米西式鬍子的Kosta Koufos，還要感謝灰熊隊懂得佔金塊隊的便宜，就因為金塊中邪般的深信JaVale McGee和Timofey Mozgov，而放棄Koufos這位真的能在籃球比賽中貢獻的球員。
And even so: Memphis's playoff odds might be in trouble if Gasol's timetable nudges up against two months or lasts even longer. The Grizz righted the ship with four straight road wins on the West Coast and four straight vintage Zach Randolph performances. But the bigger-picture indicators here are still troubling. Almost all of Memphis's seven wins have been close, and the one blowout came at home against a Golden State team traveling on the second end of a back-to-back. Two of their wins have come in overtime, including against a Golden State team missing Stephen Curry (Tony Allen also missed that game, to be fair), and the Lakers and Kings aren't exactly world-beaters at home.
即使如此，如果Gasol歸期推延至兩個月或甚至以上，那灰熊進季後賽的機會可能會越來越低。灰熊隊的西岸之旅獲得四連勝，而這四場比賽Zach Randolph都恢復過往的身手。但長遠來看還是危機重重。七場灰熊的勝利幾乎都是小比分贏球，而那一場大比分勝利是在主場對戰打第二場背靠背的勇士隊。有兩場勝利是在延長賽奪下，其中一場對手是缺少Stephen Curry的勇士隊（公平的說，Tony Allen在那場比賽也缺賽）。而另外兩場勝利的對手是在主場也不優異的湖人和國王。
Meanwhile, all but one of Memphis's six losses have come via double digits, including their last three by 16 points apiece. (In fairness, the Grizz have faced the toughest schedule in the league, in terms of opponent winning percentage.) That leaves Memphis with a troubling negative point differential and a defense that still ranks just 19th in points allowed per possession after rediscovering some of its grit in California.
同時，灰熊輸的六場中只有一場不是兩位數比分落敗，其中近三場敗戰都輸到16分。（公允的說，灰熊的賽程就對手的勝率來看，是聯盟中最硬的。）這讓灰熊有著負的勝分差以及依然排在19名的每回失分率，這還是在加州之旅後防守稍微回神些的數據。
Gasol has been part of that slippage. He hasn't been the same nimble beast since overextending himself for Spain at Eurobasket, though he looked better before his injury. Tony Allen has been a bit off, to the point where the Grizzlies actually removed him for defensive purposes late against the Lakers last week after he repeatedly lost track of Jodie Meeks. Randolph has never been better than average, and as long as Memphis asks him to show relatively hard on pick-and-rolls, he's going to get beat a fair number of times. Quincy Pondexter hasn't been as steady as he was last season, and the rest of Memphis's wing shooters are minus defenders.
防守效率的下滑的部分原因要歸責於Gasol。在歐錦賽過度操勞後，他還沒變成那頭靈巧的野獸。雖然受傷前幾場的表現好些了。Tony Allen的防守恍神到上禮拜對湖人比賽末段時灰熊撤掉他的防守任務，因為在防守端他不斷的跟丟Jodie Meeks。Randolph的表現還未達到平均水準以上，而且只要灰熊要求他在檔拆防守上更強硬一點時，不少時候他都被吃掉。Quincy Pondecter不像上季一樣穩定，至於其他灰熊的側翼射手防守都較差。
This isn't a shot at Memphis. This is a good team, and Koufos is a savvy two-way player. Dave Joerger, the team's head coach, can reintegrate Ed Davis into the rotation, and Davis will put up numbers if he gets minutes. Jon Leuer looms as a floor-stretching big who hasn't yet been able to earn consistent time.
這不是說灰熊隊是一團糟。灰熊隊是一支好球隊，而且Koufos再攻守兩端都是理解能力好的球員。球隊總教練Dave Joerger可以再次把Ed Davis放回輪替中，而只要Daivs有足夠上場時間他就能有所表現。Jon Leuer是一位能拉開空間的長人，而他還沒有辦法為自己爭取穩定的上場時間。
If Memphis were in the Eastern Conference, this post would be about them trying to hang on to the no. 4 seed. Unfortunately, they're in the Western Conference, where two teams who expected to fight for one of the last two playoff spots (Portland and Dallas) are 21-7 combined. Denver and New Orleans have recovered to .500, and the Lakers and Phoenix are still scrapping along. Making the playoffs in this conference is harder than winning the freaking Hunger Games if you insist on engaging in prolonged taunting conversations with Katniss instead of just killing her when you've pinned her down.
如果灰熊在東區，現在的狀況會是他們將努力維持住第四種子。不幸的是，他們在西區，而西區現狀是兩支被認為爭取西區最後兩席次的球隊（拓荒者和小牛），現在戰績加起來是21勝7敗。金塊和鵜鶘爬回五成勝率，而湖人和太陽依然勉強撐在競爭行列中。在西區要打進季後賽比贏得該死的「飢餓遊戲」還要難。前提是你像電影一樣堅持浪費一堆時間嘲笑Katniss（譯按：飢餓遊戲中的女主角），而不是在有機會殺她時直接賞她個痛快。
Memphis has never been a big margin-for-error team. Its starting lineup has struggled to score since last season's playoffs, and the group has almost no space with which to work as long as both Tony Allen and Tayshaun Prince are on the court. Gasol manufactures the slivers of space the Grizzlies do happen across. He's like a beefy point guard, handling the ball from the elbow for dribble handoffs with Mike Conley, pick-and-rolls, passes to baseline cutters, and enough midrange jumpers to keep defenses honest. No player in the league touches the ball more often at the elbow, and it's not even close, per SportVU tracking data.
灰熊隊一直以來都不是支容錯率高的球隊。他的先發從上季季後賽便陷入得分麻煩，而且當Tony Allen和Tayshaun Prince在同時在場上時，球隊可以說是毫無進攻空間。Gasol負責創造出灰熊僅有的一絲絲的進攻空間。他像個壯碩的控球後衛，在罰球線兩端持球以執行和Mike Conley配合的運球遞手傳球戰術、檔拆戰術、傳球給底線空切球員，還有足夠的中距離跳投威脅，讓防守者不敢輕舉妄動。根據SportVU追縱數據顯示，聯盟中沒有球員比他在罰球線兩端位置還要碰觸更多次球，其次數遙遙領先其他人。
He's also an inside-out post threat, especially when teams stick their best interior defender on Z-Bo, and, oh yeah, he's the reigning Defensive Player of the Year. The team's offense has fallen off badly this season when Gasol has been on the bench, and Memphis was awful on both ends without him last season, per NBA.com.
他也有個由內向外分球的低位進攻威脅力，尤其是當對手把最佳的內線防守者專注於盯防Z-Bo時。而且別忘了，他是去年最佳防守球員。當Gasol在板凳時，灰熊隊的進攻只有一個慘字。而且根據NBA.com的數據，上個球季沒有Gasol在場上時，灰熊隊的攻守都很糟糕。
Koufos is a fine player. He fills space in smart ways on both ends, staying out of the way on offense and flashing into open territory at the right times. But he's never been much of a passer, and he's made exactly three shots over the last two seasons from beyond 14 feet out, per NBA.com. He's a better passer than he has shown, and I enjoyed the chemistry he showed in a brief center-center pairing with Gasol, but this is a large drop-off for a team that really couldn't afford to lose any of its precious spacing on offense.
Koufos是個好球員。他在攻守兩段的站位都相當聰明。不會阻擋隊友進攻路線，而且會適時的跑到空檔區域。但他從來就不是個好的傳球型球員，而且根據NBA.com的數據，他前兩季在14尺外只出手整整3球。他是位比表現出來還要好的傳球者，而且我享受他和Gasol短暫雙塔配合時的化學效應。但這對一支無法承受失去寶貴的進攻空間的球隊來說，沒有Gasol的差距太大了。
Perhaps Joerger will tinker, using this injury as an excuse to promote Pondexter or Mike Miller into the starting lineup to goose the shooting. He might also lean more upon the Conley/Jerryd Bayless combo, which has logged just 60 minutes this season after thriving in nearly 650 last season — most of which came in the second half of the year, when Lionel Hollins paired the two a ton. But Miller is already playing too much, and both Pondexter and Bayless have struggled out of the gate.
或許Joerger將會以拙劣的方式補這個洞，用Gasol的傷當作藉口來把Pondexter或Mike Miller升至先發，藉此加強外線進攻。他也可能多依靠Conley／Jerryd Bayless這個組合，而這組合這季目前只配合過60分鐘。在上季他們一起配合的時間將近650分鐘，而且多數是來自下半季，當Lionel Hollins開始大量使用這組合。但Miller已經上場太久了，同時Pondexter和Bayless從一開季的表現就很掙扎。
Memphis has only 13 players on its roster and more than $3 million before it hits the tax, so the Grizz may well look to add one of the bigs sitting around for hire — Chris Johnson, Jason Collins (less likely given the required skill set here), Chris Wilcox, etc.
灰熊名單只有13位球員，而且離豪華稅門檻還有300多萬。所以灰熊可以試著去多簽一位待業中的大個子，像是Chris Johnson、Jason Collins（能力比較不是灰熊隊需要的）、Chris Wilcox…等球員。
And one more: Andre Iguodala is out indefinitely with a hamstring issue, though he won't need surgery and is confident he'll be back soon. If that's the case, the Warriors should be fine, even though the hits are piling up now. Injuries to Jermaine O'Neal and Festus Ezeli have left Golden State without a reliable backup for elbow-swingin' Andrew Bogut, who is himself recovering from a prolonged ankle problem. Lineups with David Lee at center tend to struggle defensively, and Marreese Speights is shooting 29.6 percent. That is not a typo. Ezeli is still months away, and he will still have terrible hands when he comes back.
還有一個壞消息：Andre Iguodala由於大腿筋的問題也歸期位未定，雖然他並不需要動手術而且有把握能很快能回到球場。如果是這樣的話，那勇士應該沒有大問題，即便傷兵越來越多了。Jermaine O’neal和Festus Ezeli的傷讓勇士隊缺乏值得依賴的人補上揮肘好手Andrew Bogut。而Bogut本身也在從長期的腳踝傷勢中慢慢復原中。David Lee扛中鋒的陣容防守易於崩潰，而且Marrees Speights投籃命中率是29.6%。各位觀眾，你們沒看錯數字。Ezeli還要幾個月才能回來，而且當他回來時他依然會有雙不好使的手。
Toney Douglas is also out, leaving Iggy as the team's de facto backup point guard, initiating the offense when Stephen Curry sits — and even at times when Curry plays. He's also guarding the most threatening opposing wing scorer almost every night, and he has proven a wonderful fit on both ends for the Warriors.
Toney Douglas也還在傷兵名單，讓Iggy成為球隊實質上的替補控衛。在Stephen Curry坐板凳休息時負責發動進攻，而且甚至在Curry在場上時亦然。他幾乎每晚也要負責防守對方最有威脅性的外圍球員，而且他證明他能完滿的融入勇士的攻防體系。
But they can survive, provided Curry can stay healthy. Golden State has scored 116.2 points per 100 possessions with Curry on the court and just 87.5 points without him. Basically, they've had fire shooting from their asses whenever Curry plays, and they've turned into the Jazz when he sits. Intriguing lineups featuring no traditional point guards have scored at an even worse rate, per NBA.com.
但假設Curry能保持健康的話，他們能存活下來。勇士隊在有Curry時每百回得分是116.2，沒他時則只有87.5分。基本上，當有Curry時他們火力強大，而當他在場下時他們變成爵士隊。根據NBA.com的數據，沒有傳統後衛的有趣陣容則有著更糟的得分效率。
But those groups have held down the fort defensively, and Kent Bazemore deserves more of a shot at the point. Harrison Barnes is back healthy, and he can provide a reasonable Iggy facsimile. Barnes can defend top wing scorers, leaving Klay Thompson to defend point guards and allowing Curry to hide on the least dangerous perimeter guy available. Barnes can't touch Iggy as a passer and ball handler, but he can do a little of each, especially with a head start, and he's a useful option in the post.
但這些組合有著銅牆鐵壁的防守，而且Kent Bazemore在控衛的表現值得更多讚賞。Harrison Barnes完全健康的回到場上，而且他可以表現的和Iggy差不多。Barnes可以防守頂尖側翼得分手，讓Klay Thompson負責防守對方控衛。使得Curry可以防守最沒有威脅力的外圍球員，以隱藏他的防守漏洞。Barnes無法比擬Iggy的傳球和控球能力，但他可以各做一些。尤其是在有領先優勢時，他是個有用的低位進攻選擇。
Draymond Green provides both wing depth and the ability for Mark Jackson to go small when matchups allow. Jackson will have to be careful not to overload the starters, especially Curry and Bogut, but the Warriors have the pieces to survive without Iggy. They've been a stronger team than their 8-6 record indicates; they've outscored opponents by about 4.5 points per game, a big number, and they have the sixth-best point differential per 100 possessions in the league, per NBA.com. That differential shrinks a bit when Curry's on the floor without Iguodala, but it's still solidly positive.
Draymond Green讓勇士陣容有著側翼深度和能力，使Mark Jackson可以在對位許可的情況下打小球陣容。Jackson將要注意不要過度操勞先發，尤其是Curry和Bogut，但勇士有足夠的球員在沒有Iggy的情況下存活下來。他們比起8勝6敗戰績所顯示出的表象還要更為堅強。他們得分壓過對手平均每場4.5分，這是個不小的數字。而且根據NBA.com數據。他們有著聯盟第六好的每百回勝分差。這個差距在有Curry無Iguodala時縮小了些，但依舊是牢靠的正分差。
One more injury and the Dubs are in trouble, especially with seven of their next eight on the road. But they should be able to hang in, provided Iggy gets back soon.
再有一名傷兵，勇士就麻煩大了。尤其接下來的八場有七場是客場比賽。但他們應該有辦法撐住，假設Iggy能快點回到球場的話。
心得：
兩支去年的季後賽勁旅，都傷了主力球員。這在競爭激烈的西區來說，真的很傷阿！
以現況來說，勇士隊的確比較安全。
成熟的攻守體系，加上小AI的傷勢問題應該不大。
而且小歐也強勢（？）回歸了。這季的他真的扛的不錯。
相對來說，灰熊問題就比較大了。
這季目前為止還沒有打出鐵血防守的球風。本希望增強的外線進攻也沒有太多的成長
主力球員表現都不如去年。。新的教練目前來看功力似乎還好（？）
灰熊只能禱告小Gasol盡快健康回歸了。
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