[外電] Mike Brown's Report Card

[kenta10 (三尺秋水塵不染)]

這篇文章頗長，但小弟我認為挺值得看的:p

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Mike Brown's Report Card
http://www.theclevelandfan.com/article_detail.php?blgId=3232

No Cleveland team has enjoyed more recent success than the Cavaliers. Coached
by Mike Brown and fueled by the superhuman powers of LeBron James, the Cavs
have reached the Eastern Semifinals in three consecutive seasons. Down three
games to two to the Boston Celtics, the Cavaliers still have a legitimate
chance to make the Eastern Finals for the second straight year. Conventional
wisdom would suggest that a coach like Mike Brown, who's made the playoffs
three years in a row, would be revered; not the case. While Brown should by
no means be immune to valid criticism, both message boards and talk shows are
abuzz with fans calling for Brown's dismissal.

近來，沒有一隻克里夫蘭當地的球隊比騎士隊還要成功。由扣區布朗執教，以及LBJ的超
人力量當燃料，這支球隊業已連續三季挺進分區準決賽。儘管以2-3落後給波士頓，但球
隊依舊有機會能連續兩年進入東區決賽。有以上如此成就的教練──就像扣區布朗，以傳
統的智慧來判斷，他應當受人所敬重，而情況並非如此。當扣區布朗絲毫無法避免應該得
到的批評時，留言板與脫口秀皆絡繹著要求他滾蛋的球迷。

Coaching professional sports can be a tricky business; when a team is winning
the coach is often too generously praised, and when a team is losing the
coach can be a convenient scapegoat. The funny thing about all of the
screaming to axe Coach Brown is that it comes in the midst of the most
success the Cavaliers franchise has ever experienced.

執教於職業運動是件狡詐的事業；贏球時，教練通常被過譽，而輸球時，又變成就地的
替罪羔羊。有趣的是，整體關於嚷嚷著要裁掉扣區布朗的脈絡，是發生在這支球隊正處
於有史以來所曾經歷過最成功的階段之中。

Most of the complaints about Brown pertain to the team's offense. While the
Cavaliers' offense certainly stagnates from time to time and has room for
improvement, one can't employ such tunnel vision when evaluating a coach. In
other words, if we're going to judge Coach Brown, we need to consider
everything that he does (good and bad), not just one facet of his job. Let's
take a closer look at what Mike Brown brings to the table.

大多對扣區布朗的不滿來自於這支球隊的進攻。騎士隊的進攻確實履屢當機，並且還有
進步的空間，但我們並不能只就單一途徑來評估一位教練。換言之，假使我們要去評斷
扣區布朗，就應考慮他所有的作為(好的與壞的)，而非僅是他執教的單一面向。讓我們
就近看看扣區布朗所搬上檯面的作為吧。

Author's note: these grades are far from scientific, they're based solely on
my insight and analysis. I still expect them to make more sense than Mel
Kiper's.

作者註：這些評比都不是科學的，僅是憑著我自身的觀點與分析。但我仍期望這些比
　　　　Mel Kiper's的更有意義。

Offense

進攻

We'll start with offense, which is without a doubt the aspect of his job for
which Brown takes the most heat. The Cavs have a wide variety of offensive
talents, but the obvious headliner is LeBron James. James is a unique talent,
with the ability to drive for layups practically at will, an above average
jump shot, superb ball handling skills, and athleticism that borders on
supernatural. But beyond James, the only other offensive blue-chipper on the
roster is Zydrunas Ilgauskas.

從進攻開始看，該面向無疑是扣區布朗的工作中所最熱衷的。騎士隊擁有廣大多樣的
進攻人才，但明顯的標竿則是LBJ。LBJ是個獨特的天才，擁有幾乎算是隨心所欲切入
上籃的能力，平均值以上的跳投，出色的控球技巧，與近乎神奇的運動能力。但除了
LBJ之外，其他惟一可靠的進攻球員只有大Ｚ。

Ilgauskas is one of the best jump shooting centers in the league, and only
Yao (bling bling) Ming might be able to give Z a run for his money. In
addition to being able to stretch the floor, Ilgauskas is a terrific
offensive rebounder, scoring several points per game via tip-in following an
offensive rebound (some say he's "the best tip drill man in the league").

大Ｚ是聯盟裡最好的中鋒射手之一，而且只有姚明可能與之匹敵。
(譯按：only Yao Ming might be able to give Z a run for his money，這句亂翻)
除了能在場上施展開來之外，大Ｚ還非常會搶進攻籃板，每場比賽都可藉由"撥點"進
攻籃板來得到些分數(有人認為他是聯盟之中最擅於此道的人)。

Beyond Z, there are some quality shooters who aren't great ball handlers,
namely Daniel Gibson, Damon Jones, and Delonte West, with West being the best
fit for the point guard position out of the three. Sasha Pavlovic is a decent
offensive player who can shoot a little and create off the dribble, but he's
been unable to find a rhythm this season due injuries and his holdout. Devon
Brown can slash to the rim from time to time, but he isn't a very good
outside shooter.

此外，還有些持球能力不那麼好的優質射手，像是小吉、DJ還有West，而West則是三
者之中最適合擔任控球的。沙蝦是個像樣的進攻球員，可以投點外線，還可自行運球
製造機會，但因為傷勢還有季前的薪情問題，目前一直找不到自己的進攻節奏。D.Brown
偶爾可以殺入禁區，卻不是一個好的外線射手。

Anderson Varejao and Ben Wallace are defensive players who basically
non-factors on offense. Joe Smith is a quality scoring big man to bring off
the bench. Rounding things out are resident stiffs Dwayne Jones (averages
more fouls than points per game) and Wally Szczerbiak (he can score, but for
every good shooting night he has three that are atrocious). Outside of LeBron
James, this is a team of stand-still shooters who simply aren't all that
talented offensively. The "Showtime" Lakers, these guys are not.

大Ｖ與大班是防守組，基本上沒有進攻能力。老喬是個從板凳出發的優質得分型長人
。Dwayne Jones犯規比得分還多。帥哥可以得分，但要期待他每晚都有好的三分外線
卻很危險。LBJ的麾下，是一隻純粹沒有那樣全面進攻天份的"等球射手"的球隊。這些
傢伙可不是當時湖人隊的"Showtime"。

Conceding that this isn't an overly talented club on offense, Mike Brown's
offense doesn't seem particularly creative. The James/Ilgauskas pick and fade
is the only play that consistently succeeds, and otherwise much of the team's
success depends on LeBron's ability to drive the lane and either score or
kick the ball out to an open shooter. This lack of set plays(or quality
plays, as is more likely the case) makes the Cavs far more prone to "LeBron
watching;" just standing around waiting for James to make something happen.

在該球隊進攻上沒有極度天份的前提下，扣區布朗的進攻看起來並無特別地創意。LBJ
與大Z的檔差是唯一可以固定成功的模式。球隊大部分的得分仰賴於LBJ的切入──
要不直接得分，不然就是把球分給有空檔的射手。系統戰(或者有質量的進攻，如同大
部分的情況)的缺乏使得騎士隊容易陷入"欣賞大帝打球"的情況：站在旁邊看球，並期
待著大帝可以變出什麼把戲。

More than anything, the Cavs need a guard (not necessarily a point guard) who
can slash to the rim and complement LeBron. If Danny Ferry can find this type
of player, and that might be a possibility over the summer with all of the
expiring contracts the Cavs will have, it would take pressure off of LeBron
and keep opposing defenses honest. Larry Hughes had the ability to be that
slasher that the Cavs so desperately need(ed), but Hughes was rendered
largely ineffective by his intense love of his jump shot and his reluctance
to drive into the lane.

最重要地，騎士隊需要一個可以切入攻擊，並且輔助皇帝的後衛(不必然是控球後衛)
。如果Ferry可以找到這樣的球員──所擁有的到期合約讓球隊有在夏天一搏的可能
，必然會減輕LBJ的壓力，對防守有正面的幫助。秀詩兄原本有著成為騎士隊所迫切
需要的角色與能力，但他卻鍾情於他的浪投，不甘願施展切入能力。

While Brown lacks dynamic offensive talent with the exceptions of James and
Ilgauskas, that doesn't excuse the Cavaliers' penchant to become inert on
offense for minutes at a time. Complaints about the Cleveland offense bear
verity, but as frustrating as it is, this offense is going nowhere for the
time being. In a few weeks (or hopefully months, rather) when they're out of
the playoffs, the Cavs will certainly revisit their offense, but for now fans
will just have to grind their teeth and gut it out.

扣區布朗雖然缺少有動態進攻天份的球員(LBJ與大Z除外)，卻不能當作進攻有時會陷
入數分鐘完全呆滯的藉口。關於進攻的抱怨是事實，但沮喪之處在於，現階段可能好
不到哪去了。數週後(希望最好是個把月後)當他們打完季後賽，騎士隊將會確實地重
新檢視他們的進攻，但球迷現在只能在旁看得咬牙切齒。

Like last summer, I will advocate the hiring of a wizard offensive assistant
to help Brown in his weakest area. It was troubling when the Cavs didn't make
such a move on the coaching staff last year, and if they fail to do so this
season it should be viewed as a major indication that this club isn't very
good at identifying and addressing their internal weaknesses. That isn't the
mark of a quality organization.

如同去年暑假，我會建議球隊聘請一位巫師隊的進攻助理教練來幫助扣區布朗他最弱的
環節。球團去年沒有這項舉動已造成困擾，而如果今年又沒有這樣做，則顯示了球隊並
不擅於找出並解決自身內在的弱點。這不是一個好的組織該有的特徵。

And one more thing: Brown appears to adopt new offensive schemes on a whim.
Doesn't it seem like Coach Brown is installing a new offense every summer?
This could mean a combination of two things; either 1) Brown realizes that
his offense stinks and is grasping at straws for a more effective version,
and/or 2) Brown is easily taken in by trendy new offenses. While it would be
encouraging to know that Brown was aware of his offense's problems, it would
be equally disappointing to know that he's thus far been unable to instate an
offense that can perform with any consistency.

還有一點：扣區布朗會因一時興起而採用新的進攻模式。是不是就像扣區布朗每年夏天
都有"安裝"新的進攻模式呢？這可能代表了兩件事：1.扣區布朗了解到他的進攻行不通
，並且嘗試著抓住一根更有效率的稻草呢？2.扣區布朗容易被進攻的"時尚"所影響。扣
區布朗意識到自己的進攻問題值得鼓勵，但了解到他至今尚未能實行一套穩定的進攻模
式又令人失望。

Grade: D

評比：Ｄ


Defense

防守

Nobody is denying Mike Brown's strength: defense, or more specifically, team
defense. When Coach Brown arrived in Cleveland he started the painful process
of remaking the Cavs into a defense-first team, partly in the mold of the San
Antonio Spurs. Like the Spurs, the Cavs were going to rebound, play solid
defense, and let their star player (in this case LeBron James, as opposed to
Tim Duncan) take over late in the game. That was ultimately the formula that
carried the Cavaliers all the way to the NBA Finals last year.

沒有人可以否定扣區布朗的長處：防守，特別是團隊防守。當他到達了克里夫蘭，就開
始部分地依照著馬刺隊的模式開啟了重新改造成一支防守至上的球隊的困難過程。如同
馬刺隊，騎士隊將要鞏固籃板，實行堅固的防守，並讓明星球員在比賽後段掌控比賽(
將LBJ類比為TD)。這是去年將騎士隊一路帶進總冠軍戰最根本的方程式。

This transition didn't happen overnight, due largely to the Cavs' roster
being filled with players more known for their offense than their defense.
With the exceptions of Larry Hughes and Eric Snow, the Cavs didn't have
players who were lauded for their defensive prowess. Given the circumstances,
Brown was forced to turn lemons into lemonade.

這樣的轉變並非一夕而成，主要肇因於騎士隊的球員名單充斥著攻優於守的球員。除了
史諾大叔與賴秀詩，並沒有球員是以其防守所著稱的。在此前提下，扣區布朗被強迫要
硬將檸檬變成檸檬水。(譯按：這句的意思應該是由量變轉為質變吧)

Brown convinced Sasha Pavlovic that if Pavlovic wanted to play, he had to
shore up his defense. Under Brown's tutelege, LeBron James has developed into
an above average, and borderline premier defender. Coach Brown has kept
Zydrunas Ilgauskas, a huge defensive liability, from being exploited by
opposing teams.

他使沙蝦確信，若想要上場打球，得先讓防守硬起來。在布朗的"調教"之下，LBJ發展為
一個平均水準以上外圍防守者。他讓大Z防守上的巨大負擔，不會為對手所利用。

This year Brown was faced with the challenge integrating four new players and
waving 'goodbye' to his best perimeter defender, Larry Hughes, at mid-season.
The upside to losing Hughes was that it allowed the Cavaliers to add Ben
Wallace. Wallace, although not the beast on the inside that he once was,
still plays above average interior defense.

而今年，扣區布朗在季中面臨新的挑戰──將四個新面孔融入防守體系，又失去了他最
好的外圍防守者。失去秀詩則讓騎士得到了大班。儘管他不再是過去那位防守悍將，依
然在內線的防守能有水準以上的表現。

Below are the Cavs' points allowed in the playoffs for each of the last three
seasons.

以下是最近三個球季，騎士隊在季後賽的場均失分

2006: 93.5 (13 games, including 2 overtime games)
2007: 86.7 (20 games, 1 overtime game)
2008: 87.9 (through 10 games)

Even when forced to add four new players to the rotation, Mike Brown's 2008
squad has thus far performed similarly to their '07 counterparts. Brown
deserves kudos for that. Once again, if the Cavs advance to the Eastern
Finals it will be more a result of their defense than their offense.

即使球員輪替加了四個新面孔，扣區布朗今年季後賽的班底已經實行了接近去年水準
的成效。關於此點，扣區布朗值得讚賞。倘若騎士隊再次挺進到東區決賽，這將會是
其防守上的成果，遠非進攻。

If there is one small flaw with Mike Brown's defense that usually isn't taken
advantage of by opponents, it's the way the big men rotate to defend the pick
and roll.  We frequently see Zydrunas Ilgauskas at the top of the key,
sometimes even beyond the three-point line, in an effort to defend the pick
and roll.  This leaves adversaries with a golden opportunity to send their
forward/center to the hoop, wide open for an easy layup.  Why teams teams
don't identify and exploit this flaw is beyond me.  (The team that frequently
burned the Cavs when Z showed high was New Jersey.)

若說扣區布朗的防守有個不常為對手所利用的小缺點，那就是長人輪轉防守檔差的方式
。我們常會看到大Z站在弧頂，甚至超越三分線外，為了要去防守檔差。這會讓對手有
可趁之機，讓其中前鋒溜到成了大空檔的籃框旁。何以其他球隊沒有發現並利用此點就
不是我能理解的了。(最常利用此點來打擊騎士隊的是籃網隊)

At any rate, the Cavaliers should actually become a better defensive team as
they re-shape the roster to fit Mike Brown's scheme.  The Cavs have some big
contracts coming off the books next season which will allow them flexibility
in the trade (2008) and free agent (2009) markets, and there's a rumor that
they will have some of those cool "draft pick" things this year.  After two
quiet summers, the Cavs should look to make big improvements this year.

無論如何，當球團依照適合扣區布朗的體系重新改造球員名單時，騎士隊確實會變成
一支防守更好的球隊。某些大合約的到期允許球團在交易上(2008)與自由球員市場上
(2009)擁有揮灑空間，且據謠傳，今年還會作些選新秀的動作。沉寂兩個夏天之後，
騎士隊應該在今年尋求重大進展。

Grade: A-

評比：Ａ－


Intangibles

無形的價值

To "grade" intangibles almost seems contradictory, but I'll give it my best
shot.  The allotment of playing time and the management of a rotation is
probably one of the easiest parts of coaching to criticize.  As the saying
goes, hindsight is 20-20, and it's always easy to ask "Why didn't you play
this guy instead of that guy?"

評斷無形的價值看來矛盾，但我會盡我所能地嘗試。上場時間的分配以及球員輪替的方
式可能是執教時最容易被批評的部份之一。俗話說，後見之明乃是20-20，而且總是流
於去問這樣的問題：為什麼你不用這個球員替代那個球員上場？

With that in mind, Coach Brown needs to make some adjustments to his handling
of the rotation.  Brown doesn't seem to play favorites, but he definitely has
a dog house.  Exhibit A: Damon Jones.  Jones is a lousy defender, but the guy
makes baskets.  Jones was having his best season in Wine & Gold, shooting
over 41-percent from downtown.  Due to his defensive shortcomings, Jones
couldn't buy playing time down the stretch and he's only seen a few minutes
during garbage time in these playoffs.

秉持著這句俗話：扣區布朗需要調整球員輪替的方式。扣區布朗似乎沒有特別中意的方
式，心中卻肯定有他自己的盤算。展示品 Ａ：DJ。(譯按：應該是諷刺他被冰)DJ是個
差勁的防守者，但這傢伙籃子準；他穿著騎士隊服度過了最好的球季，41%的三分命中
率。因為防守問題，DJ得不到任何上場時間，季後賽時僅能在垃圾時間裡亮亮相。

While Jones shouldn't get starting minutes, he's a three-point specialist who
can help the Cavaliers by making threes at a high percentage.  Considering
the Cavs' desperate need for guys who can consistently knock down those long
distance shots, to rule out playing Jones altogether is nothing short of
lunacy.

DJ確實不應打先發，但三分球的專長卻能幫助球隊擁有高的三分命中率。考量到球隊極
度需要可以穩定地投進外線的傢伙，全然地將DJ排除在輪替之外是有些精神失常。

And then there's Wally Szczerbiak, whose promotion to the starting lineup
over Devon Brown has become something of a sticking point for me during these
playoffs.  I'll concede that when he's on, Szczerbiak is more valuable than
Brown in the starting five.  But the problem is that Szczerbiak is cold far
more often than he's hot.  When cold, Szczerbiak is a huge defensive
liability.  In 10 playoff games, Szczerbiak has basically had 3 good games,
and 7 that weren't so good.

然後是帥哥的問題，將他取代了D.Brown成為先發這件事，在季後賽期間我認為是很有爭
議的一點。我承認，當帥哥作為先發上場時，他所帶來的價值優於D.Brown。問題是，帥
哥的手感冷多於熱。沒有手感時，他是防守上的龐大負擔。十場季後賽，帥哥基本上只
有三場好球，另七場則不是那麼好。

Mike Brown needs some sort of litmus test to determine whether or not to give
Wally is hot.  Maybe give Szczerbiak five minutes at the start of the game,
and if he isn't hitting his shots, sit him down?  That's the best I can come
up with.

扣區布朗需要某種石蕊試紙來測試帥哥的手感是否火燙。也許前五分鐘讓他先發。而如果
他投不進，就換他下場？這是我所能處理的最好方式。

Another curious trait inherent to the Cavaliers during the Mike Brown era is
the club's tendency to play up or down to its level of competition.  Over the
last few years the Cavs have blown dozens of games to lousy teams, and
there's no excuse for that.  On the other hand, the Cavs have risen up to
defeat teams that were probably their superior almost as often as they've
phoned it in against the dregs of the league.  So as much as Brown can be
bashed for letting his team play flat and uninspired against the NBA's bottom
feeders, he deserves credit for the Cavaliers' propensity to play their best
against the cream of the crop.

另一個在布朗執教時期，騎士隊所令人好奇的特徵是：球隊的表現傾向於依據對手的等
級而有不同的高低起伏。過去幾年來，騎士已經輸給實力不強的球隊好多次。另一方面
，騎士隊曾奮起擊敗那些實力優於他們的強隊。就如同扣區布朗可以因為讓球隊荒腔走
板地輸給聯盟中的"進補球隊"而讓人大為光火，騎士隊在面臨強隊時易於打出球隊的最
佳表現，此點他也功不可沒。

This season has presented the Cavaliers with some unique challenges.  Whether
it was getting the team to gel after the big trade, enduring the holdouts of
Pavlovic and Varejao, persevering through injuries to Gibson, Gooden,
Ilgauskas, James, Pavlovic, Varejao, Wallace, et cetera, the Cavaliers have
bent, but they've never broken.  The one constant through all of the team's
woes was Mike Brown.  As much as his critics may not want to admit it, Brown
kept the Cavs together this season, as he continuously kept them focused on
the next game, and not on offering excuses.

本季的騎士隊面臨了一些特定的挑戰。無論是在大交易後磨合球隊、忍受大V與沙蝦的
薪情問題，以及在Gibson, Gooden,Ilgauskas, James, Pavlovic, Varejao, Wallace
等人相繼受傷時依舊堅忍不拔；球隊曾短暫低迷，卻從未瓦解。歷經所有這些多災多難
而依然堅定的人，是扣區布朗。大多數的批評可能不想承認此點：扣區布朗在球季中使
球隊保持凝聚，如同持續地使他們專注在下場比賽，而不是搪塞找藉口。

But perhaps the most important intangible that Brown brings to table -- one
that is frequently overlooked -- is that LeBron James seems to like him.
 Whether "old school" fans like it or not, the short-term and long-term fate
of the franchise is dependent almost solely on keeping Flight 23 in the
Forest City.  To do so, the Cavs should do just about everything short of
busting James out of prison in order to keep their 23-year old superstar
happy.  Retaining a head coach that seems to have King James' stamp of
approval is a must, and James' endorsement is a huge plus for Mike Brown.

不過，或許由扣區布朗所帶來最重要的無形價值──常被忽略的一點，那就是皇帝似乎
很寵信他。無論老迷喜歡或不喜歡，球隊短期與長期的歷史命運，幾乎就單獨仰賴能把
這架23號班機留在這座城市裡。為了達成此目的，球團必須儘可能地不要觸犯龍顏，為
了讓這位23歲的巨星悅色。留下一位由皇帝欽定認可的教練是必要的；LBJ的認可是扣區
布朗最大的加分作用。

Grade: B

評比：Ｂ


Verdict

結論

There's plenty to like about Mike Brown; he's a brilliant defensive mind, he
keeps the team focused on themselves, not external forces out of their
control, and he is well-liked by most of the players, most notably LeBron
James.  Brown also isn't without his shortcomings; his offensive schemes are
overly simplistic and the Cavs have been prone to long scoring droughts, he
sometimes can't see the forest through the trees (Damon Jones' ability to
make shots vs. Damon Jones' defense), and he has thus far been unable to get
the Cavs to treat every game with an equal level of importance.

扣區布朗有許多令人喜愛之處；他擁有極好的防守，他使球隊專注於自己本身，而不是
不能控制的外部因素。而且他被大多數球員所愛戴，特別是LBJ的加持。但他也有缺點
；過於單純的進攻模式，騎士隊容易陷入長期的得分乾旱。有時候，他則是見樹不見林
(DJ的防守 vs. DJ的進攻)。並且到目前為止，他遠不能讓球隊以同等的重要性去看待
每場比賽。

All things considered, to advocate sacking Brown at this point completely
premature.  Give the Cavs another off-season to add a player to be the
figurative Robin to LeBron's Batman, and bring in an offensive assistant
coach to help Brown revise his scheme, and I'm betting most of these problems
will be rectified.  If a year from now the Cavs have that second fiddle and
their own version of Rob Chudzinski, yet they still have the same problems,
then discussion of whether or not Brown should be canned will be valid.
 Until such a time, fans simply need to be patient.

所有的事情都考量之後，當下這個節骨眼去鼓吹解雇扣區布朗完全是言之過早。給騎士
隊一個休賽期去找到LBJ的羅賓，引入一個進攻助理教練來幫助布朗修正他的模式，若然
如此，我敢打賭上述這些問題將迎刃而解。假使騎士隊又虛度了一年，上述觀點沒有改
進，那麼他們依舊會有相同的問題。然後再來討論是否要解雇扣區布朗才有意義。在那
之前，球迷們得要耐心點囉。


--
※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc)
◆ From: 218.174.3.83
推 BACKYARD:我們防守沒問題 進攻乾旱期的時候只能靠LBJ了.....
推 SKYWAR:如果可以選擇，我希望M.Brown是防守教練，而不是總教練~
推 dignity2120:Mike Brown加油啊！！！
推 k7117836:推!!!!!!!!
推 MikeBrown:謝謝大家！！謝謝大家的支持啊！！！~(￣▽￣)~(＿△＿)
推 zxcv3147:DJ:教練我想打球~
推 s19790824:防守的倒數第二段有個筆誤，推推～
多謝提點:)
※ 編輯: kenta10         來自: 218.174.0.119        (05/18 23:44)
推 Negri:原因根本就出在ＬＢＪ太愛自幹，搞得全隊都鳥掉