[翻譯] Magic need to clean up turnovers, defense

[Ozzilla (三歪)]

[前言]
這篇刊在 Yahoo! Sports 的專欄文章由 Kelly Dwyer 執筆，
把現階段魔術的優劣長短都點出來，
褒貶各半寫得滿中肯的，
所以就順手翻給版眾們吧。


[原文網址] http://tinyurl.com/2xgbdt

Magic need to clean up turnovers, defense

By Kelly Dwyer

Orlando Magic fans and NBA know-alls alike are more than aware of the team's
one big attempt at adding talent during the trade-deadline season: GM Otis
Smith tried to grab forward/center Kurt Thomas for a pair of expiring
contracts and the Magic’s first-round pick in 2010. Seattle considered the
swap then balked when the Spurs offered the same package, but with a pick
in 2009 rather than '10.
奧蘭多魔術的球迷和NBA的專家們都很清楚這隻球隊在交易截止日前想積極補強的意圖：
總管 Otis Smith 想要以兩個合約即將到期的球員外加 2010 年的首輪選秀權，從西雅
圖超音速那邊搞來中前鋒 Kurt Thomas 。西雅圖考慮了考慮，結果還是把這名老將讓給
了籌碼差不多（只不過選秀權是 2009 年）的聖安東尼奧馬刺。

At first glance, the trade seems a bit off. The Magic think they're Kurt
Thomas away from contending? Just a bit part away from the top? This is how
deluded their front office is?
第一眼看這宗交易提案，會覺得有點弔詭，難道魔術真以為他們加了 Kurt Thomas 以後
就具備奪冠實力？距離頂端就只剩一步之遙？他們的制服組腦袋有毛病不成？

And then you think about it.
麻煩您再仔細想想。

Thomas provides spacing, hitting that top-of-the-key jumper while allowing
Dwight Howard to do his damage down low. He can set screens for the Magic
guards without creating offensive fouls. He can still guard all comers down
low, letting Howard roam for blocks and rebounds.
 Thomas 能夠拉開進攻範圍在罰球圈弧頂跳投，清出空間讓 Dwight Howard 在低位恣
意大搞破壞；他也能替魔術的後衛群做單檔，而且不會製造進攻犯規；他還能在低位守
住對手球員，讓魔獸在蓋鍋和籃板上更遊刃有餘。

You think about this Orlando outfit a little more, and you start to wonder
why they can't make a run even without Thomas' services.
在您仔細看過魔術隊這套陣容之後，您會開始納悶，難道沒有 Thomas 他們就無法有所
作為嗎？

The Magic are well above .500, an abject rarity for most other Eastern
Conference teams. The group is more or less a lock for the Southeast Division
crown, and with that banner comes the third seed in the Eastern playoff
bracket. With that seed comes a first-round matchup with one of the
Conference’s lesser lights, followed by a likely pairing with either the
Detroit Pistons (as it stands now) or Boston Celtics (should the C's start
Brian Scalabrine at power forward for the whole of April).
現在魔術隊的勝率遠高於五成，大多數東區球隊皆難望項背，而且魔術也幾乎篤定能拿
下東南組冠軍，順便取得東區季後賽的第三種子席位，然後在季後賽第一輪對上沒那麼
強勁的對手，接著在第二輪和底特律活塞（現在看來是如此）或波士頓塞爾蒂克（如果
超賽整個四月都讓 Brian Scalabrine 當先發大前鋒擺爛的話）對決。

Orlando is 4-3 against Boston and Detroit, combined. The Magic are the only
team in the league to have beaten both twice. Stan Van Gundy's bunch has the
best center in the East, competent point-guard play, two scoring forwards in
their prime and a solid bench. What, exactly, are we missing here?
奧蘭多本季和波士頓與底特律兩隊交手的累計戰績是四勝三敗，魔術是整個聯盟裡面唯
一一支能擊敗這兩隊各兩次的隊伍。總教頭 Stan Van Gundy 麾下擁有東區最佳中鋒、
稱職的控球後衛、兩位正值巔峰的高得分前鋒箭頭、還有穩固的板凳陣容。那麼，這支
球隊究竟欠缺了什麼？

Actually, that's what coach Stan Van Gundy has been wondering all season.
事實上，這正是 Stan Van Gundy 整個球季都在思考的問題。

Van Gundy has done a remarkable job with this team. The caveats behind that
statement are many and of great importance, but he has turned last season's
40-win team into an outfit that is on track to win 52 games. Significant
improvement like this cannot be solely credited to the addition of Rashard
Lewis and the continued maturation of Dwight Howard.
 Van Gundy 把這支球隊調教的很棒。這句話背後儘管還存在著許多且不可忽視的警訊
但他至少已經把上個球季僅拿 40 勝的球隊改造成一支本季即將邁向 52 勝的勁旅，這
等程度的躍進絕對不是歸功於 Rashard Lewis 的加盟和 Dwight Howard 的持續成熟就
可以輕易解釋的。

Last season's Magic turned the ball over on 19 percent of their possessions,
by far the worst mark in the NBA and primarily a function of Brian Hill's
incredibly predictable offense. This year the team gives it away on 15.7
percent of its possessions, seemingly a mild improvement, but enough to rank
a respectable 13th in the league. The offensive efficiency has shot from 22nd
in the NBA to fourth, and though the defense has faltered as a result
(seventh to 16th), you can't argue with the winning results.
上個球季，魔術隊的進攻持球有 19％ 的機率會發生失誤，拜前教練 Brian Hill 呆板
易被預測的進攻戰術所賜，這等成績在全聯盟敬陪末座。今年，魔術把持球失誤比率降
到 15.7％ ，看似進步程度有限，卻足夠排到全聯盟第 13 名；整體進攻效率也從 22
名躍升至全聯盟第四位，儘管防守排名也因此從第七滑落至第 16 名，但這樣能贏球卻
是不爭的事實。

So why are the Magic so maddening and why is nobody considering them a
possibility for the Eastern Conference finals?
那魔術隊又為啥這麼想補強？為什麼沒有人認為他們能打進東區決賽？

Mainly because the stigma remains, and it isn't entirely undeserved: This
team can still be incredibly careless with the ball, it doesn't always take
the best shot available and it sometimes forgets that it has to work hard
defensively just to remain among the ranks of the mediocre. Put this
frustrating mix together and the Magic are often looking at a 33-18 deficit
as they head into the second quarter.
主要還是因為魔術難以擺脫的污名，而且這污名得來也不是沒有道理：這支球隊在處理
球上還是很不謹慎。魔術的球員沒辦法一直尋求最佳的投籃機會，而且他們有時候也會
忘記想要騎在中流隊伍之上就得用力做好防守這個道理。把這些令人氣餒的表現混在一
塊兒，就是魔術隊在比賽邁入第二節時時常看到類似 33:18 的大比分落後。

And yet, the Magic still have a chance to work their way into the lofty
status that Boston and Detroit have enjoyed all season. Orlando is 38-23 and
15 of its last 21 games come against teams with losing records. In Hedo
Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis, the Magic have a pair of forwards who turn 29
this year and are in the midst of their ostensible primes. Lewis has
struggled to fit in at times, but he's also been cast as this team's fourth
offensive option for long stretches and there's no reason why a hot hand and
a few good screens wouldn't produce a 45-point night, even in the playoffs.
就算是這樣，魔術隊還是有機會打進波士頓和底特律整個球季都坐很穩的頭等地位。奧
蘭多目前的戰績是 38 勝 23 敗，剩下的 21 場季賽有其中 15 場的對手勝率低於五成
。而且魔術現在坐擁 Hedo Turkoglu 和 Ra$hard Lewi$ 這兩隻今年才年滿 29 歲、正
值生涯巔峰的前鋒組合， Lewis 有時候看起來難以融入這支球隊，但事實上他很長一
時間都是擔任球隊第四號進攻點的角色，只要手感發燙、再搭配幾個漂亮的單擋掩護，
他沒有理由不能一場砍下 45 分，即使在季後賽他都能有此表現。

In Howard, the team has a go-to center who contributes on both ends of the
floor and that's a facet that no team in the East can match, if not counter.
If his head is in the right place, he can more than make up for the team's
rebounding woes, get the opposition in foul trouble (thus sending Orlando's
cadre of sound free-throw shooters to the line) and throw in 25 points
without having many plays called for him.
此外，魔術也擁有 Howard 這隻禁區凶器，他在攻守兩端做出的貢獻足以讓東區其它球
隊口水流乾，別說抗衡就連相比都難。如果他努力的方向正確的話，他可以彌補這隻球
隊欠缺籃板的缺點、讓對手陷入犯規麻煩（順便把魔術的一票罰球大隊送上罰球線）然
後在不用積極挺身而出的情況下就豪取 25 分。

So the stage is set. The run is possible. Van Gundy has inherited his
predecessor's insistence on moaning about his point-guard tandem at every
given opportunity, but things could be worse. J.J. Redick could use a few
more minutes per game, but it's hard to argue with the league's fourth-best
offense. The cohesion on both ends of the floor will likely improve as the
season drones on and Van Gundy's pleas become more and more familiar.
對於魔術來說，舞台已經架好，衝擊列強不是沒有可能。 Van Gundy 已經繼承前任教
頭留下的傳統，只要抓到機會就要鞭一下他的控衛群，但情況可能會更加惡化。他可以
多用 J.J. Redick 幾分鐘，但你很難去質疑這個全聯盟第四佳的進攻團隊。隨著季賽
逐漸尾聲，這支球隊在攻守兩端的凝聚力有可能將得到改善， Van Gundy 對球員苦口
婆心的要求也會愈來愈耳熟。

All it takes is an inspired run to end the season, and the Magic - great in
the one position (low-post center) Boston and Detroit are not - could find
themselves a worthy conference finalist come June.
現在只差一股作氣漂亮地結束這個球季剩餘的賽程，擁有雙塞兩隊所欠缺優質低位中鋒
人才的魔術隊，是有可能在六月的時候打進東區冠軍賽的。


[後記]
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's RALLY TIME !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



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※ 編輯: Ozzilla         來自: 59.104.138.24        (03/04 13:37)
推 Slambone:推推~~~         魔術打進東區冠軍賽!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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