[外絮] 洛杉磯湖人真的太老而無力爭冠嗎?

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Are the Los Angeles Lakers Really Too Old to Win the NBA Title?

洛杉磯湖人真的太老而無力爭冠嗎?

By Josh Martin

(NBA Lead Writer) on January 3, 2013

After the Los Angeles Lakers' 103-99 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on New
Year's Day, Kobe Bryant did what he's done so often and so freely of late—he
spoke his mind (via Dave McMenamin of ESPNLosAngeles.com):

You just saw an old damn team. I don't know how else to put it to you. We're
just slow. You saw a team over there that was just younger and just had
fresher legs and just played with more energy, and we were just stuck in the
mud. I think individually we all have to figure out how to get ourselves
ready each and every game to have a high level of energy. That's all that is.

在新年的第一天，湖人以 103-99 敗給費城七六人隊後，老大再次作了一件他近來
常常肆無忌憚而行的事--張口說出他真正的想法。

      " 你看到的就是一支天殺的老人隊。我都不知道該怎麼婉轉的說了。我們
        就是慢。我們的對手就是年輕有朝氣，充滿了激情跟能量，年輕的腿可
        以盡情的跑跳，兒我們就是一堆現宰你照裡的老胳膊老腿。我個人認為
        我們全隊都需要找出方法準備我們自己，讓自己每場比賽都可以更有熱
        情跟動能。事情就是這樣。"

Yet, when L.A.'s elder statesman spoke to ESPN Radio's Colin Cowherd the next
day, he seemed more chipper about his team's playoff construction:

    I don't think there's a doubt about that. The problem is we've dug
ourselves such a deep hole we got to do a lot of fighting just to catch up
and get in that conversation. We firmly believe it's going to happen but we
have to do a lot of fighting just to get there.

儘管如此，湖人的資深發言人隔天對 ESPN Radio 表示，他對球隊進入季後賽的機
會並不如老大悲觀。

      " 我不認為大家對此有任何疑問。現在的問題是我們已經幫自己挖了一個
        夠大的洞，現在大家只能盡一切努力試圖追上。我們深深相信這是可以
        辦到的，只是我們真的要非常努力才行。"

Indeed they do. Before the Lakers can run to the 2013 NBA title, they'll have
to crawl their way back into the playoff picture in the Western Conference.

At present, L.A. is 15-16 and in 11th place in the West. The Lakers have a
game to make up on the eighth-seed Portland Trail Blazers, are six games
behind the Memphis Grizzlies for home-court advantage of some sort and sit
nine games back of the Los Angeles Clippers in the Pacific Division.

Chances are, the Lakers will be in the postseason in some capacity. Steve
Nash is back, Dwight Howard's back continues to improve and Mike D'Antoni
seems to have concocted something resembling a workable rotation.

They're talented, they're experienced, and—by the time mid-April rolls around
—they'll be a dangerous team that nobody wants to play, regardless of
seeding. The question is whether the Lakers' age will impede or propel their
(unlikely) journey to the Larry O'Brien Trophy.


確實如此。在湖人可以爭奪 2013 年總冠軍前，他們必須先要努力爬回西區前八以
得到季後賽資格。目前湖人以十五勝十六敗居西區第十一，落後第八種子拓荒者一
場，落後庸有季後賽主場首輪優勢的灰熊六場，落後太平洋組冠軍快艇九場。

比較可能的情況是，湖人還是可以進入季後賽。畢竟 Nash 回來了，忠誠獸持續的
進步，冷笑話似乎開始對球隊的陣容比較有構想了。他們有天份跟經驗，同實到了
四月季後賽時，不論他們是第幾種子，他們都會是一支大家不想遇上的危險對手。

If anything, age alone would seem to indicate a positive outlook for the
Purple and Gold. With an average age of 28.5 years, the Lakers stand behind
only the Miami Heat (29.2 years), the Clippers (29.3 years) and the New York
Knicks (31.3) among the league's most senior-laden squads.

That also puts L.A. slightly ahead of the Chicago Bulls (28.1 years), the San
Antonio Spurs (28.0 years) and the Boston Celtics (27.9 years), with the
Grizzlies (25.3 years) and the Oklahoma City Thunder (24.8 years) checking in
as age-related outliers among the early title contenders.

In other words, age needn't be a limiting factor if you want to be in the
championship conversation come spring of 2013. Nor was it before.

Last season, the Heat won it all with the sixth-oldest (and one of the
thinnest) rosters in the NBA. The entirety of Miami's squad averaged nearly
29 years, though its core (excluding well-paid towel boys like Juwan Howard)
averaged approximately 28.4 years.

The year prior, the Heat, then the oldest team in the league, lost to the
third-oldest team in the Dallas Mavericks. Miami's average age was well north
of 31 years, while Dallas' was approaching 30.

Trace the trend back over time, and you'll find that championship teams were
regularly as old as (if not older than) the Lakers of today. Might being
closer to convalescence be an advantage, then? Perhaps, assuming age isn't
just a number, but also a proxy for experience.

問題在於球隊的年齡對於爭冠究竟是助力還是阻力。

事實上，年齡對於紫金大軍來說可能是正面的因素。平均 28.5 歲，湖人的年齡僅
次於熱火 (29.2歲) 、快艇(29.3歲)以及尼克(31.3歲)，跟以上幾隊同為最老球隊
之一。僅次於湖人的則有公牛(28.1歲)、馬刺(28.0歲)、老塞(27.8歲)。而在主要
的冠軍競爭者中，只有灰熊(25.3歲)還有雷霆(24.8歲)兩個孩以上諸隊不同，較年
輕的意外。

換句話說，年齡不該是個奪冠的障礙，考慮到今年的主要冠軍競爭者的話。

以前也不是。就在上個球季，熱火以平均年齡第六老(而且板凳極為薄弱)的陣容拿
下冠軍。當時熱火平均接近 29 歲，而核心主力(除了高薪毛巾小弟 Juwan Howard)
平均約 28.4 歲。再往前一年，當時全聯盟最老的熱火，在總冠軍賽輸給當時第三
老的小牛。當時熱火的平均年齡高於 31 歲，而小牛接近 30 歲。

回朔過去的紀錄，你會發現冠軍隊普遍跟現在的湖人差不多老。還認為年齡是個劣
勢嗎?

It stands to reason that older teams would fare better in the postseason,
when the pace of play slows, every possession means more and experience under
pressure is of the utmost importance. Older teams, teams loaded with players
who've been there before, tend to have a better collective understanding of
how to execute amid any and all circumstances.

They know what it takes to claim the ultimate prize (hard work, dedication,
sacrifice, focus, poise, etc.) and are prepared to do so. Such squads sport a
much greater sense of urgency, in part because of all the participants whose
careers are nearing their respective conclusions.

或許，考慮設年紀不只是一個數字，同時還是一個經驗的的累積。這成為了一個為
何較老的球隊在季後賽佔有優勢的原因。當球賽節奏下降，每一個球權都極端重要
，還有巨大壓力下如何調適的經驗都智關緊要時，老球隊，特別是那些陣中有許多
具季後賽經驗球員的球隊，比較了解如何在那種環境下競爭發揮。

他們知道該付出甚麼樣的努力( 努力訓練，全心付出，犧牲，專注，平衡等等 )才
能獲得最後的桂冠，並且做好了相應的準備。這樣的球隊具備更多的緊迫感，部分
是因為主要的隊員運動生涯都將要結束。

Of all of this, the Lakers have plenty. Kobe has won five rings in seven
trips to the NBA Finals. Pau Gasol notched two in three. Metta World Peace is
one-for-one with the Lakers. Steve Nash and Dwight Howard have both come
agonizingly close, only to be left with the bitter taste of defeat.

The former four (plus Antawn Jamison and Steve Blake) are all on the
downslope, at least as far as Father Time is concerned, while the latter is
out to prove that he can carry a club to a championship while in his prime.

What these Lakers lack—and what may ultimately keep them from living up to
the preseason hype in the end—is cohesion.

L.A. came into the 2012-13 season with seven new players, a revamped coaching
staff and a brand-new system. Injuries to Nash, Gasol and Blake, along with
the switch from Mike Brown to Mike D'Antoni on the sideline, only set the
team back even further.

而這一切的因素，湖人都充分具備。老大贏過五個冠軍，打過七次冠軍賽。嘎獸參
加過三次冠軍賽，贏了兩個冠軍。慈世平在湖人打過一次冠軍賽也拿了一個冠軍。
老衲跟忠誠獸都很接近過總冠軍，也都充分嘗過失敗的酸苦。除了忠誠獸外的四位
，加上 Antawn Jamison 跟 Steve Blake，都已經在生涯的後期，而忠誠獸也急需
在生涯還在巔峰時證明他可以帶領球隊奪冠。

湖人真正缺乏的，也是真正可能讓他們的奪冠大業落空的，並非個人經歷，而是團
隊的經驗。本球季對上多了七個新隊員，動盪的教練團跟全新的戰術系統。再加上
老衲，嘎獸還有 Blake的受傷，更不用談要從麵包體系切換到冷笑話體系，這都讓
球隊更難真正凝聚為一體。

Frankly, the vast majority title teams needed time to gel, to learn each
other's tendencies, to grow together and play for the good of the whole.

The Heat lost a grueling six-game Finals series before they figured it all
out. The Mavs that beat those Heat spent five years stewing (and acquiring
Jason Kidd, Shawn Marion and Tyson Chandler) before they broke through.

Even the most recent Lakers mini-dynasty had to fall to the Celtics before
being truly ready to win four series in a row, much less a second set in as
many seasons.

As it happens, those 2008 C's were the only team in recent (or any) memory
that can claim to have been thrown together and emerge with the title in the
very same season. Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo were already residents in
Beantown, but they weren't joined by Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen (and Glen
Davis, Eddie House and James Posey) until the summer of 2007.

If anything, the 2007-08 Celtics were the exception that proved the rule.
General manager Danny Ainge was fortunate enough to see all of the parts he
picked up fit together almost flawlessly under head coach Doc Rivers. Garnett
captained the defense, Pierce marshaled the offense, Rondo handled the ball
and Allen spread the floor with his long-range shooting.

True, nobody in that team's core had ever won a ring. But the majority had
been around the NBA for some time, and they checked in with an average age
just under 30 years.

老實說，大多數的冠軍隊都需要時間磨合，學習隊友的習慣，了解如何作為一個整
體發揮。熱火在奪冠錢也在總冠軍賽敗陣過。打敗熱火的小牛花了五年 (期間招攬
了老基、香妹跟拳王) 的時間累積經驗。就算是最近湖人的迷你王朝，也是在敗給
塞爾提克後才真正的準備好戰到最後。

就像我們知道的，2008年的那之塞爾提克是近年來為一一支一成軍當季就可以奪冠
的球隊。包皮跟軟豆原本就在波士頓，但是真男人假奶跟雷槍是直到 2007 年暑假
才加入球隊。

2007-2008 的超塞是唯一的例外，不論原因究竟為何。他們的 GM Danny Ainge 非
常狗屎運的讓所有的奪冠拼圖剛好在河流手下組合起來。假奶在防守端成為支柱，
包皮承擔進攻，亂抖控球還有雷槍的外線拉開防守。

沒錯，球隊的核心沒有任何人拿過冠軍，但大多都進入 NBA相當時間了，並且他們
的平均年齡僅略低於 30 歲。

The best hope for the Lakers, it seems, is to imitate their historic rivals.
Then again, even that would be a considerable stretch at this juncture. Those
C's started the 2007-08 season by winning 29 of their first 32 games,
finished with an astounding mark of 66-16 and battled their way through 26
playoff games to prove that anything is possible.

In theory, anything is still possible for the Lakers. They're getting
healthy, which gives them the opportunity to (finally) play together and find
their footing as a team. Their core remains imposing on paper, and it has
shown flashes of greatness on the court.

湖人最佳的希望，似乎在於模仿他們歷史上的宿敵在 2008 年的那次經驗。儘管整
個開頭似乎完全不同。當年的超塞在前 32 場贏了 29 場，以驚人的 66-16作收，
並且打了整整 26 場季後賽證明自己。

理論上來說，任何事都湖人來說都還是有可能的。他們開始健康了，這使得全隊終
於有機會一起作戰並且開始了解如何互相配合。他們的核心陣容看起來依然強大，
並且開始有閃光的時刻。

But losses like the one against an undermanned Sixers squad to start the new
year show that there's much work to be done, perhaps too much for 51 games.
The Lakers look slow and lethargic at times, as if the idea of "being old" is
something of a crutch.

Their execution on both ends of the floor has been inconsistent at best, and
their defense has been particularly porous, in part because the Lakers'
perimeter players are too slow and/or not all that interested in playing up
to snuff.

Old legs may have something to do with L.A.'s ongoing woes. So, too, might
the usual grind of an 82-game season and the toll it takes on seasoned
veterans.

Still, if/when the Lakers are escorted home in something other than a parade
bus at the end of their campaign, it won't likely be a matter of being too
old to wear the ring, but rather one of relationships within the team being
too young to support jewelry of any sort.

但是在新年一開始敗給短兵缺將的七六人表示了他們還有很多工作要做，對於剩下
的五十一場比賽可能不足以完成。湖人看起來緩慢而疲倦，好像老大說的 "老了"
代表昏睡一樣。他們攻守的戰術執行都很不穩定，由其他們的防守糟糕透頂。部分
或許是因為湖人的主力都太慢或是因為不怎麼費心在防守。

仍然，如果湖人最終不能夠舉行奪冠的大遊行，原因不在於太老，而是球隊內各
球員相處的時間太短。

http://tinyurl.com/acbvu8d


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※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc)
◆ From: 180.176.8.233
噓 bkl79       :
推 kerogunpla  :仍然，如果胡仁可以湖人最終不能夠舉行奪冠的大遊行
推 heavensun   :是板凳拉低年齡   湖人先發平均年齡高
→ Atwo        :你問我 我擲杯喔
→ heavensun   :火箭相處時間更短  卻很快打出成績
推 abidog      :哪能比  湖人只操老頭阿
→ abidog      :而且老頭也不傳球  更操
推 kk30180     :開季不是誇口要打到40歲嗎
噓 arrfu       :Z尻
推 xpu         :推翻譯
推 wxes9050605 :有翻譯有推
噓 bahamutuh   :湖人的問題不是在太老是有個老狗
※ 編輯: qweewqq         來自: 180.176.8.233        (01/04 23:41)
※ 編輯: qweewqq         來自: 180.176.8.233        (01/04 23:41)
推 terry255054 :有翻譯有推
→ motoman     :年紀大有分又老又廢跟老來俏
推 kenny781558 :認真推
推 deathache   :監視器防守 隊友沒LBJ這樣的活動力當然又老又慢
推 gaudiron    :大家都是大牌明星,誰都不服誰才是最大問題吧
→ magamanzero :湖人症頭跟上季尼克一模一樣.只想政治正確是不會贏的
噓 fanif       :Z尻還這麼多推喔
噓 chris80634  :喔喔 怕被水桶開始發外電洗白了嗎?
噓 Gwendaline  :
噓 tasiki2002  :2尻
噓 Gwendaline  :很明顯是怕水桶啦 等到真沒被桶又會變回老樣囉
噓 SuWeiLin    :可以不要自己新增類別嗎? 依照版規,很難嗎?
經查版上有155篇外電，連外電/外絮稱謂也要計較，那我也無話可說囉
※ 編輯: qweewqq         來自: 180.176.8.233        (01/05 00:40)
噓 zed9104     :簽到
噓 SuWeiLin    :喔? 誰像你一樣四個小時不到就洗了三篇?
噓 SuWeiLin    :[公告] 發文請勿自創類別
噓 arrfu       :2尻
噓 yaobj       :ZKOW
※ 編輯: qweewqq         來自: 180.176.8.233        (01/05 01:42)
噓 xbagayalox  :改好快
推 kenny781558 :好多人因人廢言 = =
→ kurt28      :他早該被水桶了好嗎...