[外電] Ailene Voisin: Thomas renewed under new coach

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http://www.sacbee.com/kings/story/2356078.html?storylink=lingospot_related_arti
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Ailene Voisin: Thomas renewed under new coach

KT哥！

Kenny Thomas still can't explain what happened. It's as if he woke up one
morning as a decent rebounder and interior defender, then later that evening
descended into a hellish slumber that lasted the better part of three seasons.

    KT不能告訴你為什麼。早上剛起床的時候，他還很會捉籃板，有些防守表現，晚上的
時候就突然變成呆坐在板凳上的人偶，而這一坐就是坐了三年。

He morphed from insignificant to invisible. He was benched for the final 52
games of the 2007-08 season. He was banished from road trips during the
second half of last season for reasons that remain curious. He felt unwanted
by management and victimized by the three-ring coaching circus featuring Eric
Musselman, Reggie Theus and Kenny Natt. He wanted out, eagerly awaited a
trade, only to hear that his contract was too hefty to move.

    他的地位從小角色一路變到隱形人。07-08 球季，他花了五十二場的比賽靜坐。有些
客場比賽還會跟他說：「你就不用去了。」爹不疼，娘不愛，三個前教練都把他當成裝飾
品。他被搞得有點毛，超想被交易出去，卻只得到「你這個合約太大了」。

Then, finally, everything changed. Paul Westphal arrived and refused to go
retro. Given only two years to transform the Kings into a competitive,
engaging and improving product, he is attempting to accelerate the process,
which means he won't allow himself to become a prisoner of the Kings' past,
nor of the politics of the Kings' past.

    突然教頭降臨，救KT與國王於深淵之中。上頭給了他兩年，要他對國王作出改變，而
KT感謝這個改變，他不用再成為唯一一個前國王的囚徒，不用再為前人的政治錯誤負責。

Westphal is an independent thinker. He didn't forget that Thomas can play.
His approach has been refreshingly and consistently bold in its simplicity:
Players who contribute receive the minutes, with his rotations as fluid as
his lineups are unconventional. Three guards. No center. Three rookies. No
point guard. The experiments are perpetual, and as the Kings slowly
re-establish a home-court advantage at Arco Arena, Thomas, to the surprise of
many, has a stake in the resurgence.

    教頭是會獨立思考的，他沒有忘記KT這隻看似生鏽的劍。他也為國王帶來了大變化，
只要有能力有貢獻就能上場，他搞出了許多創意陣容，三後衛一起上，三個新秀同上場。
這些實驗目前看來是成功的，為我們帶來優秀的主場戰績。KT不過是這堆驚訝中的其中一
個。

His skill set hasn't changed. Thomas could always rebound and defend. An
undersized power forward at 6-foot-7 and 245 pounds, he has excellent hands,
understands how to establish and hold position, and doesn't need the ball to
be effective. His offense consists of devouring leftovers around the basket,
though he occasionally catches teammates with timely outlets or bounce passes.

    KT依然保有他的技巧。他能籃板也會防守，雖然身高不足，但他的手超大，他還會利
用卡位等方式確保籃板，不用給他球他就能表現。他的進攻圍繞在籃框附近，通常是隊友
的助攻或是他自已捉到的進攻籃板。

"I'm the same player I've been the last two years," said Thomas, who is
averaging 4.7 rebounds in 13.2 minutes. "Obviously, he (Westphal) sees
something different than the other coaches. He came to me and told me, 'This
is your role.' He said we were last in defense and rebounding, and the object
was to get us playing harder, getting the most out of us. But we're young,
and that's where I come in."

    「我一直都是同一個人。很明顯地，只有Westphal有戴上國王的眼鏡，這使他找到我
並告訴我『這是你的角色。』他說我們缺乏防守和籃板，這是我們的缺陷。年輕人需要些
經驗的指導，這也是我上場的理由。」平均4.7籃板的KT說。

Thomas' appearance has always been deceiving. He only looks like a Scrooge.
His brooding demeanor and intimidating facial expressions – the glares, the
frowns, the dissatisfied grins – disguise a thoughtful, sensitive individual
who likes to tease. These past two seasons, he admits, there was little to
joke about.

    KT的行為很常被誤解，他只是長得醜而已。他的臭臉總讓人忘了他是個纖細的人。他
說過去這兩季以來，他已經快要不知道什麼是笑容了。

He was down mentally. He had trouble sleeping. He resented the whispers
suggesting he was a negative influence in the locker room. Perplexed, he
sought answers and only found more questions.

    冷冷、清清、悽悽、慘慘、悽悽，半夜睡不著，場邊被人譙，林爸是哪裡做錯了。

"I had never been through anything like that," he said, shaking his head. "It
affected my whole life."

    「我以前從沒想我會變這樣，這影響了我的人生。」他邊說邊搖頭。

These days, he moves with an ease and approachability. Teammates probe him
for insight and routinely consult him about matchups.

    但這些日子以來，他走路都有風，隊友看到他都會叫：「KT哥好。」

"Kenny will say, 'Did you see what that guy is doing to you?' " related
rookie Jon Brockman. "I'll say, 'Yeah, you have to show me that later.' "

    「Kenny 會告訴我：『你有學過對手剛剛那招嗎？』，我就會要他等下教我。」還在
練功的新秀Brockman說。

Said Jason Thompson, who grew up watching Thomas during his early years with
the Philadelphia 76ers: "He'll let me know the strengths and weaknesses of
the guys I'm matched up against. He does a lot of stuff behind the scenes."

    「他會偷偷告訴我對手的長處和弱點，他可是老江湖了。」小時候看KT哥比賽長大的
JT哥說。

In the more public arena, Thomas is expanding his charitable foundation
(KennyThomas.net). He is not getting any younger and, as he reminds, has been
well compensated even during the worst of times.

    在公眾場合，KT大力推展慈善活動。即使在他生命中最糟的時刻，他依然努力去做。

"The sky's the limit for us now, though," he says, with a soft smile. "We've
got a great coach who teaches. This all started with him."

    「我們現在沒有極限！我們有一個好教頭，這一切從他開始。」KT說著說著，笑了。

--

到底是Evans的笑還是KT哥的笑比較＠％＆＊？

不要說，好恐怖！

--

當Spencer Hawes回到陣中，卻發覺KT哥早已坐穩先發

原來先發就在一個「捧」字啊....

--
※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc) 
◆ From: 125.224.139.221
推 felmizan:我覺得三衛或三新秀的陣容超酷的
推 aidsai:我覺得KT算是我看過NBA最悲劇性的人物.....明明能打又被冰
→ aidsai:然後一冰就冰了三年  = =!!!   要是我絕對會超級幹
推 felmizan:而且KT還會指導、指揮新人
→ walilecane:其實真的不喜歡KT只是單純因為那時候他爭先發的舉動
→ walilecane:但是看到他現在一冰冰三年還可以這樣專注得在場上
→ walilecane:真的有種敬佩感油然而生!!
推 shadowomega:KT那時候先發和替補數據差異性可說是天高地遠
→ shadowomega:我記得有一年vs LA,後來靠著KT海吃luke walton(?)結果
→ shadowomega:大逆轉,然後沒過多久就沒看他上過場了囧
推 paradoxpeace:沒錯 那場台灣難的有轉播 KT吃Luke吃的超輕鬆的啦
推 Yocoldagain:不只是能打而已　還是球員的巔峰期
推 sokghiko:真悲情  黃金時期就這樣浪費了  我覺得它比蛇人強
推 icetornado:其實...講個難聽的話 不用上場每年還拿幾百萬美金...
→ icetornado:搞不好KT自己爽的
推 aidsai:坦白說...你是球員你要這樣爽嗎= =A  你能想像Kobe每年拿
→ aidsai:3000萬美金然後坐一整年板凳嗎@@"   那傷兵不就爽翻了  Orz