[外電] Where do Pistons go now? No easy answers

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Where do Pistons go now? No easy answers
活塞的下一步？沒有明確的答案。
Insider
Ford
By Chad Ford
ESPN Insider
Archive

One NBA title. A Game 7 in the Finals. 64 wins this season. Four players in the
2006 All-Star Game.
一座總冠軍。一次冠軍戰第七場。例行賽64勝。四人入選全明星賽。
The Detroit Pistons' run the last three seasons has been amazing.
過去三個球季底特律活塞有驚喜的表現。
Unfortunately, Pistons fans, it's over.
不幸地，活塞迷們，結束了。
The Pistons had their backs against the wall again on Friday night and they did
what they don't usually do -- they came up short. The team couldn't make a shot
and couldn't stop Miami.
週五晚上活塞又一次在無退路的處境下出賽，而一反往常地，功虧一匱。這支隊伍不能做出
反擊，無法阻止熱火。
Have we witnessed the end of an era? Is this the '04 Lakers all over again?
我們見證了一個時代的句點嗎？就像04年的湖人隊？
Pistons president Joe Dumars doesn't have long to figure out what changes, if
any, need to be made to his team.
活塞的老闆Joe Dumars並沒有太多時間思考該對這支球隊作什麼改變。
For starters, Ben Wallace hits free agency July 1.
先發隊員中，班華勒斯在七月一日成為自由球員。
Then Chauncey Billups wants a big contract extension this fall.
然後瓊西畢勒普斯在秋季要求一份大的延長合約。
So what's the blueprint for the future?
所以未來的計畫是？
The Pistons were the best basketball team in the NBA in the regular season. So
Dumars could look at this year's 64 wins and say, "There's no reason to panic."
Under this premise, they could play the starters a little less next year, get
more comfortable with head coach Flip Saunders and be just fine.
活塞在季賽戰績是全聯盟最佳。所以Dumars可以看著這64勝說，「沒有理由要驚慌。」在這
個前提下，明年他們可以讓先發上場時間少一點，讓球員跟教練Flip Saunders都稍作喘息
。
Or, Dumars could make a few minor tweaks to the team to address the glaring
weaknesses. Adding a quick guard to break down defenses and get to the basket
would open up the offense. Finding a little low-post scoring would lessen
Detroit's dependence on the jump shot.
或者Dumars可以為明顯的弱點作一些調整。增加一名敏捷的後衛穿越防線到籃下會開啟得分
攻勢。尋求低位單打能力會減低底特律對中距離跳投的依賴程度。
Or, Dumars could blow up the Pistons and start from scratch. He could scrap the
coach, sell off the players to the highest builder and rebuild the Pistons.
又或是Dumars將活塞拆夥重新組織。將教練開除，把球員賣給開高價的球隊，重新建立活塞
王朝。
No matter what plan he chooses, he faces serious roadblocks. The team is capped
out, limiting what it can do in free agency. Also, the Pistons don't have a
first-round draft pick this season. And a number of young Eastern Conference
teams, such as the Cavs, who almost knocked out the Pistons this year, appear to
be on the rise.
無論是什麼打算，他都會面對不輕鬆的挑戰。球隊薪資已達上限，沒有多餘的錢簽自由球員
。本季也沒有第一輪選秀權。而且一些年輕的東區隊伍例如幾乎在今年將他們淘汰的騎士隊
，也正在成長。
Here are the three biggest issues Dumars will have to sort out this summer:
以下是Dumars在這個暑假必須釐清的三大議題：
Issue 1: What to do about Ben Wallace
第一：如何處理大班的問題
Wallace is an unrestricted free agent. For months it's seemed to be a given that
Big Ben would re-up with the Pistons and finish his career in Detroit.
大班成為不受限的自由球員。幾個月來，他會和活塞續約然後在那裡打到退休，似乎被視為
理所當然。
Wallace is the heart and soul of the Pistons. He's the guy who started the team'
s turnaround. He's been underpaid for most of the run. Dumars is a loyal guy. It
's not clear that the Pistons' Bad Boy mojo even exists without Big Ben in the
middle. So Wallace has to come back, right?
大班是活塞的中心靈魂人物。是他開始了這個球隊的反擊。相較於他的貢獻他所受到的薪資
待遇一直偏低。Dumars是忠誠的人。如果沒有了大班，還不清楚活塞的壞男孩魔法能否發揮
。所以他必須留在隊上，不是嗎？
A number of factors have muddied the waters in the past few months.
一些因素在過去幾個月內使情況複雜了。
First, after deciding to go without an agent, which seemed to be a signal he
would re-sign with Detroit, Wallace did an about-face a month ago and hired
superagent Arn Tellem to negotiate his deal.
首先，在決定不採用經紀人似乎暗示會與活塞續約後，大班在一個月前有了180度轉變，雇
用名經紀人Arn Tellem以協商合約。
The conventional wisdom this whole season was the Dumars would negotiate a
reasonable contract with Wallace that rewarded him for his past performance but
didn't break the Pistons back financially. Now, no one's sure.
整季以來舊有想法是，Dumars會在活塞負擔得起的條件下，與大班簽一份合理契約犒賞他過
去的表現。現在，沒有人能確定。
With teams like the Bulls, Raptors and Hawks needing centers and having max cap
room to play with this summer, Wallace may garner an offer well above what the
Pistons want to pay.
隨著今年暑假，需要中鋒的公牛，暴龍及老鷹等，他們都有薪資空間可以運用，大班可以從
那裡取得比活塞所能提供的更好得多。
Second, it's pretty clear that Wallace isn't a huge fan of Saunders.
其次，很明顯大班不欣賞桑德斯。
Wallace is a defensive stopper and Saunders is an offensive coach. Wallace felt
loved when defense-first coaches Larry Brown and Rick Carlisle ran the show. Now
? He's been openly critical about Saunders' approach. Is their relationship
strained enough that he'll look elsewhere?
大班是以防守見長，而桑德斯是強調進攻的教練。大班在防守第一的教練如布朗與Carlisle
帶領下才覺得受重視。現在他曾經公開批評桑德斯的方法。是否他們之間的關係惡化到他會
找別的球隊？
Three, Wallace's game seems to be slipping. He's not the dominant rebounder and
shot-blocker he once was.
第三，大班的表現似乎在下滑。他不再是籃板王及火鍋王。
Yes, he won the Defensive Player of the Year award this season. But Wallace
doesn't seem quite as explosive as he was at his peak. Any slippage will only
increase with age, and Wallace turns 32 in September. A big-money, five-year
deal might mean that Wallace would be grossly overpaid at the end of the con-
tract as he approached age 37.
是的，他本季贏得年度防守球員。但是似乎不像他巔峰期那麼有爆發力。隨著年齡增長體力
退步只會加速，而他今年九月就要32歲。一份五年的肥約意謂到他合約結束37歲那年，他會
被付給太多的薪水。
The Pistons would probably like to offer Wallace about three years, $24-30 mil-
lion. But it's quite possible another suitor will offer something like five
years, $60-70 million.
活塞可能會傾向給他3年兩千四百到三千萬的契約。但是其他爭取球隊非常有可能提出例如5
年六千到七千萬。
All of those factors seem to argue against re-signing Wallace. But what's the
backup plan if Dumars lets him go? The team's front line is thin. Wallace's
understudy, Darko Milicic, was traded in February. Their options to replace Big
Ben are slim to none. And while a sign-and-trade is possible in theory, several
teams with cap room could sign Wallace without agreeing to give up any assets in
trade.
這些因素都不利於與大班續約。但是如果Dumars放他走後有什麼備用計畫？球隊的先發陣容
單薄。大班過去的替補Darko Milicic在二月時被交易。他們所能代替大班的選擇幾乎沒有
。而雖然簽約後交易理論上可行，很多球隊卻有薪資談判空間可以簽下大班而不必放出任何
球員。
Issue 2: Whether to keep coach Flip Saunders
第二：是否要保留教練菲利浦桑德斯
He seemed like a brilliant choice when the Pistons hired him. Saunders is the
anti-Larry Brown. He's personable, a player's coach and the guy who was supposed
to jump start the team's offense.
在活塞剛雇用他時，他似乎是個正確的選擇。他和布朗截然不同。平易近人，教導球隊如何
迅速啟動進攻得分。
For most of the regular season, Saunders lived up to advance billing, and then
some. The team performed at a very high level, making a run at 70 wins and show-
ing more freedom and confidence than ever, and Saunders finished a strong third
in the Coach of the Year voting.
整個正規賽季桑德斯大約都達到了他的任務，只有一點美中不足。球隊打出高水準，朝向70
勝目標推進，比以往有更多自由及信心，也使他在年度教練票選上獲得第三名。
However, he made some critical mistakes that might have cost the Pistons the
title.
然而，他犯的一些重要錯誤可能是導致活塞無法爭奪冠軍的原因。
First, he refused to develop his bench. Not only did he ride his top six --
Chauncey Billups, Richard Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince, Rasheed Wallace, Ben
Wallace and Antonio McDyess -- into the ground, but he never developed the depth
necessary to provide them relief.
首先，他不練板凳球員。他不只將主力球員六人--槍西，Rip，小王子，溪蛙，大班和袋鼠-
-用到體力耗盡，還從不訓練可以減輕先發負擔的替補。
Talented players like Milicic, Carlos Arroyo and Carlos Delfino sat around doing
little or nothing. Eventually Arroyo and Milicic were shipped out, with the
rationale being that the Pistons might as well get rid of them if the coach
wasn't going to play them. Delfino will ask for a trade when the season ends.
有天份的球員像小米粒，Arroyo和Delfino坐在場邊看戲。最後Arroyo和米粒被送走因為既
然教練不用他們就讓他們走。Delfino在本季結束後會要求被交易。
In the short term, the approach of riding the starters and the sixth man so hard
brought success. The Pistons got what they wanted -- the best record in the NBA
and home-court advantage throughout the playoffs.
短期內重用主力先發及第六人帶來成效。活塞得到想要的--全聯盟最佳戰績以及季後賽有絕
對主場優勢。
Now, Saunders' approach looks disastrous. The only logical replacement for Big
Ben is playing in Orlando. The other young reserves have gotten no real experi-
ence.
現在看來那是災難性的影響。唯一能代替大班的現在於奧蘭多打球。其他年輕替補沒有實戰
經驗。
This was supposed to be part of the reason Larry Brown got the ax -- he didn't
develop the young guys. Saunders didn't either.
這被認為是布朗離開的部分原因--他沒有培養年輕新人。桑德斯也沒有。
Also, Saunders was exposed in the playoffs a bit. He has shown that he's a
talented coach, but the Pistons' players saw first-hand that he's no Larry Brown
.
季後賽也明顯看清楚了桑德斯。他證實自己是有能力的教練，但是活塞隊員一開始就知道他
不是布朗爺。
Now, the players can't throw all the blame Saunders' way. He can't make jump
shots for them. But he seemed unable to motivate his team or make the right
adjustments in the playoffs.
現在球員不能完全怪罪桑德斯。他不能為他們跳投。但是在季後賽他沒有辦法激勵他的球隊
，沒有辦法適時作出調整。
Coaches have been the Achilles' heel for Dumars. He's always had a deft touch
with the players, but he's never been able to get coaches to buy into his larger
vision.
教練一直是Dumars的痛處。他總是能容易理解球員，但是從未能讓教練們認同他更長遠的眼
光。
Carlisle refused to play Tayshaun Prince and Mehmet Okur in their rookie seasons
. Brown was exceedingly stubborn about Okur, Milicic and Delfino. Saunders pro-
mised to get with the program, but balked when the Pistons got off to a great
start.
Carlisle拒絕運用小王子和Okur在他們新人球季。布朗爺非常嚴苛對待Okur,米粒及Delfino
。桑德斯起初答應要訓練他們，但是當活塞戰績一開始就很好時就忘了這件事。
Meanwhile, Dumars has been reluctant to interfere and insist that the coach do
what's best for the long-term health of the franchise.
同時Dumars不願意干涉，強調教練會在長遠考量下對這支球隊作最好的措施。
The result? The Pistons have developed just one good young player in the past
three years, leaving the bench bare and putting their future in serious doubt.
結果呢？在過去三年活塞只練出一個年輕新秀，板凳屈指可數而且球隊未來被放上問號。
Dumars' ability to evaluate talent isn't the problem -- look at how well Okur,
Arroyo and Milicic have played since leaving Detroit. Rather, Dumars' problem is
his inability to get his coach to develop that young talent.
Dumars看人的能力沒有問題--看看離開後的Okur,Arroyo,Milicic打得如何就知道。他的問
題是，他 無法說服教練去訓練這些年輕有潛力的球員。
All of that argues for Dumars to fire Saunders and put in someone who would work
with him, not against him. Someone like Pistons VP John Hammond, currently
Dumars' right-hand man, might be a great choice.
種種都支持Dumars開除桑德斯，另選一名能與他合作而不是意見相左的人。像副手John
Hammond就是很不錯的選擇。
The problem for Dumars is that he can't keep firing coaches. He's had three
great ones in the past four seasons. At some point, firing them isn't the answer
.
但Dumars的難題還在他不能一直開除教練。過去四個球季已經有過三名偉大教練。某方面來
看，開除他們不是解決之道。
But if Saunders stays, Dumars is going to have to address some serious chemistry
issues that arose in the locker room and insist that Saunders begins developing
the young players.
但是如果桑德斯留下，Dumars就必須處理好內部彼此間相處的問題，而且堅持要培養年輕球
員。
Issue 3: How to create a deeper roster
第三：如何打造有深度的球員名單
If the Pistons are going to return with their top six players, Dumars has to
find a way to add some depth to address the team's weaknesses.
如果活塞將要以最佳六人重返，Dumars必須找到辦法增加可用的板凳以填補缺點。
Job 1 is finding an athletic guard in the backcourt who can put the ball on the
floor, create his own shot and get to the basket. The Pistons were exposed as a
jump-shooting team in the playoffs. If the shots weren't falling, they had no
one who could get them an easy basket.
首要是活躍後衛，能從後場帶球到前場自己射籃或是切入籃下。季後賽裡活塞暴露出是一支
依賴跳投的球隊。如果跳投不進，就沒有人能輕鬆得分。
Someone like the Hornets' Speedy Claxton would be a good choice. But given how
weak the free agent market is, Claxton might have better options, either because
he can demand a higher price than the Pistons can pay or because he knows he can
play more with another team.
像黃蜂隊的Speedy Claxton是好的選擇。但是在自由市場普遍缺好手下，他會有更好的其他
路可走例如因為其他球隊有更高薪資或是在其他球隊有更多上場機會。
Second, the Pistons have to find a way to get some low-post scoring.
其次活塞要想辦法在禁區得分。
Rookies Jason Maxiell and Amir Johnson could be answers down the road, but they'
re not ready. might may have to rely on international scout Tony Ronzone to find
him an international veteran like Maccabi's Maceo Baston or Nikola Vujcic to
fill the void for the next few years.
新人Jason Maxiell和Amir Johnson可能是答案，但是他們還沒準備好。可能要藉助國際球
探Tony Ronzone找來國際上經驗豐富的球員像Maccabi的Maceo Baston或Nikola Vujcic，來
補強往後幾年的空缺。
The long-term answer might arrive next summer when the Pistons cash in a first-
round pick from Orlando. Given the way the Magic played toward the end of the
season, it's no longer a given that it will be a lottery pick. However, next
year's draft looks to be one of the strongest in many years, so the Pistons
should be able to score an excellent player there. Dumars and company will need
to turn the pick into gold to justify giving up on Milicic this winter.
答案可能是明年暑假，當活塞從奧蘭多換來第一輪籤。有鑒於魔術隊在正規賽季末尾的表現
，不一定會是最優秀的籤。然而，明年的選秀有望是幾年來最好的，所以活塞應該可以在那
時獲得一名傑出球員。Dumars和球團需要讓那次選秀有所價值，才能合理化今年將小米粒換
走。
This is a dangerous time for the Pistons, with a potentially overwhelming set of
issues. It's not a spot to be envied.
這是一個對活塞危險的時期，有一連串問題可能將其壓垮。這不是值得被稱羨的事。
If they were to re-sign Wallace and Billups, they would be practically locked
into this roster for the next three or four years. Would they be able to compete
against the younger, more athletic teams that are thriving under the new rule
changes? Would they continue to slip a little each year, eventually becoming an
old, overpaid lottery team?
如果他們要與大班和槍西續約，這兩人在接下來三到四年都會在球員名單中。他們有辦法在
新規則生態中與年輕又有活力的球隊競爭嗎？會不會持續退步，最後變成只領薪水沒有表現
的老球隊？
If they were to let Wallace go, how would they replace him? Would Dumars then
decide to move Hamilton or Rasheed Wallace, who is 31, to reshuffle the deck and
get younger? Hamilton would have trade value, but he wouldn't likely bring back
a star in trade. Likewise, 'Sheed's big contract and volatile personality make
it unlikely the Pistons would be able to move him for serious cap space or a top
young prospect.
如果要讓大班走，要怎麼代替他？Dumars會不會送走Hamilton和31歲的溪蛙的，然後找來年
輕的？Hamilton有交易價值，但是可能不會換來明星級的。同樣的，溪蛙的肥約與不穩定個
性使活塞不容易用他換到薪資空間或頂級年輕球員。
And other avenues to rebuilding won't be easy to navigate, given the Pistons'
current salary cap status. Not impossible, but not easy either.
其他重組的路不會很容易進行，因為薪資空間。不是不可能，但是也不容易。
The good news is that Dumars is at the helm. I've written for the last three
years that he's the best executive in the league. The speed and skill with which
he built the Pistons' championship team were remarkable.
好消息是Dumars是高層可以做決定。我過去三年間已經寫過他是聯盟裡最好的執行階層。他
打造活塞的冠軍隊那種速度以及技巧是很令人矚目的。
Now Dumars faces his next big challenge -- how to get the Pistons back on track.
現在Dumars面對的是下個挑戰--如何讓活塞重新上軌道。

--
※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc) 
◆ From: 219.84.154.239
推 pennymarcus:推一個
推 acrossing:好文！愛寫球評的朋友可以多吸收
推 acrossing:雙華勒斯和DICE都是處女座的 此星座者碎言很多 愛辯論
→ acrossing:且神經質 優點是任勞任怨 不愛炫耀自己
推 spacerat:樓上是指我嗎?處女座.....
推 jojokakyoin:喔不...Delfino別走啊....!!
→ spacerat:活塞確實需要一個會切入破壞要犯規的鋒衛.....
→ spacerat:說不定這是布朗爺曾經希望交易卡特來的原因
推 acrossing:低位單打手和擅切入者的確是當務之急，原本槍西很會切，
→ acrossing:但幾場看下來讓人多少質疑。西哇的低位基本上也類似中距
→ acrossing:離，他的翻身出手幾乎每球都高難度。手感一冷把他信心都
→ acrossing:毀了。
推 spacerat:不能用槍西 槍西沒有速度 會被對方較高的搖擺人盯住
→ spacerat:至於低位  溪蛙和袋鼠其實足夠 就看心態
推 srtlct:推....期待柳暗花明的一天
推 studylance:推 這篇講的真好 分析有條理
→ spacerat:看DELFINO有沒辦法把握這個角色　一直覺得他沒表現出來
推 jojokakyoin:Johnson算不算切入要犯規的?XD
推 Alec192:推一個~
推 spacerat:不過切入要犯規還有一個重點  罰球要有七成五以上
推 HOPEFIRE:這篇寫的很好, 推文也很妙XD
推 monmo:推~! 好文... 不過杜老爺有沒有可能自己拉下來當教練呀~XD
推 arazi:不練板凳的後果就是季後賽沒人可用 希望活塞明年有所改變
推 acrossing:（沒事）
推 wallaceboy:我也期待 杜老爺下來教練
推 acrossing:我看熱火會拿冠軍 最好大歐趁機退休
推 acrossing:spacerat處女座是好星座，只是常被醜化滴ㄏㄏ
→ liveagain:不會啊 對處女座印象一直很好 Dice果真有像
→ liveagain:大班也頗像 Sheed大概上昇月亮是別的XD
推 acrossing:SPREWELL和REGGIE MILLER也是處女座
推 RAYBO:不期待 杜老是絕佳的行政人員 下來當教練"太浪費"了
推 monmo:像油頭那樣兩頭權力都握呢~!?
推 twister527:球員方面應該有所變動了~打這多年 缺點都出來了...
→ twister527:球員最大極限是怎樣也都知道了~要冠軍~該換還是要換...
→ twister527:先發5人ㄧ定要有人走 球隊才會有新氣象~
推 twister527:如同去年ㄧ樣~個人認為RIP可換了~他運球切入能力不佳..
→ twister527:RIP雖然跳投很準~但他不像米勒 大手在眼前球ㄧ樣會進~똠
→ twister527:大蛙要看他心態 他要想留 價錢就不會刻意開高了~
→ twister527:希蛙的話 要找個壓的住他的教練才行~
推 twister527:老桑還是走比較好~從灰狼到現在~應該能力極限了...