Western Conference preview ， 描述： 西區季後賽前報

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Western Conference preview

西區季後賽前報

來源：http://0rz.tw/ca3XU

By Aaron J. Lopez, Rocky Mountain News
Friday, April 18, 2008

1. Los Angeles Lakers

Coach: Phil Jackson (playoff record 179-77).

Team MVP: Kobe Bryant. Six months ago, few people expected Bryant to be
with the Lakers in April, let alone leading them to a division title.

指標球員：Kobe Bryant。六個月前，很少人預測Bryant會留在湖人到四月，更別說能贏

得西區第一了。

Unsung hero: Derek Fisher. Though not a prototypical pass-first point
guard, Fisher can knock down open shots and is a rock at the free-throw line
in late-game situations.

無名英雄：Derek Fisher。雖然不是傳統傳球第一的控衛，Fisher空檔把握性很高，在比

賽緊張的時候罰球也很穩。

Eye-popping stat of the season: 12-5 - Record for the Lakers in the second
of back-to-back games. Of the 12 victories, seven came on the road.

值得注意的數據：背靠背比賽的第二場12勝5敗，12場勝利中有七場是客場。

Title talk: For the first time since Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal shared
the Staples Center spotlight, the Lakers are legitimate title contenders.
Then again, so is everybody else in the West.

有關總冠軍：自從Bryant與Shaquille O'Neal分手後，湖人第一次成為總冠軍有力的競

爭者，但西區每一隊都是。

2. New Orleans Hornets

Coach: Byron Scott (playoff record 25-15)
無名英雄：Tyson Chandler。Paul佔據所有頭條，David West得到多數的出手，卻是

Chandler在鞏固籃板球。

Eye-popping stat of the season: 84 - Consecutive games with at least one
steal for Paul. He is the first player since John Stockton in 1991-92 to lead
the NBA in steals and assists in the same season.

值得注意的數據：每場至少一抄截連續84場比賽，Paul是第二位單季同時拿下助攻抄截榜

首的球員，第一位是1991-92球季的John Stockton。

Title talk: The Hornets are a nice feel-good story for New Orleans, but
they lack the playoff experience necessary to survive the West.

有關總冠軍：球隊雖好，但缺乏季後賽經驗。

3. San Antonio Spurs

Coach: Gregg Popovich (playoff record 92-51).

Team MVP: Manu Ginobili. A starter in sixth-man's clothing, Ginobili is a
nightmare to defend because of his ability to penetrate and get to the
free-throw line or spot up and hit three-pointers.

指標球員：Manu Ginobili。先發級身手的第六人，Ginobili是對手防守球員的夢魘，擁

有切入要犯規以及三分能力。

Unsung hero: Bruce Bowen. Underrated three-point shooter (41.9 percent)
and a defensive pest whose hands-on tactics are legendary.

無名英雄：Bruce Bowen。被低估的三分射手（命中率百分之41.9），有著傳奇等級的防

守能力。

Eye-popping stat of the season: 72.8 - Free-throw percentage for Tim
Duncan, up 9.1 percent from last season and 4.4 percent better than his
career average.

值得注意的數據：Tim Duncan的罰球命中率從上季的63.7提升到本季的72.8，也比生涯平

均高百分之4.4。

Title talk: As always, the Spurs methodically will win playoff games and
advance to the conference finals in pursuit of a fifth championship in 10
years.

有關總冠軍：如同以往，馬刺總是有辦法進入季後賽並闖進西區總決賽，今年尋求十年內

的第五座總冠軍。

4. Utah Jazz

Coach: Jerry Sloan (playoff record 87-88).

Team MVP: Deron Williams. Unlike Brian Griese following John Elway,
Williams has replaced a legend with a game that John Stockton fans can
appreciate.

指標球員：Deron Williams。不像Brian Griese想要追隨John Elway那樣，Williams已經

打出值得傳奇球星John Stockton的球迷會欣賞的身價。

Unsung hero: Ronnie Brewer. Possibly the most anonymous starting two-guard
in the league, Brewer leads the NBA in that marquee statistic of
steals-to-turnovers ratio.

無名英雄：Ronnie Brewer。可能是聯盟中最默默無聞的先發得分後衛，Brewer在抄截失

誤比上獨步全聯盟。

Eye-popping stat of the season: 38-12 - Utah's record after acquiring
shooting guard Kyle Korver on Dec. 29.

值得注意的數據：在去年12月29日得到Kyle Korver後38勝12敗。

Title talk: Despite winning the Northwest Division, the Jazz will not have
home-court advantage in the first round - a major factor considering its 37-4
home record.

有關總冠軍：就算身為西北區頭種，爵士隊在第一輪還是沒有主場優勢，在考慮到他們37

勝4敗的主場戰績後，這可能是個關鍵因素。

5. Houston Rockets

Coach: Rick Adelman (playoff record 70-68).

Team MVP: Tracy McGrady. Found a nice balance between leading the team and
not trying to do too much after center Yao Ming was lost for the season with
a foot injury.

指標球員：Tracy McGrady。在中鋒姚明因腳傷整季報銷後，在帶領球隊及嘗試不要包山

包海之間找到了不錯的平衡。

Unsung hero: Shane Battier. From taking a charge to making a big shot to
defending the opponent's top player, Battier is capable of doing it all.

無名英雄：Shane Battier。作進攻犯規，投進關鍵球，防守對方最好的球員，Battier讓

你三個願望一次滿足。

Eye-popping stat of the season: 22 - Consecutive wins, including 10
without Yao, from Jan. 29 to March 16. It was the second-longest streak in
NBA history.

值得注意的數據：22連勝，其中10場沒有姚明，從一月29連到三月16。是NBA歷史上第二

長的連勝紀錄。

Title talk: Recent injuries to Battier and Rafer Alston have taken some of
the luster off the Rockets' shine and McGrady could fail to get out of the
first round yet again.

有關總冠軍：最近Battier與Rafer Alston相繼掛點，對火箭很傷。McGrady可能再次停在

第一輪。

6. Phoenix Suns

Coach: Mike D'Antoni (playoff record 25-21).

Team MVP: Amare Stoudemire. Arrival of Shaquille O'Neal didn't cramp his
style; Stoudemire averaged better than 29 points after moving back to his
natural power forward spot.

指標球員：Amare Stoudemire。Shaq到來解放了他身為大前鋒的能力，回到大前鋒後，平

均得分大於29。

Unsung hero: Leandro Barbosa. A dangerous sixth man who can shoot the
three or blow by defenders on a one-man fast break.

無名英雄：Leandro Barbosa。一個能投能快攻極度危險的第六人。

Eye-popping stat of the season: 23 - Consecutive winning months for the
Suns, dating to April 2004 when they went 3-4.

值得注意的數據：自2004年四月3勝4敗後，連續23個月勝多於敗。

Title talk: After trying to sprint their way to a championship in the
previous three seasons, the Suns are better equipped to play a half-court
game with O'Neal manning the middle.

有關總冠軍：在連續三季追逐總冠軍失利後，擁有O'Neal的太陽今年裝備更齊全。

7. Dallas Mavericks

Coach: Avery Johnson (playoff record 22-20).

Team MVP: Dirk Nowitzki. Reigning league MVP needed only 10 seasons to
became franchise's career scoring leader. Bigger test will be atoning for
playoff collapse of a year ago.

指標球員：Dirk Nowitzki。最大的挑戰是如何為去年季後賽的失利彌補。

Unsung hero: Jason Terry. With Jason Kidd handling the point, Terry has
enjoyed more freedom on the perimeter; he averaged 21.8 points in the
season's final nine games.

無名英雄：Jason Terry。有Jason Kidd控場，Terry更加能享受他的遠距投籃。例行賽最

後九場平均21.8分。

Eye-popping stat of the season: 18 - Wire-to-wire victories for the
Mavericks, tops in the NBA.

值得注意的數據：全場都領先的比賽連18勝，NBA第一。（謝謝指正）

Title talk: The Mavericks were 34-7 at home compared with 17-24 on the
road. The contrast is too great for a team that might not have home-court
advantage in any playoff round.

有關總冠軍：小牛在家34勝7敗，客場17勝24敗，對於不論在哪一輪都很可能沒有主場優勢

的小牛來說，這個差距太大了。

8. Denver Nuggets

Coach: George Karl (playoff record 62-79).

Team MVP: Allen Iverson. Despite playing with a broken finger for much of
the second half of the season, Iverson put up big numbers with little
complaint - or regard for his own well-being.

指標球員：Allen Iverson。就算在後半季的大多數時間手指都有傷，Iverson還是盡最大

的努力而不是抱怨。

Unsung hero: Eduardo Najera. Added the three-point shot (53-of-146) to an
all-around game based on rebounding, defense and hustle.

無名英雄：Eduardo Najera。在籃板防守跟苦工之外，加上了三分（投146中53）。

Eye-popping stat of the season: 15 - Victories by the Nuggets in games
they trailed by at least 10 points. Not exactly conventional, but a sign of
resilience.

值得注意的數據：在落後至少10分的比賽中獲得15勝，不是習慣而是韌性。

Title talk: The Nuggets like to talk about winning it all, but they first
must prove they can extend a first-round series beyond five games.

有關總冠軍：金塊希望能過關，但是他們首先要能把第一輪戰線拉長到五場以上。