Lakers' quest to repeat begins WednesdayFive things to watch for as the defending NBA champions open training camp.
Lakers guard Kobe Bryant celebrates during the team's championship ceremony at the Coliseum on June 17. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times / June 17, 2009)
科比在湖人夺冠游行上
The Lakers have their media day today andopen training camp Wednesday. Their first exhibition game is Oct. 7against Golden State in Anaheim, and the Lakers begin defense of theirNBA title on opening night of the NBA season, Oct. 27, when they playhost to their Staples Center neighbors the Clippers. Althoughoddsmakers have pegged the Lakers as favorites to repeat as champions,it's a long time between now and the NBA Finals in June. Here are fivestory lines to look for as training camp opens:
On an unforgettably frenetic Julyafternoon, forwards Ron Artest and Trevor Ariza swapped spots withinhours, Artest accepting a five-year deal with the Lakers and Arizataking a similar five-year deal with Houston. Will Artest be a modelcitizen and continue playing top-notch defense? Or will the Lakersregret letting the younger Ariza walk? 在一个难忘狂烈的7月下午,阿泰和扎扎瞬息间互换了东家,阿泰接受了湖人提供的一份5年合同,而扎扎也和火箭签订了相似的卖身契.阿泰会成为良好市民并继续他那死寂天下的防守吗?或者湖人会后悔放走更为年轻的阿里扎?
2. Which Bynum will it be? 2.拜纳姆会有怎样的表现?
Center Andrew Bynum was on a roll beforesuffering a torn knee ligament in January. He was never the same aftersitting out 32 games, averaging a measly 6.3 points and 3.7 rebounds inthe playoffs. It's easy to remember that he averaged 26.2 points, 14rebounds and 3.2 blocked shots in his last five games before gettinghurt, but it's also easy to recall that knee injuries haveshort-circuited his last two seasons. 在1月份受膝伤前拜纳姆只能用疯狂来形容,可谓是神挡杀神佛挡砍佛.可惜的是自从缺席了32场比赛后他就再没能找回以前的状态,季后赛的数据更是可怜的6.3分,3.7篮板.我们很容易记起他受伤前5场比赛场均26.2分,14篮板,3.2封盖的野兽成绩,但同样记忆深刻的是他过去两个赛季都被膝伤困扰的悲剧.
3. Happy to have him back 3.很高兴他回来了
It took a while, but Lamar Odomeventually signed a four-year, $33-million contract to stay with theLakers. With him, they're favored to win it all again. Without him,they might have had trouble getting back to the Finals with awhisper-thin bench. 虽然过程有些波澜,但喇嘛最后还是和湖人签订了4年3300W的合同.有了他,湖人无疑加大了卫冕的砝码.而相反如果失去他,他们脆弱的替补席会让他们的卫冕之路充满荆棘.
4. When will Father Time beckon? 4.逝去的时间
Kobe Bryant comes to camp at age 31 forhis 14th NBA season. Fourteenth! He was practically flawless in winningthe Finals MVP award last June, but his playing time has decreased eachof the last four seasons. Just the same, here's guessing he puts upanother strong season, coming close to the 26.8 points, 5.2 reboundsand 4.9 assists he averaged in 2008-09. 科比将以31岁开始今年的训练营,这是他的第14个NBA赛季,第14个!过去的6月他以几乎完美的表现拿到了总决赛MVP,但他过去4个赛季的场均上场时间已经在逐年减少.猜测一下他的新赛季吧,也许依然会有强势的表现,就像2008-09做的那样,拿下个26.8分,5.2篮板,4.9助攻的成绩单.
5. Repeat quite a feat 卫冕
The NBA hasn't had a repeat championsince the Lakers did it in 2002. San Antonio, Portland and Denver willchase them in the West. Boston or Cleveland could await them in the NBAFinals. Let's just fast-forward to June. 在2002年的湖人卫冕成功后还没有一支球队连庄过.马刺,开拓者,丹佛会在西部向湖人发起挑战.而凯尔特人或是骑士则会在总决赛对湖人虎视眈眈.让我们快进到明年的6月吧.
Projected starters 预计首发阵容
* F -- Ron Artest. After admiring the Lakers from afar, he finally gets his chance to play with them. F—阿泰.一直向湖人抛媚眼的阿泰终于可以加入到紫金大家庭了.
* F -- Pau Gasol. Went through anotherlong summer -- a deep playoff run with the Lakers, a large timeinvestment with the Spanish national team -- but Gasol has alreadydemonstrated he can handle such a schedule. F—枷锁.又经历了一个繁忙的假期---跟随湖人一个惨烈的季后赛,跟随西班牙国家队突破了欧锦赛---但枷锁已经表示他应付得了如此紧凑的工作安排....
* C -- Andrew Bynum. Entering his fifthNBA season and the first year of a lucrative contract extension thatwill pay him $12.5 million this season. C—庵主.进入他的第五个NBA赛季,也是他新合同的第一年,新赛季他将拿到1250W的工资.
* G -- Kobe Bryant. Ended a seven-year itch by winning his fourth championship. G—科比.夺得第四个总冠军后结束了七年之痒.
* G -- Derek Fisher. Now 35, the clutch playoff shooter is in the final year of his contract. G—费舍尔.已经35岁高龄了,新赛季将是合同的最后一年.
Projected bench contributors 预计板凳匪徒
* Lamar Odom: New wife, new contract but same old role -- coming off the bench and providing a boost if Bynum falters. 喇嘛:新老婆,新合同,老角色—在庵主萎靡时给球队提供帮助.
* Shannon Brown: Showed some zing afterbeing acquired from Charlotte in February, but can he produce at thesame level over an entire season? 布朗:2月从山猫转来后展示出了一定的攻击力,但是他能整个赛季都保持同样的水平吗?
* Sasha Vujacic: Will try to forget a season in purgatory that was punctuated by going scoreless in the NBA Finals. 莎莎:能试着忘了炼狱般的赛季,夺得鸭蛋的总决赛吗?
* Luke Walton: Might not see as much timewith the arrival of Artest, who has averaged 36.9 minutes a game overthe last seven seasons. 沃顿:随着阿泰的到来他的上场或许减少很多,要知道过去7个赛季他的场均时间是36.9分钟!
* Jordan Farmar: Entering the final year of his contract, perhaps his last with the Lakers. 法玛尔:进入和同年,也许是他在湖人的最后一年.
* The rest: Adam Morrison -- had a greatrun in summer league (20.8 points in four games), but how will he doagainst the big boys? DJ Mbenga -- fan favorite is back again. JoshPowell -- Like Mbenga, won't be called upon unless the frontcourt ishit by injuries. 其他替补:莫里森--夏季联赛有很好的表现(4场比赛场均20.8分),但当他面对NBA的高手们呢? DJ刚果叔叔--球迷最爱看到他回来. 鲍威尔--想DJ一样,除非主力受伤否则上场机会寥寥无几.
Key dates 关键战役
* Dec. 25, vs. Cleveland: A biggie, for obvious reasons. 12.25,VS骑士:很明显的原因.
* Jan. 12, at San Antonio: First game against new-look Spurs. 1.12,VS马刺:和新马刺的第一次交手.
* Jan. 31, at Boston: Always intriguing. Always. 1.31,VS凯子:永远的话题,永远的焦点.
* Feb. 6, at Portland: Will the Lakers ever win up there? 2.6,VS开拓者:湖人还是不能在哪里取胜吗?
Endgame 最后
Anything less than a championship is a failure. Period. 不夺冠就意味着失败.
Quick takes
The Lakers areexpected to carry only 13 players, their lightest roster in years. . .. Training camp was supposed to be held in Honolulu but will instead beat the team's El Segundo facility, saving the franchise about $500,000. 湖人将会带着13名球员开赛,这是他们这几年最少的一次.....训练营将会在El Segundo举行而不是前期拟定的Honolulu(喝那露露^_^),这将给湖人省下50W美刀.