I’ve had a lot of people ask me about the Lakers and the future. In this
town a lot of people want a quick answer, a fast and easy solution to a very
difficult question. For Los Angeles, the NBA season is generally viewed as
championship or bust. So when the team doesn’t appear to have a
championship-caliber roster, it’s hard to compromise and realize that lesser
goals are necessary to accept.
很多人都问我关于湖人及他的未来。许多人都想要一个快速、简单的答案，但问题却是
如此困难。对于湖人来说，除了冠军，不然就是失败的一季。所以只要没在角逐冠军的
名单中，其余的都是很难说服洛城这个城市。
So here’s where we go from here.
就从这里开始谈起吧。
In the movie Rounders, poker renaissance man Matt Damon talks about keeping
yourself out of trouble at the table by folding a hand you know doesn’t have
a chance. “Throw away your cards the moment you know they can’t win,” the
narrator (Damon) tells the viewer. Live to play another hand. Fight another
day. Pick your cliche. This is the line I’ve referenced to the Laker fans
that have tried to figure out just what to make of this current team and this
upcoming season.
在Rounders这部电影中，扑克神手Matt Damon说起如何在满手烂牌情况下摆脱困境。他
说：“丢了他！在你知道你不会赢的当下。”然后着眼于下一局，遵循你自己的步调。
这句话就是我要送给那些试图理解制服组对于未来的所做所为的湖迷。
The Lakers do not have a championship roster. I don’t think that’s an
outlandish thing to say. I believe if you asked Mitch Kupchak, Jimmy Buss, or
any of the other Laker brass they would tell you the same thing. Building a
championship-level team is a long, difficult process – the Lakers have just
done a damn good job of making it look easy for the past 60 years. The point
is, the Lakers don’t have a team that can win it all this season. And, in a
town that demands titles, that means the season will be considered a
disappointment. So, if you’re the Lakers, you fold the hand and start
working towards the next one. The one that you know will win the pot. In Los
Angeles, it’s championship or bust, so the second you know that a title isn’
t in the works for this season, begin building for the next championship.
湖人队不是个冠军队伍。这不是什么惊悚的话。我相信问了库胖、Jimmy或者随便抓支制
服组，他们都会这样回答你。建立一支冠军队伍是漫漫长路，但是湖人在过去60年把他
变得跟挖鼻孔一样简单。重点是，这季的湖人却无法走老路。但在这个篮球豪门，这意谓
着令人失望的一季，如果你是湖人，你就会盘算著如何打造下一个赢得欧布莱恩杯的阵容
。对于湖人来说不是冠军就是失败，所以在了解赢不了的当下不是卖给其他老板，而是开
始打造下一个冠军吧。
That brings me to my main point here.
In 2014, the credo for the Lakers and the main point of emphasis should be
one thing; develop Julius Randle (and Ryan Kelly/Jordan Clarkson).
2014年，湖人的重点就摆在把这三人养起来。Julius Randle (and Ryan Kelly/Jordan
Clarkson) [呃，括号这两人是怎么回事！？]
If there’s one thing we’ve learned from Spurs (and trust me we’ve learned
a lot more than one thing) it’s that home grown, developed talent is a very
useful thing. This hasn’t always been something the Lakers have looked to as
the core of their success, but there’s no doubt that even when the team was
winning championships, they did it with a collection of acquired free agents
as well as home grown guys that they knew fit their system. When the team
went on their run from 2000-02, they had key role players like Devean George,
Derek Fisher and Tyronn Lue. Even though those aren’t names that jump out on
a stat sheet, each contributed at key points throughout those years and
helped the team become champions.
如果我们有从马刺身上学到一件事（但绝对不只一件事可以学），那就是＂农场＂这绝
对不是湖人自古以来的传统，但不可否认的就算是OK连线，也是有绿叶陪衬著。将一群
适合湖人体系但是甚至无法从先发名单脱颖而出的洛城子弟蒐集起来，这些人后来也都
成为了冠军杯不可或缺的一部分。
The point here is that not every player on a championship roster is a
superstar. While having those superstar players is important, there are many
pieces in a title-winning puzzle. While the Lakers wait on the cornerstone
pieces, presumably to be filled later, they can still work towards their next
title by making sure some of the smaller pieces are there when those bigger
assets come along at a later date.
冠军队伍绝对不是一狗票的巨头。当然，有巨头也是很重要的，他们会成为夺冠最重要
的拼图。当湖人在找下一个基石时，假设他很快的就被找到了...湖人依然可以花心思
在未来的绿叶上。
This means, at least in my eyes, taking a long, hard look at three players.
这意谓着我们必须认真看待这三人。
Julius Randle is the obvious choice here. He’s the highest pick the Lakers
have had in 30 years and the young piece with the most potential currently on
the roster. The thought is that he can develop into an All-Star caliber
player over the course of his career, becoming a strong addition for a long
time. However, on a team that is packed with frontcourt players (the addition
of Carlos Boozer only further extenuates the logjam), Randle might have
trouble finding consistent playing time if he struggles. Randle’s playing
time will depend entirely on the team’s goals for the season and whoever the
coach ends up being. If, for instance, the new coach gets the word from
management that he’s going to have a long leash and is free to use this
season to develop talent like Randle for the future, he’ll get more and more
minutes regardless of how he performs. But, if it’s a coach who’s already
fighting for his job, Randle’s leash will likely be shorter than that of the
new boss.
Randle绝对是最显著的目标。他是湖人过去30年所获的最高顺位也是目前最年轻最有潜力
的。这就是湖人的如意算盘，他能进化成一个全明星，能为湖人提供很长一段时间的能量
。但是湖人找了个备胎。这将大大的影响到Randle的时间，如果Randle打得很挣扎。而他
在场上的时间也取决于湖人的态度及最终教练的人选。若是总教练还要花心思顾自己的饭
碗，他也只能随人顾性命了。
I’ll state, purely for the record, that I think Randle will be free to work
through the difficulties of life as a rookie NBAer at his leisure.
我相信他Hold的住的，做为一个rookie。
One of the best things that can happen for the Lakers’ future is another
long, tough season. The team’s first round draft pick belongs to Phoenix
unless they land in the top five of the lottery, something they didn’t even
pull off after last year’s historically disheartening campaign. So,
conceivably, that’s a bit of a longshot. Plus, the team’s roster is without
question more talented than it was a year ago, meaning that even if they
wanted to fall into one of the top five slots in the draft, they might have
some difficulty pulling it off.
最有可能的下一季会依然是坦的节奏。明年的乐透签可以说是送给太阳了除非坦到前五。
这季都这么坦了依然没办法办到前五。别忘了，下一季的阵容天赋可是比上一季好上许多
，还能多坦？
Welcome to basketball purgatory.
卡关了。
Still, going back to my previous point, there’s something beneficial about
being a struggling team without a chance at a title. The benefit would be the
knowledge that there’s nothing to lose other than a few more games. But, in
the grand scheme of things, that’s not that big of a deal if those minutes
spent losing become minutes spent learning and growing.
呃，回头想想，当烂到底的队伍也是有好处的，那就是没什么好输的了XD。但前提是，
有赚到经验值。
Take a look at last season. Specifically at Ryan Kelly.
看看上季的凯利。
As the 48th pick in the draft, Kelly was a mere afterthought. Most fans
figured he was someone the Lakers picked purely because they had to pick
somebody and, hey what the hell why not this guy? In almost any other Laker
season, Kelly would have found himself developing a beautifully charming
long-term relationship with the bench. Eventually, as tends to happen in
these situations, the bench would get very clingy and throw a fit whenever he
left it. By the end of the season it would be far too late for a divorce, let
alone an annulment. To avoid the lame simile, Kelly simply wouldn’t have had
the chance to showcase what he’s able to do.
这个来自第48顺位的凯利只是顺便签的，对于大多数湖迷来说就是这样。但，该死的为何
认为他不行？在大部分湖人的球季，他将会是很称职的开特力球员ＸＤ。在过去湖人的成
功下。板凳都过于依赖且替代性很高。但是现在却来不及改善这个恶习，只好让Kelly负
担更多除了守开特力以外的事情。
For many rookies in the league, especially those taken in the second round,
the opportunities to prove oneself are scarce. Because of this, when the
opportunity does arise, nerves tend to take over a bit and there are growing
pains. They know they don’t have the leniency that a top pick will get to
fight through those growing pains and develop more confidence in their
abilities, ultimately making them better players. This can become a sickening
downward spiral as increased struggles leads to decreased confidence and an
even further decreased amount of time spent on the court.
通常第二轮的新秀都很难有机会证明自己。因为这样，当机会来的时候反而有点战战兢兢
。他们知道他们没有太多容错空间并且在挫折中长大。这变成是一种恶性循环。
Eventually they flame out and move on to a different career.
最后就走火入魔长歪了。
No offense to Ryan Kelly, but that was likely the direction he was heading.
But, due to the team’s struggles last season he was able to stay on the
floor, fight through some of his development issues and regain some
confidence in himself and his abilities on the court. By the end of the
season he was a staple in the rotation and (seemingly) a valuable rotation
player for the future.
没有冒犯凯利的意思，但他现在的处境就是这样。好家在，湖人上季很用力坦，所以
凯利能在场上找信心。最后变成固定轮值的一员。（确定不是因为MDA?）而且还打出
他自己的价值。
And, with a championship out of the question this year, the team should
attempt this same strategy in 2014-15 with Randle, Kelly (again), and another
new addition, Jordan Clarkson.
在夺冠不是湖人该烦恼的事情的时候，应该要继续上一季的坦。
Will all three of those guys still be on the roster the next time the Lakers
hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy? Probably not. But that doesn’t mean there
isn’t anything else to be gained by seeing what they can do and maximizing
their abilities.
这三人会举起下次湖人的欧布莱恩杯吗？不见得。但这不代表现在不需要激发出他们的
潜能。
Let’s consider one possible route for one second. We’ll use Clarkson purely
for the sake of the situation, not because of any basis in reality or even my
own predictions.
再想想Clarkson，签下他仅仅是为了一个字：赌。
In 2014, the team struggles but allows Clarkson to gain confidence and become
a solid rotation player. Due to his growth on the court, he becomes a player
with some value that is seen around the league as a promising, young asset.
He becomes valuable, not only in his on-court abilities, but as a possible
trade asset to bring in a larger, perhaps more superstar-esque piece.
这一季，Clarkson在烂队刷出不错的成绩也成为固定轮值的一员。因为他的成长他可能
变成一颗新星。他的价值也可能建立在交易桌上，为了带来大腿更粗的球员。
The point is that rookies struggle. Why? They’re rookies. That’s what they
do. Kobe Bryant averaged 7.6 points his rookie season. Kevin Garnett averaged
10.4. Anthony Bennett, last year’s No. 1 overall pick, averaged just 4.2.
Bryant and Garnett were both allowed to work through their struggles with
continued playing time and ultimately develop, and at one point in each of
their careers was considered the best player in the league. We’ll wait and
see with Anthony Bennett, who certainly doesn’t look to be a future KG/Kobe,
but that’s not really my argument here. For the Lakers, let the young guns
go out there and learn what it means to be successful at an NBA level. Give
them the reassurance that regardless of their struggles, and there will be
struggles, they will get the chances they need to prove whether or not they
can hack it in the bigs.
但新秀总是会挣扎会有撞墙期，不然他们就不是新秀了。老大场均7.6、KG场均10.4
、去年的状(水)元(货)AB场均4.2(.....)，KB跟KG都因为稳定的上场时间而撑过来了。
接下来看看AB是否能跟两位先辈一样，但这不是重点。重点是我们都该给他们耐心不论
是否打得挣扎。一定会有撞墙期，但是他们也因而得到机会证明自己。
It’s going to be a tough season for the Lakers. Even if everything goes
perfectly according to plan and the team performs at it’s absolute peak, it’
s difficult to see them advancing past the first round of the postseason.
这将会是湖人艰难的一季，就算所有事情都完美的照着剧本走，大概也会是一轮游。
But that shouldn’t be the focal point of things for this team.
但是不是一轮游并不重要。
There are opportunities within each difficult season to help better prepare
yourself for the future. The Lakers do have the opportunity to do that in
2015. It’s just up to them to make sure they do.
每次失败的一季就是一次转机，湖人在2015又得到了一次机会，端看他们愿不愿意坦到
底。
随便抓篇文章翻，翻完才发现好像没啥重点囧，太无聊随意翻翻，翻太烂请见谅ＸＤ。
原文网址：http://0rz.tw/VhMzm