The Top Offseason Task for Every NBA Team Projected to Miss the 2015 Playoffs
原文：http://ble.ac/1Dzbga0
中文图文版：http://www.sportsv.net/articles/12468
原文作者：Bryan Toporek, Featured Columnist
翻译者前言：此分析系列的第二篇翻译对象，也在第一篇发表之后的隔天决定好了，那就
是与第一篇雷霆同属西北组的金块。金块队固然符合我上篇预告中“两年前强盛但现在衰
弱”的条件，但我会选择金块其实也有更深层的原因(容待个人心得后述)。
当然，金块这一段原文的用字也不会太难，蛮适合当做学英文的延伸补充资料
Denver Nuggets: Determine a Direction
金块：明确评估未来的方向
The Denver Nuggets' activity at the trade deadline can only be described as
head-scratching.
金块队在今年季中交易截止日前后的举动，在专家与乡民眼前，都是困惑到想让人抓头
的。
The Nuggets shipped Arron Afflalo and Alonzo Gee to the Portland Trail
Blazers for Thomas Robinson (who they quickly waived), guard Will Barton,
forward Victor Claver and a lottery-protected 2016 first-round draft pick.
他们先是将中生代得分后卫Arron Afflalo与Alonzo Gee两人，送到同属西北组的拓荒
者，换来马上被释出的大前锋Thomas Robinson、几天后也被裁掉的西班牙前锋Victor
Claver、得分后卫Will Barton，以及一枚受到特定条件保护的明年首轮选秀权。
(译注：我在寻找Afflalo的照片时，发现他在场上很少展露喜怒哀乐，不过当他被交易
到拓荒者后的前几场球赛，他却难得地在接受记者访问时露出了微笑，不难看出他终于
如愿转换到更有希望新环境的喜悦)
Shortly after that, they sent JaVale McGee to the Philadelphia 76ers with a
protected first-rounder in what effectively amounted to a salary dump.
同一天的几分钟后，金块为了节省本季的球员薪资总额，还顺道把年薪千万但近年因伤
所困的长人JaVale McGee送往七六人。只是，他们得同时附送七六人一个受条件保护的
首轮选秀签。
Two weeks later, Denver fired head coach Brian Shaw and immediately proceeded
to win six of its next eight games, looking like as entirely different team.
交易截止日两周后，金块开除了带战备受批评的Brian Shaw，球队也以8战6胜的成绩开
出庆祝行情，让人认为球队变得不一样了。
That didn't last long, however, as the Nuggets then dropped eight of their
next 10 games, including a 14-point loss at the hands of the bottom-feeding
76ers.
只可惜，这段蜜月期并不持久。金块在接下来的10场比赛又输了八场，这其中还包括以
14分的差距输给战绩更差的七六人。
Come the offseason, Nuggets general manager Tim Connelly must determine
whether Melvin Hunt is the right long-term fit for the franchise, or if
there's a better head coaching candidate out there.
今年暑假，金块总管Tim Connelly有一个必做任务，那就是：评估目前挂名代理总教练
的Melvin Hunt，是不是适合球队长期发展的正确人选。否则，他们就要另外在市场上
寻找其他评价更好的教练。
First, however, "Denver needs to figure out what kind of team it wants to
be," as Pro Basketball Talk's Kurt Helin wrote.
然而，在NBC体育网站旗下篮球部落格“Pro Basketball Talk”资深记者Kurt Helin的
文章中，他认为金块第一个要解决的事情，其实是“仔细思考想要在下一季成为什么样
的球队”。
Shaw wasn't shy about his desire to run a half-court-centric offense, but the
Nuggets roster under him was better suited to George Karl's run-and-gun style.
Shaw在接任金块总教练时，便不吝于表达想要套用“半场进攻”的欲望，但他带领的球
员，很明显更适合现任国王教练George Karl当时采用的Run & Gun风格。
Not only does Denver need to decide upon a style of play and hire a coach
accordingly, but the franchise must also determine whether to move into a
full-on rebuild.
金块的管理阶层不仅需要在休赛期间决定他们往后的球风，并依此找到适当的教练，甚
至也得明确决定是否要让球队进入“完全重建”模式。
If the Nuggets fail to settle upon a direction this summer, they would likely
be dooming their next head coach from the get-go, much like Shaw.
假如无法在暑假确定明确的方向，无论接下来由谁担任金块的新教练，迟早都会像Brian
Shaw那样，成为下一个牺牲品。
Getting the front office and future coach on the same page is critical if
Denver hopes to eventually retake its place among the Western Conference's
top contenders.
假如金块想要重返西区季后赛强权的地位，使管理组与新教练步调一致，绝对是不可或
缺的关键因子。