The Minnesota Timberwolves hired Kurt Rambis astheir coach hoping he could build a winning tradition similar to theone he enjoyed with the Los Angeles Lakers. 森林狼聘请了兰比斯作为球队的主教练以期望于他能建立一支像湖人那样有冠军传统的强队。
Rambis has struggled to get Minnesota turned around, and his old team looks as good as ever. 可当兰比斯依旧在森林狼挣扎时,他曾经的球队却依然耸立在联盟之巅。
In his first game coaching against the Lakers,Rambis tries to somehow help the lowly Timberwolves stop Los Angelesfrom winning 11 straight games for the first time in more than fiveyears Friday night at Staples Center. 在他执教森林狼后第一次遭遇湖人,兰比斯就需要阻止湖人的11连胜,这可是湖人5年以来最长的一波连胜。
Rambis, a Californian who spent nine seasonswith the Lakers during his 14-year playing career, won four titles withthe franchise as a rugged forward - not to mention a fan favorite - andtwo more as an assistant. He was on Phil Jackson's coaching staff lastseason during the Lakers' run to a title and will receive thatchampionship ring prior to the start of this game. 兰比斯,加利福尼亚人,在他14年的职业生涯里有9年效力于湖人,作为强力小前锋跟随湖人夺得了4枚总冠军戒指,不过他并不是球迷们的最爱,当然,在湖人担任助理教练期间他也拿到了2枚戒指。他上赛季进入菲尔的教练班子并带领湖人拿下总冠军,明天的比赛他将在比赛开始时接受总冠军戒指。
Long considered a possible heir apparent toJackson in Los Angeles (17-3), Rambis filled in on several occasionswhile the coach was out with medical issues. He also served as thecoach in the lockout-shortened 1998-99 season, going 24-13. 在湖人曾作为菲尔的接班人,当菲尔身体不适缺阵时兰比斯时常顶上教练的位置。在1998-99赛季,他甚至还在短期内担任过湖人的主教练,取得了24-13的战绩。
"I left an incredible job in Los Angeles,"Rambis said upon being named Timberwolves coach. "That team has achance to win several NBA championships, but when an opportunity likethis comes along, to build a team like I envision and playing a styleof ball I would like to teach, to work with quality individuals wealready have, it could not be passed up." 现已是森林狼主教练的兰比斯说:“我离开了湖人,离开了那份伟大的工作,湖人有机会再拿下几个冠军的,但当你被期望建立一支球队,并建立自己希望的打法时,这种机会是令人难以拒绝的。”
Rambis has a strong reputation of developingyoung players, and Minnesota decided to hire him in hopes oftransforming a struggling franchise into a contender. This hasn't beeneasy. 兰比斯在培养年轻球员方面很有建树,森林狼聘请他也是希望他能把年轻的森林狼变成总冠军有力的竞争者。当然,这并不容易。
With a core of Jonny Flynn, Al Jefferson andKevin Love - all 24 years old or younger - the Timberwolves (3-19) ownthe second-worst record in the NBA. They're at the bottom of theWestern Conference while Los Angeles is at the top, entering thismatchup looking to win 11 in a row for the first time since March13-April 2, 2004. 他们的核心球员是一票24岁的年轻人——福耶,杰弗森,乐福。目前森林狼的战绩只有3-19,全联盟倒数第二差(3-19)。他们在西部垫底而湖人则恰好相反。此役湖人希望取得自2004年3月13号到4月2号以来的第一次11连胜。
While Los Angeles is riding its second 10-gamewinning streak in three years, Minnesota endured a 15-game slideearlier this season and is coming off a particularly tough loss. 当湖人在争取3年来的第二次10次以上连胜时,森林狼则遭遇了近15场比赛不胜的尴尬,尤其他们还刚经历了一场遗憾的失利。
Minnesota, which hasn't been to the playoffssince losing to the Lakers in the 2004 conference finals, blew a16-point lead in the second half Wednesday and lost 97-96 to NewOrleans. 森林狼自2004年西部决赛输给湖人后就没打进过季后赛,在周三他们带着16分的领先优势进入下半场可最终还是96-97憾负黄蜂。
With the Hornets down one with 3.9 seconds togo, Chris Paul threw an inbounds pass to David West. As Flynn turnedhis head, Paul raced past the Wolves rookie to the basket and took abackdoor feed from West, hitting the winning layup with 1.4 secondsleft. 最后时刻黄蜂还有3.9秒的进攻时间,保罗将边线球发给韦斯特。趁着福耶转头的瞬间他绕过这个新秀跑到篮下,接到韦斯特开后门的传球完成绝杀,此时时间只剩下1.4秒了。
"All these situations that we go through ingames are all learning experiences for (Flynn)," Rambis said. "I'vebeen involved with so many young players that go through this, and alot of your lessons are painful. As long as a player is receptive andas long as a player continues to work hard, which he has, he's going tolearn from these mistakes. They hurt and sting, but you learn fromthem." 兰比斯说:“这些情况都是我们学习的宝贵财富,尤其对我们的年轻球员,我已经很多次的告诉我们的年轻球员要接受这些,虽然它们很痛苦。随着他们长时间的经历这些状况和他们逐渐的成长,他们就会接受这些教训。这会很痛苦,但他们会逐渐成熟的。”
While Minnesota folded in the fourth quarterWednesday, the Lakers held Utah to six points on 2-for-18 shooting inthe final period en route to a 101-77 victory. 周三森林狼在第四节被绝杀,而湖人却在第四节让爵士18投只有2中,最终101-77大胜对手。
"I guess there's a little bit of credit toourselves, but they were really out of whack," said Pau Gasol, who had19 points and 12 rebounds. "They didn't get the shots they got in thefirst three quarters. We got the momentum and just started puttingplays together." 全场拿下19分12篮板的枷锁说:“我想我们是打的不错,不过他们的失常才是主要原因。他们前三节都投中的球在第四节却投不进了。我们打出了整体篮球并把握住了机会。”
Most of the victories during this run havebeen easy, with the Lakers winning by an average of 16.2 points. Theonly game that was decided by less than 10 points was last Friday's108-107 win over Miami on Kobe Bryant's self-acknowledged lucky3-pointer that banked in at the buzzer. 10连胜中湖人大多数的胜利都十分轻松,他们场均胜出对手16.2分。唯一一场分差在10分以内的比赛是上周五108-107战胜热火的比赛。科比的三分绝杀使他们继续站在连胜的跑道上。
Bryant scored 27 points Wednesday and is averaging 30.7 in his last nine games against Minnesota. 周三科比得到了27分,在同森林狼的前9场比赛,他场均可以砍下30.7分。
The Lakers have reeled off eight consecutivevictories over the Timberwolves since a 117-107 double-overtime lossMarch 6, 2007. They've also won the last six meetings at Staples Center. 自2007年3月6号经过双加时107-117输给森林狼以来,湖人保持着对他们的8连胜。在斯台普斯,湖人也保持着对森林狼的6连胜。