Roundtable: New sheriffs in the wild West?
圆桌论坛：狂野西部的新治安官？
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs2008/news/story?page=Roundtable-West-080508
Chris Graythen/Getty Images
With Chris Paul's Hornets eliminating the Mavs and blitzing the Spurs, the West's elite is a-changin'.
随着保罗领衔的黄蜂淘汰小牛和痛击马刺，西部的强队版图正在改变。
1. FACT or FICTION: The 2008 playoffs mark the demise of the Western Conference triumvirate of San Antonio, Dallas and Phoenix.
1、事实还是幻想：2008年的季后赛标志着西部联盟马刺、小牛和太阳三巨头正式让位
Henry Abbott, TrueHoop: FACT.
Henry Abbott, TrueHoop：事实。
To win the West, you have long needed some kind of scheme to beat Tim Duncan. (The Suns traded superstar Shawn Marion for Shaquille O'Neal to come up with their Duncan plan.) Duncan -- who has been under the weather, and may yet return with a vengeance -- remains a player you have to be able to handle, which is why San Antonio might be the exception to this rule.
要想在西部称霸，你就必须有某些旨在击败邓肯的计划（太阳交易走超级巨星马里昂，换来奥尼尔，就是太阳击败邓肯的计划）。邓肯——最近状态不佳，但他也许会突然找回状态——仍然是一名你必须要去对付的球员，这也是马刺会游离于这条规则以外的原因。
But Dallas and San Antonio are now learning that Tim Duncan isn't the only player in the conference requiring a special roster. You must also now have some kind of Chris Paul plan, and that's where we see that all three of these teams are lacking some young studs.
但是小牛和马刺现在意识到，邓肯并不是西部唯一需要特别照顾的球员。现在必须也要有某种对付保罗的计划。同时，我们也看到这三支球队目前都缺少年轻球员。
Add in the hand-check rules that make it tough to impede the progress of the super-quick youngsters, and now more than ever it seems like the Spurs, Mavericks and Suns must be thinking about all the athletes they could have had on their roster, like Rajon Rondo (Suns), Devin Harris (Mavericks) and Stephen Jackson (Spurs).
再加上现在注意手部动作的规则有利于超级新星的成长。现在看起来马刺、小牛和太阳都必须认真考虑一下他们本来可以纳入球队阵容里的球员，像太阳的朗多、小牛的哈里斯和马刺的杰克逊。
J.A. Adande, ESPN.com: FACT.
J.A. Adande, ESPN.com: 事实。
As a group, this three-team ruling party is over. Dallas and Phoenix's first-round exits this year showed that. Each had five rotation players in their 30s. And even if there is a bounce-back by the Mavericks or Suns, that wouldn't be these teams, these mini-eras of Avery Johnson and Mike D'Antoni.
作为一个整体，这三支球队的管理层完了。小牛和太阳队在今年季后赛第1轮出局已经证明了这一点。每支球队都有5名球员年龄在30岁以上。即便小牛和太阳可以卷土重来，他们也不会是现在约翰逊和德安东尼的时代了。
(As I lamented in February, the Suns as we knew them died when they traded Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks for Shaquille O'Neal. They scored 100 points twice in five playoff games. Last year they hit the century mark eight times in 11 games).
（正如我在今年2月所说的，当太阳用马里昂和班克斯交易来奥尼尔后，我们都知道这支球队完了。他们在5场季后赛中有2场得分到100分，去年他们在11场比赛有8场得分过100。）
As for the Spurs, the Duncan-Parker-Ginobili core will be together, but surrounding pieces such as Robert Horry and Michael Finley are free agents, so the Spurs could have a slightly different look next year as well. Playoff runs are usually marked by big moments from supporting players (John Paxson with the Bulls, Tyronn Lue with the Lakers, Horry with the Rockets, Lakers and Spurs) so the Spurs won't be quite the same either. But they'll still have the most familiar players to them, and will be a factor as long as their top three players are around.
至于马刺，邓肯—帕克—吉诺比利的组合还会在一起，但是球队其他人像霍里和芬利都成为自由球员，所以马刺的阵容明年也可能会有一些不同。季后赛经常依靠角色球员的超级发挥（像公牛队的帕克松、湖人的卢、火箭队/湖人队/马刺队的球员霍里），所以马刺也不会也今年一样。但是他们仍然会有一些我们最熟悉的球员，只要他们的三名主力还在，他们仍然会成为西部的重要力量。
Never a good thing to count out Duncan and Parker's Spurs.
忽视邓肯和帕克的马刺永远都不是好事。
Ric Bucher, ESPN The Mag: FICTION.
Ric Bucher, ESPN The Mag: 幻想。
Last I checked, the Spurs hadn't been eliminated from this year's playoffs.
第一，马刺还没有在今年的季后赛中出局。
Secondly, with Tiago Splitter and Ian Mahinmi ready to compete for spots on next year's roster and San Antonio's established ability to reload, suggesting that the defending champs are done as a contender is dangerous, if not outright foolish.
第二，因为斯普利特和马新米已经准备好在马刺明年的球员大名单中抢得一席之地，再考虑到马刺重新调整的能力，所有这些都表明，如果说卫冕冠军已经不再是有力竞争者的言论非常愚蠢，那么这样的言论是非常危险的。
Can't speak for Phoenix, but Dallas' ownership is too devoted to winning not to take the necessary measures to stay in contention.
不说太阳，但是小牛的老板太热衷于赢球，因此他们会采取适当的措施使球队依然保持竞争力。
John Hollinger, ESPN.com: FACT.
John Hollinger, ESPN.com: 事实。
Will anyone have these as the top three teams in the West coming into next season? No. Folks might have one of them ... and that's about it. All three face serious problems maintaining their status among the league's elite.
有没有人还会将这三支球队列入下赛季的三支超级强队呢？没有。也许其中之一还会是……也就是这样了。所有这三支球队都面临严重的问题，那就是保持他们作为西部联盟强队的地位。
For starters, both Dallas and Phoenix have put themselves in tight spots cap-wise and don't have much in the way of young assets to include in trades.
从先发阵容来看，小牛和太阳已经使自己陷入工资帽相对紧张的境地，而且他们也没有太多的年轻球员可以用来交易。
Second, age is nipping at the heels of each and dragging them back down toward .500. San Antonio is in the best shape of the three in terms of cap, but probably the worst in terms of age -- every rotation player except Tony Parker is 30 or older, and five of them (Barry, Thomas, Horry, Bowen and Finley) have forgotten what 30 even feels like.
第二，年龄问题是这三支球队的软肋，并将他们向50%的胜率往回拉。马刺是这三支球队中工资水平最好的，但是在年龄方面是最差的——除了帕克，他们的轮换球员都在30岁甚至更大，而且5名球员（巴里、霍利、托马斯、鲍文和芬利）都甚至忘记了30岁时的感觉。
Chris Sheridan, ESPN.com: FICTION.
Chris Sheridan, ESPN.com: 事实。
That's mostly because we have to include San Antonio in the mix.
主要是因为我们不得不将马刺加进来。
The Spurs will find ways to fix what ails them in the offseason (getting another scorer and an athletic big man are two priorities), and their young core of Parker and Ginobili isn't going anywhere, nor is Duncan.
马刺将在赛季后找到办法来解决他们的问题（他们的首要任务是找到另一个得分手和一名有运动能力的大个子），他们的年轻核心帕克和吉诺比利不会离队，邓肯也一样。
With the Suns and Mavs, it's too soon to say the window of opportunity has closed completely, but it's starting to look that way if neither gets it done next season. Both teams didn't help themselves with their big, shortsighted trades this season, and the absence of first-round picks in the years ahead (remember, Phoenix gave away two of 'em, unprotected, to Seattle to get rid of Kurt Thomas' contract) will hamper their rebuilding.
至于太阳和小牛，说他们的机会之窗已经彻底关掉有些太早，但是如果下赛季他们都不能解决问题的话，我们还真得这样说他们。两支球队的重磅但是缺乏远见的交易并没有帮到他们，而缺少第1轮选秀权将会影响他们的重建（记住，太阳将两个不受保护的选秀权送到超音速，来放弃托马斯的合同）。
Marc Stein, ESPN.com: FICTION.
Marc Stein, ESPN.com: 幻想。
At least one-third of this triumvirate isn't going anywhere, so I'm seeing more fiction than fact. The Spurs have already proven that they're the masters of reloading and they've positioned themselves to virtually start over around Duncan, Ginobili and Parker after this season. So I refuse to believe that the only West contender with unimpeachable championship cred is going away, even if the Spurs can't salvage this New Orleans series.
至少三巨头中的一位不会消失，所以我认为这更多的是幻想而不是事实。马刺已经证明了他们是调整的大师，他们本赛季后还是会建立以邓肯、帕克和吉诺比利为核心的阵容。所以，即便马刺在这个系列赛中输给黄蜂，我不认为马刺这一无懈可击的总冠军有力竞争者会退出舞台。
I don't expect Dallas or Phoenix to be gone too long, either. The Mavs still have an in-his-prime Dirk Nowitzki to rebuild around if Rick Carlisle can't coax a resurgence from Jason Kidd (and his expiring contract) next season and the Suns will be relaunching around Amare Stoudemire when all their thirtysomethings move on. Talk about his warts if you wish, but Amare is also a 30-and-10 marvel and The Guy Who Beat Microfracture.
我也不期待小牛或太阳会离开太远。即便卡里斯勒不能使基德状态（和他即将到期的合同）复苏，小牛仍然会以他们正处在生涯巅峰的主力诺维茨基为核心重建。太阳下赛季会围绕斯塔德迈尔重建球队，他们所有30岁的球员也会继续努力。如果你愿意，我们可以说说他的不足，但是斯塔德迈尔也是一个场均30分和10个篮板的天才，也是一名击败骨折伤病的家伙。
Don't see either team headed for the lottery ledge just yet.
再说，我们还没有看到这两支球队的抽奖选秀机会呢！
2. FACT or FICTION: The 2008 playoffs mark the ascendance of a new West triumvirate of Los Angeles, New Orleans and Utah.
2、事实还是幻想：2008年季后赛标志着西部新的三巨头湖人、黄蜂和爵士正式登场？
Abbott: FACT.
Abbott：事实。
Utah made the Western Conference finals last year, so it's not like the Jazz just arrived. But certainly, the Lakers and the Hornets are, for the moment, the absolute class of the conference.
爵士去年打进西部决赛，所以并不能说爵士刚刚崛起。但是当然，湖人和黄蜂目前是西部联盟的绝对强队。
I suspect the West will long be a horse race, with eight or nine colts having at least a shot at the roses. These three, however, used to be the little-known long shots fighting to get off the rail somewhere back in the pack. Now they're out there in front where everybody can see them, and very much enjoying throwing up a little mud in the faces of the Suns, Spurs and Mavericks.
我认为西部还将会像一次赛马比赛，8或9匹马都试着去争夺冠军。但是这三支球队过去都因为小有名气的赌博式较量来进入季后赛。现在他们就在大家都能看到的前面，享受着在太阳、马刺和小牛的脸上扬起灰尘。
AP Photo/Matt Sayles
West contenders will have to deal with Kobe for years to come.
西部竞争者未来几年还将不得不继续对付科比。
Adande: FACT.
Adande：事实。
These three teams now have the ideal blend: youth and winning experience. Success breeds success in the NBA, and these teams all possess the knowledge that they can win playoff series -- along with the capability of sustaining it.
这三支球队是完美的结合体：年轻而且有获胜经验。NBA的成功将会继续带来成功，这几支球队掌握的知识可以让他们赢得季后赛系列赛——他们也有能力保持这一点。
Kobe Bryant is the oldest of the Laker group that will be the core for the next few years, and he turns 30 this summer. New Orleans' Chris Paul just turned 23, and the Hornets' oldest key player, Peja Stojakovic, is 31. In Peja's case, shooters can maintain that skill long into their careers -- think Reggie Miller and Dell Curry.
科比是湖人队中资历最老的球员，在未来几年他还将是球队的核心。而今年夏天他将迈入30岁的而立之年。新奥尔良黄蜂的保罗刚刚过了23岁生日，而黄蜂最老的关键球员斯托亚科维奇才31岁。拿斯托亚科维奇来说，射手们可以在职业生涯中长期保持自己的投篮技巧——想想米勒和库里吧！
And did you know that Utah's Carlo Boozer is only 26? You think he's older, because like all Duke players you've seen him for so long. Pick-and-roll partner Deron Williams is 22.
你知道爵士队的布泽尔只有26岁吗？你也许认为他看来更老些，这是因为所有跟杜克大学的所有球员一样，你看他打比赛太场时间了。他的挡拆伙伴威廉姆斯则只有22岁。
Bucher: FICTION.
Bucher：幻想。
The pieces are there for all three to be contenders, but so are the flaws that could leave them just good enough to make the playoffs and not much more: Peja's tricky back, the Jazz's shaky defense, the shelf life of Derek Fisher and Andrew Bynum's knee.
这三支球队成为西部有力竞争者的要素已经具备，但是还有一些不足可能使他们无法在季后赛走得很远：斯托亚科维奇的背部、爵士孱弱的防守、湖人队费舍尔的职业生命和拜纳姆的膝盖。
Besides, with the massive free-agent class of 2010, the landscape of the NBA could see a major overhaul.
此外，随着2010年大量自由球员的涌现，NBA的版图将会发生大的变化。
Hollinger: FACT.
Hollinger：事实。
These were the three best teams in the West this year, and all three teams have every reason to believe they'll be better next year.
这些球队是今年西部最好的三支球队，这三支球队也有理由让人们相信他们明年会更好。
In the Lakers' case, they could be unbelievably good. Between getting Andrew Bynum back, having another year of Kobe and Pau in their primes, and surrounding them with all the other quality young talent (Farmar, Ariza, Turiaf, et al), the sky's the limit. If everything breaks right, next year's Lakers could be one of the best teams ever.
拿湖人来说，他们可能强大得让人难以置信。在拜纳姆归来，明年还是科比和保罗的当打之年，而他们周围还有很多表现优秀的年轻角色球员（法玛尔、阿里扎、图里亚夫，等等），天空才是他们的极限。如果每件事都进展顺利的话，明年湖人队将变成联盟最好的球队。
New Orleans has a great young nucleus with Paul, West and Chandler. The Hornets just need to keep them healthy and find some quality role players, especially in the frontcourt, and they'll stay near the top.
黄蜂队有一个非常年轻的核心——保罗、韦斯特和钱德勒。黄蜂只需要他们保持健康，再找到几名优秀的角色球员，特别是在他们的前场，他们将继续保持在西部前列。
Utah is kind of between L.A. and New Orleans. The Jazz have young stars in Williams and Boozer and more depth than the Hornets, but not quite the ridiculous upside that the Lakers possess.
爵士的情况则有些介于湖人和黄蜂中间。爵士有年轻的球星威廉姆斯和布泽尔，他们的板凳深度也要比黄蜂好，但是他们却没有湖人队拥有的那种优势。
Sheridan: FACT.
Sheridan：事实。
However, I don't believe this triumvirate represents the only three teams that'll be atop the West for the next one or two seasons. I include the Spurs in that group, too, regardless of whether they lose to the Hornets.
但是，我不认为这三支球队是唯一能在未来一到两个赛季可以屹立在西部之巅的球队。我想不管马刺是否会在今年输给黄蜂，他们还可以加入这一行列。
All three of the teams mentioned -- the Lakers, Jazz and Hornets -- are built to last contract- and cap-wise (unless Kobe does another 180 on us and wants to leave again next summer when he can opt out) -- so they're not going away. But I see the West remaining very strong 1 through 8 or 9 for the next couple of years, so nothing will come easy to any of them.
上面提到的三支球队——湖人、爵士和黄蜂——都是建立在最后合同和不超工资帽的基础上（除非科比在明年夏天可以选择跳出合同时，离开球队）——所以他们机会很大。但是我认为西部未来几年1到8或9支球队都会很强，所以对这些球队来说没有什么会非常简单。
Stein: FICTION.
Stein：幻想。
The future for all three teams -- L.A. especially, of course -- is obviously gotta-wear-shades bright. But there's so much heat in this conference now that you can't restrict it to a three-team elite any more. Why box yourself in?
这三支球队的未来——特别是湖人队——很明显将会非常光艳耀人，亮到就像要人必须戴墨镜。但是这个联盟中存在很多力量，因此你不能仅仅局限于这三支球队。为什么要让你自己困在这样的境地呢？
Can't dispute that the Lakers are inching back to their best, New Orleans has more pieces around Chris Paul than anyone imagined and Utah has an awesome core twosome in Boozer and D-Will. But every coach I've thrown this at seems to think that the next several seasons are going to be as insanely competitive out West as this irregular season was. I suspect that injuries and matchups will matter more than ever before in forthcoming postseasons.
不能否认湖人正在找回自己的最佳状态，黄蜂在保罗周围也有很多超乎想象的球员，爵士队布泽尔和威廉姆斯的双人组合也令人敬畏。但是每个教练似乎都认为下个赛季西部的局面还会像今年这样竞争异常激烈。我认为伤病和对位会在季后赛开始前起到更大的作用。
3. Which team (or teams) has the best chance to join the West elite?
3、哪支/些球队最有可能加入西部强队行列？
Abbott: Golden State presumably will be adding a piece soon, which could combine with the maturation of Monta Ellis and Brandan Wright to make the Warriors as scary as ever. Denver is always a threat to figure it out. And at some point within the next three years, the reign of Greg Oden and the Blazers will begin.
Abbott：金州勇士有可能会再增加一名强援，再加上埃利斯和怀特逐步走向成熟，勇士将会引起其他球队的恐慌。掘金一直都是西部球队的威胁。从某种意义上说，在未来三年内，奥登和开拓者统治的局面将会开始。
Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images
Brandon Roy's Blazers might have the brightest future in the West.
布兰顿·罗伊率领的开拓者在西部也许将有最好的未来。
Adande: The Houston Rockets and the Portland Trail Blazers have the best chances to reach the top of the Western Conference in the coming years. Portland adds Greg Oden to a young group that had a taste of success this season, and Tracy McGrady has to get past the first round at some point, right? He should be able to do it with Yao Ming next year. But with both of their injury problems, the Rockets' window won't last long.
Adande：火箭队和开拓者在未来几年有机会登上西部之巅。开拓者本赛季已经尝到一些成功的味道，奥登的加入将会让他们更有机会。从某种意义上说，麦迪已经突破第1轮了，不是吗？明年姚明回来，他应该可以做到这一点的。但是由于他们两人的伤病，火箭队的机会之窗不会持续太长。
Bucher: Portland is the popular choice, but the fact is that a healthy Houston, coached by Rick Adelman, had more than a few teams nervous coming into this season.
Bucher：开拓者是一个非常流行的选择，但是事实上一个由阿德尔曼执教的健康的火箭队在本赛季让不少球队担忧不已。
The beauty of the NBA right now is that there are a host of teams that have championship-winning potential. Every offseason, much like this one, could come down to avoiding bad matchups and exploiting good ones.
NBA现在的魅力是很多球队都有夺取总冠军的潜力。每个赛季后，跟现在一样，都会避免不好的对手而找寻好的对手。
Hollinger: The team with the best chance to join the West's elite is Portland. When you add Greg Oden and possibly Rudy Fernandez to a club that won 41 games and already had more young talent than any other team in the league, it should add up to at least a 50-win team. Of course, 50 wins might put them in the lottery out West these days, but the point is that the Blazers are obviously a team on the rise and represent the best threat to challenge the L.A.-Utah-Nawlins trio in the next couple of years.
Hollinger：最有机会踏入西部强队行列的球队是开拓者。当你将奥登以及很有可能的费尔南德斯也加入这支获得
