The Beard: James Harden Untangles His Life And Game
by LEE JENKINS
Tuesday February 28th, 2017
原文出處：https://t.co/GeDNdDSlki
http://i.imgur.com/PoSEX28.jpg
-----------------------------------------------
譯者註：
Sports Illustrated三月號的封面是哈登
裡面有一篇Lee Jenkins撰寫的專題報導
全文非常非常非常地長，這裡只擷取其中兩小段翻譯
上一場對快艇時，美國ESPN的球評和主播好幾次提到
鬍子在專訪裡談如何在場上閱讀防守，就是出自這篇報導
另一部分是丹東尼談鬍子的失誤，
剛好也呼應了鬍子前陣子對自己失誤過多的解釋
--------------------------------------------------
When he deconstructs his pet play, he frames his face with his hands,
as if peering into an imaginary TV. “Clint sets the high screen,
so I know the guy guarding me is gone,” Harden begins. “I’ve got
a big in front of me, one-on-one, and I’ve got my head up trying to
figure out who is going to come open. My first read is Clint for the lob.
My second read, if one of their defenders sucks in, is the corner man
for three. My third read, if no one leaves a shooter, is to go all the way
for the layup. But if somebody rotates over, I’ll swing it, and try to
get the three that way. It’s all decided in a split second, but it’s
never predetermined. It seems fast, but when it’s happening, it’s so
slow in my head.”
在拆解他的拿手招式時，哈登會用手框住自己的臉，
彷彿盯著某個假想的電視螢幕。
「卡片在高位設了掩護，防守我的人被擋住了，
我和面前的大個子一對一。
這時我會在腦海中推演，誰會有空檔？
我的第一選擇是給卡片傳個空接；
如果有防守者內縮，我的第二選擇是傳給底角投三分。
如果射手都沒有空檔，我的第三選擇是長驅直入上籃。
如果有防守者輪轉過來，我會試著晃開空間投三分。
這些選擇從來不是預先設定好的，決定就在一瞬間。
雖然實際上只有一剎那，但在我腦海中，就像慢動作一樣。」
The Rockets play with pace, but they’re not seven seconds or less.
Even when Harden was a boy, he liked to cradle the ball before he
determined his course, infuriating coaches who feared he’d let the
shot clock run dry. But the buzzer rarely sounded, and eventually,
they recognized his gift for gauging time. Ever deliberate,
Harden ponders all sorts of matters as he pauses atop the key,
Spalding in his hands. Where is the help defender?
When was Ariza’s last shot? When was Beverley’s last basket?
How do they feel about that?
火箭的比賽節奏很快，但並非七秒進攻。
當哈登還是小男孩的時候，就常常在決定進攻路線前，抱著球不放，
教練往往擔心他進攻超時而發脾氣。但違例的情況鮮少發生，
到後來教練不得不承認，哈登在拿捏時間上有他的一套。
哈登在弧頂停下來時，總是一面盤球、一面思索著所有的可能：
協防球員在哪裡？Ariza上次投籃是什麼時候？
Beverley上次得分是什麼時候？他們現在心情如何？
“It’s incredible how his mind works,” D’Antoni says. “He’s
very aware of who’s happy, who’s unhappy, and why.” Harden will
never unify a locker room with impassioned oratory. But at point guard,
he can control his teammates’ emotions in a more pragmatic way,
through their touches. One reason Harden leads the NBA in turnovers,
D’Antoni believes, is that he forces passes to players he’s worried
about. Another reason, of course, is that he handles the ball almost
every second. D’Antoni tried to hire Nash, whose turnover totals were
also high, as a rabbi for Harden. But Nash, like so many in D’Antoni’s
orbit, was already committed to Golden State, where he is a player
development consultant.
「哈登的大腦運作很不可思議。」
丹東尼說道：「場上誰高興、誰不高興，
為什麼高興、為什麼不高興，他全都一清二楚。」
哈登從來不是靠著慷慨激昂的演說來帶領球隊，
而是以更務實的方式，在控球這個位置，
透過隊友觸球的次數，對他們的情緒瞭若指掌。
哈登的失誤次數領先全聯盟，丹東尼相信其中一個原因是，
當哈登擔心某個隊友時，就會冒著風險給他傳球。
另一個原因則是，大部分時間，球都在哈登手上。
納許以前的失誤總數也很高，丹東尼本來有意聘請納許來當哈登的導師。
只是納許已經先加入了金州勇士，擔任球員發展顧問，
就像許多曾和丹東尼共事的舊識們一樣。[註]
……（略）
Whether or not the Rockets are real contenders—
“We’re convinced we can do it,” D’Antoni says.
“We might be delusional”—
被問及火箭是否具備爭冠的能力？
「也許會被當成癡人說夢」丹東尼答道：「但我們相信自己辦得到。」
--
註：除了最有名的Kerr和Gentry，
也有其他當年太陽隊的制服組和球員加入勇士。
雖說這是哈登的專題，但內容有四分之一是關於丹東尼這些年的起伏。
看完很希望有朝一日，丹總也能拿下一座屬於自己的總冠軍。Q.Q
--
All Comments