Spurs-Mavericks Preview
The Dallas Mavericks know they will avoid the NBA's best team when they open
the postseason and now they are in good position to avoid the second-best
club as well.
小牛已經確定季後賽第一輪不會遇到聯盟最佳的球隊(勇士)，而現在他們有機會避開戰
績第二好的馬刺。
The Mavericks can secure at least the Western Conference's No. 6 seed when
they host a short-handed San Antonio Spurs club in the regular-season finale
Wednesday night.
小牛有絕佳的機會能夠取得西區至少第6的位置，因為他們本季最後一場將在主場遇上
最近人手短缺的馬刺。
(我們才人手短缺吧...馬刺Diaw、Aldridge有傷應該不會上，可愛跟TP確定不會出賽)
Dallas (42-39) clinched its 15th playoff berth in the last 16 years with
Monday's 101-92 victory at Utah. The Mavericks have won seven of eight after
Deron Williams scored 23 points and Dirk Nowitzki had 22 and 11 boards.
"Well, it's been a lot of work," coach Rick Carlisle said. "It's been an
amazing two weeks. Our guys looked like they were down and out, and we all
dug in. Everyone dug in, especially the players, and we found a way to get
into the playoffs."
在星期一戰勝爵士隊之後，Dallas挺進最近16年的第15次季後賽。這也是小牛最近八戰
的第七場勝利，其中小胖得了23分，Dirk則是22分外帶11籃板。教練Carlisle說:"這不
是輕鬆的工作，兩個禮拜來的驚人表現。我們的球員顯露出疲態，因為我們每一個人都
很認真，特別是球員們，而我們已經找到進季後賽的方法了。"
There's little doubt that Dallas wants to avoid being the seventh seed for a
matchup with San Antonio (66-15) after losing 14 of the previous 16
regular-season meetings, including all three this season.
毫無疑問，小牛會想在季後賽避開馬刺，因為他們在最近的16場的常規賽對戰中輸掉了
14場，包含本季的前三場交手。
"You know, this team wants to be as high of a seed as possible, and that's
what we're going to try to do," Williams told the Mavericks' official
website. "And we'll try to take care of business at home against San Antonio."
Now the only way the Mavericks can finish seventh is with a loss to the Spurs
and an upset victory by Memphis at Golden State later Wednesday. Dallas will
gain the sixth seed with a victory or a loss by the Grizzlies and will be
fifth with a win and a loss by Portland at home to Denver.
小胖跟球隊官網說:"你知道的，我們希望獲得更高的排名，這也是我們一直在做的，我
們會全力以赴明天和馬刺的交戰"。目前，唯一會使小牛落到第7順位的是明天輸給馬刺
而且灰熊打贏勇士。然而小牛獲勝或灰熊落敗，都會使小牛保有第6順位。若小牛獲勝且
拓荒者輸給金塊，則小牛將會以第5順位進入季後賽。
Although the Mavericks have enjoyed little success against one of their Lone
Star state rivals, the task should be easier in this one. The Spurs won
102-98 in overtime over Oklahoma City on Tuesday and figure to rest many of
their stars one night later, with Kawhi Leonard and Tony Parker confirming
they won't be making the trip.
小牛還享受著在打贏同是德州的競爭者(火箭)所取得的優勢，然而明天對上馬刺應該會
比較輕鬆。馬刺今日打到延長賽才以102比98戰勝雷霆，估計陣中的一些球員會在Dallas
的比賽中休息，已經確定Kawhi Leonard和Tony Parker不會跟隨球隊前往客場。
One player who also probably won't be there is LaMarcus Aldridge, who exited
three minutes into the third quarter and didn't return. He doesn't appear to
be injured, with coach Gregg Popovich saying Aldridge left because he needed
to use the restroom.
LaMarcus Aldridge也可能不會上場，在對雷霆之戰的第三節開始三分鐘，他就離開球場
並且沒有再回來。對此馬刺教練說Aldridge離開只是因為他要去廁所。
"He's fine," Popovich said. "He went in to take a leak."
Considering the break lasted most of the second half, Popovich was again
pressed to explain Aldridge's absence.
"Let me say it differently," Popovich said. "He went into the locker room and
used the latrine."
Popovich說:"他沒甚麼問題，他只是去洗手間而已。"由於Aldridge在下半場幾乎沒有再
出現，媒體的詢問讓Popovich再次說明:"讓我換句話說，他是去更衣室和去上廁所。"
Leonard scored 26 and Parker added 20 for the Spurs, who tied an NBA record
by going 40-1 at home after being down by 10 points at halftime.
今日Leonard得了26分而Parker得了20分，幫助球隊從半場10分的落後逆轉獲勝，也讓
馬刺以40勝1敗的主場戰績追平聯盟紀錄。
"Just try to stay in rhythm obviously, because we're not going to play until
Saturday or Sunday," Parker said. "The second half was a lot better."
The Spurs have dropped three straight regular-season finales.
Parker說:"試著保持比賽的節奏，因為一直到星期六或日我們都不會有比賽，今天下半場
狀況有了改善。"馬刺連續三個球季的最後一場都輸了球。