When the Lakers played the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night, they saw a
shot-blocking center who can catch lobs and splash threes. They saw a guard
willing to harass opposing ballhandlers with a knack for creating offense for
himself and others.
They had to be envious of the Grizzlies for having the players off their
bench, for having them under contract on the cheap. And they must be
wondering, at least a little, how they let these players — Jay Huff and
Scotty Pippen Jr. — get away.
湖人在週三晚上對陣曼菲斯灰熊時，他們見到了一名能封蓋投籃、能吃餅並還能投三分的
中鋒。他們還見到了一名擅長騷擾對手控球後衛並能為自己和隊友創造得分機會的後衛。
他們必然羨慕灰熊擁有這些球員，特別是他們以低成本簽下的球員，並且可能會疑惑自己
究竟是怎麼讓這些球員—Jay Huff和Scotty Pippen Jr.從手中溜走的。
“When I was there, I didn’t really have a certainty that I’ll ever play in
the NBA. I didn’t really get any minutes; I think I play like maybe five or
six games and never really got significant minutes,” Pippen said Wednesday
morning. “So being over here has been like a breath of fresh air. I’ve got
an opportunity. I’ve got people that believe in me and trust in me.”
Pippen在週三早上說：“當我還在湖人時，我並不確定自己能否有機會在NBA上場。我幾乎
沒有獲得上場時間，我記得我可能只打了五六場比賽，從未獲得真正重要的出場機會。所
以來到灰熊隊就像一股清新的空氣。我得到了機會，有人相信並信任我。”
“South Bay was great for my development,” he said. “I was able to go down
there, play through my mistakes play with other guys that are playing at this
level. So I definitely enjoyed my time. Credit to my coaches, the staff over
there, I felt it pretty much prepared me for this.”
An ankle injury slowed him during the summer after his first season and the
Lakers used their two-way guard slot on rookie D’Moi Hodge. Pippen stayed
with the South Bay Lakers but never cracked the main roster again.
Pippen 說：“南灣對我的發展幫助很大。我能夠在那裡犯錯並繼續成長，與其他正在這
個層次比賽的球員共同進步。所以我非常享受那段時間。感謝我的教練和那裡的工作人員
，我覺得那裡讓我為這裡做好了準備。”第一個賽季結束後的夏天，一次腳踝受傷拖慢
了他的腳步，湖人將他們的雙向後衛位置給了新秀D'Moi Hodge。Pippen則繼續留在南灣
湖人，但他卻再也沒有打進過主力陣容。
“I don’t think there was really the opportunity. I feel my first year I was
open to whatever. But after going to training camp, I feel like I played
really well. A lot of coaches and players spoke highly of me. And then, that
kind of was it,” he said. “I didn’t really feel like I got a chance and
during the season or preseason or anything like that. So I feel like there
was no opportunity for me there.”
他說：“我不認為真的有過機會。第一年我願意接受任何安排，但在參加訓練營後，我覺
得我表現得很好。許多教練和球員都對我評價很高。然後就沒有然後了，我覺得我沒有在
常規賽或季前賽中獲得真正的機會。”
He ended up playing 21 games with the Grizzlies last season, starting 16,
while averaging 12.9 points and 4.7 assists. He was at 11.4 points and 6.8
assists in the first eight games this season and still is carrying a little
chip on his shoulder.
“I think I do carry it,” he said. “But at the end of the day, the team was
pretty much loaded with a roster full of veteran guys. I’m still
appreciative of the Lakers for just giving me an opportunity just to come out
after the draft and just be there on a two-way, be there for the whole year.
So it’s no hard feelings, but at the same time, definitely keep that chip on
my shoulder.”
上賽季他為灰熊出戰21場比賽，先發16場場均得到12.9分和4.7次助攻。本賽季前八場
比賽他場均11.4分和6.8次助攻，心中依然帶著一絲不甘。
“我覺得我確實帶著這種心態，”他說。“但歸根究柢那支球隊的陣容幾乎都是老將。我
仍然感激湖人給了我一個機會，讓我在選秀後以雙向合約加入並度過整個賽季。所以我對
他們沒有怨言，但與此同時這種心態還是會讓我更有動力。”
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短評或心得：恭喜小皮打出成績