翻译／泊　桑

The Kentucky Wildcats return just six players from last year's team, lost the nation's fifth-leading scorer to the NBA and will start next season with a new head coach. Most teams in a similar situation would be talking about slow progress during the summer. The Wildcats are talking about a national championship. Such is the impact of John Calipari.

上个赛季的阵容里只有6名老队员选择留校,肯塔基失去了去年全美大学排名第五的得分手——已经加盟NBA雄鹿队的乔迪·米克斯,并且任命了一位新主帅。大部分像肯塔基这样“百废待兴”的球队,都会在这个夏天选择“循循渐进”的传统建队原则。但肯塔基野猫队却心存大志,剑指全美冠军,而这就是约翰·科里帕里的影响力所在。

"We believe that we can have a Final Four team," said junior forward Patrick Patterson, the team's top pre-Calipari holdover. "It's just a matter of doing work on the court, jelling as a team and performing when the lights come up."

“我们坚信我们会成为一支(全美)4强球队,”三年级生帕特里克·帕特森,这位“前科里帕里”时代的核心信心满满。“我们只要在球场上干好自己该做的,保持这支球队的团结和进取心,黑暗过后就是光明一片。”

For now, Calipari is fine with the blue-sky outlook in the Bluegrass State, but he's also aware of the challenges his team faces."I'm letting them run with all these wild thoughts, and I'm not saying a whole lot. But at some point you have to say, 'Guys, six new players, six returning players.' Never have they all played together as a team, and never have they run this offense before," Calipari said.But don't look for him to stomp the momentum entirely. "If we're going to dream big dreams, let's go for it," he said. "If everybody thinks we're that good, maybe we are."

现在,科里帕里早已经适应了“蓝草州”(肯塔基州的昵称)的“蓝天白云”,但是他也做好心理准备,明白他手下这支球队将要面临多少困难。“我会让他们在一切疯狂的想法下拼命,自然我没有说有多疯狂。但是有些重要的事情你必须去提:‘这支球队,6名新兵蛋子,6个返校球员。他们从未集体在一起打过球,他们还未在一起完成过一次战术演练。”科里帕里说。但是千万不要以为肯塔基会放弃梦想。“假如我们一起去为一个梦想努力,共同做一个大梦,那我们就得去追逐这个梦想。”他继续说。“那么,当所有人都认为我们足够出色时,也许我们确实能有所成就。”

Welcome to Campus 新将登场

John Wall, 6-foot-4, PG (No. 5 ESPNU 100)

约翰·沃尔,1米93、控卫(ESPN评选全美高中生第五)

Of all the Wildcats' shortcomings last season, ball control was their biggest sin. The Cats coughed up the ball on 23.8 percent of possessions (316th in the country). One season later, consider that problem addressed. With the additions of Wall and fellow frosh PG Eric Bledsoe, Kentucky should have a handle on its … well, handle. The next step is to open up the throttle."We're going to be fast," Calipari said. "Like, really fast."

去年最让肯塔基头疼的就是“控球”,这是他们所有短板里最为凸显的一点。肯塔基队每个进攻回合,有23.8%的概率出现失误丢球(全国排名316位)。经过了一个赛季,这个问题得到了重视,新兵沃尔和另一个新人控卫埃里克·布雷松的加盟,将大为改善肯塔基这一软肋。自然当肯塔基找到了合适的“剑柄”和舞剑之人,那么下一步自然是试试这进攻的“剑锋”威力。“我们的节奏会变快的,真的变得很快。”科里帕里谈球风转变。

Keeping Wall out of the lane is virtually impossible, and it doesn't hurt that his build and game mirror those of former Calipari pupil Derrick Rose, the reigning NBA Rookie of the Year. But don't expect him to be a one-man show. "I was surprised by his IQ on the court," Patterson said after a few pickup games with Wall. "He knows where to put the ball. He knows what shot to take. He knows what's a bad shot. He's just an overall monster."

想要阻挡沃尔的进攻绝非易事,这会让人联想到科里帕里当年的得意门生德里克·罗斯,后者是2008年度最佳新秀,不可否认两人相似的就像镜像一样。但就算沃尔有独当一面之能,也不能指望每晚只看他一个人表演。“他的篮球智商之高让我惊叹,”队友帕特森在和沃尔临时搭档了几场比赛后大赞其才能。“他总知道球已经带到哪里,总知道如何选择投篮时机。他就是个能力高出想象的篮球妖人。”

DeMarcus Cousins, 6-11, C (No. 4 ESPNU 100)

德马库斯·康辛斯,2米11,中锋(ESPN评选全美高中生第四)

The versatile Cousins is essentially a younger, bigger version of Patterson with the ability to bang in the post and operate outside the paint. And he has the moves to keep up when UK looks to run. "[In pick-up games] he'd grab the ball off the rim, run downcourt, and do a little crossover between the legs and lay it up," Patterson said. "He surprised me with his ballhandling skills at his size and stature."With 6-foot-10, 260-pound Daniel Orton (No. 13 ESPNU 100) also arriving as a frosh and Perry Stevenson returning, the Wildcats boast an impressive stable of players capable of doing the dirty work down low.

全能型球员康辛斯其实就是帕特森的“年轻加长版”,一样的有冲击力,一样的多才多艺能里能外。即使肯塔基提高进攻节奏,康辛斯也能跟上速度。“(季前训练赛中)他可以抢下篮板,并直接运球发动快攻,杀入对方禁区,完成上篮。”帕特森说。“像他这种身高都超过2米11的大个子,竟然有如此娴熟的控球技术,委实难得。”随着身高2米08的内线丹尼尔·奥顿(ESPN评选全美高中生第13位)以及佩里·斯蒂文森的回归,肯塔基在内线拥有了一批精兵强将。

Team Twitter 球队微博客

Calipari is a constant tweeter, and although there's a heavy emphasis on his fearsome dog and the last five places he ate, he's still focused on UK hoops:

科里帕里可是一个积极的微博客爱好者,虽说大部分博客内容都是关于他家那条胆小的小狗,以及最近5处他吃饭的地方,不过他最关心的依然是肯塔基大学。

UKCoachCalipari: "It's gratifying 2 know so many young men want 2 b part of what we're building. We only pursue studnt-athletes who'll contribute 2 our goals."

肯塔基教练科里帕里的微博客:“我知道有很多很多的年轻人希望能成为这支球队的一部分,希望能够成为球队建设的一部分。但是,我们只需要那些能够为我们做出贡献的球员。”

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