保羅復出 對火箭的改變是好是壞?

Chris Paul and James Harden's debut as a backcourt power couple in the Houston Rockets' opening night win over the Golden State Warriors was merely a preview. Officially, Paul played during the win, but only at half capacity.

克里斯-保羅和詹姆斯-哈登在揭幕戰聯袂出戰擊敗勇士僅僅是這對後場組合的小小預演。事實上，保羅在這場勝利中只出戰了半場。

After waiting with bated breath for Paul to leave his stamp on a title contender, he registered only four points on 2-of-9 shooting to accompany his 10 assists while laboring on a gimpy left knee that he bruised during the preseason. A few days later, he was shut down for the next four weeks.

在令人屏息地戰勝本賽季冠軍最有力競爭者後，保羅拖着賽季前扭傷的紅腫膝蓋交出了9投2中，4分10次助攻的答卷。幾天後，他被迫休戰4周。

While Paul's injury was never considered severe, doubts creeped in about his fit in a physically demanding uptempo offensive role at the age of 32, especially when he's due for a super-max contract extension this summer.

儘管他的傷情並不嚴峻，人們心頭還是疑竇叢生：他32歲的身體能適應快節奏進攻嗎，尤其在明年夏天頂薪合同即將到期的情況下。

Bringing Paul into the fold against Phoenix enables Rockets head coach Mike D'Antoni to ease him into action against a vastly inferior opponent that is notably anemic at the point guard position.

德安東尼教練安排保羅在對陣太陽時復出能夠讓他在面對一個較弱的，特別是在控衛位置人員匱乏的對手時能更遊刃有餘。

Phoenix's Mike James and Tyler Ulis will now stare down a tandem expected to wield more firepower than just about any backcourt in the league. Paul and Harden's union is supposed to be the most potent point guard duo since Clyde Frazier and Earl "The Pearl" Monroe brought Eden to Madison Square Garden.

菲尼克斯的控衛麥克-詹姆斯和泰勒-尤里斯將面臨的是聯盟中最會串聯球隊的後場組合。保羅和哈登將會是繼麥迪遜花園的克萊德-弗雷澤和“珍珠”厄爾-門羅組合後聯盟中最強力有效的控衛二人組。

"We don't want to push it," Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni said. "If not Thursday, then we'll see about Saturday (in Memphis). He worked out hard (Sunday.) We'll see how he feels Tuesday and Wednesday. That (having Paul play on Thursday) is what we're shooting for."

“我們不想加快他的復出進度”火箭隊主教練的德安東尼說道，“如果週四還不行，那麼我們週六（在孟菲斯）再觀察觀察。他上週日練得很努力，我們會看看他週二和週三的感覺，（讓保羅週四復出）是我們的既定計劃。”

The question at the forefront of everyone's mind is how Paul will change the dynamic. Despite Tuesday's 129-113 loss to the Toronto Raptors, the Rockets are still 11-4, good for second place in the West.

每個人心中最大的疑問就是保羅會如何助推這支火箭。儘管週二以113-129輸給了多倫多猛龍，火箭仍以11勝4負排在西部第二。

Their defense ranks 13th in points allowed per possession, but it could stand to improve, and will likely need to for Houston get where it's going. Only 12 out of 94 NBA Finals teams since 1971 have finished outside the top 10 in defensive efficiency. Whether Paul helps Houston rise on that end figures to depend on how close to full strength his wheels are when he returns.

他們的防守效率在聯盟中排第13位，但休斯頓還能再提高，爲了達到本賽季的球隊目標也必須再提高。自1971年以來94支打入總決賽球隊中只有12支球隊當賽季防守效率排在聯盟10名開外。保羅是否能在防守端幫助球隊取決於他復出時的狀態能否全力以赴。

On the other end of the court, Harden has been superb accounting for Paul's void. It's like last season never ended. He's continued pacing the league in assists (and turnovers) and is running a close second to Giannis Antetokounmpo for the scoring crown, averaging 30.7 points per game.

在進攻端，哈登已經用華麗的數據填補了保羅的空缺，像是上賽季還沒結束似的，他繼續在助攻榜（和失誤榜）上領袖絕倫，在得分榜上以場均30.7分緊追揚尼斯-阿德託昆博。

Paul's micromanaging and love of set plays will certainly eat into Harden's league-leading 37.0 usage rate and probably his assist totals, but sacrifices must be made to attain NBA championship immortality.

保羅的精細處理球和喜愛發動戰術肯定會降低哈登全聯盟最高的37%使用率，並可能降低他的總助攻數，但數據上的犧牲才能成就總冠軍的不朽。

Paul's return could also complicate Eric Gordon's breakout start to the season. Without Patrick Beverley, Lou Williams and Paul to siphon off his touches, Gordon's started the last 13 games for which he's been active, a needed shift after the former Indiana standout earned Sixth Man of the Year honors and served a perfect off-ball complement to Harden (when his shot is falling).

保羅的迴歸同樣還會對本賽季爆發的埃裏克-戈登造成影響。沒有帕特里克-貝弗利，路-威廉姆斯以及本賽季傷缺的保羅佔用他的持球，戈登近13場比賽打得極爲積極主動，這位來自印第安納的上賽季最佳第六人在球隊需要時頂上先發，成爲了哈登（手感不好時）完美的無球補充。

However, the acquisition of Paul was a move made for the grind of late April, May and June, when teams can exploit weaknesses over the course of a seven-game series and fatigue Harden past his limit. Don't be fooled by Houston's record in mid-November. Gordon is prone to cold streaks and can be a one-trick pony when his shot isn't falling.

然而，引進保羅的最終目的是爲了4月末，5月甚至6月的刺刀見紅，是爲了球隊在7局4勝制的系列賽暴露出自身弱點，哈登體力到達極限時給他最好的幫助。別被休斯頓在11月中旬的好戰績所迷惑。戈登很容易手感冰涼，如果投籃不順，他可能會黔驢技窮。

Paul's tenacious perimeter defense, playmaking ability and 3-point range give D'Antoni the option to stagger the minutes of his point-guard tandem over the course of 48 minutes, ensuring that Houston remains unrelenting on offense when Harden gets a breather. Paul's midrange efficacy should somewhat diversify the Rockets' shot profile, forcing defenses to guard the space between the arc and paint.

保羅頑強的外線防守，組織進攻能力和3分球會給德安東尼更豐富的選擇，安排兩位組織者錯開時間串聯球隊，確保休斯頓能在哈登稍作喘息時進攻火力的延續。保羅中距離的功力也將使火箭隊的投籃區域更爲多樣化，迫使對手防守禁區和3分線之間的區域。

Phoenix will be a perfect environment to test Harden and Paul's chemistry, but Memphis' Grit 'N Grind Grizzlies will likely offer a more legitimate litmus test.

菲尼克斯這個對手非常適合測試哈登和保羅之間的化學反應，但下一場將面對的孟菲斯“死纏爛打”灰熊隊將更有可能是這個組合的試金石。

The Rockets have started out strong in the West, but they have another tier to ascend to compete for a title, and a healthy Paul could allow them to reach that echelon. Questions remain about whether they'll be able to get there, but fortunately, it looks like the next few days will bring us all closer to the answers we seek.

本賽季至今火箭隊在西部的開局非常強勢，但他們還能百尺竿頭更進一步，健康的保羅能讓他們真正躋身爭冠強隊行列。他們是否能到達那一水準還未可知，但幸運的是，接下來的幾天我們會非常接近這一答案。

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