能挑戰勇騎的實力球隊!

Basketball fans in Ohio and the Bay Area will obviously think it's wonderful having the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers meet in the first three-match in NBA history. Basketball fans in general get to enjoy two of the most dominant teams ever assembled go at it in what's quickly become an annual series of haymakers.

對於俄亥俄州和灣區的球迷朋友們來說，看着勇士和騎士歷史性連續三年在總決賽的舞臺上二人轉，他們心裏其實樂開了花。而對於一般的籃球迷來說，能看到兩支前所未有的超級強隊一年一次地捉對廝殺，也不失爲是一種享受。

And yet it's also possible that you can love basketball but at the same time hate that the same two teams are facing each other for the third consecutive year in the NBA Finals. The most obvious argument against such an occurrence is that it has devalued what the other 28 organizations have accomplished in that time. The NBA has become predictable.

然而，作爲一個真正的籃球迷，有時，你可能會因爲這兩支球隊連續三次出現在總決賽而感到忿忿不平。讓人氣憤的是，其他球隊辛辛苦苦大半年，卻是在爲他人做嫁衣。忽然間，NBA不再是那個奇蹟發生之地了。

So, for the next few days, VICE Sports will take a look at every team that's conceivably in line to end the dynastic Warriors vs. Cavaliers stranglehold, possibly as early as next season.

所以，在接下來的幾天中，VICE體育（體育欄目組）將深入探索聯盟中的每支球隊，立足事實，找出能打破騎士vs勇士格局的球隊。也許，下個賽季，它們就能成功。

The teams will be separated into three categories—"Growing long shots", "The fatalistic upper-middle class", and "(Maybe) one player away".

我們把這些隊伍依照特點分成三組：“我是潛力股”，“命中註定我克你”，和“我們就差誰誰誰了”。

First up, the long shots: two young teams that are on the right track, and could leapfrog teams in front of them as early as next season if they make a few creative moves this summer.

首先，我們看第一組“我是潛力股”：這組中，有兩支球隊已經邁上正軌，如果夏天來幾波神操作，就能在下賽季翻身做主，把那些強隊按在身下摩擦了。

Minnesota Timberwolves

明尼蘇達森林狼

At first glance, this is ridiculous. The Timberwolves won 31 games as the NBA's youngest team last season. They finished 26th in defense (dead last in back-to-backs), and, perhaps even more disturbing, 30th in three-point rate.

我知道，乍一看，森林狼不該出現在這裏。這支平均年齡聯盟最小的球隊上個賽季支贏了31場比賽。他們的防守排在聯盟第26位（背靠背的比賽中則排在倒數第一）。在三分方面，他們的命中率全聯盟最差。

All that's very bad. But the first year of Thibodeau's reign was more of a necessary culture shock than an alarming disappointment. The Timberwolves have their framework set: a brilliant head coach, a franchise center, and a physically-gifted wing.

這些都不是什麼好跡象。但是，這畢竟是錫伯杜執教的第一年，他需要時間來爲狼隊注入他的比賽理念。這時候就對他失望透頂，還爲時過早。年輕的森林狼已經有了合適的建隊基礎:一位出色的教練，一個偉大的中鋒，再加上一個運動天賦爆棚的側翼。

But if accelerating said timeline and competing with Golden State next season is the goal, Minnesota can throw itself into the Jimmy Butler sweepstakes by offering the Bulls whoever's selected with the seventh pick (Jonathan Isaac, Malik Monk, Dennis Smith Jr., etc.), LaVine, Gorgui Dieng, and their first available unprotected first-round pick two years after the previous one is conveyed.

但是，如果森林狼下賽季打算搞個dfuis，想和勇士扳扳手腕的話，那麼，他們應該把寶壓在吉米-巴特勒身上。他們可以打包今年的七號籤、拉文、吉昂和他們下一個不受保護的一輪選秀權，從公牛換來巴特勒。

If real-life factors such as the luxury tax (which Minnesota would shoot into by 2019) or a desire to patiently cultivate their preternaturally gifted youth are eliminated from the equation, it's technically possible for Minnesota to offer someone like Paul Millsap a four-year max contract. Rubio, Wiggins, Butler, Millsap, and Towns is a hellacious starting five.

現實情況是，考慮到森林狼大概會在2019年開始交奢侈稅，而他們無與倫比的天賦會慢慢衰退，森林狼可能會給保羅-米爾薩普開出四年頂薪大合同。“盧比奧+維金斯+巴loc+米爾薩普+唐斯”，這先發五虎真是強到爆炸。

All this seems fantastical because it probably is, but the Timberwolves will still need to take a swing in free agency this summer before their cap space gets tied up in extensions for Wiggins and LaVine, then Towns the following summer. It's doubtful Thibodeau wants to get any younger, so it's reasonable to wager that this year's draft pick may be on the block.

理想很豐滿，現實卻很骨感。這個夏天，森林狼需要在自由市場上一展拳腳，才能趕在維金斯和拉文的薪水（在他們之後，唐斯也要續約了）填滿工資帽前，給球隊帶來希望。站在錫伯杜的角度說，他並不希望森林狼的球員更加年輕化，所以我敢打賭，森林狼會兜售今年的選秀權。

This new version of the Timberwolves would be a championship favorite heading into most seasons, but are they good enough to compete with the Warriors? It's possible.

這種設想下的森林狼無疑是一支總冠軍爭奪者，但是，他們有能力和勇士一較高下嗎？答案是肯定的。

If Towns makes a gargantuan Year 3 leap (particularly defensively) and Wiggins continues to excel as a cutter within an offense that no longer needs him to post-up three times every game. These Timberwolves would provide match-up questions on both ends that Golden State has never seen before.

如果唐斯能在他的第三個賽季繼續飛速進步（尤其是防守端），維金斯能在合適的體系下減少低位單打，增加無球切入，那麼森林狼就有機會打敗勇士。到時候，森林狼會在攻防兩端給勇士帶來前所未有的挑戰。

Minnesota's improved three-point shooting would remain a concern, but it's possible that wouldn't even matter if Golden State couldn't stop Towns.

的確，森林狼的三分球可能會成爲他們的短板。但是，如果勇士隊找不到限制唐斯的辦法的話，那麼這塊短板也就不那麼致命了。

Unleashing Godzilla in the post, forcing defenders to double off Wiggins, Rubio, Butler, and Millsap could play into Minnesota's hands. If Towns can control tempo with his back to the basket and force the Warriors to mud wrestle in the half-court, it'd be fun to see how they respond.

進攻端，森林狼可以讓唐斯落入低位，變身成哥斯拉，也可以迫使防守球員去包夾維金斯，從而最大化盧比奧、巴loc和米爾薩普的作用。甚至，如果唐斯能夠控制自己要位的節奏，在中場就和勇士球員纏鬥，很難想象勇士能如何應對。

Milwaukee Bucks

密爾沃基雄鹿隊

The big difference between Milwaukee and Minnesota—besides one's attempt to topple the Warriors and the other trying to stifle LeBron James—is flexibility. The Timberwolves can open up max cap space while the Bucks may not have any to spend at all.

雄鹿隊和森林狼隊最大的不同便是，森林狼想挑戰勇士，而雄鹿隊則想把詹姆斯從王座上拉下來。然而，森林狼有的是薪資空間，而雄鹿沒有。

It starts with Greg Monroe's $17.8 million player option. Even if he and Spencer Hawes (owner of a $6 million player option) both opt out, Milwaukee renounces all its cap holds, and then trades the 17th overall pick, the most cap space they can clear is about $15 million.

這還得從格雷格-門羅那個價值1780萬美元的球員選項說起。即便門羅和斯賓塞-霍伊斯（身背600萬美元的球員選項）都不接受球員選項，雄鹿再想方設法清理空間，交易掉他們今年的第十七順位，他們能拿出來的最大的薪資空間也支有1500萬美元而已。

With that they can afford about half of a max-caliber player, which, you know, isn't great.

這1500萬能讓他們簽下一名半頂薪的球員，但是我們都知道，這點錢籤不來超級巨星。

If Milwaukee desires cap space, it can probably dump John Henson's contract by attaching it to their first-round pick, but if Monroe opts out they'll actually need Henson to play some backup five.

如果雄鹿隊急着釋放薪資空間的話，他們可能會搭上自己的選秀權，找球隊接下約翰-亨森的大合同。可是，如果門羅跳出了合同，那麼他們又需要一位像亨森這樣的替補中鋒。

Add all this together and it means the Bucks have to bank on improvement from what they already have. The good news-- They own a house made of gold.

綜上所述，雄鹿外部補強的機會不大，只有從內部挖掘潛力了。好消息是，“雄鹿自有黃金屋，雄鹿自出MVP”。

It's hard to fathom how good the Bucks can/will be once their three best players are all healthy and near their prime at the same time. Antetokounmpo, Jabari Parker, and Khris Middleton shared the floor exactly zero minutes last season. The year before, those three played 1475 minutes together, with a +0.3 net rating.

如果雄鹿的三名核心球員都能在各自的巔峯期保持健康的話，這支球隊的戰力將不可估量。事實上，上個賽季中，雄鹿的三位明星球員——字母哥，賈巴里-帕克和克里斯-米德爾頓，一同出場的時間是零。上上個賽季，他們仨在一起打了1475分鐘，每百回合淨勝分只有+0.3。

But none were as good as they'll be in 2017-18, especially Antetokounmpo. There's a decent chance sometime next year "move like Giannis" will permanently replace "move like a gazelle" as the go-to simile that describes graceful gallivanting.

當然，那時候他們仨都沒現在這麼厲害，尤其是字母哥。以前，我們看到球員優雅地行進，會笑着說他是“動如藏羚羊”。而明年，我們很可能會換個說法，來上一句“動如字母哥”。

A quick glance at his body reveals that it was built for two possible occupations: 1) gliding by NBA defenders in the open floor, 2) supplanting the United States Postal Service as a new way to deliver cross-country mail.

他那副體格，天生就是做兩種事的材料：第一，一步過那些NBA裏的球員；第二，用他那長手長腳去送快遞，讓美國郵政相形見絀。

Already a second-team All-NBA tornado, elite shot-blocker, pseudo-MVP candidate, and consistently improving phenomenon who's accomplished all he has without a respectable outside shot, Antetokounmpo will be only 23 years old next season.

目前，字母哥已經是2陣成員，出色的蓋帽手，潛在的MVP球員，一個沒有精準跳投卻仍讓防守方聞風喪膽的現象級球員。更恐怖的是，下個賽季，他才23歲。

A top-10 player who can elevate into the top five is the most critical ingredient required by any Eastern Conference team that wants to sack the Cavs. But it's not enough.

要想在東部狙擊騎士，最基本的要求就是當家球星的實力得“坐十望五”。但一個人的力量是不夠的。

The Bucks need Parker to be 100 percent healthy (he's not expected to return until next year's All-Star break), competent on defense, and to perform with the experience and maturity of a 28-year-old. (He'll be 22 next year.)

雄鹿需要帕克滿血歸來（帕克得到下個賽季全明星週末後才能復出），需要他打出鐵血的防守，還需要他表現的像個經驗豐富的老兵（帕克下賽季22歲）。

Even still, assuming everyone on last year's team is better next season, the Bucks still have a schematic issue to solve against the Cavaliers.

但是，就算雄鹿的每個球員都能在下賽季更進一步，雄鹿還是得解決他們的當務之急，才能擊敗騎士。

Even when executed with consistency, Milwaukee's trap-and-recover defense is illogical against Cleveland's three-point shooting. Instead, given the length and quickness up and down their roster, they should switch every screen without skipping a beat. That's the best way to limit open three-point opportunities and force the Cavaliers to attack in less dangerous ways.

雖然雄鹿在防守端紀律嚴明，但是，他們對騎士“誘敵深入再補防”的防守策略卻是不明智的。他們應該做的是，調整身高和速度，在面對擋拆時堅決換防。這樣，他們才能限制騎士三分出手，迫使騎士在進攻端冒險。

Antetokounmpo and Maker provide unprecedented physical gifts as a rim-protecting duo that can also contain ball-handlers in space. And their evolution could very well be what ends LeBron's run.

字母哥和梅克的身體天賦使得他們倆既能護框，又能對持球者施壓。所以，一旦他們完成進化，就很有可能封死詹姆斯的突破。

If their collective progress transpires at a faster rate than most expect, we could see a new team in the Eastern Conference Finals as early as next season.

而如果雄鹿隊全隊都能超出專家們的預期，更快地完成進化，那麼，最快在下賽季，我們就能見證另外一支東部球隊登上總決賽的舞臺了。

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