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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-保罗和詹姆斯-哈登在揭幕战联袂出战击败勇士仅仅是这对后场组合的小小预演。事实上，保罗在这场胜利中只出战了半场。
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.
在令人屏息地战胜本赛季冠军最有力竞争者后，保罗拖着赛季前扭伤的红肿膝盖交出了9投2中，4分10次助攻的答卷。几天后，他被迫休战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.
尽管他的伤情并不严峻，人们心头还是疑窦丛生：他32岁的身体能适应快节奏进攻吗，尤其在明年夏天顶薪合同即将到期的情况下。
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.
德安东尼教练安排保罗在对阵太阳时复出能够让他在面对一个较弱的，特别是在控卫位置人员匮乏的对手时能更游刃有余。
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.
菲尼克斯的控卫麦克-詹姆斯和泰勒-尤里斯将面临的是联盟中最会串联球队的后场组合。保罗和哈登将会是继麦迪逊花园的克莱德-弗雷泽和“珍珠”厄尔-门罗组合后联盟中最强力有效的控卫二人组。
"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."
“我们不想加快他的复出进度”火箭队主教练的德安东尼说道，“如果周四还不行，那么我们周六（在孟菲斯）再观察观察。他上周日练得很努力，我们会看看他周二和周三的感觉，（让保罗周四复出）是我们的既定计划。”
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.
每个人心中最大的疑问就是保罗会如何助推这支火箭。尽管周二以113-129输给了多伦多猛龙，火箭仍以11胜4负排在西部第二。
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.
他们的防守效率在联盟中排第13位，但休斯顿还能再提高，为了达到本赛季的球队目标也必须再提高。自1971年以来94支打入总决赛球队中只有12支球队当赛季防守效率排在联盟10名开外。保罗是否能在防守端帮助球队取决于他复出时的状态能否全力以赴。
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.
在进攻端，哈登已经用华丽的数据填补了保罗的空缺，像是上赛季还没结束似的，他继续在助攻榜（和失误榜）上领袖绝伦，在得分榜上以场均30.7分紧追扬尼斯-阿德托昆博。
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.
保罗的精细处理球和喜爱发动战术肯定会降低哈登全联盟最高的37%使用率，并可能降低他的总助攻数，但数据上的牺牲才能成就总冠军的不朽。
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).
保罗的回归同样还会对本赛季爆发的埃里克-戈登造成影响。没有帕特里克-贝弗利，路-威廉姆斯以及本赛季伤缺的保罗占用他的持球，戈登近13场比赛打得极为积极主动，这位来自印第安纳的上赛季最佳第六人在球队需要时顶上先发，成为了哈登（手感不好时）完美的无球补充。
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，引进保罗的最终目的是为了4月末，5月甚至6月的刺刀见红，是为了球队在7局4胜制的系列赛暴露出自身弱点，哈登体力到达极限时给他最好的帮助。别被休斯顿在11月中旬的好战绩所迷惑。戈登很容易手感冰凉，如果投篮不顺，他可能会黔驴技穷。
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.
保罗顽强的外线防守，组织进攻能力和3分球会给德安东尼更丰富的选择，安排两位组织者错开时间串联球队，确保休斯顿能在哈登稍作喘息时进攻火力的延续。保罗中距离的功力也将使火箭队的投篮区域更为多样化，迫使对手防守禁区和3分线之间的区域。
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.
菲尼克斯这个对手非常适合测试哈登和保罗之间的化学反应，但下一场将面对的孟菲斯“死缠烂打”灰熊队将更有可能是这个组合的试金石。
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.
本赛季至今火箭队在西部的开局非常强势，但他们还能百尺竿头更进一步，健康的保罗能让他们真正跻身争冠强队行列。他们是否能到达那一水准还未可知，但幸运的是，接下来的几天我们会非常接近这一答案。
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