NBA/Blazers 2025-26 Thread

[Phalanx]

Blazers hand OKC their first loss of the season. I still don't know how they did it - they were down by 20 after the first quarter. Avdija was one assist shy of a triple-double and they got some hot shooting from outside from Jrue Holiday and 4/5 from three from...Duop Reath? I guess we'll take it. I will never get used to centers who don't record a single rebound in over 20 minutes of play and take every single shot from beyond the arc.

[Everythingsducky]

Was a great win. But if you are intentionally using my quote for any reason, I stand by it. OKC has/had a much better plan to get where they are. Ownership/management of the Blazers has been worth zero for too many years. Blame whomever. They have whiffed for a long while.

[pezsez1]

I will never get used to centers who don't record a single rebound in over 20 minutes of play and take every single shot from beyond the arc.

Let's just say I would have been a stud high school baller if I'd been born about 30 years later.

[Greenblood]

It sure is fun watching the condensed versions of these games on YouTube. Besides handing the NBA champ Thunder its first loss of the season, the Blazers didn't give in to despair and woe (yes, both) after falling behind by as much as 22. And it showed they could bounce back after a disappointing performance in their previous game.

Now their next five and 12 of their next 16 on the road.

[alxtw]

What is so great about OKC, is that they were willing to have a few crappy seasons, leveraging their draft position, and quietly wait. This wouldn’t work in LA, NY, or other major metro areas. But being the only game in town, they succeeded. And they may succeed for many more seasons. Presti is a genius. Portland, being a smaller market, should have followed that mindset.

If we tanked last year and got a top draft slot, we'd be in a very good position for the future. The team is better this year and won't be in a position to tank, also being that it will be a weaker draft class this year.

[spacefrog13x]

I enjoy this iteration so far l, specifically the defense. They often pressure the ball for 94 feet, Holiday has given them real juice. They play hard, trap the ball. Last time I looked they led the league in steals and forced turnovers.

The offense is a work in process. But they seem like a real nightmare to play.

[Everythingsducky]

Holiday with 3 TO’s in the last few minutes of the Magic game. Brutal butterfingers for the vet. He was the culprit tonight.

[StevensTechU]

Holiday with 3 TO’s in the last few minutes of the Magic game. Brutal butterfingers for the vet. He was the culprit tonight.

That last one is brutal. Overall, he's a force for good, but he looks slow on defense when facing players ten years his junior. It is what it is.

[Boom]

Holiday with 3 TO’s in the last few minutes of the Magic game. Brutal butterfingers for the vet. He was the culprit tonight.

That last one is brutal. Overall, he's a force for good, but he looks slow on defense when facing players ten years his junior. It is what it is.

He looked gassed defensively in the playoffs last year. At this stage of his career he should probably only be playing 20ish minutes per game. I don't think he's going to hold up well playing 30+ minutes.

[Everythingsducky]

Hanson needs to stay in the G league the rest of this season, and next. He gets out-muscled constantly, balls stripped…Definitely needs to hit the weight room hard. Hope for the future, but can also see him as another Cronin failure. If this season continues, where the 30+ year old players are sidelined the majority of the year, either via injury or load management, Cronin needs to be kicked to the curb. New ownership can’t come soon enough. Will this be another 20 game season for Thyblle? Another 20 game season for Williams?

[Boom]

Hanson needs to stay in the G league the rest of this season, and next. He gets out-muscled constantly, balls stripped…Definitely needs to hit the weight room hard. Hope for the future, but can also see him as another Cronin failure. If this season continues, where the 30+ year old players are sidelined the majority of the year, either via injury or load management, Cronin needs to be kicked to the curb. New ownership can’t come soon enough. Will this be another 20 game season for Thyblle? Another 20 game season for Williams?

Meanwhile Cedric Coward with another efficient night posting 19/11

[Everythingsducky]

Against the Bulls, great comeback attempt. I truly love the fight in most games. Love at 1-12 shooting is about right. His game last night against Phoenix was an anomaly. Odd he went from ACC freshman of the year, to playing 4 years of college. He peaked at the age of 18. But Deni 7-12 at the free throw line? Yikes, that is not him. Great triple double though, if stats equaled wins…he is still the Blazers MVP. Blazers are a MASH unit at this point.

[Everythingsducky]

Gladly eat my words on Love. He was fantastic last night. Going to all be about consistency, but if he can be a reliable resource from deep, and defend, we need it now. Certainly thought Steph was going to hit a bomb at the end. Two good looks for him.

[Boom]

Ugly lost against the Pelicans tonight. They're now 7 games below 500. Deni is the only above average core player on this roster.

[StevensTechU]

Pre-Jrue injury and post-Jrue injury are clearly two different teams. Then the injuries have piled up from there.