Game Thread 2025-26 GAME #36 - BLAZERS @ SPURS - JANUARY 3, 2026 - FRIDAY - 5:00 PM - KUNP - BLAZERVISION

[Rastapopoulos]

I love the vanilla gorilla but lets not put DC down like that. Dc has a vastly higher upside, more agility, a much better shot and better defense.

Well, to be fair, it's hard to have upside when you're 46.

 

[Everything Beagle]

You're.

I think Caleb is what he is. And what he is is nearly 2 years older than Shaedon, and a short, very streaky shooter who is ice cold in the clutch (except, apparently, from the free throw line). I think Patty Mills is a great comparison - a fan favorite because he can have offensive explosions and is surprisingly capable when he's on, but is so flawed that he will never be a full time rotation player on a good, healthy team.

This is exactly why I want to keep him. Jrue and Dame aren’t playing 60+ games a year ever again, and a smart team would rest one or both for the doldrums of the midseason. A player like Caleb isn’t good enough to get ideas above his station, but is good enough to keep us competitive. If we get lucky, he goes on a hot streak and we win some games we don’t expect to. Five extra wins a season is well worth the money to keep him on the roster until he gets bored and moves on or we find another kid to replace him.

 

[B-Roy]

That's a train that is out of service a lot. But it's getting more reliable lately.

17 PPG on 48/44 shooting splits in the last 7. Also fights on defense. Never in a million years did I think I'd be the conductor on the Caleb Love train.

 

[RR7]

17 PPG on 48/44 shooting splits in the last 7. Also fights on defense. Never in a million years did I think I'd be the conductor on the Caleb Love train.

 

[wizenheimer]

Deni is the best player on the team, obviously, but I'm wondering if Clingan is the MVP. How Clingan goes, so go the Blazers?

 

[Everything Beagle]

Deni is the best player on the team, obviously, but I'm wondering if Clingan is the MVP. How Clingan goes, so go the Blazers?

There was a game early on where we didn't have him and our defense fell completely apart. Maybe was a coincidence, but he seems to anchor our defense in a way RWIII or Reath simply can’t. He’s directing traffic out there constantly.

 

[SheedSoNasty]

Clingan has been super impressive lately. I remember watching him last year and having flashbacks of Nurk and saying to the TV “You’re 7’2”, why can’t you just dunk the ball!?!?”

While I’m impressed with the progression of his three point shot, seeing him go up strong for dunks has been even better.

 

[riverman]

With Deni and Clingan we have a 1-2 punch which every team needs.

 

[42N8Bounce]

With Deni and Clingan we have a 1-2 punch which every team needs.

Add in a healthy Dame and another years growth from Sharpe, and the Blazers have a nice 1-2-3-4 punch!

 

[wizenheimer]

Add in a healthy Dame and another years growth from Sharpe, and the Blazers have a nice 1-2-3-4 punch!

 

[KingSpeed]

Fantastic win! I believe we are the only team to now have beaten the following teams:
Boston
Lakers
OKC
SA
Milwaukie
Cleveland
GSW

That is super impressive for a team with a losing record.
If we can add the Knicks and Houston, then we will have proven we can beat the best.

Just need to get fully healthy to spread the minutes back out and get players back into their natural position of play on the court and we will be fine.

Playoffs this year.
Top four in the West next year.

Don’t forget Denver and Utah.

 

[KingSpeed]

Well, in that they were both undrafted. But Caleb has a long way to go to match Wes's defense or his reliability from three. Patty Mills, perhaps?

Mills was drafted.

 

[KingSpeed]

You're.

I think Caleb is what he is. And what he is is nearly 2 years older than Shaedon, and a short, very streaky shooter who is ice cold in the clutch (except, apparently, from the free throw line). I think Patty Mills is a great comparison - a fan favorite because he can have offensive explosions and is surprisingly capable when he's on, but is so flawed that he will never be a full time rotation player on a good, healthy team.

Patty Mills was a full time rotation player on a championship team (Spurs 2014)

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Mills was drafted.

I know. Similar is not identical.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Patty Mills was a full time rotation player on a championship team (Spurs 2014)

You're perseverating. He was 9th in average minutes and he dropped to 15 mpg in the playoffs. But okay, Caleb is no Patty then (especially not Australian National Team Patty - right @DUB ?).

 

[Rastapopoulos]

With Deni and Clingan we have a 1-2 punch which every team needs.

They certainly leave the other team with bruises

 

[tlongII]

Patty Mills is a decent equivalent. Props to our scouts for finding two way players who have won us maybe 8 games between them, and the coaching staff for being able to use the players effectively. But most importantly, good on the players themselves for seizing the opportunities with both hands. This is a team to be proud of, no matter the record. This is the best 16-20 team in the NBA.

Uh, it’s the only 16-20 team in the NBA.

 

[SharpeScooterShooter]

Don’t forget Denver and Utah.

Good call on Denver. Utah isnt a playoff/contender team though.