Game Thread 2025-26 GAME #40 - BLAZERS VS KNICKS - JANUARY 11, 2026 - SUNDAY - 3:00 PM - KUNP - BLAZERVISION

[Ripcity4life77]

You really think I thought it was funny ??

It would suck if he has to miss more then a game or 2 but might help if the refs helped him out by not eating calls. The non call where Deni came down ran into a defender fell down got no call might have led to his back issue cause the play where he doubled over did not look like he took much contact that is why I think that play I mentioned was the real cause.

 

[B-Roy]

Not good

 

[PCmor7]

Aside from the Deni injury, which is the biggest thing to come out of this game, and the outcome, the Blazers played really well.

I don't think this was a game the Blazers lost as much as a game the Knicks won. Brunson's ability to keep Deni out of the paint when they got that switch three or four times down the stretch gave the Knicks the opportunity to make some shots down the stretch that pulled it out.

Sharpe played well. I think this was his second or third good all-around game in a row (although he didn't shoot particularly well in one of them and he did have a couple of tough turnovers down the stretch tonight). Love continues to just get better and better. His offensive footwork. confidence and shooting stroke all are terrific. I thought the defense did a good job of making Brunson work and the double teams to get the ball out of his hands were largely effective.

 

[PCmor7]

BTW, I think Love's 21 points today now moves him into eighth place for rookie scoring average, jumping over Dylan Harper. No one in the top 12 averages fewer minutes than him.

 

[Chris Craig]

BTW, I think Love's 21 points today now moves him into eighth place for rookie scoring average, jumping over Dylan Harper. No one in the top 12 averages fewer minutes than him.

I just hope it doesn't go to his head

 

[1 Eye Jack]

Aside from the Deni injury, which is the biggest thing to come out of this game, and the outcome, the Blazers played really well.

I don't think this was a game the Blazers lost as much as a game the Knicks won. Brunson's ability to keep Deni out of the paint when they got that switch three or four times down the stretch gave the Knicks the opportunity to make some shots down the stretch that pulled it out.

Sharpe played well. I think this was his second or third good all-around game in a row (although he didn't shoot particularly well in one of them and he did have a couple of tough turnovers down the stretch tonight). Love continues to just get better and better. His offensive footwork. confidence and shooting stroke all are terrific. I thought the defense did a good job of making Brunson work and the double teams to get the ball out of his hands were largely effective.

Sharpe looks good for the most part. Turnovers had gone down more controlled on offense and he’s doing nice job finding teammates for assist.

If Deni is out for a while he’ll have more on his shoulders. Honestly thought he played his best when that’s happened in the past

 

[B-Roy]

 

[PCmor7]

I just hope it doesn't go to his head

You remind me of me a bit, Chris. Always expecting the worst to happen. Maybe I just got too old, maybe I've just seen serious stuff that is really bad, but I'm at a point now where I'm just enjoying the ride. We've already gotten better play out of Love than I thought we'd ever get. Enjjoy the ride. Hope for the best. If this ride goes off the rails, none of us dies.

 

[Chris Craig]

You remind me of me a bit, Chris. Always expecting the worst to happen. Maybe I just got too old, maybe I've just seen serious stuff that is really bad, but I'm at a point now where I'm just enjoying the ride. We've already gotten better play out of Love than I thought we'd ever get. Enjjoy the ride. Hope for the best. If this ride goes off the rails, none of us dies.

I'm aware this isn't Final Destination 3. I also am glad for what we have got out of both Sidy and Caleb. We got two players to add to regular contracts. Might not have seen what we needed to had injured not happened. That's a great silver lining.

The injuries are just ridiculous at this point. Its a like backwards clown car with more and more guys getting in injured. We have less and less players. I guess we get to see what Rules got now too. I just hope this injury nonsense doesn't carry over to next season. Don't see any other teams that have dealt with Injuries this season to the extent we have.

 

[PCmor7]

I'm aware this isn't Final Destination 3. I also am glad for what we have got out of both Sidy and Caleb. We got two players to add to regular contracts. Might not have seen what we needed to had injured not happened. That's a great silver lining.

The injuries are just ridiculous at this point. Its a like backwards clown car with more and more guys getting in injured. We have less and less players. I guess we get to see what Rules got now too. I just hope this injury nonsense doesn't carry over to next season. Don't see any other teams that have dealt with Injuries this season to the extent we have.

The injuries absolutely are insane. I think that's part of the reason I've enjoyed the good moments in this season so much. How many other teams could essentially lose 60-80% of the playing rotation and beat the teams we have this year?

I think this is a no-lose scenario. Either the Blazers are going to miss the playoffs and have a chance for an elite talent in an elite draft, or they're going to make the playoffs a year ahead of schedule and come back next season with a healthy Damian Lillard and hopefully a more-developed Yang Hansen.

We're playing this season with house money.

 

[PCmor7]

Sharpe looks good for the most part. Turnovers had gone down more controlled on offense and he’s doing nice job finding teammates for assist.

If Deni is out for a while he’ll have more on his shoulders. Honestly thought he played his best when that’s happened in the past

Sharpe's getting good looks and making better decisions. He's been finding teammates when the defense collapses on him these last few games.

The next step is for him to spend a lot of time in the lab in the offseason and doing what he needs to do to finish those open looks or make whatever adjustments are necessary. But some things have been clicking for him these last couple of games that weren't before.

 

[Chris Craig]

The injuries absolutely are insane. I think that's part of the reason I've enjoyed the good moments in this season so much. How many other teams could essentially lose 60-80% of the playing rotation and beat the teams we have this year?

I think this is a no-lose scenario. Either the Blazers are going to miss the playoffs and have a chance for an elite talent in an elite draft, or they're going to make the playoffs a year ahead of schedule and come back next season with a healthy Damian Lillard and hopefully a more-developed Yang Hansen.

We're playing this season with house money.

Bar none. This team is defying large odds just to do what they are doing. I'm glad for it and I don't take it for granted. Will we have space for another rookie? We have to make two spots for Caleb and Sidy as it is. We would have to say goodbye to Duop, Murray, and Rupert, not that I'd be to upset with doing that.

Very excited to see Dame come back and play with Deni. Teams better be scared. I do believe in Yang. The things we have seen in him show he has a lot of potential. I think like Clingan he will make a good leap next season.

We are playing with house money, but the house always wins. Wait...are we the house? The NBA is the house? Anyways...

 

[PCmor7]

Bar none. This team is defying large odds just to do what they are doing. I'm glad for it and I don't take it for granted. Will we have space for another rookie? We have to make two spots for Caleb and Sidy as it is. We would have to say goodbye to Duop, Murray, and Rupert, not that I'd be to upset with doing that.

Very excited to see Dame come back and play with Deni. Teams better be scared. I do believe in Yang. The things we have seen in him show he has a lot of potential. I think like Clingan he will make a good leap next season.

We are playing with house money, but the house always wins. Wait...are we the house? The NBA is the house? Anyways...

I think if we're playing with house money we are proxies for the house. Or Sly's the house and we're in the doghouse.

 

[HansenYang]

Sharpe's getting good looks and making better decisions. He's been finding teammates when the defense collapses on him these last few games.

The next step is for him to spend a lot of time in the lab in the offseason and doing what he needs to do to finish those open looks or make whatever adjustments are necessary. But some things have been clicking for him these last couple of games that weren't before.

IMO, the easiest bang for the buck that Sharpe needs to focus on is his transition D.

In theory, it can be resolved with film study... but inevitably Shae gives up 1-2 transition baskets per game because he gets out of position and/or doesn't hustle back.

Tonight's occurrence happened in the early part if Q2 (I think). Sharpe took a 3pnt shot (challenged by OG). Instead of retreating back and with OG and maintaining floor balance, Sharpe took 2 steps forward. Hart got the rebound and made a full-court outlet pass to OG for the score.

But every game, Sharpe makes a mental error like this and gives up 1-2 baskets. Cut those out & his value increases substantially

 

[crandc]

Hopefully Deni just bruised.

 

[SharpeScooterShooter]

Bar none. This team is defying large odds just to do what they are doing. I'm glad for it and I don't take it for granted. Will we have space for another rookie? We have to make two spots for Caleb and Sidy as it is. We would have to say goodbye to Duop, Murray, and Rupert, not that I'd be to upset with doing that.

Very excited to see Dame come back and play with Deni. Teams better be scared. I do believe in Yang. The things we have seen in him show he has a lot of potential. I think like Clingan he will make a good leap next season.

We are playing with house money, but the house always wins. Wait...are we the house? The NBA is the house? Anyways...

Hey @Chris Craig are you getting tag notifications?

 

[1 Eye Jack]

Sharpe's getting good looks and making better decisions. He's been finding teammates when the defense collapses on him these last few games.

The next step is for him to spend a lot of time in the lab in the offseason and doing what he needs to do to finish those open looks or make whatever adjustments are necessary. But some things have been clicking for him these last couple of games that weren't before.

He’s really got two things on offense to work on a couple of go to spots on the floor (likely the elbow fadeaway would be my suggestion) and his dribbling in traffic. No matter what he’s got all the tools to be at a minimum a 25 per game scorer. With some work he can be elite and be in 30 point a game. I guess there’s maybe one other thing to work on drive into contact and get use to finishing with contact. When you control the contact it’s easier to finish your shot.

He really does a nice job of recognizing the right play whether that’s creating his own shot or making the pass.

 

[wizenheimer]

I'm an old man....but when I was young...er....and hurt my back, days 3 and 4 after the injury were the worst. My back would progressively get tighter and sorer for a few days before getting better. Of course, even young...er, I was not in NBA shape unless nba=nothing-but-alcohol

 

[wizenheimer]

He’s really got two things on offense to work on a couple of go to spots on the floor (likely the elbow fadeaway would be my suggestion) and his dribbling in traffic. No matter what he’s got all the tools to be at a minimum a 25 per game scorer. With some work he can be elite and be in 30 point a game. I guess there’s maybe one other thing to work on drive into contact and get use to finishing with contact. When you control the contact it’s easier to finish your shot.

He really does a nice job of recognizing the right play whether that’s creating his own shot or making the pass.

maybe I'm off base, but it seems to me a lot of Sharpe's issue with ball-handling and dribble-drives occur when he switches the dribble. That's correctible but it will take a lot of work

 

[Chris Craig]

Hey @Chris Craig are you getting tag notifications?

For what? Just in general? You not getting them?

 

[TBpup]

If Deni went out, he is hurting because he is as tough as nails.

Good to see Jrue back even if he is rusty.

He looks a step slow, not sure if it’s the scheme though

DC is the type of center that in the playoffs, can get schemed off the court because of his overall lack of mobility. It happens to Gobert every year and he as a DPoY type player. He is very good defensively at the rim but in the playoffs, he will get drug out of the key and they will attack him at the perimeter.

 

[KingSpeed]

I'm an old man....but when I was young...er....and hurt my back, days 3 and 4 after the injury wee the worst. My back would progressively get tighter and sorer for a few days before getting better. Of course, even young...er, I was not in NBA shape unless nba=nothing-but-alcohol

But when you were you were young did you have a massage therapist and physical therapist at your beck and call?

 

[Everything Beagle]

I just hope it doesn't go to his head

He might have to become our leading scorer for a unspecified length of time, so the confidence is coming at the right time

 

[KingSpeed]

If Deni went out, he is hurting because he is as tough as nails.

Good to see Jrue back even if he is rusty.


DC is the type of center that in the playoffs, can get schemed off the court because of his overall lack of mobility. It happens to Gobert every year and he as a DPoY type player. He is very good defensively at the rim but in the playoffs, he will get drug out of the key and they will attack him at the perimeter.

Depends on who we’re playing though. He won’t get dragged out by Gobert, Hartenstein, Ayton, Adams, et al.

 

[wizenheimer]

But when you were you were young did you have a massage therapist and physical therapist at your beck and call?

that tells me you don't know much about a back strain. Some things aren't helped by massage. Try massaging a sprained ankle.

 

[SharpeScooterShooter]

For what? Just in general? You not getting them?

I tagged you in other threads with no response. Did you get an alert you were tagged? Though this quote is listed in my alerts, I never go a new alert bell notifying me of this.
I had tagged you in the prediction threads. But no response has me wondering if you are getting alerted you were tagged. When i am tagged i am not getting an alert.
I think there is a glitch in the matrix.
Did you only get notified you were quoted or did you also get notified you were tagged?

 

[42N8Bounce]

I tagged you in other threads with no response. Did you get an alert you were tagged? Though this quote is listed in my alerts, I never go a new alert bell notifying me of this.
I had tagged you in the prediction threads. But no response has me wondering if you are getting alerted you were tagged. When i am tagged i am not getting an alert.
I think there is a glitch in the matrix.
Did you only get notified you were quoted or did you also get notified you were tagged?

I've noticed the same thing. People respond or like a post of mine, and the alert bell often does not show a notification. Although the notification is listed under the alerts when I click on the alert bell. It's just not flagged with the red number letting me know a new alert came in.

 

[42N8Bounce]

With almost half a season under our belts now, Love logged his 5th 'good' game of the season, and 11th solid game in a row without a 'bad' game.

That's one hell of a streak for an undrafted rookie.

 

[riverman]

Deni is finding out what happens when you drive on Steven Adams two games in a row. I'll bet Han Sen is feeling that too. Deni said he'll be fine but I seriously hope he's not going through a lumbar strain like Murray. We need him out there.

 

[PCmor7]

He’s really got two things on offense to work on a couple of go to spots on the floor (likely the elbow fadeaway would be my suggestion) and his dribbling in traffic. No matter what he’s got all the tools to be at a minimum a 25 per game scorer. With some work he can be elite and be in 30 point a game. I guess there’s maybe one other thing to work on drive into contact and get use to finishing with contact. When you control the contact it’s easier to finish your shot.

He really does a nice job of recognizing the right play whether that’s creating his own shot or making the pass.

Yeah, dribbling in traffic definitely needs tightened up. I'll keep banging that drum. That really will unlock so much in his game.