Game Thread 2025-26 GAME #44 - BLAZERS @ KINGS - JANUARY 18, 2026 - SUNDAY - 6:00 PM - KUNP - BLAZERVISION (8 Viewers)

[THE HCP]

??? What Ballets have YOU been going to?

I was going to say like a bull in a china shop, but to each his/her/they/it’s own.

 

[Pinwheel1]

??? What Ballets have YOU been going to?

I think his point was that Deni is like the conductor in a ballet, acting as the vital link between the orchestra and dancers.
He controlled the game during the late 2nd and early 3rd quarters.

His chemistry with everyone has gotten much better. Especially with Clingan.

 

[Everything Beagle]

??? What Ballets have YOU been going to?

Sorry, autocorrect. I meant to type rugby.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

Except:
1. he can't play PF, and
2. He's literally one of the worst defenders in the NBA, even when he isn't out of position.

I was thinking about that. Is he really anymore valuable than a guy like Drew Timme. who as we saw the other night, can really fill up the basket. Although sabonis is a lot better rebounder.

 

[wizenheimer]

I was thinking about that. Is he really anymore valuable than a guy like Drew Timme. who as we saw the other night, can really fill up the basket. Although sabonis is a lot better rebounder.

probably depends on how you define value. Sabonis a several tiers better than Timme, but Sabonis has a 3 year deal paying him 45M/year; Timme makes 2M

Timme is a bad example though. Zubac is probably as good as Sabonis, especially factoring defense, but only makes 19M/year. I'd definitely take Clingan over Sabonis. I think if Clingan isn't a better all around C right now, he will be in the next year or two. And he still has 2 seasons after this on his rookie deal

my take is that unless a team has a unicorn like Jokic, or Wemby, or Embiid (maybe not him because of injuries), paying a C over 30M year is probably a mistake

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

I’ve wanted him on our team for 5 years. LOVE his game.

Wanted him when he was drafted. We missed out on his dad’s best years and he was born in Portland. The NBA should just give him to us!

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

Except:
1. he can't play PF, and
2. He's literally one of the worst defenders in the NBA, even when he isn't out of position.

Not.

Swayed.

 

[Everything Beagle]

I’ve wanted him on our team for 5 years. LOVE his game.

He'd do great backing up LeBron.

 

[ant]

??? What Ballets have YOU been going to?

Deni is so special oh my god. Watching him on the drive is like watching ballet.

Do you mean like an alternative metal ballet where all the dancers smash into each other?

 

[PtldPlatypus]

No way I thought this team would be at .500 at ANY part of this season, especially with the injuries they’ve had. Love how the g-league guys have stepped up. Want to give a ton of credit to this coaching staff. A lot of people behind the scenes working with these guys.
Very excited about next season.

Why not be excited about the rest of  thisseason?

 

[THE HCP]

Why not be excited about the rest of  thisseason?

Great question. I guess it just depends on what excites you FAMS! Battling to play OKC in the 1st round doesn’t really do it for me I guess.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Great question. I guess it just depends on what excites you FAMS! Battling to play OKC in the 1st round doesn’t really do it for me I guess.

Get to the 8, win the first play in game, and we get to face the 2 seed. That's a winnable series

 

[THE HCP]

Get to the 8, win the first play in game, and we get to face the 2 seed. That's a winnable series

Who is #2 right now?

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Right now, the Spurs, but it could easily end up Denver, Minnesota, Houston, or the Lakers.

 

[andalusian]

Great question. I guess it just depends on what excites you FAMS! Battling to play OKC in the 1st round doesn’t really do it for me I guess.

That is a mistake, imho. Experience matters for young teams. Short of an all-world talent - There is no substitute for experience - and getting this experience for this team should excite us as fans.

 

[THE HCP]

Right now, the Spurs, but it could easily end up Denver, Minnesota, Houston, or the Lakers.

I don’t know my little rodent friend, but I would NOT call a series against ANY of those teams “winnable”. Wish I could, but not this season.

 

[Everything Beagle]

I don’t know my little rodent friend, but I would NOT call a series against ANY of those teams “winnable”. Wish I could, but not this season.

Would they be winnable if we still had Ayton? Is this when we miss him?

 

[blazerkor]

Great question. I guess it just depends on what excites you FAMS! Battling to play OKC in the 1st round doesn’t really do it for me I guess.

Dude, I am with you on this in theory but you are the person that has been pining over the days when we used to make the playoffs even if it was just to get bounced in the first round. Now that we have a good shot at making the playoffs again as a lower seed, you seem to have abandoned wishing we could make the playoffs and are now wanting us to actually contend.

I don't mind it, it's human nature, just thought it was worth mentioning.

 

[Everything Beagle]

We should shoot for 5th seed.

The lower half of the West is basically tied with each other, sitting at 25 wins (24 for GSW). All of them are vulnerable, right as our injured players are coming back slowly but surely. We have struck gold twice on two-way players and they’ve shown they can play hard enough to win. Our lineup 1-15 can play significant minutes and hold their own, which means we can keep our starters’ minutes down. We’re starting to get more calls than our opponents.

We’re closer to 5th place than 10th place in the wins column. It’s a very tough but surprisingly doable goal. We should push for it.

 

[riverman]

I think playing the best teams in the league in the playoffs is the best training camp Sharpe, Clingan and Toumani can ever have and playing against the top seeds is a great measuring stick going into the next season win or lose this year. We have enough projects as it is on the team and another draft pick isn't going to magically change the team.