Game Thread 2025-26 GAME #47 - BLAZERS @ CELTICS - JANUARY 26, 2026 - MONDAY - 5:00 PM - PEACOCK

[wizenheimer]

Clingan’s 3 point shot is a work in progress, but I don’t think you can just look at it from a point efficiency view. The purpose of him taking those shots isn’t just a matter of points, it’s whether he can become proficient enough that defenses have to cover him out there and, if they do, the openings in the paint that become available for his teammates. It’s probably a net minus from both viewpoints right now, but he’s got to shoot game shots in order to get better.

sorry....I just don't agree with that theory; not for a 7'2 C who may be the best offensive rebounder in the league. But then, I'm more of a traditional fan who thinks people have been sucker-punched into believing three's are the end-all-be-all option in the NBA

but flesh that theory out. Let's say Clingan improves and gets up to 35% on three's. Setting aside whether or not that would force defenses to adjust (I don't think so), that would mean, based upon my numbers above, he up's his average points/3PA from 0.92 to 1.05. That's still significantly worse than his 1.54 points/2PA; and that's assuming he doesn't improve his two point shooting at the same time he's improving his three point shooting; and that's not realistic

I just don't see this paying off....ever. I don't want Clingan playing like Meyer Leonard even if it's only for 12-15 possessions a game. He should live in the paint or on the edges of the paint

 

[PCmor7]

He has not looked good for a few games. And seems like he is always wanting to blame somebody, not sure who?

He just didn't come out last night that he was determined to dominate. And, yes, that's two games in a row the opponent didn't have a good answer for him and he played down to the competition.

There are guys like that. I've had teammates and I've had players I coached that would see a guy on the other team that they hated, just hated, sometimes irrationally hated, and they wouldn't be as good as that guy on the other team, but, that night, they would be. Any night they played that guy, they would be. They just found a motivation in playing that guy or that team or a confidence against that guy or that team and you always got their best game when you played them.

It's like Pritchard the other way. I know there are a lot of fans here that think Payton Pritchard would be a great Blazer, would do just about anything to have him on the Blazers. Except, he averages less than 10 ppg for his career and one of the reasons it's that high is that he averages something like 5.5 ppg more against the Blazers than he does against everyone.

 

[PCmor7]

Clingan’s 3 point shot is a work in progress, but I don’t think you can just look at it from a point efficiency view. The purpose of him taking those shots isn’t just a matter of points, it’s whether he can become proficient enough that defenses have to cover him out there and, if they do, the openings in the paint that become available for his teammates. It’s probably a net minus from both viewpoints right now, but he’s got to shoot game shots in order to get better.

I don't think it's even that complicated.

One of Clingan's three most valuable abilities is his screening. As good as he is at offensive rebounding, I'd argue his a better screen-setter. For the amount of screens he sets, whether it's high pick and roll or a curl coming off the wing for a handoff, he usually gets a good jolt on the defender and doesn't get called for a high percentage of illegal screen fouls.

So it's not that his making the 3 creates good spacing for teammates to attack in the paint or get open 3s. It's that he's very valuable that far from the basket because he's a human windshield wiper cleaning chasers off your teammates.

Being able to shoot the 3 himself is just nice that it gives the team more options, makes them less predictable and harder to defend. But, no, I don't want him to fall in love with taking 3s because he has the finishing potential that he's going to get so much more efficient in the restricted area that it's eventually going to override his value even if he becomes a 35% shooter from 3.

I'd like to see the Blazers do more with having him run pin-down screens to pop shooters clean to the wing while he posts up the guard that got stuck switching on him on the block. Or just have teammates rub off their defenders as they go corner to corner like the Pacers used to do with Reggie Miller.

Now, the thing I hated from Clingan last night, aside from not playing physical, was, on one possession, Toumani missed a corner 3 and Donovan got a weakside rebound in the restricted area. He had an advantage and we were having problems shooting. Just put it in. You might even get fouled and get 3 the old-fashioned way. Instead, he passes up the almost automatic 2 and passes it right back to Toumani who missed again from the exact same spot. ARRGH!

 

[andalusian]

With Deni on the roster and his super-power being drives into the paint, having Clingan on the perimeter to set the initial pick is a good thing - so him also being able to leave the paint open for Deni's drive and being a knock the 3 target if the defense tries to pack the paint - that's a good thing to have.

This is the modern NBA, especially when the Blazers have such a relentless driving PG.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Clingan’s 3 point shot is a work in progress, but I don’t think you can just look at it from a point efficiency view. The purpose of him taking those shots isn’t just a matter of points, it’s whether he can become proficient enough that defenses have to cover him out there and, if they do, the openings in the paint that become available for his teammates. It’s probably a net minus from both viewpoints right now, but he’s got to shoot game shots in order to get better.

Agreed - best to let them fly and see if he can become more effective with it. If he does than his value goes way up. If not then there is plenty of time to refine his shot selection at a later point.

Right now the Blazers are arguably the worst 3pt shooting team in the NBA. Eventually they will need more productivity from their young core in that area.

If Clingan or someone else can greatly improve in that area perhaps it could change how the Blazers need to build the roster. Could change if we need to change out a young player for a different archetype - or not.