Game Thread 2025-26 GAME #68 - BLAZERS @ 76ERS - MARCH 15, 2026 - SUNDAY - 3:00 PM - KUNP - BLAZERVISION

[blazerkor]

Remains mind boggling to me people have been pulling for them to win games with this draft class coming up.

I was furious last season when we did this but I thought we'd were going to tank down the stretch since that training camp. Now it's all we've heard about since training camp, we're in win now mode. So I just root for our team to win because that's what they're playing for.

Tanking is the wiser move but our team just isn't going to do it, so I'm rooting for wins but the losses don't hurt too much because they improve our draft position.

 

[GoZers]

I was furious last season when we did this but I thought we'd were going to tank down the stretch since that training camp. Now it's all we've heard about since training camp, we're in win now mode. So I just root for our team to win because that's what they're playing for.

Tanking is the wiser move but our team just isn't going to do it, so I'm rooting for wins but the losses don't hurt too much because they improve our draft position.

That’s how dumb they are. Win now mode?

 

[Strenuus]

I was furious last season when we did this but I thought we'd were going to tank down the stretch since that training camp. Now it's all we've heard about since training camp, we're in win now mode. So I just root for our team to win because that's what they're playing for.

Tanking is the wiser move but our team just isn't going to do it, so I'm rooting for wins but the losses don't hurt too much because they improve our draft position.

They dont improve them now that we won too much

Purgatory.

 

[inconceivable]

Maybe Cronin is weary the team losing might inspire new owner ro fire him

 

[HailBlazers]

Maybe Cronin is weary the team losing might inspire new owner ro fire him

Or maybe the team has the best Blazer ever waiting in the wings.

 

[e_blazer]

I’m not sure it’s possible to tank faster than the ten teams below us in the standings. Only the Warriors have a significant chance of ending with a worse record than the Blazers.

To those crowing about knowing how bad the Blazers were going to be, I think it should be pointed out that the Blazers have had the third most games missed due to injuries this year. I am NOT saying that this team is in any sense good, but at least acknowledge that there are some good reasons as to why they haven’t done better than they have.

There have been zero games so far this year where all of the core guys for the future (Scoot, Shaedon, Toumani, Deni, and Clingan) were all available to play together. That makes it pretty hard to get a read on the future. I have no idea how many different starting lineups there have been, but it’s a ton. That makes it pretty difficult to get any consistency in playing style. And losing your head coach before the start of the year and limping along with a guy with no NBA head coaching experience is not ideal.

 

[wizenheimer]

To those crowing about knowing how bad the Blazers were going to be, I think it should be pointed out that the Blazers have had the third most games missed due to injuries this year. I am NOT saying that this team is in any sense good, but at least acknowledge that there are some good reasons as to why they haven’t done better than they have.

an excuse that really doesn't withstand scrutiny

2021-22 - Portland 3rd in games missed by injury
2022-23 - Portland 7th in games missed by injury
2023-24 - Portland 2nd in games missed by injury
2024-25 - Portland 5th in games missed by injury
2025-26 - Portland 7th in games missed by injury (not sure where you got the 3rd ranking)

https://www.spotrac.com/nba/injured/_/year/2025/view/team

so, in every season that Cronin has been in charge of the roster, Portland's average ranking for games lost to injury is 4.8 out of 30. Injuries aren't a one-season-bug of Cronin rosters; they are an annual feature. Maybe that's job-security for Cronin as he can always point to injuries as an excuse for losing

it's also a case that Portland missing guys like Scoot, Thybulle, Murray, and Wesley isn't the same as Denver missing Jokic and Gordon; or Philly missing Maxey, Embiid, PG13, and Oubre; or Phoenix missing Booker, Brooks, & Grayson Allen. According to BB Index, gauging by WAR lost (wins-above-replacement-level-players-lost), Portland has actually lost less than the league average.

Team Injury Impacts - Basketball Index

www.bball-index.com

Philly, OKC, Atlanta, Boston, Orlando, Toronto, San Antonio, Lakers....those teams have all lost more player value to injury and they still have winning records....obviously because of having better overall roster talent, and probably because of having better balanced rosters

Blazers are 7-9 without Deni. That's not really a departure from their overall record (10-10 without Sharpe). Denver is 10-6 without Jokic. OKC is 8-4 without SGA. LAC is 4-10 without Kawhi and he's missed almost as many games as Deni, but LAC has a better record than Portland, and that's after they traded their starting C at the deadline

I know it's harsh, but I'm just not tolerant of weak excuses for Blazer under-performance and treadmills-in-purgatory anymore. Not after a decade of that shit under Olshey and now approaching a half-decade under Cronin.

 

[twobullz]

I'm still bummed the Blazers let Watford go.

 

[e_blazer]

an excuse that really doesn't withstand scrutiny

2021-22 - Portland 3rd in games missed by injury
2022-23 - Portland 7th in games missed by injury
2023-24 - Portland 2nd in games missed by injury
2024-25 - Portland 5th in games missed by injury
2025-26 - Portland 7th in games missed by injury (not sure where you got the 3rd ranking)

https://www.spotrac.com/nba/injured/_/year/2025/view/team

so, in every season that Cronin has been in charge of the roster, Portland's average ranking for games lost to injury is 4.8 out of 30. Injuries aren't a one-season-bug of Cronin rosters; they are an annual feature. Maybe that's job-security for Cronin as he can always point to injuries as an excuse for losing

it's also a case that Portland missing guys like Scoot, Thybulle, Murray, and Wesley isn't the same as Denver missing Jokic and Gordon; or Philly missing Maxey, Embiid, PG13, and Oubre; or Phoenix missing Booker, Brooks, & Grayson Allen. According to BB Index, gauging by WAR lost (wins-above-replacement-level-players-lost), Portland has actually lost less than the league average.

Team Injury Impacts - Basketball Index

www.bball-index.com

Philly, OKC, Atlanta, Boston, Orlando, Toronto, San Antonio, Lakers....those teams have all lost more player value to injury and they still have winning records....obviously because of having better overall roster talent, and probably because of having better balanced rosters

Blazers are 7-9 without Deni. That's not really a departure from their overall record (10-10 without Sharpe). Denver is 10-6 without Jokic. OKC is 8-4 without SGA. LAC is 4-10 without Kawhi and he's missed almost as many games as Deni, but LAC has a better record than Portland, and that's after they traded their starting C at the deadline

I know it's harsh, but I'm just not tolerant of weak excuses for Blazer under-performance and treadmills-in-purgatory anymore. Not after a decade of that shit under Olshey and now approaching a half-decade under Cronin.

Now, how did I know that there would be a lengthy @wizenheimer response to my post?

Look, the Blazers were never going to be more than about a .500 team this year. I don't think anybody said anything differently on this board that I can recall. As I said in my post, I wasn't making any claim that they were a good team. I am not making any excuses for the Blazers, weak or otherwise, because they are pretty much what I thought they were going to be. If Deni had stayed healthy, they'd probably be on track to meet my prediction of 42 wins and maybe would have been a couple over that. I have the same visceral reaction to people crowing about knowing how bad the Blazers were going to be, especially after a bad loss, that you seem to have for anyone pointing out that there are perhaps some reasons that should be factored into where this team is at.

Regarding the player value lost stats you posted, sure a good team with All-Star caliber players is going to get more credit for their injuries than the Blazers get for even their best player, but nobody can deny the value that Deni has to this team's success. And, if you're looking at it in the context of Cronin's plans for the team, there's a guy sitting on the sidelines this season whose games missed aren't being factored into the Blazers' injury stats at all because he was injured when signed. We can argue until the cows come home about what Dame is going to add to the team next season at his age and coming back from a major injury, but he has the potential to make a huge impact if he can just provide perimeter shooting that the Blazers' brick masons are so obviously lacking.

 

[SharpesTriumph]

Any Blazers injury stat that includes Lillard game missed is misleading.

 

[e_blazer]

Any Blazers injury stat that includes Lillard game missed is misleading.

I don’t think any of them do. Dame’s value is going to prove itself one way or another next season.

I would argue that Scoot missing 62% of the season and Shaedon likely missing a third or more of the season has a bigger impact on the Blazers overall development than a guy like Jokic missing some games but being back for the playoffs has on the Nuggets’.

 

[wizenheimer]

Regarding the player value lost stats you posted, sure a good team with All-Star caliber players is going to get more credit for their injuries than the Blazers get for even their best player, but nobody can deny the value that Deni has to this team's success. And, if you're looking at it in the context of Cronin's plans for the team, there's a guy sitting on the sidelines this season whose games missed aren't being factored into the Blazers' injury stats at all because he was injured when signed.

well, to start with, as I said, Blazers are 7-9 without Deni so I certainly mentioned his value. As far as Dame, I've always been a big fan of his but he's going to be 36 years old coming off about the worst injury in basketball. Anybody who is "factoring" major contributions by him next season is way out on a limb chugging hopium. I hope it happens but I'm not optimistic

starters missed games:

29-Jrue
20-Sharpe
16-Deni
5-Clingan
0-Camara

70-Portland

12-SGA
10-Holmgren
42-Williams
11-Dort
31-Hartenstein

106-OKC

9-Fox
13-Vassell
10-Castle
5-Barnes
15-Wemby

52-San Antonio

12-Doncic
26-Reaves
21-Lebron
11-Smart
9-Ayton

79-Lakers

2-Amen
3-Durant
4-Smith
8-Sengun
22-Eason

39-Houston

5-Murray
16-Jokic
36-Braun
26-Johnson
41-Gordon

124-Denver

10-Edwards
2-McDaniels
3-Gobert

15-Minny

16-Booker
17-Brooks
24-Allen
11-Williams

70-Phoenix

LAC I can't compute because of major trades

28-Curry
29-Butler
13-Green
8-Moody

78-Warriors. they also traded Kuminga and Hield for Porzingis who has only played 4 games for them

I'm not saying injuries haven't impacted the Blazers; they have. But Portland isn't the only team to deal with injuries. 6 of the 9 teams above Portland in WC standings have had more, or the same level of missed games by starters. Golden State missing 57 games from Curry/Butler; OKC missing 56 from SGA/Williams; Denver missing 67 from Jokic/Gordon; Lakers missing 47 from Lebron/Reaves; those are a different level of lost games than Portland missing 36 games from Deni/Sharpe.

 

[e_blazer]

well, to start with, as I said, Blazers are 7-9 without Deni so I certainly mentioned his value. As far as Dame, I've always been a big fan of his but he's going to be 36 years old coming off about the worst injury in basketball. Anybody who is "factoring" major contributions by him next season is way out on a limb chugging hopium. I hope it happens but I'm not optimistic

starters missed games:

29-Jrue
20-Sharpe
16-Deni
5-Clingan
0-Camara

70-Portland

12-SGA
10-Holmgren
42-Williams
11-Dort
31-Hartenstein

106-OKC

9-Fox
13-Vassell
10-Castle
5-Barnes
15-Wemby

52-San Antonio

12-Doncic
26-Reaves
21-Lebron
11-Smart
9-Ayton

79-Lakers

2-Amen
3-Durant
4-Smith
8-Sengun
22-Eason

39-Houston

5-Murray
16-Jokic
36-Braun
26-Johnson
41-Gordon

124-Denver

10-Edwards
2-McDaniels
3-Gobert

15-Minny

16-Booker
17-Brooks
24-Allen
11-Williams

70-Phoenix

LAC I can't compute because of major trades

28-Curry
29-Butler
13-Green
8-Moody

78-Warriors. they also traded Kuminga and Hield for Porzingis who has only played 4 games for them

I'm not saying injuries haven't impacted the Blazers; they have. But Portland isn't the only team to deal with injuries. 6 of the 9 teams above Portland in WC standings have had more, or the same level of missed games by starters. Golden State missing 57 games from Curry/Butler; OKC missing 56 from SGA/Williams; Denver missing 67 from Jokic/Gordon; Lakers missing 47 from Lebron/Reaves; those are a different level of lost games than Portland missing 36 games from Deni/Sharpe.

Do you get paid by the word around here? If so, I need to talk with Sly.

You think Holiday was intended to be the starter at PG for the Blazers this year? The hype leading up to the start of the season about Scoot certainly would argue otherwise. So would any reasonable team-building plan. I’d say losing him at the start of the year and for so much of the season set his personal, as well as overall team, development back by a full year.

 

[wizenheimer]

Do you get paid by the word around here? If so, I need to talk with Sly.

You think Holiday was intended to be the starter at PG for the Blazers this year? The hype leading up to the start of the season about Scoot certainly would argue otherwise. So would any reasonable team-building plan. I’d say losing him at the start of the year and for so much of the season set his personal, as well as overall team, development back by a full year.

wut? Yes....Holiday was definitely going to be the starter. Remember, this season was 'winning time now' and Jrue is much beeter at winning BB than Scoot

I doubt anybody with common sense penciled in Scoot as a starter over Jrue. For fuck-sakes Scoot only started 10 of 66 games last season when Simons was the only other PG on the roster (unless you count Banton) and Jrue is a whole lot better than Simons

and yeah, I get paid by the words, but only words with a 'w' in them. I actually get paid by the w. So I use w words whenever I post; which is why I added this sentence with a whole lot of glee. I bowwowed at Sly one time; he bowwowed back; we had a powwow and came up with the rate

 

[e_blazer]

wut? Yes....Holiday was definitely going to be the starter. Remember, this season was 'winning time now' and Jrue is much beeter at winning BB than Scoot

I doubt anybody with common sense penciled in Scoot as a starter over Jrue. For fuck-sakes Scoot only started 10 of 66 games last season when Simons was the only other PG on the roster (unless you count Banton) and Jrue is a whole lot better than Simons

and yeah, I get paid by the words, but only words with a 'w' in them. I actually get paid by the w. So I use w words whenever I post; which is why I added this sentence with a whole lot of glee. I bowwowed at Sly one time; he bowwowed back; we had a powwow and came up with the rate

I should have asked, "Do you think Holiday was intended to be the starting PG for the season before Scoot was injured?"

Here's what Chauncey said prior to opening night, but after Scoot's injury, “I feel like we have seven starters on this team, I really do,” head coach Chauncey Billups told reporters in Tualatin. “Those five, Jerami [Grant] and Scoot [Henderson]. For the first year, I had some really, really tough decisions to make, and I like that. They came in and did great. Jerami was incredible in camp, along with the other guys. I just feel like right now this is kinda how we need to go.”

He was going to start Jrue at point, but clearly thought that Scoot was playing starting-level ball before he was injured. It would have some pretty poor roster management not to try to promote Scoot to the starting slot sometime this year since he's tabbed as the Blazers' future at PG. I'm pretty sure that Jrue would have been fine with playing some minutes off the ball with Scoot in a 3 guard rotation (Scoot, Sharpe, and Jrue).

 

[wizenheimer]

I should have asked, "Do you think Holiday was intended to be the starting PG for the season before Scoot was injured?"

yes

 

[THE HCP]

Nah, Jrue was supposed to come of the bench for 20 min as a backup.