Game Thread 2025-26 GAME #81 - BLAZERS VS CLIPPERS - APRIL 10, 2026 - FRIDAY - 7:00 PM - KUNP - BLAZERVISION

[Driew]

Gotta show up with the same energy for the Kings... gotta win one out of two play-in games after that but making the playoffs sounds pretty fun.

The draft is overrated.

It'll be fun for a day before we get swept by okc lol. I really don't understand the desire for the 7th or 8th seed and losing our pick in a strong draft. Yes we'd get out from under that bulls pick finally but still....

 

[BlazerBeav]

Man it was great having a game mean something!

 

[blazerfan11]

I don’t know if Kris Murray will get the kudos he deserves for tonight because of how good others also were, but there’s no way we win this game without him.

The radio guys said statistically he was the best defender against Kawhi.

 

[Driew]

It’s a show of maturity. We are telling the league front office we are ready to move into the next stratum of teams. You think the refs would give Deni the time of day if we weren’t signaling we’re serious about the playoffs? This is a sports entertainment league. We are foregoing the lottery to gain respect during the season. We are good enough to get 8th seed despite so many injuries. We will reap benefits from this worth more than a bad pick in a good draft.

Four or five games in the playoffs isn't suddenly going to gain us respect by the refs or league office. We barely got any respect during dames prime years lol. We still need more talent from the draft. We'd basically be going two years with nothing from the draft if yang is a bust.

 

[GoZers]

It'll be fun for a day before we get swept by okc lol. I really don't understand the desire for the 7th or 8th seed and losing our pick in a strong draft. Yes we'd get out from under that bulls pick finally but still....

Makes zero sense

 

[KingSpeed]

Maybe it just means the Clippers suck. We are better than them, but worse than every team ahead of them. So the standings seem to be working out correctly.

Clippers were 34-17 after starting 6-21 so we were playing a hit team.

 

[inconceivable]

I think the Warriors have given up on the season at this point. Sure, they might be keeping their powder dry for the play-in but they haven't done well down the stretch; they are 1-6 over their last 7 games and 5-14 over their last 19 games

but curry was injured and just returned. that's the x-factor

 

[SharpeScooterShooter]

Just watched it again. Such fight! Such effort! Such resilience! How can one not love this team?
When it mattered most everyone stepped up, focus was there, intensity was there!
Best game in years!
Again… how can one not love this team??

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Blazers win... Blazers win!

I really wish they hadn't. I can see us beating the Suns in the play-in, getting swept by the Spurs, and losing a pick that goes on to be a franchise player.

Still, about time the Bulls had some luck, right?

 

[wizenheimer]

but curry was injured and just returned. that's the x-factor

maybe....but before Curry came back they lost Moody for the season; and maybe Quentin Post as well.

Butler is 36 years old, and 2 months ago tore his ACL. Moody ruptured his patellar tendon. Both players could miss a majority of next season with those injuries. I'm guessing there's a bit of a dark cloud hanging over the organization right now

that doesn't mean that with Curry back the Warriors aren't a dangerous team

 

[BassPlaya]

Deni and Jru were obvious. Other notables for me was Kris, Rob, and Scoot. Heck, even Blake seems to score every time he is inserted into the lineup. There is so much friendship, drive, and true brotherhood with this group. Fuck whatever happens with draft consequences. The amount of time in my 5 decades of watching BB that I have seen this tight of a group of men is so rare....I want to see every moment. Who knows if next years changes will alter the vibe.

 

[wizenheimer]

Deni and Jru were obvious. Other notables for me was Kris, Rob, and Scoot. Heck, even Blake seems to score every time he is inserted into the lineup. There is so much friendship, drive, and true brotherhood with this group. Fuck whatever happens with draft consequences. The amount of time in my 5 decades of watching BB that I have seen tight of a group of men is so rare....I want to see every moment. Who knows if next years changes will alter the vibe.

do you work for Hallmark?

 

[Pinwheel1]

The game was blacked out for me last night. I see we got 40 points from the bench. That was huge.
I was surprised to see that Bennedict Mathurin only played 5 minutes last night. AI suggested it was because of his lack of defense.
That seems hard to believe.

 

[Cugel]

Look if POR is on the floor I want them to win. What, ask them to miss shots? Fuck that. No matter what players are on the floor I want them to win. I get it, they need talent but that is not on the players.

 

[Stevenson]

Four or five games in the playoffs isn't suddenly going to gain us respect by the refs or league office. We barely got any respect during dames prime years lol. We still need more talent from the draft. We'd basically be going two years with nothing from the draft if yang is a bust.

You know, you're right. I think we should just shoot for the lottery every year!

 

[Driew]

You know, you're right. I think we should just shoot for the lottery every year!

Except for the years when we're a real contender!

 

[GrandpaBlaze]

Except for the years when we're a real contender!

Especially those years! The level of difficulty in tanking a good is so high that it makes the achievement so much more satisfying!

And as @THE HCP says…Do you really think we’re going to win it all?!? It’s not like we’re the Lakers.

 

[blazerfan11]

Except for the years when we're a real contender!

The Pistons didn't tank last season, finished 4th in their division, and lost their 2025 1st-round draft pick because they were out of the lottery.
Yes they were a 6th seed, not a 7th or 8th seed, but certainly not a contender. They lost 4-2 to the Knicks in the first round.

They did make some roster alterations in the 2025 offseason.

They lost Malik Beasley (now with the Santurce Crabbers in Puerto Rico) and Tim Hardaway Jr. (Denver).

Key changes included bringing in veterans Caris LeVert and Duncan Robinson, trading Jaden Ivey for Kevin Huerter and Dario Šarić, and elevating the team under Head Coach J.B. Bickerstaff (in his 2nd season with the Pistons).

How did the Pistons get so much better while losing Beasley and Hardaway Jr? (reddit question)
I feel like that should have been a lot tougher to overcome. Who stepped up the most?

- Because they dug deep into the defensive identity. They are 2nd in Def Rating in the league.
-Internal improvement. Chemistry. Javonte and Duncan fitting in well in place of beas and THJ. Durens personal growth has been immense.
-Duren has developed spectacularly, but overall the Pistons rise last year was based on elite defense and Cade Cunningham. This year… elite defense and Cade Cunningham.

 

[THE HCP]

Pistons play in the EAST.