Game Thread Playoffs Round 1, Game 1: Spurs vs Blazers (0-0) (Sun 04/19/2026) [8:00 CDT]

[BatManu20]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2046072411871678637

 

[BatManu20]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2046072880090279957

 

[1kangaroo]

Can we give former Spur Tiago some props he has done a great job coaching up the Blazers

 

[Amuseddaysleeper]

Only Avdija (and Scoot in spurts) seemed to show up offensively for the Trailblazers. They have zero ability to generate scoring outside of Avdija, and it really proved to their detriment last night. Tbh the only reason this game was even remotely close heading down the stretch was the atrocious officiating. Just absolutely shameful stuff in the 2nd and 4th Q from that crew.

Yes but despite all that it was just a 2 point game late in it. I hope our outside shooting can be consistent because POR role players can play much better at home.

 

[BatManu20]

We really need to punish that Clingan defending Castle matchup in Game 2. I thought it caught them a bit off guard and Steph was a little too passive in attacking. That has to either be a pull up shot right away or go at him quick.

Agreed. Steph's midrange jumper was just off yesterday which I think made him hesitate wanting to shoot it as the game went on, but that's an easy mismatch to exploit if he's hitting his middies. If he hits a couple and Clingan plays up on him then he can easily blow by him with his quickness.

Fox did a good job reading and reacting with a lob on this play too.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2046059227257450716

 

[2centsworth]

We really need to punish that Clingan defending Castle matchup in Game 2. I thought it caught them a bit off guard and Steph was a little too passive in attacking. That has to either be a pull up shot right away or go at him quick.

They're baiting him into taking the 3, and that's a negative play for the Spurs. Lots of different ways to expose that mismatch. We'll get a chance to see what kind of adjustments Mitch makes.

 

[Russ]

Can we give former Spur Tiago some props he has done a great job coaching up the Blazers

The crowd went crazy last night when they introd him and showed him on screen.

(He didn't acknowledge it, game face on.)

 

[Dbreiden83080]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2046234936982884822

I feel like Vanessa needs to give Timmy an ultimatum. It's a haircut or a shave?

 

[Dex]

I feel like Vanessa needs to give Timmy an ultimatum. It's a haircut or a shave?

Timmy is taking his druid D&D character too far

 

[spurraider21]

pretty easy game all things considered, never really seemed to be in question. even if our offense sputters, its just going to be very hard for them to have sustained offense. they have been one of the worst 3pt shooting teams in the leauge this year, and while they might not be as bad as they were yesterday every game going forward, theyre just not going to have consistent success.

Fox was mostly solid then closed the game late. Vassell's 3rd quarter run was pretty magical. and wemby was just fuckin around and got 35, though he should probably tone things down and let the guards do more of the work.

still, portland always projected to be our easiest possible 1st round matchup and it felt that way. they never really threatened the lead. this series may go 5 if they just have a game where they are uncharacteristically hot from 3 and we go through some offensive doldrums.

despite how well castle/harper shot to close the season, it still is abundantly clear that they wil be dared to shoot all posteason long. but the fact that castle could struggle like he did, keldon could provide nothing, and even harper was mostly quiet... yet we still won easily. just goes to show how big a mismatch this series is.

 

[blueguy]

Last night was ideal, we stayed healthy and had a relatively easy win, but we didn't dominate....I want our guys to stay sharp and not be too relaxed for game two.

 

[Mugen]

They're baiting him into taking the 3, and that's a negative play for the Spurs. Lots of different ways to expose that mismatch. We'll get a chance to see what kind of adjustments Mitch makes.

Doesn't have to spam them but still needs to take it from time to time to keep em honest. Otherwise, other teams will do the same thing (Jokic/Chet/etc)

 

[Sec24Row7]

Im still baffled by that loose ball foul called on Wemby after the block at the end of the first half. Thats one of the most ridiculously unprecedented foul calls I have ever witnessed. Can anyone here ever remember seeing a clean block and then the defensive player, who goes straight up mind you, get run into by the shooter and undercut, and called for a foul while falling from the block?

I see defenders every game get the ball on a block and then body to body bowl over the offensive player with their momentum second and it be a no call...

Ridiculous.

 

[Sec24Row7]

Agreed. Steph's midrange jumper was just off yesterday which I think made him hesitate wanting to shoot it as the game went on, but that's an easy mismatch to exploit if he's hitting his middies. If he hits a couple and Clingan plays up on him then he can easily blow by him with his quickness.

Fox did a good job reading and reacting with a lob on this play too.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2046059227257450716

That was a set play after a timeout. Fox is pretty horrible at seeing lobs to rollers this season.

 

[O_V]

It was called a foul on Wemby

And it was a terrible call. Fabbs is an idiot.

 

[Robz4000]

I honestly think Castle is just fine and I'm looking forward to the future with him. My only point was in a different place with different players and culture it might be a different scenario due to some of the tendencies we've seen where he tries to do too much.

Thought we were talking off the court tbh. Agreed on that.

 

[Sec24Row7]

Edit:
Very solid game from Luke too.

Not sure what that asshole T-Mac was on about. Seems really bitter. The refs have let a lot of physical play go on Victor all season. I don't give a shit if it's the playoffs or not where they generally call less fouls, but in Vic's case, they need to call more fouls that are committed on him. Fuck Tracy McGrady. I used to be a fan of his, but not anymore if he's calling for stuff like that. The guy was washed up at 29 which is crazy. I'm not interested in hearing anything about what he's got to say based on what little I heard of his NBC analysis. Manu was playing better at 40 than this guy was at 29. At least Vince played way longer and has been in a lot more playoff games. Carmelo doesn't provide great analysis either, but at least he's also played more playoff games and has been deep in the playoffs.
Can't have people injuring Vic with dirty reckless plays just because they can't compete/hang with him skill wise. It'll only hurt the NBA's product. Overall, it's better to have Victor playing in the playoffs than not for the league's popularity, money, ratings.

Here's a better Qualified analyst right here NBC.

Regular season Hall of Famers shouldn't be used as analysts in the post season.

 

[spurraider21]

i know there is a lot of noise in single game +/-, but its interesting we were only +4 in wemby's 33 minutes. his turnovers do typically lead to inevitable points the other way

 

[LeBowen]

 

[Sec24Row7]

i know there is a lot of noise in single game +/-, but its interesting we were only +4 in wemby's 33 minutes. his turnovers do typically lead to inevitable points the other way

He was a whole lot of jump shooter this game. I wonder if it's by design they are working him in that way. It's obvious his rib is still extremely painful. I imagine thats why he got so few rebounds, and why our guards crashed the boards so hard.

 

[Splits]

Electric. Almost a European-like atmosphere tbh.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2046237772525310126

Need to allow flares, tbh

 

[bozhemoi]

Im still baffled by that loose ball foul called on Wemby after the block at the end of the first half. Thats one of the most ridiculously unprecedented foul calls I have ever witnessed. Can anyone here ever remember seeing a clean block and then the defensive player, who goes straight up mind you, get run into by the shooter and undercut, and called for a foul while falling from the block?

I see defenders every game get the ball on a block and then body to body bowl over the offensive player with their momentum second and it be a no call...

Ridiculous.

Probably the worst call of the night.

Wembanyama blocks Sharpe's shot, jumping straight into the air. Sharpe crashes into him, Wemby partially falls onto him, whistle blows on Wembanyama for... what? What's the call?

And the announcers did their job trying to justify it. Madness.

 

[Coyote2!]

Yes but despite all that it was just a 2 point game late in it. I hope our outside shooting can be consistent because POR role players can play much better at home.

It was a two point game in the beginning of the third, and then we turned on the jets. We have another gear that they simply don't have. I think they'll steal one of games 2, 3, or 4 with a fluke shooting performance, but they can't sustain that for four out of six.

 

[Coyote2!]

Probably the worst call of the night.

Wembanyama blocks Sharpe's shot, jumping straight into the air. Sharpe crashes into him, Wemby partially falls onto him, whistle blows on Wembanyama for... what? What's the call?

And the announcers did their job trying to justify it. Madness.

I dunno, that Avidja flop toward the baseline was awful. And the challenge being unsuccessful because Scoot yanking Wemby's arm downward during a loose ball was apparently 'incidental contact' was pretty bad too. OH, and the Harper offensive foul when he used his shoulder to create space (something Avdija and Shai get away with 4 or 5 times a game). AND the moving screen called on Wemby when he established good position for once in his life (lol). So many more on top of that. Oh man it was infuriating. What happened to home cooking??

 

[Splits]