Game Thread Playoffs Round 1, Game 3: Blazers vs Spurs (1-1) (Fri 04/26/2026) [9:30 CDT]

[RC_Drunkford]

See this game and shot selection. Even OKC games where we won.

Castle can shoot as well. Its entirely different when he is not taking ball to basket aggressively.

This team can still play at very very very high level if they play for each other. Pass pass pass…

the problem is that this team peaked in february/march. After that they been coasting through the season and now they aren't playing on this level anymore and reverting back to bad habits. That's why this Blazers series is acutally the perfect one to get back on track for the tougher match ups in round 2. It's just a matter of how quick can they get out of this funk.

 

[tearsofmorningdew]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2047030144338890957

If he travels he’s playing game 4 at minimum

 

[Ice009]

I thought him getting to be on the 75 greatest was a joke over Manu and Parker.

Absolutely. Manu should have been on it at least. I'd have to see the names again, but maybe Parker too.

 

[tearsofmorningdew]

Absolutely. Manu should have been on it at least. I'd have to see the names again, but maybe Parker too.

Whatever it is lillard doesn’t belong there

 

[spurraider21]

Mason Plumlee Playoff minutes in the big 2026… tragic tbh.

But you're right. No way they can continue to trot out 6'6 Carter Bryant at Center and expect not to get destroyed by a team employing 7'2 280 lb Donovan Clingan (who led the league in Rebounds this season) and 6'10 250 lb Timelord (who's averaging 15 Rebounds per 36 this season).

We'll prob get destroyed in the the Plumlee minutes regardless like we did against Denver 2 weeks ago, but you at least have to try imo.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2046962305833873731

they just need to be more deliberate with Bryant's minutes and only have him playing center during Robert Williams minutes. I shudder at the thought of Plumlee moving his feet at all, but at least he can somewhat, theoretically, prevent Clingan from scooping every offensive rebound.

If Kornet cant match Clingan's minutes, then we need to use one of our 3 centers who are apparently unplayably bad but also rostered for some reason

For what its worth, Clingan has played 20-24 minutes in games 1 and 2, so its not like we need Kornet to play 30 minutes to keep pace

 

[gospursgo91]

they just need to be more deliberate with Bryant's minutes and only have him playing center during Robert Williams minutes. I shudder at the thought of Plumlee moving his feet at all, but at least he can somewhat, theoretically, prevent Clingan from scooping every offensive rebound.

If Kornet cant match Clingan's minutes, then we need to use one of our 3 centers who are apparently unplayably bad but also rostered for some reason

For what its worth, Clingan has played 21 and 23 minutes in games 1 and 2, so its not like we need Kornet to play 30 minutes to keep pace

At least knock Scoot or Deni on their ass a few times. If we can’t defend the rim with a contest at least throw a big body on them when they come is so they at least think twice.

 

[DaSlicer]

I looked up the series averages for this series for both teams. One observation I made is the Spurs only have 5 guys shooting at 50 percent or above for the series which is Victor, Champ, Harper, and Kornet and Bryant. The rest of the team is shooting crappy percentages. I would disregard Bryant's shooting since he hasn't shot much and it's really only 4 guys when you look at the shot attempts.

The Blazers are also similar in this regard with them only having 3 guys shooting at 50 percent or above which are Deni, Scoot, and Williams.

Here are the series averages

https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/2026-nba-western-conference-first-round-trail-blazers-vs-spurs.html

 

[Mugen]

they just need to be more deliberate with Bryant's minutes and only have him playing center during Robert Williams minutes. I shudder at the thought of Plumlee moving his feet at all, but at least he can somewhat, theoretically, prevent Clingan from scooping every offensive rebound.

If Kornet cant match Clingan's minutes, then we need to use one of our 3 centers who are apparently unplayably bad but also rostered for some reason

For what its worth, Clingan has played 20-24 minutes in games 1 and 2, so its not like we need Kornet to play 30 minutes to keep pace

Luke needs to play 32-36 minutes a game if Wemby is out tbh.

 

[scott]

Woke up kind of bummed, but when I saw @brazil started the GT, all my worries disappeared.

We got this.

 

[Mugen]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2047030144338890957

Good news so far.

Most important thing is prioritizing his health. Luckily, it's the thing I trust the most when it comes to this organization tbh.

Maybe if he's still a little woozy, they can use this time to tell him we're playing Chet and the Thunder and speed up his recovery timeline tbh.

 

[Mugen]

If he travels he’s playing game 4 at minimum

Yeah, if he's good enough to travel tomorrow then I'm 95% sure he's playing G4 regardless of the Game 3 outcome tbh.

 

[spurraider21]

Yeah, if he's good enough to travel tomorrow then I'm 95% sure he's playing G4 regardless of the Game 3 outcome tbh.

that would be welcome, but i just hope they are doing the right thing and not skipping steps. i know this is not football where repeat concussions are more likely... but the kid is 22 and theres no need for him to lay on his shield this early in his career

 

[rascal]

Not expecting Wemby until game 6. Concussions are usually 7 to 10 days for clearance.
Spurs will be in good shape if they can win 2 of the next 3 or the series becomes a toss up if they only win one of the next three having to win both games 6 and 7 with Wemby coming back in game 6.

Spurs need to draft a couple of rotation worthy frontline players in this year's draft. Current depth behind Wemby on the frontline is weak by NBA standards.

 

[brazil]

Spurs steal game 3 in OT, Victor back game 4 for 20 mn, Spurs gets an easy win against Blazers demoralized, Spurs finishes the business at home in a close game.

 

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

I think we're still the better team. Preparing for a game knowing Wemby won't be playing is different than losing him in Q2 and adjusting the gameplan.

Trying to acquire a skilled player with size needs to be the priority in the offseason. It gets pretty sad on this roster after Wemby and Kornet.

I feel like we'll at worst split in Portland. *fingers crossed*

 

[SouthernFried]

The Problem ain't the players. We got great players. The problem is the coach. Mitch is a run and gun guy. He has no clue how to set up a half court offense. The playoffs are always about half court offense and good defense.

Also, Portland plays stronger than the Spurs. Towards the end, the Spurs looked intimidated by them. Everyone says Spurs should start knocking people around as well. Who would do that? Champagnie? Vassell? Fox? Wemby? Out of our starting 5, there's only one person who might be able to play physical. Castle. Face it. Spurs are a very talented team. But, physical and strong they are not.

 

[DaSlicer]

Not expecting Wemby until game 6. Concussions are usually 7 to 10 days for clearance.
Spurs will be in good shape if they can win 2 of the next 3 or the series becomes a toss up if they only win one of the next three having to win both games 6 and 7 with Wemby coming back in game 6.

Spurs need to draft a couple of rotation worthy frontline players in this year's draft. Current depth behind Wemby on the frontline is weak by NBA standards.

If he can't comeback until game 6 then the series could be pretty much over by then. There is a chance the Spurs could lose in 5 the way it is right now. That's why in the worst case scenario if they are down 3-1 they would need him back for game 5.

 

[scott]

If we lose in 5, with or without Wemby, then we were frauds anyway.

 

[DTW]

Luke needs to play 32-36 minutes a game if Wemby is out tbh.

Kornet tops out at mid-high 20s minutes. It's going to be a colossal struggle to win a single game with 20ish minutes (more, if he's in foul trouble) of non NBA caliber C play vs Clingan/Williams on the offensive glass/lobs and Avdija on drives/free throws, which is why not hanging on in game 2 was so massive.

Give the multi day break from 2 to 3 and the short turnaround from 3 to 4, they need to go all in to get 3. Do that and get Wembanyama back by 5, they should be fine. If neither happens, this series is over.

 

[Corso]

Woke up kind of bummed, but when I saw @brazil started the GT, all my worries disappeared.

We got this.

The @BatManu20 curse was going to rear it's ugly head at some point.
Just keep @Amuseddaysleeper at bay or Vic would have broken his jaw.

 

[dn0774]

Holy shit guys, the series is 1-1. Unpucker your assholes, this is standard playoff basketball things.

 

[DaSlicer]

If we lose in 5, with or without Wemby, then we were frauds anyway.

I just think it's cope when people say stuff like this. Most title teams would get pummeled if their star player was absent for all of the first round. I think Spurs would have been lucky to win a game without Duncan in all of their runs in the first round during their title years. I have accepted if the Spurs lose they got robbed this year of a chance to contend granted there is no guarantee it would have happened if Victor was healthy but injuries historically have had the ability to derail a team's title hopes.

 

[DTW]

Holy shit guys, the series is 1-1. Unpucker your assholes, this is standard playoff basketball things.

This isn't like other leagues. If you don't have 48 minutes of reasonable defensive anchor and shot creation play, it's exceedingly difficult to win, particularly against an opponent equipped to exploit the former and defender the latter.

That said, there is recent precedent of a team relying on a replacement C in the playoffs, as the Pacers did with Bradley in '25 to limit Robinson bludgeoning them on the offensive glass. Short man syndrome Johnson has to give the corpse of Plumlee a chance though.

 

[Wemby_Island]

The Problem ain't the players. We got great players. The problem is the coach. Mitch is a run and gun guy. He has no clue how to set up a half court offense. The playoffs are always about half court offense and good defense.

Also, Portland plays stronger than the Spurs. Towards the end, the Spurs looked intimidated by them. Everyone says Spurs should start knocking people around as well. Who would do that? Champagnie? Vassell? Fox? Wemby? Out of our starting 5, there's only one person who might be able to play physical. Castle. Face it. Spurs are a very talented team. But, physical and strong they are not.

Well when Pistons employed this in our 1st meeting KJ, Steph and CB ruffed them alot.

Problem is refs, who are allowing 1 side to be physical.

But I agree, we dont have a O philosophy. No one moves the ball to open receivers.

 

[scott]

I just think it's cope when people say stuff like this. Most title teams would get pummeled if their star player was absent for all of the first round. I think Spurs would have been lucky to win a game without Duncan in all of their runs in the first round during their title years. I have accepted if the Spurs lose they got robbed this year of a chance to contend granted there is no guarantee it would have happened if Victor was healthy but injuries historically have had the ability to derail a team's title hopes.

If we were playing Phoenix, I'd agree... but against Portland, we're still the better team without Wemby. We have plenty of evidence to back this up, including our 3 regular season matchups against this exact team.