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

I'm sure there was a lot of apoplectic wrist slitting in this thread for a long part of the game, but as expected, when Portland started shooting like Portland shoots, it was really no contest. Props to our boys for sticking to the plan.

Holiday and Scoot were giving me Channing Frye flashbacks.

And holy fucking shit what a great night for Dylan Harper to jump to the next level.
 
The other day, I posted in this thread that Harper and Bryant would be more effective than Fox and Barnes if the coaches would be flexible + willing to trust. Thought we would learn a lot about our squad during this series. That said -- I did NOT expect that Game 3 would go down in history as The Dylan Harper Game. Years from now, we'll look back on this one and say, "That's when he became the leader." Special night. Let's go get Game 4 Sunday.
 
I'm sure there was a lot of apoplectic wrist slitting in this thread for a long part of the game, but as expected, when Portland started shooting like Portland shoots, it was really no contest. Props to our boys for sticking to the plan.

Holiday and Scoot were giving me Channing Frye flashbacks.

And holy fucking shit what a great night for Dylan Harper to jump to the next level.
I don’t know if it was the team sticking to a consistent plan. They started over aggressive and reckless, trying to get in a track meet with them and it wasn’t until they finally started slowing things down late in the third, is when they started taking over on both ends with Dylan leading the way. Kornet was the most consistent player from the very beginning.
 
If Wemby is ready to go Sunday and passes protocol, does the team still play it conservatively and not play him after seeing how they responded tonight?
I'd be interested knowing exactly how deep their baseline assessment is/was and how often they make it. If it's as intense as I imagine, and he passes protocol, combined with the time sat out (multiple days, including multiple nights of sleep and multiple workouts without a recurrence of symptoms), then I'd say it's very very likely they allow him to play. However, I'm speaking from a position of ignorance.
 
fox gotta stop taking the 3s....just shoot a jumper or make a play for someone.
I really don't know how to approach this. Should he pass up shots? It can't be good for his psyche to pass up shots.

Yup those 3s by fox are getting on my nerves. Unless it’s a drive and dish and he’s on the receiving end of it, he shouldn’t be shooting the 3
This might be more inline of when he should take threes. Good call IMO.

CB acting as some sort of "decoy point forward"

>>> thats the closest i can think of it
I like that CB was at least able to handle bringing the ball up and playing like you said "sort of decoy point forward." I believe he might be able to play that for real further on in his career.


what if we start with this five next game

psycho move

then, bench is

Wemby
Barnes
Keldon
Fox
and Vassell
Interesting, I kind of like it. They won't do it, but I kind of like it.

Christ why aren’t we going to Dylan and playing hero ball here
I think Dylan was a bit tired. I saw Castle try and pass the ball late to him, but Dylan sort of said you take it. I think he was a bit tired. Again, another reason Mitch should have played him more in the regular season to build up more stamina.

And also, Mitch didn't play him much in crunch time and just like that, Dylan has had to play in crunch time in the playoffs. No idea what Mitch was thinking. I said it in another thread, but the brilliance of the young guys has bailed Mitch out so far.

Now that there’s less pressure Fox “takes over” loooool
At least he made the shots. Spurs still needed those shots to not let them back in it. It's still a playoff game, so there is still pressure.

Scoot’s and Jrue’s bullshit stopped falling. All is well in the world again tbh.
Thank goodness.
 
I think Wemby is playing Sunday 99%. There is no doubt about it.

Looks like he pushed for playing today but NBA didn’t agreed to it. Ofcourse they will be conservative for a 1st rd playoffs which we will pull off any Way.
 
I'd be interested knowing exactly how deep their baseline assessment is/was and how often they make it. If it's as intense as I imagine, and he passes protocol, combined with the time sat out (multiple days, including multiple nights of sleep and multiple workouts without a recurrence of symptoms), then I'd say it's very very likely they allow him to play. However, I'm speaking from a position of ignorance.
People forget but Pop still makes decisions and we all know how conservative he can be when it comes to player health. I think there’s a 50/50 chance Wemby sits even if he passes protocol.
 
My biggest takeaway is that the players we thought of as career losers before this season haven't overcome that label and young guys carried.
Harper, Castle and CB won this game, with Kornet being the only veteran that showed up on the expected level.
The losing scars almost become part of a player's DNA. For the other career vets on big money contract (Fox, HB) i would genuinely feel embarrassed to watch Harper/Castle take me home on a road playoffs game.
 
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