Today Dave takes time to remember Bill Walton through his unique contribution to the Trail Blazers and their fan base. Hear how Dollar Bill established a relationship that nobody else could, or has, between Portland fans and NBA basketball. Intro music was written and recorded by Kyle Gilmer of Residual Audio Podcast edited by Kyle Gilmer https://linktr.ee/kylegilmer Logo by William P. Gilmer [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dave Deckard does what he does best, taking you on a tour of Portland Trail Blazers head coaches and their tenures, asking what the history of the franchise can teach us about Chauncey Billups, his prospects, and his tenure today. Intro music was written and recorded by Kyle Gilmer of Residual Audio Podcast edited by Kyle Gilmer https://linktr.ee/kylegilmer Logo by William P. Gilmer [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Damian Lillard and the Milwaukee Bucks got eliminated from the 2024 NBA Playoffs. Dave puts the loss, and Lillard's career, in perspective. Does this diminish, or change, anything? Who is Damian Lillard, really? And how should he be interpreted in Trail Blazers lore? Intro music was written and recorded by Kyle Gilmer of Residual Audio Podcast edited by Kyle Gilmer https://linktr.ee/kylegilmer Logo by William P. Gilmer [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the inaugural episode of a new Blazer's Edge Podcast, Dave Deckard looks at 5 questions dogging the Trail Blazers right now and whether the team has made any progress towards answering them. In the midst of a frustrating season, let's take stock of the franchise and see where they need to go from here.

Dave Deckard returns to podcasting with Trail Daddy, your weekly show covering the Portland Trail Blazers. In this inaugural episode, Dave addresses a half-dozen misconceptions surrounding the Blazers during this rough season and opens up hope for the path ahead. Don't miss it!

In this special Damian Lillard edition of the Blazer's Edge Podcast, Dave Deckard welcomes old podcast partner Danny Marang as the two discuss all things Damian Lillard, from his history and significance to the Trail Blazers to the (maybe necessary) acrimony surrounding his departure to the fruits of the deal that sent him to Milwaukee. Don't miss this XL tribute to Dame and the Blazers! Podcast edited by Kyle Gilmer ⁠https://linktr.ee/kylegilmer⁠

Damian Lillard has finally requested a trade. On this special edition of Blazer's Edge's podcast, veteran writer and draft guru Steve Dewald joins Dave Deckard to talk about the Dame timeline, potential trade returns, and the future with Portland's young players.

The Portland Trail Blazers are one week closer to the NBA Draft, but are they any closer to resolving their swampy, neither-fish-nor-foul position? Damian Lillard names teams he'd like to be traded to. Scoot Henderson affirms that he's all that and a bag of chips. What's the path forward? That, plus NBA finals, Jerami Grant talk, Chris Paul a free agent, and more! Podcast Edited by Kyle Gilmer ⁠https://linktr.ee/kylegilmer⁠ ⁠[email protected]

The NBA coaching carousel continues to turn. How do we feel about Detroit, Phoenix, and Philly picking up NBA Finals coaches while the Blazers stand pat? Plus more talk about trading down in the draft, center help, and whether a Scoot-Shaedon backcourt would work for the Blazers. Podcast Edited by Kyle Gilmer ⁠https://linktr.ee/kylegilmer⁠ ⁠[email protected]

The Nuggets beat the Lakers and the Celtics are still holding on versus the Heat. What lessons can the Blazers learn from the ongoing playoffs? Plus more Dame trade talk, the sly move with Pick 3 that's not being discussed much, a critique of ring culture, the Blazers' salary cap, and more! Podcast Edited by Kyle Gilmer ⁠https://linktr.ee/kylegilmer⁠ ⁠[email protected]

Dave flies solo this week, reacting to the Blazers getting the third pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, talking about its relative value, and addressing the eternal question: is it OK to talk about Dame being traded? Podcast Edited by Kyle Gilmer ⁠https://linktr.ee/kylegilmer⁠ ⁠[email protected]

The NBA Draft Lottery will soon dominate the attention of Trail Blazers fans, but before we get there, Dave and Marlow break down playoffs series, ask who would be the best forward acquisition for Portland this summer, debate the merits of DeAndre Ayton, and much more! Podcast Edited by Kyle Gilmer https://linktr.ee/kylegilmer [email protected]

The second round of the NBA Playoffs marches onward! Dave and Marlow examine every series, extracting bits of analysis and wisdom that might apply to the Trail Blazers, their future, and their off-season plans. They also discuss firing championship coaches, the trade value of Anfernee Simons, and more! Podcast Edited by Kyle Gilmer https://linktr.ee/kylegilmer [email protected]

The first round of the 2023 NBA Playoffs is well underway! Dave and Marlow look at each series on its own merits, then asking which players on the various teams would look best in a Trail Blazers uniform. Would YOU take Draymond Green or Rudy Gobert? Podcast Edited by Kyle Gilmer https://linktr.ee/kylegilmer [email protected]

Damian Lillard chatter! The Play-In Tournament yields new trade targets! Which players would solve problems for Portland and which, based on age, salary, skill, or temperament, might create new ones? Podcast Edited by Kyle Gilmer https://linktr.ee/kylegilmer [email protected]

The Trail Blazers season has come to an end, but there's plenty to think about as we ponder the state of the team. We look back at a bright spot in the final weeks and share what it can teach the Blazers about the summer ahead. We also discuss lottery odds, Shaedon Sharpe and Anfernee Simons, the salary cap situation heading into July, and plenty more about the big-picture implications of the year! Podcast Edited by Kyle Gilmer https://linktr.ee/kylegilmer [email protected]

What is the state of the Trail Blazers at the end of March, 2023? Do we know anything more about this team than we did at the start of the year? Does Shaedon Sharpe's late-season excellence bring any hope? How about the rest of the bench? And what key moves will determine the summer for Portland? Podcast Edited by Kyle Gilmer https://linktr.ee/kylegilmer [email protected]

Damian Lillard conspiracy theories! Frontcourt players contributing! Debates over the importance of a championship and a bold prediction from Dave about the week ahead. All of this and more from Dave and Marlow this week! Podcast Edited by Kyle Gilmer https://linktr.ee/kylegilmer [email protected]

Can the Blazers make a playoff run? Why isn't Nassir Little getting more minutes? Is Damian Lillard the best Blazer ever? Could Portland be percolating a big trade this summer? This and more on Dave and Marlow, Episode 19! Podcast Edited by Kyle Gilmer https://linktr.ee/kylegilmer [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dave and Marlow return after a long All-Star Break to discuss Damian Lillard's three-point trophy, what's wrong with the mid-season classic, what's right and wrong with the Blazers, the promise of Nassir Little, the struggles of Shaedon Sharpe, and more! Podcast Edited by Kyle Gilmer https://linktr.ee/kylegilmer [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Trade Deadline has come and gone. The Trail Blazers hoped to put on a good show but ended up sitting on a whoopee cushion instead. Dave and Marlow sort it out for you. How did Portland get better and/or worse, and what does this mean for the season? Podcast Edited by Kyle Gilmer https://linktr.ee/kylegilmer [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jusuf Nurkic injuries! Damian Lillard an All-Star again! Jarred Vanderbilt trade rumors and Jerami Grant contract negotiations! Dave and Marlow cover all of that in-depth, plus games, All-Star revisions, and more! Podcast Edited by Kyle Gilmer https://linktr.ee/kylegilmer [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With the trade deadline two weeks away, Dave and Marlow discuss who could be on the move, who might be coming back and propose the grossest trade ever (that actually makes some sense) for the Trail Blazers. Plus, should we be encouraged by Portland's recent wins? And how great is Damian Lillard anyway? Podcast Edited by Kyle Gilmer https://linktr.ee/kylegilmer [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The magic of Damian Lillard is on full display in Episode 14 of Dave and Marlow, but so is the desperate way the Blazers have been needing him. Plenty of Lillard talk, plus bench, trades, Anfernee Simons, and the critical nature of the next two weeks for Portland! Podcast Edited by Kyle Gilmer https://linktr.ee/kylegilmer [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What's right and wrong with the Blazers at the midpoint of the season? What are the root causes? Which will ease with time and which need to be addressed, and how are the Blazers likely to line up for the NBA trade deadline? All this and more in this week's Dave and Marlow! Podcast Edited by Kyle Gilmer https://linktr.ee/kylegilmer [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dave and Marlow discuss the return of Gary Payton II, the primacy of Damian Lillard (and whether that's good), the relative roles of Anfernee Simons and Josh Hart, and much more! Podcast Edited by Kyle Gilmer https://linktr.ee/kylegilmer [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week Dave Deckard and Marlow Ferguson, Jr. take on the two most controversial players on Portland's roster: Gary Payton II and Anfernee Simons. You're not going to want to miss what they say about this duo! Podcast Edited by Kyle Gilmer https://linktr.ee/kylegilmer [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Join Dave Deckard and special guest Adrian Bernecich from down under as we talk about Portland's 1-3 week, what weaknesses are starting to show up, key points entering the NBA trade season, and much more! Podcast Edited by Kyle Gilmer https://linktr.ee/kylegilmer [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nobody gets more out of Blazers games than Dave Deckard and Marlow Ferguson. A 3-1 week provides fertile ground for a super-sized Dave and Marlow, full of insight about Damian Lillard, Anfernee Simons, Portland's bench, hidden qualities of the team, and more! Podcast Edited by Kyle Gilmer https://linktr.ee/kylegilmer [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Damian Lillard is back, and so are Portland's winning ways. Dave Deckard and Marlow Ferguson look at the hits, misses, and wishes as Portland rounds the quarter pole of the season. Podcast Edited by Kyle Gilmer https://linktr.ee/kylegilmer [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

All the Blazers do is win, win, win! Well, give or take a Dallas game. Dave and Marlow cover the week that was, including a fun victory in New Orleans, plus talk about Luka Doncic, Kevin Durant, Anfernee Simons, Dame Lillard's passing, Shaedon Sharpe's scoring, and more! Edited by Kyle Gilmer https://linktr.ee/kylegilmer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In a 3-1 week spurred by complete team efforts, Dave and Marlow have something to say about EVERY member of the Blazers roster, plus they tackle the reasons behind that pesky turnover problem. What's causing this? Will it get better? Edited by Kyle Gilmer https://linktr.ee/kylegilmer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Two games for the Trail Blazers this week revealed a lot about the roster, particularly in the absence of Damian Lillard. Hear what Dave and Marlow think of Anfernee Simons stepping in to captain the ship, Jusuf Nurkic improving, and more! Podcast edited by Kyle Gilmer at Residual Audio https://linktr.ee/kylegilmer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dave Deckard and Marlow Ferguson have a wheelbarrow full of observations about the Blazers' first game of the season! Individual performances, team schemes, and predictions for the future...this podcast has it all! Podcast edited by Kyle Gilmer at Residual Audio https://linktr.ee/kylegilmer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

October 6, 2022 It's the beginning of the Trail Blazers' pre-season games, but with this being Dia's last episode of the podcast, it's also the end of an era. Dave and Dia start the episode with a summary of the first pre-season game and. a break down of individual players and what they anticipate the team will look like this season. The two co-hosts finish out the episode with a farewell from Dia, as she makes the announcement that she'll no longer be on the podcast. There's reminiscing, kind words, encouragement and some tears. Dave discusses what the future will hold, and Dia says her goodbyes. You won't want to miss this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

September 29, 2022 After a long summer of scraping the barrel for headlines and talking points, the Portland Trail Blazers are back with media day, and all the interviews. Everyone is talking-- the front office leadership, coach, and players are all weighing in. Dave and Dia break it all down. Plus, they touch briefly on the Ime Udoka controversy. All of this and more on this week's episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

September 22, 2020 The Robert Sarver saga continues and Dave and Dia have a lot to say about It, and all the deeper issues surrounding It. The Blazers add a big WNBA name to the franchise, Gary Payton Jr recovers from an injury and there's more discussion about remote broadcasting. All of this and more on this week's episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's podcast, Dave & Dia are back together and discussing a big issue that's currently happening in the NBA - the year long suspension of Sun's owner Robert Sarver. The two also discuss Damian Lillard and Jermaine O'Neal's upcoming TV show, the trend towards players controlling their own narrative, and more Blazers related headlines. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

September 8, 2022 Dave is away this week, so Dia is joined by guest host, Adam Drexler. Yes, that Drexler. Adam is the son of Blazers great, Clyde Drexler, but he is also a professional basketball player himself. AND a Trail Blazers fan. Dia and Adam discuss all the current Blazers news including past Blazers working out for the Warriors, more training camp news, and Jusif Nurkic dominating for FIBA. The two also discuss some league wide news. Adam dishes on what it's like to grow up as Clyde Drexler's son, and what he thinks this season will look like for the Trail Blazers. All of this and more on this week's episode. Podcast Music Credits Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

September 1, 2022 Summer treads on, but with a surprising amount of Blazers news to discuss. Dia is back this week with Dave, and the two are talking all about the most recent headlines-- Jusuf Nurkic dominating for FIBA, an open roster spot, training camp, and the newest jerseys. Plus the two break down top NBA headlines on this week's episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode, Dia is away and Dave is joined by guest host Henry Abbott! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

August 18, 2022 The off season is extra slow, with very little going on in Rip City. Dave and Dia discuss a couple quick Trail Blazers headlines and then turn to their own fandoms. How did Dave and Dia become the Blazers fans they are today? What are their early memories of their favorite team? After 91 episodes, get to know your hosts just a little more this week on the show. Podcast Music Credits Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

August 11, 2022 The off season presses on and so do Dave and Dia as they continue to discuss Blazers related headlines... and a few headlines they're grateful AREN'T Blazers related. Damian Lillard holds his formula zero camp and gives a strong message to the new generation of players and the hosts break It down. They also discuss Justise Winslow, Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant's ongoing situation and more! Podcast Music Credits Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

August 4, 2022 The Portland Trail Blazers are not far away from training camp, and the announcements of signings are rolling in. Dave and Dia discuss the players the team has signed for training camp, and where the Blazers roster currently sits. The two also discuss a couple of past Trail Blazers who are making headlines, and of course, say goodbye to NBA legend, Bill Russell. All of this and more this week on the podcast. Podcast Music Credits Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

July 28, 2022 Dave and Dia are back again for another week of Blazers talk. It's deep into the off season and things are mostly still and calm, but that doesn't mean people aren't still questioning Damian Lillard's loyalty. The hosts dive into JR Smith's comments, as well as Kevin Durant still not having a team, Nicholas Batum wishing for another shot with a particular Blazers roster and the odds for the upcoming season. All of this and more on this week's episode. Podcast Music Credits Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

July 21, 2022 The Trail Blazers win the summer league championship, and one host (we won't tell you who) is over the moon and planning the parade. The duo discuss Trendon Watford and his Final game MVP, Jabari Walker and his potential, and our beloved Amara Baptist announcing her exit from the franchise. All of this and more on this week's episode. Podcast Music Credits Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

July 14,2022 Dia is joined by guest host Josh Rodriguez on this week's episode. The two discuss Summer league as the team is 3 games in (and two wins!!!). The young guys are looking promising and the season should be exciting. They also break down the article in the NY Post about Jody Allen and the scandals surrounding the team. And in the biggest news, Dame signs a max extension and stays with the team! All of this and more on this week's episode! Podcast Music Credits Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

July 7, 2022 The Portland Trail Blazers are making moves this off season, which is a nice change from the not so distant past where moves didn't move the needle much. Dave and Dia discuss the off season moves, including the re-signing of Jusuf Nurkic and Anfernee Simons, and the acquiring of Gary Payton II. The duo also talk about Shaedon Sharpe as he starts to create a buzz going into summer league. Also, Blazers' owner, Jody Allen, makes a statement about the team being sold (or, not sold) and more on this week's episode! Podcast Music Credits Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

June 29, 2022 Yahoo Sports' Chris Haynes joins Dia on this week's episode to discuss all things Trail Blazers. Dia asks Chris all the hard questions-- Is Kevin Durant coming to Portland? Will Anfernee Simons and Jusuf Nurkic stay with the team? Is OG Anunoby still an option? Who will the Blazers go after in Free Agency? All of this plus some insight on what it's like to be a news breaker covering the NBA and living the dream on this week's episode of Dave and Dia (minus Dave). Podcast Music Credits Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

June 22, 2022 It's Draft Day! Which is basically Christmas in June for these two podcasters and basketball fans everywhere! More rumors surround the Blazers first. round pick, but this time they're. about who might be drafted. Dave and Dia break It down. The two also discuss the tragic news surrounding Caleb Swanigan, Terry Stotts coaching opportunities, summer league, and of course, Damian Lillard. You won't want to miss this one! Podcast Music Credits Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

June 16, 2022 The off season trade rumors are beginning to sort themselves out and the Trail Blazers have been repeatedly linked to Atlanta Hawks' John Collins. Dave and Dia break down the possibilities. The duo also discuss media and how it's changed over the years and how that impacts those covering the team currently. All of this and more on this week's episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

June 9, 2022 The rumors are bigger than ever with the draft quickly approaching. Dave and Dia break down possible trades for some big name players (Obi Toppin, Bradley Beal, Miles Bridges and John Collins). The two also discuss what the team could possibly do with the pick if they choose to keep it. Also on the podcast is Rasheed Wallace to the Lakers, an offer for the team is denied, and CJ McCollum as a media member. It's a full episode this week with all of these things and a few more! Podcast Music Credits Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

June 2, 2022 The rumors continue to swirl as the Trail Blazers inch closer to the draft. This week's biggest rumor involves Toronto Raptors' OG Anunoby. Dave and Dia break down the possibilities. The duo also discusses the hiring of Mike Schmitz and the possible ownership change. All of this and more on this week's episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

May 26, 2022 On this week's episode of Dave and Dia, Dave is joined by special guests, Blazers Edge's own Danny Marang (Jacked Ramsays) and Steve Dewald. (Church of Roy) The three talk about how the Trail Blazers will use the 7th pick, trade rumors, and if/when the team will be sold. All of this and more on this week's episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

May 19, 2022 The Lottery Pick is in! Dave and Dia react to the Blazer's spot, and Damian Lillard's reaction. Speaking of Damian Lillard, the duo discuss the last installment of "Keep or Yeet" and Dia tries to explain her reasoning for keeping half the team, even if she doesn't want to "run It back". And then there's the trade rumors--will Deandre Ayton be suiting up in a Blazers jersey next season? All of this, plus Dia's story of meeting Carmelo Anthony and even more on this week's episode. Podcast Music Credits Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

May 12, 2022 The playoffs aren't even over and the off season rumors are flying. Is Zach LaVine going to suit up for the Trail Blazers next season? Is Terry Stotts going to coach the Lakers? Dave and Dia give their opinions. Plus, The team names a General Manager, Damian Lillard does good things, Nassir Little has surgery and the playoffs are causing quite a stir. All of this and more on this week's episode. Podcast Music Credits Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

May 4, 2022 The Trail Blazers remain in the off season and talks of what to do now are in full swing. Dave and Dia discuss a few more players and wether or not they should stay, and should the team bring back LaMarcus Aldridge? Plus the big question-- Which direction do the Blazers go from here? Also Dave has some strong opinions on the developing lawsuit against the team and Jusuf Nurkic. All of this and more on this week's podcast. Podcast Music Credits Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

April 28, 2022 It's the end of he season, and Dia's least favorite game is back--keep or yeet. Dave and Dia break down the team's current roster and who should stay and who and should go. The two also discuss the playoffs thus far and a few more other fun things going on in this week's episode! Podcast Music Credits Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

April 21, 2022 The Playoffs have begun, and for the first time in 9 years, the Trail Blazers are not in It. Which means that the off season has begun, and so has speculation of where we go from here. Dave and Dia break down what the existing contracts look like, and what options the team has going forward. The duo also discusses their picks for the playoffs, plus lots more on this week's episode. Podcast Music Credits Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

April 14, 2022 The roller coaster of a season has ended and Dave and Dia are breaking down the players we saw come and go.... all 27 of them. The duo review the season and all it's parts and players in this week's episode. Podcast Music Credits Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

April 7, 2022 The Trail Blazer season comes to a close and so does the tank. It's been a season like no other, but as the team finishes out their last few games, Dave and Dia still have a lot to be happy about. Blazers Edge night was a success and both hosts recount their personal experiences of the night. CJ McCollum returns to the Moda center for the first time, and it's emotional. Plus, is LeBron James to the Trail Blazers to play alongside Damian Lillard an actual possibility? All of this and more on this week's episode! Podcast Music Credits Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

March 24, 2022 It's another wild week in Rip City and we have Jusuf Nurkic tossing a pesky fan's phone, Damian Lillard getting benched for the remainder of the season, some losses, a win, and Future Blazers' legend Jerami Grant. All of this and even more to discuss on this episode of Dave and Dia. Podcast Music Credits Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

March 18, 2022 The Portland Trail Blazers get a win and an almost win this week, and that feels like something to talk about! In the midst of massive injuries, there are new faces on the team-- and one is pretty familiar to Dia. The duo talk about the exciting young talent, the ceiling of Trendon Watford and Josh Hart. Because at this point, what would a Blazers podcast be without Josh Hart? All of this and more on this week's episode. Podcast Music Credits Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

March 10, 2022 The Trail Blazers are 0 for 2 this week, but we expected a much as the team seems to be committed to tanking the rest of the season for a draft pick. Dave and Dia discuss this as well as the good things in the midst of it-- who do we think is the most promising young talent? Will Anfernee Simons win Most Improved Player? Lots to talk about this week for the duo as they explore these questions and more! Podcast Music Credits Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

March 8, 2022 In a new, shorter version of the podcast, Dave and Dia come to you with talks of Russell Westbrook and the fans and media. Should there be more boundaries and limitations as to what can be said about players? How far is too far? Is Russell Westbrook making legitimate points? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Portland Trail Blazers have had quite the first half of their season, with change after change being thrust upon Rip City. With these changes comes speculation by the National news media-- Where does Damian Lillard's future as a Trail Blazer stand? Dave wrote an article about this very topic for Blazers Edge last week and it caused quite a stir. So much of a stir that Dia was caught in the crossfire. After waiting not so patiently, Dia finally gets a chance to respond to Dave's article. All of this and more on this week's episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

February 24, 2022 It's the All Star Break but Dave and Dia aren't stopping with the Podcasts! The duo answers fan submitted questions and also discusses the All Star game. There is a lot to say about both on this week's episode! Podcast Music Credits Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

February 17, 2022 The Portland Trail Blazers have done something no one was expecting-- after trading away 3 starters and several other key players for a roster that didn't appear to make much since, the Blazers are on a roll and won all of their games this week. The Lakers, the Knicks and the Bucks all fell to the new underestimated Trail Blazers roster. Dave and Dia have a lot to talk about, and this might be the happiest podcast ever. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

February 12, 2022 The trade deadline has come and gone, and the Trail Blazers made big moves. Were they good? Were they beneficial? Do they make any sense at all? Dave and Dia have the breakdown of what went down, where he team currently stands and what comes next. Also, an emotional interview with Gary Trent Jr's father, and of course, a big win against the Lakers. All of this and more on this weeks episode. Podcast Music Credits Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

February 9, 2022 In a new, shorter version of the podcast, Dave and Dia come to you with news of the CJ McCollum trade to the New Orleans Pelicans. Was it a good move? What does this mean going forward? Join the duo to hear their reaction and feelings about the trade. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

February 4, 2022 Dave and Dia come to you in short form today talking about what seems to be a controversial trade of Norman Powell and Robert Covington to the Los Angeles Clippers for Eric Bledsoe, Justice Winslow, Keon Johnson and a 2025 second round pick. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

February 3, 2022 The Trail Blazers continue to struggle, but is Dia on board with tanking yet? She and Dave discuss where the Blazers currently stand and where we go from here. The duo talk All Star selection and make a bet as to wether or not Dame will be named to the All Star team. Will Dia finally have to eat sushi? The Kings have pulled out of the Ben Simmons trade talks, leaving him still available, Anfernee Simons and CJ McCollum pick up the slack, and Nassir Little faces an unfortunate injury. All of this and more on this week's episode. Podcast Music Credits Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

January 19, 2022 The Portland Trail Blazers spent their week winning games, and Dave and Dia are pretty happy about it! Despite Damian Lillard having surgery and sitting out, and CJ McCollum having a baby and also sitting out, the Blazers are picking up wins, one at a time. Anfernee Simons is the shining star of the week, but the duo also discuss other players who have made an impact. Lots to talk about this week on the Dave & Dia Podcast. Podcast Music Credits Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

January 1, 2021 It's been a full week of Trail Blazers news and Dave and Dia are on it! The duo talk about the losses and the wins, Anfernee Simons new star status, Just Nurkic versus Tyler Herro, Nassir Little versus Kyrie Irving, the status of the players and of course, Damian Lillard. The duo also explain the upcoming Blazers Edge night and how you can be a part of sending kids to a game! All of this and more on this week's episode. Podcast Music Credits Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

January 6, 2021 Another week of the season is down, and the Blazers struggle in their first two games but pull off a beautiful win against the Hawks, even with Damian Lillard out. Anfernee Simons is breaking records and Nassir Little is shining. Dave and Dia discuss Jusif Nurkic being a difference maker, once again, The duo have a lot to unpack about basketball this week, with all of this and more! Podcast Music Credits Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

December 29, 2021 Dave and Dia are back and recovering from Christmas. The two discuss the covid epidemic currently taking over the NBA, and how it's affecting the Blazers (and the league). The G-League call ups are a point of passion for Dia, and Dave talks Christmas movies, because frankly, we could all use a little Christmas cheer. All of this plus which previous Blazers would we call up to the current team, and more on this episode! Podcast Music Credits Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

December 23, 2021 It's almost Christmas and the Trail Blazers aren't giving up this season. Dave and Did break down the 4 games from the last week (2 wins and 2 losses). They talk about how covid is affecting the NBA (although thankfully not the Trail Blazers so far), and where the Trail Blazers are currently at. Lots of talk about Damian Lillard-- his comments to the media, his never give up attitude, and his seeming comeback after getting a cortisone shot for his injury. All of this and more on this week's episode. Podcast Music Credits Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

December 16, 2021 The Portland Trail Blazers continue to struggle through their season with 4 more losses this week. Injuries are still at the forefront of what their facing, but Damian Lillard returns after a couple of weeks off. Joe Cronin seems to be holding it down in the interim and all the trade rumors are flying as the deadline approaches. Dave and Dia discuss all of this and more this week on the show. Podcast Music Credits Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

December 10, 2021 The Portland Trail Blazers struggled through their week with losses and injuries. But the franchise fired GM, Neil Olshey, and replaced him with an interim that appears to actually be a good guy. Meanwhile the internet is swirling with rumors and speculation, while Damian Lillard continues to try to convince the world that he wants to be in Portland. Dave and Dia cover all of this plus the search for a new GM, Billups coaching and all the headlines, plus more Trail Blazers related news on this episode. Podcast Music Credits Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

December 3, 2021 In a special episode of Dave & Dia, recorded shortly after the Portland Trail Blazers official announcement of the firing of General Manager and President of Basketball Operations, Neil Olshey due to violations of the Portland Trail Blazers' code of conduct, Dave and Dia discuss the news, the history of Olshey as a GM, what this means for the future of the team, and especially for Damian Lillard. Podcast Music Credits Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

December 2, 2021 It's been a difficult week for the Portland Trail Blazers with three tough road losses, two frustrating injuries, and a mask thrown at the referees **Sung in the tune of 12 days of Christmas** Dave and Dia break down the games, discuss the impact these injuries may have going forward, and lament on how Jusuf Nurkic and CJ McCollum are playing. They also dive into the frustration that many Blazers fans may be feeling at this point in the season. All of this and more this week on the show. Podcast Music Credits Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

November 24, 2021 It's a week of wins! The Trail Blazers win every game this week and Dia is thrilled to bring back the unicorns--at least for a minute. Damian Lillard wins player of the week for the Western Conference, Lebron gets suspended, Larry Nance Jr and Jusuf Nurkic are making everyone talk and Greg Brown makes a killer dunk. Dave and Dia talk about all of this--as well as the ongoing investigation into Neil Olshey and why he's problematic--and more on this week's episode. Podcast Music Credits Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

November 17, 2021 It's a new week and a new podcast, but the same record the team seems to have each week-- two wins and two losses. Dave and Did discuss the ongoing ups and downs of the team, the road games versus home games, the current adversity the team is facing, Damian Lillard's injury, the president stepping down and Neil Olshey. But in true Dave and Dia fashion, there's also some fun! Podcast Music Credits Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

November 11, 2021 It's been a whole year of podcasts for Dave and Dia, and what a year it's been! But they aren't stopping anytime soon, and the Trail Blazers are keeping them on their toes. The duo discuss the roller coaster that this season continues to be, two wins and two losses, the Neil Olshey controversy and the ongoing investigation, and Dia's time hanging with Adam Drexler (son of Trail Blazers legend, Clyde Drexler). All of this and more on this week's episode. Podcast Music Credits Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

November 4, 2021 The season has just started but for Portland fans it feels like it's already been an eternity. We aren't even 10 games in and already the roller coaster ride is a doozy. Dave and Did break down the last 4 games (2 wins and 2 losses, obviously), and discuss Damian Lillard and his current "slump" (and by slump we mean still scoring over 20 points a game most nights). Philadelphia fans break into chants of "We want Lillard" and CJ McCollum says "He's still here". All of this and more on this week's episode. Podcast Music Credits Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

October 28, 2021 The Trail Blazers are back with two more games as the season gets underway. The Blazers tease us with a solid win against the reigning Western Conference Champions, and then struggle in Los Angeles and fall to the Clippers. Dave and Dia break down the two games this week and discuss where they think we go next. Is Nurkic still good? What's going on with Dame? Can CJ keep the team afloat? And where are all these dunks coming from? All of that and more on this week's episode. Podcast Music Credits Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

October 21, 2021 The Portland Trail Blazers have started a new season, and so have Dave and Dia! The Trail Blazers lose their season opener, and Dave is convinced that even though it's a new season, it's the same ol' team. Dia, of course, is much more optimistic and trying to point out all the good. So where does that leave the team going into this season? Can they be real contenders? And why are we STILL talking about non-Blazer, Ben Simmons? All of this and more on this week's episode. Podcast Music Credits Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

October 13, 2021 The Pre-season continues with another Trail Blazers loss, but with most of the roster sitting out, Dave & Dia have a chance to break down some of the bench players. They discuss standouts, different game play, and how they think that looks going into the season. Also on the pod today, Root sports, some familiar faces in broadcasting, and Ben Simmons.... again. The duo also discuss the latest coaching controversy, and a really cool story about CJ McCollum and some sweatshirts. All of this and more on this week's episode of Dave & Dia. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

October 7, 2021 Blazers basketball is BACK, the pre-season is in full swing, the Portland Trail Blazers have game one under their belts and there is so much to discuss! Joining Dia this week is Dave & Dia producer, Josh Rodriguez, and the two have plenty to talk about-- how the team looks, the new players on the roster, the coaching staff, and Trail Blazers already getting hit in the face. Dia and Josh break down the first game of the pre season, and discuss the new rule that has been put into action as well as the General Manager Survey that was just released-- spoiler alert: it includes the Trail Blazers! All of this and more this week on Dave & Dia. Podcast Music Credits Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

September 30, 2021 Trail Blazers media day has come and gone, and Dave and Dia dissect some of the statements made by the players, and of course, Neil Olshey. Is the team too optimistic or do we believe them? The pair also talks about Ben Simmons (again) because that story just won't end. Dave and Dia also make their predictions as to how many games the team will win in the regular season. Spoiler alert-- one of them is more optimistic than the other. Podcast Music Credits Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

September 23, 2021 The off season continues this week, and it's been a slow week. So Dave and Dia decided to answer listener questions! The duo spend the majority of the show discussing the questions left on Blazers Edge, twitter and even instagram. Podcast Music Credits Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

September 14, 2021 It's another new podcast, another day of the offseason, and more off topic talk from Dave and Dia. The two discuss online dating, and laugh at their experiences (or lack of). But there's also plenty of Trail Blazers talk as the duo discusses the latest from Chris Haynes and Carmelo Anthony, as well as Potential lineups for the team this year (Does CJ or Norm come off the bench??) and what the heck do we do with Nurk? Rick Adelman is inducted into the Hall of Fame, and Dave and Dia have lots to say about all of it, and more! Podcast Music Credits Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

September 9, 2021 The Portland Trail Blazers basketball news is slowing down at this point of the off season, but their personal lives are taking center stage. Damian Lillard throws one heck of a party--er, wedding. CJ McCollum announces that his family is growing. Larry Nance Jr. talks about his Trail Blazers fandom, and Dave and Dia have suddenly forgotten this podcast is actually about basketball. The duo give you a small inside look at the inner workings of Blazers Edge, and talk about a few more Trail Blazers headlines while simultaneously going completely off the rails. Just another Dave & Dia podcast. Podcast Music Credits Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

September 1, 2021 The Trail Blazers finally made a move! Pigs and unicorns are flying and Dave and Dia talk Larry Nance Jr. Dia is suddenly back to her optimistic self, and Dave is back to talking about food—donuts this time.The duo talk more off season moves, Ben Simmons, McCollum as a top 10 shooting guard, the Trail Blazers difficult schedule and the championship parade Dame and CJ are dreaming of.Dave asks Dia the tough questions, and in what’s becoming a whole theme of its own on this podcast the two talk a whole lot about snacks. All of this and more on this week’s episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

August 26, 2021 Free Agency is taking over the NBA and the Trail Blazers are still almost the same Trail Blazers they were last season. Dave and Dia discuss Portland's Salary Cap situation and how that may be a factor in the current state of the team. They also talk about Robert Covington's importance to the Blazers, LaMarcus Aldridge rumors, and Norman Powell's excitement about being in Portland. While the episode is recording, Dame goes on IG live and it quickly breaks the internet--and the podcast. All of this and some talk of Mexican food on this episode of Dave & Dia. Podcast Music Credits Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

August 18, 2021 Dave is back from vacation and he and Dia can't seem to stay on topic. After discussions about pop (soda?), dating profiles, McDonalds and coffee, the two finally get into the recent Trail Blazers events. Summer league is over and as always, the two have opinions. Kevin Calabro is back and Dia can't remember anyone's name. Greg Brown is the talk of the town and so is his contract. Speaking of contracts, do we want Siakam or Simmons? Dave and Dia discuss the team's options and rumors. All of this, Chauncey Billups' coaching strategies and more on this week's episode. Podcast Music Credits Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

August 11, 2021 Dave is out of town, so Dia is joined by the podcast's producer, Josh Rodriguez. Dia and Josh discuss all things Trail Blazers off season. Summer League is in full swing, trade talks are--not. Thee are still rumors surrounding Damian Lillard and Dia has a source. Josh shares his perspective as an outsider, and Dia follows up on the previous Chauncey Billups conversation. There's no shortage of Trail Blazers talk even in the off season. Podcast Music Credits Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

August 4, 2021 The off season is underway and the Blazers are making moves and taking names--even if we don't recognize all the names, and even if the moves are, well, unexpected. Somehow with no draft picks the team still managed to sneak one in, and free agency has seen a few additions as well. Dave and Dia also discuss summer league and what they hope to see come out of it, and of course, Team USA. All of this and more on this week's show. Podcast Music Credits Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

July 29, 2021 It seems to be Damian Lillard versus the media these days as more rumors fly about Dame's future in Portland. Sources are everywhere and Dave and Dia don't have their on but they discuss the current rumors. The duo also discuss Team USA's most recent loss in Men's basketball. Also, Simone Biles' decision to withdraw from the Olympics and the bigger topic of mental health. Podcast Music Credits Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Latest episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast - featuring all of you Mail Bag questions! In a surprising twist, not every question was about Damian Lillard's future... but the the rest were mostly about CJ McCollum's future... or the Trail Blazer's immediate and long term health. Suffice it to say, this is probably the biggest 2 weeks of offseason in the Lillard era and whether it goes out with a bang or a whimper could very much be decided in the next 14 days. Among the questions, Bradley Beal, Ben Simmons, or Pascal Siakam - could the Blazers acquire one of them or be a part of a trade that involves those players to reshape the roster to be more competitive? Should the Blazers consider moving Damian Lillard now, the trade deadline or until next offseason? That and a whole lot more - tap in! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

July 22, 2021 It's been another eventful week in the Blazers off season. Rumors fly about Damian Lillard and his future with the Trail Blazers. Dave and Dia break down everything we currently know. The duo also discuss current headlines surrounding the team like Norman Powell turning down his option, and the team not bringing back Zach Collins. The podcast ends with Dia's story of meeting Clyde Drexler last week. It may be the off season, but there's still plenty to talk about! Podcast Music Credits Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this episode of the Blazer’s Edge podcast, host Danny Marang takes an in-depth look at Damian Lillard’s press conference in Las Vegas with Team USA Basketball after a report by Henry Abbott of TrueHoop declared that Lillard had an impending trade request coming. What followed was an article by Yahoo Sports’ Chris Haynes that appears to have been scheduled to debut later that day but was amended with an update from Lillard that he would speak later that day - again in Las Vegas at media availability. This set the table for the most declarative that Lillard has been about his future with the Blazers and what it would likely take to keep him in the fold going forward. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

July 15, 2021 The Portland Trail Blazers are now 6 weeks into their offseason (the finals aren't even over yet) but it feels like. we have lived a year's worth of off season events. Dave and Dia break down some of the big headlines in rip City this week. Zach Collins is re-injured-- will his career with the Blazers be over? What's next for him? Damian Lillard is with Team USA in Vegas preparing for the Olympics and the internet is freaking out over their first two losses. The duo chats about why we shouldn't worry--yet. Two new coaches are added to the Trail Blazers staff. Do Dave and Dia like them for the team? Difficult subject matter warning: More news has broken concerning new head coach, Chauncey Billups. Dave and Dia take a few minutes to work through the new developments and why this continues to be a conversation. Podcast Music Credits Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

July 7, 2021 It's the Suns versus the Bucks in the NBA finals and Dia can't decide who to cheer for. Dave gives his suggestion, and the two break down game one of the finals. Trade season is upon us and the rumors are flying. Dave and Dia have a lot to say about who should stay and who should go. They also discuss Damian Lillard and the USA Olympic team and more! Podcast Music Credits Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast, host Danny Marang is answering your mail bag questions! The discussion for the darkest timeline is upon us, should the Blazers explore Damian Lillard centered trades? Will he finish his career in Portland? Are the Blazers getting value out of Jusuf Nurkic? Are there red flags for players who might look to come to Portland with how the front office has appeared to mishandle things the last few months? Would the Blazers still be a playoff team if they moved on from Dame and soft reset? That and more on this week's episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

June 30, 2021 It's not your typical Dave & Dia podcast today. In fact, we need to warn you that this episode contains difficult subject matter. With the hiring of Chauncey Billups as the Portland Trail Blazers' new coach, comes some controversy surrounding his 1997 sexual assault accusation and settlement. It's a topic that is currently gaining attention both locally and nationally. Dave and Dia sit down to talk about this difficult subject matter and how the Trail Blazers did (or didn't) handle the press conference yesterday. Dia speaks candidly from her own personal experience and Dave has a lot to say as well. The rainbows and unicorns aren't making an appearance in this one, but we feel that it's important conversation and we hope that it brings new perspective and understanding. Podcast Music Credits Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast, Danny Marang is joined by Sean Highkin of Bleacher Report to break down the announced hiring of Chauncey Billups as the Trail Blazer's new Head Coach, the optics of the hire, the impact felt and voiced by the fanbase, what this means going forward with a lot of questions remaining to be asked at the press conference on Tuesday. Then it's Chris Haynes' tweet and proceeding article on Damian Lillard's unhappiness - and whether or not the clock has started on Lillard's remaining time in Portland, what the Blazers can do to head off a potential exit and then it's a look at Lillard in the Olympics with: Draymond Green, Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal, Jayson Tatum, Bam Adebayo and others and if we could see some offseason maneuvering ahead of free agency - and if it came down to it, what could a potential offer for Damian Lillard look like? That and more on this episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

June 24, 2021 The Portland Trail Blazers season may be over, but Dave and Dia still have plenty to say about what's going on in the off season! Dia returns from her trip and re-joins Dave to discuss the search for a new head coach. The duo also talk about Ben Simmons and what that trade could mean. Also, our own Damian Lillard is going to the Olympics and we feel like proud parents. All of that and more on this episode of the Dave & Dia Podcast! Podcast Music Credits Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's edition of the Blazer's Edge podcast Mail Bag, host Danny Marang takes a look at a host of different questions; what does the Blazer's coaching time line look like, did Rick Carlisle of the Dallas Mavericks resigning change anything up, thoughts on a bench group next year based on internal growth from Anfernee Simons, Nas Little, Zach Collins, Derrick Jones Jr and a veteran point guard, did complacency settle in for this version of the Blazers, likelihood that the Blazers run it back with the same core group and of course whether or not Ben Simmons is available - should the Blazers go after him - and what would a trade possibly look like for both parties? If the Blazers were able to swing a CJ plus trade for Simmons. 1. Would the Blazers have the pieces for a trade for Myles Turner from the Pacers? 2. What would that look like? 3. Would that be a good follow up move to provide shooting and spacing? Flatcap Goalkeeper @FlatcapGK Has the Dallas and other coaching news affected the timeline for the Blazers coaching hire process? What is the latest they can reasonably wait until they need this sorted? #ripcity @Ballas_Info and @blazersedge Any thoughts on the bench for next year? Could a group of Ant, Nas, DJJ, Collins and a new, pass-happy, up-tempo point be sneaky good? Jeremy Krecklow @StryfeE If you could have your choice of the lot what is the order you put these guys in, in terms of want, fit and probability. Simmons seems the most portable now after this last series. Which is crazy to think about going to the playoffs. Simmons Middleton George Harris Butler Sabonis Colin Petitt So if Portland truly is able to pick up Simmons do you think they’d have to move Nurkic to better maximize him? Feels like a floor spacing big would be needed (I like Portis with the TPME). In this case what would Nurkic’s value be? Bark City BBQ @barkcitybbq Not sure on the coach! Free agency- get better! I don’t care who’s on the team! - just win! Pork ribs and brisket! Simmons is way better on defense! We can’t have two bad defenders in our backcourt! n8  @n8frogdog Ben Simmons. Is his defense and distribution/facilitation enough to offset a player of that caliber not being able to be counted on in crunch time to make shots? Love the defense and length, but do we have or need to add more complimentary pieces to have everything fit? Joel, just Joel @mryoelius CJ spoke about successfully reaching playoffs since being in Portland... Is there a complacency in this team? Burnsy (he/him) @JustinTheBurns I don’t get Simmons as a buy-low. He may not be playing great but all the reasons you say he’s a tremendous pickup for POR is exactly why PHI keeps him AND they’re on the cusp of the eastern conference finals. What’s their motivation other that drastic overpay by POR? wayne hughes @readingthewater Is there really a chance of no changes on this current roster? I hope Neil can pull of some big moves. His working around the fringes has not worked!! Sam @pamsierce If we pick up Ben Simmons do we need to hunt after a Myles turner esque player to help space the floor? I feel like the Dame+Simmons pnr would be unstoppable with the floor spaced properly Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NBA expert Caitlin Cooper joins the podcast to talk about the Pacers and Blazers, former Head Coach Terry Stotts, Kevin Pritchard and Nate McMillan, possible trades, and the national perception of Portland. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this episode of the Blazer's Edge Podcast, Danny Marang tackles your Mail Bag questions; theory-crafting about building around Damian Lillard, David Vanterpool not being in the coaching mix, will Derrick Jones Jr opt into his deal or be traded, what would it take to get Myles Turner & TJ Warren in Portland, most likely at this point to be named the next Blazer's head coach, if you had to keep one Carmelo Anthony or Enes Kanter who do you keep, some realistic free agents, and Jusuf Nurkic's trade value. That and more on this week's show! ashley @baguels a basic but also fundamental question: when thinking about trades, what player skills would be an asset to dame/the team?  as i sadly watch the rest of the playoffs im tryina learn more from other players and envision how they'd complement dame. David West @dwest_70 Why aren’t we hearing David Vanterpool’s name more often in the who’s the next coach convo?  Close with Dame, from what I read league execs think he’s ready,  and if we’d really choose Billups then previous head coaching experience isn’t actually necessary. Bruce Ceaser-Bennett @cease25 Will we trade DJJ or let the new coach figure out his role? Joel, just Joel @mryoelius May have missed the boat here.  Would you say height on the front court is important to address this off season? CDM81 @CDM811 How much would it take to pull TJ warren and Miles Turner to Portland? Nason @TheNason Did you have any idea before hand that the last Blazers Outsiders  was going to be the last one, and any chance of the show,  or one remarkably similar, migrates to that lesser network? Triple Dog @EricJAlso Of those on the coach lists: do you have a ranking  of most likely to happen and who you would like to be hired Jesus Gomez @pianomaster00 If you had to keep one, who would you keep: Melo or Enes?  And, who would you pair them with (either an existing player on the roster, a trade, or a signing). harry @whiteguilt48 Best possible, and, most importantly, realistic, free agent signings? creedence @creedence26 What is nurk's trade value? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

June 9, 2021 It's been a busy week for the Portland Trail Blazers, although busy doesn't always equal good. The team made an early exit in game 6 of the first round against the Denver Nuggets, and it's felt a little bit like chaos since. Coach Stotts has been fired, players are upset, and then there was that Neil Olshey press conference. Dave and Dia talk about all of that, plus the rumors surrounding the Head Coach position. Then Dia gets very personal and candid about how her own life experience affects the way she looks at the rumored potential coaches and Dave adds his perspective as well. Podcast Music Credits Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On a rapid reaction version of the Blazer's Edge podcast, Danny Marang takes a look at the late breaking news that Terry Stotts has been fired as Head Coach of the Portland Trail Blazers. Soon thereafter a chain of leaked reports to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski and Yahoo Sports' Chris Haynes laid the groundwork for a public discussion as to who would step into Stotts' vacated place heading into the 2021-22 NBA season. The original list supplied by Woj, Chauncey Billups, Mike D'Antoni, Jeff Van Gundy and Juwan Howard conflicted slightly with the a statement tied directly to Damian Lillard from Haynes indicating that Jason Kidd was his first choice only to be followed by another report, this time from Jason Quick and Shams Charania that Lillard would prefer either Kidd or Billups and well that was only a few hours into the evening... with what is shaping up to be a very different offseason than any other in the Lillard era, we dive into the initial reports - the who, what, when, where and why - and why not's associated with these breaking reports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

June 2, 2021 The Trail Blazers are 5 games into the first round of the playoffs and the Nuggets lead the series 3-2. The team has had ups and downs, and the Blazers just keep fighting. Dave and Dia talk about game 5 and Damian Lillard almost single-handedly taking the team into double overtime. They chat about Dame's newest broken records and the completely out of control fans that have seemingly taken over. All of this and more in episode 29. Podcast Music Credits Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week’s episode of the Blazer’s Edge pod, host Danny Marang answers your questions as Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers get ready to take on Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets in an all important Game 5 match up. Should the Blazers fear Lebron James and the Los Angeles Lakers more than Devin Booker and the Phoenix Suns? How important is Jusuf Nurkic? Will the bench rotation look different? Will Michael Porter Jr be able to “impose his will”? Did the Blazers make the right adjustments or was it just on game? That and more on this week’s episode! Tye Forshee @tyefor It seems like every outcome has been based on how Nurk plays defensively and how long he can stay on the floor. Also seems like the Blazers need to find more stability off the bench vs Nuggets bench in order to win the series. With RHJ and Cov, the offense dropped significantly. Grant @grantmoen0 If Nurkic fouls out or in any other small ball situation, do you think there is/should be any debate between Rondae and DJ? Ryan Behnke @wakethomas13 Why don’t DJJ and Nassir get at least a little bit of run? Running the starters this many minutes cannot equate to a long playoff run. They’ll be gassed in round 2 if they advance mylogos @loganakio How was it that our guards seemed completely competent on D in game 4?  Was it effort or a scheme change? Portland Hoops @pnwsports503 What do you make of Dame’s having a playoff best overall RAPTOR and RAPTOR WAR? How are his defensive numbers so high? Don’t say small sample size! TheRealDanMan @Real_DanMan Is Nurk the only Blazer who can efficiently guard Jokic? Also, without Jamal Murray do you think Jokic will tire out too quickly to win the series? D  @paint_sign_play Were the game 4 adjustments THE answer or just enough of a boost to get one game? Slater Smith @slaterjsmith Getting a bit ahead of myself... but if we make it out of this round, do we prefer a matchup against the Suns or the Lakers? Jason -AP & GbyePlanetPat @NoochIsBest I guess reference how MPJ said he’ll “Impose his will” on next game. Kjironman1 @kjironman1 Dan get an update on Zach if you can. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

May 26, 2021 The Trail Blazers are two games into round one of the playoffs against the Denver Nuggets. Currently each team has won one game, and the series continues in Portland at the Moda Center. Dave and Dia talk about the first two games-- one win and one loss. They break down what worked and what didn't, and looked forward to game three. They also discussed Moda Center welcoming more fans, Terry Stott's facial expressions, out of control Nuggets fans and more! Podcast Music Credits Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast, Danny Marang goes rapid fire with a lookback at Portland's win in Game 1 vs the Denver Nuggets - what went right, what went wrong, shout outs to top performers, Damian Lillard's continued excellence, Jusuf Nurkic's contribution, whether or not to be worried about Norman Powell's performance, potential adjustments heading into Game 2, and a handful of listener questions to get you ready for Monday's match up and Game 2 of the series! Intro Opening comments Game 1 takeaways 2:00 Good, bad and the ugly Portland shines in Game 1 - no ball stopping! 4:00 Carmelo Anthony, have a game Damian Lillard is THAT guy, shocking 6:00 Jusuf Nurkic delivers 7:00 Game plan was incredibly solid 9:00 Playing Nikola Jokic heads up 10:00 Anfernee Simons and Melo leading the bench charge 11:30 Quick thoughts on rotations 14:30 Game 2 adjustments for Denver 15:00 Getting Jokic in the middle of the floor 17:30 Bad shooting luck 18:00 Does Denver play less aggressively 20:00 Listener questions! Adrian Bernecich @abernecich What happens when MPJ starts hitting shots? Twhite27 @Twhite273 Is kanter playable in this series against jokic? If so (or not) who should replace or take his minutes Christopher Mazzeo @Maznorthwest Thoughts on if the Nugs go with a big line up and if so, how do Blazers handle that? henny @wtfPNW What do you think our chances of getting to the 2nd round are after game one? What was most encouraging about last night? AtomAntium @Atom__Antium Did Powell just have a rough night? Or is the match-up vs him gonna be a struggle this series? Closing thoughts Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this edition of the Blazer's Edge podcast, host Danny Marang is joined by Matt Moore AKA HPBasketball on Twitter of the Actions Sports Network to preview Blazers-Nuggets in their 1st Round match up. Together, they look at why Matt is picking the Blazers (spoiler),Damian Lillard's changing play style, Blazers backcourt vs Nuggets frountcourt, x-factors or lack of them, the opportunity Jusuf Nurkic has in front of him, does it matter how you're playing coming into the playoffs, will we see kerfuffles and more! Intro  Opening comments Matt Moore picking Portland 2:00 Countering the trap Nuggets missing guys who can score off the bounce 4:00 Blazers playing small vs Nuggets playing bigger? 6:30 Aaron Gordon as a pressure point 8:30 How to play Jokic defensively 9:45 Who's the x-factor? 15:00 Blazers bench vs Nuggets 17:30 What does Nurkic do with this opportunity? 20:30 Being physical with the Nuggets 22:30 Jokic and Lillard not getting calls 23:20 Denver as a defensive team 24:30 Foul trouble for either team as an issue 26:00 The idea of getting hot at the right time 27:00 Who are the Portland Trail Blazers 28:00 Can Stotts win a coaching match up? 29:00 Blazers as betting favorites? 30:30 Will these teams call it a rivalry? 31:30 Over/under on kerfuffles! 32:30 Closing comments Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On a playoff preview edition of the Blazer's Edge podcast, host Danny Marang is joined by Adam Mares of DNVR Sports to take a look at the first round match up between the Trail Blazers and Nuggets. There's no shortage of storylines, Jusuf Nurkic vs Nikola Jokic, rematch of the 2019 series, Denver coming in short handed, pressure on the Blazers and Terry Stotts, Damian Lillard and the Blazers backcourt vs Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets frontcourt... and will anyone admit that this has/is turned into a rivalry? That and more on this episode. Intro  Opening comments Should Denver be favored without Jamal Murray? 2:00 Damian Lillard, CJ McCollum & Blazers backcourt vs what's left of Nuggets backcourt 3:30 The difference between Norman Powell & Moe Harkless in this rematch 7:00 The Michael Porter Jr effect 9:00 MPJ most likely to breakout in the NBA Playoffs 11:00 Christopher Mazzeo @Maznorthwest - Who guards Porter and why is it Norm? 12:00 Jusuf Nurkic v Nikola Jokic 16:00 Should the Blazers double Jokic? 17:20 Nuggets missing Will Barton 21:00 Anfernee Simons, Carmelo Anthony & Enes Kanter vs who off the Nuggets bench? 22:30 Nuggets bench bigs Paul Millsap and Jamychal Green Adam as the earliest Jokic adopter 26:00 If Jokic has his best series ever, the Nuggets should win 27:30 Early predictions 27:00 Coaching implications 31:00 Nuggets losing the pick & roll 32:00 Is it a rivalry? 33:30 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

May 19, 2021 It's the end of the regular season, and the Trail Blazers have officially secured the 6th seed in the Western Conference, avoiding the play-in, and beating the Lakers in the process. Dave and Dia talk about the upcoming series against the Denver Nuggets, Coach Stotts, Damian Lillard, awards, broken records, and who will win the play in and close out the top seeds. Dia is already planning the championship parade, and Dave is trying to bring her back down to Earth. All of this and more! Podcast Music Credits Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

May 12, 2021 It's been great week to be a Portland Trail Blazers fan! The team won 4 out of 4 of their games this week and Dia is on cloud 9. The fans are back in the Moda center, Terry Stotts has his 400th win with the Blazers, records are broken and they move into the 6th seed. Dave and Dia discuss Derrick Jones Jr and why he hasn't been playing, and more Trail Blazer related topics. Podcast Music Credits Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast - host Danny Marang is joined by Blazer's Edge Associate Editor, Steve Dewald to talk about the upside-down world the Blazer's have been living in this season, their current run of play, looking a bit ahead at 1st round match ups, Damian Lillard looking like himself again, the integration of Norman Powell, closing out the season and discuss who the 2nd most important player is for the Blazers right now & much more! Intro Opening comments Steve Dewald & dad time home improvement! Getting ahead ourselves with playoff match ups 4:00 Clippers or Nuggets - Nikola Jokic or Paul George, Kawhi Leonard & Patrick Beverly Looking at the Utah Jazz and Phoenix Suns - beleive in them at all? 8:00 Resetting and looking at the Blazers from the past 3-ish weeks 12:00 Damian Lillard getting healthy Return of the Bosnian Beast? 15:00 What was happening 17:00 Brand building has to happen 20:00 Two - way play out of Lillard and Norman Powell fitting in 23:00 Finding another gear offensively 27:00 Listener Questions Miguel @Migueleezie Do you think dj could get some playoff minutes if we play a team like the clippers for defense? Trail Blazer Stan One word: DJJ????? hairy @d33znust How long can we sustain this 8-man rotation in the playoffs? What matchup would be best in the first round? Twhite27 @Twhite273 Do you think simons will get playoff minutes? If so how much ALL ANT SIMONS ALL THE TIME! 35:00 Johnny Mac @johnnypmcgee Norm and solving the high trap problem. How important it is for us to take advantage of what the defense gives us in those situations. Do you trust this team? 46:00 Blazers In Six @NervousOrca Do you genuinely see the Blazers making any noise in the playoffs?  This runs has all the Blazery vibes of lightning the world on fire  at the end of the season and then getting swept because they can’t get Dame out of traps. Giving Jusuf Nurkic his flowers 50:00 Four games remaining - Rockets up first! How do the Blazers close it out? 56:00 Closing Comments  Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

April 29, 2021 The Trail Blazers have finally broken their losing streak! After three more difficult losses-- including two against Memphis, a defining moment for the team-- Portland finally got a win against the Indiana Pacers. Damian Lillard is once again breaking records, and so is Anfernee Simons! Dave and Dia discuss all of this, plus their thoughts on where the Blazers currently stand and where we go from here. Dia gives a much needed pep talk, and the two look forward to more wins this week. Podcast Music Credits Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast, host Danny Marang takes listener questions after the Blazers go 0-4 on a 4 game homestand, fall out of 6th place, lose the tie-breaker to Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies, and are about to embark on a 6 game road trip that will likely define their season. Should the Blazers shut down Damian Lillard? Can they keep Norman Powell? Who's responsible for what's ailing the team? Come on in and commiserate, this is a safe place. Intro Opening comments Fire & brimstone! Blazers drop all 4 games at home, lose tie breaker with Grizzlies Can this team do anything to redeem themselves this season? 2:30 Is there any fight left in this team? 4:00 The little bit of good - Jusuf Nurkic & Norman Powell 6:00 Damian Lillard doesn't look right This is the most selfish brand of basketball I've seen from this team 7:30 This iteration of the Blazers have run it's course 10:30 Listener Questions! Brandon Goldner @GoldnerPDX Why is Olshey not accountable for having LMA be the best player Dame has ever played with? Colin Petitt @ColinPetitt Danny this season is giving me major flash backs of the lockout season. Looking ahead I don’t see how we end as the 9 or 10 seed and end up in the lottery. Beyond Dame who’s untouchable this off season? Sam Pierce @pamsierce Dame is so bad on defense you have to surround him with as many plus defenders for as many of his minutes as you can, seems fairly obvious but our front office hasn’t made it happen. mindee⁷⟭⟬ @minmom424 Always be in the playoffs if you can. I see why people say otherwise but play hardest and see what happens. We are a small market, a lot of fans engage in wishful thinking about trades and free market. We can only do so much. Keep it realistic and thank God everyday for Dame! Bryan Strang @Broncos_Squared What’s going on with Lillard? I get we can’t always expect Hercules every game, but he hasn’t been looking too hot. Lingering injuries? Defense? Josh Dolar (he/him) @JoshDolar Is there anything that the team could do in the regular season that would convince you they wouldn't be an easy out in the playoffs? Brian Cruz @iambriancruz Can we go back to our original lineup? Dame CJ DJJ ROCO NURK? JanelBoyer @janelboyer What are the Blazers chances of resigning Norm, with how the team is currently playing? I really love his game style. Jason Taylor @jtmoney541 Do you think Covington will hit the rim on his next 3-pointer? hairy @charcoaleater The regression is worrisome. It feels as though Stotts has lost all direction for this team, and I doubt we make it out of the play-in tournament. Everyone is playing hero-ball, and we no longer look like a cohesive team. Roco and DJJ seem to be getting less touches/minutes, too. David Herrera @Crooner4343 Blazers guard play of Dame and CJ has been their biggest strength but it’s also their biggest weakness. Neither one is a good defender, they think score 1st, they aren’t effective without the ball, and they both take Ill advised shots too often and aren’t efficient. Trail Blazer Stan @RipCityStan At this point it’s weird to say but shouldn’t we hope the blazers either miss the playoffs or have a dud in the first round? It’s obvious change is needed and I think to continue to lose this badly needs to happen to make the changes Dave Myers @DEM1976 Just discuss the validity of this take: @KendrickPerkins You know they saying? Less is sometimes more. Since getting Norman Powell, there seems to be chemistry issues in Portland.. and to make matters worse, Gary Trent Jr has been cooking like fish grease in Toronto! Carry on.... Asher Sosh @ashdport Is this the most disappointing team so far in the Lillard era? BustABucket @BustaBuckt Why do you think so many fans think Stotts is the #1 issue? Do you think another coach could take this roster further than the WCF? Seems like the GM is the bigger problem. Closing comments Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

April 21, 2021 The Trail Blazers started the week off strong with a good win against San Antonio, but it was all downhill from there with two more losses. Dave has a lot to say about one of those losses, while Dia, true to form, thinks it's not so bad. She also tells a personal story about her young son and CJ McCollum. The duo discuss Damian Lillard's injury, Derrick Jones Jr inadvertently sitting out, Coach Terry Stotts in the hot seat, Lamarcus Aldridge suddenly announcing his retirement, and more! Podcast Music Credits Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On a special episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast - Managing Editor, Dave Deckard is joined by the OG himself...Ben Golliver of the Washington Post to discuss Ben's new book, "Bubbleball: Inside the NBA's Fight to Save the Season" detailing his time spent in the NBA Bubble in Orlando last season. Intro 3:30 Framing the Bubble 6:30 Explaining how/why and the day-to-day 8:00 The success of the bubble 11:30 The experiment itself and how it's not repeatable 15:00 Looking at players as people and the spark points in the bubble 19:00 The idea of community and spaces 22:00 Live testing theory and viewing personal relationships 27:00 Being in the middle of more than just a practice but among the players/coaches 30:00 Living in a bubble with people on top of you but not being able to interact 33:00 What was at stake for various franchises 35:00 The storylines worked out and couldn't have been better 40:00 Is Damian Lillard the greatest Trail Blazer ever? 42:00 The most trustworthy players in the NBA 49:00 Why are the Blazers still in the same place as they were 5 years ago? 51:00 Get your copy of the book at: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/bubbleball-ben-golliver/1138671913;jsessionid=6767A6F68690019B5EF036E3459D1538.prodny_store02-atgap17?ean=9781419755538 https://www.amazon.com/Bubbleball-Inside-NBAs-Fight-Season/dp/1419755536 Closing Comments Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast - host Danny Marang takes a host of listener questions following the the Trail Blazer's loss to the short handed Charlotte Hornets (while Damian Lillard received much needed rest) - hitting on the overall "vibe" of the team right now, internal struggle, how hot is Coach Terry Stotts' seat, retaining Norman Powell in the offseason, trading CJ McCollum, the short term benching of Derrick Jones Jr and a whole lot more! Intro Opening Comments MAIL BAG QUESTIONS! Bradstreet Racing @BobBradstreet I understand your not a fire TS guy but my issue is with FA’s usually not wanting to come to PDX unless traded here or being a Melo type situation we need to develop our younger players and he just refuses to give them consistent run and keep them involved even when they struggle Joseph Steckmann @SteckmannJR Can you talk us off the ledge, or are the Blazers doomed to either miss the playoffs or get crushed in the first round? aaronlopresti @aaronlopresti ·This team cannot lose a game like this in this way and be considered serious playoff contenders. I have no explanation why but they are seriously underachieving right now. AtomAntium @Atom__Antium If POR were to trade CJ in the off-season, what kind of team would benefit from getting him (even if they sent back less value)? It seems most teams in the NBA with Cap Space are in full rebuild mode and CJ probably doesn't help them in the ways they want right now. Trail Blazer Stan @RipCityStan Serious question. Would missing the playoffs be what the blazers organization needs to do to make either a office move or coaching move or some major shift in how they play? Cameron @jcameronh89 Why did Derrick Jones get benched? Did Portland hurt their flexibility by promising Melo to not be benched even when he’s hurting us on defense? All Good @juliocan2 The Playoffs start tomorrow, name your preferred 8 man rotation. Who would you put on the floor? At this point I’m very unsure who I’d put out there myself, and I get the sense that the team/Stotts isn’t sure either. Seems like they’ve been trying a lot of rotations. Zachary Jeans @ZacharyJeans Chances this week they put Tibbetts in charge for the rest of the season and send Stotts on an early Summer vacation? Clay Hardy @_ClayHardy I got no questions left. Just anger! chargrrs @chargrrs Is this team partying before some of these games or what? Jeremy Krecklow @StryfeE In your opinion whats the best possible move Blazers can make this off-season. We have talked about CJ for Ingram being possible. What other player do you think/want them to go for that feels plausible. Obviously Beal or KAT can become availble, but not poss without major help. JanelBoyer @janelboyer I am wondering which player would be a better fit along the side of Dame, going into the next season... CJ or Norm? Closing Comments Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

April 14, 2021 The Trail Blazers go 2-2 this week and it's not pretty. Are the Trail Blazers in a funk? Where do we go from here? Dave and Dia are here to break it all down for you. They also discuss the media versus Coach Stotts, Offense versus Defense, and Gary Trent Jr--who is still making waves even though he's no longer a Trail Blazer. For the first time, the duo answers questions from listeners and a few more Trail Blazers topics. Podcast Music Credits Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's edition of the Blazer's Edge podcast- host Danny Marang returns to talk about the Blazer's struggles against top end teams, Norman Powell's integration into the game plan on both sides of the floor, and focuses on whether or not the Blazers can trust Jusuf Nurkic... and/or trust his health. It's not all doom and gloom, as Dallas the adorabe Chi-weenie-poo makes her podcast debut! Intro Welcome in, Dallas Marang! Norman Powell through 6 games 2:30 Powell filling a role that's been mising for 7 years 4:30 Looking at Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and TJ Leaf acquisitions 6:30 Why couldn't Portland land someone like LaMarcus Aldridge?  Looking at the context clues for the defensive woes 9:30 If you're looking for some semblance of silver lining... 12:00 Portland can cover up when CJ McCollum is out... 13:30 Can the Blazers trust Jusuf nurkic? 15:00 Portland still has playmaking issues without Nurkic on the floor 18:00 Can the Blazer's compete with/without Jusuf Nurkic? 19:30 There can no longer be discussion about the defense, action only 22:30 Closing comments Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

April 7 , 2021 The Portland Trail Blazers have two wins and two losses this week. Nurk gets hurt--again. Two new players join Portland's roster. Dave and Dia have a whole lot to say about all of this as well Norman Powell's role with the Blazers and how Gary Trent Jr is doing in Toronto--and more! Podcast Music Credits Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

March 3, 2021 It's been an emotional week for Trail Blazers fans as Gary Trent Jr and Rodney Hood left the team to join their new team. Portland welcomes Norman Powell to the roster, and Jusuf Nurkic finally makes his return. The Trail Blazers manage to win all 3 games this week and that's cause for celebration--at least Dia thinks so, Dave is a little more hesitant. The two also talk other trades around the league, the buy out market and how the second half of the season will play out. Podcast Music Credits Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

March 24, 2021 The trade deadline is quickly approaching, and the Trail Blazers still haven't made a move. Dave and Dia don't agree on how to proceed, and as always, both are pretty stubborn. CJ McCollum is back, Gary Trent Jr is struggling, and Damian Lillard is getting banged up. We talk about 3 wins and two losses, a 17 point come back with only 6 minutes remaining, and Coach Stotts' 500th win. Lebron is injured and Dame is moving up in the MVP talks. Podcast Music Credits Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

March 18, 2021 The NBA trade deadline is quickly approaching and there are plenty of rumors as to what the Blazers might do. Dave and Dia discuss some of the noise rumors-- could Lamarcus Aldridge be coming home? Is Aaron Gordon an attainable option? Dave puts Dia on the spot and asks what moves she wants to see, and she can't escape answering this time. All of that plus CJ McCollum's impending return, a couple of tough losses and a win, and more trade talk on this week's episode. Podcast Music Credits Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

March 11, 2021 The All Star break has come and gone, and the Trail Blazers made quite a show out of the events, with Robert Covington in the skills event, Anfernee Simons in the dunk contest and Damian Lillard playing in the All Star game. Dave and Dia discuss the events of the day. With the All Star break over, it's time to talk about the second half of the season and with that, the hopeful return of CJ McCollum and Jusuf Nurkic. Dave and Dia also discuss the upcoming trade deadline and there's an extra special guest who makes her first ever podcast appearance, but it probably won't be her last. Podcast Music Credits Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

March 4, 2021 This week the Blazers played the Lakers and the Hornets-- and Dave & Dia have a lot to say about it. In the process, the team breaks more than one record within a week. All Star weekend is coming up and Portland has a big presence in the competitions. Dia gets a new mic and Dave calls her old. But don't worry, they still find common ground. Podcast Music Credits Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode, host Danny Marang returns after a health related hiatus - but with the help of Steve Dewald they're able to jump back in and take a look at where the Blazers are now, where they were and what we know - or don't know about this team as they get ready to head into the All-Star Break. Hot shooting, poor defense, trade deadlines, rotations, breakout play of Gary Trent Jr, Anfernee Simons and Nassir Little, looking at the 2nd half schedule and the contractually obligated pick 'em team-by-team that is sure to have everyone in agreement and a whole lot more! Intro Opening comments - we're back! Health & homes, the officially washed life Where are the Blazers now, good-bad or otherwise? Is it time to panic? 2:00 Bailing water is what needs to happen 4:00 Damian Lillard as the best clutch player in the league 5:00 Do we know what this team really is yet, two years later? 6:00 Looking at how Portland deals around the margins 8:00 Anfernee Simons, Damian Lillard and Robert Covington at All Star weekend 11:00 Gary Trent Jr showing he's one of the best 3pt shooters in the league 13:00 Simons developing as a playmaker 14:00 What are we seeing from Nassir Little 17:00 Why can't the Blazers do more when Lillard is trapped? 20:00 Putting Covington back into the playmaking role 26:00 2nd Half Schedule pick 'em - how many games does Steve think Portland wins? 30:00 Midseason award picks 35:00 Utah Jazz are a title contender 37:00 Playing the young guys over the vets 38:00 Does coaching change the ceiling on this team? 44:00 Twitter questions! 45:00 Spencer Poole @spencp99 Do you think it's still in the Blazers best interests to look at another rotation big? I'm thinking someone with some defensive acumen like John Henson Colin Petitt @ColinPetitt Have you heard anything on the trade front for us? Feels like this team could use a consolidation type trade, altough our best trade asset may be Trent and losing him would be tough Kristian @IllKrill Could Trevor Ariza be the saviour once again? He could get the Hood minutes and he was pretty good with the Blazers last season conrad @cxnrvd Cj for Middleton. Who says no? Rick S @r_sparber A calf strain didn't sound serious but it's been a long recovery for Giles. Anyone know at eta? Return of Jusuf Nurkic and CJ McCollum 58:00 Closing Comments Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

February 24, 2021 The Trail Blazers are coming off tough losses 3 games in a row, Dame got snubbed as an All Star Starter, and Dave expects Dia to be positive. The duo discuss Portland's recent struggles along with the 3 point heavy NBA and what that could mean for the future, Carmelo Anthony's hot streak, Derrick Jones Jr and Robert Covington and their place on the team, subway sandwich orders (yes, seriously), how much Dia hates change, and more! Podcast Music Credits Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

February 17, 2021 In this week's podcast, Dave and Dia are ecstatic about the fact that the Trail Blazers have won every game since we last recorded! They talk about the Blazers' defense, Damian Lillard for MVP, the All Star game and their thoughts on wether or not it should even happen, Robert Covington, Clutch Damian Lillard, Stephen A Smith's apology and more! Podcast Music Credits Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

February 10, 2021 The Portland Trail Blazers six game road trip is over, and Dave and Dia have a lot to say about it! They discuss the huge win against the 76ers, and CJ Elleby's breakout performance as well as other young players who reveled in the spotlight while most of Portland's starting line up was injured. Dia has a Knicks trade up her sleeve and Dave avoids talking about the Knicks game as much as possible. Then, due to technical difficulties with the podcast, there's a surprise ending even Dia doesn't see coming! All of this and more! Podcast Music Credits Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

February 4, 2021 The Trail Blazers are on a road trip and still struggling through injuries, and defense problems. The internet is abuzz with who to blame, and this week Dave and Dia don't agree--not even a little. Words are exchanged, voices get louder, and nothing is solved, but lots is talked about. They also talk abour Charles Barkley, Nassir Little and his record 30 point game, Melo's joy and pain, and more! Podcast Music Credits Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week’s Blazer’s Edge podcast, Danny Marang sits down to talk with The Athletic’s NBA Anlayst (and former Milwaukee Buck’s Director of Basketball Research) Seth Partnow about; how to look at shot quality (and quantify it) why it matters, what to do with it, the ideas behind how Portland defends opponents and where breakdowns occur, the idea of Carmelo Anthony as a “sineater” for the offense, whether or not you should be worried about Robert Covington’s shooting struggles and should the Blazers be taking a look at the young guys on the roster while there are so many injuries and a whole lot more! NOTE: This was a really great/fun discussion I got to have with Seth about a lot of top level ideas and how teams fundamentally look at things. If you want to get a better understanding on how things are looked at from inside an organization, listen to this pod and definitely seek out Seth’s work. Intro Seth Partnow! What is Second Spectrum tracking data? 2:00 Using tracking data and algorithms for shot quality 4:00 Limitations of what’s currently available by manual tracking 6:00 Seth’s introduction to Shot Quality on The Athletic 8:00 Why Damian Lillard, CJ McCollum and other stars have “higher shot difficulties” and “lower shot quality” 9:30 Limitations of tracking and how to categorize things for an individual player 11:30 Understanding scoring area of the floor and how to capitalize on those things 14:00 Are book keepers fudging long 3’s in the books? 16:30 The Price is Right with midrange shots 18:00 The set up for a midrange shot has gone away with the 3-point revolution 19:00 The idea of moving through space vs occupying space 20:00 Looking through the lens of Carmelo Anthony post ups in shot quality theory? 21:00 “Anthony works as the Sineater for the offense” - Partnow 22:00 Understanding shooting luck/variance 24:00 Why do corner 3’s come open so often? 26:00 “Giving up the corner 3 is much more about a breakdown somewhere else” - Partnow 28:00 How Portland tries to walk the line of “Four Factors” but falls short 29:00 Why does Portland’s defense breakdown so easily? 31:00 “Failure to guard an initial action (point of attack)” 32:30 “Portland doesn’t have sufficient defensive acumen to be much more than an average defense” 34:00 Looking at Robert Covington and where he fits Dame and CJ as point of attack defenders Playing good offense is hard work Derrick Jones Jr & Covington - disappointment in production 36:00 Are you “worried” about Covington’s shooting? 40:00 “He (Zach Collins) is more - projects to be more of a rim anchor than Nurkic could be” - Partnow 46:00 “If you’re operating at a talent deficit, you don’t win.” 47:00 Why Portland should look to experiment with so many injuries 48:00 Looking at the idea of sunk cost 52:00 Coaches as control freaks and leaning on veterans 55:00 The relationship between coaching, personnel, time on floor and organizational demands 58:00 “lineup card is yours - but you can’t play Pena at 1st base... I traded him” - Moneyball  Closing Comments Outro https://theathletic.com/2351786/2021/01/29/nba-introduction-to-shot-quality-and-expected-results-seth-partnow/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

January 28, 2021 The Trail Blazers are once again, beaten and bruised and broken down. Now down six players from a 14 man roster, is it time to dust our expectations as Blazer fans? Dave and Dia discuss this, Damian Lillard's new twin babies and his record breaking game, The Blazers' young players stepping up and what that could mean for trades, the Oklahoma City shoe controversy and more Trail Blazers related topics. As the podcast was recorded on the one year anniversary of Kobe Bryant's death, Dia tells a story about that and talks about how human decency and kindness in the face of tragedy makes all the difference. Podcast Music Credits Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week’s episode of the Blazer’s Edge podcast, Danny Marang takes a look at the Portland Trail Blazers after 5 days off due to the NBA postponing two games against the Memphis Grizzlies and how that impacted their first game back to action against the New York Knicks and going forward. What can we take from the new defensive looks? Can the bench be counted in to score like it did in the first half vs New York? Is this a building block for Anfernee Simons? Will they continue to use Derrick Jones Jr more in the pick & roll? Which changes will stick and which will they throw away? There’s a lot to get into in this shortened, quick hit, podcast so buckle in and get your week started right! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

January 20, 2021 The Trail Blazers injury curse is running rampant with both Jusuf Nurkic and CJ McCollum suffering injuries within a week of each other. So what do the Trail Blazers do now? Do we still have a chance at the playoffs? The Western conference Finals? The Championship? The situation seems dire, but is it bad enough to finally crush Dia's sense of optimism? Dave and Dia get into the nitty gritty of what the season looks like now, plus the Blazer's defense, Damian Lillard's role in all of this, Gary Trent Jr, Harry Giles, and more! Podcast Music Credits Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast, host Danny Marang takes a look at what Portland could/should do with Jusuf Nurkic out for 8+ weeks, the re-emergence of Rodney Hood, the value of Robert Covington and Derrick Jones Jr, Enes Kanter's ability to fill in as a starter, how to get more our Gary Trent Jr and optimize Carmelo Anthony, as well as adjustments with the late breaking news about CJ McCollum being out for 4+ weeks when further tests reveal more extensive damage. Intro Opening comments Rodney Hood starts & looks... great? 2:00 What does Hood's play mean - if anything? 4:00 CJ McCollum status update 7:00 Will Portland add another body? 8:30 Can the Blazers Stay Afloat While Nurkic's out? 10:00 Enes Kanter is fine as the fill in guy 12:00 How has Robert Covington looked so far? 14:00 Derrick Jones Jr/Covington leading to good things on both ends 16:00 What changes are actually showing up in the adjustments? 18:00 Balancing Carmelo Anthony's role & possessions 20:00 The inconsistency of Gary Trent Jr's place on the team 22:00 How can Portland get more out of the bench? 24:00 Establishing the pecking order 27:00 Listener Questions! mathew @MathewPurcell Will Little see the court Monday? Who starts at the 2 Monday and beyond with cj out? When will our D finally click?  Loving the steals and finger tips on balls but our 3pt d seems to be let them shoot their average and deal with it on the offensive end. Slater Smith @slaterjsmith Will Giles off the bench fit better with Melo off the bench? (Vs. the Kanter pairing) Dion and the Belmont Goats @Culcordia How much time you think Giles is going to get while Nurk is out? Is it time to develop his talent, or do we play it safe? Closing comments Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

No catchy headlines, no breakdown, just some unfiltered thoughts about Jusuf Nurkic suffering another injury and what it means for the Trail Blazers right now and in the future. Do they roll out Enes Kanter as the starter? How about going the way of Noah Vonleh and giving Harry Giles token starts before the veteran Kanter comes in to play 30 minutes a night? Could they pursue a low level trade with a smaller piece of the roster to get an extra body with both Nurkic and Zach Collins down and who could they look at? Could Terry Stotts get really weird and opt to play small ball and begrudgingly move Robert Covington to the center spot defensively while utilizing Derrick Jones Jr as the 5-man offensively? There’s so many different questions with so many answers and ways things could end up going that I couldn’t touch on all of them, but with so many questions sent my way tonight - I wanted to address as many as I could right now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

January 14, 2021 On this week's episode, Dave and Dia break down the Trail Blazers 3 game winning streak--what Portland is doing well and what we hope to see going forward. Dave can't wait to talk about the Toronto win, and Dia is feeling pretty justified in her don't-trade-CJ-McCollum take. Can CJ continue this level of play while Damian Lillard plays like Damian Lillard? Will Jusuf Nurkic tie everything together? Can the Blazers make a run for the Western Conference Finals? Dave and Dia discuss all of this and more. Podcast Music Credits Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

January 6, 2021 The Trail Blazers are 7 games into the regular season and Dave and Dia have feelings about it--and they don't necessarily agree. Dia tries to come to terms with the current state of the team, and feeling like something is off, while Dave tries to get to the bottom of it. There are some references to putting on pants, unicorns coming out of a cup, and a whole lot of back and forth. This season has been weird and it's still anybody's season. At least one of us thinks so. Podcast Music Credits Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

December 30, 2020 Regular season games are here and Dave and Dia react to the Trail Blazer's first week of games: Utah Jazz, Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers. We discuss Carmelo Anthony and his role with the team going forward. Gary Trent Jr. came out and put on a show and we have feelings about it. We talk about the rest of the players as well as giving them grace and remembering they're humans before they're basketball players. Dave also brings up an issue with media, and just like most things, we have opinions. Podcast Music Credits Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's Blazer's Edge podcast, host Danny Marang is joined by Blazersedge.com Associate Editor, Steve Dewald to take a look at: James Harden adding the Trail Blazers to his list of potential destinations and why Portland needs to act now, Portland's first two games vs the Utah Jazz and the Houston Rockets, Carmelo Anthony's rough start with the second unit, Enes Kanter doing Enes Kanter things, Jusuf Nurkic getting back in the groove, Damian Lillard is still REALLY good and the upcoming road trip that will see Portland take on Lebron James, Anthony Davis, Paul George, Kawhi Leonard and Steph Curry. That and more on this week's episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

December 23, 2020 The NBA is back, and Dave and Dia are ready to talk about it. They glaze right over the Denver pre-season games (because lets be honest, that was tough), chat about brainwashing their children into Blazer fandom (that's how it works, right?), discuss Zach Collins' future with the team (Dia gets really honest about this one), touch on Damian Lillard's MVP talk (he's always been our MVP), and propose a challenge to the listeners (with a reward--kind of). Podcast Music Credits Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

December 16, 2020 The Preseason is underway! Dave and Dia talk about the first two preseason games against Sacramento. How is Carmelo Anthony looking as the 6th man? Is Rodney Hood back to his pre-injury self? Do the Blazers stand an actual chance at a Championship this year? Does Dave still have a job at Blazers Edge? these questions and more are answered as Dave and Dia discuss all things Trail Blazers basketball. Podcast Music Credits Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

December 9, 2020 Melo vs BRoy? Harden to Portland? Ant as backup Point Guard? Dave and Dia discuss some of the hot topics amongst Trail Blazers fans going into the Pre-Season. Should Melo wear number 7? Should Portland make a move to get James Harden? How will Anfernee Simons be as back up Point Guard? Can Dia keep her cool while discussing these topics (spoiler alert: Nope). Join us this week for all the chit chat leading up to the Pre-Season start up! Podcast Music Credits Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast, Danny Marang is joined by new Portland Trail Blazer's wing - Derrick Jones Jr! Together they hit on; the rapid cross country move from Miami to Portland, how he's getting acclimated to the region, if he's talked with Carmelo Anthony about their back and forth during the season last year (Jan 5th, 2020) , playing basketball "without chains," putting the ball anywhere near the rim and he'll go get, what his role will be, breaking down his defensive versatility, building up a 3-point shot and a whole lot more! Intro Opening Comments Getting acclimated with Damian Lillard, CJ McCollum and Carmelo Anthony immediately 2:00 Going back and forth with Melo - have you talked to him about that at all? 4:00 With you and Robert Covington on the team together - you're two of the most successful G-League pairings yet, what would you tell those guys that are still grinding down there? 7:30 Who is/are the guys you want to cover- that you want to take on the challenge of guarding? 9:30 Breaking down film with Derrick and his defensive versatility and how it impacts a night to night basis? 11:00 Guarding the pick and roll and knowing my job 14:00 Learning from veterans like PJ Tucker and Jared Dudley on how to have active hands 16:00 What part of your offensive game are you most looking forward to developing? 17:30 Where do see your confidence at now? 19:00 When you're playing off of guys in the starting lineup- where do you find you role? 21:00 Have you had the discussion with Dame about lob passing/timing? 22:00 What have you done/are you doing to develop that 3-point shot? 24:00 Taking a look at defensive versatility and how Jones Jr can be effective up and down the lineup? 26:00 Coming to Portland and getting the chance at a "green light" 28:00 "I can't wait!" 29:30 Have you and Anfernee Simons had a little dunk off yet? 30:00 Closing Comments Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

December 2, 2020 Starting lineups, win projections, and the ways in which social media shapes our modern sports experience. Listen to hear Dave and Dia discuss these topics and more. Or, just come to hear the explosion of Mount St. Dia. Nope, we are SO not kidding. Music: Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/chtbl.com/track/3271E/traffic.megaphone.fm/VMP5983745033.mp3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast, Greg Wissinger of The King's Herald hops on to take a look at former Sacramento King, and newly signed Trail Blazer big, Harry Giles III. How healthy is he? What kind of player is he now and could he be later? How does he get on the floor - and should he play Enes Kanter? Why doesn't he shoot 3's and how on Earth did he end up a free agent already!? That and more on this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast. Intro Opening Comments How on Earth did Harry Giles end up a free agent already? 2:00 The handling of Giles by the Kings early on 5:00 Where is Giles at physically now, are his knees still a worry? 8:00 What are the things you want to drive home about Harry Giles the player? 9:30 "He's a poor man's (Nikola) Jokic as a passer" 10:00 Athletic profile of Giles, "he moves more like Nic Batum than some center" 12:00 Why hasn't Giles been able to get more playing time? 14:00 "He could be a passable defender..." 17:00 Could coming to Portland (where there might be a defender or two) help him out? 19:00 Why doesn't Giles shoot 3's?! EXPLAIN IT TO ME! 21:00 An elite finisher, solid midrange but a black hole in between 23:00 Will/Should Giles get minutes over Enes Kanter? 26:00 Why it makes sense to get Giles on the floor 31:00 What do you see Giles' ceiling as? 34:00 Giles as a screener looking like Zach Collins 36:00 One non-basketball thing you love about Giles 40:00 Does Giles have a nasty streak? 42:00 Closing comments Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

November 26, 2020 Dave and Dia discuss the Blazer's off season as it currently stands. Our thoughts on the draft, trades, big moves and did Portland finally win? How are we feeling about the team with just a few weeks before the season begins? Podcast Music Credits Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

November 26, 2020 Meet Dave and Dia. Who are they? What are their formative Blazers memories? How in the world does a Portland fan survive living in LA amongst Lakers family members? Find out the answers to these questions and more at the start of a brand new podcast series. Podcast Music Credits Protofunk by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4247-protofunk License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Blue Ska by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3453-blue-ska License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast, host Danny Marang is joined by Nekias Duncan of basketballnews.com (and follower of all things Miami Heat) to talk about: the Trail Blazer's offseason acquisitions; specifically former Miami Heat wing Derrick Jones Jr, the impact that Robert Covington could have on the Blazers, a changing and possibly more aggressive Portland defense, how the rotation could shake out, where Portland sits in a loaded Western Conference and more! Intro  Nekias Duncan on the show! Opening Comments Thoughts on Derrick Jones Jr getting the MLE 1:30 Who Does DJJ remind you of? 3:30 What will DJJ's primary role be in Portland? 5:45 DJJ is the best athlete Portland has had in two decades 7:30 What are the drawbacks of DJJ - what will keep him off the floor? 9:00 Do you believe he can continue to add to his game? 10:30 Do you think DJJ is going to have the work rate to maximize his potential? 13:30 Does coming to Portland unlock anything for DJJ? 14:30 How good are DJJ's hands - can he go catch it anywhere? 17:00 Thoughts on the addition of Robert Covington? 18:00 Will Portland get more aggressive defensively this year? 19:00 Is Covington a floor raiser or a ceiling raiser? 22:00 Portland has added a lot of bigs, is this the way to go? 24:00 Portland has real versatility now - can they mix & match? 26:00 Is Covington more of a 3 or a 4? 27:00 What's the best starting lineup Portland could roll out with everyone healthy? 28:00  Does Portland need to add another ball handler? 31:00 The Blazers have a 2nd generation behind the starters 33:00 What do you like about Harry Giles and his fit in Portland? 34:00 How much should Giles play? 38:00 The return of Carmelo Anthony 41:00 What will Melo's role be this season? 42:00 Who is left out of the rotation in the frontcourt? 46:00 After the early free agency period, where do the BLazers fall in the Western Conference? 48:00 Have the Blazers done enough to make a Western COnference Finals run? 50:30 How the Western Conference is shaping up; Luka Doncic, Chris Paul to the Suns 53:30 What would Portland have to do to be a no doubt contender? 54:30 Closing comments Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast, Danny Marang is joined by Steve Dewald to take a look at the next 24-72 hours, the opening of Free Agency, the potential big moves of Chris Paul, James Harden of Russell Westbrook, will the Blazers take Jay Scrubb and SHOULD they, Damian Lillard endorsing Giannis Antetokounmpo in Portland, who Portland will sign with the MLE and more! Intro Opening Comments 3:30 Jay Scrubb - Could the Blazers draft him? 5:30 Could the Blazers trade back? 7:00 Who does Scrubb remind you of?  9:30 Do you trust the Blazers to pick Scrubb at 16? 12:30 The Blazers don't really give off false signals 14:00 A wild Monday to start the new NBA season - who gets moved? 15:00 Russell Westbrook, Chris Paul, James Harden, LaMarcus Aldridge, DeMar Derozan and everyone else on the move 17:00 Could the Blazers go after Lauri Markkanen? 18:00 Do the Blazers have someone lined up to sign at the MLE as soon as the window opens? 20:00 Josh Jackson, Danilo Gallinari and Jae Crowder - any of them make sense?  24:00 Expectations over the next 24-48 hours as the season opens up? - Philadelphia 76ers getting spicy? 26:00 Will Trevor Ariza still be with the team next season? 30:00 Does continuity REALLY matter? 32:00 Portland needs to get longer, stronger and more athletic 34:00 How close is Gary Trent Jr to being a starting level player in the NBA? 36:00 Damian Lillard endorsing Giannis Antetokounmp to Portland? Closing Comments Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast, Danny Marang is joined by Steve Dewald to take a look at: Open Comments Season restart Draft Christopher Mazzeo @Maznorthwest Assuming all the top tier wings are gone at 16 who do you suggest the Blazers pick? trades Brandon Niles @2guysbrandon Ariza, Collins, and a first seems like the best way to combine assets with contract value to get a trade going. What are the odds we use something like that to go after a big upgrade somewhere, and who might it be? Oladipo? Hield? Covington? 40:50 Hayden Tompkins @ImRipCity07 What would be your ideal trade package in return for CJ? --- 36:00 Combining McCollum with Nurkic for Joel Embiid + more? Oleh Kosel @OlehKosel Give us your best Jrue Holiday trade idea involving the Blazers and Pelicans. Free agency Matthew @ReverendRomulus Danilo Gallinari, Jerami Grant, and Jae Crowder have all been spoken of as possible Blazer free agent targets. Are any of these reasonable gets for Portland or should we expect a free agent from the next tier down? wayne hughes @SuzFellow More then likely Neil will just work around the fringes of free agency. Lets say no large trades are made. Please cover those low cost FA vet players that makes sense. drew elizarde-miller @DrewElizMiller Nurkic trajectory -- have we seen his ceiling? how good could he get from here? drew elizarde-miller @DrewElizMiller what were the roots of the blazer 3rd quarter issues this year? how can this be resolved and how much is this related to roster construction vs. effort? Thomas Cogswell @ThomasCogswell Who is the starting 4 at the beginning of the season? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Blazer's Edge podcast returns after a long hiatus to take on some Mailbag questions with host Danny Marang. On the pod Danny hits on where he's been - some announcements, addresses the "trade CJ McCollum" article, then dives into some offseason questions as the Portland Trail Blazers look to gear up for what might be a quick turnaround from the 2020 NBA season. Intro Opening comments We’re back! Mailbag Questions! Nason @TheNason  How bad would CJ have to get before Blazer fans would stop overvaluing him and be ok with trading him? 3:00 Rolling it back to 2015 and thoughts on CJ’s break out series vs the Memphis Grizzlies At the point where you can’t get better value for McCollum? 6:00 Thought process behind making a trade 9:00 Assembling enough star power or building through depth? 12:00 Neil Olshey hasn’t traded a rotation player w/more than a year left in his tenure 16:00 Lando @lando_commandoh Which former blazer would you bring back on the cheap: Plumlee, ET, Pat, Mo, or Meyers. 18:00 king donut@jellydonut52  Do you think Nassir Little will develop into a player who can contribute at a high level? What is his ceiling/potential? 19:00 Lando @lando_commandoh  Which SF/wing in the draft do you like best: Vassell, Williams, or Bey? 22:00 Josh Sargent @itinerantusa Expectations for Ant for this year? Who’s your favorite backup PG target if the Blazers decide to get a vet? 24:00 But still my main question remains what is going on with Collins and will he be ready if the season starts in January? 26:00 Kyle Nishida @Kyle_Nishida Portland has pick No. 16. Theoretically (b/c Neil is married to draft picks), what trade value does that pick have? 28:00 Cement Halo @DitchCathedral Which players do you think are most likely to be traded or released before the season starts? - What do you see as the most likely starting lineup? - If they can stay healthy this year, where do you see the Blazers at in terms of playoff seeding/success? Thanks! 29:00 How ridiculous does the West look next season? Arrival of Jamal Murray, Devin Booker and Donovan Mitchell – and the return of Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and the Golden State Warriors 31:00 @EvenOddsPodcast @EvenOddsPodcast  Make it a Gordon Hayward pod you coward. 34:30 Closing comments Outro     Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Blazer's Edge: Picking Your Poison- LeBron James or Anthony Davis - Who Do the Blazers Need to Stop? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tara and Cassidy are taking a break from their break to indulge in some blazing hot and bountiful Blazer Bubble talk. But first, an announcement! We are changing our name--W.H.A.T. now stands for We Have A Take because we have takes and we’re looking forward to bringing in even more different voices to talk basketball and Blazers and whatever else comes up.   On this episode, they chat about our playoff-bound Trail Blazers and their incredible and incredibly stressful Bubble Season (sorry, “Seeding games”). Next they talk about NBA Summer Camp/Varsity Summer League highlights. Tara’s got some off the wall theories (of course) and (of course) Cassidy has a Round 1 Playoffs Disney Bubble Playlist!  They also ask what can’t Gary do (yet), pause for some Carmelo Anthony appreciation, and come up with a new idea for post-basketball careers for Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum. Finally, W.H.A.T. celebrates some friends of the pod and their amazing recent accomplishments! (Check out new podcasts by @Jannelle12 and @SharonShyBrown and lots of great work from @britrobotista) It is the NBA like we've never seen it before! 4:30 Bubble/Wubble highlights 5:30 The dire coffee situation in the Bubble 7:40 Are the Bubble Blazers everything we expected? 16:45 What is something going on in the bubble you'd like to see implemented as part of the regular season? 24:45 Efficacy of jersey messages. 29:00 The Blazers rocking Ant gear 29:30 Dear Jeff Curtain, We love Jordan Kent. 32:00 Blazers v Lakers 39:30 2020 Disney Bubble ROund 1 Playoff Playlist 53:00 Shout out to our friends and wrap up Bubble Playlist: EASTERN CONFERENCE ROUND 1: When You Wish Upon A Star: Bucks-Magic Series Try Everything: Raptors-Nets Series  Almost There: Celtics-76ers Series  I'll Make A Man Out Of You: Heat-Pacers Series  WESTERN CONFERENCE ROUND 1: Stand Out: Blazers-Lakers Series I Just Can't Wait To Be King: Clippers-Mavericks Series Let It Go: Thunder-Rockets Series  Dig A Little Deeper: Nuggets-Jazz Series Social Follow Blazer’s Edge on Twitter @blazersedge, WHAT Pod @wehaveatake, Tara @tcbbiggs, and Cassidy @CassidyGemmet. Join the Women’s Hoops And Talks Facebook group to talk about Trail Blazers with others who identify as women who love basketball. Music used in the episode: “Happy Alley” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast, Danny Marang is joined by editor-in-chief from Silver Screen & Roll, Harrison Faigen. Together they preview the first Blazers-Lakers playoff series since 2002 including; how will the Lakers guard Damian Lillard and how will the Blazers deal with Anthony Davis? Lebron James matching up with longtime friend Carmelo Anthony, X-factors for each team, whether rest or rust will make a difference and more! Intro Opening comments Meme acceptance Harrison's ability to inspire Damian Lillard all by himself 2:00 Overall thoughts on Lakers-Blazers 4:00 Rest vs Rust 8:00 Playoff Lebron James activated 10:00 How do the Lakers look to slow down Lillard? 15:00 What are the positives for the Lakers heading into the playoffs? 17:00 Kyle Kuzma being the 3rd best player for the Lakers Who guards LeBron James for the Blazers? 19:00 How will the Blazers guard the 1-2 punch of Lebron and Anthony Davis? 21:30 Carmelo Anthony vs LeBron defensively 24:00 Javale McGee and Blazer's Kryptonite 27:00 Lillard having a chance to right some wrong perceptions 32:00 The Blazers missing Trevor Ariza mightily in this match-up 38:00 Overall thoughts on the level of basketball in the bubble and future playoff seeding/match-ups 41:00 Official prediction time 42:30 "The Blazers are a shooting laxative" - Harrison Faigen 44:00 Closing Comments Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast, Danny Marang is joined by Steve Dewald to take a look at your questions about: the first 6 games in the bubble, red hot play of Gary Trent Jr, the disappointment of Zach Collins' inconsistency, Jusuf Nurkic - is he a Top 5 center, Intro Opening comments What is the best excuse to miss a COVID test? - DeAndre Ayton 2:00 First week of Blazer's basketball in the bubble 4:00 Mailbag Questions Why has Gary Trent Jr been the most impressive? 5:00 Damian Lillard and a 50 piece 7:00 Grading on a curve in the bubble? 7:30 Gary Trent Jr and a superstar level growth 9:30 The difference between a building block & a core piece? 12:30 Value on the defensive end 15:30 How does GTJ's emergence impact Rodney Hood, Trevor Ariza & Carmelo Anthony? 18:30 Does Carmelo Anthony return next year? 20:00 What kind of contract could GTJ get? 24:30 Who's been the bigger disappointment in the bubble- Zach Collins or Hassan Whiteside? 25:30 The Blazer's have to see Collins play and know what they are going to do going forward 28:00 Measuring Collins' development on a different curve and what could hold him back 29:00 Could you see the Blazer's losing to the Mavs and/or Nets? 36:00 Impressions of Jusuf Nurkic's first 6 games 37:00 Nurkic and better conditioning 40:00 Is Jusuf Nurkic a Top 5 center? 42:00 Will the Blazers make the playoffs? 46:00 Closing comments Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast Danny Marang is joined by Trail Blazers Stage Manager, Kristen Kerbaugh to take a look at: The first impressions of the return to play Having front row seat to Dame-Time The ridiculousness that is NBA officiating NBA denying us trash talk with piped in music Jusuf Nurkic returns! Gary Trent Jr shines! Portland vs Memphis Zach Collins' struggles Portland vs Boston A miraculous near-comeback Looking ahead to Houston ......and more! Intro Opening Comments Kristen Kerbaugh - Trail Blazers Stage Manager Best Seats in the House! - 2:00 Two games in, what are your initial thoughts on the return of the Blazers? 4:00 Being front row for Damian Lillard replay reviews 5:30 The magic of Terry Stotts at the replay booth 7:30 The never ending foul parade... Jusuf Nurkic, Zach Collins, Hassan Whiteside 9:00 The NBA has cranked up the volume in the arena to deny us the trash talk on the floor! 11:00 First impressions on the return of Jusuf Nurkic? 14:00 The difference in the Blazer's with Nurk on the floor 16:30 Nurkic and the necessary risks he takes 18:00 How has he looked defensively? 18:30 Levels of activity 21:00 Gary Trent Jr is alive! 23:00 The build up of Trent this year 25:00 Zach Collins and fouls are a problem 29:00 Putting a bow on the Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies 32:00 How do you keep Hassan Whiteside happy? 33:30 Whiteside WILL have a game where he'll matter 37:30 The half that shall not be named 39:00 Jayson Tatum and Kemba Walker present problems 40:00 A different Blazers team in the 2nd half vs the Boston Celtics Damian Lillard and an injury that he needs to work through every year 41:00 Focusing on everything but the final minutes 43:00 Looking at the final play where Lillard passed to Nurkic for 2 45:00 Should the Blazers look to make a lineup change? 48:00 Where do you see Collins more comfortable at? 53:00 Looking at the Houston Rockets 55:00 Should the Blazers go to Nurkic and pound inside? Does Portland opt to go Box and one vs James Harden again? 57:00 How many games does Portland need to win to force the play in game? 1:00:00 Closing comments Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast, Danny Marang is joined by the Washington Post's (and Blazer's Edge alum) Ben Golliver- who is is one a select few who will be reporting live from the bubble in Florida for the entire duration. Together they discuss the process for quarantining on arrival, the atmosphere and precautions taken, how different covering this event really is. Intro Ben Golliver! How much are you willing to risk to cover the bubble? 2:00 The process to get into the bubble 4:00 Being locked in a hotel room for a week...8:00 NBA Summer Camp 10:00 What is it like having this kind of environment between players & media 12:00 Picking and choosing what you're going to cover 14:00 94 night reservation at the Disney Resort 16:30 Being able to experience the entire length of the bubble 17:30 Ben's inability to name 3 Disney movies 19:00 How has the Lou Williams & Richaun Holmes situations impacted the campus? 22:00 Being in the ball rooms for games - having Giannis Antetokounmpo & Lebron James playing right after each other 24:00 Is there an asterisk on this season? 27:00 Which all-time team would you "invite" to cover in the bubble? 30:00 The outside world recounting Ben's misery in quarantine 33:00 Lego Lambo 36:00 Closing comments Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast, Steve Dewald joing Danny Marang to take a look at how the 1st week in the bubble has gone, Skinny Melo(!), Portland gearing up offensively, what birthday meal you would have in the bubble, the New Orleans Pelicans and the Sacramento Kings dealing with missing players, how many wins will it take to make the playoffs, end of season awards and more! Intro Opening comments Losing weight in quarantine Are you buying Skinny Melo? 1:50 Do you think it's going to matter? 4:30 Could Portland reap the benefits of having an offensive ready starting 5 going into the Bubble? 6:00 Damian Lillard's 30th birthday catered by CJ McCollum What are you getting delivered for your birthday in the bubble? 8:00 How do you eat a lobster with hotel silverware? 9:00 Shocking reveal, star player has presidential suite! 14:00 Ben Golliver and the media bubble 16:00 Favorite moments of the "campus life" so far 17:30 Lillard: "don't waste our time here" Zion Williamson, DeAaron Fox (and now Marvin Bagley) out for a period leading up to the restart 20:00 How many games do the Blazer's need to win to get into the playoffs? 21:50 Are you more confident that the bubble will work now? 23:00 What are you looking for during the restart? Anfernee Simons needed a reset 26:00 Expectations for Nassir Little 30:00 Regular season awards! Where does Dame fall as an ALL NBA player? 31:00 Who's your DPOY? 32:00 Is it Ja Morant or Zion as your Rookie of the Year? 33:30 Closing comments Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast, Danny Marang is joined by Trail Blazer's wing Nassir Little to talk about his growth during his rookie season, developing his three point shot, confidence feeding into a young player, staying in shape through the shutdown, making an impact with social justice and protests, looking ahead to the bubble, carrying Carmelo Anthony's wine case on road trips and listener questions throughout the show! Opening comments If you could go pro in anything else, what would it be? 1:00 Listener Questions Have you been able to workout? 3:00 Welcome to NL Fitness! 5:00 Have you been working on your 3 point shot? 7:00 Nassir breaking down his 3 point shot on video 8:00 Building confidence through the year 15:00 Working on his shot in the gym with the Arc System 18:00 Nassir on his development: "If we had a rank during quarantine, you (Nassir) are easily the most improved player. I think I've made huge strides." 20:00 Nassir on playing in the bubble in Orlando, and why it makes sense for him (and his teammates) to play 24:00 The financial ramifications of not playing 26:00 Working out at the practice facility during the lead up to the restart 27:30 Nassir on social justice, Black Lives Matter, marching in the protests here in Portland 29:00 Nassir "I have Black Lives Matter on my jersey. I put that in today." 31:00 Looking ahead to the 8 games during the restart and getting out to a hot start 35:00 Having "home court" in Florida at Disney 38:00 How different will it be to be away from family/loved ones 41:00 What is a piece of advice that sticks with you? 45:30 Giving back to his parents 47:30 What's one thing you love and one thing you don't about the NBA life? 52:00 Having to carry Carmelo Anthony's wine bag 55:30 What was it like coming out of the Draft with Zion Williamson 57:30 How did you adjust to falling on Draft night? 59:00 How much truth is there to Jusuf Nurkic's new jumpshot? 1:03:00 How much are you looking forward to playing with Nurkic? Do you see yourself as more of a 3 or a 4? 1:06:00 What has it been like playing with and being around Carmelo Anthony? 1:08:00 Why did you cut your hair? 1:10:00 Closing Comments Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's Blazer's Edge podcast, Danny Marang is joined by Sean Highkin of Bleacher Report to discuss: NBA schedule release for the restart, the path to the playoffs for the Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings & New Orleans Pelicans, do the Pelicans and Zion Williamson have and easier path, Trevor Ariza opting out of the restart, the lineup changes with Ariza absent, Blazer's roster moves (if any), and a whole lot more! Intro Opening comments Tom Thibadeau, Daryl Morey and the Rockets situation SCHEDULE RELEASE! 2:15 "Starting the season with the Jazz is a choice" -Highkin First game for the Blazers return is against the Memphis Grizzlies 3:00 Did the New Orleans Pelicans get a softer path to a playoff opportunity? 4:30 Taking a look at the Blazer's 8 games and a shot at a play in game How many games do the Blazer's need to win to make the play in game? 7:00 Could the Blazers get lucky on the back end of their schedule? Can you judge the schedule based on performance earlier in the season? 10:00 Player privacy and positive tests being disclosed 16:30 Trevor Ariza opting out of the restart due to family situation 19:00 What do the Blazer's do now? 20:00 Do you move Carmelo Anthony down to the 3? 21:00 Who starts....again? 22:30 Could Gary Trent Jr be the answer to start at the 3? 26:00 Who are the free agents the Blazer's could sign? Michael Beasley, Iman Shumpert, Allen Crabbe, Allonzo Trier? 29:00 The NBPA and Nike working together to customize jerseys to highlight protests 32:00 Can the Blazers/Will the Blazers have the shot at the play in games? 35:30 Overarching thoughts on the restart of the season, the bubble, protests, media access and a lot more 40:00 8 year anniversary of Damian Lillard's draft night and fake earrings Sean Highkin's story on the 10 year anniversary of the FIBA team that shaped the current NBA 46:00 Closing comments Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's podcast, Danny Marang is joined by Marcus Greaves of KOIN-6 to discuss the recent leaks from NBPA meetings about regarding the possible retur to play, the thought that players want opt out of playing to try to keep focus on a civil rights movement, how some players believe that continuing the season is more beneficial, the Blazer's chances of making it to the playoffs and more! Opening comments Could a healthy Blazers team catch a team (Lebron James & the Lakers) off guard? 2:00 Breaking down the idea of sacrifice during COVID-19 and projecting problems 4:30 Taking a look at the outline to return to play - "No One is Being Forced to Play." 11:30 Looking at the reporting coming out of the phone calls and player's meetings 14:30 Understanding what is currently going on in the US/World with civil rights right now 17:00 Platforming the movement with the league vs. opting not to play 19:30 What is the value that you have to figure out to say one option is better than the other? 24:00 How do you measure the net gain of not playing? 26:30 Would a sports blackout across the board be possible? 31:00 Carmelo Anthony wanting to pool resources and platforming a message 33:30 Listener Questions Wearing sweats with the suit top? 41:00 Will any players have any kind of advantage in the bubble? 44:00 Veteran players vs younger players, and single players vs married players 46:30 CJ McCollum wanting contact practice early and the Blazers having to ready Day 1 of the season resuming 52:30 Rodney Hood looking great on Instagram returning to basketball activities 54:00 Something is off with the Nets - Marcus 55:30 Damian Lillard's leadership mindset/mentality reminds Marcus of Kobe Bryant and Lebron James 59:00 Closing comments Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's edition of the Blazer's Edge podcast., Danny Marang is joined by guest host Kendyl Bennett to take a look at the Portland Trail Blazers as they return to competitive basketball July 31st. The lead up to the resumption of the season, how Jusuf Nurkic and Hassan Whiteside do (or don't) fit together, how Zach Collins will be able to integrate, whether or not the Blazer's have a real chance at the playoffs and more! Intro Opening comments Kendyl Bennett! First thoughts on the return of the season? 2:00 Safety, quality competition... competitive? Will there be a Ray Felton candidate? 4:00 Worried about players being in shape and ready to play without getting injured? 4:30 Is there a point where you would be "comfortable" if you're not already,. about the return to play and at what point would you have to shut things down? 6:00 Open roster situation and how rigid will it be? 7:30 Looking at the early financial implications of the restart to the season and how that impacts a soon-to-be free agent such as Hassan Whiteside 11:00 Looking at how Hassan Whiteside, Jusuf Nurkic and Zach Collins all get minutes and how to maximize the contribution of each 13:00 Who gets the starting nod at center for Portland when the season resumes? 17:30 Kendyl's love/hate relationship with Hassan Whiteside 18:30 Which version of Whiteside will Portland get int he restart- heading to free agency in a shortened year, how will that impact (or will it at all) how he plays? 25:00 How the schedule will likely play out - and who has a head start with seeding? 30:00 Who gets the starting nod at power forward for Portland when the season resumes? 34:00 How much do you care/how invested are you in a restart to the season? 37:00 How the return of Nurkic and Collins impacts the guys further down the roster 44:00 Closing comments Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast, Danny Marang is joined by fellow NBC Sports Northwest Blazers Outsiders co-host, Joe Simons to discuss the current events surrounding the death of George Floyd and the protests around it, the return of the NBA and how the Blazers may benefit, the value that Damian Lillard brings to the franchise OFF the floor, Dan Orlovsky not sticking to football, best and worst case options for the league's return, why the NBA should get weird with the tournament and a whole lot more! Intro - Joe Simons on the show! Thoughts on current events- protests and solidarity 1:30 The NBA is coming back, probably? 4:30 Thoughts on what the league is doing/not doing and are they getting it right? 5:30 Why can’t they just make a decision and get rolling 7:00 How does the NBA calendar set up going forward? 8:30 What is the reason for the NBA dragging their feet on the restart? 10:30 Can there be a consensus restart for the league? 13:30 Is there any chance the league caps out at 16 teams for the restart and leaves Portland on the outside? 16:30 Yes, small markets are getting a leg up here because they have Damian Lillard and Zion Williamson  Dame’s leverage play with Chris Haynes 17:00 The value of Damian Lillard and his understanding of his power, pull and reach 18:30 Dame vs Dan Orlovsky 19:30 This is the opportunity to experiment for the league 24:30 Do you like the NBA looking at a NCAA or World Cup inspired tournament play in? 27:00 The return of Zach Collins and Jusuf Nurkic 29:00 Who starts between Jusuf Nurkic/Hassan Whiteside and Zach Collins/Carmelo Anthony? 33:00 Why starting Jusuf Nurkic makes sense 36:00 Why isn’t Shain Brenden on Blazers Outsiders anymore? 39:00 On-air vs off-air relationships 41:00 Overall takeaway for what the NBA will do, what they should do and how the Trail Blazers will come out? 44:00 Closing comments Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast Danny Marang is joined by Steve Dewald, Editor at Blazer's Edge and draft driven vagabond to take a look at what the return to the season could look like for the Portland Trail Blazers. What might the entail? Will the Blazers actually get to play more games- if so how many? Do they have a real chance of surpassing the Memphis Grizzlies and rookie star Ja Morant? Then it's a first look at Steve's 2020 Draft Big Board - who will be available? Who is the best fit? Will there be a surprise Portland pick? What's the value of a draft pick this year and a whole lot more! Intro Opening Comments Does lettuce belong on tacos? The return of basketball 4:00 Money talks 5:30 This isn’t about the best way to do it - it’s about what’s best for them collectively, that’s what the NBPA is there for 8:00 GM Survey 10:00 How many games will be played? 10:30 Will every team be returning? 12:00 Gearing up for the return 13:00 Jusuf Nurkic, Zach Collins & Rodney Hood have been working out thru all of this 13:30 Will there be a “Ray Felton” spotting around the league? 14:30 When will the season conclude? 15:00 Will it matter how “old” a team is when it comes to coming back into the season 17:30 Do you like the idea of a play-in tournament? 19:00 Could the Blazers get hot enough to make noise in a play in tournament? 20:30 Portland isn’t going down without a fight- on or off the court 23:30 Will Nurkic and Collins be ready when things come back? 25:00 How will the cap situation effect the Blazers going forward 26:30 Looking at the Draft 29:30 There will be guys selected in the Top 5 that will get executives fired 30:30 The Blazers have done well with value in their draft picks 31:30 Who are the guys that will be available between picks 10-16? 34:30 Aaron Nesmith & Saddiq Bey - “a guy who could play for Terry Stotts as a rookie” -Steve Dewald Where could Portland draft? 37:00 Who is the absolute best fit for this Portland team in the draft? 38:30 Sneaky picks? R.J. Hampton 39:30 Guys to stay away from 42:30 Just Nurkic the Spirit Animal 47:00 Who could change the narrative on their season? 49:00 They have got to find a way to mic the floor 51:00 Watching “The Match” and the return of trash talk 54:00 Ridiculous trash talk from Summer League 54:30 Closing Comments  Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Finally! Tara and Cassidy are joined one last time by Sasha Ashall and Jannelle Moore to declare a winner of the 2020 NBA Championship bracket. After a round for mascots and a round for uniforms, we focus on which teams have the coolest players and finally, we try to determine who would win in actual basketball games. Along the way we discuss who might be the coach of the Rockets next season, a surprising candidate for the coolest Laker on the team, and what is James Harden like off the court? On our way to picking a winner we talk about how much we would love to watch a Damian Lillard vs LeBron James playoff series, who might be the most exciting matchup in the Eastern conference finals and how might the season actually play out? After this episode we’ll be going on hiatus for a few months. Take care of each other and stay in touch by following us on Twitter @tcbbiggs and @cassidygemmet and @hoopsandtalks Highlights :30 Whats next for WHAT 2:45 Championship bracket round 3, coolest players 5:00 Who will be the next coach of the Houston Rockets? 10:00 A surprising nominee for coolest Los Angeles Laker 19:30 What is James Harden like off the court? 21:00 Down to the final Four. Who wins Milwaukee Bucks vs Washington Wizards? Los Angeles Lakers vs Portland Trail Blazers. 31:00 Damian Lillard vs LeBron James in a playoff series would be the best show in town.  38:00 Possible endings for the regular season. 42:00 Chris Paul might be crabby on the court but he seems like a good person to be leading the players union right now.  48:00 Announcing the winner of the 2020 NBA Championship Bracket Download Part 2 Download Part 1 Get social Follow Blazer’s Edge on Twitter @blazersedge, WHAT Pod @HoopsAndTalks, Tara @tcbbiggs, and Cassidy @CassidyGemmet. This week’s guest: @jannelle12 Join the Women’s Hoops And Talks Facebook group to talk about Trail Blazers with others who identify as women who love basketball. Music used in the episode: “Happy Alley” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. Subscribe to the podcast Apple Podcasts Google Play Spotify Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode, Tara Bowen-Biggs and Danny Marang are joined by Trail Blazer's TV Analyst and all around good-guy, Lamar Hurd! Together they hit on; life since the season was postponed, his new show "Hurd Mentality" highlighting those that are helping those in need, the impact of basketball on Lamar's life early on, remembering this season, what we learned about this current group of players and more! Editor's Note: This is Tara (Team Mom's) Bowen-Biggs' last podcast here at Blazer's Edge. Attached here is a video message from Tara, wishing goodbye to all of the readers after 5 fantastic years. We wish her the best and if you feel so inclined - leave her a goodbye message in the post below or you can tweet to her @tcbbiggs - Thanks Tara! Intro Opening Comments Checking in - 2:00 Lamar's new show, Hurd Mentality and giving back 4:00 What did youth basketball mean to you? 9:30 Lamar's "origin story" and how basketball has impacted his life 10:30 How are you looking to impact basketball/programs when things return to normal? 20:30 What are you going to remember most about this season? 27:00 What (non-Damian Lillard plays) have been the most memorable/enjoyable sequences in your time as an analyst? 35:45 Nurk Fever 37:00 Maurice Harkless and Jusuf Nurkic trolling Lamar pregame 39:30 What are some of the things we learned this year? 42:00 Damian Lillard having a Steph Curry like impact 45:00 Culture, Bright Spots and missing out on Rodney Hood 51:30 What are the things that could be a challenge as a broadcaster if the season does resume? 55:00 Closing Comments Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast, Tara Bowen-Biggs and Danny Marang are joined by "Apple Valley's Finest" and Portland Trail Blazer's guard, Gary Trent Jr! Intro Opening Comments Trent Jr on "The Last Dance" 1:00 The genesis of Gary Trent Jr 4:00 Trash talk and Tyus Jones 5:00 The impact of growing up the son of an NBA player, and having "uncles" like Sam Cassell and Kevin Garnett 7:00 When did you jumper surpass your Dad's? 9:00 Hard work pays off, eventually 10:00 How have you been the last couple of months? 12:00 What was it that clicked for you- what specific what did you put in to slow the game down? 15:00 Breaking down tape with Trent Jr 16:00 Coming together and building on success 24:30 If you’re always ready, you’ll never have to get ready 26:00 The transition game developing was just a part of growth and experience 27:00 Guarding a CJ McCollum or a Damian Lillard, that can’t do anything but help you 27:30 Who are the guys in the league who you watch to pull from? 28:30 The origin of “Gary will be in the league for at least a decade” 31:00 What were your thoughts when you found out you were drafted by Portland 32:00 Evan Turner taking GTJ under his wing 33:00 Trent Jr on his fashion 35:00 As the years progress, it (my fashion) will only get better 36:00 2K Battle between Trent Jr and Hassan Whiteside 38:00 Did they get your jumper right on 2K? 39:00 Do you have any Gary Trent Jr approved nicknames? 41:00 Call to action: We need an official Gary Trent Jr nickname 43:00 Listener questions Were you at Tyus Jones’ draft party? 46:00 Start, bench, cut - Kobe, MJ, LeBron 47:00 What is the most valuable lesson you’ve gained from playing alongside Carmelo Anthony? 49:00 Who’s the better storyteller- Kevin Garnett or Carmelo Anthony? 51:00 What does the development path look like for you between now and whenever NEXT season starts? 53:30 Closing Comments Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We’re back to continue the 2020 NBA Championship bracket to determine a champion in case the NBA doesn’t resume. In this episode we use team uniforms to narrow down the sweet 16 to the elite eight (sorry, NCAA, we’re borrowing your terminology). We also talk games we’ll remember this season, Carmelo Anthony and falling for narratives, questionable logo choices, and what does Cream City mean?  Guests: Jannelle Moore (@Jannelle12) and Sasha Ashall, producer of From the Rose Garden 3:00 Ice Breaker: what is one game that will stand out for you? Houston vs Golden State on Christmas Day, first Clippers vs Lakers Game, Memorial Coliseum pre-season, Anthony Tolliver's last game with Portland. 14:45 Bracket Challenge continues with uniforms Listen to Part 1 of the bracket challenge: uniforms Follow Blazer’s Edge on Twitter @blazersedge, WHAT Pod @HoopsAndTalks, Tara @tcbbiggs, and Cassidy @CassidyGemmet. Join the Women’s Hoops And Talks Facebook group to talk about Trail Blazers with others who identify as women who love basketball. Music used in the episode: “Happy Alley” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. Subscribe to the podcast Apple Podcasts Google Play Spotify Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tara talks to Ian Johnson, author of The Bounce and the Echo: Dying to Love a Game. Johnson is a former Division 1 basketball player at Davidson College and a five year veteran of European Leagues. In the book he talks about his basketball journey, his mental health journey, his effort to move on from basketball to the next phase of his life and how he came to love the game again. All of this is intertwined with anecdotes about the history of basketball.  Tara talks to him about why he wrote the book and they share a mutual appreciation of how sports reflects history (and history is reflected in sports). Johnson discusses what it was like playing at Oak Hill Academy with Carmelo Anthony, playing against LeBron in high school, and balancing (or trying to balance) being a student and an athlete in college.   Finally, Johnson shares some radical ideas about how to change youth sports that he believes would lead to more well-rounded and healthier players.  Highlights 1:00 Intro and pandemic talk.  4:00 Early basketball memories, going from being a soccer player to a basketball player.  7:00 Inspiration behind The Bounce and The Echo. A lot of it was about figuring out how to create his own narrative about his basketball career.  10:30 Why did he weave the history of basketball and historical anecdotes into his own story?  14:30 History is reflected in sport and sport is a reflection of history.  17:30 What was it like to be in such a competitive situation when he was very young?   23:00 Trying to describe how good it feels to play the game of basketball. 27:00 What was it like playing on a team with Carmelo Anthony and all the attention he brought?  29:00 Shout out to school uniforms 30:45 Playing against LeBron’s team in high school. 34:00 What was it like at Davidson and balancing being a player and an athlete.  36:00 Exploring mental health and athletes. 40:00 Playing in the Czeh republic, frequenting a speakeasy 41:00 Suggestions for how the youth game could help lead to better mindset for athletes when they become adults.  52:00 A week on board the cruise ship in Rio with the 2016 Olympic basketball teams. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Here at the WHAT Podcast we don’t like to leave things hanging (unless it's taking a few extra weeks off in the middle of a pandemic). So we decided it was time to resolve who would be the 2020 NBA Champion. We brought in two super guests to help us out. Writer Jannelle Moore and podcast producer Sasha Ashall joined us to work through the 2020 Championship bracket so we could figure out, once and for all, which team will walk away with the Larry O’Brian Trophy.  We seeded the teams into a 32 team bracket and dove into the first round by pitting the team’s mascots against each other. (The last two NBA Mascots of the Year earned their team a bye in the first round.) Which teams are moving on? We’ll be back next week with round two of the WHAT 2020 NBA Championship Bracket.  All this plus recommendations of ways to stay connected to basketball even as we stay apart.  Icebreakers: Quarantine impulse purchases--cast iron, meat, Stroopwafels, dirt. 7:00 Where Sasha’s basketball fandom came from watching the worst possible version of the Lakers.  10:30 Declaring a champion of our hearts using a playoff bracket. Today we tackle round one: basketball mascots.  Bango the Buck is a heavy favorite after a clean sweep over Moondog of the Cavaliers.  15:00 How do mascot cliques form?  18:30 Is Lucky the Leprechaun a mascot or a logo?  24:00 Why don’t the Knicks have a mascot and can they hire Spike Lee to be their ambassador? 26:30 Mascot Hall of Fame. Shout out to Boomer who is in his first year of eligibility for the Mascot Hall of Fame. 30:00 The mascots are a close community, it is a harrowing job being a mascot.  40:00 Neither Warriors or Lakers have mascots, what will we do?  42:50 Why is Chuck the Condor so creepy? 48:30 Slamson the Lion has too many back stories, we’re suspicious.  51:10 Pierre the Pelican’s glow-up.  54:00 Blaze, obviously, moves on. He has never been Mascot of the Year, now is his time.  58:00 Come back for the next episode when we complete the bracket with more fun and fabulous NBA Brackets. 1:00 How are we staying connected to basketball? Old games, The Last Dance, Home and Hallelujah with the Currys, The Wine Down with Dwyane Wade, players getting new puppies, Weird Sports Rules YouTube Channel, and All the Smoke Podcast. Get social Follow Blazer’s Edge on Twitter @blazersedge, WHAT Pod @HoopsAndTalks, Tara @tcbbiggs, and Cassidy @CassidyGemmet. This week’s guest:  Join the Women’s Hoops And Talks Facebook group to talk about Trail Blazers with others who identify as women who love basketball. Music used in the episode: “Happy Alley” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. Subscribe to the podcast Apple Podcasts Google Play Spotify Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast, Danny Marang and Tara Bowen- Biggs are joined by Keith Parish of Fastbreak Breakfast (and Grits & Grind) to talk who would have actually taken the 8th seed, biggest regrets with the season on hold, how salsa is great but dangerous, try to name the 22 players who have played for both the Blazers and Grizzlies, which Gasol brother is better, what the Blazers might look to do at the draft, the greatness of Andre Miller and more! Intro Opening Comments "Point Break" and Serial Killers 3:00 Snacks of choice during Quarantine 5:00 The origins of "Fastbreak Breakfast" 10:00 Andre Miller the Gawd 14:00 What's your biggest regret of this season? 16:30 Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson 18:00 The return of Jusuf Nurkic 23:00 Carmelo Anthony and how he's viewed now 24:30 How would things have turned out for the 8th seed? 29:00 How good were the Grizzlies really? Would the Pelicans with Zion Williamson been enough? 31:00 Is there a world where the Blazers make the playoffs? 36:00 Game time! Name off NBA players who were both Grizzlies AND Blazers- winner gets the 8th seed! 39:00 Listener Questions! Will the Blazers use their pick or look to move it in a bigger deal? 54:00 Is it fair or unfair that some teams might open practice facilities ahead of others? 58:00 Which Gasol brother is better? 1:04:00 If you had to quarantine with two super team players and a podcaster, who would they be? 1:10:00 Closing Comments Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast, Tara Bowen-Biggs and Danny Marang are joined by former Trail Blazer's radio play-by-play voice, Brian "Wheels" Wheeler! Together they run down some great stories like, the time Stevie Wonder attended a Blazer's game and told Wheels how much he loved how he called the game, or when Chick Hearn said he'd give him pointers on his demo reel and vouched for him at job interviews, or the time the Golden State Warrior's PR team asked Wheels to apologize (in writing) to then coach Mark Jackson for saying saying on the broadcast that upset him (in a game the Warriors blew a huge lead in), and his thoughts on calling Michael Jordan's games in light of "The Last Dance" premiere. Fantastic stories, the genesis of how he got into play-by-play, potential nicknames for players (including Gary Trent Jr) and more on this week's episode!! Intro  Opening Comments Brian Wheeler joins the pod! 2:00 Syncing up the radio with live game-play 3:00 Painting a picture with words for Stevie Wonder 4:30 Calling play-by-play anywhere and everywhere 7:00 The birth of the alliteration 10:00 “So angry he could bite through a rope” 13:00 Walking the line of being a homer 15:00 Nicknames you’re proud of and coming up with one for Gary Trent Jr 18:00 The Last Dance and Michael Jordan 25:00 Wheels having Chick Hearn as a reference 28:00 Chick Hearn stories 31:00 Listener Questions! Joe Simons of Blazer’s Outsiders - devilishly handsome 33:00 Relationships with other broadcasters 34:00 The time Wheels upset Mark Jackson so much he asked for a letter of apology from 35:30 Why Doug Collins was actually fired by the Bulls 41:00 Would you take the offer Joe Buck received? 43:30 Of the young players, who are you most excited to watch next season 49:00 How would you feel to call a new I-5 rivalry if it came back? 51:00 Which player from a different generation would you have liked to call? 55:30 John Wooden and Bill Walton story! 58:30 What is Wheels doing in the future? A book in the works? 1:00:00 Closing Comments  Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast, Tara Bowen-Biggs and Danny Marang are joined by Adam Ryan of "In All Airness" to talk throwbacks, Clyde Drexler vs Micahel Jordan, how things would be viewed if luck had been on the Blazer's side, life on the other side of the world, chasing the Holy Grail of throwback basketball footage, reflecting back with former players, Adam's trip to All Star weekend in Chicago, his love for Terry Porter, the Mt Rushmore of Goggle Wearers and more! Intro  Opening Comments Adam Ryan - In All Airness Life on the other side of the world right now 3:00 Is there a Holy Grail of throwback basketball footage/game? 6:00 Tracking down old game tapes 8:30 Sidetrack- Paul Allen’s obsession with the Blazers 10:00 How did “In All Airness” start? 12:00 Talking with different players from different eras; such as Fat Lever and Danny Schayes 16:30 What it’s like sitting down with players well passed their playing careers 19:30 The genesis of basketball in Australia 23:00 Talking about shooters, Mark Price, Rick Barry and the differences between position groups 25:00 Adam’s experiences at All Star Weekend in Chicago 28:30 Mark Price and the All Star Breakfast 30:00 Legend’s Brunch 31:00 The Mt Rushmore of Goggle Wearer’s 32:30 Sad Blazer’s stories as introductions to the team 34:00 The differences between teams now and then 36:00 Clyde Drexler and the first super team Comparing eras and how throwback players could compete in today’s game 38:30 Adam getting mailed NBA games of the 1992 season sparks a love for Terry Porter 42:30 Adam and his interview with Michael Holton 47:00 Bringing back more torrid memories courtesy of Adam 48:00 Looking back at the Drexler v. Jordan battles and comparisons 51:00 Closing Comments Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Amara Baptist, Digital Content Manager for the Portland Trail Blazers, dropped by the WHAT podcast to talk about what is keeping her entertained, share memories of her time working at Kobe Bryant’s summer basketball camp and give us tips for social media success. Plus we’ve got four more songs to add to the 2020 Feel Good playlist. Highlights 1:30 Icebreaker: What would you put on the English muffin of your dreams (shout out to Brooke Olzendam)?  7:00 Social media stars during the outbreak: Check out Matisse Thybulle on Tik Tok, CJ McCollum’s Instagram captions. Mario Hezonja and Meyers Leonard on Twitch. 9:00 NBA Players who can’t figure out how to use digital collaboration tools are so relatable (Hi, Carmelo Anthony). 11:00 Amara’s memories of Kobe Bryant. Handling social media during the Lakers first game back after his death. 19:00 Social Media school: what are some of the keys for successful social media presences, both for individuals and for brands?  35:00 Logistics of how you have a social media team. 38:00 Thoughts about how fragile life is.  39:00 More picks for the uplifting playlist. That's the way that the world goes round by John Prine and The Gambler by Kenny Rogers. (Sittin’ On) the Dock of the Bay by Ottis Redding, Conversations in the Dark, John Legend.  42:00 The secret to a good Instagram photo is to have Bruce Ely take it for you.  Get social Follow Blazer’s Edge on Twitter @blazersedge, WHAT Pod @HoopsAndTalks, Tara @tcbbiggs, and Cassidy @CassidyGemmet. This week’s guest: @amarabaptist  Join the Women’s Hoops And Talks Facebook group to talk about Trail Blazers with others who identify as women who love basketball. Music used in the episode: “Happy Alley” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. Subscribe to the podcast Apple Podcasts Google Play Spotify Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast, Tara Bowen-Biggs and Danny Marang are joined by Trail Blazer's guard Anfernee Simons! Together they touch on, managing time with the season up in the air, how Simons works on skills development, what players he looks to take moves/skills from, whether or not he's afraid of ghosts, what coaches expect of him out on the floor, listener questions and a whole lot more! Intro Opening Comments Anfernee Simons! Do you still access to a basketball hoop? 1:30 How are you and the family doing? 3:00 How are you staying busy? 4:30 There are BEARS in Florida 7:00 Is Ant afraid of ghosts? 8:30 How much do you love social media? 9:00 When you’re working on a skill- what’s the process you go through? 10:30 When you want to add something to your game, who are the guys you watch? What have you take from Lillard and McCollum? 12:00 When you work on something new, how long do you work on it before you take it to live game action? 15:00 What have been your Top 3 favorite moments you’ve been a part of this season? 16:00 How have your parents helped/influenced you on your way to the NBA? 20:30 Has your fashion sense changed since you got in the league? 22:30 What was your one splurge buy that you just had to have? 23:30 What advice that you received really stuck with you coming off your rookie season? 25:00 Listener Questions! What is the coaches want you to work on when you get out on the floor? 27:30 What would you rather have- Pick & roll or DHO? 28:30 What is your day like during the season? How is it different now? 29:30 How are staying connected with people/teammates? 31:30 What is your biggest takeaway from the season? 32:30 Why haven’t you worn Dame’s? What’s the process of deciding on what shoes your’e going to wear? 36:30 How is your family doing during all of this? 38:00 What’s the best meal you can cook? 39:20 Do you know all of Gary Trent Jr’s brother’s names? 40:00 Watching old games/footage 43:00 Closing Comments Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Trail Blazers sideline reporter Brooke Olzendam dropped by the Hoops and Talks podcast to talk to Cassidy and Tara about how she is passing the time while the league is suspended. Learn more about the English Muffin Challenge, “Olzengrams”, and what sports stories everyone is enjoying while we wait for NBA basketball to return.  Highlights 1:00 Brooke’s English Muffin challenge 2:51 What is a favorite random sports fact? Invention of basketball, the invention of the High Five, and did Rocky Marciano really invent the fax machine?  9:15 What is fun about her job? Telling player stories. For example, talking to CJ McCollum’s high school coach to find out if he imagined McCollum would have such a successful NBA career.  11:30 We enjoyed McCollum tweeting the replay of the Denver Nuggets playoff game.  12:00 How has Brooke been spending her time? With family, keeping track of her mom, doing puzzles with her son. 20:00 Olzengram Live with Damian Lillard and Damian Lillard Jr. It is fun to see the players at home.   21:00 What it was like for Brooke to get to know Carmelo Anthony.  23:00 Favorite sports movies? 28:00 Favorite TV shows?  32:00 We’re going to miss watching the Olympics. 36:00 We are loving the rise of Jamie Hudson in the local media. We want to hear Jamie and Brooke call a game! 38:00 Favorite sports books? 45:00 Upbeat songs that make us feel good.  Here are our picks, what are yours?  Favorite Sports movie Tara: Miracle  Cassidy: Cool Runnings  Brooke: Karate Kid, Varsity Blues, Hoosiers Favorite Sports Book Tara: Loose Balls, The Secret Game, Boomtown, The Bounce and The Echo Cassidy: Game Changers: The Unsung Heroines of Sports History by Molly Schiot  Brooke: Basketball and Other Things Shea Serrano, Little Girls in Pretty Boxes   Favorite Sports TV show Tara: Friday Night Lights Cassidy: Sports Night (1998) Brooke: The Jump, The Olympics Favorite Sports Documentary Tara: Battered Bastards of Baseball  Cassidy: Women of Troy and Finding Big Country  Brooke: The Marinovich Project (30 for 30), The Dream Team (30 for 30) Feel good playlist Follow Blazer’s Edge on Twitter @blazersedge, WHAT Pod @HoopsAndTalks, Tara @tcbbiggs, and Cassidy @CassidyGemmet. This week’s guest: @brookeolzendam Join the Women’s Hoops And Talks Facebook group to talk about Trail Blazers with others who identify as women who love basketball. Music used in the episode: “Happy Alley” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. Subscribe to the podcast Apple Podcasts Google Play Spotify Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast, Tara Bown-Biggs and Danny Marang and joined by two guests; John Sabine of NBC Sports Chicago and Bulls Outsiders, and Cassidy Gemmet of the WHAT podcast. Together, they tackle John's poorly seeded NBA nickname bracket to crown the best nickname in NBA history. What nicknames did John forget? Which ones did we get right and which did we get wrong? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After a brief break, the Blazer's Edge podcast with Tara Bowen-Biggs and Danny Marang is back! Intro Opening comments Staying safe and sane during social isolation 2:00 Immediate reaction to the shut down of the season 4:00 Players coming together to help 8:00 NBA players not being able to play ball - what are they doing now? 10:00 What will happen if the season resumes? 12:00 Quick detour to talk about the uniqueness of Duncan Robinson 14:00 The delayed return of Jusuf Nurkic 18:00 The "what if" of the season resuming and the improved health of the Blazers 22:00 Missing out on how Nurkic-Hassan Whiteside would work together...or not. 25:00 Portland dealt a bad hand, could it end up okay that it was THIS season? 30:00 Looking to the 2020 NBA season and what the financial impact could be on the Trail Blazers 34:00 How to plan for team building with so many uncertainties 40:00 Things we missed out on- Who was better, the Lakers or the Clippers? 45:00 Doing things outside of basketball, Patty Mills and Jamal Murray 48:00 The reminder, do not Google "Fournier" 49:00 How are you passing the time now? 50:00 Streaming on Twitch with Anfernee Simons 52:00 Dealing and coping with everything that's going on 55:00 If you need help, don't be afraid to ask for help! 57:00 Closing comments Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jamie Hudson of NBC Sports Northwest joined us to talk about what she will remember about the season (so far), what she misses about basketball, how reporting on the NBA has changed since the suspension of the league and how she is spending her time at home. It was so great to talk to her and hear her cheerful voice.  Basketball marathons, games to re-watch, Gary Trent Jr coming into his own, Instagram baby dance parties, covering Carmelo Anthony, finding her voice as a reporter, Below Deck vs 90 Day fiance, we’ve got a smorgasbord of topics for anyone hungry for basketball (and basketball adjacent) talk.  1:00 Icebreaker: What makes the perfect basketball game marathon? 6:00 What stood out about the Trail Blazers’ season so far? 9:30 What is it about basketball that you miss the most right now? 13:15 What were some of the highlights for Jamie as a reporter this season? 18:00 What is Jamie doing with the league suspended? 21:30 Making a pitch for shows to binge: 90 Day Fiance vs Below Deck. 26:30 In what ways has Jamie’s job changed since the league was suspended and everyone is staying home? 28:00 Listener questions from @roselharding What’s Jamie’s picks for most re-watchable Blazers games this season? I have them all on DVR and I def need to start re-watching them soon... for sanity. 31:00 Reflections on being in LA for the Laker game after Kobe died. It was incredible how such a big crowd was also so silent.  35:30 From listener Rachael: I'd love to know how she has made the space for herself to develop as a reporter where she is, especially with really big personalities like Dwight Jaynes dominating the same space. 39:00 @Burlacious_M What is likely the most interesting Blazer subplot to cover for this coming off-season? 41:00 What will the basketball be like after the players have not been allowed to play in groups? 44:00 How are teams keeping up with each other and staying connected? 45:00 We hope Jusuf Nuckic heard us chanting his name at 12:30 on March 15 which would have been his return.  Get social Follow Blazer’s Edge on Twitter @blazersedge, WHAT Pod @HoopsAndTalks, Tara @tcbbiggs, and Cassidy @CassidyGemmet. This week’s guest: @JamieHudsonNBCS  Join the Women’s Hoops And Talks Facebook group to talk about Trail Blazers with others who identify as women who love basketball. Music used in the episode: “Happy Alley” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. Subscribe to the podcast Apple Podcasts Google Play Spotify Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast, Tara Bowen-Biggs and Danny Marang look back at the past week with horrible losses to the Phoenix Suns and the Sacramento Kings, the upcoming return of Jusuf Nurkic and all the listener questions we can handle! Intro Opening comments What team were we watching? 2:00 Aron Baynes and the 3-point murder bus 4:00 Back and forth with Trevor Ariza and Hassan Whiteside 7:00 Why do this losses feel so bad? 10:00 Alex Len v CJ McCollum and the Tale of the Tape 12:00 LISTENER QUESTIONS Who has replaced Skal on Team Mom's photo? 14:00 Are the Blazers going into load management for the vets AKA selectively tank? 16:00 Do Moses or Jaylen. have a chance to make the roster next year? Wenyen? 19:00 The return of Jusuf Nurkic 22:00 Do you think POR targets a big move (sign & trade) or moving CJ, Simons or Collins this summer? 25:00 MORE NURKIC! 28:00 The Blazer's defensive issues aren't easily solvable 30:00 How will the season be effected if crowds aren't allowed in arenas? 37:00 What are the most important things we've learned this season? 39:00 Top 3 candidates for a MLE signing that could contribute right away 44:00 Have you seen Paddington and Paddington 2 - if not why do you hate joy? 46:00 MARIO! 48:00 If Blazers land a top 3 pick who should they take? 50:00 Could the Blazers make a run at Karl Anthony Towns? 53:00 If you had to choose one, Simons or Trent Jr who do you take? 57:00 Looking forward to the next 2 games, Memphis Grizzlies and Houston Rockets 1:00:00 More NURKIC! 1:03:00 Closing comments Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week’s Hoops and Talks podcast, Cassidy and Tara choose celebrity ambassadors, discuss the playoff race, comment on the outstanding play of CJ McCollum and Gary Trent Jr, and give Mario Hezonja some love for taking one for the team.   Then it is time to choose our players for the 2010s All Decade team. Listen in and tell us which team would win! Highlights 1:00 Who would be your choice for celebrity ambassador for the Trail Blazers?  5:30 Blazers are not that far out of the playoff race.  6:30 How much does it matter if the Blazers make the playoff?  8:30 What is the value of Playoff experience? 10:05 Mario Hezonja is having an impact, getting fined.  13:30 Despite the mounting losses, the games are still pretty fun to watch.  14:30 What have we learned about the team while Lillard was out? 18:00 Gary Trent Jr has been playing like a seasoned vet but he needs a nickname.  19:00 Listener mail asks us, what about moving CJ to the bench?  23:30 All 2010s decade draft. Cassidy’s team: Damian Lillard, Wesley Matthews, Nicolas Batum, Marcus Camby, Jusuf Nurkic, Evan Turner. Tara’s team: Brandon Roy, CJ McCollum, Maurice Harkless, LaMarcus Aldridge, Ed Davis, Al-Farouq Aminu. Which team wins?  34:00 Knicks just cannot seem to Do the Right Thing  35:00 CARIS. COLEMAN. LEVERT. 37:00 Stephan Curry returns from the G-league 39:00 Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast Tara Bowen-Biggs and Danny Marang take a look at where the Blazers are and how to rationalize the season, the unwritten rules of basketball, the growth of the deep bench, early looks at draft prospects, how safe is Coach Stotts, the return of Jusuf Nurkic and more! Intro Opening comments Trae Young, Trevor Ariza & the unwritten rules 3:00 How has Ariza looked in a Portland uniform? 8:00 Competence is not a bad word! 10:00 Taking a look at the young guys and their defensive issues/growth 13:00 Nassir Little and Wenyen Gabriel and what could they turn into? 18:00 Listener questions! 21:00 Who are some players the Blazers could look at between 9-12 in the Draft? Obi Toppin, Onyeka Okungwu, Deni Avdija 22:00 Why a pick matters more than just drafting a young player 23:40 Looking ahead to Zach Collins and his return- are we maybe building up too many expectations? 32:00 Deciding between Gabriel and Swanigan for a deep roster spot next year 36:00 Load management is happening whether we want it to or not. 39:00 Is Terry Stotts untouchable? 41:00 Do you think that the way the Blazers have handled the timeline for Nurkic’s return has anything to do with being aware of how things went with Kawhi and the Spurs? 44:30 Looking at the possible returns of Carmelo Anthony, Trevor Ariza and Hassan Whiteside 49:00 Closing Comments 52:00 Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On the latest episode of the WHAT podcast, Tara and Cassidy name their All 2000 Decade team and they are nothing like you would expect. Tune in to find out who they chose, catch up on the Blazers since the All Star Break and ask if we should let go of our anger about the Blazers’ loss on March 6, 2001? 1:00 Icebreaker: Red Vines or Twizzlers? Also black licorice stories.  2:30 Thoughts on the Blazers without Lillard? CJ McCollum has limited options. There is a big difference between the guys in suits and the guys suited up.  6:45 Nassir Little has changed his shoes. No more pink. When are the guys in street clothes going to form a suit rainbow? 9:00 2000s All Decade team. What were you doing in 2000? Did you have a favorite player? How about 2010? 17:30 Cassidy’s picks: she agrees with the fan vote for the Trail Blazers all decade team. Adds picks for her favorite players from the Portland Fire: Jackie Stiles, DeMya Walker, Kristin Folkl, Sophia Witherspoon and Sylvia Crawley. 20:40 For Tara’s all-decade team she refused to select anyone who was on the team on March 6, 2001, when the Blazers blew the lead against the Vancouver Grizzlies to lose the game on the night that Clyde Drexler’s jersey was retired. This made it very hard to choose an all decade team.  27:30 Cassidy was at that game, so she weighs in on if we should forgive the team for that loss.  28:30 Tara has a superstitious dislike of special nights.  30:30 Smooth Jazz no more, things are getting rocky in Utah 33:00 Will He or Won’t He? The return of Steph Curry. Steve Kerr doesn’t seem very flexible.  35:20 New podcast hosted by Sonya and Del Curry, Raising Fame, the latest episode features Gina Johnson, Damian Lillard’s mom.  36:30 Can You Fix a Broken Heart? The Story of Andre Iguodala 39:30 Zion meet Lebron, Lebron meet Zion. On the first meeting of the two stars.  43:30 Outro Follow Blazer’s Edge on Twitter @blazersedge, WHAT Pod @HoopsAndTalks, Tara @tcbbiggs, and Cassidy @CassidyGemmet. This week’s guest:  Join the Women’s Hoops And Talks Facebook group to talk about Trail Blazers with others who identify as women who love basketball. Music used in the episode: “Happy Alley” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. Subscribe to the podcast Apple Podcasts Google Play Spotify Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn more about the Indiana Pacers with Caitlin Cooper from Indy Cornrows. Who to watch, what their style of play is like, and how they have adjusted to their own injury bad luck. 00:45 Main story lines, reintegrating Victor Oladipo into the lineup and trying to get some continuity with lots of injuries 1:45 More on Oladipo: He’s not as explosive as he was before the injuries. He’s not getting as many on-target shots as he used to, he seems like he’s still a little off balance.He’s still able to get back and cover on defense.  4:15 Who are the main playmakers? Malcolm Brogdon, one of the highest possession players in the league. He doesn’t have as much space as he did when he was playing alongside Giannis. Struggling with open threes as well.  7:00 More about the Pacer’s bench, they are solid. Sabonis is a starter but he’s important to making the bench successful. Lots of free flowing movement, lots of fluidity. They lack in size.  9:00 Other strengths of the team. PnR with Brogdon and Sabonis can be good. Their mid-range game is good, esp Brogdon. TJ Warren is fun to watch along the baseline.  10:15 All the TJs.  11:15 Sabonis is still solidly averaging a double double. He’s the through line between the starters and the bench. Screen assists! He’s good at it.   14:15 What does the basketball look like when everyone is clicking? Lots of movement, they don’t turn the ball over, their half court offense is strong. They are not as tough defensively as they have been, they are even dabbling in the zone. 16:30 Impressions about Damian Lillard, how has he been able to adjust to the blizting this season? It's an impressive improvement. 19:45 Who is the leader in the locker room? It could be anybody's guess. They have a “reset” button at their practice facility. It reflects their one-day-at-a-time approach.  21:00 Fan favorites: TJ McConnell, Doug McDermott, Justin Holiday. Holiday is a 3 and D pro, he’s basically playing out of position, takes a beating, guards the guys who post up (like Carmelo Anthony), finishes games, stays out when they are playing small. 25:00 No more injuries! Find Caitlin’s work on indycornrows.com.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast, Tara Bowen-Biggs and Danny Marang are joined by guest Brian Noe to take a look back at games since the All Star break, CJ McCollum running the show and how it differs from Damian Lillard, what limitations are impacting the game, listener questions, why Brian Noe still has a Christmas tree up and more! Intro Opening comments 2:00 Brian Noe on the show! 4:30 CJ McCollum running the show 6:00 Taking a look at..ugh… the Piston’s game 8:00 Gary Trent Jr and a decade long career 10:00 Looking at CJ McCollum through the year 12:00 The differences between how Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum run the show 14:30 Why isn’t there a lot of movement in the offense 19:00 What’s contributing to these horrendous quarters? 23:00 It’s all Wenyen Gabriel all the the time! 29:00 Listener Questions! Is there any hope for ‘Rio being a serviceable NBA player? 34:00 It seems less and less likely that the team will make the playoffs, what are you looking for if that happens? 42:00 Addressing Dan’s (my) thoughts on not trading Whiteside 48:00 Is CJ a top-15 all time Blazer? 54:30 Can you be the DPOY if your team has a bottom 5 defensive rating in the league? 57:30 Announcements Closing comments  Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tara and Cassidy welcome friend of the podcast, the original FANalyst, Jo Wulffenstein (and her dog Seymoure) back onto the show. We talk about what she has been up to, how she stays connected to her beloved Blazers, and what is the most unique Blazers paraphernalia she has come across in her world travels.  We recap the best All Star Weekend in recent memory, debate the ending of the dunk contest, and have an idea how to improve the Elam Ending even more. Plus, we share what we think the Blazers will focus on down the stretch. All this and more on the latest WHAT podcast.  Icebreaker  2:01 Icebreaker: Inspired by the scarves in Toronto, what do you think is the most important accessory for the NBA walk up? 6:30 Catching up with Jo--where have you been the last few years? Living in Alaska, traveling around the world and chasing down every Trail Blazers fan she sees. 10:30 The tiniest Ed Davis doll and other Blazers paraphernalia.  17:00 All Star Talk from the biggest All Star fan, Cassidy who watched the Legends Brunch and the Jr NBA games.  20:00 Jo thought it was a really nice tribute not only to Kobe Bryant but to David Stern’s vision to bring people together. She liked the 24 seconds of loud cheering, after so many 24 seconds of silence tributes.  21:30 The NBA Celebrity game is for learning about new people, WNBA players should not be added as an afterthought.  24:00 Who are Jose Andres and Anthony “Spice” Adams (aka Creamebiggums)? Andres is a 50 year old humanitarian (same age as Tara) and Spice Adams is hilarious.  34:28 We give the final final word on the Dunk Contest. We liked Pat Connaughton, Dwight had one dunk that was nice.  39:00 Tara attempts to explain Tik Tok. 42:00 It seems like the Elam Ending worked, it made the end of the game more competitive and fun, as well as it had a playground style feel to it which also made it fun. Kyle Lowry spent a lot of the 4th quarter on the ground. 48:00 We suggest that with the Elam Ending, you should have to get the target score exactly, and if you go over it you get 5 points taken off.  52:50 Will Victor Oladipo be the next player to perform at the All Star Game? 53:00 Final thoughts about the rest of the Blazers’ season. Need the best from Hassan Whiteside and a great closing run from CJ McCollum. And how will Damian Lillard respond with their backs against the walls. Go for the playoffs and then let the younger players get a lot of playing time for experience. Follow Blazer’s Edge on Twitter @blazersedge, WHAT Pod @HoopsAndTalks, Tara @tcbbiggs, and Cassidy @CassidyGemmet. Join the Women’s Hoops And Talks Facebook group to talk about Trail Blazers with others who identify as women who love basketball. Music used in the episode: “Happy Alley” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. Subscribe to the podcast Apple Podcasts Google Play Spotify Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week’s edition of the Blazer’s Edge podcast, Tara Bowen-Biggs and Danny Marang take a look at the final games leading up to the All Star Break (begrudgingly), discuss the future in the NBA with Zion Williamson and Ja Morant, the curious case of CJ McCollum, looking at the final 26 games of the season, discussing whether or not the Blazers will end up making the playoffs and more... on this week’s episode! CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD Intro Opening comments The ups and downs of the season 2:00 How absolutely ridiculous is Zion? 4:00 What happened in New Orleans? 7:00 How about in Memphis? 11:00 Ja Morant, Zion and the future of the league 11:30 How likely are the Blazers to make the playoffs? 13:30 There was some good out of the last 2 games- Anfernee Simons time! 16:00 How about we calm down with hating/blaming Caleb Swanigan 19:00 **UPDATE** Evaluating Tara’s “season of CJ” 22:00 Taking a look at where CJ ranks and what his expectations are the as the number two option 26:00 How should CJ be viewed and where does he fit in the pecking order of the top scorers/shooters 30:00 All Star weekend round up - Aaron Gordon was robbed! 43:40 Thoughts on the final 26 games 50:00 Closing comments Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Alex Haigh returns to the Hoops and Talks podcast to catch up with Tara and discuss what Gary Trent Jr said to Donovan Mitchell, how does she feel about the season so far, which Blazer has the most fashion sense, and what difference has Carmelo Anthony made to the team? Then we talk about the newest basketball, culture and art magazine, Flagrant, for which she is the designer. Issue #1 is about to debut. She talks about what it is like to make a print publication when so much has gone digital and gives us a teaser about what to expect in the first issue. Highlights 1:45 What did Gary Trent Jr say to Donovan Mitchell? 4:00 Are the Jazz the Trail Blazers’ newest rivals? 7:15 Overall impressions of the seasons so far. 8:00 Memories of Tolliver and Bazemore. They really seemed to embrace the city. 11:30 What are some of the ways that Carmelo Anthony has impacted the team? He gave a little hope and a little energy at a time when they really needed it.  14:20 Walk-in outfit analysis. Which Blazers are bringing high fashion to the pre-game walk up? We lost a lot in that department when Evan Turner was traded.  19:20 Flagrant Magazine is coming soon, its a new magazine about basketball, culture and art.  22:30 Teasers for what will be in the magazine. There will be something for astrology fans! 26:00 Differences between digital and traditional media, and putting together something traditional after we’ve changed our habits and the way we consume media. Get social Follow Blazer’s Edge on Twitter @blazersedge, WHAT Pod @HoopsAndTalks, Tara @tcbbiggs, and Cassidy @CassidyGemmet. This week’s guest: @owlhix Join the Women’s Hoops And Talks Facebook group to talk about Trail Blazers with others who identify as women who love basketball. Music used in the episode: “Happy Alley” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. Subscribe to the podcast Apple Podcasts Google Play Spotify Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast, Tara Bowen-Biggs and Danny Marang are joined by Trail Blazers Beat Reporter Casey Holdahl to talk about the insanity in Salt Lake City, how ridiculous Damian Lillard has been, how has it been covering Carmelo Anthony, the emergence of Gary Trent Jr. and more! Intro Opening comments Casey Holdahl! Reactions from at the game following the blown goaltending call 2:00 Guys were definitely irritated 3:00 Gary Trent Jr needs to speed up his post game dressing 4:20 When was the last time a Blazer was as mad as Damian Lillard was 5:30 Royce O’Neale getting under the skin, and feet, of the Blazers 9:00 Relationships between players and officials falling apart 11:30 How do you miss that call? 15:00 The NBA got one thing right- they didn’t fine anyone. 17:00 Will that game be a galvanizing point? 18:00 The Blazers finding that magic in January again 19:00 Why are we shocked that this happens every year? 23:00 What is happening on the floor that’s got the Blazers in a better place? 26:30 Trevor Ariza, and how he’s fit into Portland 30:00 Portland’s defense isn’t necessarily better 31:30 The bar for success at the forward position is low- Ariza is clearing it 32:30 What has it been like to get to know Ariza and Carmelo? 37:30 Give Gary Trent Jr. his love 43:00 Gary’s gonna be around the league for 10 years or more 43:30 Just draft kids that had NBA fathers 48:00 Worried about Trent Jr getting game planned out? 50:00 Closing comments Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Cassidy and Tara talk on the eve of the NBA trade deadline. They discuss the huge four team trade that occurred on Wednesday, remark on how many former Blazers are scattered throughout teams in the Northwest Division and wonder how their friends in Memphis are dealing with Andre Iguodala leaving for Miami?  LeBron was chosen as Player of the Month over Damian Lillard, can we let this stand? Anfernee Simons was passed up for the dunk contest but Pat Connaughton got the nod. How do we feel?  Finally, to celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day, Cassidy tells us about the first U.S. Women’s National Team and the 1976 Olympics.  Highlights 00:30 Facts about the new players! Swanigan graduated from Purdue this summer. Trevor Ariza’s brother died very young and he is his inspiration because he’s been trying to live out the dreams that his brother had.  3:00 Trevor Ariza looks really good in his uniform.  3:30 Imagine being Wenyen Gabriel and getting your first start against LeBron James and blocking Javale McGee.  4:45 Pretending that the game against Denver never happened.  6:00 Trade Deadline catch-up. Woj is just messing with us at this point. But we would do the same thing. 7:45 The Big Trade between Denver, Houston, Atlanta, and Minnesota. Significant for us because two of the four teams are in the Northwest Division.  8:45 What does “Houston is going to play small-ball” really mean?  10:30 This was the biggest trade in 20 years and featured a few former Blazers. There are former Blazers all up and down the Northwest Division.  12:45 Last time a trade this complicated happened was in 2000 when the Knicks traded Patrick Ewing to Seattle.  14:00 A brief interlude about Stacey Augman, Plastic Man (and why are the names in Basketball reference so weird). 15:15 How did Andre Iguodala do it?  17:45 Has anyone ever actually accurately predicted what the Blazers were going to do at the trade deadline? Just because you can plug someone into the trade machine doesn’t mean you should.  19:00 Pat Connaughton is going to the Dunk Contest. We lodge our complaint about Anfernee not making it but we are very excited for Pat Connaughton. Actually, the way things are going, we don’t want any Blazers jumping at all. Just wrap them in bubble wrap between games. Cassidy wants less props, more dunks. Anfernee Simons has 11 dunks this season, Pat Connaughton has 20.  23:00 LeBron over Damian Lillard for Western Conference player of the month. We’re sad about that but learned that the Blazers went 8-7 in January. A winning record in January! 26:10 Okay, we’ll talk about the ten point quarter in Denver.  27:15 The Knicks part ways with their president and no one is surprised.  29:15 Olympics update! In honor of Girls and Women in Sports day: 1976 Debut of Women’s Basketball at the Olympics. The team only had about 4-6 weeks to practice together. There was no national women’s league so they had not played together. Other countries like Russia had teams where the women had played together for 10 years. The team went in with an attitude that they were going to make history.  Oral History of the 1976 Women’s Olympic Team. The Russian team that they played in the semi finals had a woman on their team who was 7ft tall. Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain attended their games.  Help send 2000 kids to a Blazer game, purchase tickets to donate to Blazers Edge Night Follow Blazer’s Edge on Twitter @blazersedge, WHAT Pod @HoopsAndTalks, Tara @tcbbiggs, and Cassidy @CassidyGemmet. Join the Women’s Hoops And Talks Facebook group to talk about Trail Blazers with others who identify as women who love basketball. Music used in the episode: “Happy Alley” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. Subscribe to the podcast Apple Podcasts Google Play Spotify Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast, Tara Bowen-Biggs and Danny Marang marvel and discuss Damian Lillard's absolutely epic week, running out of superlatives along the way. Then it's the emergence of the "pink show crew"; Anfernee Simons, Gary Trent Jr and Nassir Little, ranking Dame as an MVP candidate, all the listener questions about the upcoming trade deadline and what Portland would/could/should do, even more Damian Lillard praise and so much more! Intro  Opening comments Damian Lillard having the best run ever for a Trail Blazer What’s your favorite part of what Dame is doing 3:00 He’s so good that the defense that defined him years ago is now obsolete 4:30 What’s one of the greatest things about having him on the team? 6:00 Appreciating Lillard for what he’s done 7:00 Where does Dame sit in the MVP ladder now? Is he up there with Giannis Antetokounmpo, LeBron James and Luka Doncic? 10:00 What about the guys not named Lillard - Hassan Whiteside, Gary Trent Jr, Anfernee Simons and Nassir Little 12:00 How has Trevor Ariza looked/fit? 17:30 It’s amazing what competent experience can accomplish 19:30 “Tara he has 100 points and 2 turnovers!” 21:30 “A week ago he couldn’t throw a lob pass and now he’s freaking Andre Miller!” 22:45 Not really worried about the defense right now when you’re dropping 120 26:00 Listener questions! If Whiteside isn’t traded, will a different trade happen? 29:00 Should this recent run cause Portland to change their direction? 33:00 Assuming Nurk comes back this year and is playing at a high level, do you see him playing as a starter and Whiteside coming off the bench? 36:30 What is the max you think the Blazers would offer for RoCo (Robert Covington)? Have the young guys become untouchable? 38:00 The rise of Gary Trent and Ariza’s fit appear to be better than Baze? 43:00 “Do you watch the Bachelor?(Tara) I do not. (Dan) Well, here’s my Bachelor reference anyways…” 44:00 Barring a collapse by OKC or an insane run by the Blazers, it looks like the 8th spot is the highest attainable seed- which team is the biggest threat to the Blazers? 48:00 Was ready for Whiteside trade before, but the way things are going is it wise to keep him? 51:00 Who do you see being valuable role players going forward? 57:00 Hassan Whiteside being more impactful 1:00:00 Closing comments Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jasmine D. Brown, production assistant for ESPN and former beat writer for Washington Mystics and Capital City Go-Go (the Wizard’s G-League affiliate) joined the Hoops And Talks Podcast to talk about her journey to working full-time in sports.She talked about Trevor Ariza’s time with the Wizards, Maryland alumni who have played for the Trail Blazers and the trajectory of the Washington Mystics leading to their 2019 WNBA Championship.  We had a great time learning that there was a Twitter account for Jake Layman’s hair (@jakelaymanshair), how a mechanical engineering major pivoted to sports, and what are some of the highlights of the new WNBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement. All of this and more on the latest podcast.  Highlights 1:00 Icebreaker: Favorite kind of cookies these days?  3:00 How did you get into basketball? Never played but loves to shoot. Enjoys the “something to prove” aspect of college hoops.  6:15 As someone dialed in to the Washington DC sports scene, what can you tell us about the newest Trail Blazer Trevor Ariza? 10:45 What is it like working at ESPN? Do you get tired of watching sports? She is always going to watch Maryland and DC area sports.  13:00 Three popular Fan Favorites went to her alma mater, University of Maryland, Jake Layman, Steve Blake and Buck Williams. Thoughts or memories about these guys? She knew who Buck Williams was, remembered Steve Blake most from his time with the Lakers, and she was at Maryland when Jake Layman played there. His hair had its own twitter account! 18:30 What was it like covering the Washington Mystics in their championship run last season? It was great to see them progress because they went from losing in the Semi Finals, to losing in the Finals to finally winning the whole thing. Highlights were a Natasha Cloud buzzer-beater, Game 5 of the finals. 22:00 The WNBA has been in the news lately because of the new CBA. What do you think is most significant about the new agreement? The pay was very significant because people really don’t know how much the players were making. And so many have to play year round to support themselves. The Mystics couldn’t have a championship parade because too many of the players had to leave right away to go overseas.  24:15 What do you think will be the most significant impact this season? The players will probably have a good mindset coming in, feeling like they are being cared for.  28:30 Could this lead to possible expansion of the WNBA?  30:30 Any reflection on Alana Beard as she announces her retirement? You can be a defensive player and still get recognition.  33:30 What is it like working somewhere that famous athletes are either working or visiting all the time?  35:00 How did she get into production? She always wanted to be an anchor person, was an early fan of George Stephanopoulos, but studied engineering in college before deciding she wanted to get into sports. She did a lot of writing for years before she moved to ESPN.  Get social Follow Blazer’s Edge on Twitter @blazersedge, WHAT Pod @HoopsAndTalks, Tara @tcbbiggs, and Cassidy @CassidyGemmet. This week’s guest: @jasmined_brown Join the Women’s Hoops And Talks Facebook group to talk about Trail Blazers with others who identify as women who love basketball. Music used in the episode: “Happy Alley” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. Subscribe to the podcast Apple Podcasts Google Play Spotify Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week’s episode we remember Kobe Bryant, our own memories of him, stories that we’ll never forget and what a perfect villain he was for Portland fans. We talk about what he must have meant to players in the league, how his active retirement showed us a different side of him, and wonder who in the league plays with the same passion that Kobe did?  Then we talk about the amazing week Damian Lillard just had, how the ball seems to be moving around more, what we saw from Trevor Ariza and how Gary Trent Jr has made the most of extended minutes.  5:30 We thought Kobe Bryant would live forever.  16:00 He was such a good foil, such a good villain. 22:15 Post retirement Kobe and the muse cage.  26:45 How players are reacting to his death. There are two different generations who had different relationships with Kobe. There are the guys who came in the league shortly after he did, and then there are the players who watched him play when they were young.  32:15 Kobe stories: Kobe taking away his teammates’ Kobe shoes because they didn’t deserve to wear them and also Kobe walking out on practice after calling his teammates soft “like Charmin”.  35:00 Who are the players who hate their opponents as much as Bryant ever did?  37:00 Blazers go to Staples Center for the Lakers first game back.  38:45 Damian Lillard’s incredible week.  42:25 Why does it seem like there has been more ball movement when you look up the stats and they are not passing it more. Damian is driving and getting people to collapse on him and then making precision passes back out. Two behind the back passes! Two! 47:00 Hassan Whiteside has been contributing lately and is clicking with Damian. He was the most physical he has been all year in the Indiana game. He was dunking all over guys which we’ve really been waiting for.  54:30 How is Ariza fitting in? He’s a pros pro. Like Carmelo Anthony, he just knows what to do. He seems like he’s going to be able to make quick decisions because he’s been doing it for so long. Ariza doesn’t overthink. 57:00 Comparing Ariza to Aminu.  59:00 Are the Blazers going to play defense again?  62:00 Gary Trent Jr has been really useful and is taking advantage of the opportunity he’s been given to play. He’s been given tons of space to catch and shoot and he’s finishing. He’s also been making some plays.  1:06 :00 Anfernee Simons can slow down time when he’s gliding to the rim.  1:08:00 Listener Questions: @IllKrill What if Whiteside is not traded? How will the Blazers get better around Dame for the coming years? 1:11:00 @williamsstan14  How do you think Whiteside handles it if he doesn't get traded and Nurk starts taking over his spot little by little. Late game situations etc.. Clearly Nurk is a better all around player especially with this team. He is also beloved by his teammates and his influence is missed 1:17:30 @C_Blake05 If Dame were to hypothetically approach 81 points at staples in a few nights, would you expect him to stop short of 81, or would he try to pass Kobe? ( Of course assuming the game is out of hand) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kristen Kerbaugh has a front row seat to all the Trail Blazers’ home games as the Stage Manager for the broadcast team. We talked to her about how she got started in television and found out what she is doing up at the front table during the games. She’s got some fun memories and funny stories about what it is like to be so close to the action. Game 5 against the Thunder? We got chills just hearing her talk about it! We also discuss how we’re feeling about Trevor Ariza joining the Trail Blazers, wonder how Caleb Swanigan will fit back in and, of course, we can’t stop talking about Damian Lillard. We’ve got some great listener feedback to share, and speculation about what kind of suit Skal Labissiere might wear when he makes it back to the bench. All this and more on the latest Women’s Hoops And Talks Podcast. 3:30 Kristen comes from a family that works in television so she started by holding mics on the side of the field. Worked as a runner or production assistant until she got the job as stage manager. Has always been a Trail Blazer fan, RipCiy is in her veins.  7:45 How stressful it this job? It is pretty repetitive so once the routine is down its not too stressful.  8:15 Favorite part of he job is getting to sit up close and watch the sport and team that she loves.  12:00 What are people sitting up at the front table doing? Broadcast crews on either end, there are people supporting the broadcasts with stats, public relations folks.. Her job is safer than the sideline cameras. She did get showered with LeBron’s chalk. Nurkic likes to interact. 18:20 What is it like being so close to the bench? Do you pick up the Blazers vibes? During games the bench players are really engaged, with each other and the coaches. 19:30 Memories of Lillard’s game winner against Oklahoma City Thunder. The end of the game felt like it was in slow motion. When Nurkic entered the arena she was excited to see how the crowd would react.   24:30 Keeping it together during the four overtimes against Denver.  25:30 Feelings about the trade the Blazers just made? Interested to see what growth Swanigan may show. Will we be able to get past the Trevor Ariza/Rudy Fernandez incident.  32:00 Sitting up close you can really feel the players emotions.  33:45 What is it like getting to have a front row seat to Damian Lillard’s excellence? He is everything that we read or hear about. He makes a point of signing autographs and getting to know everyone that he can.  41:00 Listener feedback! Ideas for new tagline, thoughts on Whiteside’s rebounds, icebreaker suggestion, what is going on with Rodney Hood?  Follow Blazer’s Edge on Twitter @blazersedge, WHAT Pod @HoopsAndTalks, Tara @tcbbiggs, and Cassidy @CassidyGemmet. @KristenKerbaugh Join the Women’s Hoops And Talks Facebook group to talk about Trail Blazers with others who identify as women who love basketball. Music used in the episode: “Happy Alley” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. Subscribe to the podcast Apple Podcasts Google Play Spotify Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1:00 Initial reaction to trade: Does this trade make more clear the plan for the rest of year 2:15 Is it possible to make a move that makes everyone happy? Blazers usually work with a small group of teams.  9:00 Remembering the Anthony Tolliver game.  15:00 Kent Bazemore had a nice game against Houston. 17:00 Things basketball wise seem like they are starting to fall into place.  22:00 Carmelo Anthony has been having a good week, here’s why. Not taking too many shots, getting guys in the post and backing them down in the post. He’s not a black hole on offense because if he gets in trouble he can pass out.  25:30 @Burlacious_M Is Ariza going to surprise everyone with a Melo like revival in Portland where he’s playing major minutes and can really help us win? 30:00 @ReverendRomulus Is this the upgrade at SF, in the team's mind, that we've been looking for or is this just a way to save money and kick the can down the road a bit? And is there any chance Ariza doesn't stay past the deadline? 34:00 @emilyvkarr Would love to know more backstory on Gabriel. 37:20 Jaylen Hoard interlude and the Pink Shoe Shift. 38:40 @SteveDHoops Following the trade, do you feel like it is more or less likely that another move featuring Whiteside takes place before the deadline? 41:00 Get ready for some Caleb Swanigan at center between the trade deadline and All Star Break.  42:00 @CourtSideMike How do you grade this trade? 45:00 @Tom_krieg_ Will Swanigan see meaningful minutes right away? 47:50 @LaytonTPorter I can easily see how Ariza could be an upgrade over Baze but what about AT? AT makes very few mistakes and has been solid on D, as silly as it sounds who's going to fill his shoes adequately? 51:00 @chris_nordby Ask @DannyMarang, “what blazer will he jinx and cause to have an injury next?”. Followed by “what is the main color on the blazers tank that he prefers?”. 55:00 @PaulSwardstrom What kind of player is Gabriel? Portland probably has an idea what we’re getting with Ariza and Swanigan, but he’s more of an unknown here. 57:30 Shout out Gary Trent Jr for the “flu game” on his birthday. 1:01:00 @kevin_parks Is Caleb now a “Portland local” OG? Will we buy out Ariza? Who is Gabriel? #InquiringMinds 1:02:00 @Dirtysturdy15 Is this a sign of giving up on the season? Do they know more about CJ’s injury then they are letting on? Is it possible there are more moves on the horizon that they could still possibly pivot to depending on what is happening? Also has swanigan gotten in shape/lost weight? 1:07:00 @chrisst90094291 At what point do you think the organization considers sitting Dame and CJ this year? 1:08:00 @burban192 What happens if there's no deal for Whiteside? How does this team reload for next year? 1:09:00 @cj_anderson On an optimistic (or delusional) front, what is the minimum bar this team would need to reach for Terry Stotts to contend (or win) coach of the year? Follow us on Twitter @blazersedge @DMarang @tcbbiggs  Subscribe to the podcast Apple Podcasts Google Play Spotify Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Expectations have changed dramatically for the Golden State Warriors this season, so we checked in with our friend Jannelle Moore of goldenstateofmind.com to compare notes about surviving a down season. We learn about how the Warriors are juggling 45-day contracts and how being hard capped lead to letting Marquese Chriss go. (Since we recorded, Chriss himself was signed to a 45-day contract.) Talking to her was illuminating because even though the Trail Blazers are having a tough year, at least they are not hard-capped, and they have some flexibility. We are also thankful that the coaching staff has always had a strong focus on development.  Listen to the latest episode of the WHAT podcast to hear all of this plus our favorite NBA family dynasties, NBA All Star votes, and more Olympic basketball history!  Highlights 3:00 Which NBA family dynasty is your favorite? Some of our favorites are the Millers, the McGees, the Currys and the Grants.  7:30 How has watching the Warriors changed for Jannelle? 13:00 Is there a particular position where they are thin? They have enough guards, at least, they are not looking to replace the guards because Stephan Curry and Klay Thompson will be back.They are really suffering at center. Jannelle is not a fan of Willie Cauley-Stein.  15:15 How are Golden State fans doing? Mostly they are treating this season as a gap year. A lot of people have embraced the tank. Jannelle is not there yet and is disappointed that they don’t seem like they are fighting at the end of games. Tanking doesn’t seem like a good strategy because they need a wing or a big but most of the upcoming draft seems to be guards.  18:00 How does she watch the teams knowing that it might be so different from next year?  20:50 We make a solid plea for Jannelle to be a Blazer fan for this season while she’s waiting for Curry to recover.  24:15 Players to watch? Omari Spellman. He’s fought a lot to become a good player. He is earning playing time after really hard work. Eric Paschal has been good but lately Kerr hasn’t been playing him much. Warriors don’t seem to be doing great with development this year. They haven’t needed to be so much recently. Development is not something they have had to focus on in the past several years, at least they didn’t seem to. 30:00 All Star votes. Who are we voting for this year? Cassidy goes in hard on “stupid fan voting”.  36:00 How about a 1v1 competition at All Star? Think of the rivalries that would ensue! 42:00 Olympic Basketball Moments: 1936 Olympics, the first year Basketball was officially a sport. It was a pretty big disaster. Follow Blazer’s Edge on Twitter @blazersedge, WHAT Pod @HoopsAndTalks, Tara @tcbbiggs, and Cassidy @CassidyGemmet. This week’s guest: @jannelle12 Join the Women’s Hoops And Talks Facebook group to talk about Trail Blazers with others who identify as women who love basketball. Music used in the episode: “Happy Alley” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. Subscribe to the podcast Apple Podcasts Google Play Spotify Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast, Tara Bowen-Biggs and Danny Marang take a look the impending return of Jusuf Nurkic in the coming weeks and want to expect, what Jody Allen's motivations at the deadline could be, Tara's desire to have Ed Davis back, the development of Anfernee Simons, and more! Intro Opening Comments Tara really wants Ed Davis back 2:40 How much longer can the team go without making a move? 6:00 What are Jody Allen’s motivations? 7:00 Are the Blazers being prudent? 8:00 How messaging has changed from the beginning of the season until now? 9:00 Blazers dealing with an outbreak: 11:00 The return of Jusuf Nurkic 12:30 Expectations for his play 13:30 Will the basketball change when Nurk returns? 17:00 Why haven’t we seen Nassir Little or Gary Trent Jr. as much? 21:00 What do you hope and/or expect from Little, Trent and Jaylen Hoard? 22:00 What do you see as best case scenario for the young guys? 30:00 How do you think the Blazers are looking at developing Anfernee Simons and how is that going? 33:00 When things aren’t going well in a season (like this year) what do you watch? 44:30 Closing Comments Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We are fired up about a few things this week: why aren't the Utah Jazz playing Ed Davis? Can we see Anfernee Simons in the NBA All Star Dunk Contest already? And why shouldn't we just enjoy Carmelo Anthony while he is with the Blazers? Highlights 1:15 What past NBA players would have done better in today’s NBA rather than their own time?  7:00 Blazers highlights from the game in Toronto.  10:45 Skal Update: 4 more weeks before he is evaluated. Former Blazer Al-Farouq Aminu is out for the season (Orlando applied for a disabled player exception). 11:45 Could the Trail Blazers bring back Ed Davis? He’s not fitting in with the Jazz.  19:15 Anfernee Simons should be in the dunk contest. He has the hops, skills, and charm, plus he is the future of the NBA 22:30 The NBA should update the All Star voting so the players vote for each other (East players vote for the Western Conference and vice versa) and fans should vote for who gets to be in the contests.  24:55 The historical significance of Carmelo Anthony’s game-winning shot in Toronto 28:00 Get to know Olympic Melo. An overview of the teams he was on, a list of the records he holds, and how he was truly proud to be a part of Team USA.  38:15 Around the league: Jimmy Butler vs TJ Warren: Kisses Fly in Indiana, Draaaaaaaaaama! In Cleveland. Steph Curry Tampering: PUBG *Wink Wink*  44:45 Also, why does everyone have to weigh in on what Giannis Antetonkoumno is going to do? Why assume he’s gone? Why not think that he would stay?  46:25 Wrap up Follow Blazer’s Edge on Twitter @blazersedge, WHAT Pod @HoopsAndTalks, Tara @tcbbiggs, and Cassidy @CassidyGemmet.  Join the Women’s Hoops And Talks Facebook group to talk about Trail Blazers with others who identify as women who love basketball. Music used in the episode: “Happy Alley” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. Subscribe to the podcast Apple Podcasts Google Play Spotify Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Portland Trail Blazers haven’t found a rhythm and it seems like their roster is getting thinner all the time. Erik Garcia Gundersen of Associated Press and LeBron Wire joined Tara Bowen-Biggs on the podcast to try and make sense of how to watch this team. They are 11th in the league at rebound per game but are they a good rebounding team? How long can they play undermanned? What kind of improvement should we be looking for with the young players? Gundersen watched the Cavaliers for a full season while working for the LeBron Wire and he thinks that Kevin Love would be a good addition to the Trail Blazers. He is a willing and respected shooter and a smarter defender than people think. Gundersen is confident the Blazers can make the playoffs but time is of the essence. They can’t wait until the buyout market and Love is available (as he is letting it be well known) now. With Dan out sick it is up to Tara to push back.  All of this and more on the latest podcast.  1:00 If it makes anyone feel better, the Knicks have been playing pretty well under Mike Miller.  4:00 Covering the team is odd because Hassan Whiteside dominates the stat line so frequently but that doesn’t necessarily tell the story. We know that this team as currently constructed isn’t actually the team.  6:00 They are a better rebounding team when Whiteside is on the floor but is that what they need to win?  7:00 Can we retire the idea of the rebound as a top-line stat (via @Elgee35)? 10:00 A deeper dive into Whiteside’s rebounding. Whiteside is a good rebounder, but the team is not a good rebounding team. The team doesn’t really know where the best place is to position themselves when Whiteside gets blocks.  15:00 There are some rebounds that are better quality than other rebounds. And sometimes boxing out is more important because it allows your teammate to get an easier rebound.  18:00 Whiteside can’t be expected to cover all of the defensive deficiencies that have been caused by injuries.  20:30 How long do they hang on? When do they get more people in to help? Erik says he would have thought they would have found someone to fill in by now. Doesn’t seem they can wait until the buyout market.  25:00 There is always something new to talk about with this team. Some role player seems like he’s always having a career high. Carmelo Anthony seems like the only player who is not weighed down by expectations. 28:00 How did Erik think the Carmelo Anthony experiment was going to work? He knew the team needed someone on the floor who other teams had to respect.  32:00 The Blazers have been incredibly fortunate for years and the fans have been incredibly lucky. They are holding the locker room together. Nurkic is coming back soon.  36:00 Melo has taken some of the pressure off of Damian Lillard without trying to take over.  37:30 Development. How do we know that Anfernee Simons is getting better and helping the team? 40:00 Right now the Blazers need Anfernee to score. Assists will get easier.  46:25 Erik’s take on Kevin Love to Portland. You get a guy who is known to be productive in his role. Counterpoint: how do the Blazer’s afford it? Love gives them a chance to be a contender next year. Counterpoint: Do the Blazers ask Collins to come off the bench again when they are trying to build a team with him as a key piece? 56:05 LaMarcus and Nurkic would be trying to play in the same spots. Drummond won’t want to be a backup.  1:02 Erik loves Cedi Osman from the Cavaliers, thinks he would be a great addition. Subscribe to the podcast Apple Podcasts Google Play Spotify Blazer’s Edge Night is coming in March. Buy tickets now to help kids see a Blazer game! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tara talked to Nekias Duncan (@nekaisNBA) about the upcoming matchup between the Portland Trail Blazers and the Miami Heat. Who are the main characters? How is Meyers Leonard doing? What does he expect Hassan Whiteside’s return will be like? All this and more. Highlights: 1:00 Main characters in Miami are Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo. Butler has been great even though he is having a shooting slump. This has really been a coming-out year for Adebayo.  2:30 The rest of the starting lineup is Kendrick Nunn, Meyers Leonard and Duncan Robinson. 3:00 Meyers Leonard is a fan favorite. At the beginning of the season he was hesitating on his shots but now he is playing with more confidence. He is still a pretty low-volume shooter but more in rhythm and quite effective. 6:00 Going into the season, shooting was a big question for this team. They really didn’t know how effective anyone was going to be at shooting although they knew that Jimmy Butler would be an important playmaker. 7:00 When Portland comes to Miami, they are likely going to try lots of defensive strategies on Damian Lillard, Nunn and Butler will take turns on him, they will likely trap him, and might even try zone defense (they are one of the most frequent zone defense users this season). 8:15 The biggest weakness of the Heat is that they give up a lot of 3 pointers. If Blazers are making their 3-pointers they have a good chance to win.  10:45 What will Whiteside’s first game back in Miami be like? Nekias thinks it will either be a big game or he will really struggle. Likely there won’t be any in between. 14:00 Both rookies, Tyler Hero and Kendrick Nunn, are playing better than expected. This has been a fun year in Miami because they have been outperforming expectations. Even with Jimmy Butler shooting poorly and Justise Winslow not playing  15:30 Jimmy Butler came in and took on the leadership role. His chemistry and friendship with Bam Adebayo is really apparent. Butler is also friends with Dwyane Wade and that is probably how he was able to transition right in as the leader.  Follow Nekias on twitter @NekaisNBA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Happy New Year from the WHAT podcast. Tara and Cassidy are back to catch up (very quickly) on how the Trail Blazers are doing before rating some of the more memorable events of 2019 and of the 2010s. How important were Evan Turner’s back-to-back triple doubles? Did the elevator escapade leave any lasting impressions? How important was the drafting of CJ McCollum compared to drafting Lillard or signing Jusuf Nurkic? All this plus talk about taglines, ninja headbands (of course) and the 2020 Olympics and more  Highlights 2:00 We need your ideas for a new tagline for Women’s Hoops And Talks. Send us your ideas to [email protected], or tweet at us @hoopsandtalks or @tcbbiggs or @cassidygemmet. 5:00 Catching up on the Blazers, no Skal Labissiere, they are on a tough road trip. They are bringing in Jalen Hoard from Texas Legend. 8:00 We’re watching more of the rest of the NBA. The Golden State vs Rockets on Christmas was exciting, Houston under-estimated Golden State.  12:00 Rating interesting things that happened this season: Western Conference Finals run.  14:30 Elevator escapade 16:30 Addition of Rodney Hood 17:30 Addition of Enes Kanter 18:45 Evan Turner gets two triple doubles in a row 20:00 NBA Players snub Team USA and come in 7th 22:00 Ninja-style headband band 22:30 Events of the decade, in-arena blimp crash, drafting Damian Lillard, CJ McCollum, acquiring Jusuf Nurkic, LaMarcus Aldridge leaving,  35:00 Losing Jerome Kersey and Paul Allen 38:00 The day Greg Oden had a set back, Brandon Roy retired, and LaMarcus Aldridge had to have heart surgery 41:00 2020 is an Olympic Year! We’re learning fun Olympic basketball facts leading up to the 2020 Summer Olympics. Cassidy starts off by telling us about 1904 Olympics where basketball first appeared as a demonstration sport. Hiram College were the first winners in the exhibition year.  Get social Follow Blazer’s Edge on Twitter @blazersedge, WHAT Pod @HoopsAndTalks, Tara @tcbbiggs, and Cassidy @CassidyGemmet.  Join the Women’s Hoops And Talks Facebook group to talk about Trail Blazers with others who identify as women who love basketball. Music used in the episode: “Happy Alley” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. Subscribe to the podcast Apple Podcasts Google Play Spotify Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tara talks to China (@chiniqua) from Posting and Toasting about the Trail Blazers' upcoming game vs the New York Knicks. The two teams who commit the most fouls, have the lowest number of assists, in New York City on New Years day. Oh boy! As China says, “Someone has to win this game”. 00:15 Remembering the Enes Kanter experience. And sharing notes on the Melo experience. 4:30 What happened when David Fizdale left. It seems like he wasn’t able to make it work with the roster that he had and Mike Miller seems to be making it work. Miller came from the G-League and was used to having to deal with a constantly changing roster and he’s very adaptable. 7:30 Miller takes good timeouts. Things seem to be trending upwards.  8:00 Guess is that he will finish out the season as the coach. 10:00 Who are the key players? Julius Randall has been very divisive this season, under Miller he is doing really well and scoring lots of points.  12:00 Elfrid Payton is back from injury, coming off the bench playing well. Frank Ntilikina is another person who Knicks fans argue about a lot. He’s great at defense but on offense “is not as bold as he could be”. Marcus Morris Sr. and Mitchell Robinson are also important. Morris has been solid and Mitchell is good for highlights, he just gets into foul trouble. 15:00 And speaking of foul trouble, the Blazers and the Knicks are the top (or bottom, depending on how you look at it) in fouling. They commit the most fouls. Both teams also have the fewest assists.  16:00 When they are playing well, they have Robinson and Ntilikina playing good defense and Randall and Morris and anyone else scoring. 17:30 Rookie RJ Barrett is not great, but the biggest struggle is that they give up on rookies too soon. People are already out on Kevin Knocks even though he’s only in his second year. 19:15 Taj Gibson and Wayne Ellington are the elder statesmen. Gibson has been playing regularly but Ellington has been hurt for much of the season.  20:00 New York really struggles from the free throw line and good point guards feast on them.   21:00 This game is really going to be all about Melo’s return to the Garden.  22:30 Hire JR Smith! (I promised China I’d put this in the show notes.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week’s episode of the Blazer’s Edge podcast, Tara Bowen-Biggs and Danny Marang are joined by Bleacher Report’s Dan Favale to take a look at the defining moments of the decade for the Blazers, the impact of Damian Lillard, the spark points for NBA growth, Dan’s thoughts on Coach Stotts and expectations, looks at Anfernee Simons and Hassan Whiteside, listener questions and more! Intro Opening Comments Putting a piece together with so many contributors and so many points of view 4:00 The defining moment of the decade for the Blazers 7:00 Non-Damian Lillard defining moments of the decade 9:00 Brandon Roy, Rodney Hood and LaMarcus Aldridge 12:00 Deciding between "0.9" and "The Bad Shot" 14:00 Picking the NBA moment of the decade and what sparked so much growth and change 19:00 The shift of covering games vs covering memes 21:00 Asking Dan Favale how he views Coach Stotts 24:00 The correlation between ball movement and offensive success 27:00 Understanding the position the Blazers are in right now 33:00 What will the Blazers do at the deadline? 36:00 Evaluating Hassan Whiteside 38:00 Looking at how Carmelo Anthony has fit with Portland this year 41:00 Getting the national view on how Anfernee Simons looks so far 44:00 Listener Questions! What to Expect from Moses Brown 50:00 Worst case for Skal Labissiere 55:00 Why trading Hassan Whiteside needs to happen 1:02:00 Danny isn't actually negative... seriously 1:06:00 Injury luck, or lack thereof 1:09:00 Looking at different trade scenarios for Whiteside 1:14:00 Closing Comments Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dillon Sage, co-host of Holy Backboard podcast, joined Tara to talk about the New Orleans Pelicans.  00:30 How have expectations changed for the Pelicans? High expectations were quickly adjusted when Zion Williamson went down, but he’s not the only one who has been injured. Basically Pelicans fans have already had their hearts broke a number of ways this season. 2:45 What is the plan moving forward for this season? Will Zion play at all? The front office is adamant that he will play, although they are asking for patience.  4:00 Brandon Ingram has been fantastic. He has really blossomed since he got out from under LeBron James and shown that he can be the featured player. Its been a very long time since the Pelicans (or Hornets) have had a good small forward. Ingram has great chemistry with all the players on the team.  5:45 Lonzo Ball has been tough to watch. He’s not flourishing in a system that you would think would be good for point guards. He just keeps taking 3s, he is not penetrating. As a result he is coming off of the bench and Jrue Holiday continues to handle playmaking responsibilities.  7:00 What do the Pelicans look like when they are playing their best? When Derrick Favors plays they are a really good defense. They look good when they play the fast paced offense.  8:30 Is coach Alvin Gentry on the hot seat for losing 13 games in a row? Fans seem to be mad at him but it also seems like the front office likes him.  9:15 Six months ago, David Griffin was a genius. Do people still feel that way? No matter how things are going this season, they are set up well for the future.  10:30 Who is the leader in the locker room? Probably the three vets, Jrue Holiday, JJ Reddick, and Derrick Favors. They need to have veterans to help these very young players become professionals.  12:00 There are rumors that the Pelicans may trade Jrue Holiday. Why would they want to do that? Sage thinks they are most likely listening to offers and would be willing to agree to a deal that will make them better, but they are most likely not actively looking for someone to trade with.  14:00 JJ Reddick is playing well, continues to make difficult shots and he is one of their only shooters on the team, he provides spacing.  15:30 What do the Blazers need to do to lock in this win? They need to stop the pick-and-roll. It has always been effective, especially against the Blazers. Last time they met, Hassan Whiteside figured out in the second half how to stop them. In the first game, the Blazers didn’t have Damian Lillard, it was Carmelo Anthony’s first game. The Pelicans played CJ McCollum very tight.  17:45 How does Carmelo Anthony contribute to a Blazers win against the Pelicans? Anthony makes it a lot harder to double Lillard and McCollum, which has been the Pelicans plan against the Blazers for a long time.  18:45 Are there any other storylines or players Blazer fans should watch for? Jackson Hayes has gotten a lot better. He has stopped jumping and been much more effective contesting shots.  Find Sage at @dasage, follow the Holy Backboard podcast @holybackboard. Find Blazers' Edge @Blazersedge and Tara @tcbbiggs Subscribe: Apple: apple.co/2Mu8YX9 Google: http://bit.ly/2KMRa7l Stitcher: http://bit.ly/33OEBA3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast, Tara Bowen-Biggs and Danny Marang are joined by Blazer's Edge editor Steve Dewald to take a look at fringe moves, making the first trade, the never ending links to Kevin Love, understanding GM speak, the improvement of Hassan Whiteside, buyers vs. sellers market, the next 5 games and how it could set the tone - and a lot more! Intro  Opening Comments 2:00 Changing Expectations Using the DPE 4:00 Making fringe moves 5:00 Steve Dewald talks smaller moves 6:00 Torrey Craig, Justin Jackson & DJ Wilson Risks of waiting to address the bench 11:30 Has the outside view of POR possibly changed with Free Agents? 12:30 Could POR moving expiring deals hurt how they’re viewed? 18:00 Were things as busy Dec 15th last year? 21:00 How often do the Blazers do the thing that they telegraph? 22:00 Likelihood of getting Kevin Love Reading between the lines and GM speak 24:00 The appearance of desperation 26:00 Taking a look at Kevin Love 28:00 When could POR look to make a move? 30:30 Seller vs Buyer market 33:00 The improvement of Hassan Whiteside 38:00 Whiteside-Labissiere lineup thoughts 46:30 Looking at Bazemore’s integration into the starting lineup 50:30 Looking at the next 5 games and setting the tone? 54:00 Signaling intent for the rest of the season 1:00:00 Closing Comments Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Just in time for the holidays Tara and Cassidy have ideas for gifts to give the Trail Blazers this season. What gift might help channel Hezonja’s intensity or help Whiteside focus? What could we possibly give to Damian Lillard, the man who has it all, that would adequately express our appreciation for everything he does? What experience would Anfernee Simons remember forever?  Highlights 2:45 Rodney Hood goes down.  5:30 What do the Blazers do next? They will still fight. 10:15 Holiday gifts: For Lillard we picked out a gift for his son that we think someone should actually sell in the store, a game of Trail Blazers Guess Who! 14:00 How do we make sure we don’t take Damian Lillard for granted? 16:00 It has taken a while for Kent Bazemore to find his groove. Hope he can score more and get a couple more shots per game. We would give him a mountain bike because we think he’d like shredding downhill. But only in the off season. We think he needs more time in the starting lineup to have any opinion on how that is going.  18:15 Carmelo and Portland were both looking for missing pieces. Carmelo found a team and Portland found some much needed offense and excitement. We give him a City of Portland Skyline Puzzle. It feels like he just got here but he’s played almost a dozen games. 24:30 Cassidy would give Whiteside some LEGO to play with. The attention to detail and focus it takes to build a massive LEGO set could just be what he needs. Also, she thinks she set unrealistic expectations for him so as a bonus gift she’s just going to enjoy the double doubles. Hassan, your team needs you, not just with stats but with stops.  28:15 For Jusuf Nurkic as he continues his recovery we think he could use a companion so we would give him a tiny dog with outfits that match his. What are our expectations when he comes back? We have none, we just want him back on the court. Just his presence will boost the team.  32:00 Tolliver might just need a better night sleep. So far this season he has the lowest effective field goal percentage on the team. He’s getting some good looks but things just don’t seem to be dropping. So this holiday season we would get Anthony a weighted blanket, like a giant hug while you sleep.  34:45 For Mario Hezonja we suggest a weekend at Brightenbush Hotsprings so he can get some fresh air and relax and let the game come to him instead of forcing things.  38:45 Nassir Little gets a warm hat because after cutting off all his hair he’s going to need it in Minnesota and Toronto in January. 40:15 Skal can have whatever he wants. Has the best +/- of the bench players, still negative but better than anyone else. 42:00 Gary Trent Jr: we want more pictures of him. A gift for him would be a 80’S sweatsuit collection.  43:00 CJ McCollum world's best teammate t-shirt. While Lillard leads the team so well, McCollum is the teammate that will do the dirty work like trash talk, foul hard, and get mad.  44:45 Collins disco ball and dance floor at his house. 46:00 Anfernee needs to hear his name chanted at the Moda center, so we need to come up with an “Ant chant” for him.  49:00 The next WHAT meetup is January 5, come watch the Blazers take on Meyers Leonard and the Miami Heat with other women and supporters who love basketball.  Follow Blazer’s Edge on Twitter @blazersedge, WHAT Pod @HoopsAndTalks, Tara @tcbbiggs, and Cassidy @CassidyGemmet.  Join the Women’s Hoops And Talks Facebook group to talk about Trail Blazers with others who identify as women who love basketball. Music used in the episode: “Happy Alley” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. The WHAT podcast is taking a break until the New Year, in the meantime, subscribe to the Blazer’s Edge podcast so you don’t miss an episode and mark your calendar for the next WHAT Meetup on January 5.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast, Tara Bowen-Biggs and Danny Marang are joined by Dave DuFour of The Athletic podcast network to discuss all things Portland; the Carmelo Anthony Experiment results are in, Rodney Hood's season ending injury, what the Blazers should/would/could do going forward, tank vs chase, asset management, expectations and goals for the season, the problem with Portland's defense, developing young players, tribute videos and more! Intro Dave DuFour! The most surprising thing about being closer to the Blazers 2:00 Why do the Blazers foul so much? 4:00 Defensive schemes and personnel 7:20 Who has been the best defender for Portland recently? 12:30 The loss of Rodney Hood for the season 15:00 Next man up 18:30 Rodney Hood and Jusuf Nurkic parallels 20:30 Identities and injuries 22:30 LaMarcus Aldridge and the Blazers 24:00 Signaling a change for the season 25:00 What kind of help is out there right now? 32:00 Joe Johnson and Jamal Crawford! 33:00 Andre Iguodala and Jae Crowder 35:00 Portland can’t afford to hold onto the expiring deals? 37:00 Using assets on Gallinari vs Giannis 38:30 Tara forces a trade storm 40:00 Taking the “chance” to tank 41:00 Tank vs Chase 44:30 What is Neil Olshey likely to do? 50:00 How has Carmelo Anthony looked after a few weeks now? 55:00 Mentality of the team and Damian Lillard? 59:00 Portland and Tribute videos 1:04:00 Closing comments Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Blazers Edge editor Steve DeWald and special guest Scott Hatley of Incight join Tara to discuss our choices for the all-decade team for 2010’s. But there was a twist: we couldn’t select a current Blazer.  Who did we chose for point guard? Which other players from the 2010s made the list? Listen or read the highlights below and let us know who would be on your All-Decade team for the 2010s? Whose team would win?  Incight, an organization dedicated to unlocking the potential of people with disabilities and other barriers, is raffling off a basketball signed by all of the Portland Trail Blazers. Enter for a chance to win for $15 per ticket. Drawing to be held on December 16 at 4pm. All proceeds from the raffle go to Incight.  Highlights 1:00 Introducing Scott Hatley of Incight.org. 2:00 Born in 1979 and started attending games with his family very young. Remembers crying when the team lost and loving the players. Remembers sneaking peanuts and soda into games with his dad.  3:00 Incight is an organization that focuses on education, employment and independence for people with disabilities and other barriers. Scott uses an electric wheelchair. 7:45 In his experience the Trail Blazers and the Moda center are doing a good job of making the venue accessible. 11:30 Pick out your all-decade team from the 2010s, but it can’t include anyone from the current roster. That made it really hard to pick out a point guard! 13:30 Point Guards. Steve picks Andre Miller, he’s tied for number 10 in the number of total assists in Portland. Tara also chose Andre Miller. His 52 points game was on January 30, 2010, so even if it was barely in the decade, Tara counts it. She wants to know how many of his assists were alley-oops? Scott chose Steve Blake because Blake was consistent. Tara would have also said Mo Williams because of how he stood up to Andrew Bogut in a fight.  16:55 Shooting guard. For Steve it was Wesley Matthews. A good three-point shooter, a leader in the locker room until Damian was ready to take it up. Who knows what would have happened with that team if he had stayed healthy? Scott also chose the Iron Man, that was one of the hardest departures, when Matthews left the team. Tara chose Brandon Roy because even though he played more in the previous decade he technically did play in the 2010s. We remember the Brandon Roy come back game 4 vs Dallas. 19:50 Small forward choices: Steve chose Nic Batum. Even though he didn’t put up huge numbers he did a little bit of everything and we got to watch him grow up. Scott thought about putting Brandon Roy in at the 3, but ultimately decided to go with Batum as well. Tara chooses Gerald Wallace who wasn’t here for a long time but it was fun to watch him. He also had a great voice and it was fun to remember the Ger-ald Wal-lace chants.  23:50 Power Forward. Steve and Scott both choose LaMarcus Aldridge. Aldridge has the numbers to back up the case. Tara had a hard time choosing but ultimately went with Aldridge as well. 25:45 Did you all boo LaMarcus Aldridge when he came back? Steve wasn’t at the game but he says he probably would have boo’d him. Scott doesn’t think that he did. Tara did that first game but not after that.  28:30 Centers: Steve chose Robin Lopez, not only because of his play and how good the team was in 2013-14, but because the defense that the team uses to this day was built around Robin Lopez. Scott choses Joel Pryzbilla, he still has the Tom Petty song “Won’t Back Down” in his head. Tara chose Ed Davis.  33:00 Sixth man, Steve chose Ed Davis, Chris Kaman or Allen Crabbe. Scott’s choice for sixth man was Patty Mills, and Tara chose Al-Farouq Aminu.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Queen of Rip City Brooke Olzendam and her mom, Alison, took a break from holiday festivities to chat with us. We learned that Crab Louie was invented in Spokane, that Alison was Brooke’s first AAU Coach and how close Brooke came to becoming a pharmaceutical rep (a boon for us, a bummer for the pharmaceutical industry). We also hear the story of Brooke’s 7th grade citizenship award and get a picture of her dancing around with a hairbrush.Then we turn to Blazers talk. What was it like for Alison to meet the Blazers? What is Carmelo Anthony like? Brooke explains how Melo has helped on the floor as well as bringing a breath of fresh air to the team. 1:00 Signature Holiday Dish: Crab Louie which was invented in Spokane. Also, do pretzels belong in Jello? 5:00 Introducing Alison Olzendam, Brooke’s mom, teacher and coach. She was Brooke’s AAU coach. Her coaching mantra: “You just gotta shoot”. Sports are a great place for kids to test themselves. 8:00 Brooke’s mom supported her by always being there for her. She played all the sports and did tons of activities and her mom was always in the stands. From her mom she learned that it is important to take care of yourself, and be yourself.  11:00 Her mom also helped her when she was at a crossroads in her career. Helping her keep focused on her dream.  13:00 Alison is most proud of who Brooke is as a person, how she treats people. Was she always outgoing and comfortable around people? Yes, she was always kind to everyone. 14:00 One of her proudest moments was when Brooke won a 7th grade Citizenship Award. 16:15 NBA players Alison has met. She recently finally met Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum although she feels like she knows them through Brooke. Never got to meet Evan Turner.  19:15 Thoughts on Carmelo Anthony. If is good to see him get a second chance. He has been a pleasure to work with and fun to watch the reception with the other players and other fan bases.  24:15 Melo is just a star on a whole different level.  27:00 Follow Alison on twitter because she might start tweeting #BrookesMomsHotTakes @aolzendam. And of course, follow @bolzendam for all kinds of Trail Blazers fun.  Our friends at Incight.org are unlocking the potential of people and you can help by purchasing a raffle ticket for a chance to win a signed Trail Blazers basketball from the 2019-20 season. Use this link to purchase a ticket before the drawing on December 16 at 4pm https://incight.ejoinme.org/BlazerRaffleTickets Follow Blazer’s Edge on Twitter @blazersedge, WHAT Pod @HoopsAndTalks, Tara @tcbbiggs, Dan @dannymarang, this week’s guest is @bolzendam and @aolzendam Subscribe to the podcast Apple Podcasts Google Play Spotify Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1:30 A week ago the Blazers were coming off of four losses and now they are coming off of three wins and Carmelo Anthony is Western Conference Player of the Week. Is there anything less worth getting mad about than Anthony returning to the league and getting this award? We can’t think of anything.   4:45 Will there be tribute videos this season? Or will Anthony refuse because he’s not retiring yet? 6:30 Is Melo the most famous player who ever played on the Trail Blazers?  9:15 Anthony in Portland makes them much more interesting from a national level.  14:45 Carmelo is legitimately an upgrade at power forward compared to what the other options were when Zach Collins went down.  16:00 Why do you think he was out of the league so long? He was not good in Houston but he wasn’t the reason Houston struggled so much at the beginning of the season. 20:00 What has the locker room been like since Melo joined the team? Things seem good of course winning helps, so it is hard to tell if any of that positive energy (or how much of it) comes from having Anthony on the team.  23:00 Negative perception probably comes from the times he forced a trade from Denver and a trade from New York so he could make more money. And the second thing is that people believed in Olympic Melo but couldn’t understand why he didn’t play like that on NBA teams.  26:00 As far as basketball goes, he has been about as good as we could realistically expect him to be. 27:00 Who is losing out on possessions because of Anthony’s 16 shots per game.  30:00 The Blazers always exceed expectations because they lay good foundations and do things right which allows them to take advantage of every break that they get even if they do not have the same raw talent as their opponents.  34:15 With Damian Lillard and Terry Stotts, the floor is very high.  36:15 Western Conference Player of the week is both not the worst thing to happen 37:45 The lesson that Tara is taking away is to pay more attention to the players.  38:45 Will a good run by Melo change the Blazers trade deadline plans? Sean thinks they will probably continue with whatever plans they had all along, but the interesting thing will be how will Melo react? Especially if the bring in someone like LaMarcus Aldridge or Kevin Love who play the same position. 43:00 How are Blazers going to manage to beat better teams who they will be facing this week? 46:00 Teams have to guard Anthony. That could be enough of a difference maker to give the Blazers a chance against tough teams.  48:15 What are Sean’s thoughts on Hassan Whiteside? What does good Hassan Whiteside looks like and how can the Blazers best unlock him?  Our friends at Incight.org are unlocking the potential of people and you can help by purchasing a raffle ticket for a chance to win a signed Trail Blazers basketball from the 2019-20 season. Use this link to purchase a ticket before the drawing on December 16 at 4pm https://incight.ejoinme.org/BlazerRaffleTickets Follow Blazer’s Edge on Twitter @blazersedge, WHAT Pod @HoopsAndTalks, Tara @tcbbiggs, Dan @dannymarang, this week’s guest is Sean Highkin @highkin Subscribe to the podcast Apple Podcasts Google Play Spotify Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Preview LA Clipper and Los Angeles Lakers with Sabreena Merchant (@sabreenajm) 1:00 How are the dynamic duos doing in Los Angeles? Clippers: Kawhi Leonard isn’t exactly the player he was in the playoffs. He is being load managed and getting up to speed, and fans are getting used to that. Kawhi and Paul George haven’t had much time together. They are extremely imposing defensively.  4:15 LeBron James has exceeded expectations because he’s playing defense all year and that is contagious. Anthony Davis is playing at DOPY level. 6:00 How are other teams trying to beat them? You have to hope that the Clippers have an off shooting night. Moe Harkless has been great on defense for them, willing to guard point guards. Lakers can be beat from the three point line, make LeBron be a jump shooter.  8:30 Lou Williams and Montrezl Harrell have been so important to the clippers because there were here last season, Harkless has made a difference and has been promoted to the a starting spot. 11:00 On the Lakers its been Alex Caruso and Danny Green who are probably the 3rd and 4th most important players. 12:00 LeBron really leads the Lakers locker room, while it is more by committee on the Clippers side. Harrell and Williams are the heart of that locker room.  12:30 How has the coaching situation developed on the Lakers side? There was a lot of talk in the pre season that Jason Kidd was after Frank Vogel's job. Vogel seems to be in a good place. He’s been flexible, willing to admit when things are not working, can get Davis to play the five even if he doesn’t really want to because he has a lot of buy-in from the players.  16:15 Lou Williams has been really good. He seems like he keeps getting better. Even though they have Kawhi and Paul George, so much of the offense is created by Williams. He’s the sixth man but at times he might be the most important person on offense.  18:00 It is really hard to identify an under-the-radar story for the Lakers. The difference between the media surrounding the teams is huge, you wouldn’t think they have the same championship aspirations. Follow Blazer’s Edge on Twitter @blazersedge, WHAT Pod @HoopsAndTalks Subscribe to the podcast Apple Podcasts Google Play Spotify Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Former co-host Kendyl Bennett joins the podcast to talk all things Carmelo Anthony--how do we think he is settling in? Will he continue to average 16 shots a night? How will that impact Rodney Hood’s shot opportunities? We wonder why Hassan Whiteside is so up and down and what will it take for him to reach his potential. We talk about being thankful for balance in the league and we share our thoughts about the Golden State Warriors new reality and if the San Antonio Spurs are really, truly, having a bad year.  00:45 Icebreaker from @paulnavarre “In the spirit of Melo, who against all odds has made me cheer for him and really start to like him: the player who made you change your opinion about him the most.” We talk Patrick Beverly, Carmelo Anthony, Jamal Crawford and Jusuf Nurkic.  6:15 What does everyone think of the Carmelo Anthony Experience? Kendyl: When he first came, we thought “why not?” the team needed some new life. He’s improving, he seems to have put the work in. Lillard and McCollum are going to hold him to high standards.  8:45 Cassidy has come around after initially being pretty upset about it. At first didn’t buy that he would take a step back from demanding attention. It looks like he just really loves playing the game.  10:45 How do people feel about the fact that he is averaging 16 shots per game? Hard to know, was he taking shots away from Lillard and McCollum or were they going with the flow because he was open and he had open shots? Possibly he had lots of shots to help him acclimate.  14:30 What if Carmelo can’t adjust to taking fewer shots? In any case, the arrival of Anthony has given the whole team something bigger than themselves. 17:00 Tara compares the Carmelo Experience to the Kanter Experience 21:30 Anthony is out there learning the Portland system, but he’s not learning the NBA at the same time like many of the younger players, so that is one thing you don’t have to worry about when he is in.  22:30 How does the addition of Carmelo Anthony affect Rodney Hood? Is he taking away too many shots?  23:55 Portland has options, not just Melo, but Hood, Simons, even Skal are finding their scoring rhythm giving Lillard more options.  25:10 Could carrying a lesser scoring load help save Lillard’s energy at all? Does anyone know? Anyone? 28:15 What are we thankful for? 28:35 Cassidy is thankful for Lillard’s leadership and also articles about Hassan Whiteside’s fish because she is struggling to enjoy his role on the Blazers. She really wants him to live up to his potential. Kendyl is puzzled why he is not having a bigger impact on the team when he is in a contract year. It is frustrating to watch. 35:00 Tara is thankful for Jusuf Nurkic because he is recovering and because he taught her patience. Kendyl compares Whiteside to Mason Plumlee when he was a Blazer in that he avoided contact. The flow offense might be taking longer to learn for Whiteside. 41:00 Kendyl is very happy for more balance in the league (and the downfall of the Warriors).  45:00 Are the San Antonio Spurs truly down and out? Or will they rise again (like they always do)?  47:00 Headlines from around the league. “He said, they said” -Richard Jefferson and the New York Knicks. Why do the Knicks always come out and say the wrong thing? Get social Follow Blazer’s Edge on Twitter @blazersedge, WHAT Pod @HoopsAndTalks, Tara @tcbbiggs, and Cassidy @CassidyGemmet. This week’s guest: @kendylbennett16 Join the Women’s Hoops And Talks Facebook group to talk about Trail Blazers with others who identify as women who love basketball. Music used in the episode: “Happy Alley” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. Subscribe to the podcast Apple Podcasts Google Play Spotify Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast, Tara Bowen-Biggs and Danny Marang take a look at where the Blazers are and where they need to be in the coming weeks. Along the way, they discuss the development of the young guys, whether or not Coach Stotts should be on the hot seat, expectations for the team until the New Year, salvaging the season, and more! Intro Opening comments Changing Expectations 2:00 How long can you hold on? 4:00 Can they save this season? 7:30 How has Carmelo Anthony looked? 9:30 Melo and the “Little” things 11:30 Frustrations with lineups young vs old 14:00 Front office dynamics in the NBA 19:00 Is Coach Stotts on the hot seat? 22:00 Chasing wins vs Development 25:00 Can we call Skal a young player? 31:00 What is Skal’s ceiling and/or likely scenario? 34:00 Do Skal or Anfernee Simons need to play w/more attitude? 35:30 How Collins and Skal unlock things on both sides of the floor 37:30 Why are we seeing Tolliver on the floor over Skal? 40:00 Playing Simons and Skal together 42:00 Tolliver and consistency 44:00 Nassir Little ripping the ball from Giannis Antetokounmpo 46:00 Little reminds us of Gerald Wallace 47:00 What can Little do to get on the floor now and going forward? 52:00 Gary Trent Jr getting minutes 56:00 Changing perception on where this team is right now 1:00:00 Did saying the word “championship” alter expectations too much? 1:05:00 At what point are you looking at the Blazers to make a pivot? 1:14:00 Closing comments Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Maggie Hendricks of 670 The Score in Chicago joins Tara Bowen-Biggs to preview two Portland vs Chicago matchups coming this week. Highlights: 00:50 Expectations going into the season were set by the front office who said that the Bulls would be aiming for the playoffs. They don’t look like a playoff team and now they are talking about developing players.  2:00 Infighting and strange choices had been plaguing the team lately. Coach Jim Boylen said that Zach Levine made three egregious errors and pulled him.  3:00 What happened to the Player’s Committee? Isn’t Zach Levine the head of the player’s committee? It doesn’t seem to exist anymore and there is no clear plan for how they are going to fix communication. 4:20 Who is the leader of the locker room? Otto Porter Jr is the most likely candidate, even though he is pretty new. He is a respected veteran. They are such a young team and they don’t have many veterans to show them the way.  5:20 Strengths: Coby White and other players are fun to watch when they are on. Most of the players have moments or stretches where they play really well.  7:10 What is the starting lineup? Lauri Markkanen, Zach Levine, Wendell Carter Jr, Tomáš Satoranský have been the most consistent in the starting lineup. 7:50 What are fans talking about? Everything is about is Jim Boylen over his head? There is a lot of excitement over the rookies. However, the front office have not modernized their approach to try to keep up with the rest of the league.  9:00 Is Boylen in the hot seat? The ownership is really reluctant to make changes, coaches get a lot of leeway.  10:05 Does having a big fan base make it easier or harder to hold a front office accountable? Right now everyone is really mad about the Bears. Once their season is over, fans may turn their ire on the Bulls.  12:00 What to watch for: how much do rookies Coby White and Daniel Gafford play? They are trying to figure out who they are on defense. They probably won’t change a lot between the first game on Monday and the second game on Friday.  Follow Maggie on Twitter @maggiehendricks Follow us on Twitter @blazersedge @DMarang @tcbbiggs  Subscribe to the podcast: Apple Podcasts  Google Play Spotify Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tara and Cassidy are joined by Nitz from The Daily Ding podcast to discuss the Portland Trail Blazers’ rocky start, how adding Carmelo Anthony to the team can help them out, and what other moves we would try if we were the GMs.  Highlights 00:30 Icebreaker: “What’s your ideal time to stay at an event before you leave early without telling anyone” Thanks for the question EvanSowards! 4:00 Busy week! Who is having a worse year, Golden State or the Trail Blazers?  5:45 How Carmelo chose 00.  8:30 On Carmelo Anthony not wearing number 7 and should anyone wear number 7 again? 11:30 How much should we let nostalgia keep us from moving forward?  13:45 Should the Thunder retire Kevin Durant’s number?  16:15 When Cassidy heard the Blazers had traded for Anthony she was initially mad, she has never been a fan of his, but she’s warming to the idea. Generally we’re glad he’s back in the league but mixed on how we feel about Portland being the team that he came to. He’s not going to fix the defensive issues.  20:15 Now that we have seen him, how did it work? He doesn’t fit in that well but it was good to see him playing again because he obviously loves the game.  23:00 Carmelo Anthony may inspire his teammates to up their fashion game which may be contagious and lead to more inspired play on the court.  26:05 It is hard to get back on the court when you are returning from injury or being away for a long time. It was nice to see that even if he couldn’t execute, he had an idea what to do. As he gets back into game shape, maybe he can make more of those plays.  27:00 He had a lot of responsibilities in his first game back due to Lillard not being there. 29:15 We play GM. How would we fix the Trail Blazers?  29:30 Option 1: throw in the towel. Rest Lillard and McCollum. Work with what you’ve got. It might look like tanking but it’s more like enduring.  34:30 Option 2: Sign a center that can set a pick. Possibly Jokim Noah or Greg Monroe. 37:25 Option 3: If we could undo any trades from the past, would we? Nitz would resign LaMarcus, Tara would resign Ed Davis (who Cassidy reminded her is out with a broken leg, get well soon Ed!) Cassidy would undo the Whiteside trade.  42:00 Option 4: Out of the box ideas? Have an all-retirement tour team with Carmelo Anthony, Coach Pau Gasol, and add Vince Carter and Jamal Crawford.  43:00 Trade for Draymond Green (who can’t be traded until February 2).  Follow Blazer’s Edge on Twitter @blazersedge, WHAT Pod @HoopsAndTalks, Tara @tcbbiggs, and Cassidy @CassidyGemmet. This week’s guest: @nitzbluv Join the Women’s Hoops And Talks Facebook group to talk about Trail Blazers with others who identify as women who love basketball. Music used in the episode: “Happy Alley” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. Subscribe to the podcast Apple Podcasts Google Play Spotify Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's Blazer's Edge podcast, Tara Bowen-Biggs and Danny Marang are joined by Steve Dewald to take a look back over the last week and discuss: Carmelo Anthony signing, the ups and downs of momentum, what will the rotations look like, trends in wins and losses, the bright spot that is Nassir Little, how bad are things really, and much more! Intro Opening comments Steve Dewald - first reactions to Carmelo Anthony signing Melo and “ring rust” 3:00 Could/Should Melo start? 7:00 How will Nassir Little’s role/rotation shift? 10:00 Can the Blazers take advantage of Melo’s knowledge? 13:00 Why does Melo deserve anything? 17:00 The difference between between chaos and dysfunction 22:00 The Pau Gasol question 26:00 What is the best case scenario for Little right now? 28:30 Nassir Little reminiscent of Gerald Wallace 31:30 What is Little’s ceiling by the end of the year? 33:00 Could we see more lineups with Kent Bazemore and Nassir Little? 35:00 Where is CJ McCollum at right now? 38:30 Was CJ hindered by the points of emphasis fouls? 41:30 What have we seen in Blazers wins and losses? 43:00 Blazers have not been able to control momentum at all this season 47:00 Maybe things aren’t as bad as they seem? 52:00 Were you surprised that Damian Lillard took the 3 for 60? 56:00 Closing comments Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Coty Davis of thedreamshake.com joined Tara to preview the Portland Trail Blazers vs Houston Rockets matchup. How has Russell Westbrook’s arrival changed the team? What are the Rockets weaknesses? Who is the leader of the team? Coty is a long-time fan of Carmelo Anthony so he also weighs in on how his arrival might impact the Trail Blazers.  1:00 How the arrival of Westbrook has changed things. The pace has really increased. The offense is now “six seconds or less”. There seems to be a new attitude. 2:00 How do they play together? They start each half together, but then they are staggered. Westbrook is getting longer rests than he ever did in OKC. James Harden is still playing a lot of minutes. He seems to run out of gas every season.  5:00 Has the duo evolved in any way? They both are really sticking to their game, they don’t seem to have evolved together yet.  6:30 What are the biggest weaknesses of the team? They struggle on defense and they are small so they are frequently out-rebounded. Their defense is really up and down this season.  10:30 Who is the leader of the Rockets? Harden on the floor, PJ Tucker in the locker room. He hustles on the court and in practice, he’s a vocal leader, takes the younger players under his wings. Not to say that Harden and Westbrook don’t, but Tucker seems to make an extra effort and when he talks, people listen.  12:30 Players who might be off the radar but Houston fans are enjoying this season. Austin Rivers has stepped up off the bench.  14:30 On Carmelo Anthony. He can still play, he will be extra fire power. It might be that he didn’t fit in with Houston because he liked the midrange. Portland will be able to make the most of Anthony.  18:00 Coty is a big fan of Damian Lillard and believes that the Trail Blazers will be fine.  Find Coty @cotydavis_24 Follow us on Twitter @blazersedge @DMarang @tcbbiggs  Subscribe to the podcast: Apple Podcasts  Google Play Spotify Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this emergency episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast, Tara Bowen-Biggs and Danny Marang react to the news of the Trail Blazers agreeing to sign Carmelo Anthony to a non-guaranteed contract. Why would they do it? Can he actually help them? How good and/or bad can things actually get? What happens between now and the trade deadline? It's a near real time reaction to the agreed upon deal and well, just listen for yourself. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week’s podcast, Tara and Cassidy talk about injuries that have plagued the Trail Blazers and the league. We discuss our own personal sports injuries and what we learned from them and the look at how injuries have increased over the past several years. We ask why they might be occurring and what could possibly be done to curtail the rising rates.  Then we take a trip around the league and make up headlines to capture all the weirdness and excitement of the first three weeks of the season.  Highlights 1:00 Icebreaker: The Blazers are headed on 6 game road trip do you have any flight routines? Must have snacks or entertainment?  4:00 Favorite moments from the Blazers in the last week or so are watching Damian Lillard score 60, Nas Little being in the floor, Anfernee Simons making things look easy, and being included in important end-of-game plays.  7:00 The injury bug has hit the Trail Blazers.  8:00 What we learned from our own sports injury stories, about love of the game and how the sports we played were part of our identities. 18:00 Cumulative NBA Injury Report tracker you can find historical information about the last 5 years worth of injuries.  19:30 Blazers have lost 29 player games to injury so far this season (in 10 games). Biggest year in recent memory was 2016 when they lost 172 games due to injury, which included 82 games for Festus Ezeli. 24:30 Are the number of injuries in the league increasing? According to 'These kids are ticking time bombs': The threat of youth basketball by Baxter Holmes, yes. (Note in the podcast Tara originally attributed this to Tom Haberstroh’s article NBA Injuries Are Mounting, Leaving League Wrestling with Who's to Blame which we discussed later.  26:30 How much of an increase is there really and how can we get the real story? 27:45 To change this, it will probably take a systemic approach rather than band aids. 29:45 Why do more injuries happen? Shorter preseason, faster pace, specialization. 33:00 What are some solutions. Current players who have children playing in the AAU system have a chance to change that system. 34:30 There are a lot of things contributing to injuries, sometimes it’s just bad luck, like when Aron Baynes landed on Step Curry’s hand. 38:00 Everyone get well soon! 38:30 Around the league: The Price of Gold Drops in San Francisco 40:00 New Orleans: Trust the process round 2?  41:30 Miami: Miami flying high on multiple levels 45:30 New York: Are Knicks about to Knicks it up?  47:30 Washington: The Wizarding World of Injuries.  48:30 Milwaukee: Blazers East looking good.  50:15 Why do people always assume starts in small markets are going to leave?  52:45 Outro Get social Follow Blazer’s Edge on Twitter @blazersedge, WHAT Pod @HoopsAndTalks, Tara @tcbbiggs, and Cassidy @CassidyGemmet. Join the Women’s Hoops And Talks Facebook group to talk about Trail Blazers with others who identify as women who love basketball. Music used in the episode: “Happy Alley” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. Subscribe to the podcast Apple Podcasts Google Play Spotify Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week’s episode of the Blazer’s Edge podcast, Tara Bowen-Biggs makes a call to the bench for the super sub and is joined by Managing Editor of Blazer’s Edge- Dave Deckard. Together they look at the first 10 games of the season, Lillard's 60-point game, evaluating role players, McCollum's shooting slump, expectations by the new calendar year and more! Intro  Opening Comments Initial Thoughts 2:00 Compared to your expectations, where is Hassan Whiteside at? 4:30 What do you think of the idea of Rodney Hood playing at the 4? 8:30 Could we see Nassir Little getting some time at 4? 10:00 How are we feeling about Kent Bazemore in the starting lineup? 13:30 Are Hezonja and Tolliver playing different roles than you thought? 17:30 Anthony Tolliver and decision making 21:00 The 3-guard lineup with Lillard, McCollum & Simons 25:50 How worried are you about McCollum’s shooting slump? 27:00 Taking a look at where McCollum fits with this group 30:00 At what point will you make a decision about this version of the team? 31:50 Watching Lillard alongside his teammates in his 60 point game 34:00 Is the low number of assists worrisome? 36:00 Trading CJ McCollum….again 38:00 Dave’s impressions of Anfernee Simons 41:00 What other elements are you looking at for this team? 46:30 Where would you like to see the Blazers around the new year? 50:00 Closing Comments  Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tara talks to Jeff Siegel of peachtreehoops.com and earlybirdrights.com (and formerly on blazersedge.com) to preview the Portland Trail Blazers upcoming game against the Atlanta Hawks. Follow him on twitter @jgsiegel, @earlybirdrights. 00:30 The Atlanta Hawks have had an up-and-down season so far. For most of the season they have had pretty good luck in opponents three point shooting but opponents are starting to shoot well from beyond the arc now. Trae Young has looked good and John Collins did too before he got suspended for 25 games. 3:00 Biggest strength of the team is Trae Young. He is one of the top passers in the league and also has good shooting streaks. They have depth and play a deep rotation but the players are not high caliber yet.  4:30 People who have length and can blitz have the most success against Trae Young. Once you get the ball out of his hands there are not too many other options.  6:30 The team did not fight the NBA about John Collins’ suspension. He will be back in December.  9:00 Kevin Hurter may be the starting shooting guard, Siegel wishes that he was. Jabari Parker has been the second best player on the team, he’s rolling and dunking and shooting some threes. Their defense is shakey. He has no idea who Trae Young is going to guard.  12:00 Both teams are relying on their guards because they are thin or underwhelming in the front court. The Hawks have three centers but they are not very strong. 14:00 Trae does not seem to be the same kind of leader as Lillard, although he is very good leading on the court. Vince Carter and Evan Turner have been solid locker room vets. 16:00 Checking in on Allen Crabbe. People were looking forward to him coming in to provide shooting off the bench, but he’s been out all season with a knee injury. It will be interesting to see how he fits into the rotation when he comes back because the rotation is already really deep. Evan Turner has been backup point guard but he has only played three games due to achilles soreness.  18:45 Blazers should be favorites, Portland’s defensive style should be effective against Trae Young. Find Jeff’s work at earlybirdrights.com and peachtreehoops.com (and formerly on blazersedge.com). Follow him on twitter @jgsiegel, @earlybirdrights. Follow us on Twitter @blazersedge, @DMarang, @tcbbiggs  Subscribe to the podcast: Apple Podcasts Google Play Spotify Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jamie Goldberg of the Oregonian makes her first appearance on the Women’s Hoops And Talks Podcast. Fresh off of six years covering the Thorns and the Timbers, Goldberg is the newest NBA and Trail Blazers reporter for the Oregonian. We talk to her about what it has been like making the transition from soccer to basketball, her first impressions of the team and the players and what she is looking forward to covering on her new beat.   Highlights 00:30 Have she and Jamie Hudson worked out what we are supposed to call them?  1:00 Icebreaker: What is your self-care strategy after a tough game?  3:45 Introducing Jamie and how she became a sports writer? 5:30 What has the transition from soccer to basketball been like? What did she do to prepare?  7:00 What was the end of the soccer season like, and what was it like knowing you were going to move right into something new?  12:30 Early impressions of the team. Damian Lillard has lived up to his reputation. League mandated press time in the NBA is much more liberal than with MLS. Easier to tell stories when you have access to the players.  14:00 Follow up story on Coach Yim. 15:00 What are some of the ways that covering the leagues are different? Pace is different when there are so many games. In soccer each game carries so much weight. Even though sometimes it doesn’t feel like it, in the NBA the sheer volume of games means you have to move on quickly. 17:15 You’ve spent a lot of time covering teams with huge supporters groups, the Timbers Army and the Riveters? How is the world of Blazers fans different? 20:20 What was it like covering championship runs and when can we expect a Blazers championship?  22:30 She has done stories so far on Kent Bazemore, Anthony Tolliver and Skal Labissiere who have all been great to work with.  24:45 Basketball things that she has seen that she thinks the team can build on. They are probably going to be one of the best offensive teams in the league. They need a rim protector, it seems like Stotts isn’t ready to give Labissiere much of that role yet.  27:20 For fans who watch soccer, what would you tell them to watch in the NBA? The speed and the spectacle are very fun.  29:15 Does she have any additions to the 2020 Trail Blazers 50th Anniversary Playlist? Get social Follow Blazer’s Edge on Twitter @blazersedge, WHAT Pod @HoopsAndTalks, Tara @tcbbiggs, and Cassidy @CassidyGemmet. This week’s guest: @jamiebgoldberg Join the Women’s Hoops And Talks Facebook group to talk about Trail Blazers with others who identify as women who love basketball. Music used in the episode: “Happy Alley” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. Subscribe to the podcast Apple Podcasts Google Play Spotify Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast- Varoon Bose of Bleacher Report and carrier of the Blazer's flag in New York city hops on with Tara Bowen-Biggs and Danny Marang to talk; Damian Lillard's MVP start to the season, the positive and the negatives of the Blazer's start to the season, will the Blazers sign a big man, should Skal Labissiere get more minutes, breaking down the last play vs the Philadelphia 76ers and more! Intro  Opening comments Varoon Bose of Bleacher Report 3:00 How to be a Blazer’s fan away from Portland 5:00 How are the Blazer’s viewed outside the market now 8:00 Through 6 games- how are you feeling about the Blazers? 11:00 Hezonja and Hood- the little things and expectations 17:30 How the new additions are impacting opponent’s game plan vs Dame 21:00 The need for Dame to bail out the Blazers in the 4th quarter 24:40 Something doesn't feel right with where McCollum is in the offense 28:00 What has Dame added to his game this season 36:00 Will Dame get enough buzz to be voted in as in All Star 43:30 Does Dame have the narrative to get MVP momentum 45:30 Twitter Questions! Breaking down the last play vs the 76ers 53:00 Will the Blazers fill the last roster spot with a big 57:30 Why isn’t Skal getting more minutes 1:04:00 Looking ahead on the schedule 1:07:00 Closing comments Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tara and Cassidy discuss the Trail Blazers’ first four games--how much can we learn from this start? We discuss how high our expectations were going into the season and whether or not they have been met by this small sample size.  Then we talk to Jannelle Moore from Golden State of Mind about the surprising start for the Golden State Warriors. Why does she think they are struggling? How much is the coach to blame? How will they look when the Trail Blazers play them in San Francisco next week?  Highlights 1:00 Icebreaker courtesy of twitter friend @burlicious_M: what was your favorite Halloween costume?  6:00 Historical starts for the Blazers.  10:00 Did we have high expectations or low expectations and why? 14:00 Sometimes it is hard or weird to watch this team because we were so used to the last team. 15:15 Zach Collins’ injury, how did we react? What does it mean for the team? 19:00 Coaches challenges and last two minute reports: best things ever? Terrible ideas? Or somewhere in between? 27:00 Jannelle Moore, Golden State of Mind. What were her expectations for the Warriors going into the season and how have they been met (or not)? 29:15 Steve Kerr enjoyed the success of the last several years, now he’s going to have to deal with the pressure.  36:00 Draymond Green and Omari Spellman and The Warrior’s Way. 38:00 What is missing in the Warriors culture right now?  40:00 Warriors dynasty is not over. They were never a dynasty, they were just really good.  44:45 Is THIS the year of the Timberwolves? 45:30 Confidence in shooters is fun! 47:15 Bench celebrations are going well, especially considering they are just getting used to each other.  49:00 Skal Labissiere looking good early. 51:00 When will Tolliver heat up from the three point line? 54:00 First-to-50 update Get social Follow Blazer’s Edge on Twitter @blazersedge, WHAT Pod @HoopsAndTalks, Tara @tcbbiggs, and Cassidy @CassidyGemmet. This week’s guest: @Jannelle12 Join the Women’s Hoops And Talks Facebook group to talk about Trail Blazers with others who identify as women who love basketball. Music used in the episode: “Happy Alley” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast, Tara Bowen-Biggs and Danny Marang take a look a the first 3 games of the Blazers season to find themes- both good and bad, points of emphasis, discuss the defensive woes from the 3-point line, how the new players are fitting in, Rodney Hood's possible emergence as that oft-discussed "3rd option," Zach Collins' shoulder injury and what Coach Stotts may do with the lineups, the next 3 upcoming games and more! Intro Opening Comments Early trends 2:00 What’s happening on defense? 3:00 Small sample size theater! 5:00 There’s good news, promise! 8:20 Do the Blazers finally have someone to count on beyond Dame & CJ? 13:00 Early impressions of Hassan Whiteside 16:30 Whiteside needing to step out of the paint defensively 21:00 How has Collins looked…before the injury 22:00 How will Stotts deal with Collins’ injury 28:00 First thoughts on Hezonja? 31:00 Could Hezonja start in Collins’ place? 34:00 The Kenergizer Bunny makes his appearance 37:00 CJ McCollum finds his shot and his finishing boots 41:00 The highs and lows of Anfernee Simons through 3 games 44:40 Heavy minutes for McCollum and Lillard early on 49:00 Looking at the next 3 games 56:00 Spurs keep Spursing - LaMarcus Aldridge and Dejounte Murray OKC and conquering Chris Paul 1:00:00 Danny tried to Mel Gibson his shoulder back in once upon a time 1:07:00 Closing Comments Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Join Tara, Cassidy and Blazers Edge editor Lindsay as they predict which Portland Trail Blazers will stand out amongst their teammates? Who will be the sixth man of the year for the Blazers? Will it be someone who brings energy off the bench, or someone whose technical proficiency means he’s reliable? Who will be most improved? A young player who finally gets the opportunity or an older vet whose improvement impacts winning the most?  We wonder who is going to contribute big time in the community the season, who will replace Evan Turner as class clown, and who will impress with his fashion sense? From Anfernee Simons to Zach Collins, we discuss how we think players will contribute this season. Then we play “First to 50” in which we predict who will be first to reach 50 in various box score stats.  Highlights 1:00 Made up headlines from opening night.  4:00 Award Predictions. 5:00 Who will be the 6th man for the Blazers? 11:00 Most improved player? 15:30 Defensive player of the year? 19:00 Community Assist award 22:30 Class Clown 24:30 Best Dressed (note on Zach Collins’ mustache) 27:30 Which recently departed Blazer will have the best year with his new team? 30:00 Favorite player who was never a Blazer to watch 34:00 First to 50 who will be first to 50 assists, personal fouls, points in a game, blocks, rebounds, steals, dunks? 40:00 2020 Trail Blazers Playlist addition: Can't Hold Us, Macklemore ft. Ryan Lewis Follow Blazer’s Edge on Twitter @blazersedge, WHAT Pod @HoopsAndTalks, Tara @tcbbiggs, and Cassidy brookeolzendam@CassidyGemmet. This week’s guest: @corvallisonian Join the Women’s Hoops And Talks Facebook group to talk about Trail Blazers with others who identify as women who love basketball. Music used in the episode: “Happy Alley” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License. Subscribe to the podcast Apple Podcasts Google Play Spotify Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast- Tara Bowen-Biggs and Danny Marang are joined by Isaiah De Los Santos and Nate Mann to discuss who the breakout player could be for the Trail Blazers, injury worries in the frontcourt, previewing the first three games of the season and more! Intro 1:30 Getting regular season ready 3:50 How worried should people be about the ankles of Portland big men? 5:00 Skal? SKAL! 10:00 Jusuf Nurkic signs with Klutch Sports  13:00 Impact on CBA with issues in China 14:30 International growth of the game 16:30 Nurkic’s commercial opportunities 18:00 Fantasy Draft update! 18:50 Who’s going to have a breakout year? 19:10 Nate Mann takes Zach Collins 22:30 Blazers are the midrange maestros 27:45 Isaiah De Los Santos takes Rodney Hood 28:30 Hood and a full summer with the team 31:00 Hood should be the best scorer Portland has had at the 3 in a while 37:20 Hood has opportunities and a place in the pecking order 40:00 Danny Marang takes Anfernee Simons 43:00 Where will Simons fit as a playmaker? 47:00 Isaiah endorses the season of CJ 47:30 Overreacting to the preseason 48:00 Previewing the first 3 games of the season! 60:00 More season of CJ! Closing comments Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As Rip City prepares for the start of the new season, we welcome Trail Blazers’ sideline reporter Brooke Olzendam to the WHAT podcast to get us all caught up on what is happening with the team. She’s been getting to know the new players over the past few weeks and gives us her impressions so far: Whiteside’s humor, Tolliver’s smarts, Hezonja’s intensity, and Bazemore’s joy. Along the way we get a story about the Goonies house in Astoria, and update on Jusuf Nurkic, and two new songs to add to the 2020 Trail Blazers Playlist.  Highlights 1:00 Icebreaker: Weekend getaway suggestions for new team members? 5:30 Impressions of the new players. Very cohesive, they were eager to get started. Kent Bazemore is shooting well. They like the coaching staff and the freedom to play to their strengths.  7:30 Getting to know brand new players, how does she figure out the best way to cover them, make them comfortable and open? 9:30 Did anyone surprise you now that you are getting to know them? Hassan Whiteside is really funny and entertaining, Anthony Tolliver is a real family guy and the person to go to if you have financial questions,  12:00 Kent Bazemore is jolly and fun and really loving life in Portland.  13:30 What is Mario Hezonja like? Very dry sense of humor, loves basketball, wants to win at every drill.  15:30 Update on Nurkic--how is he doing? You can tell he really wants to be out there, it is good to have him around the team. He seems to have a really positive episode. 20:00 Brooke’s addition to the 2020 Youtube Playlist. Bone Crusher Never Scared, All I Do is Win, by DJ Khalid.  Subscribe Apple Podcasts Google Play Spotify Follow Blazer’s Edge on Twitter @blazersedge, WHAT Pod @HoopsAndTalks, Tara @tcbbiggs, and Cassidy @CassidyGemmet. This week’s guest: @brookeolzendam Join the Women’s Hoops And Talks Facebook group to talk about Trail Blazers with others who identify as women who love basketball. Music used in the episode: "Happy Alley" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The pre-season is winding down, so we asked, what have we learned about the Portland Trail Blazers? Tara and Cassidy of Women’s Hoops and Talks discuss Marion Hezonja passing, Kent Bazemore bouncing, Skal Labissiere playing, and CJ McCollum missing free throws.  While we are starting to get more familiar with the new-look team, some questions still remain: when will Pau Gasol play? Is Zach Collins locked into the starting lineup? Who is setting screens for Damian Lillard and McCollum?  Along the way, we touch on the throw-back game in the Memorial Coliseum, Tara’s visit to the Staples Center, and whether Portland was holding Meyers Leonard back? All of this and more on the latest episode. Highlights 1:30 Icebreaker: If you could have one Blazer come visit you and keep you company while you are sick, who would it be?  4:00 Preseason opener in the Memorial Coliseum. Blazers have really developed a brand of wholesome fun.  8:30 A journey into the belly of the best, the Staples Center. 11:45 What have we learned from preseason? Nassir Little seems very determined 13:30 Whiteside needs time with the team  14:30 When Mario has the ball, be ready! 16:00 Kent Bazemore is bouncy and fun. Is it too soon to say that he has some Wesley Matthews type undrafted attitude.   19:00 Skal Labissiere might play 20:00 What is the deal with CJ McCollum missing so many free throws?  What we haven’t learned 21:50 Anything about Pau Gasol 22:40 Zach Collins is going to start? 25:10 Who is going to set screens for Lillard? 27:00 Meyers Leonard in Miami has been set free to be his most Meyers Leonard self.  28:30 Should the Blazers try the alley-oop anymore? Maybe they can replace alley-oops with nutmeg passes.  30:50 Giving some love to Moses Brown and Keljin Blevins. 36:15 Are the Utah Jazz better than the Denver Nuggets?  38:00 Adding a new song to the 2020 Blazer Playlist, 22 by Taylor Swift. Because 22 is going to be a good year for Zach Collins.  41:00 Collins is showing some good signs.  Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Get Social Follow Blazer’s Edge on Twitter @blazersedge, WHAT Pod @HoopsAndTalks, Tara @tcbbiggs, and Cassidy @CassidyGemmet. Women’s Hoops And Talks (W.H.A.T.) Join the Women’s Hoops And Talks Facebook group to talk about Trail Blazers with others who identify as women who love basketball. Music used in the episode: "Happy Alley" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Amanda Smith wears many hats. She is broadcast assistant for the Utah Jazz, radio analyst for Utah Utes Women’s Basketball team and host of How She Did It a web series and podcast highlighting women in sports media. We asked Amanda what it is like to keep stats during a game, how she got started doing analysis, and what is her favorite part of covering a game. Then we talk about the Utah Jazz and their upcoming season. Who is their team leader? Do they consider themselves rivals with the Portland Trail Blazers? What happened to the Jazz in the playoffs last season? Then we explain some of the things that we loved about Ed Davis and wonder, is Damian Lillard the coolest person ever? All this and more on the latest Women's Hoops and Talks podcast. Highlights: 1:00 If you could watch any two players of any era play 1 vs 1, who would it be? Donovan Mitchell vs Dwyane Wade in his prime, Arvydas Sabonis vs Shaquille O’Neal in their primes, Shaq vs Charles Barkley from last week (or Robin Lopez vs Brook Lopez, any day).4:30 Introducing Amanda Smith, broadcast assistant for the Utah Jazz, and radio analyst for Utah Women's basketball. She was a big fan of Lisa Leslie and Candace Parker and was greatly influenced by the WNBA. 7:00 What do you as a broadcast assistant for the Utah Jazz. Gets audio from game and keeps stats during the game to share with Broadcast team (David Locke). 12:00 About How She Did It, a Youtube series and podcast. 14:30 How did she get started as an analyst for the basketball team. What is her favorite part of it? 17:00 Preview of Utah Jazz--Big expectations this year! What are the main story lines for Utah this season? 18:30 Who is the leader in the Jazz locker room?19:30 Are Portland and Utah rivals? 22:30 What are some of the qualities of the Jazz players that we might not know?25:00 What happened to the Jazz in the playoffs?26:00 In which we try to get Amanda hyped for Ed Davis with questionable success.32:00 Thoughts on the Northwest division?34:00 Off season shockers and how we reacted.36:30 Damian Lillard is the coolest person on earth, probably. 40:00 We got email!! Which song is better, Bust-a-bucket or Rip City Rhapsody? Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Follow Blazer’s Edge on Twitter @blazersedge, WHAT Pod @HoopsAndTalks, Tara @tcbbiggs, and Cassidy @CassidyGemmet. This week’s guest: @_itsamandasmith Women’s Hoops And Talks (W.H.A.T.)Join the Women’s Hoops And Talks Facebook group to talk about Trail Blazers with others who identify as women who love basketball. Music used in the episode: "Happy Alley" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Trail Blazers' beat reporter Casey Holdahl joined the weekly podcast to talk about Kent Bazemore’s shorts, Anthony Tolliver’s opportunities and Mario Hezonja’s nasty streak. We react to the fast and furious pace of Fan Fest, wonder when we will learn how tall everyone is and speculate about what Skal Labissiere could do if he just gets a shot? Also, public radio pledge drives, hipster beanies, and who will be the biggest trash talker on the team this year? All this and more on the latest podcast.  5:45 Fan Fest recap. 7:30 An explanation (sort of) of Fan Fests MVP Kent Bazemore’s short situation.12:30 Might the new players feel like they have something to prove on the defensive end?15:00 When are we going to find out how tall everyone is?19:30 The case of charismatic Anthony Tolliver who has a lot to give, possibly more than people are realizing. He may play more than people are expecting. 21:45 How are the players starting to group, either in their workouts or off the court? Are there combos forming on the court? 26:15 How is the turnover of this year different from turnover in years past? This year they are more established and have expectations. But they seem ready for it. Quiet confidence. 28:30 Watching them at Fan Fest gave a real sense of togetherness. At the same time, they were playing each other hard, they were really competitive with each other. They seem like they could have a little bit more of a nasty streak in them this season. The good kind of nasty streak. 35:00 CJ McCollum has a mean streak, that toughness could be something to build on. 39:00 Who will be the biggest trash talker this year? 42:00 What is the potential for Skal Labissiere? How does he compare to Noah Voleh? 48:00 What does “who has looked the best” at training camp really mean?50:00 Will the Blazers play faster this season? Did the speed of the game at Fan Fest tell us anything about if they will play more in transition?53:00 Will they move the ball a lot more?55:45 What are some of the things that Casey will miss about the players who departed? Get social Follow us on Twitter @blazersedge, @DMarang, @tcbbiggs and @chold and @caseyholdahl on Instagram. Subscribe to the podcast:Apple: apple.co/2Mu8YX9Google: http://bit.ly/2KMRa7lStitcher: http://bit.ly/33OEBA3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tameka Simons, mother of Portland Trail Blazer Anfernee Simons, joins the WHAT podcast to talk about what it was like supporting him in his journey to the NBA. She shares how their family got into basketball, what their hectic lifestyle was like, and when she knew Anfernee had a special talent. She talks about what it was like when he was deciding to enter the draft and how it felt on draft night when he was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers. Along the way we talk about why Portland fans are different from other fan-bases, what kind of leaders Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum are, what Anfernee’s favorite food is and and how many dunks can we expect this season?  It was a dream come true to talk to an NBA mom, to get a sense of how much work it takes to get into the league and hear what her hopes and dreams are for her son. We hope you enjoy listening as much as we enjoyed getting to know Tameka Simons. 1:00 Icebreaker: What is your favorite part of the preseason? 2:50 Getting to know Tameka, how she got into basketball. Grew up in Florida, followed the Orlando Magic, named Anfernee after Anfernee Hardaway. 6:30 How did Simons’ love of basketball develop? 7:00 What was he like as a kid and when did you realize he was really talented? 9:00  What were the logistics of training a young person to make it to the NBA? What did he eat?11:00 What was it like the night he got drafted? (They found out from Woj like everyone else.)15:30 What was the transition into the NBA like for the family?18:00 At media day Neil Olshey said that Anfernee is the most talented player he’s drafted during his 15 years in the league. As his mom, what is it like to hear that about him? 19:00 Do you talk to him about the game afterwards? 23:15 There are big expectations for Simons this season. Have you given him any special advice for how to approach this year? Will he dunk more this season? 25:20 What are some of the hard parts of being the mom of an NBA player? Watching the games is very stressful. 28:00 Damian Lillard’s leadership31:00 What are some of the things you are looking forward to the most with this season? Follow Blazer’s Edge on Twitter @blazersedge, WHAT Pod @HoopsAndTalks, Tara @tcbbiggs, and Cassidy @CassidyGemmet. Anfernee Simons website: www.theanferneesimons.com. Women’s Hoops And Talks (W.H.A.T.)Join the Women’s Hoops And Talks Facebook group to talk about Trail Blazers with others who identify as women who love basketball. Music used in the episode: "Happy Alley" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Rate and subscribe to the podcast: Apple, Google, Stitcher. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Media day is here and we’re certifying our heights with the league office and getting down to business. Blazers Outsider Joe Simons and Blazers Edge editor Steve Dewald joined the podcast to do a round table about what we are optimistic about and what we are worried about in the upcoming season.  A lot of new players means a lot of opportunities for guys to take a big leap, or struggle to find their place. Will Damian Lillard be an MVP  finalist? Will Hassan Whiteside fit right in? How much will Lillard miss Coach Vanterpool? How will Collins and Hood do what it took Aminu and Harkless years to figure out? Highlights 1:45 Highlights from other teams media days as we’re waiting for Portland’s to start? Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant did not disappoint and Moe Harkless will always be a Blazer.9:00 Looking forward to Trail Blazers Media day. What are going to be the hottest topics? How much weight did Zach Collins gain, how tall is everyone really? 10:00 Certifying our heights. 12:00 If you could ask a question at media day what would you ask?What is on the Snapchats that Hassan Whiteside doesn’t send? How does Anfernee Simons like golfing in Oregon? Does he need a fourth? How did Zach feel landing in Las Vegas during the earthquakes? Was he scared? Is Coach Stotts underrated?18:30 Will Jusuf Nurkic be at media day? 22:00 What are you feeling optimistic about? Lots of opportunities, more dunks with Hassan Whiteside, Damian Lillard gets into MVP discussion, Anfernee Simons, more space for Lillard, Hassan Whiteside will have a good year.32: What worries us? Holes in the roster, unproven players will be relied on for important minutes, 2019, the beginning of the season will be tough, the exit of David Vanterpool, how are Collins and Hood going to replace Aminu and Harkless? 43:00 The name of the new 3-4 combo will be CoHo--”Something fishy’s going on” 45:00 More songs for the 2020 Trail Blazer’s Playlist. Follow on Twitter: @blazersedge, @dmarang, @tcbbiggs, @joesimonsays, @stevedhoops  Rate and subscribe to the podcast: Apple, Google, Stitcher. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our friend Brit Robotista joined the WHAT Podcast to answer some CBA questions and give us a preview of the Houston Rockets. First we walk through the intrigue behind the Nene contract and find out why it is making Houston fans mad. Then we dive into what it will be like when Russell Westbrook reunites with his old friend James Harden (and Thabo Sefolosha too!) What does the basketball look like? Who is the leader? Do the Rockets have any fun? We have questions and she has answers. 1:00 Damian Lillard recently asked for Netflix suggestions which got us thinking, if you could recommend a show to a specific player what show would you choose and who is watching? 5:45 What was the deal with Nene’s contract? Rockets attempted to use the likely/unlikely bonus provision in the NBA CBA to attempt to create a $10M trade exception13:30 But NBA used an existing part of the CBA (Article 6) as well as additional powers temporarily granted to them by the NBPA to change the structure of the contract to have the majority of the contract not count towards the salary cap, except for ~$2.7M (and therefore prevent the contract from being used as a trade exception). Great resource to learn more: Mike Meltser Podcast from last Saturday17:30 About Houston, what are people saying right now about the big trade of Paul for Westbrook? 20:10 How are people going to remember the Chris Paul years?23:45 How is the basketball going to work? Harden or Westbrook will have to relent (aka stagger minutes), they will likely add some midrange game, and the addition of Thabo Sefolsha gets a bunch of the band back together. 28:15 Why don’t the Rockets seem like they are having any fun and what is it like to be a fan of a team centered around James Harden? Is he fun?34:00 What are some things that people outside the market might not know about him? 37:00 Who is the leader of the team? 40:00 Thoughts on Portland Trail Blazers this season? Whiteside and Pau Gasol? Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Follow Blazer’s Edge on Twitter @blazersedge, WHAT Pod @HoopsAndTalks, Tara @tcbbiggs, and Cassidy @CassidyGemmet. This week’s guest:@britrobotista Join the Women’s Hoops And Talks Facebook group to talk about Trail Blazers with others who identify as women who love basketball. Music used in the episode: "Happy Alley" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On the latest Blazers’ Edge Podcast we take a deeper look at the 2020 schedule. We ask if it is a good thing that they are on the road so much to start the season, discuss when Nurkic might be worked back into the lineup and give our projected win totals for the season.  Then we talk about what was a busy week for the league, voting on tougher punishment for tampering and clarifying the rules of “gathering”. Finally Dan says which song he would add to the 2020 Trail Blazers Playlist. 3:30 Jusuf Nurkic is back in town! 5:00 Trail Blazers 2020 Season Schedule. Check out Analyzing the Trail Blazers’ 2019-20 schedule by Eric Griffith for context. 8:30 Off to a tough start that will be good test and a chance to learn a lot about themselves. 11:15 Twelve of teams are traveling in the pre-season or during the season, do the Blazers gain any advantage from this? 17:00 Is there a part of the schedule that looks like a good time to start working Nurkic back into the lineup? 20:00 Penciling in projected wins. Dan: about 47, Tara: 51 or 52, and the Blazers beat the Jazz. 25:00 FiveThirtyEight has the Blazers going 41-41 this season with a 37% chance to make the playoffs. Last season they had them winning 39 games with a 37% chance of making it to the playoffs. Why are they so inaccurate?28:30 New rules: tampering will lead to tougher consequences. 35:15 Teams must submit their roster 30 minutes before the game starts. 37:00 Definition of “gathering” for clarity of traveling rules (which will be a point of emphasis this summer). Which Blazers will need to pay the most attention to this? 44:00 What song will Dan add to the 2020 Trail Blazers Season playlist?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On their own this week for the WHAT Podcast, Tara and Cassidy discuss the Trail Blazers’ upcoming season. With lots of roster turnover there are plenty of questions about what the team will look like. How will rebounds be distributed among the team? How about assists? How will CJ McCollum’s game evolve? How much will he drive to the basket? Will he get to the line? They we introduce the 2020 Season Trail Blazers’ playlist. These are our picks for songs that capture our feelings about the upcoming season. Cassidy’s picks reflect the nostalgia of the 50th season, with one song representing each decade. Tara chose songs that reminded her of specific players. Highlights 1:00 Icebreaker: At what point in the Growing Up Rip City video did you start crying? 7:45 After a pretty long drought with no triple doubles, Blazer players picked up four last season. How many will they put up this year, and who will get them? 11:00 How many offensive rebounds will opponents get? 17:00 How many times will CJ drive to the hoop per game? How many times will he get to the line? 23:30 How will assist be distributed?2020 Playlist (find it on Youtube)70s night: It is almost too perfect the Queen’s We are the Champions was released in 1977(October). The year Portland beat Philadelphia to win the Championship80s night: Basketball by Kurtis Blow 90s night: Rip City Rhapsody2000s night: First half: Can I Get A Headband?, second half: Ball Don’t Lie -shakira parody, Oh Rudy, when you dunk like that . . . “ 2010s: Trail Blazers Theme Song by MarchFourth Marching Band  39:00 Tara went a different direction for her songs, choosing songs that she felt represented certain players and the year that they would have. Song for all of the new guys: Linda Ronstadt Its so Easy to Fall in Love because of course we’re going to fall in love with all the new players. CJ McCollum: Lionel Richie, All Night Long. Put on McCollum highlights, crank up Lionel Richie, they are a match made in heavan.    Rodney Hood, Katie Perry, FireworkDamian Lillard, Tom Petty, Won’t Back DownHassan Whiteside, The Cars, Just What I Needed Which stats will you be watching? Which songs would you like to see added to the 2020 playlist? Tweet at us or send us an email! Get Social Follow Blazer’s Edge on Twitter @blazersedge, WHAT Pod @HoopsAndTalks, Tara @tcbbiggs, and Cassidy @CassidyGemmet. Email us at [email protected] Women’s Hoops And Talks (W.H.A.T.)Join the Women’s Hoops And Talks Facebook group to talk about Trail Blazers with others who identify as women who love basketball. Music used in the episode: "Happy Alley" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Subscribe to the podcast:AppleGoogle PlayStitcher Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Travis Demers, the Portland Trail Blazers’ new radio play-by-play announcer, joined the podcast to talk about securing his dream job. How did he do it? Where did he learn his craft? He explains why he loves radio and how he plans to keep getting better. He shares highlights from some of the games he called last season and reveals if he his working on any catch phrases. Then Tara and Dan discuss which Blazers (and former Blazers) showed up on the Sports Illustrated Top 100 players. Where does Nurkic rank among all of the centers in the league? Is number 32 really reflective of CJ McCollum’s true skills and ability? And finally, Lillard cracks the top ten. Will being ranked one spot below Paul George add more fuel to the fire? Follow us on Twitter @blazersedge, @DMarang, @tcbbiggs, @travisdemers Subscribe to the podcast:Apple: apple.co/2Mu8YX9Google: http://bit.ly/2KMRa7lStitcher: http://bit.ly/33OEBA3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NBC Sports Northwest Trail Blazers’ reporter Jamie Hudson jumped on the Hoops and Talks podcast to play “Would You Rather”, the debating game that no one needs but everyone loves. We talk about taking away the three-point line, CJ McCollum’s assist numbers next season and Zach Collins in a headband (fingers crossed!). We try to decide if we would rather watch the best offense in the league or the best defense. Hudson tells a heartwarming story about Wesley Matthews and we tell her about Will Barton fist-bumping a baby. Finally, we don’t get emotional at all over the question, would you rather Damian Lillard win MVP or Coach Stotts win Coach of the Year? Play along and let us know how you would answer the questions. 00:45 Would you rather bring back “ninja-style” headbands or short shorts?3:30 Who is the most likely Trail Blazer to rock one of these headbands if and when the NBA allows them again?6:30 Report on the Bill Walton bike ride as experienced by Hudson. 9:30 Would you rather . . . be a starter for the worst team in the league or a be a benchwarmer for the Championship team? 11:30 . . . be an NBA scout or an analytics specialist?12:45 . . . the NBA add a 4 point line or remove the 3 point line all together?15:30 . . . your team have the highest offensive rating in the league or the highest defensive rating?17:30 . . . allow the fewest 3 point attempts at the highest field goal percentage or allow the most but with the lowest opponent field goal percentage?19:00 . . . CJ McCollum gets to the line more this season or gets more assists?20:30 An aside about getting to know Hassan Whiteside.24:00 Would you rather Zach Collins increase his scoring production by 10 points per game or get 5 more rebounds?26:30 . . . Damian Lillard wins MVP or Terry Stotts wins coach of the year?29:30 If you could undo one trade, would it be Will Barton for Arron Aflollo and Alonzo Gee or Nicolas Batum for Gerald Henderson, Noah Vonleh?33:00 If the Blazers could resign one free agent that got away, would you rather it was Wesley Matthews or Ed Davis?36:30 Would you rather have a redo of the Blazers draft in 1984 or 2007? Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Follow Blazer’s Edge on Twitter @blazersedge, WHAT Pod @HoopsAndTalks, Tara @tcbbiggs, and Cassidy @CassidyGemmet. This week’s guest: @JamieHudsonNBCS Women’s Hoops And Talks (W.H.A.T.)Join the Women’s Hoops And Talks Facebook group to talk about Trail Blazers with others who identify as women who love basketball. Music used in the episode: "Happy Alley" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week’s Blazer’s Edge podcast Tara and Dan answer listener questions about the upcoming season: will Kevin Love be a Trail Blazer before the season is over? How will he fit in and who would the Blazers trade to bring him in? How might the perimeter defense change with the new players on the team? What do we think the big man rotation will look like? Then Tara talks to Ben Taylor (@ElGee35) of Thinking Basketball about how our brains process the massive amount of data that a basketball game produces. Then they discuss moves the Trail Blazers made this off season and what we can learn from historical comparisons of players. All of this and more on the latest Blazers Edge podcast. Follow us on Twitter @blazersedge @DMarang @tcbbiggs Subscribe to the Blazer's Edge Podcast via iTunes and now Google Play. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sabreena Merchant  (@sabreenajm) joined the Women’s Hoops And Talks podcast to talk all things Los Angeles. Merchant covers both the Clippers and the Lakers for SB Nation sites clipsnation.com and silverscreenandroll.com and had plenty of insight into how fans are reacting to a variety of Hollywood-sided moves this off season. We talk coaching changes, surprise roster additions and potential opening and closing lineups. We check in on expectations for Maurice Harkless and what his role on the Clippers might be. From Paul George and Kawhi Leonard to Alex Caruso and JaVale McGee, its shaping up to be a fascinating season down south. The teams share a building and there are eerie similarities between them, but at the same time they are worlds apart. Tune in to the LA Spectacular! Spectacular! to get caught up on all the drama that unfolded this summer. 1:00 What is your favorite thing to do in LA (or would like to do)?4:00 What is the difference between the Laker fan base and the Clipper fan base? Is there a rivalry between the two teams and has it changed significantly? 9:30 What does Ty Lue bring to the Clippers? What did Lue bring that Rivers needed?12:00 What do you think their lineup is going to be? Patrick Beverly, Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, JaMychal Green, and Ivica Zubac13:30 After Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, who do you think will be the 3rd and 4th most important players? Do the Clippers have a critical mass of a fan base to have fan favorites? Lou Williams and Montrezl Harrell15:00 What are the expectations around Moe Harkless? It is hard to say, since what he was known for, being a wing defender, is not something that the Clippers really need. 18:45 Is there anything else you are interested in to see how it develops? How hurt is Paul George? What will he be like coming back from multiple shoulder surgeries. 20:15 Are people concerned about Leonard’s health? The Clippers will probably be pretty conservative with him. 22:30 What are people saying about new head coach Frank Vogel? Why would he take that job?24:30 What is Jason Kidd supposed to bring to the coaching team? He’s supposed to be good at young player development. But they don’t really have any young players. 27:00 What was the reaction from the fans when they brought in Dwight Howard?It was shocking because of how devoted the organization is to Kobe Bryant and there was a lot of animosity between them. 30:00 Who plays more, JaVale McGee or Dwight Howard?33:00 Is LeBron Really going to be the point guard? Do they mean that literally? 34:00 After LeBron James and Anthony Davis, who will be the 3rd and 4th most important players? Danny Green, Kyle Kuzma will be important if he comes off the bench and runs that unit. 35:00 Anything else with this team that you are interested in watching how it develops? The back end of the rotation will be interesting to watch. And what will Avery Bradley and Rajo Rondo be like? 37:30 A shorter rotation could work well for this team. If they can make it through the regular season without wearing out James, he and Davis could have a really good playoff run. 40:00 What does she think of the Blazers’ off season moves? There are a lot of eggs in the Anfernee Simons basket and in the Rodney Hood basket too. It’s going to be weird to see Hassan in the lineup.46:00 Wrap up Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Get Social Follow Blazer’s Edge on Twitter @blazersedge, WHAT Pod @HoopsAndTalks, Tara @tcbbiggs, and Cassidy @CassidyGemmet. This week’s guest:  @sabreenajm Women’s Hoops And Talks (W.H.A.T.)Join the Women’s Hoops And Talks Facebook group to talk about Trail Blazers with others who identify as women who love basketball. Music used in the episode: "Happy Alley" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Blazers’ Edge Australian correspondent Adrian Bernecich joins the weekly podcast to report on the atmosphere in Melbourne during Team USA’s visit down under. Then we dive into stats from last season and try to determine which ones the Blazers will surpass, and where they may fall short. Which numbers might get higher, and which ones might be lower? Which ones are hardest to decide? Follow us on Twitter @blazersedge @DMarang @tcbbiggs @abernecich Subscribe to the podcast: Apple: apple.co/2Mu8YX9 Google: http://bit.ly/2KMRa7l Stitcher: http://bit.ly/33OEBA3 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Meredith Minkow of Bleacher Report joined the Women’s Hoops and Talks podcast to talk about her time working with the Timberwolves and the Lynx, why she enjoys covering college games, and what it was like shadowing Liz Cambage during WNBA All Star weekend.  We loved hearing about working out next to LeBron James, finding out Karl Anthony Townes knows her name, and why photography is so important to her.  Along the way we discuss our favorite iconic photos (hello, Brandi Chastain), learn about what TikTok is (Tara’s note: still don’t get it), and talk about how we are getting mentally prepared for the upcoming NBA season.  All of this and more on the latest WHAT podcast. Subscribe to the WHAT podcast in the Blazer's Edge podcast feed. Follow Blazer’s Edge on Twitter @blazersedge, WHAT Pod @HoopsAndTalks, Tara @tcbbiggs, and Cassidy @CassidyGemmet. This week’s guest: @murrminks Women’s Hoops And Talks (W.H.A.T.)Join the Women’s Hoops And Talks Facebook group to talk about Trail Blazers with others who identify as women who love basketball. Music used in the episode: "Happy Alley" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jeff Seigel, writer for Blazers Edge, editor at Peach Tree Hoops and founder of Early Bird Rights joined the weekly podcast to talk about trends in NBA front offices, how the Trail Blazers' off-season moves reflected those trends, and what kind of flexibility the Blazers will have (or not) next season. We examine two common refrains that emerge during the off season when talking about player contracts: players won’t live up to big contracts and you can’t let players walk away for nothing. Are these things true? Will Trail Blazers fans regret big contract extensions signed by Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum this summer?  Will Kent Bazemore or Hassan Whiteside be traded at the deadline or will they play out the remainder of their expiring contracts in Portland? How do the Blazers make sure that they don’t let these players walk away and receive nothing in return? Join us for all of this plus talk about the new retro jerseys, Dwight Howard playing for the Lakers and what will happen to Team USA who just lost a game to Team Australia? Follow on Twitter: @blazersedge, @tcbbiggs, @dmarang, @jgsiegelSubscribe on Apple Podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Katie Heindl dropped by the Hoops and Talks podcast to discuss all things summer vacation: what makes a good NBA Summer Vacation? How important are summer friendships to the regular season? How does the summer vacation rating system work? Which players excel at relaxing during the off season? Is a beach workout a vacation or a workout? We explore the best vacations, the guys who don’t know what they are doing, and all the areas in between. We find out that the Trail Blazers are one of the best teams at summer vacationing. Between talking to fish, sitting in infinity pools, hosting UNO tournaments and teasing Raptor fans with trips to Canada’s Wonderland amusement park, the Blazers are having a great off season. Does that mean anything for the rest of the year? Maybe it does! Tune in and find out. Icebreaker: Which NBA Stars would you choose to remake The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants? Subscribe to Katie's newsletter, Basketball Feelings Follow Blazer’s Edge on Twitter @blazersedge, WHAT Pod @HoopsAndTalks, Tara @tcbbiggs, and Cassidy @CassidyGemmet. This week’s guest:@wtevs Join the Women’s Hoops And Talks Facebook group to talk about Trail Blazers with others who identify as women who love basketball. Music used in the episode: "Happy Alley" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We talked to Steve Jones Jr. (@stevejones20), former video coordinator for the Memphis Grizzlies and Assistant coach for the Brooklyn Nets and for Blazer fans, he is the son of legendary Blazers broadcaster Steve “Snapper” Jones. We talked about how he thinks the game has changed, in particular the evolution of the big man and the rise and fall (and continuing relevance) of the mid range. How are teams borrowing from each other and having success in different ways?  Then we talk about the potential of Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum as a duo. What are their strengths and weaknesses? How could the Blazers’ off-season moves make Lillard and McCollum better?  Finally we wrap it up by talking about how the big men can support the guards. With Meyers Leonard and Al-Farouq Aminu gone and Jusuf Nurkic out for a good portion of the season, who will be the players who set screens and help the guards get space? Not just who will be the role guy, but how will they adapt to setting multiple screens knowing they may never get the ball back to take a shot? Jones has ideas for how Collins and Simons can grow into their bigger roles, but playing consistently and within themselves. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week’s Women’s Hoops And Talks Podcast, Tara is joined by Meliza Hernadez, a Toronto-based freelance media correspondent to talk about what goes into trying to break through in the competitive media world. How scorekeeping at AAU games, planning tournaments, organizing volunteers and stepping in front of the camera are all part of her journey towards her dream of reporting on NBA events. Along the way we talk about NBA dads, investing in yourself, and what it was like in the arena when Kevin Durant went down with a ruptured achilles. (Note: on the podcast Tara referred to an episode of Road Trippin’ Podcast with LeBron James as the guest. She got the year wrong, it was actually 2017, the year the Cavalier’s lost, not 2016, the year that they won.) Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Follow Blazer’s Edge on Twitter @blazersedge, WHAT Pod @HoopsAndTalks, Tara @tcbbiggs, and Cassidy @CassidyGemmet. This week’s guest: @melizahernandez. Women’s Hoops And Talks (W.H.A.T.)Join the Women’s Hoops And Talks Facebook group to talk about Trail Blazers with others who identify as women who love basketball. Music used in the episode: "Happy Alley" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

CJ McCollum has just inked a $100 million extension with the Portland Trail Blazers and its lead to a lot of questions. Why now? Why commit so much money for so many years? Does this make him more likely to stay in Portland? Does it make him more likely to go? Then we tackle twitter questions about media perceptions, nicknames and favorite vacations before discussion the All Decade Team which was just released by nba.com. 00:00 Catching up on the corn hole tournament and Disturbed concert (Moda Center happenings)3:45 CJ McCollum has just inked a $100 million extension with the Portland Trail Blazers and its lead to a lot of questions. Why now? Why commit so much money for so many years? Does this make him more likely to stay in Portland? Does it make him more likely to go? What does it mean for Anfernee Simons? 7:00 It is consistent with what the Blazers have done in terms of locking in with their players asap.8:30 How does signing this extension help or hurt the Blazer’s flexibility in the future?12:00 How would things be different if the Blazers had waited a while to offer CJ the contract?17:30 Is $100 million for three years reflective of the  “Portland Premium” that the Blazers usually need to pay to keep or attract players?21:00 How can we measure what value a player like McCollum brings to the team. For guards its scoring. 28:00 What does McCollum have to do in order for him to be named an All Star?34:00 Twitter questions. From @HoopStoryteller Is it better or worse for the Blazers that national media, for the most part, expect them to lose more games this season?40:00 From @RoseLHarding: I need a rundown of nickname potential for the new guys. Existing names or new ideas, anything is fair game.43:30 @Hecubus01 All time favorite vacation?45:45 Debating the All Decade Team from NBA.com54:00 Wrap up Follow on Twitter: @blazersedge, @tcbbiggs, @dmarangSubscribe on Apple Podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ashtyn Butuso (@lil_buts), co-founder and editor-in-chief Flagrant Magazine joins the WHAT podcast. The new magazine will debut this fall and we got a peek at what will be inside and what goes in to launching a new venture. Then we have a wide ranging discussion in which we report what we uncovered about the newest Trail Blazers from our exhaustive Twitter and Instagram research. Who has a long-standing love of fish? Who was once involved in a trade for Steve Blake? Does Hassan Whiteside have any tattoos? How is Anthony Tolliver working to make the word a better place? Along the way, we talk about CJ McCollum’s $100 million extension, Karl Malone hitting Brian Grant in the face, a potential Carmelo Anthony farewell tour and, finally, we open an investigation into whether Hassan Whiteside has any tattoos (drop us your tips: [email protected]). Get Social Follow Blazer’s Edge on Twitter @blazersedge, WHAT Pod @HoopsAndTalks, Tara @tcbbiggs, and Cassidy @CassidyGemmet. This week’s guest: FlagrantMag on Instagram, @lil_buts Women’s Hoops And Talks (W.H.A.T.)Join the Women’s Hoops And Talks Facebook group to talk about Trail Blazers with others who identify as women who love basketball. Music used in the episode: "Happy Alley" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Trail Blazers added 39 year-old center Pau Gasol to their roster this week, likely the final move before the team heads into training camp in September. What will Gasol’s role be on the team? Big man coach who can play if necessary? Regular rotation player? Then we look at what we think the starting lineup will be on opening night. Roster turnover necessitates that there will be three new starters and new rotations. What are the big picture questions that Coach Stotts will need to decide? All this and more on the latest podcast. Follow on Twitter: @blazersedge, @tcbbiggs, @dmarangSubscribe on Apple Podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mirin Fader, writer for Bleach Report, joins the Women’s Hoops and Talks podcast to talk about her experiences covering a variety of interesting people. From observing LaMelo Ball in cold and lonely Lithuania, to hanging out in a basement with the close-knit Antetokounmpo brothers, to comparing lip gloss with the Las Vegas Aces’ Liz Cambage, Fader has immersed herself in the lives of the people she profiles to bring us their unique and compelling stories. We learn what it takes to get to the heart of the stories she tells. What drives her to keep going even when things are going wrong? What is interesting about covering young players at the beginning of their careers? What is different about covering men and women? Why doesn't she like to put herself into the story? From Trail Blazer rookie Nassir Little to Trail Blazer arch nemesis Bill Laimbeer, we covered so much in this conversation. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Follow Blazer’s Edge on Twitter @blazersedge, WHAT Pod @HoopsAndTalks, Tara @tcbbiggs, and Cassidy @CassidyGemmet. This week’s guest: @mirinfader or mirinfader.com Women’s Hoops And Talks (W.H.A.T.)Join the Women’s Hoops And Talks Facebook group to talk about Trail Blazers with others who identify as women who love basketball. Music used in the episode: "Happy Alley" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

One thing that we know about the upcoming Portland Trail Blazers’ season is that lineups will be different. They are looking to add another backup big man. They have new shooters. They need more facilitators. On this episode we look at who will make up for the assists that the departing players used to get each game. Can Hassan Whiteside learn to facilitate more? Will Zach Collins step into that role? Will Mario Hezonja the point-forward be released? Then we talk to Daniel Hardee from goldenstateofmind.com about the new-look Golden State Warriors. Which of the many changes will be most impactful? How will the basketball change? Why are they retiring Kevin Durant’s number? All this and more on the latest episode of the Blazers Edge podcast. Follow on Twitter: @blazersedge, @tcbbiggs, @dmarang, @DHardee_SBN Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tara and Cassidy are back on the WHAT podcast to go over the latest Blazers rumors including which back-up centers could be on their way and will LaMarcus Aldridge ever return to Portland? Then they wonder about all the new “Super Duos” in the league--how will we which ones are most effective and where do Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum fit in among the best? Finally, Tara interviews Alexis Musante of TEAM, Tech Exposure & Access through Mentoring, an Oakland-based non-profit that exposes high school students to tech related sports careers. Musante, a former college athlete, didn’t necessarily know what she wanted to do after her athletic career was over. But she found a calling in helping kids learn more about exciting careers in the industry all while honing their science, technology, engineering and math skills. Follow Blazer’s Edge on Twitter @blazersedge, WHAT Pod @HoopsAndTalks, Tara @tcbbiggs, and Cassidy @CassidyGemmet. Learn more about TEAM: @weareteaminc and https://www.weareteaminc.org/about Women’s Hoops And Talks (W.H.A.T.)Join the Women’s Hoops And Talks Facebook group to talk about Trail Blazers with others who identify as women who love basketball. Music used in the episode: "Happy Alley" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We wrap up the Trail Blazers’ 2019 Summer League run by reminiscing about Thomas Robinson, talking about the optimism that is fueling Pelicans fans, and discussing whether Anfernee Simons is ready to drive the Blazers second unit. We also get philosophical and talk about younger stars who teams are building around and older vets searching for a spot in the league. Between the boys of summer and the veterans still looking for teams are we witnessing a generational shift in the NBA?  Then they listen to Tara’s interview with Harrison Faigen (@hmfaigen) of Silver Screen and Roll to learn more about the Lakers’ summer and discuss how the Blazers will stack up against them. Finally, we wrap up with some odds and ends, asking how likely will it be to see the Blazers push more in transition, and a short report on what Hassan Whiteside’s assists look like (hint: no bounce passes).  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get to know more about the newest Trail Blazers, Kent Bazemore, Hassan Whiteside, Mario Hezonja and Anthony Tolliver by hearing from writers who covered them. Gain insight into their skills, preferred positions and what they will bring to the locker room. Tara talked to Jeff Siegel of Peachtree Hoops, Nekias from 5 Reasons Sports Network, Preston Ellis of Orlando Pinstriped Post, and Brady Klopfer of Golden State of Mind to hear more about what expectations were for these players and how they did (or did not) meet them. @jgsiegel, @NekiasNBA, @PrestonEllis, @BradyKlopferNBA, Subscribe to Blazer's Edge on Apple Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Steve DeWald, Miles Custis and Tara Bowen-Biggs share observations about the first two Trail Blazers' games at Las Vegas Summer League. 1:00 Miles’ earthquake report and first impressions of Summer League.2:30 Overall impressions of Game 1 against the Detroit Pistons. Communication was rough and that made it difficult to get any rhythm. 4:00 Some of the younger guys like Little and Hoard are still learning the NBA vocabulary. 5:00 There was a night and day difference between the first and second games. It helped that the shots were falling (and the competition was pretty undersized).7:35 How much will the Blazers be looking to Anfernee Simons for playmaking? What can he work on to be more effective in regular season games?10:00 Simons’ defense is looking good, especially down low. 12:00 The Gary Trent Jr game. Trent went off shooting wise in the game against Houston, he was lights out from three and also able to get to the rim. He stayed in the zone without being a ball hog. He was willing to pass when he was trapped rather than take bad shots.16:00 Thoughts on Nassir Little. In his debut he looked good on defense. Few if anyone was able to get past him in both games. He excels at one-on-one defense but its pretty hard to tell from summer league how his help defense will be. He looks big enough to play or guard the three or four positions. 20:30 Jaylen Hoard is a fun player to watch, he has some European flair combined with the strength and conditioning he got from going to high school in the U.S. He has the potential to be a steal as someone who was undrafted. 22:30 Other players who have been fun to watch include Devlin Robinson and Mike Daum. Daum had a whole cheering section in the audience. 25:00 More Blazers in attendance include Terry Stotts and Zach Collins (along with his mom and dad) and Meyers Leonard who spent some quality time with the Blazer fans and media.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Danny returns with exciting personal news and then we step through all of the Blazers’ off season moves. The new-look team will have plenty of interesting new storylines. How much will the Blazers miss the departing players, how will the new players fit into the basketball schemes? And what impact will they make in the locker room? Say “goodbye” to old friends and solid screens, “hello” to more trash talk, more corner threes, and more dunks. Plus, bonus audio of Danny and Tara responding to the big news of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George to the Clippers. Follow us on Twitter: @dmarang, @tcbbiggs, @blazersedge Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s a special bonus edition of the Blazers Edge Podcast featuring Team Mom aka Tara Bowen-Biggs, Hoops and Talks co-host Cassidy Gemmet, and Blazer’s Edge writers Nate Mann and Isaiah De Los Santos. They talk about the Trail Blazers big trade for Hassan Whiteside, how he might fit in, what his game is like compared to Jusuf Nurkic, and wonder if locker room chemistry might be tested? Then they discuss what impact Mario Hezonja and Anthony Tolliver might have on the team. What position does Hezonja play? Why hasn’t Tolliver stayed with any team more than a few seasons over the course of his career? We are excited for all the changes but still trying to figure out exactly what they mean. Join us as we explore the new roster. Follow us on twitter:@BlazersEdge @tcbbiggs,  @nate_mann13 @IsaiahDeLos, @cassidyGemmet Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/blazers-edge/id949238542 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Blazer’s Edge editor Steve Dewald joins Tara hours after the start of NBA Free Agency to break down what has happened with the Portland Trail Blazers. . . so far. We talk about the newest additions, Kent Bazemore and Mario Hesonja, discuss hopes and dreams for a successful Rodney Hood season and speculate what gaps they will need to fill (rebounds anyone?) We also look at some of the big moves other teams have made, especially the ones that are (thankfully) taking place out east, like the Brooklyn Nets landing Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, and the move that has Jimmy Butler heading to the Miami Heat. Follow us on twitter:@BlazersEdge @tcbbiggs @SteveDHoops Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/blazers-edge/id949238542 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

One of the smartest people we know, @britrobotista, joined us this week to walk us through the basics and the nitty gritty of free agency lingo.  1:00 Icebreaker: If you suddenly were living in a new city, like many NBA players will be over the next few months, what would be the first thing you’d try and find? 3:00 Awards Season. Highlights of the NBA Awards show. We think they should include playoff awards too if they are going to be so late. Bill Walton is just that uncle. 4:30 From the perspective of a Rockets fan, was it a snub that Harden didn’t win? 6:00 The Hustle Award, won by Marcus Smart, appears to actually have a rubric, as it is based off of the Hustle stats measured on stats.nba.com. 8:00 Tara thinks Masai Ujuri was snubbed! But Brit has a good point about John Horst because he made a lot of important small moves that caused a huge impact, like bringing in Khris Middleton and Eric Bledsoe. 10:00 Evan Turner and Kent Bazemore trade. Will Kent Bazemore be a better fit for the Portland system? He was so much more than just a basketball player here. Weird stuff always happened to him. Never a dull moment. 17:30 How we talk about players in transactions is important. 18:00 The story of Emily/MLE20:00 What is the salary cap?21:15  What does hard capped mean?25:00 Explaining how some of the different exceptions work.31:00 What is the luxury tax? Where does the money that is collected in Luxury tax go?36:00 Repeater tax, further consequence for habitual over-spenders.40:00 Everything we wanted to know about the super max but were afraid to ask. 45:00 A cautionary tale, why trading a super max deal is so hard. 53:00 Concerns about the super max59:00 Wrap up--find our guest @britrobotista Get Social Follow Blazer’s Edge on Twitter @blazersedge, WHAT Pod @HoopsAndTalks, Tara @tcbbiggs, and Cassidy @CassidyGemmet. This week’s guest: @britrobotista Women’s Hoops And Talks (W.H.A.T.)Join the Women’s Hoops And Talks Facebook group to talk about Trail Blazers with others who identify as women who love basketball. Music used in the episode: "Happy Alley" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Subscribe: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/blazers-edge/id949238542 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Blazers Edge writer Eric Griffith joins the weekly podcast to talk about the newest Trail Blazer, Nassir Little, and prepare for the upcoming NBA free agency period. How will we know if this is a successful off season? What are reasonable expectations for the Blazers given their needs and their constraints? We break it all down before winding it up with a discussion about how would Kevin Love fit in on the Trail Blazers? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tara and Cassidy are joined by Kim Waara (@KDubinThisClub) to talk through the latest off season news and rumors. Are the Celtics in trouble? Is Kyrie headed to the Brooklyn Nets? Is Kawhi headed for the limelight in LA? Then we tried to figure out what the Trail Blazer’s summer theme songs should be. Is Damian Lillard under pressure? Is everybody ready to go on the road again with Maurice Harkless, Al Farouq Aminu and Evan Turner? Will the Summer League team run it up or run it back to defend their championship? We dove into Youtube and created a playlist to kick off the summer madness. What would you add to the list? NBA Off Season Playlist Vol 1 on Youtube Get Social Follow Blazer’s Edge on Twitter @blazersedge, WHAT Pod @HoopsAndTalks, Tara @tcbbiggs, and Cassidy @CassidyGemmet. This week’s guest: @kdubinthisclub Women’s Hoops And Talks (W.H.A.T.)Join the Women’s Hoops And Talks Facebook group to talk about Trail Blazers with others who identify as women who love basketball. Music used in the episode: "Happy Alley" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mike Prada, Ben Epstein and Ricky O’Donnell host a recap of this year’s SB Nation NBA Bloggers’ Mock Draft. In addition to going through the picks that were made and discussing fits of certain prospects on certain teams, the guys also talked with Sabreena Merchant (18:20) about the Lakers’ trade for Anthony Davis and the Clippers’ free agent aspirations. Later, they welcome Joe Mullinax (29:00) to talk about the Grizzlies trading away Mike Conley and why Ja Morant is a perfect fit for Memphis. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Blazers Edge writer and editor Isaiah De Los Santos joins the podcast to help us sort out the western conference as we head into the first big event of the NBA off season--the 2019 Draft. But wait! First we have to discuss the Anthony Davis trade to the Los Angeles Lakers. Did the Pelicans come out on top with all of their future draft picks? Will two super stars be enough for the Lakers? Will they sign Kemba Walker to complete their reset? And how are they going to fill out the rest of the roster? Then we try to read the tea leaves to predict what the Trail Blazers will do on draft night. Is this draft different than others? What characterizes the players in this draft? And how do teams evaluate talent when more positionless players are coming along each year? Finally we do our best to figure out which teams in the west are contenders. There is a lot going on and many moving parts but what is certain is that nothing will be the same. Listen to us try and figure it out and let us know what you think. Find Isaiah at @Isaiahdelos and @SLAMrewind. Tara:  @tcbbiggs, Dan: @dmarang, Blazers Edge: @BlazersEdge Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sharon Brown, freelance writer and founding editor of All Heart in Hoop City, joins Tara and Cassidy to talk about her article These Are the Women Creating Some of the NBA's Most Memorable Social Media Content. We talk about some of her favorite pieces she has written and how and why NBA fans should support black women in the media. Finally we touch on what it is like for a long time Grizzlies fan to watch Marc Gasol playing in the finals and what the outlook is for the Grizzlies is next season. Get Social Follow Blazer’s Edge on Twitter @blazersedge, WHAT Pod @HoopsAndTalks, Tara @tcbbiggs, and Cassidy @CassidyGemmet. This week’s guest: @sharonshybrown Women’s Hoops And Talks (W.H.A.T.)Join the Women’s Hoops And Talks Facebook group to talk about Trail Blazers with others who identify as women who love basketball. Music used in the episode: "Happy Alley" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The off season is underway and we’re waiting to see what the Trail Blazers will do. Will they make a trade to get off of one of their larger contracts? Will they slide under the tax line to unlock the full MLE? Will they go all in to trade for a disgruntled super star? Or will they make moves around the edges to shore up their roster leading into next season?  Tara and Dan are joined by Mike Richman (@mikegrich) of NBC Sports Northwest and the Locked On podcast to talk all about what is coming up next for the Trail Blazers.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

KOIN 6 Television sports reporter AJ McCord joined the WHAT podcast to talk about covering the Trail Blazers for the local media. We learn more about the supportive women who work covering the Blazers and other NBA teams, and why she thinks so many women excel as sideline reporters. What was it like coming back from the low of the New Orleans sweep to watch the players redouble their efforts and advance all the way to the Western Conference Finals? Then she talks about getting to know the players over the course of the year and how the young guys are learning the ropes. All this and more on the latest WHAT podcast. Follow Blazer’s Edge on Twitter @blazersedge, WHAT Pod @HoopsAndTalks, Tara @tcbbiggs, and Cassidy @CassidyGemmet. This week’s guest: @AJ_McCord Women’s Hoops And Talks (W.H.A.T.)Join the Women’s Hoops And Talks Facebook group to talk about Trail Blazers with others who identify as women who love basketball. Music used in the episode: "Happy Alley" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Blazer’s Edge writer and editor Lindesay H (@corvallisonian) joins the WHAT podcast to wrap up the 2018-19 Portland Trail Blazers season. What was the best game? Who had the best individual performance? Who was most improved? Which player was the most reliable off the bench? From Nik Stauskas on opening night to Anfernee Simons in the last game of the season, from Moe Harkless finding his groove to Jusuf Nurkic’s New Years Day 5X5, we share all of our favorite moments and most memorable performances. Follow Blazer’s Edge on Twitter @blazersedge, WHAT Pod @HoopsAndTalks, Tara @tcbbiggs, and Cassidy @CassidyGemmet. This week’s guest: @corvallisonian Women’s Hoops And Talks (W.H.A.T.)Join the Women’s Hoops And Talks Facebook group to talk about Trail Blazers with others who identify as women who love basketball. Music used in the episode: "Happy Alley" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Just in time for the WNBA's opening night, Tara and Cassidy talked to Arielle Chambers of Bleacher Report/House of Highlights for a primer on the upcoming season. The WNBA attracts the best of the best and we found out which players to watch for and why. With so much talent spread throughout the league, more parity than they've seen in ages, and players with big personalities, this looks like it is going to be an exciting year.   Chambers walked us through the major story lines people are keeping an eye on including how injuries to big stars like Breanna Stewart, Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi will lead to opportunities for new players to break out. We also talked about teams to keep an eye on including the Las Angeles Sparks, the Atlanta Dream and the Las Vegas Aces whose new center Liz Cambage will be coached by Detroit Bad Boy Bill Laimbeer.   We also talked about challenges that the league faces, why popularity is growing, and what fans can do to help the league grow even more. If you're anything like us, you'll be excited to tune in on Friday night to find out what happens this WNBA season. Follow Blazer’s Edge on Twitter @blazersedge, WHAT Pod @HoopsAndTalks, Tara @tcbbiggs, and Cassidy @CassidyGemmet. This week’s guest: @ariivory Women’s Hoops And Talks (W.H.A.T.)Join the Women’s Hoops And Talks Facebook group to talk about Trail Blazers with others who identify as women who love basketball. Music used in the episode: "Happy Alley" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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We start with Game of Thrones speculation (not spoilers) and realize how many parallels there are between a series against the Warriors and the winding down of the Song of Ice and Fire. But it is not all doom and gloom as we look at just how tough the competition is, why we can’t say enough good things about Damian Lillard and just how much he and the rest of the Blazers have accomplished. We talk about Meyer’s Leonard’s big night, Zach Collins’ ceiling in the coming years, and Maurice Harkless shooting well. Unlike Westeros, we have next season to look forward to! Tune in to all of this and more on the latest Blazer’s Edge podcast. @tcbbiggs @dmarang @blazersedge Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sports activist, journalist and public speaker Shireen Ahmed (@_shireenahmed_) joined the WHAT podcast to share her experience as a Muslim woman and explain some of the nuances of the religion as it pertains to professional athletes. We learned more about her role as co-host of the Burn It All Down feminist sports podcast, heard how she got started in sports activism, and talked about how people in Toronto (where she is based) are reacting to the Raptor’s trip to the Eastern Conference Finals. Follow Blazer’s Edge on Twitter @blazersedge, WHAT Pod @HoopsAndTalks, Tara @tcbbiggs, and Cassidy @CassidyGemmet. This week’s guest: @_shireenahmed_ Women’s Hoops And Talks (W.H.A.T.)Join the Women’s Hoops And Talks Facebook group to talk about Trail Blazers with others who identify as women who love basketball. Music used in the episode: "Happy Alley" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What a week it has been for the Portland Trail Blazers! Like a lot of Blazer fans, Dan and Tara are still trying to figure out what is real and what is fantasy. Listen to the latest edition of the Blazer’s Edge Podcast, where we answer your questions about a wide variety of topics: will Aminu and Harkless have a bigger impact in the Golden State series than they did against Denver? Who should the Blazer’s bring back, Hood, Kanter or Curry? What kind of defense can we expect to see and what will the Warriors throw at the Blazers? All this and more, thank you to our Twitter friends for all of the questions! @BlazerTagPDX,  @DizzyZbo, @jamesonnus, @nnnductle, @JaketheTailg8r, @C_Sabroe, @mighty_JoeSab, @tomwilsonone@DaBrain19, @genelaor@roselharding, @mevans212, @Schmalejandro1, @showmeyourblazr Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sports Illustrated senior writer and co-host of the Open Floor Podcast, Andrew Sharp (@andrewsharp), joined the show to talk about being a long time admirer of the Trail Blazers’ fan community and how he got started writing about basketball. Then Andrew and Tara reflect on the post-season so far, what do the Blazer’s accomplishments look like to the national observers, how disappointing would it be if they exit in the second round, and what should be their biggest concerns? As a long suffering Wizards fan, what does he think are the similarities and differences between the Lillard/McCollum and Wall/Beal back courts? He has interviewed and written about Jusuf Nurkic and Rodney Hood, what did he take away from those conversations? Does he prefer chaos or excellence in his NBA performances?  All this and more on this edition of the Blazer’s Edge Podcast.  :38 Sharp’s long time late night fascination with Blazer’s Edge. 2:08 Where he falls in the Greg Oden/Kevin Durant debate 5:33 How he got into sports writing 12:20 How the Blazers look in the post-season, from a national perspective 17:20 How would he feel about going into next year if he was a Blazer fan?19:20 Admiration of Lillard and McCollum and their steady improvement year over year. 22:03 Talking with Jusuf Nurkic about Lillard’s ability to lead and help other players find their way 25:17 #EmbraceTheChaos vs #ConnoisseursOfExcellence 31:06 If the Blazers make it to the second round, what would those matchups look like?36:57 Sharp’s fondness for Rodney Hood. Where did it come from? 41:33 Looking forward to finding out what happens in the off season Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

US Senator Ron Wyden joined us to discuss his love of basketball, what he has learned from playing, and why he is speaking up for Enes Kanter. But first we had to react to Friday night’s quadruple-overtime victory. Listen to Dave Deckard, Danny and Tara talk about the first three games of the Western Conference Semi Finals and what the Blazers will likely do to finish out strong.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the latest Women’s Hoops And Talks podcast, Tara and Cassidy talk with Kat Jayme, the filmmaker behind Finding Big Country. The movie documents her search for her childhood hero, former Vancouver Grizzles big man, Bryant Reeves. She talks about how she got into basketball, how the movie came about and why it was important for her to find Bryant Reeves.  Listen to learn how Jayme came to terms with not becoming a professional basketball player herself, how she combined her loves of basketball and filmmaking and what she is working on next.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Trail Blazers Television Analyst Lamar Hurd (@L_Hurd) joined Team Mom to give his observations about the Western Conference Semifinals Game 1 and where the Trail Blazers could go from here. Did Denver do something to disrupt CJ McCollum’s early hot shooting? How can Moe Harkless and Al Farouq Aminu impact a game if they are not scoring? And what could be the key factors that determine the outcome of the series? All this plus Lamar’s story of what Damian Lillard’s game-winning shot meant to him.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We invited Brendan Vogt from the Denver Stiffs onto the podcast to tell us all the secrets about the Denver Nuggets. We learned more about the guys who play alongside ultra-talented center Nikola Jokic, and how they dealt with a significant lineup change in the middle of the playoffs. A lot of things we learned about the Nuggets--young core built around the career trajectory of their star, solid locker room culture, a coach who is in tune with the players--sound a lot like the Trail Blazers. Will the edge in experience give the Blazers the edge in this series? We’ll find out soon enough! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

00:02 Brooke Olzendam, Trail Blazers Sideline Reporter 05:55 Charlene and Arinze, mother and son, Blazers Fans for life, season ticket holders 11:59 Janis, fan and season ticket holder 14:27 Jamie Hudson, NBC Sports Northwest Trail Blazers reporter 17:01 Michael Lewellen, Vice President of Corporate Communications for the Portland Trail Blazers and the Rose Quarter 22:33 Dillon Sage, Co-host, Holy Backboard Podcast 24:58 Ashwin, long-suffering Timberwolves fan 28:33 Adrian Bernecich Blazers’ Edge writer, Melbourne, Australia 30:50 Vanesa, Bosnian fan of the Trail Blazers 34:14 Shain Brendan, Co-host, Blazers Outsiders Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Alex Haigh joins Tara and Cassidy to talk about what it was like to be a Blazers Outsider this season. After sharing which NBA players they would want to be stuck in an elevator with, they discuss what NBA awards they would give out. These are not your regular NBA awards, so tune in to find out who will be awarded most vicious fan chant, best performance in a basketball drama, most average player in the NBA, and which team besides the Blazers will be the best team to root for next season. Follow Blazer’s Edge on Twitter @blazersedge, WHAT Pod @HoopsAndTalks, Tara @tcbbiggs, and Cassidy @CassidyGemmet. This week’s guest: Alex Haigh (@owlhix) Women’s Hoops And Talks (W.H.A.T.)Join the Women’s Hoops And Talks Facebook group to talk about Trail Blazers with others who identify as women who love basketball. Music used in the episode: "Happy Alley" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast, Tara Bowen-Biggs and Danny Marang take a look at the last two games against the OKC Thunder and what it means for the Blazers as they look to clinch in Game 5. Danny is actually optimistic, which is terrifying, and Tara tries to temper Danny's expectations- will she be successful? Praising Damian Lillard, breaking down pick and roll changes, the arrival of Moe Harkless, Russell Westbrook being all talk, and much, much more on this week's episode! Intro Opening Comments Feeling good about the Blazers right now 1:30 Businessman like manner 4:00 I'm glad that the sweep bothered them and motivates them even today 6:00 Tara doesn't want to overreact just yet 6:45 This Thunder team looks a lot like the Blazers last year 8:00 Strongly held beliefs! 8:50 Is Schroder trying to be Pat Beverly Jr.? 9:50 So many classic moments from Damian Lillard in this series 11:00 Has Lillard been the best player in the playoffs so far? 12:30 Can we say Dame and CJ can play together now? 13:30 This has been CJ's best performance to date 14:00 CJ has elevated his game  16:00 Danny makes a false claim about Aminu- Aminu is all things awesome and Danny regrets mixing Chief up with Zach Collins.  18:20 The Blazers are struggling around the rim and it's not clear why.  20:00 Dame has been fantastic getting to the rim 21:00 Game 3 recap - Russell Westbrook & Paul George get one! 22:00 Ranking storylines for the playoffs- Dame's play, Stotts game plan and defensive intensity 23:00 Dame and the Blazers being aggressive and going for steals 26:00 Moe Harkless has been fantastic on the defensive end on ball, off ball, helping and everywhere in between.  29:00 Maybe looking ahead to a match up with San Antonio or Denver... MAYBE 32:00 Things, in a weird way seem to be lining up for the Blazers 34:00 Moe Harkless looks like he's having fun and everyone loves it 38:30 Blazers shooting doesn't make a ton of sense right now, will it hold? 41:00 Tara is loving isolation basketball 44:00 Slight tweaks in the pick & roll that are paying off big time Closing Comments Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

CJ McCollum got his playoff win and so we called up Jennifer “I’m trying Jennifer” Williams to talk about the Portland Trail Blazers. We learned why she tweeted at McCollum in the first place, what her day was like after the “I’m Trying Jennifer” tweet went viral, why she thinks the sentiment struck a chord with Trail Blazers fans and how life has been since she became internet famous. We also talked about how the first round of the playoffs is going, how far she thinks the Trail Blazers can go, and what she thinks of a potential Golden State Warriors vs Houston Rockets Western Conference Semi-Final match up. We also asked how in the world the Warriors blew a 31 point lead to the Clippers? Jennifer was such a great sport, we hope you enjoy listening as much as we enjoyed talking to her. Follow Blazer’s Edge on Twitter @blazersedge, WHAT Pod @HoopsAndTalks, Tara @tcbbiggs, and Cassidy @CassidyGemmet. This week’s guest: @ChocDelight1980 Join the Women’s Hoops And Talks Facebook group to talk about Trail Blazers with others who identify as women who love basketball. Music used in the episode: "Happy Alley" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Blazers’ Edge Podcast takes a look at what is working: why the defense is clicking and how the offense is humming. It might not be the prettiest basketball they have played all season (we miss you Jusuf Nurkic!) but it is effective. Will it work when the Trail Blazers head to the Chesapeake Energy Arena? How will the Trail Blazers handle being in the driver’s seat? We recap notable performances by Maurice Harkless, Meyers Leonard, CJ McCollum and Damian Lillard. So much Lillard. Programming note: the next WHAT podcast will be out this weekend. Follow us on twitter: @dmarang, @tcbbiggs, @blazersedge, @hoopsandtalks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Stephanie Ready (, NBA on TNT Virtual Reality broadcaster and host of The Bounce on Yahoo Sports joins the Hoops and Talks podcast to discuss her life-long love of basketball and what it was like being the first woman to be a coach on an mens professional basketball team. She gives us great insight into what coaches do to prepare for games and the playoffs and how she prepares for games that she covers as a sideline report and analyst. Then we get a primer on Virtual Reality broadcasting and what the experience is like. Stephanie will be cover two games of the Portland Trail Blazers vs Oklahoma City Thunder series for NBA on TNT. Find her at game two on April 16 and game four on April 21. Get Social Follow Blazer’s Edge on Twitter @blazersedge, WHAT Pod @HoopsAndTalks, Tara @tcbbiggs, and Cassidy @CassidyGemmet. This week’s guest: @StephanieReady Women’s Hoops And Talks (W.H.A.T.)Join the Women’s Hoops And Talks Facebook group to talk about Trail Blazers with others who identify as women who love basketball. Music used in the episode: "Happy Alley" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NBA on TNT & NBA TV analyst and former Portland Trail Blazers guard Greg Anthony joined the Blazers Edge podcast to preview the upcoming series between the Blazers and the Oklahoma City Thunder. Anthony breaks down the matchup between Damian Lillard and Russell Westbrook, describes the team as still pretty “formidable” even without Jusuf Nurkic and thinks they have a shot at winning the series. He also talks about what it is like as a player to prepare for the playoffs and gives his take on how the Blazers can defeat the Thunder.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast, Tara Bowen-Biggs and Danny Marang are joined by the illustrious Steve Dewald (aka Dave Deckard in Training or DDIT) to take a look at the Blazer's season, how it all feels now that it's coming to a close, expectations and broken hearts, a look at the most likely playoff matchup with the Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert, Joe Ingles and the Utah Jazz, what is fair to expect of Enes Kanter and Rodney Hood, a look at the upcoming Nike Hoop Summit and more! IntroOpening Comments2:40 How does this season feel now?4:50 Were expectations met?7:00 Most likely scenario for the Blazers…the Jazz7:40 Damian Lillard wants to rest8:30 Anything to take away from Denver match ups?10:00 Matching up with the Utah Jazz10:40 “We have a Hulk”11:40 Redemption stories in the Jazz series; Rodney Hood & Enes Kanter15:20 When the playoffs start will we see the same things the Blazers have done all year?18:00 New series, same question - will the Blazers role players show up?22:20 What do you think Kanter’s assignment will be?26:40 How will Portland deal with the pick & roll?31:20 Trying to find the positive in the match up32:30 We’ve seen what playoff defenses can do to Lillard36:00 What would you consider success for the team at this point?40:00 Is it fair to ask Lillard to deliver in the playoffs this year?43:00 Lillard gets hit with a “flopping warning” vs Nuggets44:15 Relationships between players and referees49:00 First look at the new crop of future stars at Nike Hoop SummitClosing CommentsOutro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week Tara and Cassidy welcomed Kayla Osby (@nuggetchica) from denverstiffs.com onto the show to help Portland Trail Blazers fans get to know more about the Denver Nuggets. Their wide ranging conversation includes talk about t-shirt slogans, NBA twins, Nuggets lack of playoff success and what it is like to be in a town where basketball is the third most important sport. We caught up on how Will Barton and Mason Plumlee are doing and how the Nurkic trade felt to Nuggets fans. Then we talk about the upcoming games and what is the key to beating the Nuggets and who are some of the players besides Nicola Jokic the Blazers need to watch for? Get Social Follow Blazer’s Edge on Twitter @blazersedge, WHAT Pod @HoopsAndTalks, Tara @tcbbiggs, and Cassidy @CassidyGemmet. This week’s guest: @NuggetChica. You can also email us at [email protected]. Women’s Hoops And Talks (W.H.A.T.) Join the Women’s Hoops And Talks Facebook group to talk about Trail Blazers with others who identify as women who love basketball. Our last Blazers WHAT meetup of the year is on April 9, 7:30 at McMenamins on Broadway. Come watch the Blazers take on the Lakers with other women who love basketball! Music used in the episode: "Happy Alley" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week we invited Adam Mares, Site Manager for the Denver Stiffs, to join us to talk about Jusuf Nurkic, centers in the NBA and to prepare for the weekend doubleheader between the Portland Trail Blazers and the Denver Nuggets. :50 Jusuf Nurkic, we miss you, big fella.3:45 Thoughts from Adam, only empathy for the fans and best wishes to Nurkic for a full recovery from fans in Denver. 7:15 Where the Trail Blazer season stands right now9:10 Comparison to Wesley Matthews injury.11:45 What are the options for the Blazers moving forward? Collins will play more. When Paul Millsap was out almost all season in Denver, it was a growth opportunity for some of the players. 16:00 With Nicola Jokic as an example, how has the center position evolved in the last few years, or has it? There really is no prototypical center any more. 22:15 Blazers are not in a position to make any big decisions right now. 24:15 The character of the Trail Blazers is that Damian Lillard is loyal to his teammates. And now the team is playing well, it seems less likely they will make any big changes in the off season.26:15 How do the Nuggets go from missing the playoffs to fighting for the number one seed in the west?(27:15 But first a brief digression about Lonzo Ball and LeBron James)28:45 What is Jokic like as a leader? On the court, he truly loves the passing game. He is definitely the person they go to in the clutch.33:00 Locker room leader is tough to identify, in some ways it is the coach, Mike Malone. 35:15 Are there ways that The Blazers and the Nuggets are similar? Jamal Murray and Damian Lillard play in a similar way although Lillard is much better. Both Jokic and Nurkic are excellent passers. Lillard and the Trail Blazers have uncommonly good locker room chemistry.37:45 How is Denver going to fare in the playoffs?41:00 When game planning for and against Denver, what do you look at? 46:15 Find Adam at denverstiffs.com and @adam_mares Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tara and Cassidy have a quick chat about Jusuf Nurkic and add their best wishes to the outpouring of support from Portland fans. Then they are joined by Nitz Bluvstein (@nitzbluv), a frequent guest of the Daily Dings podcast and general Twitter instigator.  Get to know Nitz and hear her takes on NBA Twitter and how basketball kept her in touch with friends when she was far away. Then she gives us an outsider perspective on Damian Lillard and how he will perform in the playoffs. Finally she tells us what she really thinks about the Golden State Warriors chemistry and where Kevin Durant might end up. All this plus our very first listener email! Get Social Follow Blazer’s Edge on Twitter @blazersedge, WHAT Pod @HoopsAndTalks, Tara @tcbbiggs, and Cassidy @CassidyGemmet. This week’s guest: @nitzbluv Women’s Hoops And Talks (W.H.A.T.) Join the Women’s Hoops And Talks Facebook group to talk about Trail Blazers with others who identify as women who love basketball. Music used in the episode: “Happy Alley” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

‘Twas the night before Blazer’s Edge Night and some of the staff’Gathered together to talk Blazers and laugh . . .  Join Tara, Danny, Dave, Cassidy, Miles, Steve and Paul of BlazersEdge.com as we go over what we’ve seen from the Blazers so far this season. Have they met, exceeded or fallen below expectations? Which first round matchup would be best for the playoffs? What do the Blazers have to accomplish in the post-season to preserve the core of this team? All this and more on the latest Blazer’s Edge podcast.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Amara Baptist, the voice behind Trail Blazer’s twitter, joins the WHAT podcast to talk about being on the road. On the latest WHAT podcast, Tara and Cassidy talk to Blazer’s Digital Content Manager Amara Baptist to find out more about being on the road. Pizza rolls. Fro-yo. Ugly photo vests. Bench reactions. Take a tour of the NBA Arenas with someone who has seen them all! 00:55 Icebreaker: what is your go-to game snack? Tip: Ice cream sandwiches on the 300 level are the best!3:38 How is the first season with the Trail Blazers going?5:25 What was the seven game road trip like? Really (really!) long. Good bonding experience.  6:20 Who does the travel planning?7:30 What are other NBA Arenas like? Are they all pretty much the same or do they have their own personalities?8:31 Looks forward to going to Toronto, Staples Center, Detroit’s new arena is beautiful, but she really judges an area on the quality of their wifi. 11:00 Which arenas have the best amenities? Amara stays very on-brand with praise for Little Caesars Arena, Barklay Center, Staple Center has a frozen yogurt/soft serve station at half time.  14:30 Are there any places that are tough to play in? Philadelphia was really tough on their own team.16:00 Where does media and team personnel sit? Best used to be Oklahoma City but they have moved media farther from the scorers table. Milwaukee seating is really far away.18:29 Usually sit with the NBC Sports Northwest people. Media has to wear photo vests, visiting teams don’t have to wear them.21:00 Close games are the most stressful.22:24 Favorite things to watch for for posting on social media? Bench reactions.23:34 What is the etiquette about saying “hi” to someone who is working at a game? 26:35 Coffee talk: This week’s recommendation is Cinder Cone from Never Coffee Lab.28:00 Check out Amara on social : @amarabaptist and @trailblazers plus, check out her podcast, Social On the Sidelines. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With Danny out sick, Dave Deckard, Managing Editor of Blazer’s Edge joined Tara to discuss all the implications of CJ McCollum’s injury. How will the starters adjust? Who slides into his spot? Will that disrupt the bench? What are the implications for playoff seeding? Who is their best matchup (hint: anyone but Golden State)? So many questions and Dave his here to answer them all. Get well soon Danny and thanks to Dave for sitting in!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We’ve been speculating a lot this year about what is going on with the San Antonio Spurs. Will they make it to the playoffs without the Big Three?  Will Gregg Popovich retire? What is it like since Kawhi left and, of course, how is LaMarcus Aldridge doing?  To answer these questions before the teams meet up on Saturday, we went straight to the source and called up Marilyn Dubinski (@alamoaggie) a writer for our sister site poundingtherock.com.  We asked Marilyn all these questions and learned so much more: that she loved watching the Spurs with her grandmother, that her dad used to work out with George Gervin, and where she thinks all the wildlife in the arena comes from. Tune in for all of this plus one of Cassidy’s famous icebreakers: in a Zombie apocalypse, which three NBA players would you pick to be on your survival team? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast, Tara Bowen-Biggs and Danny Marang take a look at the week that was, Maurice Harkless' inspired play, CJ McCollum post all-star break shooting revival, Tara cursing the Blazers in Memphis, Anfernee Simons getting minutes, the Blazers missing Evan Turner, Thunder-Blazers, playoff match ups and more! Intro Opening Comments :20 Tara makes a Dan joke 1:00 Tara goes to Memphis 5:30 Chandler Parsons yoga mats 7:15 Looking back at the OKC game 9:00 Ball stopping and lack of player movement 12:30 Thunder are 4-0 vs Portland, do you want to see them in the playoffs? 14:00 Blazers bench looks rough without Evan Turner running things 14:50 Seth Curry and playmaking 17:00 Differences between running sets/plays and shot hunting 19:00 Harkless continues to play well! 21:15 This version of Harkless is what Portland needs 22:30 Tara's Harkless-Nurkic theory 26:00 Blazers as a team, struggling from 3 recently 28:00 Evaluating Kanter (again) 33:00 Will/Should Collins be out there more right now? 35:15 Floor spacing bench units 38:00 ANFERNEE SIMONS TTIME! 39:10 Tara doesn't like Dan to enjoy things 41:35 Facing the Denver Nuggets twice to end the season 44:00 Things are swell in Golden State! 46:00 Looking at seeding and potential playoff match ups 52:00 Closing Comments Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We got real nerdy on this week’s episode of the WHAT podcast and invited Brit Robotista (@britrobotista) onto the pod to go over the basics of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) and the NBA league owners. She helped us understand why it exists, what it holds, what happened in the summer of ‘16, and how we might prepare ourselves to understand what options will be on the table the next time Damian Lillard is up for a new contract. Get out your pencils and your legal pads and take some notes (or not, you can relax with a glass of wine and that’s fine too), we’re diving into some really important stuff, with a wonderful tour guide to help us understand, WHAT is the deal with the CBA? Follow Blazer’s Edge on Twitter @blazersedge, WHAT Pod @HoopsAndTalks, Tara @tcbbiggs, and Cassidy @CassidyGemmet. This week’s guest: @britrobotista Women’s Hoops And Talks (W.H.A.T.)Join the Women’s Hoops And Talks Facebook group to talk about Trail Blazers with others who identify as women who love basketball. Music used in the episode: "Happy Alley" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast, Tara Bowen-Biggs and Danny Marang take a look at the Blazers going 5-1 on the 7 game road trip, taking care of business against the teams you should and coming up just short in Toronto to Kawhi Leonard, Blazers trying new lineups, playing a new style at times, Portland not relying on Damian Lillard to go for 30 a night, Jake Layman's heel turn, the revival of Moe Harkless, Rodney's breakout performance in Charlotte and more! IntroOpening Comments2:00 Thoughts on road trip so far3:10 Rodney Hood and self care5:10 Tara’s favorite part of the Hornets game5:50 Lillard not forcing the takeover of the game7:20 Portland ball movement and ranking 24th in assists9:00 Actively looking to get guys involved11:00 Trying things that they might see in the playoffs11:50 Dame & CJ not having to be THE guys every night14:40 CJ doing more than impacting the points column16:00 Looking at the bigs vs Toronto17:30 Blazers playing with Kanter and Collins19:00 Balancing minutes for development vs going after it now20:30 Different lineups and celebrating the Blazers bench… weird21:40 The revival of Moe Harkless25:00 Tara believes it was positive reinforcement for Moe that made the difference25:20 Moe can’t ever take off the headband28:20 Tendency breakers28:30 Meyers Leonard the Big Ice Cream Scooper31:00 Blazers and defensive changes32:00 Aminu’s adventures in dribbling35:00 Chasing Westbrook, PG & the Thunder38:00 Kanter and trolling Westbrook/Adams41:00 Portland’s desire to go in on offense and let the chips fall43:00 The sweep by NOP really bothered a lot of guys- can it be a motivation46:30 Dan, the eternal optimist49:00 Portland cannot drop the game to the Thunder51:30 Wanting Jake Layman to be a heel53:15 Update on the ‘Intensive Purposes’ commercialClosing CommentsOutro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On the latest Women’s Hoops And Talks (W.H.A.T.) podcast Tara and Cassidy get to know one of the newest Blazer’s Edge writers, Lindsay Hostetler (also known as Corvallis Foodie on Twitter). She talks about what it was like growing up a Seattle Sonics fan in a small Washington town, how she became a fan of the Blazers and what she likes about writing about the team. Then we all chime in about what we will be watching for from the Trail Blazers as they close out the regular season. How will the ball move? Will they play some, a lot, or just enough defense? Finally, we speculate about some of the front runners in the Western Conference. Will Denver suffer in the playoffs due to lack of playoff experience? What could we learn about Damian Lillard by watching Chris Paul, and is this really it for the San Antonio Spurs? Follow Blazer’s Edge on Twitter @blazersedge, WHAT Pod @HoopsAndTalks, Tara @tcbbiggs, and Cassidy @CassidyGemmet. This week’s guest: @corvallisonian Women’s Hoops And Talks (W.H.A.T.)Join the Women’s Hoops And Talks Facebook group to talk about Trail Blazers with others who identify as women who love basketball. Music used in the episode: "Happy Alley" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

IntroOpening Comments  2:16 First two games since All-Star Break 2:43 Enes Kanter impressions. Skilled big man who lives in the paint and gets rebounds. 3:14 How the siging of Kanter demonstrates the Blazers are all in on offense. 4:34 There's going to be buckets everywhere. 4:53 48 minutes of Nurkic and Kanter is going to be a lot for any team to deal with. 5:30 Kanter can do things that Nurkic can't do in the post. 6:21 Kanter has more offensive consistency than Nurkic, but less eye popping. 7:14 Why do people say Kanter is bad at defense? He doesn't take up as much room as Nurkic. He's a step slower. 8:03 He's also not the worst defender. They are probably not going to struggle all that much, he doesn't give up more than he gives. 9:03 Is there any kind of defense that he is decent at? He's passable at most, you just want to leave him under the rim and hope me keeps people away. He just needs to be his best offensively 9:39 Will Collins see the court again? 11:33 Collins is better at help side or pick and roll protector. He's still not great at defending the rim. But most people in the NBA are not great at defendin the rim. People are just too good at offense now. 12:50 What if other teams go small? Is Collins a better possibility in those situations? 14:21 Stotts is putting in lineups to push the pace and get up the floor. 15:42 How much time do the Blazers have to experiment with the lineups? 18:35 Offensively, in the first two games back, Damian Lillard has not had to force the issue. 20:03 The ball is moving really well. Dame and CJ don't have to hunt for so many shots. 20:35 Other teams have historically gone after Damian Lillard at the end of games to wear him out. But the last two games Damian Lillard's usage rate has been significantly lower. 21:02 Blazers are 14-1 in games where Damian Lillard's usage rate is less than 25.1 % 22:22 A discussion about players "carrying their weight". 24:02 McCollum has come up big lately in his ability to do more than just score. Rebounding, steals, defense, etc. 24:46 Rodney Hood and Jake Layman have been good at timely production. Moe Harkless too. 26:02 Damian isn't the only one who can spark a run now. Other players like Jake or even Moe lately have stepped up with the key, well-timed energy plays. 27:14 Moe made his presence felt in both games after the All Star break. 29:05 Moe Harkless has tapped into something, lets keep it going. 30:27 Damian Lillard's signature move, the baseline step back fadeaway in traffic. 33:22 Catch-and -shoot guys have signature moves in ways that they get themselves open. 34:41 More praise for Damian Lillard because you can't say enough good things about him. Referencing his interview with Chris Haynes. 35:52 How much better are the Blazers after the new additions and how much credit should also go to continuity? 38:10 Ed Davis praise for Jake Layman. 39:55 Would Bringing in big stas in years past beeen as effectve as the culture that Damina Lillard has grown in portland. 41:23 Looking ahead to Cleveland, Boston and Toronto 42:47 Take care of business in Cleveland. 43:33 What are the Bachup centers like for the upcomin games? What kinds of a challenge will he pose for Kanter? 45:34 Which Blazers has the best opportunity to shine this week? Lets see if Moe can keep it going. 46:36 Jake has become a regular and 47:54 Enes the Menace. Good nickname? 48:26 Nurkic and Kanter trash talk on top of teams having to battle two big players for 48 minutes 49:28 Blazers already made the Warriors melt down before they added Kanter to the roster. 51:32 Thank you to everyone who made Blazers Edge night a reality again! Closing Comments Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dan Marang and Tara Bowen-Biggs discuss highlights from All Star weekend including Damian Lillard’s outstanding performance in Sunday night’s game. Then they compare what happened in the Trail Blazers’ loss to Oklahoma City to how things went down in the win against Golden State. Short answer: Zach Collins. Finally they dig into one of the most exciting things the team has done lately--bringing in Enes Kanter to finish out the season. What are the skills that he brings? How will minutes be redistributed? Who's playing time will suffer the most? We can’t wait for the games to start and see what happens. Join us for all of this and more on the latest episode of the Blazer’s Edge Podcast. Follow us on Twitter: @Blazersedge, @dmarang, @tcbbiggs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week Tara and Cassidy talked to Diana Allen from SLCDunk.com to learn more about Rodney Hood and then they talked to China Parmalee from Knicks blog, PostingAndToasting.com, and Rebecca Lawson from MavsMoneyBall.com to hear from both sides of the big Kristaps Porzingis trade that went down last week. Find us on twitter: @hoopsandtalks, @tcbbiggs, @CassidyGemmett, @dianaallen, @Chinqua, @beccaaftersixEmail us: [email protected] COFFEE TALKA blend with mad hops like Jake Layman: Ethiopia Bombe from Dapper and Wise, has hints of an orange creamsicle and caramel candy with a prominent hops flavor. Music used in the episode: "Happy Alley" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Help send kids to a Blazers game, buy tickets for Blazers Edge night Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast, Tara Bowen-Biggs and Danny Marang take a look at the Blazers since adding Rodney Hood, what's new, what's different, what could things possible look like going forward? After that it's a look back at the 4th quarter meltdown in Dallas? What happened- was Luka Doncic too much? Then it's time to whip around the league to review the deals made or not made and where that leaves teams in the pecking order- are there any new threats to the crown? How about in the Western Conference? All that and more on this week's episode! Intro :55   Opening Comments 1:30 Burn the tape and move on 3:00 What was going on there (Dallas getting to the rim)? 6:00 Was Dame going nuclear in the 3rd quarter a good thing? 7:50 I don't think that game is indicative of where they are -Tara 10:00 How much of it has to do with the deadline and adding in new players? 10:20 If I gave you these names could you get 50% of them? 12:30 There is not an argument to be made, Hood is better offensively than Harkless or Aminu 15:00 Turner and Hood- will Turner step on Hood's space? 18:00 Surprised with Hood defensively 18:30 Blazers add Skal Labissiere 21:00 I wish they had a more plug an play, ready to go big man 24:00 Collins playing more center and big man rotations 26:20 It doesn't matter who starts, it's who finishes 28:25 Philadelphia adding Tobias Harris  31:55 Bucks pick up Nikola Mirotic 32:00 Dan pays his bet to Casey 38:00 Mavs taking their time with Kristaps Porzingis 40:00 Ignoring the Lakers all deadline 42:00 Moves made around the Blazers 45:00 Looking ahead to the Thunder and Jusuf Nurkic centered offense 48:00 Blazer's Edge Night reminder!! Closing Comments Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast, Tara Bowen-Biggs and Danny Marang go through the ins-and-outs of the Rodney Hood trade, look to future - are the Blazers done? What could Portland do between now and the deadline, what they hope Portland will do and what will most likely happen as they read the tea leaves. Beyond that they discuss why Nikola Mirotic is not the answer for the next move, Damian Lillard landing as a surefire all-star, Blazer's struggles in all-star events not named the Skills Contest, Puppy Bowl > Kitten Bowl and more!1:00 Danny wanted to talk about Titanic but the Blazers made a trade! 1:20 Nik Stauskas and Wade Baldwin for Rodney Hood. 2:15 Is Hood a shooting guard or a small forward? 3:15 Nik saying goodbye was sad. 3:40 Dan is a jerk to everyone who lives in Cleveland. 4:30 Get to know Rodney Hood 5:41 Drafted by Utah 3.5 seasons. Injured as a rookie. 7:01 Difference between his Utah stint and his Cleveland stint. 7:40 He will probably play the 3 and hopefully do everything Harkless is supposed to do. 8:30 Hood fits the profile of players Neil Olshey likes. 12:20 Are they done? Will they be moving on from Harkless or Jake? 13:56 Making a deal with Sacramento 16:30 Portland doesn't like paying the luxury tax 19:02 Will Hood start? 20:08 This move elevates the Blazers to the top 4 teams in the west ,solidly. 21:29 Hood is not a siloed player, he can cut and shoot and handle the ball. 23:07 Will Mirotic be the next move? 25:33 Seems unlikely that they would make a move that would displace two starters 28:33 Taurean Prince? 30:52 All in all a good deal. 33:10 It seems like Hood believes he is coming to play, so either Harkless or Layman is probably on the way out. 33:55 Dan thinks Harkless looks pouty. 35:29 Playoff experience. how important was it for them to get someone with playoff experience? 37:32 Hood has somewhat checkered playoff experience 39:36 Denver doesn't have much playoff experience. Its not like they just didn't make it, they blew it, two years in a row. 42:58 Damian Lillard an All Star reserve 44:09 San Antonio now has a new crop of Vampires. 47:37 Who will pick Damian to be on his All Star Team first? 48:56 Brook Lopez has remade himself. 53:08 No puppy bowl spoilers! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

1:39 Journey from blogspot blog to Blazers Edge 3:36 How did you explain to people what blogging is?? 4:54 What was it like when you went from making all of your own stuff to doing stuff with OregonLive? 6:26 The old days of forums on OregonLive 8:45 Transition from Oregonian to Trail Blazers. Right after Oden draft. The Trail Blazers were going to be good and they wanted to really dive into digital content. 11:30 Imatrailblazersfan.com and other innovations by the Blazers. 12:40 Blazers were ready for social media. 16:00 the case for letting guys fight. 16:15 Team Mom was ready to punch Greyson Allen. 18:15 Utah game and Meyers Leonard stepping up! 19:45 This was the Meyers Leonard everyone has been wating for . 21:55 Dame and Meyers played some of their best pick and roll coverage. Meyers and Dame's defense was impressive. 22:58 Zach Collins was robbed of a block. 23:40 should Seth have grabbed Damian's rebound? 24:20 What change did Terry Stotts make defensively from the first two Utah games to the last two? 26:05 Tara: Waiting to announce that Nurkic was out was a masterful move 27:17 Trail Blazers history of being cagey about injuries might be bad for fantasy sports players but really pays off for the teams in cases like this. 29:05 What was with the Nik Stauskas tribute video during the Utah game? 30:21 Who turns to conspiracy theories whenever someone sits out? 32:34 This team has always held everything very close to the vest. 35:10 When you look at rumors about Portland, who benefits the most? 36:55 What is trade deadline like when you work for the organization? 39:05 When you work for a team you have to be more cautious about what you put out there as a representative of a team. 40:09 Even guys like Peter Vescey get rumors wrong. 41:20 More bets by Dan that the Blazers will be under the Luxury Tax line. 42:04 Casey: if they can do it without losing a key piece, but more likely they will be trying to add. 44:50 Dan is on TV, Casey is not, Dan is going to have Casey on the show when their schedules allow. 46:05 Knicks/Mavericks trade 50:01 Has anyone ever dove so enthusiastically into the tank as the New York Knicks right now? 51:27 For the Knicks sake, Kevin Durant better be coming to New York. 52:46 The whole situation is wonderfully Knicks. 53:05 Neither Casey nor Dan think AD will be moved before the deadline. 55:24 Why this matters. 56:27 Laker's everything--is it really anything? 57:46 Tara: you guys are so boring! 1:00:07 Pelicans will sit Anthony Davis for the rest of the year. 1:01:46 Will Wesley Matthews end up back in Portland? 1:06:05 Melo: why won't national media stop talking about Melo coming to Portland? 1:10:15 Outro. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast, Tara Bowen-Biggs and Danny Marang take a look at the Blazer's recent run of play, Jusuf Nurkic against top competition, CJ McCollum possibly rounding into form, the never ending Jake Layman v Moe Harkless debate, trade rumors that do and don't matter and more!1:44 How Did the Blazers play against two strong centers? Rudy Gobert? 3:00 It was nice to see Nurkic really get after Gobert and the Jazz 4:19 In almost every game you can poinpoint the moment Nurkic "engages" 6:06 Nurkic had a 6X5 against the Jazz if you count turnovers and Fouls 8:04 How did OKC limit the ball going through Jusuf Nurkic? Steven Adams backed off him and said "go ahead and shoot" and cut off his passing lanes. 9:34 State of assists for the Portland Trail Blazers 12:39 Anything to be learned from Phoenix and Atlanta games? 13:46 Atlanta game was a good night for CJ McCollum who has been looking a lot more like himself over the last 10 games. 16:53 CJ has always been able to do a lot of these things but he hasn't done them because he's alongside Damian Lillard, for example pick and roll and playmaking. 18:31 How much did CJ's triple double matter? It was fun being in the arena. 19:29 Vince Carter! The older you get the more stuff you have to wear. 21:28 Harkless vs Layman, who should start? 21:58 Dan's frustration with Moe is about effort every night. With Jake you know he's there every night 23:21 Layman is one of those guys who works off screens and almost never stands still. Plus he dunks! 24:25 Moe is more a spot up shooter who runs to his spot and waits. 25:21 Jake is key to the "Warrior-izing" of the Blazer's offense. 26:31 It is a hard to decide which one is better as a starter because they are so close. The team record with the two of them as starters is basicall the same and their scoring numbers are nearly identical. 28:44 Jake doesn't get to the line much yet, can he get better at it? 29:40 Moe should probably start but may play fewer minutes 30:12 The good news is there are choices. 30:39 Layman probably has a wider ranges of things he can do offensively. How many guys can go off for 20 points in a quarter. 32:10 What to make of rumors that Portland has shown interest in Memphis' players either Garrett Temple of JaMychael Green. 34:00 Dan wants "cool guy" deals only. 34:28 Mike Conley would look nice next to LeBron in Los Angeles. 36:42 A trade involving one of these guys would be doing something for the sake of doing something.. 37:54 What games are you going to be watching when the Blazers are not playing this week? 40:46 Update on Tara's pledge to buy a Blazers Edge ticket for every alley-oop in December and January. 41:22 Meyer's Leonard's almost dunk over Vince Carter! 42:34 Choosing between Alley-oop dunks and alley-oop layups 44:14 In addition to the weird travel schedule there are also some early games so there may be some Outsiders shows and WHAT meetups in our jammies and slippers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week we are checking in with folks in Phoenix and Sacramento to find out how the number one and number two draft picks are living up to expectations. First we talked to Gina Mizell of the Athletic about DeAndre Ayton, chosen first by the Phoenix Suns. What is Ayton like? How is he getting along with first time NBA head coach Igor Kokoskov? Will he and Devin Booker be a powerful force in Phoenix? Then we reconnect with Jill Adge who joined us right after the 2018 draft to tell us about how fans felt about Marvin Bagley III. The Sacramento Kings are off to one of their best starts in years and people are still mad that they didn’t pick Luka Doncic. Join us as we catch up with Gina and Jill and learn more about some of the league’s rising stars. Along the way we talk about LEGO robotics, NBA and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) We speculate about a possible Bagley and Dame Dolla collaboration, and ask how former Trail Blazers pick Harry Giles (traded along with Justin Jackson for Zach Collins) doing in Sacramento? 3:30 Sports and technology 7:45 Introducing Gina Mizell of the Athletic9:10 Path to covering the Phoenix Suns: Houston, Oklahoma, Oregon, Denver and Phoenix12:00 What is it like working with people you grew up watching in the media?16:20 How is the DeAndre Ayton experience going in Phoenix? Ayton is a double double machine so far, plus he's shown growth. Nowhere near his ceiling but there are flashes.18:20 Background on Ayton. Grew up in the Bahamas, moved to Arizona. Spent high school, college and his NBA start all in or around Phoenix. 20:15 Big and open personality. She is writing a series about what he has learned from match ups against veteran centers. 22:00 What he is learning about the game from players like Jokic and Embiid. 1567.710665 26:00 Fans knew the young roster was going to have to grow together and there would be growing pains. 27:05 They only have a few wins but they have beaten Nuggets, Celtics and Milwaukee.28:40 Booker and Ayton's chemistry is developing. Booker is trying to learn how to be a point guard or at least distribute the ball more.32:30 Cassidy thought she was over the Trail Blazers picking Greg Oden over Kevin Durant but maybe she's not . . . 33:40 Talking to Jill Adge about the Kings. Marvin Bagley's ultra quick jumping abilities are real!39:30 Does it sting at all not to have Luka Doncic? It is still a daily conversation. Not sure how he would have fit in with the style the Kings are playing now? 41:10 Bagley is easy to root for.46:35 It is fun to actually hear people around the league talk about that the kings are fun. Nice to not be the laughing stock of the league.47:30 Outro Some of the STEM stuff we talked about:Oregon Robotics Tournament Outreach ProgramNBA Math HoopsNBPA Internships at Google and FacebookChris Bosh Coding the Future Get Social Follow Blazer’s Edge on Twitter @blazersedge, WHAT Pod @HoopsAndTalks, Tara @tcbbiggs, and Cassidy @CassidyGemmet. This week’s guests: Jill Adge (@jilladge) and Gina Mizell (@GinaMizell)Women’s Hoops And Talks (W.H.A.T.)Join the Women’s Hoops And Talks Facebook group to talk about Trail Blazers with others who identify as women who love basketball. Music used in the episode: "Happy Alley" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Trail Blazers are coming off of a 2-2 week and Tara and Dan dive into what we learned from the losses and the what we can take away from the wins. How bad was it losing to Denver and Sacramento? Does having only 4 turnovers against the Cleveland Cavaliers really tell us anything? Will Jake Layman average 20 points a quarter from here on out? Will there be someone else playing alongside Nurkic if the Blazers make a move at the trade deadline? We weigh in on the Ringer’s proposed CJ McCollum-for-Aaron Gordon trade that has gotten so much buzz this week--you can guess Dan has some thoughts--and then list our choices for the All Star starters. Join us for all this and more. 1:45 Recapping the week that was. Denver and Sacramento6:10 Cleveland and New Orleans7:30 Is this the Nurkic who is going to be there in the future? 8:40 What can we take away from the League's the lowest turnover game on record?  Less bounce passes to seven footers. 12:50 Oral history of the Jake Layman experience against New Orleans16:10 Jake is fun to watch and he's got some attitude too.21:50 CJ McCollum for Aaron Gordon trade proposal 33:10 Is Jake Layman one of the top five guys in the league at running? 34:20 Advantage to Orlando is they have a clear number one guy. 36:40 In the existence of the luxury tax the Blazers have only paid it three times. 38:30 All Star Voting returns39:10 Who are our picks for the All Star Game? Western Conference first43:30 Eastern Conference players45:25 Let Zion Williamson be in the Dunk Contest48:00 What to watch for with Utah and OKC coming up. 49:10 vs Utah, don't go away from Nurkic. 50:40 Zach Collins alongside Jusuf Nurkic, will we see more of that this road trip?52:10 Phoenix and Atlanta games53:00 Casey Holdahl’s laugh54:30 Outro Find Tara (@tcbbiggs) and Dan (@dmarang) on Twitter.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast Tara Bowen-Biggs and Danny Marang take a look at the upcoming trade deadline and explore what Portland is possibly doing in the lead up to the midseason break. Will they be looking to add to the roster? Will they opt to fall inside the luxury tax and make moves on the periphery? Why would Jeremy Lin's name pop up out of nowhere? Beyond that, they take a look at the past week of very business-like basketball where Portland went 4-1 on a 5 game home-stand, Nurkic v Jokic, what we know now about this team that we didn't to start the season and more! Intro Opening Comments 2:00 Taking care of business 5:00 Tara doesn't like to call teams good or bad 6:30 Reviewing the Blazers-Nuggets game 7:45 Jusuf Nurkic v Nikola Jokic 9:00 Why you don't double-team Jokic 10:30 Thoughts after Denver game 12:00 Tara doesn't like Jokic because there's no flash... is she wrong? 15:00 What do we know now about this team that we didn't know to start the season? 19:00 They ran a post up for Jake Layman 20:30 Breaking down shot opportunity 23:30 Auditioning Collins for a starting role? 26:30 Will this Blazers roster look the same after the all-star break? 30:20 Every team is making and taking calls to find where other teams sit 33:00 Teams know what other teams are looking for 35:00 Reading the tea leaves around Jeremy Lin and Atlanta... Taurean Prince 39:00 Buyout candidates and the Blazers - a rabbit hole 47:00 Upcoming schedule - padding some wins before the break 51:00 Jusuf Nurkic and the Blazer's new style- how will it do vs AD and the Pelicans 56:00 Closing Comments Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Trail Blazers have reached the halfway point in their season and the NBA is weirder than ever. Tara and Cassidy take a look at the last three Blazers games, wonder if Jake Layman should get a starting role and if Noah Vonleh would still be making an impact in Portland. Then we turn to the big question: can NBA players be friends? And how do friendships unite fans? We spoke to some superfans who have bonded over their love of the Trail Blazers even though they are 67 years apart in age! We had a wonderful time talking to Arinze and Charlene McGee and Soosie of The Golden Girls Who Love the Portland Trail Blazers. 1:30 Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets, a rare home and home back to back: what did we learn?6:00 More Jake? Moe Fun? What to do with the Jake Layman Maurice Harkless debate?10:30 Basketball is full of hard decisions.12:00 An easy decision, firing Tom Thibodeau. Players don’t need to be yelled at. 13:00 If the Trail Blazers didn’t have Terry Stotts (and they couldn’t have Gregg Popovich) who would be a good coaching fit for the team?15:00 Noah Vonleh was a good teammate and he’s doing well in New York19:00 Basketball friendships! Can players be friends?21:00 The ultimate basketball friendship: the Banana Boat gang.22:00 Other basketball friendships: Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum, Gerald Henderson, Wayne Ellington and Ed Davis, the Three Goggle bench mob, Rudy Fernandez and Sergio Rodriguez25:30 PSA: Don’t forget to vote for Damian Lillard for All Star26:00 Fan friendships, how basketball unites us. 29:00 Talking with Charlene and Arinze McGee and Blazer Fan Soosie of the Golden Girls Who Love the Portland Trail Blazers. 31:30 How they all met34:30 Who are the Golden Girls Who Love The Trail Blazers?36:30 Arinze diplomatically refuses to name a favorite Trail Blazer40:00 Soosie’s house is Trail Blazers Disney World43:00 Charlene became a Blazer fan when her family moved here from Liberia46:00 Being friends and bonding over the Blazers allows us to see life in different ways and from different perspectives48:30 Friendships formed around sports cross all sorts of boundaries52:00 Game day routines53:30 Arinze gives us a report on young prospects and star sightings at the Les Schwab Invitational57:00 What would you tell your friends to get them to watch basketball?1:04 Basketball bringing families closer too1:07 Outro and reminders: donate tickets to Blazers Edge night, come to the next #BlazersWHAT meetup on January 13, vote for Damian Lillard for All Star!Get Social Follow Blazer’s Edge on Twitter @blazersedge, WHAT Pod @HoopsAndTalks, Tara @tcbbiggs, and Cassidy @CassidyGemmet. This week’s guests: Charlene McGee (@CAddyMcGee), Arinze McGee@ArinzeMcGeePDX and Soosie of the Golden Girls Who Love The Portland Trail Blazers. Women’s Hoops And Talks (W.H.A.T.)Join the Women’s Hoops And Talks Facebook group to talk about Trail Blazers with others who identify as women who love basketball. Music used in the episode: "Happy Alley" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast Tara Bowen-Biggs and Danny Marang have an off day pod to take a look at the night that was for Jusuf Nurkic, Damian Lillard's All-Star odds, the Blazers going back in time, resorting the Blazers offense, where does CJ McCollum fit in now, storylines to be left in 2018 and more! Intro Opening Comments 2:00 Lillard All-Star odds 4:00 The schedule gets "less bleak" after a brutal December 5:20 "I don't under stand how the Blazers are playing every other night" 6:20 You can run the offense through Jusuf Nurkic 8:00 Takeaways from the Nurkic 5x5 performance 9:10 How would Nurkic react without having the ball? 11:00 Nurkic picking and choosing his moments better this year 12:30 Harkless has the ability to be THAT guy nightly, that's what's frustrating 16:20 "Moe is filling that 3rd option." 17:30 "I love it when he (Aminu) brings the chaos." 20:30 "Right now I think it's best that Dame is the 1st option and then Nurkic (with the ball) as the 2nd option." 23:00 "I love the bounce pass...but please throw one over the top." 24:40 Have the Blazers found something to counter what teams will throw at Dame? 29:00 Thoughts on Seth (Curry) and the 2nd unit's performance lately 34:35 I worry that the match ups have favored Nurkic recently, how will h e do 35:00 Nurkic has spent the last few years figuring out his skills and what it all means within the context of the team 38:00 CJ McCollum and his evolution within this new offense 42:00 What are the storylines you want to see left behind in 2018? 43:00 Zach Collins should start 46:00 Feeling sorry for the Warriors 47:10 Saying Meyers Leonard isn't good 50:10 It's not how much the Blazers pass, it's where they pass to Closing Comments Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After exchanging holiday baking stories, Tara and Cassidy briefly discuss Portland Trail Blazers highlights from 2018. They wonder why the can’t remember anything before last season’s playoffs and look forward to the Blazers getting through this really tough stretch. Then stay tuned for our conversation with KOIN TV sports reporter and anchor AJ McCord. She grew up an athlete, learned about sports from her mom and grandma (Go Chargers!), and has great stories about covering the Blazers including talking to Damian Lillard about the shoes he wore opening night in honor of Paul Allen, traveling to New Orleans to cover the NBA Playoffs, and how she is able to relate to the players after a big loss. 1:00 Pastry talk2:45 Why can't we remember anything that happened before the playoffs?6:30 Go vote for Damian Lillard for All Star! We'll wait. 11:00 How are we feeling about the rest of the Blazer's season.13:20 Relax everyone, LeBron is intact. 15:05 Introducing AJ McCord, sports reporter and anchor at KOIN 6. Grew up in San Diego. College in San Diego, internships and adventure sports in Colorado. Sports reporter in Fayetteville, Arkansas. 21:05 Growing up, her Mom and Grandma were the ones who explained sports to her. 23:50 Covering the Olympic qualifying events in the run up to the 2014 Olympics. Discovering the excitement for and her love of the Paralympics. 29:00 How did being an athlete prepare her for her job covering sports?31:05 Blazers game day routine. The most important parts for her are the pre-pregame warm-ups and the post game locker room. 33:45 Highlights from her time in Portland: Traveling to cover the NBA Playoffs in New Orleans, talking to Damian Lillard about his opening night shoes that he wore in honor of Paul Allen, and getting to know the players. 38:00 Thoughts on Blazers locker room and what is good about good chemistry. 41:00 Having guys get along in the locker room is important, but does a locker room need some fire to really succeed?44:30 Find AJ on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. She would love to hear you ideas for local sports stories: [email protected]. Get Social Follow Blazer’s Edge on Twitter @blazersedge, WHAT Pod @HoopsAndTalks, Tara @tcbbiggs, and Cassidy @CassidyGemmet. This week’s guest: AJ McCord (@AJ_McCord) Women’s Hoops And Talks (W.H.A.T.)Join the Women’s Hoops And Talks Facebook group to talk about Trail Blazers with others who identify as women who love basketball. Music used in the episode: "Happy Alley" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast, Tara Bowen-Biggs and Danny Marang try to make sense of the last few weeks, why the Blazers suddenly can't defend the 3-point line, weird starts and bad endings to games, firing up the trade machine, the turn "against" CJ McCollum Intro Opening Comments 0:20 Why can't the Blazers defend the 3-point shot? 4:00 What is Kyle Korver known for doing? 4:25 What should you never do on Kyle Korver? 5:25 Tara agrees that Danny is objective, kind of 6:15 The lack of effort makes me want to pull my hair out 7:00 Doncic had to redeem himself after Aminu dunked the life out of him 9:30 I want to come up with a reason, but there's not a lot of stuff outside of effort & decision making 9:55 Who are we to know what is creating this perceived lack of effort? 12:50 Portland hasn't won a game trailing heading into the 4th quarter this season 13:50 Damian Lillard scores a lot in the 2nd half but what's going on in the 1st? 15:50 Starting the game through Harkless or Nurkic 17:40 and now.... Back to back with the Warriors 20:40 Asking around about trade value in Portland, it wasn't pretty 21:40 I've never heard the cries for a trade, this loud 23:30 Twitter questions! 24:00 Fire up the Trade Machine! 25:50 The way people talk about trading McCollum now is different 28:40 What are the options for Jody Allen or a prospective owner going forward 29:20 Spotting the next up & coming player and making the move 30:40 The team that keeps popping up around the league as a landing spot for CJ, Dallas 31:00 Does Harrison Barnes move the needle for CJ? 34:10 The market is not aligned for Portland to capitalize right now 39:50 Article on Ed Davis and being shocked about Ed Davis being let go... 40:30 How letting Davis go gave more opportunity to Leonard and Collins 44:50 Getting wrapped up in the role players and not seeing the bigger picture 45:20 Maximizing Leonard and Turner by optimizing their skills 50:20 Tweet for the optimists... what are you excited about? 54:00 Demanding more from the organizations 56:20 Tired of the same hamster wheel... I want a new wheel.  Closing Comments Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast, Tara Bowen-Biggs and Danny Marang are joined by Blazer's Edge alum, formerly of Sports Illustrated and the Washington Post's newest national NBA writer - and all around great guy, Ben Golliver. Together they hit on the state of the franchise from ownership, the ties that Portland has through their fans, looking forward to the trade deadline, trading for Jabari Parker, Jusuf Nurkic's growth, the future for Damian Lillard and much more! Intro Opening Comments 2:30 Pro-"Danny" stance 4:30 ELI5, a Blazer's fan 8:50 Relationship between front office & ownership with the fanbase previously & going forward 9:20 Taking Paul Allen for granted 12:15 Stability of the franchise 14:20 Looking forward to new ownership 17:15 Does the uncertainty of ownership effect players? 19:20 Top tier players and "ownership" of the franchise 20:30 Damian Lillard's future 22:15 Jabari Parker and the Blazers 24:50 Parker as a basketball fit and another chance 28:30 Is this the year that Portland makes a deadline move of consequence? 31:00 Portland "green lighting trades" right now 33:00 Jusuf Nurkic a year after Ben's feature piece 34:20 Nurkic vs Anthony Davis and going forward 38:00 Can Nurkic hold up in high-level playoff situations 38:30 Is this a make or break postseason for this Blazer's team? 44:10 Parity in the NBA 46:20 Aminu Appreciation Society 50:20 Portland making a pivot and trading someone like Aminu 55:00 How does the upcoming trade deadline look? 55:20 Wildcard trade possibility for Chris Paul? 58:00 Ben's newsletter at the Washington Post Closing Comments Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week’s WHAT podcast features a hypothetical playoff scenario (that the Blazers would win), who would be the best retired Trail Blazer to have on the broadcast team, and what should Santa bring for the team this season? Then  Tara and Cassidy are joined by Anna Jane Smith of Raptors Twitter for a tutorial on getting started with basketball statistics.  0:45 Come to the Blazers WHAT meetup watch party!5:45 If the playoffs started today. (which has already changed) the Blazers would play OKC, how do you think the Blazers would do in a seven game series against them? 8:45 Which former Blazer would you like to have as a broadcaster 10:30 A bit about Clyde Drexler on Dancing with the Stars12:00 What should the Blazers ask santa for this year?  16:30 How do you watch a game? 19:30 Introducing Anna Jane Smith how she got into basketball.21:45 Helpful stats for evaluating individual players? Simplest stats are often the best. 23:30 In real time you often see what you expect to see. Sometimes it takes watching a second 25:15 time to figure out what is really going on.25:30 What do you look at to figure out what is going on with a player vs what is going on with a team? Look at lineup data. What combinations are working and what combinations are not working? 27:45 Regularized Adjusted Plus Minus adjusts for teammate quality and opponent quality.32:15 Jacob Goldstein's Player Impact Plus Minus, Luck adjustment. 34:00 Defenses used to have less control over 3-point make rates, but that is changing as teams are learning how to be more effective guarding against the 3-point shot. 36:00 Would you prefer your team take more 3-pointers with a lower success rate or a fewer 3-pointers with better accuracy?39:30 Do you think the league might use stats to make policy changes? 44:30 We can use numbers to bust through narratives a bit, to check assumptions about what we think is going on.  49:30 Some basics to get us started. Player Impact Estimate (PIE) from nba.com, watch for productivity vs impact stats, Cranjis McBasketball for Points Over Expectation (tutorial),ESPN’s Real Plus Minus, Player Impact Plus Minus,  BBall INdex, Basketball Reference, NBA.com  53:45 Writers to follow: Jacob Goldstein, Jeremias Englemann, Cranjis McBasketball56:45 Follow Anna on twitter @AnnaJaneSmith4 57:15 Just kidding, not really done! When is a sample size not small anymore?  And don't forget to pull the Phoenix game (or Bulls) stats out! Music used in the episode: "Happy Alley" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Blazers have won two in a row, are they back on track? Will Jusuf Nurkic get a triple double this year? Why have Damian Lillard's numbers trended upwards these last few weeks? Has the team turned over a new leaf or are those just turnovers? All this and more on the latest edition of the Blazer's Edge Podcast.  1:20 Intro/Dan's new Toy/Placing a bet in Vegas  7:00 Blazers vs Phoenix, a "must not-lose" game  10:00 What did we learn from the Minnesota game?  13:00 Physical Nurkic is tough to guard or score on.  14:30 Turnover troubles  16:30 Dan wants Nurkic to have the ball more. Alright then, who loses touches?  19:40 Damian Lillard is on pace to get the scoring average record, surpassing Clyde Drexler.  20:45 Blazers went a whole game without giving up a 30 point quarter.  21:45 Debating Jake Layman vs Maurice Harkless in the starting lineup?  23:50 Seth Curry's minutes needed to go to Jake Layman  27:50 Layman  runs and runs and runs.  29:15 Lillard's minutes have trended up lately. With the difficult stretch coming it would be good for those to go back down.  35:00 Will point-Nurk get a triple double?  36:40 Have we seen the best and the worst of this team?  38:00 What is behind Nurk's transformation this season?  42:50 Is the bench in a funk?  46:15 Have the Blazers turned the corner?  48:15 Jake Layman's mustache story and random Sinead O'Connor talk.  51:45 Would you make a trade for Trevor Ariza "There's not good reason for Ariza".  54:30 What type of owner do you want to buy the Blazers?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We search for answers to why the Portland Trail Blazers are losing and what they can do to break out of this funk? Is their poor defense really just about effort? What can coaches and players do to get them back to their early season success? Plus, lots of your twitter questions!    2:45 Effort really seems to be the problem with the defense: Lack of communication, late for rotations, giving up on plays, dying on screens . . . You can't waste a 37 point 10 assist night from Damian Lillard.  6:00 What has happened to communication?  8:00 Zach Collins appears like he's in his own head, like he is trying to fight through these last few weeks of sub-par play.  9:30 Even Al-Farouq Aminu is getting caught out of position. Need to get back to the basics of communication.  10:30 Meyers Leonard and Collins playing together, is this a change to pair Collins up with someone.  12:30 Is it time to shake up the lineups, or try something new. What would you try?  13:20 What about adding Wade Baldwin to the lineup? Or moving Aminu to the bench and Collins into the starting lineup.  15:45 Twitter questions: Where do we go from here?  16:30 Tara: try mixing up the lineups or putting Jake Layman back in.  19:30 Dan: Team needs a swift kick in the  . . . and Tara volunteers to have individual conversations with each of them about how they need to win so Dame can be a starter on the All Star team.  20:45 What happened to the flow of the bench unit? They only attempted 11 shots on Sunday night. Is it time to give Anfernee Simons minutes?  23:30 Jusuf Nurkic seems to be finishing inside well this season. Should he be getting more shots?  25:30 When Aminu is missing, why do they keep giving him the ball? That is the scouting report, telling other teams to leave him open.  26:30 Is C.J. McCollum getting more heat than he deserves? Dan thinks the heat is probably just about right.  27:45 Nurkic is putting up career high averages in most categories. What more can you ask for from him?  28:30 Why don't the Blazers play Nik Stauskas more in the second half?  30:00 C.J. vs Gary Harris, on the court and in theory.  34:30 Its frustrating right now not to be able to talk about potential trades. The team is still in limbo after Paul Allen's death.  36:15 The schedule this season seams weird. Is there a different rhythm to it this year that might be behind the lack of focus?  38:05 Why do the Blazers hate us? Is it time to panic?  38:30 Why is every team exceeding their three point percentage average against the Blazers this season?  42:00 If effort is the problem isn't that the coach's job?  43:30 Why has Layman fallen completely out of the rotation?  47:30 Coaches can't tinker too much with lineups because then it looks like they don't know what they are doing.  49:00 Everyone should get a 100 lb hammer to walk around with.  50:00 How do you take care of yourself after a Blazer loss?  52:30 There isn't one thing we can pin the recent slump on. We just have to wait for the team to figure it out.  54:30 New play in the Blazer's play book, the Damian Lillard/Meyers Leonard special 3 second pin-down on Patty Mills.  55:30 Wrap up.  57:30 Blazers Edge Night, March 27 against the Brooklyn Nets.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We check in with our friends Sabreena Merchant from Silver Screen and Roll and Clipps Nation and Jannelle Moore from Bball Index to find out how the Clippers, Lakers and Golden State Warriors are doing so far this season.  04:09 What were the expectations for the Clippers this season and how are people thinking about them now?  07:30 Fan favorites of the Clippers: Montrezl Harrell, Boban Marjanovic 09:45 How are things going since Doc Rivers lost his role as the GM? 12:00 Clippers weaknesses: need someone who can score a lot when they face a really good defense. And they need a defensive center for the future. 16:00 What is the difference between Clipper fans and Laker fans? 17:45 What are the expectations for the Laker fans? 23:00 How is the M.U.D. Lineup playing? 26:30 Jannelle Moore 27:00 It is hard to three-peat 28:00 Weaknesses are the bench and the Center position. 28:45 A few gems on the smaller contracts that the Warriors have been forced to use because they spend their money on the big stars: Quinn Cook, Damian Lee, Alfonzo McKinney 30:30 The journey of guys like McKinney is fun to watch, even for casual fans. 31:45 How will DeMarcus Cousins fit in? 34:40 What do you make of Steve Kerr's comment that this is the real NBA? 34:30 Is Kerr the Milli Vanilli of coaching? 35:15 Did Luke Walton leaving the Warriors have an effect on Kerr's coaching? 36:30 The Warriors take a lot of time to let injured players back on the court, sometimes it feels like they are too conservative. 37:40 If the Warriors are going to be a dynasty, who are the younger players that they are developing to take over once their current roster ages out? 41:00 Draymond and Kevin Durant situation. 43:00 What is the deal with the team suspending Draymond? 44:30 Did KD need an extra large hard hat when he toured the new arena construction site? 45:20 3 reasons why Jannelle thinks KD is going to stay. 48:50 What is the formula for beating the Warriors? 51:10 Some Seth Curry talk Get Social Follow Blazer’s Edge on Twitter @blazersedge, WHAT Pod @HoopsAndTalks, Tara @tcbbiggs, and Cassidy @CassidyGemmet. This week’s guest: Sabreena Merchant @sabreenajm and Jannelle Moore @jannelle12 Women’s Hops And Talks (W.H.A.T.)Join the Women’s Hops And Talks Facebook group to talk about Trail Blazers with others who identify as women who love basketball. Music used in the episode: "Happy Alley" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week we try to figure out which is the real Trail Blazer’s Team? The team that jumped out to a fast start or the one we have seen the past few weeks which looks remarkably familiar to the Trail Blazer’s we’ve seen over the past few seasons. We also answer twitter questions, thanks to @jackfrank_jjf, @lazchance, @KodyTarbe11, @NervousOrca, @Burlacious_M, @GoldnerPDX for sending those in!   0:15 Meyers Leonard and Evan Turner: why are people still complaining about them?2:20 How Zach Collins can work on getting fewer foul calls. 4:40 Thanksgiving5:30 Paul Allen interlude8:15 Blazers are probably thankful for many things like playing on a team full of good guys with a coach they love and respect. 9:50 Rehashing the last 3 losses. How did they happen?11:30 Golden State: They let Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson both get loose. 12:45 Blazers continue to struggle against teams with length.15:00 What has been different for the Trail Blazers over the last few weeks?16:40 In 8 losses, Portland has won the 3rd quarter only one time. 18:10 What would the scouting report say about the Blazers right now?18:50 Golden State Warriors Blitz Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum19:10 Clippers: Drop their bigs back.20:00 Dame is getting the bulk of his assists to Nurkic this year. 21:10 Dan doesn't like the bounce passes through two defenders to the rolling big. Tara disagrees, those passes are the best!23:20 Please guards, throw the ball UP to the big guys so they can catch it above people!25:30 Tara is convinced that the problem in the Clippers game was almost entirely the fact that they lost Jusuf Nurkic in the second half. 27:50 What happened to the Blazer's bench? Is this just a rough patch? 28:30 Rotations have changed a little bit, they have moved away from Evan Turner as ball handler. 30:45 Why aren't we seeing much of Nik Stauskas lately? 32:30 Despite recent struggles this is still be best bench Portland has had in years. They might be doing things in the short term like giving playing time to Seth Curry that will pay off in the long run. Not sure why Stauskas is not getting more playing time. 33:40 Seth Curry is really good at running a pick and roll.34:50 Meyers is scoring efficiently, but how has his rebounding improved? Offensive rebounding is a new development.38:50 Could Al-Farouq Aminu's offensive woes be transferring to his defensive play? He seems to be a little less sharp in that department!39:50 How frustrated is Dan with the team right now? 40:30 The Warriors have ruined the NBA in that they make 65 wins look too easy. 44:40 Seth Curry hasn't hit a groove yet. He's been in some three guard lineups but the Blazers give up a lot of length which they don't really have to give/ 46:20 Dan swears up and down that Seth is phenomenal in the pick and roll. Swears. Like Lillard. Suggests getting Seth into the early offense. 47:30 What happens to Layman now that Harkless is back? Moe will need to prove that he should be getting the minutes. We will learn a lot over the next 1- games because the schedule will be really tough and Stotts will likely  solidify his rotations. Harkless could really add defense to the bench. 51:50 If Nurkic is out, should Collins or Meyers Leonard start? 53:40 It is a scary line of bigs coming up. 56:10 Nurkic has matured beautifully into his role. 1:02:30 Dan hoping for a 2-1 road trip, most likely is probably 1-2. 1:04:30 Blazers Edge night, March 25 vs the Brooklyn Nets! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

At the time of this recording, the Portland Trail Blazers were alone at the top of the mighty Western Conference. 20 minutes into the recording they were tied with the Memphis Grizzlies and the LA Clippers, but the important thing is, the Blazers continue to play well. Even coming off of a 1-2 week, things are still looking pretty good for the Blazers and the Blazers’ Edge weekly podcast has the rundown for you.  How does Anfernee Simons look in real NBA minutes? Why didn’t Coach Stotts play Meyers Leonard much at all in the Minnesota game? How much is the bench missing Seth Curry? Just how good is Jusuf Nurkic playing this season? Many players are really hustling this season.  Evan Turner is great at finding players in their spots. What about that 15 second, nine-pass play? Is that "real" Trail Blazer's basketball? Would the Trail Blazers want to trade for any of the Washington Wizards players?   All of this and more on this week’s edition of the Blazer’s Edge podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On the latest Women’s Hoops And Talks (WHAT) Podcast, Tara Bowen-Biggs (Team Mom) and Cassidy Gemmet are joined by Anne Peterson of the Associated Press to talk about how things have changed in the media over the years.  It has been an exciting start to the NBA season, with plenty to talk about in just under a month of regular season play. First we talk about what has surprised us like punches thrown, early season trades and Warriors intrigue. Of course we have praise for the surprising Trail Blazers bench who are in mid-season form.  Then we talk about how overwhelming the media has become, with so many big personalities, so many choices and so many platforms for fans to follow. We share some of our favorite media resources for following the NBA.  Finally we talk to our favorite media resource, Anne Peterson. Anne tells us how things have changed since she was a young reporter. What is easier? What is more challenging? Finally, she gives us the inside scoop about what it was like on press row the first time LeBron James came to town in a Lakers uniform.  Follow Blazer’s Edge on Twitter @blazersedge, WHAT Pod @HoopsAndTalks, Tara @tcbbiggs, and Cassidy @CassidyGemmet. This week’s guest: Anne Peterson (@anniempeterson)  Women’s Hops And Talks (W.H.A.T.)Join the Women’s Hops And Talks Facebook group to talk about Trail Blazers with others who identify as women who love basketball. Music used in the episode: "Happy Alley" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dan and Tara talk about what its like to watch the best Blazer basketball they have seen in a long time.  01:45 Most fun basketball in 10 years  04:30 Please get better soon Moe Harkless  07:20 Does the team have an identity now?  10:00 They have an identity and its bifurcated.  11:45 What does the Jimmy Butler trade mean for Portland  19:30 How CJ Is finding his way  22:00 Aminu Appreciation Segment  25:15 Jake Layman appreciation segment  26:20 The old "Ice the other team by leveling the rim" trick  27:50 Why hasn't Dame gotten to the foul line for basically 3 games?  34:00 Twitter questions:  35:05 Nickname for Seth?  36:20 What it is like to have a name that is a food?  37:10 How will be bench and Zach Collins do on the upcoming road trip?  38:30 Dan goes in on how well Zach Collins has been the last few weeks.  42:10 Two handed rebounding this year  45:10 Collins appears to be being groomed to play power forward at least for a few years.  46:30 Will Aminu be traded at the deadline?  53:10 Portland bench on the road is shooting well, almost 50, 40, 90  55:10 Fouls are not worrisome this year.  55:45 Not another Marcus Aurelius quote  57:10 Who is your favorite Marvel Super Hero?  1:01:00 Would we like Melo for the Trail Blazers on a veteran's minimum?  1:04:04 What would it take to trade for Kelly Oubre or Otto Porter Jr if Washington blows everything up?  1:07:05 Has the energy in the arena improved?  1:11:30 Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast, Tara Bowen-Biggs and Danny Marang take a look at the Blazers 4-1 week, commiserating over a Lakers loss but moving on, with a big chunk of time spent discussing the situation and role of CJ McCollum as he tries to find his way within the Blazer's shifting offensive game plan. A deep dive into when and where McCollum is getting his touches and then what he's doing with them highlight his attempts at trying to fit in rather than fit out. From there it's onto the nightmare fuel that is the Milwaukee Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo and the upcoming Los Angeles Clippers and their surprising revival through the first 10 games of the season. All that and more on this week's episode!! Intro Opening Comments :30 Tara as a scout 2:00 Arguing about Zach Collins, a tradition unlike any other 4:00 Review the week that was 5:00 Did you know Anthony Davis was out? 5:20 Anthony Davis tried to give it a go vs POR 7:00 Bingo card- Dan reminds us he's old and has bad knees! (also Moe Harkless should get 100% healthy) 8:00 Shout out Jake Layman for doing good things! 10:40 Tara's theory on the Wizards game - "Last gasp win" 12:50 Lakers game, felt like it had the "coach is about to get fired bump" 13:30 Lonzo Ball is still bad. Like, really, really bad.  15:00 Should you feel bad for the Timberwolves? 16:00 Listener question! Who's been the biggest disappointment? 18:00 Aminu struggling from deep 21:45 What's wrong or different with CJ McCollum? 22:00 Nerd alert- play type data breakdown. Different scenarios and role for McCollum 24:00 McCollum is getting the ball less, handling it less, and in different spots 26:00 He's trying Jennifer 28:15 CJ is going to the rim more than ever, but has been awful finishing 29:00 He has to figure out how to finish in traffic 30:00 I just have faith that he's going to figure this out... 31:45 "Reality is overrated" 33:00 Taking a look at the Bucks 35:00 Giannis + 3 point shooting = terrifying 35:30 Easily the biggest test of the season so far 35:40 You can't, you won't, Giannis is unstoppable 36:45 Is Giannis the most dynamic athlete in the history of the league? 37:00 Giannis got his grown man body...you just live with him getting his 38:00 Make Giannis a shooter. Be a very basic defense 38:15 Why do teams game plan to take away everything but the stars? 40:50 Bucks probably have the toughest bench match up all year, maybe Jazz? 41:30 Does/Will Stotts have a trick or two up his sleeve? 45:00 This is a nightmare Match up for for Jusuf Nurkic 47:20 How can the Blazers win this game? 49:00 So, the Clippers are an actual team? Seriously.  51:00 Closing Comments Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast, Tara Bowen Biggs and Danny Marang take a look at the Blazer's past week where Portland found themselves dropping two of three games in pretty terrible fashion against the tire fire that is the Washington Wizards and failed to come out with enough energy against the Fighting Dwyane Wade's in Miami. Along the way they discuss Tara's love for the Beastie Boys, what happened in the closing minutes against the Wizards, CJ McCollum's slow start, Damian Lillard playing at a truly elite level, Zach Collins' emergence as a box score contributor, looking forward to games against the Indiana Pacers and Houston Rockets and much more! :30 Tara's Beastie Boys love Intro 2:00 Opening Comments 3:45 Is it fool's gold, is everything we saw gone? Please send help.  5:00 Why didn't the Blazers go small vs the Wizards 6:00 The Wizards won't have a players only meeting, they can't stand each other 9:20 Is there something up with CJ or is he just having a slump? 10:40 Miami was the 6th time Dame has scored 40 or more in a loss 12:00 As long as you're not crossing a line, say what you want- Orlando fan is still a schmuck 12:35 Lillard makes 30/5/5 make simple now 13:50 The first half (vs MIA) just felt like last year...did you see anything extra concerning in that game? 14:50 Burn the game tape and move on 16:15 Nurkic looked baaaaaad 18:40 CJ has had a a rough stretch match up wise to start the season 20:15 Dwyane Wade was in vintage mode 23:00 People should stop with the Meyers Leonard slander 24:10 Meyers obliterating someone with a screen let Damian Lillard get downhill over and over 26:30 I didn't expect him (Collins) to impact the box score the way he has this early 29:00 His jumper is still a bag of cats when his base isn't good, but when it is- it looks really solid 32:00 He (Collins) NEEDS to get credit for that (8-for-8 FTs) 34:20 I think we've seen more progress from him (Collins) 35:50 Did you read Tyreke Evans' apology- it was the best  40:10 Teams play defense- higher pace, more 3's, more free throws equals more points 43:10 I'm worried about the Rockets game just because things have been going so bad for them 44:30 They don't have their defensive coach anymore... you gave me Carmelo, what am I supposed to do with this? 45:00 Chris Paul looks miserable and he just looks like he doesn't want to be there 49:15 "Mirotic" sigh... 50:45 There's gotta be a way to beat them (Pelicans) 53:00 I'm loving him (Evan Turner) running that 2nd unit 53:50 Is Moe with us tonight? 54:40 What would you do (with Harkless out)? 56:20 I've noticed this year, if guys got the ball and weren't in a good position for a shot they gave it up 59:35 I feel like Aminu's handle has gotten a lot better 61:00 I just realized, this is Aminu in a contract year 62:30 This should be a pretty telling week 63:00 Couple things we can tell so far, Dame has elevated to true 1st Team All-NBA status Closing Comments Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week’s episode of the Blazer’s Edge podcast, Tara Bowen-Biggs and Danny Marang take a look at the Blazer’s 2-0 start, the madness of the first week of NBA action, “Spitgate”, early storylines, Portland’s bench revival, Maurice Harkless coming off the bench, Damian Lillard picking up where he left off last season, how hot is “the sauce” and more! IntroOpening Comments:40 What the hell is going on in the NBA? 1:45 Coach Stotts introduces the whistle wrinkle 3:10 Dan has never seen Sound of Music.4:05 What has made the last two games so fun to watch?4:20 Vet Minimum Signing Nik Stauskas carries game one. He earned his whole salary that game.6:00 Dame’s NBA Award speech6:50 The Moda center crowd is bringing it7:40 Checking in on where the Blazers are with Assists, Rebounds and Fast Break Points9:00 Fast pace because of Lakers and because of Evan turner10:05 Even Turner is straight up playing well in his job of bench playmaker11:20 Zach Collins-- game one impacted the game defensively, game two he impacted it offensively. Evan Turner has been a big part of that.13:15 Is the bench play something that can continue the whole season?14:30 Nik Stauskas able to get into the paint is unexpected and provides different looks.16:30 Will Maurice Harkless continue to come off the bench? He’s really effective. Is he happy there?18:45 Jake is doing just fine in the starting lineup. Stotts is treating it like the Noah Vonleh experiment. Jake starts, Hakless gets the bulk of the minutes,20:15 Has the Blazer Bench Celebration Brigade peeked too early?21:25 Portland guards gave the San Antonio guards a heck of a night.23:15 Meyers off the bench: 8-10 minutes and creating things for others, partially by effective screening, which is a thankless job.26:15 Lets talk about the starters.26:50 Damian Lillard MVP Campaign has already started.29:05 Damian Lillard has been this good all along, and that is part of what makes him great.30:15 Is anyone going to vote for Chris Paul for all star anymore? Rajon Rondo might see an uptick!33:15 Thoughts on players being friends.35:15 Feels like there is an edge or extra tension throughout the league this season.36:15 This league-wide hyped up NBA offense might be the offseason wrinkle that no one saw coming. Probably somewhat due to more free throws and newer coaches unleashing 3 point shooting.39:15 Also, more 3s mean longer rebounds which pushes the pace.40:20 Previewing upcoming games. Washington (also Nurkic talk).44:00 Miami and Orlando: Portland tends to struggle in both locations45:40 Tara brings up injuries despite complaining every time anyone else brings up injuries. 47:00 Don’t let either one of the Florida games be a trap game!47:45 Remembering Paul Allen51:25 First Women’s Hoops And Talks meet-up of the season is October 27! Join us to watch Blazers take on Miami. Find out more by joining our Facebook group or visit us on meetup.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On the latest edition of the Women’s Hoops And Talks (WHAT) podcast, Tara and guest hosts Alex Haigh (@owlhix) and Cassidy Gemmet go team-by-team through the Western Conference. Who were the major additions, who moved on, which young teams have a bright outlook and which old stars will drag their teams through the season? We also chose walk-up songs for each team, you can find all of them on our WHAT Western Conference YouTube Playlist. Timestamps 3:00 Remembering  Portland Trail Blazer's owner Paul Allen 7:20 Los Angeles Lakers, I Need a Hero, Bonnie Tyler10:30 How bad would it be if they didn't make the playoffs13:00 San Antonio Spurs, Montage Song from Team America17:30 Houston Rockets, So Close By Hall and Oats22:30 New Orleans Pelicans Dancin’ On My Own, Robyn28:30 Minnesota Timberwolves Love the One You're With, Stephen Stills 34:40 Los Angeles Clippers,  I Hope You Dance, Leanne Womak 40:05 Golden State Warriors, Theme to Dynasty AND  Hit ‘em High Monstars Theme song 43:00 Denver Nuggets, The Climb, Miley Cyrus47:15 Dallas, Dallas Theme Song51:15 Phoenix Suns, Nothin' to Lose by Kylie Minogue53:15 Memphis Grizzlies, Take Back the Night by Justin Timberlake56:30 Utah Jazz , Stuck in the Middle with You, Stealer’s Wheel, 58:45 Sacramento Kings, Joan Baez There But for Fortune Go You or I63:30 Oklahoma City Thunder, Stand By Your Man, Tammy Wynette Get Social Follow Blazer’s Edge on Twitter @blazersedge, WHAT Pod @HoopsAndTalks, Tara @tcbbiggs, and Kendyl @kendylbennett16. This week’s guests: Alex Haigh (@owlhix) and Cassidy Gemmett (not on Twitter, yet!) Women’s Hops And Talks (W.H.A.T.) Join the Women’s Hoops And Talks Facebook group to talk about Trail Blazers with others who identify as women who love basketball. Music used in the episode: "Happy Alley" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast, Tara Bowen-Biggs and Danny Marang take a look at the Trail Blazers preseason, what looked good, what needs work and what to look forward to into the season. From there it's opening night and the Los Angeles Lakers, will the Blazers win? Then it's a twist on a Western Conference Preview, where we take a look at some different questions/storylines, which ultimately leads to Tara making her greatest hot take proclamation. That and more on this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast Intro Opening Comments Tara's Fantasy Basketball Draft Birthday Basketball! Blazers v Lakers Opening Night Buy into LeBron James' teams starting slow K.I.S.S. - Blazers mantra Blazers win on opening night? Overall feeling heading into the season Blazers bench unit ups and downs Meyers Leonard can shoot, seriously Preview Edition Most overrated and underrated in the Western Conference? Which team finishes with a better record, Suns or Kings? Which team finishes with a better record, Warriors or Rockets? What team in the Western Conference has the best bench? Role playing time! What do I need to do to make the franchise relevant again- Memphis Grizzlies What do I need to do to make the franchise relevant again- Los Angeles Clippers What do I need to do to make the franchise relevant again- Dallas Mavericks Dirk Nowtizki retirement tour Tara picks a winner opening night Seeding projections! Thoughts on the Spurs losing their backcourt Lakers missing the playoffs? Something new, different, or interesting this season Utah Jazz execution, Houston Rockets going YMCA lineup Closing Comments Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week’s episode of the Blazer’s Edge podcast, Tara Bowen-Biggs and Danny Marang take a look at the first 3 preseason games; who has stood out, who has lacked some polish, what are the big picture take aways, Jusuf Nurkic with the green light from 3, Nik Stauskas operating outside of expectations, Anfernee Simons continues to shine, Meyers Leonard delivering on offense, Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum look ready to start the season, injury concerns for Moe Harkless and Evan Turner and more! Intro Opening comments French tuck spotted! What have we learned through 3 games of preseason basketball? Nik Stauskas revival What could this mean for the early season rotation? Development curve for role players under Terry Stotts Meyers Leonard delivering offensively so far Dunks and 3's oh my! Tara calls Meyers a giant squid Does Meyers look different? Jusuf Nurkic 3's are real! Nurkic has found a great balance on both ends Doubling down on Anfernee Simons Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum are in midseason form Seth Curry and the 3-guard lineup McCollum looking to facilitate Zach Collins early impressions- a bit rough? Don't expect Collins to replace Ed Davis Is Collins a slow starter? Where will Wade Baldwin fit in this year? Being on the floor for the halftime show Maurice Harkless and Evan Turner both out- cause for concern? Things you want to see over the last preseason games? Meyers continuing to shoot well Overall roster health  Seth Curry and Zach Collins have get right games before the season tips off Closing comments Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tara, Kendyl and Karol Collymore of XRAY-FM in the Morning cover a wide range of topics from how we as fans judge players, what do players really “owe” us, using sport as a platform and what role sports plays in community activism and involvement? Join us this week as we talk about players asking for trades, why we are worried about super teams and will this be Jake Layman’s year? We share how we are coping with LeBron in a Laker jersey, preview some of the Eastern Conference teams that intrigue us and ask if Lonzo Ball deserves to be in Space Jam 2? 00:30 Introduce Karol Collymore 4:00 What is going on with Jimmy Butler 10:30 Kawhi Leonard--does he owe anyone an explanation? 14:00 Will this be the year of Jake Layman? 18:30 How are we handling the Lebron to the Lakers situation? 25:00 The ring debate. How important is a ring for a player to be in the Hall of Fame? 29:30 What is Space Jam 2 going to be like? 33:00 Mini East Preview: Kendyl looks at Celtics and Raptors 41:30 Mini East Preview: Tara talks about the Wizards and the Hornets 48:00 How are sports part of social and community activism? Get Social Follow Blazer’s Edge on Twitter @blazersedge, WHAT Pod @HoopsAndTalks, Tara @tcbbiggs, and Kendyl @kendylbennett16. This week’s guests: Karol Collymore (@karolcooks) Women’s Hops And Talks (W.H.A.T.) Join the Women’s Hops And Talks Facebook group to talk about Trail Blazers with others who identify as women who love basketball. Music used in the episode: "Happy Alley" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge Podcast, Tara Bowen-Biggs and Danny Marang break down Media Day highights; Maurice Harkless injury news, more ball movement, more 3's on offense and more. Then it's onto Preseason basketball, yes it's officially here and things are already in midseason form! Damian Lillard makes it look easy, questioning rotations, hope for Meyers Leonard, wondering if Harkless will contribute- the story lines are here folks! Plus some insights from Fanfest, thoughts on a few tweaks to the Blazers offense, what we've seen that's new for the Blazers on both ends of the floor and a whole lot more! Intro Opening Comments Stand out thoughts from Media Day Harkless being shut down during the Summer Is Maurice Harkless the glue guy? Blazers pecking order on offense Damian Lillard's Media Day thoughts Dad Lillard Lillard & McCollum on playing in Portland Blazers will move the ball more on offense Putting pressure on the ball defensively Will Portland rack up fouls based on reputation? Neil Olshey goes to bat for Jake Layman Jusuf Nurkic is getting 3's up More 3's by committee Seth Curry and the run up to the season Giving Curry a month to get into the groove Seth Curry, better version of Allen Crabbe Blazers need to find rebounding with the 2nd unit How did Leonard and Collins play off each other? Jusuf Nurkic first thoughts in preseason Will Nurkic take 3's? Is Zach Collins a slow starter? Meyers Leonard sinking down into the corner for 3 Leonard gets love at Fanfest Rookie Dances Gary Trent Jr has all the confidence  Anfernee Simons has the ability to create his shot effortlessly Nik Stauskas pushing to get in the rotation Closing Comments  Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast, Tara Bowen-Biggs and Danny Marang have on special guest Sean Highkin to talk about the now epic saga of Jimmy Butler, Karl Anthony-Towns, Coach Thibodeau, Sean's wildest days covering the Chicago Bulls beat, whether or not Portland is really a player for Butler, should the Blazers include CJ McCollum in a deal, what this means for the Western Conference, expectations for the Blazers rotations, favorite media day quotes, what to look forward to in the preseason and more! Intro Opening comments Sean Highkin everybody! The Timberwolves and the apocalypse How dirty has the whole situation become? Breaking down the events of the past week A bored Stephen Jackson is amazing Realistic destinations for Butler Most dysfunction team Sean's seen/covered Tara feels bad for Timberwolves fans, but loves the carnage How much leverage do the Timberwolves have Should Portland offer CJ in a deal? The package that Portland should offer The price of Butler, financially could get messy Why you need to take the best offer Butler is cut from a different cloth, would that work in Portland? Coach Stotts and consistency What are some of the keys to the Stotts system Looking forward to the Blazers defense this year How the Blazers could offer different looks between Jusuf Nurkic and Zach Collins Could the Blazers switch on defense? The Blazers in transition on offense...can it get better? Is Seth Curry the answer for the 2nd unit and transition points? Sean's thoughts on Collins heading into the season Blazers Media Day! Best media day quotes Giving coaches player personnel power is not a good idea Closing comments Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On the latest edition of the Women’s Hoops And Talks (WHAT) podcast, Tara and special guest host Alex Haigh  (@owlhix) talk about the stories they are looking forward to in the upcoming NBA season. From the Eastern Conference Trail Blazers (also known as the Brooklyn Nets) to Wade Baldwin’s loooooong arms, and from retirement tours to all-in-the Curry family fun, there will be something for everyone this year. Then we invite Jannelle Moore, writer for Golden State of Mind, to tell us what stories to watch for as the Warriors go for their third straight championship. You’d be surprised what is on her mind! While there is plenty of talk about Steph Curry and the rest of the All Stars, there are other interesting stories to keep an eye on this year. Follow Blazer’s Edge on Twitter @blazersedge, WHAT Pod @HoopsAndTalks, Tara @tcbbiggs, and Kendyl @kendylbennett16. This week’s guests: Alex Haige (@owlhix) and Jannelle Moore (@jannelle12) Women’s Hops And Talks (W.H.A.T.) Join the Women’s Hops And Talks Facebook group to talk about Trail Blazers with others who identify as women who love basketball. Music used in the episode: "Happy Alley" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast, Tara Bowen-Biggs and Danny Marang take a look at the recent changes at NBC Sports Northwest, Damian Lillard's off-season workout video, the ticking time-bomb that is the Minnesota TimberBulls, whether or not Jimmy Butler is a viable target for the Trail Blazers, the value of a good locker room, how much continuity can matter, international basketball, lineups, rotations and more! Also, why Tara now hates dunks.  Intro Opening comments Announcements! Damian Lillard offseason workouts CJ McCollum, sad Browns fan TimberBulls, Assemble! What is going on in Minnesota? Ramifications of the Jimmy Butler meeting Will the Timberwolves have to choose between Butler and Karl Anthony Towns? The value of a a good locker room When does continuity matter? How far will Minnesota go to placate Butler? International Basketball Al-Farouq Aminu and Nigeria secure 2019 FIBA spot Jusuf Nurkic, Point Gawd! Review of Nurkic for Bosnia & Herzegovina  Tara hates dunks Taking a look a rotations for this season Most likely to step into a bigger role? Where and when will Zach Collins play? Will the starting lineup change this year? Gary Trent Jr. and opportunity Closing comments Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast Tara Bowen-Biggs and Danny Marang take on preseason awards like MVP, 6th Man, Most Likely to Get Punched in the Face, Most Likely to Become a Folk Hero, Most likely to Regress and more. Then it's possibly Dan's hottest take yet... does Anfernee Simons have "it"? That and more on this week's episode! Intro Opening Comments The worst pun ever Most likely to get punched in the face Fist Magnets Gary & Gary Violence! MVP choices Tara comes full circle on Nurkic Most likely to become a folk hero Who's the one to regress Does Anfernee Simons have "it" More likely- CJ to feature on Dame's album or Dame breaking another story Kevin Durant should've actually gone with Slim Reaper Dame's breaking news shop Shout out Chris Haynes Blazers not all over Instagram this offseason Did the playoff sweep change the Blazers Nurkic's interior defense- pretty decent Carmelo Anthony and watching the world burn Why won't Carmelo Anthony go full heel Most likely to get into a Twitter beef Closing Comments Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast, Tara Bowen-Biggs and Danny Marang take a look at the moves made this week by the Los Angeles Lakers (buying out Luol Deng), the Phoenix Suns (sending out Brandon Knight and Marquese Chriss) and the Houston Rockets (moving Ryan Anderson and De'Anthony Melton) - and how that could impact the Western Conference and what it could potentially mean for the Trail Blazers. Beyond that, the Suns apparently picked up the phone to call and ask about Damian Lillard...without including Devin Booker or DeAndre Ayton. Danny and Tara discuss how that phone call probably went and then dive down the rabbit hole of a deal that maybe could work. From there it's the rise of Donovan Mitchell's profile nationally and how that could impact Damian Lillard in the coming years. That and more on this week's episode! Intro Opening Comments Luol Deng bought out by Lakers Lakers punting on the season LA's ability to be the next superteam  Phoenix-Houston trade First of all... what the?! Is Houston a good place for developing players What exactly is Houston doing? Have the Rockets gotten better this summer? Contracts of 2016, who's left standing? The Suns called about Damian Lillard How did this phone call go? Is there a deal that could be made between Portland and Phoenix? What if the Suns called about CJ McCollum- is there a deal there? Damian Lillard and Khalil Mack...a rant.  Donovan Mitchell over Damian Lillard as a All-Star next year, buying it? How is Lillard looked at nationally vs Mitchell? Closing Comments Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast Tara Bowen-Bigg cover the week that was in social media from CJ McCollum's "Im trying Jennifer" to Anfernee Simons making his debut in the vaunted workout Instagram summer workout videos, gambling is coming to the NBA- what does that mean,  the worst tan lines ever, the Rip City Cornhole Tournament and more on this week's Blazer's Edge podcast! Intro Opening Comments Rip City Cornhole Tournament Instagram Workout Time Anfernee Simons debuts on the Workout circuit What to take from workout videos, if anything Set Curry returns to the court for 5-on-5 action  CJ McCollum embracing the role of villain? McCollum doubles down on "disgusting" "Im trying Jennifer" T-shirt bonanza Gambling is coming to the NBA Intro Q & A to gambling What are my options for betting on basketball right now How to place a bet to that impact it could have on the league Places like Buffalo Wild Wings trying to take advantage early What are the benefits to the league The NBPA and Adam Silver are both in support What are the potential pitfalls Insider knowledge and what that means for the press The impact on the viewing product Blazer5 Gaming is upset in the First Round Closing Comments Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast, Tara Bowen-Biggs and Danny Marang take a look at the NBA schedule release and break down the highs, lows, and everything in between for the Portland Trail Blazers. Danny makes a bet with Rip City Radio's Chad Doing that could really hurt, Tara has more conspiracies, winning streaks on the line, appreciating CJ McCollum and player contributions, adjusting to NBA trends and more! IntroOpening commentsBets being madeChip Challenge deathConspiracies!?!Tara’s important winning streaksScheduling highlightsOpener, road trips, Christmas Day and moreBreaking down the season and projecting where Portland ends upPredicting games in August!Win totalsSimulation numbers and hand picksWestern Conference win totalsNBA trends and how the Blazers have adjustedReplacing Ed Davis’ offensive reboundingWill the Blazers change their styleThe changing style of the NBA and the value of free throwsUnderstanding and appreciating CJ McCollumWhere should Portland look for growthClosing commentsOutro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tara and Kendyl (and Kendyl’s dog with occasional background vocals) were joined by the Portland Trail Blazers’ new Digital Content Manager, Amara Baptist. They learned more about Amara’s background, how she got to where she is today and what it is like to be the person behind the social media accounts. Then they talked about meeting the newest Trail Blazers at Summer League and how she is adjusting to life in her new city. Listen in to find out if she has decided on a doughnut allegiance yet. Amara is the person behind all of the Blazer’s digital accounts: twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat (trailblazers), and trailblazers.com 1:30 introducing Amara Baptist, regw up a Lakers fan, worked at Fox Sports, spent two years with Memphis Grizzlies running their social media.3:30 on hearing a lot of “nos” and pushing through.4:00 Interning at the Kobe Bryant Skills Academy and with The Drew League. 6:30 What is it like to be a digital content manager and how is it going with the Blazers?9:00 How do you take on a voice that is already established?10:30 How do you deal with backlash or fan reactions when things are rough? Being with the Grizzlies who lost 60 games last season, learned that you can’t take it personally, that fans need to express themselves.12:30 Brooklyn Bar-B-Que tweet cheers folks up during a 16 game losing streak. 14:00 Settling into Portland and meeting the players. Getting to know the younger guys at Summer League.16:00 Giving Amara some tips on things to do in Portland18:00 Does she have a doughnut preference yet? 20:30 Who is a woman who inspires her? Her friend @minapark who worked for the LA Rams and recently started her own digital agency, Crispy Chicken Co.  Join the Women’s Hops And Talks Facebook group to talk about Trail Blazers with others who identify as women who love basketball. Music used in the episode: "Happy Alley" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast Tara Bowen-Biggs and Danny Marang take a look back at the week that was; NBA Africa with Al-Farouq Aminu and the basketball savant Joel Embiid, Neil Olshey's "State of the Blazers Union" address with specific highlights such as; TPE value discussion, conspiracy theories, the real reason the Blazers let Ed Davis go, Olshey doing his best Jeff Goldblum impersonation, how Portland changed their offseason plan quite drastically Las Vegas Over/Under and more! IntroOpening commentsNBA AfricaJoel Embiid, basketball savantAl-Farouq Aminu did somethingOffseason workouts and developing skillsThe work players put in to develop their gameNeil Olshey interviewUnderstanding what Olshey was talking about with the TPE value and admitting they got it wrongConspiracy Theories! The real reasons the Blazers let Ed Davis goImpact on the big man rotationThe difference between trust and talentNeil Olshey goes Jeff Goldblum and finds a wayLooking back at getting CJ into the lineup early in his careerAdmitting mistakes that don’t matterOlshey states that Portland had 5 wings in mind- who could they have been?Overall reaction to the Olshey State of the UnionFavorite Blazers offseason memories of all timeBlazers over/under announced at 41.5 winsClosing commentsOutro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast, Tara Bowen-Biggs and Danny Marang take a look around the league to break down player movement; LeBron to the Lakers and everything else that followed, Kawhi Leonard traded for DeMar DeRozan, DeMarcus Cousins signing in Golden State, and then CJ McCollum and Kevin Durant discussing the current state of the Warriors, their impact on the league and how the Warriors are viewed by players, why the Blazers not using the TPE isn't the end of the world and more! It's definitely the late offseason folks... IntroOpening CommentsPlayer movement updatesPat Connaughton and sneaky athleticNik Stauskas, next in line for 'bench guy’Evan Turner loves weddingsCJ McCollum and Kevin DurantOverall takes from CJ’s podcastDurant baiting McCollumCJ on Boogie CousinsCJ on Jusuf NurkicSelf awareness is not as common as you may thinkWas CJ wrong about his take on the Warriors?Is the league better when players are friends or enemies?Best moves of the offseasonThoughts on Kawhi being traded to TorontoWinners/losers in the tradeWhat team will surprise this year?Outside of LeBron James, what are the Lakers doing?Rajon Rondo is not the guy you bring in to stabilize the rosterThe Real Lakers of Los Angeles are going to be a disaster you can’t look away fromWith things as they are now- where does Portland fall?Why the Blazers not using the TPE isn’t the end of the worldThere are plenty of things to be mad/frustrated aboutHow the TPE was presented vs. how it’s historically been usedBlazer5 Gaming update-playoffs!!Closing CommentsOutro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast, Tara Bowen-Biggs and Danny Marang take a minute to celebrate the 2018 Summer League champion Portland Trail Blazers, then it's time to discuss Portland's rotation players and what dreams, expectations, and potential growth opportunities are there for the Blazers main contributors returning to the team. How much can someone expect a player like CJ McCollum to grow, where is it most likely to happen? How much more does Damian Lillard have to give? Can Jusuf Nurkic be a 20 and 10 guy nightly? That and more on this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast! IntroOpening CommentsSummer League ChampsEnjoying Lakers exceptionalism being snuffed outHopes and reasonable expectations for the veteransDamian Lillard - All Star starter?Lillard, becoming more efficient as a shooterLillard upping his scoring potential and efficiency to the greatest Blazer of all timeCJ McCollum dreams- making an All Star team?Hopes for McCollum, making it to the free throw lineThe value of McCollum getting to the line more oftenJusuf Nurkic - be aggressive and be consistentExpectations for Nurkic, 100 dunk attemptsAl-Farouq Aminu dreams- be a Trail Blazer at the end of the seasonAminu expectations, more consistent as a 3-point shooterMaurice Harkless, where do you start?The expectations and dreams of Terry Stotts for this team- having a small forward to count on night in, night outDreams for Harkless, contribute nightly. Evan Turner- dreams, reverting back to his former self as  Boston Celtic while also finding ways to score off the ballMeyers Leonard dreams, hopes and expectations- figure out how to stay on the floor.Blazer5 GamingClosing CommentsOutro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast, Jamie Hudson of NBCSportsNW joins Tara Bowen-Biggs and Danny Marang to talk all things related to Blazer's Summer League; the emergence of Wade Baldwin, Anfernee Simons showing more than expected early on, CJ McCollum's shoe release, the growth of Zach Collins and more! Danny and Tara break down what really matters at Summer League, what's best to observe and what's better to discount, how impactful can the young Blazers be, highest hopes and likely expectations and more! Intro Opening Comments Jamie Hudson joins the show Things you may notice in the media section Caleb Swanigan talking on the floor How do you get this far into the show and not mention Wade Baldwin Has Baldwin played himself into a contract with the Blazers this season Wade Baldwin and #fullthrottle Veteran Blazers and the impact on the young Blazers CJ McCollum appreciates Anfernee Simons' patience early on McCollum's shoe release Biggest changes for Zach Collins between last year and this year Anfernee Simons' focus for the season- targeting the defensive side of the ball Jamie's latest How will the young players work their way onto the floor How can Simons get on the court Small forward position is wide open Theme for the season; High hopes, reasonable expectations Gary Trent Jr, what's the path for him this year Can Trent Jr. be a defender If Baldwin is guaranteed, how do the Blazers utilize him Can Baldwin bring the nasty Caleb Swanigan continues to struggle offensively Zach Collins struggling to finish inside Collins is showing out defensively but his offense is still a ways off How does Collins improve offensively Summer League Jake Layman Will Layman make the leap from SL to the regular season Will the Blazers tinker with the idea of Layman at the 4 this year Favorite things about Summer League so far Takeaways from Summer League overall Closing Comments Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tara and Kendyl are back together on the Women’s Hoops And Talks (WHAT) Podcast to try and make sense of the the 2018 NBA off season. After more than a month away, Kendyl is back! We talk a bit about what she has been up to (helping with World Cup and Big 3 Tournament coverage) before launching into the big topic of the summer: NBA free agency. How are people in Los Angeles reacting to LeBron coming to town? What do we make of DeMarcus Cousins to the Bay Area? What free agency moves are going to come back to haunt teams? This summer so much of the free agency chatter is about money--have we gone too far into the weeds and lost sight of the players themselves? 1:20 A little World Cup talk 5:40 A little Big 3 talk8:30 Free agency highs and lows8:45 How people in Los Angeles are reacting to LeBron James joining the Lakers10:00 Some Kobe fans are having a hard time12:10 Portland free agency doldrums14:10 Biggest surprises so far--DeMarcus Cousins to the Bay Area14:40 No free agency courtship rituals this year16:35 Will Boogie be the downfall of the Warriors?20:15 Deals that could look really good22:10 Lakers grab bag could be a master plan25:05 Ed Davis, J.J. Reddick are sneaky good signings26:35 Signings most likely to haunt a team later--Dwight Howard to Washington Wizards27:30 Rondo--could go either way28:10 Are fans focusing too much on the money and getting too caught up in the details?30:50 Big storm in Vegas, Summer League round up32:20 Fun head-to-head battles: Aaron Holiday vs Collins Sexton, DeAndre Ayton vs Mo Bamba34:15 Impressions of Gary Trent Jr. and Anfernee Simons 36:05 (We forgot how tall Anfernee Simons is and named virtually every other height than the one at which he is currently listed: 6-foot 4.) Get Social Follow Blazer’s Edge on Twitter @blazersedge, WHAT Pod @HoopsAndTalks, Tara @tcbbiggs, and Kendyl @kendylbennett16. Women’s Hops And Talks (W.H.A.T.) Join the Women’s Hops And Talks Facebook group to talk about Trail Blazers with others who identify as women who love basketball. Music used in the episode: "Happy Alley" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast, Tara Bowen-Biggs and Steve DeWald join Danny Marang from Las Vegas Summer League to discuss Jusuf Nurkic's new deal and the Blazer's free agency period so far, the Summer League Blazers looking great so far, Wade Baldwin wants a deal now please, Zach Collins struggles offensively but growth defensively, listener questions, favorite thing about summer league, life in the college dorms and more! Intro Steve DeWald and Tara Bowen-Biggs live from Las Vegas Opening Comments Jusuf Nurkic signs a 4 year/$48 million deal Seth Curry signs on for a year Restricted free agency offers are few and far between The effect of 2016 on the entire NBA market The Spurs continue to make Spursian choices Summer League basketball is here First reactions to the Top 10 picks Trae Young and his rough start Mo Bamba is really big (also good) Things that happen at Summer League that don't come through on TV NBA SkyCam- thoughts? Listener questions! https://twitter.com/xander_hr/status/1016156344598949888 Likelihood of Jake Layman or Caleb Swanigan making the rotation next season? Summer League Jake Layman! There are minutes to be had in the frontcourt- who's going to get them? https://twitter.com/chris_nordby/status/1016129813176815616 By trade deadline, will our starting 3 be somebody on our current roster? Probability of the Blazers making a move between now and the trade deadline to change things up at the SF position https://twitter.com/PDXBigtum/status/1016162359260340224 Collins: looks good on defense. Has range and good in transition. Struggles in half court set.  Thoughts on  Zach Collins so far through his second summer league Tempering expectations for his offensive growth What do you think the offensive future for Collins should be- in the paint or on the perimeter? https://twitter.com/xander_hr/status/1016122425770008576 Where would you rate Chief on the ‘jack-of-all-trades’ spectrum? He’s about as close as we have, Moe is ineligible until he can play 3 good games in a row The value of Al-Farouq Aminu The last jack of all trades Blazers, Nic Batum, Wes Matthews, Stacey Augmon Who could replace an Aminu sized hole on this roster? Preparing to fill Aminu's role if he leaves Can Wade Baldwin follow the Aminu career arc? Things we've enjoyed from Summer League so far Anfernee Simons' jumper is **kisses fingers** Everything Mo Bamba Summer League Jake Layman and Byron Mullens Closing Comments  Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week’s episode of the Blazer’s Edge podcast the Grand Poobah and Managing Editor of Blazer’s Edge, Dave Deckard, makes his return to the podcast to join Tara Bowen-Biggs and Danny Marang to discuss the first 24 hours of NBA free agency, the loss of Ed Davis, why it happened, what options are and were on the table, where the Blazers go from here, who is remaining among the free agents that Portland could still try to pick up, what could happen with Jusuf Nurkic’s free agency, the lasting impact this could have on Damian Lillard and more. IntroOpening CommentsLeBron James to the Los Angeles LakersLance Stephenson, JaVale McGee and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope follow LeBronEd Davis leaves the Blazers, joins the Brooklyn NetsWhy did it happen?What’s the fallout to Davis’ departure?What are you favorite moments and what will you miss most about Davis?The Blazers fall short on Mario HezonjaBlazers sign Nik StauskasListener Questions!https://twitter.com/Hecubus01/status/1013631063933874176How would you define a successful off season now?How do the Blazers get better?https://twitter.com/Daniel_Prins/status/1013632148811599878Serious question (and I know @dmarang has been on board for a while), with the 'Superteams' being created, would Portland be better served 'blowing it up' by trading Dame and CJ for young pieces and picks? We can't compete now, why not set up to compete later?Nuclear options on the table?https://twitter.com/eddieamack/status/1013631096733368320Do you think there’s even a liiiittle chance that the Cavs might accept a hypothetical bad contract(s) + first round pick(s) for Kevin Love trade?How does the relationship between GMs/agents effect free agency and trades?https://twitter.com/creedence26/status/1013632896840503297Is terek evans a possibility?https://twitter.com/jdwinters81/status/1013633320628862976Are any of the major needle movers that “could” be available realistic? LMA, Love, or to a lesser degree Whiteside? And could they be had without losing Dame or CJ?What veteran wings are still out there that Portland could add to the roster? Mike Beasley, Tyreke Evans, Jabari Parker, Jeff Green, Rodney Hood, Joe Johnson, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute and others.Of those guys, who would you want to see added to the Blazers?Does adding any of these guys to the roster guarantee that the Blazers make the playoffs next year as things sit now?What happens with Jusuf Nurkic?If Nurkic takes the QO, what could that mean going forward?What are the potential pitfalls of not keeping Nurkic happy?What are the ramifications to the actions or inactions of the Blazers as they pertain to Damian Lillard?Lillard’s social media posts over the last 48 hoursWhat other franchises or situations have existed in the past that you can point to similar circumstances and what happened there?How do you make Damian Lillard happy at this point?Blazer5 Gaming update- their first loss!Closing CommentsOutro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How did fan bases with the highest draft picks react to their team’s selections? On this week’s episode of the WHAT Podcast, Tara talks to fans from the Phoenix Suns, Sacramento Kings, Dallas Mavericks, and Memphis Grizzlies to find out more about this year’s top draft picks, how fan bases reacted to their team’s selections, and how they hope the new players will fit in. (Content warning: there may or may not be a few references to the Greg Oden/Kevin Durant draft.) Ashley Williams (@williamsashdawn) talked about Deandre Ayton chosen by the Phoenix Suns.Jill Adge (@JillAdge) discussed how Marvin Bagley III might fit in with the Sacrament Kings.Rebecca Lawson (@beccaaftersix), Editor-in-Chief, Mavs Moneyball explained how surprised they were to learn that the Mavs were going to pick-swap with Atlanta.Aimee Stiegemeyer (@hoopcityhellcat) Co-founder and Editor, All Heart in Hoop City, talked about how a rough year in Memphis ended with a glimmer of hope.  Get Social Follow Blazer’s Edge on Twitter @blazersedge, WHAT Pod @HoopsAndTalks, Tara @tcbbiggs, and Kendyl @kendylbennett16. Women’s Hops And Talks (W.H.A.T.) Join the Women’s Hops And Talks Facebook group to talk about Trail Blazers with others who identify as women who love basketball. Join other #BlazersWHAT fans to watch a game together once a month. Next watch party is July 7 at McMenamins on Broadway when the Trail Blazers Summer League team takes on the Utah Jazz.  ReferencesMusic used in the episode: "Happy Alley" and "The Curtain Rises" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast Tara Bowen-Biggs and Danny Marang take a look at the Trail Blazers decisions on Draft night, what those decisions mean now and going forward, who won the Draft, thoughts on Anfernee Simons and Gary Trent Jr., what can the Blazers expect with the TPE, realistic free agent targets to acquire "veteran talent", listener questions, Blazer5 Gaming and more! IntroOpening CommentsAdrian Wojnarowski’s ThesaurusDarft StorylinesPhoenix Suns land Mikal Bridges & DeAndre AytonDallas Mavericks a league pass team with Luka DoncicTrail Blazers select Anfernee Simons & Gary Trent Jr. Thoughts on Simons?When will he be ready?Physically he’s got some growing to doDoes age matter for the Blazers?How hard is it to evaluate the competition that Simons faced at IMG?Damian Lillard’s timeline, Zach Collins, Anfernee Simons and Gary Trent Jr. Taking the right risks- the definition of risk and hedging your betsWade Baldwin sliding into Napier’s spot as the the 3rd guardWhat do the selection of Simons and Trent Jr. mean for the Blazers- re: Pat Connaughton and Shabazz NapierDeveloping Simons through he G LeaguePortland still doesn’t have their own franchise - why they need to have their own.Damian Lillard taking Simons under his wingOverall view on selecting Simons and what it means for the Blazers now & in the futureGary Trent Jr. may signal the end of Connaughton’s time in Portland. Trent Jr.’s make-up, competitiveness, confidence, and a wet jumperTrent Jr. has an NBA ready skillDefensively he’s a turnstile, but there’s hopeHow soon will Trent Jr. be ready to play?What’s next for the Blazers?Where’s the optimism for the Blazers after the draft?What are Portland’s options heading into Free Agency?How likely are the Blazers to use the TPE?What kind of players could realistically be picked up with the TPE?If the Blazers were able to add Eric Gordon via the TPE could it work basketball-wise?The shortage of 2-way wings on the open market, with good reasonListener QuestionsHow do u think Eric Gordon would fit with the team should the stars align and Houston needs to ditch him for our trade exception? Could a 3 guard lineup with him work in small doses?Blazers free agent you most want to keep (price aside, just as a player)What’s the best super team you think Lebron could theoretically assemble for next year (if he just wanted to win and would live anywhere maybe even take a cut on pay) and could they beat the Warriors?With Orlando drafting Mo Bamba should the Blazers target Vucevic via trade? What would you think about targeting Mario Hezonja in free agency? I think he would shine in stotts system and is the type of wing we needWhat role  do you see Swanagin and Leonard having.Taking into account Nurk back in a qualifier. Ed back in a 3 year and somehow Collins carving out 25-30 minutes a night. Are they insurance against injury and double insurance if Nurk and Ed get insane offers and leave at best ??Simons seems to be in the Dame/CJ mold does that seem right?maybe making one of them expendable once Simons develops.Trent Jr seems a lot like Crabbe, but probably more athletic? Maybe even JJ Reddick. Just wondering what their comps might beWho would you rather have babysit your child, Meyers Leonard or Evan TurnerBlazer5 GamingClosing CommentsOutro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast, Tara Bowen-Biggs and Danny Marang discuss what the Blazers could, should and will do in the NBA Draft, the narrative around breaking up Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum, has the time passed for Portland to add a true 3rd star to the mix, more trade talk around McCollum, Kawhi Leonard and everything that's going on with the San Antonio Spurs, Blazer5 Gaming and more! IntroOpening commentsWhat will the Blazers do in the Draft?What’s the value of a non-lottery 1st round pick?Making the NBA Draft “longer”Has the narrative shifted more towards breaking up Lillard and McCollum?Is it too late for the Blazers to add a 3rd star?If you’re not building towards something, what are you doing?Portland has been the odd team out in the arms race because of 2016The Blazers can’t afford to make changes just for the sake of changeSean Highkin trade sugesstionsKevin Love for McCollumDeAndre Jordan for McCollumWhat is happening with the Spurs and Kawhi Leonard?What’s the best offer the Blazers can put forward for Kawhi?The definition of a dynastyTrading Damian Lillard… just stop talking about itBetting odds for Kawhi LeonardWhere does Kawhi end up?Blazer5 Gaming on a rollClosing commentsOutro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The NBA Finals are over and the off season is about to heat up. Tara and Kendyl are back to speculate and chase down rumors on the Women’s Hoops And Talks (WHAT) Podcast. Where will LeBron James end up? What will be the downfall of the Golden State Warriors dynasty and what can we learn and Jusuf Nurkic’s future plans from the rumors out of Bosnia? Then they are joined by Sabreena Merchant of Silver Screen and Roll. The Lakers are preparing for (another) (possibly) huge off season so we asked her who she thinks might sign on as a free agent, which of the younger players are most likely to stay if they have to shed salaries and will the Lakers earn a second straight championship at the 2018 NBA Las Vegas Summer League? All this and more on the latest WHAT podcast. Music used in the episode: "Happy Alley" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week’s episode of the Blazer’s Edge Podcast Tara Bowen-Biggs and Danny Marang ask if CJ McCollum is a Top 5 shooting guard, and discuss impending free agency, the next evolution in NBA team building, the Trail Blazers having “options”, a few trade suggestions, Blazer5 Gaming on a roll and more! IntroHow much did you enjoy the playoffs?Is there a counter to the Warriors?The return of the big manPortland Trail Blazers and the Traded Player ExceptionAre the options really there or is this more marketing?Blazers deny Pistons the chance to talk to coach Terry StottsBlazers bringing in free agents Rodney Stuckey and KJ McDanielsWho and what are the Blazers targeting now?A deal in place for Jusuf Nurkic already?Attracting free agents in Portland- is it any different today?Assessing CJ McCollum’s trade valueCavs Nation trade: CJ McCollum and Caleb Swanigan for Kevin LoveDon’t blame your bad ideas on NBA2KOutlet passes don’t mean much when no one runs the floorIndy Cornrows CJ McCollum and Evan Turner for Domantas Sabonis, Al Jefferson, Bojan Bogdanovic and a 2019 first round pickNo, no, no, no and absolutely not. Is CJ McCollum a Top 5 shooting guard?Dan’s list: James Harden, Klay Thompson, Victor Oladipo, Bradley Beal, Jimmy ButlerCJ McCollum, Meyers Leonard and the 24th pick in a 3-way deal nets Portland Khris Middleton, Malcolm Brogdon and John Henson- and why it won’t happenWhat has happened to McCollum’s trade value- has it dropped or has the perception changed?When does the first trade take place?Blazer5 Gaming wins in-season tournament, looks like the best in the NBA 2K LeagueClosing commentsOutro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast, Danny Marang and Tara Bowen-Biggs are joined by Steve Dewald to take a look at the upcoming 2018 NBA Draft (June 21st), favorite prospects and best fits, potential free agent targets, LeBron to Portland, what should the Blazers do with the 24th pick, Meyers Leonard's role next season and more! IntroSteve Dewald joinsLooking at the NBA DraftSetting up your own draft reviewsProspects you like right nowHow much does the pedigree matterMaking promises to prospectsFavorite prospectsWhat should the Blazers do with the pickJusuf Turkic deal already in placeWhat could this mean for the Blazer’s FA plansOmri Casspi to the rescueJefferson: “LeBron to Portland”Custom fit shoes for LeBronDamian Lillard win NBPA backbone awardLaMarcus Aldridge nominated for awardCJ McCollum and Jared Dudley debating where LeBron is going next seasonWindhorst: CJ for the 8th pickWould you move CJ for a top 10 pick + assetsListener e-mail: What about Meyers Leonard?Closing commentsOutro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jamie Hudson (@jamiehudsonNBCS) of NBC Sports Northwest joins Tara and Kendyl for the latest edition of the Women’s Hoops And Talks podcast. We are celebrating our 15th episode by talking about 15 things we loved about the NBA season. It’s a whirlwind tour of the 2018 season, from Shabazzle Dazzle to Nurk dunks to the Secret Wine Society of the NBA. Join us as we reminisce about what entertained us this year with one of the hardest working members of the Portland sports media. Time stamps: 2:00 Does Jamie get an off season?4:00 Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors, again?7:00 Conference finals recaps15 Favorite things: 12:30 #1 The rise of Shabazz Napier15:45 #2 New All-Star game format (should Damian Lillard have been All Star MVP?)19:30 #3 Al Farouq Aminu adds euro step21:45 #4 Zack Collins rookie season and his relationship with Ed Davis24:37 #5 Rockets storm Clippers locker room (Game of Zones episode)26:17 #6 Jusuf Nurkic dunks29:08 #7 Two game 7s in the Conference Finals since 197931:53 #8 Joel Embiid’s social media presence33:30 #9 NBA focus on mental health awareness36:20 #10 Brad Stevens coaching in Boston39:08 #11 Secret wine society42:15 #12 Truck crashes into Evan Turner’s pool45:55 #13 Damian’s play during the 13 game winning streak47:05 #14 Winning streak48:42 #15 Blazers defeat the streaking Utah Jazz in Utah Get Social Follow Blazer’s Edge on Twitter @blazersedge, WHAT Pod @HoopsAndTalks, Tara @tcbbiggs, and Kendyl @kendylbennett16. Women’s Hops And Talks (W.H.A.T.) Join the Women’s Hoops And Talks Facebook group to talk about Trail Blazers with others who identify as women who love basketball. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast, Tara Bowen-Biggs and Danny Marang are joined by Blazer's Edge contributor and Clips Nation writer Robert Flom to break down Damian Lillard making 1st Team All NBA, reports that Lillard wants to meet with Paul Allen again, who's the most important Blazer after Lillard for the future, how to evaluate college prospects based on production and correlation in the NBA, who the Blazers should be on the lookout for in the NBA Draft, whether or not the Blazers and Clippers could make Draft Day trade and more! IntroOpening CommentsGuest intro: Robert FlomDamian Lillard making 1st Team All NBAMaking 1st Team over Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook and Steph CurryChris Paul on the downslopeOld man game on the riseCanzano reports that Lillard is meeting with Paul Allen againWhy is Lillard going after Canzano?Don’t you want your star communicating with the owner?Reviewing Flom’s piece: Who’s the most important for the Blazer’s future after Lillard?Production to value ratio - how important is that for the Blazers and every team in the league?Evaluating college prospects by raw counting stats- how well do they translate?What was the inspiration behind this series?Brief description of you approach?What are are the most predictive stats for bigs?What are the most predictive stats for point guards?What are the most predictive stats for wings? Understanding what's required of wings in the NBA todayHow ridiculous has LeBron James been?Using Flom’s correlations, who did he have picked to best succeed in the 2017 draft?Who does Flom have rated well in the 18-30 range and possible targets for Portland in 2018?Troy Brown, OregonBruce Brown, MiamiKeita Bates-Diop, Ohio StateLonnie Walker, MiamiCould the Blazers and Los Angeles Clippers make a Draft Day trade?Closing CommentsOutro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast Tara Bowen-Biggs and Danny Marang discuss all the news that came out of the NBA Combine, Blazers send a psychologist for interviews, combine measurements, a quick look at who the Blazers have talked to, Neil Olshey's comments on the state of the franchise, adding playoff caliber players, comparing Zach Collins to Kevin McHale, Karl Anthony-Towns on the trade block, Brook Lopez completing the Lopez circle and coming to Portland, legalized sports gambling and more! IntroRoyal WeddingNBA CombineBlazers send their psychologistCombine measurements, do they matterWhat are the Blazers trying to learn about players with a psychologist Blazers bringing in/working out a ton of combo guardsWho stands out from the players linked with the Blazers so far?Brown Brown- MiamiGary Trent Sr. and Gary Trent Jr. Tis the season for smokescreensHow do you know what to believe this time of year?Chandler Hutchinson - could Portland be the team that gave him the guarantee?Neil Olshey’s comments at the NBA CombineContradicting statements and trying to parse through it allTimelines, playoff caliber players and roster building toolsZach Collins compared to LaMarcus Aldridge, Kevin McHale and Rasheed Wallace…seriouslyMaking comparisons like these are dangerousMoving Collins back inside- can Collins be ready?Blazers are no longer building around Damian Lillard’s trajectoryKarl Anthony-Towns trade rumorsCJ McCollum, Zach Collins and a 1st RD pick for KAT?Brook Lopez to POR as a free agent- does it make sense?How does the recent Supreme Court ruling on sports gambling effect the NBA?Will the NBA experience change?How do you tackle the fears of “protecting the sanctity of the game?”Closing CommentsOutro Note from Danny Marang: Apologies for my audio quality folks, my mic actually shorted out during the recording. It'll be rectified before the next podcast.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week’s Women’s Hoops And Talks (W.H.A.T.) Podcast, special guest Anna Horford (@AnnaHorford) talks about growing up in a busy basketball family, describes what “putting in the work” looks like, and gives her predictions for this year’s NBA awards. Tara and Kendyl chat briefly about the NBA Conference finals and then talk to Anna, sister of Boston Celtics Center Al Horford, about her podcast the Horford Happy Hour. Anna provides insight into what it’s like growing up in a busy basketball family--her father played in the NBA and overseas, her brother Jon plays in the G-League. She also gives her thoughts on dealing with twitter trolls, explains what kind of hard work her brothers put in to make it in the pros and tells a few stories about run-ins with Kobe Bryant, Chris Humphries and Danny Ainge. All this and more on the latest WHAT podcast. 1:00 Eastern Conference Finals Preview4:15 Did LeBron James take a game off?5:45 Western Conference Preview7:30 Playing against the Warriors with a chip on their shoulder12:00 Which finals matchup will be the most entertaining?15:00 Anna Horford and Horford Happy Hour16:45 When did she first believe that Al Horford would be in the NBA?17:30 How do you handle it when people criticize your brother?19:15 What was it like being a member of a busy basketball family?23:20 Celtics in the playoffs25:45 Favorite players to watch (besides her brothers)28:30 NBA Awards predictions31:30 Women in basketball Anna admires: Becky Hammon and Doris Burke34:50 Bonus wine recommendation Get Social Follow Blazer’s Edge on Twitter @blazersedge, WHAT Pod @HoopsAndTalks, Tara @tcbbiggs, and Kendyl @kendylbennett16. Join the Women’s Hops And Talks Facebook group to talk about Trail Blazers with others who identify as women who love basketball. Music used in the episode: "Happy Alley" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast, Tara Bowen-Biggs and Danny Marang review the week that was in Blazer land. From CJ McCollum's media blitz that included the dreaded "should they break up the backcourt" question, Kerry Eggers on trading Meyers Leonard- the Blazers should try to make it happen (but can it?), LaMarcus Aldridge reached out to Damian Lillard last year to discuss returning to the Blazers, is Terry Stotts safe yet, a review/preview of the Eastern and Western Conference Finals and much more! IntroLaMarcus Aldridge reached out to Damian LillardWhat do you make of itWhy was this leakedWould you or should you welcome back LaMarcusWhat would’ve happened had Aldridge stayed in PortlandHow different would the Trail Blazers lookWould Portland be in a better position with LaMarcus stillKerry Eggers: Portland should find a way to trade Meyers LeonardThis isn’t a new idea, but can you make it workIs there a realistic possibility that Meyers is movedCan Leonard find a way back on the court- how could he do itDewane Casey fired as Toronto Raptors sweptWhat could Casey’s dismissal mean for PortlandIs coach Terry Stotts safe yetCJ McCollum’s media tourMcCollum on First Take: Breaking us up would be a lateral moveMcCollum knows that if Portland moves one of the guards it’s him, why would he be in favor of thatHow can there be a lateral move if you don’t know the deal being madeCJ is towing the company lineBranding and messaging - McCollum knows what he’s doingGames to play: Is this quote from Kyrie Irving or Dr. Manhattan quoteBoston Celtics v Cleveland Cavaliers Game 1Stop saying the Celtics are undermannedJayden Brown, Jayson Tatum, Al Horford & company are very goodLeBron is in fact humanBut LeBron has a computer for a brainIs LeBron the GOAT?Houston Rockets v Golden State previewBlazer5 Gaming wins their first ever regular season gameClosing comments Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast Tara Bowen-Biggs and Danny Marang attempt to tackle the glaring black eye on the NBA right now, the unacceptable level and current state of NBA officiating. What's wrong? Where do you even start? Can it be fixed? What are the costs of fixing it or not fixing it? It's a deep dive where Danny gets David Stern's name wrong 4 different times but still manages to get his point across. Beyond that they look at what's going on in the Eastern and Western Conference playoffs, discuss LeBron James' absolute dominance over the Toronto Raptors, the disappearing act for the Philadelphia 76ers, the arrival of eSports- Blazer5 Gaming and the NBA 2K League and what exactly is it? That and more on this week's Blazer's Edge podcast! IntroLooking at the Eastern Conference playoffsLeBron James is a soul crushing monster the league has never seen beforeKyle Korver appreciation timeCeltics up 3-0 on the 76ersBen Simmons and playmaking abilityWestern Conference playoffs updateIf Utah was able to upset the balance…Do you want the New Orleans Pelicans to do well vs the Golden State WarriorsNBA calendar checkDraft LotterySummer LeagueNBA CombineEnd of season awardsNBA calendar yearThe NBA’s referee problemWhat are the problemsHow the game is calledWhere do you beginIt’s an institutional problemYou shouldn’t know an officials nameThe problem goes back decadesLack of transparencyThe “Silver” liningChanges on the horizon- Last 2 Minute ReportPublic disclosureWhat protects the refs nowUnderstand what’s going on in the backgroundThe most disliked and worst refs in the leagueThe players know who the officials areJust because they’re better than NCAA officials doesn’t mean it’s goodHow do you fix itBreaking up the union and burning the structure to the groundThe pains associated with changeHow do you become an NBA officialHow do you get the best if the path isn’t clearBuilding a solid foundation, getting everyone on the same pageDeciding on how an NBA game should be calledCalling a game based on impact not letter of the lawThe NBA needs to address this before it becomes too big to fixEsports primerBlazer5 GamingWhat is the NBA 2K LeagueHow does it workWhat is the basic set upWhat is the scheduleHow do you watchClosing commentsOutro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Trail Blazers may be out of the playoffs but there is plenty still to talk about on the Women’s Hoops and Talks podcast! Join Tara and Kendyl to talk about what lies in store for the Blazers and meet the woman behind one of the most entertaining NBA Twitter accounts, @its_whitney, SB Nation’s, Whitney Medworth. Tara and Kendyl put the 2017-18 season behind them and start talking about the future. What lies in store for the team? What are the off season goals? When is it too late to add something new to your game? What will the summer bring? Then, Whitney Medworth (@its_whitney) of SB Nation joins the podcast to talk about the world of NBA social media, favorite non-basketball stories of the season, and chasing down players at All Star weekend to ask them who they would pick to be on their bobsled team? 1:00 What happened to the Trail Blazers in the first round? The Blazers were not able to adjust when Dame was not available. 3:00 Off season goals. 5:00 Is Zach Collins ready to start? 6:30 Is Ed Davis the new Brian Grant in terms of fan appreciation? Importance of having veterans on the roster. 11:50 What are you most excited about? 13:20 Last summer was too quiet, but something must happen this summer. Will it be exciting or a whole lot of nothing? 15:20 Stretching players is worse than unexciting, its anti-exciting. 16:00 Aminu is so valuable and his salary is actually going down next year. 15:00 Toronto vs Cavs and please let there never be a playoff round without LeBron. 20:30 A little bit about the OKC Jazz Series 24:15 Trading Evan Turner and Moe Harkless to OKC for Melo who we let start with Jake Layman as backup (ok, it was getting late . . . ) 28:00 Whitney Medworth on fan perspective 29:00 Checking in on how the Pacers season went 33:22 From sports management to event management to social engagement 35:12 Winning free tickets to Pacers games by being all in on Danny Granger 38:00 Running and coordinating social media for SB Nation during the season 41:40 The NBA never stops 43:00 NBA B-Sides column 46:30 Did a truck crashing into Evan Turner’s pool make it into a B-Sides column? 48:00 For those who are not yet into it, how would you suggest people get started with Twitter? 49:24 Going to the All Star Game as a media member 52:00 Get excited about the new, young players in the league 52:45 Will older players ever be more like elder statesmen laying the groundwork for the rising stars? 55:10 What will happen with LeBron, Paul George and other free agents this summer? 58:00 A woman Whitney admires is WNBA player and studio analyst Candace Parker. Get Social Follow Blazer’s Edge on Twitter @blazersedge, WHAT Pod @HoopsAndTalks, Tara @tcbbiggs, and Kendyl @kendylbennett16. Join the Women’s Hops And Talks Facebook group to talk about Trail Blazers with others who identify as women who love basketball. Music used in the episode: "Happy Alley" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast, Kendyl Bennett and Isaiah De Los Santos of Blazer's Edge lower the average age of the podcast roster but bring in a new and fresh perspective with grizzled veterans Tara Bowen-Biggs and Danny Marang. On the slate this week, coaching carousels, biggest surprises and disappointments, making the right decisions in free agency, debate the finer points of Iso vs team basketball, styles of playmaking, making improvements in the offseason, who has the most to prove and more on this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast! IntroGuestsKendyl Bennett and Isaiah De Los SantosCoaching circles and vacanciesThe coaches are coming, the coaches are comingIs it good that the Portland assistants’ names are out thereReading the tea leaves around Terry StottsIf an assistant leaves is that a signal that Stotts is on his way outSweeping changes? What sweeping changes?Biggest surprises and biggest disappointments this seasonMaurice Harkless and CJ McCollumJusuf Nurkic and the ups and downsTwo years later, the Blazers still don’t know who the 3rd option isWho has the most to prove next year and how do they do it?Nurkic and making the right decisionsCJ McCollum, rounding out his gameIsolation scoring vs Team scoringHow do the Blazers evolve from one to the otherThe differences in playmaking between Damian Lillard and CJ McCollumIf you’re the GM, what’s your first priority on Day 1 of free agencyThe ghosts of 2016, will they haunt this free agency periodIf you had to pick, would you rather be in Portland’s position or the OKC With the Blazers season over, what or who are you watching in NBA nowClosing commentsOutro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast Tara Bowen-Biggs and Danny Marang review (begrudgingly) Game 4 and the series as a whole between the Portland Trail Blazers and the New Orleans Pelicans, wonder if the Blazers forgot how to play the game they dedicated their lives to, analyze where the Blazers went wrong (and where Damian Lillard didn't), sing the praises of Al-Farouq Aminu, and put a final bow tie on the playoffs before taking a deep dive into the exit interviews.  IntroOpening commentsReviewing Game 4, regrettably Did the Blazers forget how to play basketballPelicans ability all series to break and build momentum easilyDrive. Kick. Score. Repeat.Difference between passing to a player and passing a player openDamian Lillard in this series- piece by pieceAl-Farouq Aminu showed up big timeWhere does the blame fall? Players, coaches and/or match up?How do you figure out Anthony Davis?Will what the Pelicans do next round change how you feel about the Blazers?Zach Collins the enforcerExit InterviewsWade BaldwinZach Collins, professional question answerer Meyers LeonardEvan Turner, knows not to get as thick this summerTurner: we have to be more consistent…building an identity outside of our two strong scorersCJ McCollum and allergiesNeil OlsheyThe irony of back handed complimenting Al-Farouq AminuOlshey on the defensiveOlympic analogies“C’mon Joe”Overall takeaway from Olshey’s interviewThe need for “sweeping changes”“Nobody was talking about sweeping changes 10 days ago”Evaluating this team for what they did during the regular season and not for their playoff performanceBridging the talent gap between Dame and everyone elseNurkic disappoints in the playoffsThe awkwardness of the Nurkic press conferenceNBA purgatory Favorite moments from the seasonClosing commentsOutro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast Tara Bowen-Biggs and Danny Marang breakdown Game 1 of Trail Blazers v. Pelicans, diagnose what went wrong, how to adjust in Game 2 and the rest of the series, what happened to the Blazers offense, analyze the last two possessions of the game, discuss what happened to Jusuf Nurkic, try to figure out what happened to Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum and much more! IntroTaking in the game while travelingHighlights from the first quarterLowlights the rest of the nightBlazers bench tries to save the dayBlazers trying to control the paceThe Pelicans almost make a fatal errorJrue Holiday steals the show on both ends of the floorPlayoff Nurkic wasn’t a thing yet, whyHow did Nurkic look in his first real playoff gameThe Blazers not getting Nurkic involvedThe disappearance of the pick and rollBlazers deep rotation v Pelicans short rotationOfficiating in Game 1-not badPortland failed to adjust and capitalize to NOPs game planBlazers offense disappears with the startersWill things look different with Maurice Harkless backBlazers bench v Pelicans benchBreaking down & understanding the final possessions for the BlazersJrue Holiday makes game saving playsWho was the Game 1 MVPWhy couldn’t the Blazers executeHow did the Blazers close the gapPelicans putting on the breaks too soonSilver liningsModa Center crowd, please do betterTaking a look around the leagueSurprises so farHow can the Blazers capitalize in Game 2Establishing your game planNurkic needs to show up big timeClosing commentsOutro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's a a playoff version of the Blazer's Edge podcast with Tara Bowen-Biggs and Danny Marang talking Trail Blazers v. Pelicans in the first round. Topics include: IntroReviewing match ups vs PelicansPlaying with paceCan the Blazers play at the Pelicans' paceWhat’s the right pace to play at Damian Lillard, master of paceWhen will Maurice Harkless returnCould Wade Baldwin have an impact in the seriesHow will the Pelicans use Anthony DavisDavis did his damage at the rim during the regular seasonAlvin Gentry is a troll, here’s whyDictating your opponents game planWill Zach Collins spend time on Anthony DavisJusuf Nurkic’s importance in this seriesNurkic establishing control offensivelyPlayoff Nurkic needs to be a thingWhat are the keys to winning Game 1Asserting dominanceNurkic needs to be the jerkClosing commentsOutro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rebecca Lawson is the Editor-in-Chief of Mavs Moneyball, the SB Nation site covering the Dallas Mavericks. She joined the Women's Hoops And Talks (WHAT) Podcast to talk about a variety of topics including the Mavericks 2011 Championship team, what it is like to cover Dirk Nowitzki, and how to keep everyone’s interest when the team is tanking.   Then we talked about the harassment charges against the Dallas front office and writer Earl Sneed, as reported in Sports Illustrated. How did these allegations appear to impact the players, how did she decide if she would still be a fan, and how did she choose to cover the team and follow the developing story during this time? Finally, Rebecca has some fun stories about covering the team including breaking news that Monte Ellis’s son had won the Dance Cam contest and what it was like to be face-to-face with a frustrated Mark Cuban right after a bad Dallas loss.  Check out the WHAT Podcast to hear Rebecca’s interesting stories and insight about covering an NBA team and being a female fan.  1:30 Intro to Rebecca, following Kawhi Leonard at San Diego State and then following the 2011 Dallas Mavs4:00 What does she think will happen to Kawhi?6:00 Memories of the 2011 Dallas Championship run, a team that always had another comeback with a different hero every night. Brandon Roy’s comeback game in the Portland vs Dallas series. 9:45 How does sports create community for you? 13:30 What is it like having a player like Dirk Nowitzki who has played for the team for his entire (long) career? Would Dirk have stayed if he hadn’t won a championship?16:50 Unique NBA fan involvement and great writers19:00 How do you cope when your team is tanking? Finding entertainment in the little things.23:27 Was she surprised about the front office sexual harassment and Earl Sneed story in Sports Illustrated, Inside the Corrosive Workplace Culture of the Dallas Mavericks? How have the players reacted?31:31 How did she as the editor of Mavs Moneyball handled coverage during this time? 35:55 What is coming up this summer for the Mavs?38:20 Wesley Matthews update40:50 Favorite stories from being on the beat: breaking a story about Monte Ellis and catching a heated Mark Cuban in the hallway after a bad loss.45:10 NBA 101 Basketball for Women, the Dallas Mavericks women only event. What is the real story? Is it a fun event? What did the Mavs do well and what could they have done better?54:20 Women you admire: mom who was always learning and doing something new, and Sarah Melton, Mavericks Director of Communication. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast Danny Marang is joined by two guests, former Chicago Bulls beat reporter, Blazers fan and all around good guy Sean Highkin as well as the illustrious Dave DuFour, host of "On the NBA with Dave DuFour." It's a little different this time around as they're all in the same room and it's a roundtable discussion at a rectangular table where the topics range from; reviewing the Trail Blazers v Spurs game, the return of Damian Lillard, CJ McCollum struggling with efficiency, locking up the 3-seed, rating the confidence level on the Blazers, playoff Jusuf Nurkic, properly rating Zach Collins and more! IntroGuest hostsReviewing Spurs v BlazersSean Highkin is dead insideHow important was that Spurs gameHow do you balance resting Dame and going after the 3 seedHow the Lakers are still finding ways to do Laker thingsDamian Lillard returnsRamping up Lillard for the playoffsWinning the first seriesIs there a good match up for the BlazersWhen will Harkless returnManaging injury expectationsKawhi LeonardPlayers returning from injuries and the inherent risk managementCJ McCollum’s struggles over the last 10 gamesHow important it is to get to the free throw lineGetting Dame and CJ on track at the same timeHow confident are you in this team right nowMVP DameWhy are we still wondering who the 3rd option isHow likely are the Blazers to get the 3-seedHot take alert- playoff Nurkic will be a thingCoach of the Year votesPlayer-coach relationshipsThe coaching carouselDo the Blazers have to win a first round seriesThe next step in the team building processIf Portland fails to advance what does that meanRick Kamla tweet reactionIs Zach Collins overratedWho do the Blazers want to avoid in the first roundClosing commentsOutro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast Tara Bowen-Biggs and Danny Marang review the past week's games, conspiracy theories surrounding Maurice Harkless' injured knee, discuss whether or not the Blazers need to win a playoff series to call this season a success, who slots in best for Ed Davis while he's out, Jusuf Nukic's unseen contributions, the Blazer's 3-point woes and more! All on this week's episode of the Blazers' Edge podcast! IntroKevin Durant hates blog boysClinching the playoffsMemphis Grizzlies rematchMeyers Leonard flexNew Orleans Pelicans reviewDo you want to see Anthony Davis in a 7 game seriesDamian Lillard and Baby DameMaurice Harkless knee surgeryConspiracy theories and secret MRIsCJ McCollum coming up short at the free throw lineDoes that bother you at allThere isn’t a good time for injuriesMissing Ed Davis and Maurice HarklessPreviewing some playoff match upsIf Harkless is out what could that mean for the playoffsHarkless playing his best basketball as a BlazerFilling in the hole alongside Zach CollinsWho fits bestMeyers Leonard stepping upCaleb Swanigan makes an appearanceSwanigan’s passing prowess The Blazers side pick and roll with Lillard and Jusuf Nurkic Collins and the dunk party for the LA ClippersSimplifying things for Collins and letting him succeedPortland is missing Davis’ offensive reboundsAn opportunity for Collins to expand his gameHow players being out forces the “next man up” responsibilityDon’t throw passes to 7 footers below their waistBlazers three point shooting falling off a cliffShabazz Napier, Pat Connaughton, Evan Turner and Collins can’t buy a threeWhen taking the right shot is no longer the right shotScouting the Blazers what do you take awayHouston’s defensive game planNurkic and screen assistsThe Blazers and moving screens- who’s the worst (best)Taking a look at the final 5 gamesWill the Blazers reach 50 winsIf the Blazers don’t win a series is that a disappointmentClosing commentsOutro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The NBA Playoffs are fast approaching so we talked to Caitlin Cooper of Indy Cornrows about which teams in the Eastern Conference to watch. Then we debated who would be more deserving of Coach of the Year between Portland Trail Blazers’ Terry Stotts and Pacers’ Nate McMillan. We also asked Caitlin about how she approaches writing about basketball, what are some tips for people who want to study the game, and what resources she uses to research and learn more. Finally, she recommends two women whose work she admires, SB Nation’s Whitney Medworth (@its_whitney) and The Ringer’s Haley O'Shaughnessy (@HaleyOSomething) 1:15 Growing up the coach’s kid in Indiana and being a girl who knew sports6:00 What has been happening with the Pacers, Victor Oladipo's growth, and being a fan of an Eastern Conference teams. 9:00 How the 76ers are shaking things up with Markel Fultz entering the lineup10:15 How seeding in the East might shake out and what series are you looking forward to?13:00 What would a Portland Trail Blazers San Antonio Spurs series be like? Will the Portland role players continue to keep up their strong performances of late? What is a successful season?18:15 Discussing Terry Stotts and Nate McMillan as Coach of the Year candidates.24:45 Watching the playoffs and seeing how teams adapt from game-to-game, enjoying maximum effort in each game, coaches head games, not overreacting32:30 Advice for watching a player or a game in order to analyze what is happening. How she wrote The Pacers need better solutions when teams trap Victor Oladipo.38:00 Favorite sites: 3ball, nba.com box scores,  Basketball Immersion, Basketball Dictionary Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast Tara Bowen-Biggs and Danny Marang review the past week's games against the Houston Rockets, Boston Celtics and Oklahoma City Thunder, evaluate where Portland sits right now, good losses vs. bad losses, how the Blazers are generating more free throws, ask whether CJ McCollum is clutch, discuss whether McCollum is overrated, discuss what has happened to the Blazers bench lately and more! Topics Intro WHAT meet up Reviewing Blazers v. Rockets Good Loss or Bad LossGameplans and execution Aminu shining- Favorite Play of the Season Moda Center atmosphere Disappointment v. Celtics What went wrong v. Celtics Is Baby Dame weighing on Lillard’s mind Reviewing Blazers v. Thunder Russell Westbrook loses his mind, again Evan Turner mixing it up Steven Adams as the peacemaker What is a flagrant foul Blazers losing a firm grip on the game Blazers offense overpassing the ball Drawing fouls like James Harden How is Lillard getting to the line so much Campaigning for calls v. working for calls Is CJ McCollum clutch What’s different this year Where does McCollum rate as a closer McCollum’s opportunities in the clutch Is McCollum overrated Understanding role and responsibility Where does McCollum fall in the pecking order Rating where McCollum fits in the league as a second option What has happened to Blazers bench Zach Collins and the rookie wall Raymond Felton shows why he’s still boo’d Closing comments Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge pod Tara and Danny take a look back at the week that was- adding 4 more wins to the now 13 game winning streak, take some listener questions, discuss the re-emergence of Maurice Harkless, Jusuf Nurkic's life flashing before his eyes when LeBron James dunked on him, Al-Farouq Aminu and Jusuf Nurkic and the All Defensive Team, Coach Stotts as Coach of the year and more! Intro Revisiting preseason picks Winning the games that Portland should Reviewing the past 4 wins LeBron James dunking on Jusuf Nurki cZach Collins’ growth over the last few weeks Blazers role players showing up The middle of the floor opening up Maurice Harkless makes an appearance The Blazers offense is running on all cylinders Blazers pick and roll is setting up everyone else Jusuf Nurkic at the beginning of the season vs now Listener question! What moves would Portland have to make if they want to contend in the near future? I really feel that the door is closing for our chance. The time is now, but at the same time, that’s probably not realistic. What are your thoughts? What are Portland’s options for growth Evaluating where Portland sits in the pecking order Damian Lillard has another gear Twitter Questions What’s the over/under for wins on the season Next 4 games- Houston Rockets, Boston Celtics, OKC Thunder and New Orleans Pelicans Is this level of play sustainable Perspective on what 50 wins means for the franchise Ed Davis gets a night off Terry Stotts, take a bow: Terry Stotts a COY candidate Where has Shabazz Napier gone to Blazers creating fast break opportunities Al-Farouq Aminu and the All-Defense Team Is Nurkic a viable All Defense Team candidate Nurkic’s defensive impact in 2018 What’s different this time around without Nurkic Fever Closing Comments Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The NBA season is drawing to a close are we look back on what turned out to be some of the best and worst offseason moves from last summer. We think history is going to be pretty hard on the Cavaliers. Then we talk about potential playoff matchups and the increased possibilty up upsets this year. This week (March 12-17) is National Sleep Awareness Week (recognized each year during the week that Daylight Savings Time starts) and we have the perfect guest. Cheri Mah studies sleep and performance of professional and elite athletes and she is the person behind the MahScore, a formula that ESPN uses to predict games that are most unwinnable (Schedule Alert games) due to scheduling and travel. We talked to Cheri about some of the unique challenges for NBA players, how Andre Iguodala attributes his longevity in the league to improved sleep, she gives us some tips that everyone can do to improve their sleep quality and we learn about a cool trick called a Napacino--listen to this week’s WHAT Podcast to find out more! Timestamps:2:00 With the benefit of hindsight, what were some of the best and the worst off-season moves, featuring the Boston Celtics, the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets and the Cleveland Cavaliers.9:30 Playoff matches to look forward to16:00 The high possibility of upsets in the playoffs this year19:00 Does it matter when teams win because other teams are injured? 23:15 National Sleep Week!24:45 Cheri Mah and ESPN Schedule Alert Games. 27:30 What are some of the factors that go into identifying schedule alert games29:00 How she got started studying sleep with elite athletes31:30 Unique challenges to NBA athletes: crossing time zones, few recovery days, back-to-backs34:00 How receptive are athletes to adjusting their sleep?36:00 Age considerations 38:00 Ways that teams and players can regulate their sleep during travel41:00 How could the schedule be adjusted to improve athlete recovery?43:15 What can anyone do to improve their sleep?46:00 The Nappacino47:10 Andre Iguodala using good sleep to prolong his career. 50:30 Woman who inspires her in her field: Arianna Huffington as an ambassador for quality sleep. Music used in the episode: "Happy Alley" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Follow Blazer’s Edge on Twitter @blazersedge, WHAT Pod @HoopsAndTalks, Tara @tcbbiggs, and Kendyl @kendylbennett16. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast Tara and Dan take a look at the past week for the Trail Blazers, dive deep into what Portland may have coming their way this summer with both restricted and unrestricted free agents Shabazz Napier, Jusuf Nurkic, Ed Davis and Pat Connaughton, what are the best match ups for Portland in the playoffs, why the Blazers should be favored in the first round, and Tara really wants there to be rules for MVP voting. That and more on this week's podcast! IntroReviewing the past weekTeams that could dictate the offseasonWins over the Lakers are always funWatching the Blazers and expecting a win most nightsA shift in beliefHow nice is it to sit above the tanking teamsListener questionIf free agency begins today how could it lookWould Nurkic even think about the QOWhat could the market for Nurkic look likeCould a team play spoiler for PortlandHow likely is it that Nurkic is a Blazer next yearEd Davis and the likeliness that Portland is able to retain himHas Shabazz Napier played himself out of PortlandWhat kind of market does Napier have right nowCan Portland get enough guys to perform above their contractPat Connaughton, will he be backWhat are your favorite playoff match upsThe best potential match up for PortlandPortland vs DenverThe Blazers have more playoff experience than a lot of match upsRanking preferences for match ups based on star powerHow injuries can shape match upsWhy the Thunder in the playoffs are a scary propositionNot trusting Houston’s playoff ambitionsStill don’t want to see the San Antonio SpursTara wants rules for MVP votingMVPs, you know it when you see itDamian Lillard should get MVP considerationWhat does MVP mean to youMVP predictionsClosing commentsOutro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast, Tara Bowen-Biggs and Danny Marang take a look at the past week- with Portland's impressive wins over both the Minnesota Timberwolves & Oklahoma City Thunder, Damian Lillard's continued dominance and rise to superstardom, Evan Turner with a big time cameo, Zach Collins' breakout performance, the Blazers being a defensive team top to bottom, Jusuf Nurkic finding his groove, and discuss if this is the best the Blazers have been since the departure of LaMarcus Aldridge- that and more on this week's Blazer's Edge podcast! IntroReviewing the past week, Minnesota Timberwolves & Oklahoma City ThunderThe OthersDamian Lillard and MVP talkLillard vs Minnesota- best performance of the seasonEvan Turner shows up big timeZach Collins- the play enderPutting Collins in a position to excelCollins’ defense vs Oklahoma City ThunderTempering expectationsRussell Westbrook and the inevitable meltdownMaking up for boneheaded playsCoach Stotts tinkering with rotationsMixing and matching with the big menBlazers sticking to the defensive game planPat Connaughton with energy playsMaurice Harkless’ impact- how does POR reactBlazers offense settling inJusuf Nurkic increasing his efficiencyNurkic giving 13 & 9 in 24 minutes a night over the last 8 gamesThe Blazers have become a true defensive teamLillard is no longer a negative on the defensive endAre the Blazers playing the best they have in the post LMA eraAdjusting expectations while still looking forward to the future Who's most likely to make the next step Internal development, how much is leftClosing commentsOutro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this episode of the WHAT Podcast, Kendyl recounts her adventures in Los Angeles during NBA All Star Weekend. Then she and Tara discuss the Western Conference playoff race down the stretch and whether Damian Lillard should be in the MVP conversation (of course he should!) This week's guests are Rekaya Gibson and Angela Spears, co-hosts of Black Girls Talk Sports Podcast. They talked about how the podcast got started and why they chose to make it centered on black women, then we hit on a variety of topics like the Winter Olympics, the NBA All Star Game, female basketball coaches in college and the NBA, and athletes using their platform to address social justice. 1:00 Report from LA: Kendyl talks about her All Star Break adventures. Charles Barkley on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Inside the NBA Roadshow, trying to catch Damian Lillard and DeMar DeRozen at the Spalding event, Bleacher Report event with a “celebrity” game. (6:50) Thoughts on who the All Star Weekend is really for. 9:45 Thoughts on the All Star Game--did the new system work? Was it a better game than it has been in recent years? Steph looked like he didn’t care about winning. (9:45) Damian Lillard should have been in at the end. 14:40 The Dunk contest. What are the rules? How do they keep score? Is it really a good idea to have celebrity judges? 18:30 Celebrity game. Note to the organizers: WNBA Players are basketball players, not “celebrities”.  We’ve seen enough Paul Pierce this year, thanks. 20:10 Sprint to the finish. Tough competition in the Northwest Division. Damian Lillard deserves to be in the MVP conversation. MVP should be the player who makes the most difference to their team. 28:50 Black Girls Talk Sports Podcast co-hosts Rekaya Gibson and Angela Spears. Growing up in the Midwest and Louisville where sports was a big deal and coming from sports-loving families. 34:10 What does sports mean to you? Sports has taken on a new meaning since doing the podcast. It’s shared entertainment that we can all talk about, and can bring us together. 41:10 Some of the favorite topics they have covered on Black Girls Talk Sports include the Nigerian women's bobsled team, Black Girls Surf, when will women coach in the NBA, and should college athletes get paid? 48:00 Most interesting topics in the NBA this season: Player movement (trades), LeBron James and the Cavaliers, are they still contenders? 53:00 Winter Olympic sports will kill you but they sure are fun to watch. 56:20 NBA All Star game is not fun to watch because they players don’t play with passion. 57:00 How the NBA All Star game and the Olympics are different right now. 59:05 Athletes using their platforms to address social justice issues. 1:01:05 Women who inspire: Nancy Leiberman, assistant coach for Sacramento, who is breaking barriers and who never let lack of encouragement hold her back. Cheryl Miller has been an inspiring role model and an incredible player. Find our fantastic guests on Blackgirlstalksports.com, @RekayaGibson and @CoachSpears Follow Blazer’s Edge on Twitter @blazersedge, WHAT Pod @HoopsAndTalks, Tara @tcbbiggs, and Kendyl @kendylbennett16. Questions? Email us: [email protected]! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's Blazer's Edge podcast, Tara and Danny take a look at Portland's last 2 victories, break down Damian Lillard's last 6 games and month of February, discuss where Lillard ranks in today's top flight players, Jusuf Nurkic's steady contributions, how to keep Nurkic motivated each night, the Northwest Division being wide open & more! Intro Tara's trip to Utah Thoughts on the Jazz Reviewing the Portland v Utah game Maurice Harkless revival tour Damian Lillard is awesome Seriously, Damian Lillard is REALLY good Damian Lillard's past 5 games are the best series of games from a Blazer... ever What's changed that has allowed Lillard to go off? Is Damian Lillard a Top 10 player right now? The difference between a star and a superstar player Appreciating how good Dame is right now Dictating the pace/style of the game Where mental aptitude reaches physical maturity- peak Lillard The glory of a point guard put-back dunk Why doesn't Dame get triple doubles Always bring your laptop to dinner Jusuf Nurkic feeding off of Dame's shine The art of moving picks Nurkic vs Rudy Gobert Nurkic's shooting woes falling by the wayside Tara's theory for Nurkic motivation Appreciating Nurkic, flaws and all Players in the Northwest Division dropping like flies Jimmy Butler out for the Timberwolves Advancing in the playoffs with an asterisk Blazer's Edge Night is here! Looking ahead to the Timberwolves and Thunder Closing comments Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's Blazer's Edge podcast Tara and Dan discuss the Trail Blazers v. Warriors game on Valentine's Day then ask a series of questions they've been kicking around this week: Will the Blazers regret passing on Donovan Mitchell, which Blazers would be the best Winter Olympians, the value of CJ McCollum and more! Intro Winter Olympic Hunger Games Blazers most likely to be Winter Olympians Ed Davis in a bobsled Meyers Leonard as a curling champion Ice skating analytics Revisiting the Warriors v Blazers Reminder, Damian Lillard is REALLY good Dame for Player of the Month Was that game more about the Warriors or the Blazers Looking at the All Star game Dennis Smith Jr was robbed Donovan Mitchell is a complete monster Utah Jazz after the break The Jazz mirror the Blazers from a few years ago Will the Blazers regret passing on Mitchell Drafting Mitchell, trading CJ and rebuilding on the fly Would Mitchell have had the opportunity to blossom here Who does he remind you of Early returns on Collins v Mitchell The true value of CJ McCollum- we're not talking about trading him The consistent near all-star level of play McCollum and "Shake Rating" The clutch gene- does McCollum have it Coulda, woulda, shoulda... again Will the Blazers make the playoffs Evaluating the stretch run Closing thoughts Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Join Tara and Kendyl for the latest Women’s Hoops and Talks (W.H.A.T.) podcast. They start off by talking about Trail Blazers’ Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum who each scored 50 points in less than 30 minutes within 10 days of each other. Kendyl has been in Los Angeles and had an inside look at Laker Nation’s reaction to a wild trade deadline.   Then they talk to Ashley Williams, freelance sports reporter whose work has been featured on USA Today High School Sports as well as on SB Nation sites Blazer’s Edge and Swish Appeal. Ashley has covered the Nike Hoop Summit and Les Schwab Invitational Tournament for the last several years and has had the opportunity to talk to many players who went on to the NBA. She talks about what is unique about talking to these young men before they make it to the big time.  0:34 Damain Lillard and C.J. McCollum both score 50 points in less than 30 minutes within 10 days of each other. They are the first to do that within 10 days of each other since Larry Bird and Kevin McHale in 1984-85. 2:43 Top back courts in the league7:10 Trade deadline roundup8:08 Kendyl who is in Los Angeles talks about the reaction among Laker fans to the Cavs and Lakers trade, and Laker fans plan B (12:05) just in case they don’t entice LeBron and Paul George this off season. 16:15 Ashley Williams talks about the Les Schwab Invitational Tournament and the Nike Hoops Summit. She has spoken with many current NBA players before they were in the league including Jaylen Brown, Ben Simmons and DeAaron Fox.21:15 What is special about talking to high school players? Jaylen Brown playing for his teammates. Skal Labissiere growing up and giving back. 27:20 Talking to Damian Lillard about Black History Month. 32:30 A woman in basketball who inspires Ashley: Skylar Diggins.  Get Social  Follow Blazer’s Edge on Twitter @blazersedge, WHAT Pod @HoopsAndTalks, Tara @tcbbiggs, and Kendyl @kendylbennett16. Join the Women’s Hops And Talks Facebook group to talk about Trail Blazers with others who identify as women who love basketball. Music used in the episode: "Happy Alley" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast Dan and Tara take a look at what it would cost the Trail Blazers to acquire DeAndre Jordan, how could/would the Blazers utilize him, does it make sense to go in now, reviewing the last week of play, CJ McCollum's 50 point game, the City jerseys debut, what having a stable of 6'7" wings can do for a team and more! - Intro -January review - Rip City plaid, reviews - Early week good, end of week never happened - Damian Lillard vs the Raptors - Why do the Blazers fall short vs Toronto - What can you take from that game - Which would you rather have, more offense or more defense - Good Harkless makes an appearance - When all else is equal, size matters - Where there's smoke, there's... smoke - Recalling Wade Baldin and Caleb Swanigan, does it matter - What's the reality for an NBA player that's on the block - Trading for DeAndre Jordan - What would a deal for Jordan look like - Is it worth it for the Blazers to sacrifice Nurkic's potential for Jordan - Understanding the fine print in a trade - Opt in, opt out, Bird Rights and more - Who would the Clippers be targeting in this deal - Adding a 3rd team to the mix, who and what - Most likely candidates to be shipped out - Is Pat Connaughton safe - Getting used to a player that dunks, the best kind of transition period - Is it worth it for Portland to go in now - Does Neil Olshey's connection to the Clippers matter - Putting on tin foil hats - Ticking all of the boxes for a Neil Olshey acquisition - Projections for the deadline - Closing comments Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast Tara and Dan take a look at the resurgent Blazers offense, what led to it, is it sustainable, the arrival of MVP Damian Lillard, Ed Davis rises from last year's ashes, calling the Blazers  "The Zers" and more! Intro Routine vs. Rest Food in Dallas Ranking Texas NBA arenas Having rest before the All Star break is a good thing, right? Things looking more natural and fun Opening the playbook with chemistry How do you build familiarity on the floor? Evaluating Portland's offense Tara hates Bunnies Why is the offense playing better? Can the offense be sustained? MVP level Damian Lillard CJ McCollum rounding into form The rotations are getting locked down Dame & CJ are still the key- when they're rolling the team is rolling Role players ... playing roles Yes, Ed Davis is really good and really valuable Ed Davis, let me shower you with praise Listener questions- everything ball movement Understanding relevant and purposeful ball movement It's not about how many passes you make, it's how many of the right passes Natural adjustments + better passing and shot making= good offense Elevator! Stop calling the Portland Trail Blazers the 'Zers  Addressing the NBAPA v NBA Referees Tear it all down Relationship building vs scorched Earth Shout out Blazer's Edge Night selling out! Blazers Outsiders Debut Shout outs/credits Blazers Outsiders DebutShout outs to DeMarcus Cousins and Andre Roberson Follow us on Twitter @blazersedge @DMarang @tcbbiggs Subscribe to the Blazer’s Edge Podcast via iTunes and now Google Play. We are part of the Almighty Baller Radio Network. Check out our podcast and all the other NBA podcasts at almightyballer.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast, Corbin Smith of Willamette Week/Vice Sports fame joins the show with Tara and Danny to expand on his most recent project; revisiting the Jail Blazers era and how it was covered by local media,  hating LaMarcus Aldridge (still), will Lillard make the All-Star team, the Blazer's most improved player award, Evan Turner's worth, tribute videos and more! - Looking back at the Jail Blazers - Reviewing how the era was looked at - Portland media members review their thoughts - The judgment game - rating takes and answers - Will Lillard make the all-star team - Most likely to be traded from "Olshey's guys" - Hawks player you would most like in Portland (Hawks fire sale) - Most improved Blazer - How much of his contract is Evan Turner earning - What's the over/under on technical fouls/ejections in the POR v DEN game - What former Blazer still in the NBA deserves a tribute video Donate Tickets to Blazer’s Edge Night to help 2000+ underprivileged kids see the Blazers play the Sacramento Kings in February! Head through this link and click on “Donate Tickets”. Use the promo code BLAZERSEDGE on the purchase page. Tickets are automatically donated when you follow this process. You can also call our ticket rep, Alec Botts, at 503-963-3926 if you need assistance. REMINDER: If you buy a pair of these socks, a ticket gets donated automatically! Follow us on Twitter @blazersedge @DMarang @tcbbiggs Subscribe to the Blazer’s Edge Podcast via iTunes and now Google Play.We are part of the Almighty Baller Radio Network. Check out our podcast and all the other NBA podcasts at almightyballer.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tara and Kendyl share their own All Star picks and reflect on the players who were selected. Then they welcome Jannelle Moore, who writes about the Golden State Warriors for Blue Man Hoops and Golden State of Mind. You can find her weekly column, Towns Finest, on Sunday’s at Blue Man Hoop. We talked to her about how the Warriors have developed over several years and what stars Like Steph and Draymond had to improve individually before they became a super team. If you like what you heard you can find more episodes of the WHAT podcast in the Blazer’s Edge podcast feed. Head over to Stitcher, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts and subscribe to Blazer’s Edge, you’ll get all the weekly Blazer’s Edge podcasts plus every other week we’ll bring you another episode of Women’s Hoops And Talks and you’ll get to know even more women who are doing awesome things in basketball. Follow Blazer’s Edge on Twitter @blazersedge, WHAT Pod @HoopsAndTalks, Tara @tcbbiggs, and Kendyl @kendylbennett16. Jannelle can be found on Twitter  @Jannelle12 or Instagram @WriterDiva. Music used in the episode: "Happy Alley" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On a special edition of the Blazer's Edge podcast- Caitlin Cooper of Indy Cornrows joins Tara and Dan to preview the match up with the Indiana Pacers AKA "Blazers East." With Nate McMillan & Kevin Pritchard running the show how have they taken the Blazers framework and built a contender, the emergence of Victor Oladipo, the growth of Myles Turner, Baby Sabonis and the twin towers and the outlook for the Pacers vs the Blazers over the next few years.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week’s episode of the Blazer’s Edge podcast,Blazer’s super fan and actor Kelly AuCoin from Showtime’s “Billions”, FX’s “The Americans” and many more projects join Tara and Dan to talk about the state of the team, ranking eras, a Blazers Mt. Rushmore, how Kelly became a fan, Pat Connaughton’s terrible movie taste, adjusting expectations, the other Dame in his life and more! IntroRamblin’ RodPat Connaughton reveals he’s not perfectKelly outlines how he became a fanExpectations after an early titleBill Walton and a copy of Sports IllustratedWhere do you rate Damian LillardBlazers Mt RushmoreThe pursuit of excellenceThe star named Dame in his lifeEvaluating the current state of the teamRooting interest, chemistry and finding the right fitEvolution of Al-Farouq Aminu’s gameUnderstanding Jusuf Nurkic from afarKelly endorses angry NurkEvaluating the rookies, Caleb Swanigan and Zach CollinsInspirational speeches from “Wags” for CollinsTaking a look at what Portland could do in the coming weeksHas Napier played his way out of PortlandKelly’s TV spots for the Blazers during the Playoffs Jack Nicholson, Ty Burrell and Kelly AuCoin Donate Tickets to Blazer’s Edge Night to help 2000+ underprivileged kids see the Blazers play the Sacramento Kings in February! Head through this link and click on “Donate Tickets”. Use the promo code BLAZERSEDGE on the purchase page. Tickets are automatically donated when you follow this process. You can also call our ticket rep, Alec Botts, at 503-963-3926 if you need assistance. REMINDER: If you buy a pair of these socks, a ticket gets donated automatically! Follow us on Twitter @blazersedge @DMarang @tcbbiggs Subscribe to the Blazer’s Edge Podcast via iTunes and now Google Play. We are part of the Almighty Baller Radio Network. Check out our podcast and all the other NBA podcasts at almightyballer.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week’s episode of the Blazer’s Edge podcast Tara Bowen-Biggs and Dan Marang run down the Blazers recent run of play, discuss the emergence of Shabazz Napier and Pat Connaughton, Damian Lillard’s absence, Nikola Mirotic and DeAndre Jordan on the trade block, and why NBA players shouldn’t be friends on the court. That and more on this week’s Blazer’s Edge podcast! Intro Things to build on over the past week Reviewing the past week Can we count on players outside Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum Evan Turner fitting in Pat Connaughton and Maurice Harkless getting to the basket Getting the most out the other guys Nurkic fever making a return Equal opportunity offense The Blazer's defense is for real- that's fun Why won't Nurkic dunk on everyone Understanding how good Nurkic's footwork and why he's so frustrating Lillard and teammates rise for the Stotts banner Style points are back- why the Hawks game was more than just a regular win Trade Deadline- Nikola Mirotic What will Mirotic cost Portland Should the Blazers entertain offers for Collins if it means getting out of Turner's contract Trade Deadline- DeAndre Jordan Would Jordan fit in Portland What would Portland give up for him Who's a better fit for Portland at center- DAJ or Nurkic Assessing CJ McCollum's value in the league today The Moda Center is alive Why can't everyone be friends Get off my lawn- I want villains, heels, and storylines not banana boats Pettiness drives the best rivalries in the league not niceties The Trail Blazers and tribute videos- who could they have one for Will Barton deserves a tribute video Donate Tickets to Blazer’s Edge Night to help 2000+ underprivileged kids see the Blazers play the Sacramento Kings in February! Head through this link and click on “Donate Tickets”. Use the promo code BLAZERSEDGE on the purchase page. Tickets are automatically donated when you follow this process. You can also call our ticket rep, Alec Botts, at 503-963-3926 if you need assistance. REMINDER: If you buy a pair of these socks, a ticket gets donated automatically! Follow us on Twitter @blazersedge @DMarang @tcbbiggs Subscribe to the Blazer's Edge Podcast via iTunes and now Google Play. We are part of the Almighty Baller Radio Network. Check out our podcast and all the other NBA podcasts at almightyballer.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Some people say the NBA season doesn’t really start until Christmas. Well, we disagree. On this episode of the WHAT Pod, Tara and Kendyl talk about all the fun, exciting, and unexpected things that happened the first 10 weeks of the NBA season. We can’t imagine waiting until Christmas to watch the NBA, but just in case YOU did, we’ve picked out all our favorite highlights around the Association. 2:00 Big game, big injury: Cavs vs Celtics and Gordon Hayward goes down, impressive performances by Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. 5:00 Injury bug bites early7:23 Eric Bledsoe’s Tweet heard around the league10:50 Early Coach firings, Earl Watson and David Fizdale12:58 Surprisingly fast starts and what we think about the East vs West so far15:43 Raptors on the rise (Dwayne Casey on The Lowe Post) 19:30 Outstanding rookies and LeBron’s active interest in the young players24:28 Will LeBron be NBA Commissioner some day?26:40 Rundown of some statistical highlights (via Basketball Reference) and Is this LeBron’s best year? 30:20 How stars are fitting in on their new teams. 32:52 How tough is the Northwest Division37:20 Players who are surprises: Victor Oladipo 40:09 Referee drama and intrigue ( Meeting held to discuss tensions between refs, players)50:34 What we are hoping for the Blazer’s for the rest of the year. 57:00 What is the trade deadline going to be like?59:00 Blazers Edge night Get Social Follow Blazer’s Edge on Twitter @blazersedge, WHAT Pod @HoopsAndTalks, Tara @tcbbiggs, and Kendyl @kendylbennett16. Women’s Hops And Talks (W.H.A.T.) Join the Women’s Hops And Talks Facebook group to talk about Trail Blazers with others who identify as women who love basketball. Join other #BlazersWHAT fans to watch a game together once a month. Next watch party is January 14 at McMenamins on Broadway when the Trail Blazers take on the Minnesota Timberwolves. References Stats unless otherwise noted are from Basketball Reference Music used in the episode: "Happy Alley" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast Tara Bowen-Biggs and Dan Marang break down the miraculous comeback versus the Philadelphia 76ers and the absolute dumpster fire that was the match up with the league-worst Atlanta Hawks - what happened, what went right and/or wrong, what does it mean going forward, breaking Jusuf Nurkic's nose before every game, the rise of Shabazz Napier and whether or not Coach Stotts is to blame for the up and down play. Intro Damian Lillard taking every game off he needs to get healthy Outlining the comeback vs the 76ers Napier, Nurkic, McCollum and a free throw bonanza Mad Nurkic vs Sad Nurkic Dan's rant on officiating, what's wrong with it and how to fix it going forward Blazers take another team lightly and pick up their worst loss of the year Where does the blame fall? Coach, player(s), GM, ownership, etc What has Coach Stotts done for this team, and how good is he as a coach Getting the most out of players Why the issues with the team don't fall at Stotts' feet Why coaches don't play rookies leaguewide Ed Davis continues to shine Pairing Davis with Zach Collins on and off the floor Where does Portland's bench rank in the league Pat Connaughton and Shabazz Napier knowing their role and shining Expectation vs reality What do the Blazers do at the trade deadline Breaking down the upcoming schedule What happens to Portland between now and the trade deadline New Years resolutions for Blazer players Help us send 2000+ kids to see the Blazers play the Sacramento Kings this February! To Donate Tickets to Blazer’s Edge Night, 2018 Head to this URL: http://rosequarter.com/blazersedge/ Click on “Donate Tickets” Use the promo code BLAZERSEDGE on the purchase page after you’ve selected your tickets. Tickets are automatically donated when you follow this process. You can also call our ticket rep, Alec Botts, at 503-963-3926 if you need assistance with the process or cannot donate online. Follow us on Twitter @blazersedge @DMarang @tcbbiggs Subscribe to the Blazer's Edge Podcast via iTunes and now Google Play. We are part of the Almighty Baller Radio Network. Check out our podcast and all the other NBA podcasts at almightyballer.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's a Christmas miracle! On this week's episode James Holas AKA @snottiedrippen and Chris Axmann @AlmightyBallin, head of ABPNRadio join Tara and Dan to talk Damian Lillard's Los Angeles attire, Coach Stotts on the hot seat, Dwight Howard in Portland, Shabazz Napier as the best Blazers bench player in years, and what to make of Jusuf Nurkic's rough start. That and more on this week's Blazer's Edge podcast! Intro Damian Lillard's heat check outfit Jusuf Nurkic's impact this season What's happening with Nurkic's up and down play Tweeting and recording at the same time Is Coach Stotts on the hot seat Nurkic's offense falling off Zach Collins' impact early on James shares his true feelings on Evan Turner How much are the Blazers missing Crabbe Shouts to Pat Connaughton Trade season is upon us What deals should Portland look at Dwight Howard, DeAndre Jordan, and Marc Gasol- oh my Would Dwight Howard fit in Portland Is Portland allowed to trade with the Orlando Magic DeAndre Jordan - would he fit in Portland Christmas wishes for a perfect trade Tobias Harris, Aaron Gordon, Khris Middleton, CJ Miles, Evan Fournier Chances of the Blazers making a deal at the deadline Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast Tara and Dan try to figure out what a good win really is. Is there such a thing as a bad win? From a 4-1 road trip to a 5 game losing streak and the chance to go on another 4-1 road trip. The ups, downs and everything in between of this Blazers season has finally managed to render Dan speechless... at least for a moment. Attempting to break down the Charlotte Hornets game Reacting to Coach Stotts' rotation changes What do you think of Evan Turner being in the starting rotation Using Turner's strengths alongside CJ McCollum/Damian Lillard How good has Aminu been for the Blazers What makes a a good 3 and D player Has Aminu reached that level where he brings it on both sides Can the Blazers continue to play with fire and not get burned in the long run Initial thoughts on Zach Collins in the starting lineup How confident has he looked to you Why is Collins getting the nod over other guys We still don't know what this team's identity is Trade season is open what should fans keep in mind Golden Rules for the trade machine and real life trades Which Blazers are most likely to be available/traded this year Franchise goals and how they dictate player movement What could the Blazers expect in return trades If the Blazers are on a path right now, which way do they go Is Stotts on the hot seat Why firing a coach happens before a rebuild/retool To Donate Tickets to Blazer’s Edge Night, 2018 Head to this URL: http://rosequarter.com/blazersedge/ Click on “Donate Tickets” Use the promo code BLAZERSEDGE on the purchase page after you’ve selected your tickets. Tickets are automatically donated when you follow this process. You can also call our ticket rep, Alec Botts, at 503-963-3926 if you need assistance with the process or cannot donate online. Follow us on Twitter @blazersedge @DMarang @tcbbiggs Subscribe to the Blazer's Edge Podcast via iTunes and now Google Play. We are part of the Almighty Baller Radio Network. Check out our podcast and all the other NBA podcasts at almightyballer.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast Coach Dave DuFour is here to talk Blazer's identity, his conversion on Meyers Leonard, Portland's offensive struggles, why adults shouldn't wear jerseys, answers Team Mom's letter and more! Team Mom's letter Why adults shouldn't wear jerseys Portland vs Houston Showdown between Damian Lillard and James Harden Do the Blazers miss Allen Crabbe Should Meyers Leonard be on the floor How do the Blazers answer small ball lineups Understanding what a dribble hand off/DHO is Evan Turner and Maurice Harkless on the floor at the same time, this is a problem How do the Blazers compensate for non shooters on the floor You can't be on the floor if you're a net negative offensively The Blazers are missing wide open threes, a lot Looking at the Blazers by the numbers Where the Blazers are good, they're very good Where the Blazers are bad, they're very bad What is the Blazer's identity How do you feel about the Blazers right now Dead last in assists, can that be fixed Hot take- the Blazers are playing the odds with Dame/CJ Have you seen any good movies lately Are the Blazers giving anything that gives you hope Giving up 51 to Beal, 48 points to Harden Will this team make the playoffs and is that a good thing Out performing their contracts and the hope that died with them Where does winning rank for the Portland fan base How hard is it for Portland to hit the reset button The best thing that could happen, is a tank that doesn't happen on purpose CJ McCollum- the best pure shooter in the league 3-guard lineups and why they're valuable for Portland right now Evan Turner was supposed to be that guy in the 3-guard lineup when he was signed Why do so many players have huge nights against the Blazers Meyers Leonard has beef with half the league We discovered why Leonard doesn't play The Blazers schedule woes Will the Blazers make the playoffs Dave is a convert, Meyers need more minutes To Donate Tickets to Blazer’s Edge Night, 2018 Head to this URL: http://rosequarter.com/blazersedge/ Click on “Donate Tickets” Use the promo code BLAZERSEDGE on the purchase page after you’ve selected your tickets. Tickets are automatically donated when you follow this process. You can also call our ticket rep, Alec Botts, at 503-963-3926 if you need assistance with the process or cannot donate online. Follow us on Twitter @blazersedge @DMarang @tcbbiggs Subscribe to the Blazer's Edge Podcast via iTunes and now Google Play. We are part of the Almighty Baller Radio Network. Check out our podcast and all the other NBA podcasts at almightyballer.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast  the discussion centers around something no on saw coming this year- where has all the offense gone? Tara and Dan discuss the 4-1 road trip, back to back home losses, CJ McCollum's slump, Meyers Leonard's return to the spotlight and more. Reviewing the 4-1 road trip Damian Lillard finds his jumpshot Milwaukee Bucks - why are they such a problem for the Blazers? Death by Rajon Rondo and Tony Allen jumpers...seriously Blazers looking past the Pelicans sans Anthony Davis It's gotta be the shoes right? CJ McCollum, the best midrange shooter in the league? Working Al-Farouq Aminu and Meyers Leonard into the lineup Leonard vs Boogie - the series continues! Shabazzle-Dazzle continues to shine Dame and CJ and the myth of a pure point guard Lillard ISO vs Harden ISO More lobs for Pat Connaughton please Nurkic "life comes out you fast" When the Blazers commit, their defense is for real McCollum's recent shooting slump- what is it? How can the Blazers compensate when Dame or CJ struggle? The Blazers can't count on opponents being the "Knicks" to win games Dame's resurgence to MVP form, can he make the All-Star game? Noah Vonleh taking advantage of his minutes Pat Connaughton's and Shabazz Napier's emergence and brash confidence Trusting the team to make the right play Announcements! To Donate Tickets to Blazer’s Edge Night, 2018 Head to this URL: http://rosequarter.com/blazersedge/ Click on “Donate Tickets” Use the promo code BLAZERSEDGE on the purchase page after you’ve selected your tickets. Tickets are automatically donated when you follow this process. You can also call our ticket rep, Alec Botts, at 503-963-3926 if you need assistance with the process or cannot donate online. Follow us on Twitter @blazersedge @DMarang @tcbbiggs Subscribe to the Blazer's Edge Podcast via iTunes and now Google Play. We are part of the Almighty Baller Radio Network. Check out our podcast and all the other NBA podcasts at almightyballer.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben Golliver from SI.com and Blazer's Edge Alumnus drops by and gives us the deep dive on everything Jusuf Nurkic after sitting with the Bosnian Beast earlier this season. From how hate mail and trade grades serve as great motivating tools for story writing, to why Jusuf Nurkic is like an actual bull. Ben breaks down the almost superhero-esque origin story of the younger Nurkic, the parallels between his early career growth and his time in Portland as a Trail Blazer and ties it together with his projections for Nurkic's growth. Along the way we discuss Nurkic's relationship with Damian Lillard, Nurkic's respect and admiration for Coach Stotts and ultimately what could the Blazers be looking at this summer when it comes to resigning Nurkic. That and more on this week's episode! What made you want to do a story about Jusuf Nurkic? What did you learn about Nurkic that you didn’t already know? What got left left on the cutting room floor? What does he think is the future of centers in the NBA? Is Nurkic ready for that? If Joel Embiid is watching Hakeem Olajuwon videos, what videos should Nurkic be watching? Player Rankings (Nurk #69, CJ #39, #17 Damian)Early returns, how are you feeling about how they are panning out? Do you still think there is that much of a gap between Dame and CJ? Follow us on Twitter @blazersedge @DMarang @tcbbiggs@bengolliver Subscribe to the Blazer's Edge Podcast via iTunes and now Google Play. We are part of the Almighty Baller Radio Network. Check out our podcast and all the other NBA podcasts at almightyballer.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On Ep 2 of Women’s Hops And Talks (W.H.A.T.) Podcast,Tara and Kendyl talk with Associated Press reporter Anne Peterson whose beat has included the Portland Trail Blazers since 2002. We hear about her early days in the Bay Area, her first call to meet Arvydas Sabonis when she got to Portland, covering soccer and volleyball at the Olympic games and many tales of her interactions with some of the most notorious Blazers. How to write a story about Rasheed when he wouldn’t talk to the pressA special bond with Sebastian TelfairHer one regret about Ruben PattersonTrying to keep track of Zach Randolph and Damon Stoudemeir We also hear about what it was like to cover more recent Trail Blazers like Brandon Roy and Greg Oden. Follow Tara @tcbbiggs, Kendyl @kendylbennett16, Anne @AnnieMPeterson and of course @blazersedge on Twitter. Subscribe to the Blazer's Edge Podcast via iTunes and now Google Play.We are part of the Almighty Baller Radio Network. Check out our podcast and all the other NBA podcasts at almightyballer.com.Blazer’s Edge night has been announced! This year we’re going to send 2,000 kids to the Moda Center to watch the Blazers play the Kings on February 27th, and you can help! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode CBS Sports' Matt Moore (otherwise known as @HPBasketball, drops in to give us the national perspective. That's right, "The national media are coming! The national media are coming!" Matt breaks down the view from outside Portland's bubble on Terry Stotts, Neil Olshey and the current standing of the Trail Blazers, whether or not the Blazers defensive growth is both real and sustainable, what's inhibiting the offense, can the Blazers grow anymore with Lillard and McCollum and much, much more on this week's Blazer's Edge podcast! National perspective- How are Terry Stotts and Neil Olshey looked at right now? Do you think the Trail Blazers defense is for real? What has happened to the offense in its place? Age old question- can Dame/CJ lead a team beyond mediocrity Jusuf Nurkic- the good, the bad and the future The NW division looked like murder’s row heading in- has it lived up to expectations? Thoughts on the Zach Collins and Caleb Swanigan Evan Turner and his radical change Follow us on Twitter @blazersedge @DMarang @tcbbiggs@HPBasketball Subscribe to the Blazer's Edge Podcast via iTunes and now Google Play. We are part of the Almighty Baller Radio Network. Check out our podcast and all the other NBA podcasts at almightyballer.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode former professional basketball player and current Blazer's Edge Analyst (and resident big man) Brian Freeman joins us to on this episode where it's all about big men- specifically Jusuf Nurkic and what's transpired the past couple of games in the fourth quarter and what went wrong against the Brooklyn Nets. Brian and the crew break down team schemes, understanding what we know and don't know from a fan/media point of view, the effects of closed door meetings and more! 1:00 Introduction - Brian Freeman- former professional basketeer and resident bigman is our guest today!2:00 The Blazers identity - where is it4:00 Building the Blazers identity on both ends5:00 Breaking down the Nets game- what happened and why7:00 What's up with Nurkic and not closing out games8:30 Why hasn't Nurkic been on the floor11:00 Where did it gone wrong against the Nets14:00 That one bad play everyone is talking about, it's going to be the first thing they look at the next day17:00 Where did the Blazers go wrong in the 2nd half20:30 Playing inside and outside the scheme23:30 How much has the loss of Aminu and the introduction of Vonleh back into the lineup changed things25:30 The return of Meyers Leonard and infectious effort27:30 Is it time for a closed door meeting?30:00 How much of the up and down start is rooted in the homestand34:00 While there's cause for concern, slow down 35:00 Assessing the optics of the Nurkic situation37:30 Don't overreact or under-react39:30 Is Nurkic getting tired43:00 The player-coach relationship and rotations49:00 The next set of games before the road trip Follow us on Twitter @blazersedge @DMarang @tcbbiggs@brianfreeman Subscribe to the Blazer's Edge Podcast via iTunes and now Google Play. We are part of the Almighty Baller Radio Network. Check out our podcast and all the other NBA podcasts at almightyballer.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to Women’s Hops And Talks, a podcast where we elevate the voices of women in basketball. Twice a month, co-hosts Tara and Kendyl will talk with women who write about, talk about, work in and love basketball. For our first episode we talk to NBC Sports Northwest digital host/reporter Jamie Hudson.  We learn more about how busy Jamie is as a digital reporter, her early broadcasting days (including interviewing Sir Charles on the red carpet), and what advice she has for those looking at getting into sports reporting. Other topics includeJamie’s outside shooting skillsChallenges and rewards of being a woman covering sportsWho is surprising us in the NBA this season?Is there another team about to be as obnoxious as the Clippers?Who will be the new face of the NBA when LeBron retires?Which women inspire Jamie Check us out in the coming weeks and months as we talk to more women who love basketball.  Get SocialFollow Blazer’s Edge on Twitter @blazesedge, Tara @tcbbiggs, and Kendyl @kendylbennett16. Intro/Outro music"Happy Alley" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's episode, Chad Doing (@chadinripcity) of RipCityRadio 620AM's Afternoon Drive with Travis & Chad joins Dan Marang to discuss; the first 10 games of the season, the Blazer's continued commitment to defense, the revival of Nurk Fever, and the ultimate question- is Jusuf Nurkic a Bad Boy? That and more on this episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast. 1:00 Early Season Expectations, 10 Games In2:00 What’s Most Impressive So Far4:00 Commitment To Defense- Is It Real6:00 Dame Setting The Tone On Both Ends10:00 What Are The Things You Don’t Like So Far12:30 Worried About The Fouls Yet15:30 Is Nurk Fever Upon Us Once Again19:00 Nurkic Pick And Roll20:30 Portland Bad Boys26:00 Lillard On A Tear29:00 Dame’s Maturation30:30 Next 6 Games- How Does It Look33:00 Initial Report On Caleb Swanigan Get social Follow us on Twitter @blazersedge @DMarang @tcbbiggs Subscribe to the Blazer's Edge Podcast via iTunes and now Google Play. We are part of the Almighty Baller Radio Network. Check out our podcast and all the other NBA podcasts at almightyballer.com. Blazer’s Edge night has been announced! This year we’re going to send 2,000 kids to the Moda Center to watch the Blazers play the Kings on February 27th, and you can help! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's podcast Dan calls up the numbers to find out just how bad the Trail Blazer's have been close to the basket these first 6 games, and we try to figure out why. Fortunately, thanks to contributions up and down the roster and consistent defense, they've managed to keep a winning record. But how long do we wait to see Damian Lillard and Jusuf Nurkic return to form? Other topics covered this week: -The Patty Buckets nickname debate -Dame has more to offer than just shooting -Is Aminu the 3rd most important player right now? -Playing time for Swanigan and Collins--how much longer will we see either of them on the floor? -Where exactly are the Blazer's struggling in offense, why and how do they fix it? -Upcoming game predictions References Scoring percentages are from NBASavant.Game recap and other statistics from Basketball Reference. Get social Follow us on Twitter @blazersedge @DMarang @tcbbiggsSubscribe to the Blazer's Edge Podcast via iTunes and now Google Play.We are part of the Almighty Baller Radio Network. Check out our podcast and all the other NBA podcasts at almightyballer.com.Blazer’s Edge night has been announced! This year we’re going to send 2,000 kids to the Moda Center to watch the Blazers play the Kings on February 27th, and you can help! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Portland Trail Blazers are playing defense in the early going and we’re loving it. Join Tara and Dan on the latest Blazer’s Edge podcast to find out what’s to like, what to keep an eye on and what in the world has gotten into Pat Connaughton? We go in deep on how the Trail Blazer’s did their best to contain Giannis. We like how even though Nurkic struggles at times offensively, he’s still rebounding and staying alert on defense. Damian Lillard is showing up on defense nearly every play--he’s fouling more and chasing through screens more aggressively than we’ve seen before.  And, oh my, Ed Davis, welcome back!  We check back on some of our preseason observations to find out if they are holding up now that every game counts. The pick and roll defense shows signs of improving. The pace of the game is slightly higher. And for now it seems like Pat Connaughton is taking most of the shots that were once taken by Allen Crabbe. All of this and more on the latest edition of the Blazer’s Edge podcast. References Unless otherwise noted, statistics are from Basketball ReferenceLast 2 Minute Report for Trail Blazers vs BucksNBA Video Rulebook Highlights 1:45 What can we take away from the Phoenix Sun’s Game? 4:53 Pat Connaughton steps up! 7:41 A road victory in Indiana, Evan Turner and Al Farouq Aminu have big night 9:50 Milwaukee game summary. 11:40 Giannis praise. Can’t help it. 15:00 What Portland’s defense did well against Milwaukee: communicating, physicality, pushing guys off their sweet spots. Giannis got 44 points but Aminu, Davis and Harkless all made him work for them.  16:24 Damian seems to have embraced defense. 21:30 Nurkic has struggled offensively but then he wisely goes back to basics--rebounding and defense. 25:37 L2M report from the league--Dan thinks it was a foul, Tara believes the refs. 31:04 How are the Blazers doing defending the pick and roll? Slightly better. 36:10 Are the Blazers speeding up the pace? Yes, by 2 just about 2 possessions a game and 4 more free throw attempts. 37:40 3 solid minutes of Ed Davis love peppered with some Al-Farouq Aminu appreciation. 40:34 Who is getting Allen Crabbe’s shot attempts? Right now it appears to be Pat Connaughton. 44:20 C.J.’s beautiful shot creation and Dame’s sharp shooting. 47:15 Why aren’t the Blazers taking very many corner 3s? Something to watch as the season progresses. 50:50 A moment to enjoy the Steph-KD meltdown in Memphis. 53:35 Injuries ravage the NBA. Get social Follow us on Twitter @blazersedge @DMarang @tcbbiggsSubscribe to the Blazer's Edge Podcast via iTunes and now Google Play.We are part of the Almighty Baller Radio Network. Check out our podcast and all the other NBA podcasts at almightyballer.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Your Blazers’ Edge starting lineup of Tara and Dan recap recent news and take a deep dive into the Trail Blazer’s defensive outlook this season.  With a roster much like last year’s, we attempt to set a baseline by which to judge if we see improvement. What areas of the floor do they defend well?In which areas do they allow the most scoring?What is the key to improving defense against the pick and roll?Is this the year continuity pays off?We talk about how new personnel might improve defense in the paint and why C.J. is the key to a defensive turn around.  Finally we predict how the Blazer’s are going to start the season. Tara has them starting with a blazing-hot 5 game winning streak. Where do you suppose Dan put them? Tune in to find out all this and more! Highlights 2:07 CJ’s suspension5:00 is C.J. ornery?5:39 Who starts on Opening night?7:30 Blazers waive Anthony Morrow, Isaiah Briscoe and Archie9:19 Nurkic will be a restricted free agent 13:29 Setting the baseline for defense this year16:06 Blazers defense didn’t get better (overall) last year, it got worse19:13 How good a defender is Nurkic?23:47 What the Blazers are good at on defense: corner 3s and at the rim, the two best shots in the league. Good news!31:27 Collins defense in the paint?33:10 Aminu reads the offense well and is a good weak side help defender35:20 Swanigan has the ability to react quickly on defense in the painted area36:58 What type of offense is this team probably best equipped to defend?37:30 Dame and C.J. are good isolation defenders 39:00 Blazers are going to do better against teams that play heavy isolation, like the Lakers who don’t yet have an identity. 44:03 How will we be able to tell when the pick and roll has improved? We’ll see by where the shots get off. Is Chris Paul getting shots off in his favorite spot? 46:03 Here’s where continuity comes in.47:19 C.J. is the most likely to improve on defense and thats fine. 48:37 Off to a strong start Get social Follow us on Twitter @blazersedge @DMarang @tcbbiggsSubscribe to the Blazer's Edge Podcast via iTunes and now Google Play.We are part of the Almighty Baller Radio Network. Check out our podcast and all the other NBA podcasts at almightyballer.com.Dan and Tara will be at the Blazer’s Edge Opening Night Viewing Party with Peter Sampson of Blazer’s Edge Radio at Spirit of 77. Stop by and say “Hi”! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We squeezed as much information as we possibly could out of the first three preseason games and came up pretty excited about some new offensive wrinkles. The bigs are taking--and making--mid range shots. The team is operating at a faster pace than last year, using nearly 11 more possessions per game. They are relying on fewer pick-and-rolls and relying on more transition and spot up shooting. With the ball in his hands Evan Turner is running the point from on the block. And of course, we can't get enough Swanigan, Swanigan and more Caleb Swanigan! Highlights 2:05 As excited as Dan will be all season. 3:45 Dan loves Swanigan who provides more options than anyone else on the floor not named Lillard, McCollum or Nurkic 6:20 How is Swanigan like Zach Randolph or Draymond Green? 9:55 Tara things Zach Collins shows promise and she promises to carry the torch for him this season 13:55 Dame and CJ were ready for the season to start yesterday 15:05 Nurkic has a jump shot 16:15 Attitude is everything 20:05 Dan predicts Caleb Swanigan is going to lead the Trail Blazers in technical fouls 24:00 Trail Blazers have picked up the pace, at least during pre-season 26:35 Should we worry about how many fouls Nurkic is committing? 28:40 Nurkic offence, getting the ball at the post #feetwork, why he can’t finish 33:55 Back-up ball-handling Evan Turner is hanging out on the post--and it looks like its working 34:45 Andre Miller talk! 40:25 Is Turner getting so much time as back up PG because Shabazz is out, because Crabbe is gone, or better utilization? 41:35 How Portland’s offense is different this preseason from last year. Right now they are going with more spot up and transition plays than pick and roll (their usual bread and butter) 43:55 Efforts to get their shot off faster 49:10 New offensive wrinkles that have guys taking shots from different spots on the floor Get social Follow us on Twitter @blazersedge @DMarang @tcbbiggsSubscribe to the Blazer's Edge Podcast via iTunes and now Google Play.We are part of the Almighty Baller Radio Network. Check out our podcast and all the other NBA podcasts at almightyballer.com.Dan and Tara will be at the Blazer’s Edge Opening Night Viewing Party with Peter Sampson of Blazer’s Edge Radio. Stop by and say “Hi”! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hopped up on a combination of Fan Fest euphoria and cold medicine, Dan and Tara discuss which training camp stories have fans talking, what did we learn from the intra-squad scrimmage, and what will we watch for in the preseason. Is this the season Meyers Leonard makes the leap and what exactly does that mean? Will C.J. McCollum surpass Damian as the leading scorer? What does contract-year Ed Davis bring to the table? All this and more on this edition of the Blazer’s Edge Podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Its media day and we have the lowdown on a slimmer Jusuf Nurkic, vegan Damian Lillard, impressive Caleb Swanigan and an animated Meyers Leonard. Will this team be the new Bad Boys? Nurk thinks they could be! David MacKay spent the day at the Moda Center with the Trail Blazers and he drops by the Blazer’s Edge podcast for a full report plus a rant about the homogonization of uniforms and a little Melo talk to round it out. Tune in for all this and more on this week’s episode. Follow us on Twitter @blazersedge @DMarang @tcbbiggs Find David at on Twitter at  @DavidMacKayNBA We are now part of the Almighty Baller Radio Network. Check out our podcast and all the other NBA podcasts at almightyballer.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dan and Tara finish up previewing the Western Conference with @hoopcityhellcat Aimee Stiegemeyer, co-founder of All Heart in Hoop City, a Memphis Grizzlies blog written and run by women. We find out how things are going in Memphis where its been an eventful summer with several key Grit-n-Grind players moving on to new teams. Then we discuss the five teams in the division that appears to be, at least for now, the easiest in the west to predict.  1:10 What is the temperature in Memphis4:03 Zach Randolph from Pdx to Memphis  6:47 Dallas Mavericks (and Sacramento Kings are Memphis West)12:40 New Orleans Pelicans, “Go ahead, please”16:09 “The Tony Allen Thing”23:00 Memphis Grizzlies35:30 We remember Mike Conley’s broken face38:28 Houston Rockets47:50 San Antonio Spurs “If you want a vision of the future, imagine the Spurs in the first round - forever.” - paraphrasing George Orwell   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We are previewing the Pacific Division with Anthony Irwin of Locked on Lakers. What is the timeline for the Phoenix Suns and how patient are their fans? Do Laker’s fans believe in Magic? What is the identity of the Sacramento Kings? Will the Clippers thrive without Chris Paul and how much Patrick Beverley talk does it take before Dan loses it? Finally, Kevin Durant . . . hyperbole . . . yada, yada, yada, Tara lets the guys talk about the Team From the Bay Area for 5 minutes before she cuts them off.  We’ve reached across the aisle to find common ground with a smart (if opinionated) Lakers fan. From musecages to Kobe in retirement, from Vivek Ranadivé in VR glasses to Doc Rivers’ extra rounds of golf, we talk about all kinds of fun Pacific Division topics while coming up with hashtags for the teams and laughing all the way (because if we weren't laughing, we'd be crying). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dustin and Sage from the Holy Backboard podcast join FANalysts Tara and Jo to preview the Northwest Division.  Find out what they think about the uber-competitive Northwest Division and all the newest arrivals like Jimmy Butler, Ricky Rubio, Paul Millsap and Paul George. What about the stars who are still here, like Karl Anthony Towns, Nicola Jokic, Rudy Gobert, and Russell Westbrook? How will they incorporate all the new pieces? For each team they look at what are their strengths, how do you beat them, and what are the wildcard storylines? Along the way they remember what they got wrong and what they got right about last year’s predictions.   All this and more on the second annual Holy Backboard/Blazer’s Edge Northwest Division Preview!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

News! Yay, let’s go over some news! Damian Lillard is zip-lining and he's a vegan now. and  Jusuf Nurkic is number 69 on the SI top 100 players. What does all this mean? Lets get caught up on some personnel moves--Pat Connaughton is sticking around, Archie Goodwin is coming to training camp and CJ Wilcox is another 6'5" guard. Finally, how do we put this all together to determine, what is the identity of this team? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

James Holas of BBallBreakdown.com joins Tara Bowen-Biggs and Dan Marang for this episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast to discuss James' theory that Damian Lillard is posed for a breakout year which will lead the Portland Trail Blazers to the playoffs.  Along the way they discuss the Cleveland Cavaliers trade with the Boston Celtics that was supposed to send Kyrie Irving to the Celtics for Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic, and the Brooklyn Net's 2018 1st round pick- which has since stalled out due to hesitation by the Cavaliers over Thomas' hip injury. What else would Boston give up in order to facilitate this trade? Where does Portland fall in the Western Conference? Who would be the best match up for Portland in the playoffs?  That and more on this week's episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ep. 231. Dan and Tara start by talking about which Trail Blazer they thought most exceeded expectations before taking a look a what we might expect from this year’s team. What can Damian Lillard do to take his game to another level? Can C.J. McCollum continue the defense that he showed during the playoffs? Will Jusuf Nurkic have an outside shot? Will 2015-16 Ed Davis return from injury? What can Al-Farouq Aminu and Moe Harkless do to make the team better? We’re all about internal development this week on the Blazer’s Edge podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ep 230. Dan and Tara dive into new news from the Portland Trail Blazers. They go over the recently released schedule and take a look at the Kevin Pelton’s NBA 2018 Season Projections for ESPN. Dan talks about how he approaches previewing teams and Tara talks about getting seduced by continuity last year. All this and more the latest Blazer’s Edge podcast. Download the podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ep 229. Fanalysts Tara and Jo are joined by Evan McCarthy, artist and graphics and clothing designer for EvanemPdx to talk all about the new Trail Blazer’s uniforms and remember uniforms of the past.  The direct .mp3 link of this week’s podcast is here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dan and Tara talk about how the Trail Blazers might fill the gap created by trading away Allen Crabbe: What did Allen Crabbe do for the Blazers? What can be made up for with the current roster? A case for Gerald Henderson. What might the front office do next? Download Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ep. 227 Just when we thought it was safe to turn off the Twitter notifications, the Trail Blazers have made a move. Tara Biggs and Eric Griffith dig into the specifics of the Allen Crabbe for Andrew Nicholson trade, talk about what they will remember most about Cool Breeze, come up with an algebra quiz question and guess what the future holds for the Trail Blazers. All this and more on a special Allen Crabbe Trade edition of the Blazer’s Edge podcast. Download the podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ep. 226 At NBA Summer League we got a look (admittedly abbreviated) at rookies Zach Collins and Caleb Swanigan. How did their performance hold up to Dan’s initial assessment of their talents? Will they get minutes? Who has a higher ceiling of the two? Dan and Tara recap summer league, talk about what “athleticism” means, wonder about Pat Connaughton’s future, and briefly chat about the merits of Melo in Portland. Download the podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ep. 225 Tara is joined by David MacKay, Brian Freeman and Steve Dewald to talk about the Portland Trail Blazers at the 2017 NBA Summer League. What are their initial impressions of Zach Collins, Caleb Swanigan, Jake Layman and Pat Connaughton so far? Are there other players/teams who have stood out? How about that defense, is it a hint of what is to come or is it fools gold? All this and much more on this week’s podcast. Download the episode Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ep 224 Free agency is in full swing. Dan Marang and Tara Bowen-Biggs talk about the draft, free agency and NBA Summer League while under Gordon Hayward watch. What does the Blazer’s activity on draft night tell you about the future of the team? Will Zach Collins and Caleb Swanigan contribute right away? Does it surprise you that the Trail Blazers have not done anything yet in free agency? All this and more on this week's edition of the Blazer's Edge podcast. Download Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ep 223 The FANalysts are back! Tara provides an update on what went down on draft night as well as thoughts on the newest Trail Blazers, Zach Collins and Caleb Swanigan. Jo discusses her feelings about a possible LaMarcus Aldridge return along with how he might fit into the current lineup. Finally, we survey the landscape and make predictions (wild guesses) about where some of the biggest name free agents might end up, including Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and Gordon Hayward. Download the podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

EP 222: When the 2017 NBA Draft commences Thursday night, the Portland Trail Blazers will be packing a trio of first-round picks and a mandate for change. Coming off a 41-41 season, carrying a salary burden well past the luxury tax threshold, Portland cannot afford—literally or figuratively—to stay the course. What shape their evolution takes will depend on priorities and opportunities. Do they value economic sanity, winning at all costs, a slowly-emerging future or instant success? Are any of those eventualities within reach? We discuss these subjects and more in the latest edition of the Blazer’s Edge podcast. Dwight Howard to Charlotte, Paul George on the market, Kristaps Porzingis for CJ McCollum, and what the Blazers will end up doing in the draft...it’s all in there! Enjoy!DOWNLOAD Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ep 221 Blazer's Edge features editor Eric Griffith joins Team Mom to unpack the rules around draft picks. What can the Trail Blazers actually do with three first round draft picks? Salary dumps, the Stepien rule, and draft-and-stash--we dig into the rules and options. When the rumors start to fly leading up to the 2017 draft, we'll be ready to sort out the pipe dreams from the real possibilities.  Download Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ep. 220 Tara talks with Brian Freeman, Blazer’s Edge features writer and former European League basketball player. They catch up NBA Draft Lottery and All-NBA teams and then turn to Brian’s experiences playing overseas. Tune in to hear about his dad who played with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Oscar Robinson on the Milwaukee Bucks, about his journey from Long Beach State (where he played against Damian Lillard) to Poland and finally, his six years in France. Download Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ep. 219 Jo calls in from the wilds of Alaska to compare Blazer wish lists for next season. Do the FANalysts’ hopes and dreams for 2017-18 match yours? A mentor for Noah Vonleh A podcast for C.J. McCollum Handles for Al-Farouq Aminu More shots for Allen Crabbe#MoeDunks Listen to hear all these and what they are hoping for Lillard, Nurkic, Leonard and more! Download Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

EP. 218: On this week’s Blazer’s Edge podcast, Dave Deckard and Dan Marang discuss if it’s possible to build a title contending team around a franchise point guard, CJ McCollum’s suggestion that the Blazer’s should pursue Paul George in the offseason, their biggest surprises of the 2016-17 season, if Lonzo Ball and the accompanying LaVar Ball scare them, where Portland could and should be looking in the draft, and the layoffs of ESPN employees Henry Abbott, Marc Stein, and Chad Ford. That and more on this week’s episode of the Blazer’s Edge podcast! Download Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

EP. 217: Exit Interview Follies On this week’s Blazer’s Edge podcast, Dave Deckard and Dan Marang take a look at the closing games of the Blazer’s playoffs and ultimately, their season. With the year coming to a close, exit interviews between a majority of the players and the media took place Tuesday afternoon. Those exit interviews included revealing quotes about Meyers Leonard, Allen Crabbe, Festus Ezeli, Neil Olshey and the state of the team. Plus we dive into the recent controversy surrounding Portland’s basketball culture. That and more on this week’s Blazer’s Edge podcast! Download Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ep. 216. Dan Marang joins Tara to talk about the first two games of the Trail Blazer’s 2017 NBA Playoff series. Dan answers all of Tara's questions about what we know about this team, how they have progressed over the season and where they might go from here. Download Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

EP. 215: Who’s the Best Backcourt Duo in the NBA? On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast, Blazer's Edge managing editor Dave Deckard and Dan Marang take a look back at Game 1 of the Trail Blazers vs Warriors series. They discuss CJ McCollum's absolutely monster night- particularly highlighting his defensive effort. From there it's Damian Lillard's night, as spectacular as can be expected, and how as good as it was it was overshadowed. As great as those two were, what happened to almost everyone else? The big question of the podcast however, Dave asks "who the best backcourt duo is in the NBA today?" While we discuss it, let us know in the comments below who you think the best backcourt tandem is. Have McCollum and Lillard elevated to the top spot? Is is Klay Thompson and Steph Curry? How about the emergence of John Wall and Bradley Beal? There's that and more on this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast! DOWNLOAD Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The FANalysts are back with a special playoff preview with Locked on Blazers host Erik Garcia Gundersen. They talk about what it is like covering a team that you are a fan of and what is different between regular season and playoff basketball? And of course, how will the Trail Blazers fare in the first round? Tune in for some great insight from someone who loves the game and has been behind the scenes. Download Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tara is joined by Ashley Williams and Sean Philipsen to provide fan perspective on the Trail Blazers season. They discuss Meyers Leonard, debate who is the 6th man for the team, and talk about what has surprised them about this season. They talk about current and former Blazers at the Nike Hoop summit and Ashley provides behind-the-scenes glimpse of what goes on during the week for the high school stars including a Steve Blake sighting! Download Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

EP. 214: What's your best Trail Blazers moment? On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast, Dave Deckard and Dan Marang brea-well maybe break isn't the best word choice, discuss Jusuf Nurkić's fractured leg and what that means for Portland in the immediate future. From there they chronicle the Blazer's last 7 games, following up wins against San Antonio Spurs, Miami Heat and Atlanta Hawks with 6 straight wins including a convincing victory over the Houston Rockets and a phenomenal game from Nurkić against the Denver Nuggets. Dave asks the two big questions of the pod, first of all- did the Nurkić signing save Portland's season? There's plenty to take in there, but someone also sent in a mailbag question (sorry whoever it was, we didn't have your name!) asking what our favorite Trail Blazers moment is. As usual there's that and a whole lot more on this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast! DOWNLOAD Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

EP 213: Where do the Blazers Go From Here? On an impromptu episode of he Blazer’s Edge podcast, Dave Deckard and Dan Marang discuss Portland’s recent run of form, Jusuf Nurkic’s big game against his former team and ask if the playoffs are now secure with the recent win against the Denver Nuggets? From there the guys debate whether or not the outlook has changed for Portland and whether or not it matters this late in the season. They also highlight the contributions from Portland’s Big-Three, Damian Lillard, CJ McCollum and Jusuf Nurkic. Dave even convinces Dan to make a prediction on Portland’s stretch run and what odds he gives them to make the 8th seed. That and more on this weeks’ Blazer’s Edge podcast! DOWNLOAD Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ep  212 On this FANalyst edition of the podcast, Tara is joined by friendly neighborhood sportswriter Dane Carbaugh of Dane Not Dan YouTube Channel and NBC Sports. They explore whether Jusuf Nurkic's production is sustainable and how it impacts Noah Vonleh's play of late. They talk about how Evan Turner is fitting back into the lineup. Dane gives Tara advice on how to approach analysis without getting overwhelmed by a preponderance of data. Download Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

EP. 211: Best Stretch of the Season! On this week’s episode of the Blazer’s Edge podcast, Dave Deckard and Dan Marang wax poetic about Portland’s recent run of form- with wins coming against the San Antonio Spurs, Atlanta Hawks, and Miami Heat- and clearly their best stretch of play all season long. From there the guys break down the return of super-nova-flame-thrower Damian Lillard and his Western Conference Player of the Week performance as well as highlighting some of the hidden gems who have stepped their game up since the All-Star Break. With the Blazers peaking at the end of the season they turn their attention to the remaining 13 games and discuss what Portland has to do to make the playoffs. Hear that and more on this week’s podcast! DOWNLOAD Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

EP. 210: On this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast, Dan Marang is joined by Blazer's Edge contributor Steve DeWald as a guest host to discuss the Blazer's best stretch of wins this season, the effect Jusuf Nurkic has had on Damian Lillard (and others), the final 17 games of the regular season, the Blazer's playoff odds and some March Madness picks! That and more on this week's episode of the Blazer's Edge podcast! Download Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ep. 209 The FANalysts are back. Jo has been out of the country so Tara gets her all caught up on what’s been happening with the Blazers and around the NBA (don’t miss the dramatic reenactment of Boogie’s press conference). Jusuf Nurkic and Shabazz Napier get lots of attention and Jo is mad--really mad--at Ricky Rubio. Download Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

EP. 208: On this week’s episode of the Blazer’s Edge podcast Dave and Dan talk the merits and pitfalls of making the playoffs. In between exchanges of fire during tank warfare, they take time to discuss the Blazer’s recent run of play (2 wins in a row!), Bosnia’s most deadly export ever “Nurkic-Fever,” Festus Ezeli’s season ending surgery, the home stretch of the schedule, and send out a thank you for supporting Blazer’s Edge Night! Download Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

EP. 207: On this week’s edition of the Blazer’s Edge podcast Dave Deckard and Dan Marang ask whether or not the Trail Blazers can afford to use all three of their current draft picks, give their… BlazersEdge.com brings you two Portland Trail Blazers weekly podcasts — Dave Deckard and Dan Marang early in the week, and Chris Lucia and Brandon Goldner on the weekends. Tara (aka TeamMom) and Jo Wulffenstein fill in every other week for both shows. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

EP. 206: On this week’s Blazer’s Edge podcast Dave Deckard and Dan Marang break down the trade between the New Orleans Pelicans and the Sacramento Kings that sent DeMarcus Cousins and Omri Casspi to… BlazersEdge.com brings you two Portland Trail Blazers weekly podcasts — Dave Deckard and Dan Marang early in the week, and Chris Lucia and Brandon Goldner on the weekends. Tara (aka TeamMom) and Jo Wulffenstein fill in every other week for both shows. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

EP. 205: On this week’s edition of the Blazer’s Edge podcast Dave and Dan have Adam Mares the editor of DenverStiffs.com, the SBNation site for the Denver Nuggets, to discuss the incoming (former… BlazersEdge.com brings you two Portland Trail Blazers weekly podcasts — Dave Deckard and Dan Marang early in the week, and Chris Lucia and Brandon Goldner on the weekends. Tara (aka TeamMom) and Jo Wulffenstein fill in every other week for both shows. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ep. 204. Tara and Ashley join forces to break down Thursday’s Blazers-Celtics game and how the Blazer’s looked without Evan Turner in the lineup (and how Evan Turner looked in street clothes). They… BlazersEdge.com brings you two Portland Trail Blazers weekly podcasts — Dave Deckard and Dan Marang early in the week, and Chris Lucia and Brandon Goldner on the weekends. Tara (aka TeamMom) and Jo Wulffenstein fill in every other week for both shows. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

EP. 203: On this week’s edition of the Blazer’s Edge podcast Dave and Dan commiserate over the Trail Blazers’ recent run of form, reminisce over Patty Mills, Tim Frazier and missed… BlazersEdge.com brings you two Portland Trail Blazers weekly podcasts — Dave Deckard and Dan Marang early in the week, and Chris Lucia and Brandon Goldner on the weekends. Tara (aka TeamMom) and Jo Wulffenstein fill in every other week for both shows. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

EP. 202: On this special edition of the Blazer’s Edge Podcast, co-host Dan Marang and I welcome a couple of guests to talk about the media environment surrounding the Portland Trail… BlazersEdge.com brings you two Portland Trail Blazers weekly podcasts — Dave Deckard and Dan Marang early in the week, and Chris Lucia and Brandon Goldner on the weekends. Tara (aka TeamMom) and Jo Wulffenstein fill in every other week for both shows. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

=On this week’s edition of the Blazer’s Edge podcast Dave and Dan ask whether or not a deal for Serge Ibaka makes sense. With so many variables in place,… BlazersEdge.com brings you two Portland Trail Blazers weekly podcasts — Dave Deckard and Dan Marang early in the week, and Chris Lucia and Brandon Goldner on the weekends. Tara (aka TeamMom) and Jo Wulffenstein fill in every other week for both shows. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

EP: 200 On this week’s edition of the Blazer’s Edge podcast Dave and Dan ask, will the Trail Blazer’s lineup changes last? They also discuss if a Damian Lillard for Jimmy Butler swap make sense,… BlazersEdge.com brings you two Portland Trail Blazers weekly podcasts — Dave Deckard and Dan Marang early in the week, and Chris Lucia and Brandon Goldner on the weekends. Tara (aka TeamMom) and Jo Wulffenstein fill in every other week for both shows. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ep. 199. The Fanalysts look at the Trail Blazers in 2017 and try to decide if the team can still finish the season strong. We try to puzzle out the Meyers Leonard/Ed Davis conundrum, and learn all… BlazersEdge.com brings you two Portland Trail Blazers weekly podcasts — Dave Deckard and Dan Marang early in the week, and Chris Lucia and Brandon Goldner on the weekends. Tara (aka TeamMom) and Jo Wulffenstein fill in every other week for both shows. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ep. 198: Dave Deckard & Dan Marang discuss whether or not CJ McCollum is better than Damian Lillard, Portland’s recent run of play, and do a near-midseason report card check on Allen Crabbe,… BlazersEdge.com brings you two Portland Trail Blazers weekly podcasts — Dave Deckard and Dan Marang early in the week, and Chris Lucia and Brandon Goldner on the weekends. Tara (aka TeamMom) and Jo Wulffenstein fill in every other week for both shows. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ep. 197. Jo, Tara and Ashley welcome the new year with a round of “Would You Rather?” asking questions related to the Portland Trail Blazers: Would you rather have Festus Ezeli or Wesley Matthews on… BlazersEdge.com brings you two Portland Trail Blazers weekly podcasts — Dave Deckard and Dan Marang early in the week, and Chris Lucia and Brandon Goldner on the weekends. Tara (aka TeamMom) and Jo Wulffenstein fill in every other week for both shows. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices