Blazer's Edge

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

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 Twitte

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?!

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 Si

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

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

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

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 t

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

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

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:

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

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

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,

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 sel

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 off

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 Doma

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 L

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 Joe