Blazer's Edge

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/Out

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

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

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

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 defen

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 predic

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