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Blazer Focused

The Oregonian/OregonLivewww.oregonlive.com
Portland Trail Blazers news, interviews and analysis from The Oregonian/OregonLive's Aaron Fentress and co-host Craig Birnbach.
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Episodes

Trail Blazers summer league report card

The Blazer Focused podcast, hosted by Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian/OregonLive and Craig Birnbach, provides a final assessment of the Trail Blazers' summer league performance, complete with individual grades for Donovan Clingan, Kris Murray, Rayan Rupert, Justin Minaya, and Bryce McGowens. Plus, is the USA men's basketball team vulnerable? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 22, 202447 min

Evaluating Donovan Clingan's summer league performance thus far

The Blazer Focused podcast, hosted by Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian/OregonLive and Craig Birnbach, evaluates the Trail Blazers first three summer league games with a focus on the play of rookie Donovan Clingan. Plus, why people should leave Bronny James alone. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 17, 202459 min

What to look for from rookie Donovan Clingan when summer league starts on Saturday

The Blazer Focused podcast, featuring Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian/OregonLive and Craig Birnbach, gets you ready for the start of summer league play this weekend. What to look for from rookie center Donovan Clingan and others. Plus, should Scoot Henderson have been added to the roster? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 11, 202428 min

Trail Blazers draft Donovan Clingan, trade for Deni Avdija

The Blazer Focused podcast, featuring Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian/OregonLive and Craig Birnbach, examines the selection of Donovan Clingan out of Connecticut with the No. 7 pick in the NBA draft, and takes a look at the team’s acquisition of forward Deni Avdija from the Washington Wizards for Malcolm Brogdon and draft picks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 27, 202442 min

NBA draft week is here, let's get prepped

It’s NBA draft week, and the Blazer Focused podcast, featuring Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian/OregonLive and Craig Birnbach, examines the latest mock drafts while attempting to predict what the Blazers might do in an unpredictable draft. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 24, 202459 min

Trail Blazers face puzzling situation after falling to No. 7 in NBA draft lottery

The Blazer Focused podcast, featuring Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian/OregonLive and Craig Birnbach, reacts to the Trail Blazers falling to No. 7 in Sunday's NBA draft lottery. Select for need? Take the best player available? Trade pick? Package pick to trade up? Decisions, decisions for the Blazers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 13, 202458 min

Lillard's playoff runs ends early, and just how far behind the rest of the Western Conference are the Blazers?

The Blazer Focused podcast, featuring Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian/OregonLive and Craig Birnbach, discusses the depth of the Western Conference on display during the NBA playoffs and how far the Blazers trail several elite teams with young talent. Also, Damian Lillard's playoff run with the Bucks comes to an early end. And are the Blazers set at center? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 07, 202446 min

Trail Blazers enter offseason with plans to remain on development path

The Blazer Focused podcast, featuring Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian/OregonLive and Craig Birnbach, discusses the franchise’s offseason following a 21-61 season. Plus, why the Blazers retained coach Chauncey Billups, why GM Joe Cronin plans to remain on the development path and what to expect this offseason and next season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 18, 202453 min

Positive road trip includes growth from Scoot Henderson; what we hope to learn during exit interviews

The Blazer Focused podcast, featuring Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian/OregonLive and Craig Birnbach, discusses rookie Scoot Henderson’s growth during the team's recent road trip, as well as what we've learned about the young forwards and what we hope to learn during upcoming exit interviews following the end of the season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 10, 202444 min

Chauncey Billups a Hall of Famer, Blazers snap 10-game losing streak with a 'bad win?'

The Blazer Focused podcast, featuring Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian/OregonLive and Craig Birnbach, takes a look at Chauncey Billups getting elected into the Hall of Fame, how the Blazers ended their 10-game losing streak with a "bad win" and if any signs of hope for the future have been on display. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 04, 20241 hr 1 min

Scoot Henderson struggles, Kris Murray flashes, Chauncey Billups’ future

The Blazer Focused podcast, featuring Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian/OregonLive and Craig Birnbach, discusses rookie Scoot Henderson’s recent struggles, forward Kris Murray’s potential, and coach Chauncey Billlups’ future. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 22, 202449 min

Reaction to recent interview with Deandre Ayton, who discussed overcoming obstacles to become 'DominAyton’

The Blazer Focused podcast, featuring Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian/OregonLive and Craig Birnbach, discuss Deandre Ayton’s dominant play and react to his comments to Fentress about his transformation into becoming a dominant force for the Blazers. Also, Ayton talked about that whole situation with the ice strom. Plus, Scoot Henderson and when is the tank coming? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 15, 202443 min

The many positives that can be extracted from the Trail Blazers' 2-1 trip

This episode of Blazer Focused, an Oregonian Sports podcast featuring Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian/OregonLive and Craig Birnbach, reviews the team's 2-1 weekend with a focus on Anfernee Simons, the team's young forwards and if Dalano Blanton is a keeper. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 06, 202428 min

Did the Trail Blazers drop the ball at the trade deadline?

Blazer Focused, an Oregonian Sports podcast featuring Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian/OregonLive and Craig Birnbach, reviews the team's inactivity at the trade deadline, what GM Joe Cronin said regarding feeling good about where the team is headed and what teams in the NBA are worse off than the struggling Blazers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 13, 20241 hr 6 min

Damian Lillard's return lives up to the hype with high emotions and a dramatic Blazers' win

Blazer Focused, an Oregonian Sports podcast featuring Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian/OregonLive and Craig Birnbach, returns to Wednesday night's epic atmosphere during the Portland Trail Blazers’ win over Damian Lillard and the Milwaukee Bucks. Also, trade talk, what to expect in the second half from these Blazers and the evolution of Anfernee Simons. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 01, 202454 min

Blazer Focused: Blazers' midseason report, what have we learned about this team?

Blazer Focused, an Oregonian Sports podcast featuring Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian/OregonLive and Craig Birnbach, examines the Portland Trail Blazers’ first half of the season while naming MVP, most improved, best rookies, biggest disappointment, greatest surprise and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 22, 202449 min

Scoot Henderson impressive during disappointing loss to Utah, the Blazers' 3-guard dilemma, evaluating Deandre Ayton

The Blazer Focused podcast, hosted by The Oregonian/OregonLive’s Aaron Fentress with Craig Birnbach, react to the Portland Trail Blazers getting blasted by a depleted Utah team and what the recent hot play from Scoot Henderson means in regards to the team's future in the backcourt. Also, Deandre Ayton has yet to dominate. Plus, what to make of the Draymond Green situation in Golden State and how it could impact the Blazers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 16, 202342 min

Anfernee Simons returns, Blazers no push over, could they make a run at the play-in if healthy?

Blazer Focused, an Oregonian Sports podcast featuring Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian/OregonLive and Craig Birnbach, reacts to the return of Anfernee Simons and how the Blazers have defied the odds in games where they were listed as heavy underdogs. Could a healthy Blazers team become a postseason threat? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 08, 202339 min

Blazers show improvement, defense legit, Jerami Grant a force

The Blazers have won two out of three thanks to improved shooting and a solid defense. Could they be on to something? Blazer Focused, an Oregonian Sports podcast featuring Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian/OregonLive and Craig Birnbach, takes a look a the Blazers' sudden improvement. Get exclusive insights and bonus content from the sports staff at The Oregonian/OregonLive. Oregonian Sports Insider Texts are your ticket to entertaining and informative analysis and discussion of the Ducks, Beavers,...

Nov 29, 202346 min

Trail Blazers’ young players stepping up during rough stretch

Blazer Focused, an Oregonian Sports podcast featuring Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian/OregonLive and Craig Birnbach, react to the play of Shaedon Sharpe, Toumani Camara, Duop Reath and Skylar Mays during the team's recent struggles. Plus, Deandre Ayton continues to search for consistent offense in a system not yet designed for him. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 16, 202356 min

Trail Blazers show positive signs during 3-4 start but Robert Williams' injury stings

Blazer Focused, an Oregonian Sports podcast featuring Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian/OregonLive and Craig Birnbach, dives into the Portland Trail Blazers' 3-4 start that revealed several positive signs including the rapid development of Shaedon Sharpe and the impact being made by rookie Toumani Camara. Then there is the bad news surrounding the injury to Robert Williams. How much will losing Williams hurt the Blazers now and into the future? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/...

Nov 07, 202349 min

Trail Blazers and Scoot Henderson off to bumpy start in season of development

The Blazer Focused podcast, featuring Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian/OregonLive and Craig Birnbach, evaluates the Portland Trail Blazers 1-3 start to the season. While stacking losses should have been expected, is there reason for concern regarding rookie Scoot Henderson's poor start? Shaedon Sharpe is filling in nicely for Anfernee Simons, Deandre Ayton is a rebounding force, and what to make of James Harden landing with the LA Clippers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adc...

Nov 01, 202347 min

Trail Blazers exit preseason facing long season of development: Blazer Focused podcast

The Blazer Focused podcast, featuring Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian/OregonLive and Craig Birnbach, evaluates the Portland Trail Blazers following a 1-3 preseason. The defense looked awful. The offense has the potential to be exciting. A season filled with losing could boil down to the development of Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 18, 202349 min

Trail Blazers look shaky early in preseason, reason for concern?

The Blazer Focused podcast, hosted by The Oregonian/OregonLive’s Aaron Fentress with Craig Birnbach, react to the Portland Trail Blazers first two preseason games. Rookie Scoot Henderson looks solid. Shaedon Sharpe, not so much. Deandre Ayton up and down. Is this team simply too young and not put together well enough to compete? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 13, 202353 min
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