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 Cli...
Sep 06, 2019•51 min
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 ...
Sep 02, 2019•1 hr 14 min
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...
Aug 29, 2019•55 min
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 th...
Aug 26, 2019•1 hr 13 min
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 t...
Aug 20, 2019•52 min
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 potenti...
Aug 12, 2019•42 min
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 K...
Aug 09, 2019•51 min
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 ...
Aug 06, 2019•1 hr
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 an...
Aug 01, 2019•1 hr 1 min
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? Al...
Jul 29, 2019•54 min
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 hea...
Jul 25, 2019•45 min
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 goldenstat...
Jul 22, 2019•1 hr 2 min
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 hig...
Jul 19, 2019•51 min
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 list...
Jul 16, 2019•1 hr 3 min
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 di...
Jul 11, 2019•46 min
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...
Jul 09, 2019•35 min
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 ...
Jul 06, 2019•1 hr 10 min
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 Hezo...
Jul 03, 2019•52 min
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 Brookl...
Jul 01, 2019•59 min
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 perspec...
Jun 29, 2019•1 hr 6 min
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 Learn ...
Jun 24, 2019•1 hr 6 min
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 t...
Jun 20, 2019•51 min
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. L...
Jun 19, 2019•1 hr 9 min
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 rost...
Jun 17, 2019•1 hr 6 min
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....
Jun 13, 2019•36 min
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...
Jun 10, 2019•54 min
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 player...
Jun 04, 2019•34 min
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 performa...
May 31, 2019•48 min
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 ...
May 24, 2019•46 min
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May 22, 2019•1 hr 3 min
