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 gett...
Nov 11, 2017•51 min
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 Th...
Nov 08, 2017•37 min
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 th...
Oct 30, 2017•1 hr 2 min
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...
Oct 24, 2017•58 min
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 t...
Oct 17, 2017•1 hr 2 min
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 g...
Oct 10, 2017•57 min
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 abo...
Oct 03, 2017•54 min
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...
Sep 26, 2017•52 min
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 Ran...
Sep 23, 2017•1 hr 2 min
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 ...
Sep 19, 2017•1 hr 11 min
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 bea...
Sep 16, 2017•1 hr 4 min
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 Learn more ab...
Sep 13, 2017•51 min
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 o...
Aug 30, 2017•56 min
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 thi...
Aug 22, 2017•52 min
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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.f...
Aug 15, 2017•53 min
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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 09, 2017•55 min
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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 02, 2017•49 min
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 ...
Jul 27, 2017•33 min
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/adc...
Jul 19, 2017•1 hr 9 min
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...
Jul 11, 2017•51 min
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 cho...
Jul 04, 2017•1 hr 11 min
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 ...
Jun 26, 2017•1 hr 3 min
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 t...
Jun 21, 2017•39 min
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 Learn more about your ...
Jun 06, 2017•51 min
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....
May 20, 2017•1 hr 2 min
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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
May 07, 2017•59 min
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 mo...
May 02, 2017•47 min
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 surroundi...
Apr 26, 2017•1 hr 3 min
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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 22, 2017•1 hr 4 min
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 alm...
Apr 18, 2017•52 min
