Holy Backboard

In the 419th edition of the Holy Backboard Podcast, Dustin and Sage kick off the Blazers' season opener with an in-depth analysis of recent player extensions and roster strategy. They discuss the contract extensions of Toumani Camara   and Shaedon Sharpe, emphasizing Sharpe's potential value compared to other young guards. Concerns around the Blazers' bench depth and the impact of injuries are exp...

Welcome to the 418th edition of The Holy Backboard Podcast! Hosts Dustin and Sage return after a break and delve into various topics, including their summer activities, the WNBA playoffs, and their upcoming plans. The main focus of this episode is an in-depth discussion on the Portland Trail Blazers' upcoming season, the impact of Scoot Henderson's injury, and the challenges the team faces. The du...

In the 417th edition of the Holy Backboard Podcast, hosts Dustin and Sage discuss the Portland Trail Blazers' offseason moves, analyzing trades, draft picks, and free-agent signings. Major talking points include the trade of Anfernee Simons for Jrue Holiday, the drafting of Yang Hansen, and the mid-level exception used to bring Damian Lillard back. They critique the overall strategy and ponder the...

Dustin and I discuss Damian Lillard's return to Portland. The pros, cons, the potential roster building, relationship building and the proper marketing 

In the 415th episode of the Holy Backboard Podcast, hosts Dustin and Sage discuss the Portland Trail Blazers' offseason moves and provide an in-depth analysis of the team's recent trades, draft picks, and contract negotiations. They analyze Joe Cronin's 'confusing and unexpected' summer, highlighting key trades like acquiring Jrue Holiday and moving Deandre Ayton. The podcast covers the drafting o...

In the 414th episode of the Holy Backboard Podcast, Dustin and Sage dive deep into the Portland Trail Blazers' choices during the 2025 NBA Draft. They discuss the controversial selection of  Hansen Yang, the Blazers' strategy, and the implications for the team's future. The conversation spans various topics, including the perplexing direction of the Blazers' front office, the potential of their ne...

Welcome to the 413th edition of the Holy Backboard Podcast! In this special emergency edition, hosts Dustin and Sage discuss the unexpected late-night trade of Jrue Holiday for Anfernee Simons and two second-round picks. They dive into the implications of Holiday's arrival for the Portland Trail Blazers, the impact on the team's defense, and how this move aligns with Portland's focus on two-way ve...

On the 412th episode of the Holy Backboard Podcast, hosts Dustin and Sage discuss Rasheer Fleming, a top NBA draft prospect from Saint Joseph's. They dive into his impressive physical tools, college statistics, and potential fit with the Portland Trailblazers. The conversation explores Fleming's defensive strengths, offensive role, and the importance of his development. The episode also covers the...

Dustin and I work together to create a mock draft! 

Kobe Brea, a standout college basketball player known for his exceptional shooting skills. Hailing from the Bronx, New York, Brea played for Dayton before transferring to Kentucky. Despite testing poorly in physical metrics at the combine, his shooting remains unparalleled. He shot 43% from three-point range on six attempts per game, demonstrating versatility by excelling in catch-and-shoot situat...

In this episode of Future Friday , Dillon and Dustin dive into one of the most intriguing prospects in the NBA Draft:Cedric Coward . Known as the "man of mystery," Coward's game sparks debate, with Dillon taking a more cautious stance on his potential, while Dustin sees high upside. Together, they break down: Coward's biggest strengths and where he thrives on the court The key weaknesses that coul...

Dillon Sage discusses NBA draft prospect Ryan Kalkbrenner, a 7'2", 257-pound center from Creighton, ranked as the 32nd prospect and 50th center. Sage emphasizes the importance of understanding the current draft class's big talent, especially small ball fives, and highlights Ryan Kalkbrenner's potential as a platoon center for elite teams. Kalkbrenner's impressive hands, shot-blocking, and reboundi...

In the 409th edition of the Holy Backboard Podcast, Dustin and Sage discuss Illinois combo guard Kasparas Jakučionis, a top prospect for the 2025 NBA Draft. They go into detail on Kasparas Jakučionis's measurements, skills, and performance stats from his season at Illinois, discussing his potential as a lottery pick. The episode also examines Kasparas Jakučionis's strengths, including his reboundi...

Dillon Sage discusses the strengths and weaknesses of Noah Penda, a player from LA Man's French team, who is set to enter the draft at 20 years old. Weighing 225 pounds and standing between 6'6" and 6'8", Penda is examined in terms of his role and performance. Although categorized as a small forward, Sage argues that Penda is more suited as a power forward due to his athleticism and playstyle. Whi...

Dillon Sage provides an in-depth analysis of Illinois freshman Will Riley, a versatile 6'9" shooting guard and small forward from Ontario, ranked 12th on ESPN's top 100. Sage discusses Riley's college performance, emphasizing his strengths as a cutter and a shooter while noting his struggles with shot selection, strength, and agility. Despite a poor max vert and lane agility, Riley impresses with...

Dustin and I talk about some burning questions about the 2025 NBA draft. 

This episode provides an in-depth analysis of Labaron Philon, a point guard from Alabama. Standing 6'4" with a wingspan of 6'6", Philon is ranked 32nd in ESPN's Top 100. Though his vertical leap is subpar, his sprint speed, standing reach, and defensive capabilities stand out. His offense is inconsistent, marked by a 31% three-point shooting rate and a tendency to struggle to finish at the rim. De...

Dustin and I talk about Maryland's Derik Queen. We talk about the sky high potential and the real potential of him failing. 

In this episode of the Holy Backboard Podcast, hosts Dustin and Sage discuss the Portland Trail Blazers' current situation and potential moves they could make during the NBA off-season. Topics include evaluating whether the team should package assets for a superstar player or let the current young core develop further. The hosts delve into several trade scenarios, analyzing players like Zion Willi...

In this episode, Dillon Sage analyzes NBA prospect Thomas Sorber, a 6'10" power forward/center with a 7'6" wingspan from Trent, New Jersey. Ranked 56th in ESPN's top 100 players, Sorber is noted for his 'bully ball' mentality, exceptional footwork, and defensive playmaking skills. His ability to finish around the rim, catch difficult passes, and potential for improved shooting and playmaking make...

 The 405th edition of the Holy Backboard Podcast, hosted by Dustin and Sage, discusses the outcomes of the NBA draft lottery and conducts its second mock draft. Focused on picks 1 through 14, the podcast debates team needs conspiracies, and draft strategies for the top lottery picks, with in-depth analysis of prospects like Cooper Flagg and Dylan Harper. We provide insights into rising stars' fits...

In the 404th episode of the Holy Backboard Podcast,  Dustin and Sage provide their latest thoughts on the Portland Trail Blazers and the various events with the franchise. They discuss the team's new ownership, Chauncey Billups' contract being extended, and what we think the ownership change and extension(s) mean for the franchise's future and stability within the organization. We also discuss dif...

Dillon Sage presents an analysis of Egor Demin, a 6-foot-9 point guard/shooting guard from Moscow, Russia. Deadman has two years of high school basketball experience at the Moscow Basketball Academy and years of college basketball experience with BYU. Dillon looks at Demin's passing and shooting ability in different ways. Dillon recognizes that Demin can make complex passing plays, but he does men...

On this 403rd episode of the Holy Backboard Podcast, hosts Dustin and Dillon discuss the promising Duke University prospect Kon Knueppel. We analyze his impressive basketball analytics, debating his ranking among other top players. Standing at 6'7", Knipple demonstrates excellent shooting and playmaking abilities, leading Duke to many victories despite team injuries. We compare Knipple to renowned...

 the 402nd episode of the Holy Backboard Podcast, Dustin and Sage delve into their first mock draft of the 2025 NBA draft cycle. The duo chronicles each pick from the lottery, starting with the Utah Jazz selecting Duke's Cooper Flag and the Miami Heat getting Dylan Harper. They provide in-depth analysis of the potential of each prospect, discussing fit and future projections for various teams. Hig...