The Blazers Balcony

On the latest edition of the Rip City Report, Joe Freeman and Casey Holdahl look at an increasingly loaded Western Conference and what that means for the Trail Blazers, Portland remaining quiet in free agency and why that shouldn’t be a surprise, what should fans be looking for during summer league, Pat Connaughton’s contract situation and finish by answering listener questions about free agency,...

On this post-draft, pre-free agency edition of the Rip City Report podcast, Joe Freeman of The Oregonian/OregonLive.com and Casey Holdahl of TrailBlazers.com discuss the additions of Zach Collins and Caleb Swanigan, look ahead to free agency and the trade market, consider the reasons why the Blazers didn’t trade for a veteran at the draft, whether they think the Blazers will use the mid-level exce...

On the latest edition of the Rip City Report podcast, Joe Freeman and Casey Holdahl discuss the Trail Blazers’ predraft workouts, whether the prospects visiting Portland offer insight into what the Blazers might do in the draft, what direction the Blazers will go in the draft and how will they use their three first-round picks, Golden State Warriors’ dominance impacting the league, whether the Tra...

In this end of season edition of the Rip City Report podcast, Joe Freeman of The Oregonian/OregonLive.com and Casey Holdahl of TrailBlazers.com recap the often disappointing 2016-17 season, the Trail Blazers' culture, takeaways from exit interviews, the Jusuf Nurkić effect, the upcoming offseason, Portland being players in the draft and the trade market but not in free agency and finish as al...

In the latest edition of the Rip City Report podcast, Joe Freeman of The Oregonian/OregonLive.com and Casey Holdahl of TrailBlazers.com discuss Portland’s demoralizing loss to the Warriors in Game Three, Jusuf Nurkić’s return, the historic greatness of Golden State’s current team, Portland’s difficulty in dealing with JaVale McGee and finish by answering questions about coping with tough losses, N...

In the latest Playoff Edition of the Rip City Report podcast, Joe Freeman of The Oregonian/OregonLive.com and Casey Holdahl of TrailBlazers.com discuss Portland’s loss to Golden State in Game Two at Oracle Arena, the depth and talent of the Warriors, neither Stephen Curry nor Klay Thompson dominating, the “latest” on Jusuf Nurkić and finish by answering Twitter-submitted questions regarding Super...

In this first round playoff edition of the Rip City Report recorded in San Francisco, Joe Freeman of The Oregonian/OregonLive.com and Casey Holdahl of Trailblazers.com discuss Portland's 121-109 loss to the Warriors in Game One, whether the result made you more or less confident in Portland's chances going forward, Draymond Green's impressive play, CJ McCollum's excellent out o...

In the 100th edition of the Rip City Report podcast, Joe Freeman of The Oregonian/Oregonlive.com and Casey Holdahl of Trailblazers.com give their initial thoughts on the Trail Blazers-Warriors playoff series, Golden State being a matchup nightmare are a matchup nightmare, oddsmakers and pundits giving the Trail Blazers very little chance in the series, the "latest" on Jusuf Nurkić injury...

On this edition of the Rip City Report podcast, Joe Freeman of The Oregonian/OregonLive.com and Casey Holdahl of TrailBlazers.com discuss the Trail Blazers’ playoff chances, the immense void left by the injury of Jusuf Nurkić, whether he will return for the playoffs and if he even should, a random chat about the Eastern Conference vs. the Western Conference, Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum being no...

On the latest edition of the Rip City Report podcast, Joe Freeman and Casey Holdahl discuss the Blazers’ hot streak and pursuit of a playoff spot, whether they're a lock to make the playoffs, the odds of Damian Lillard and Terry Stotts winning Player/Coach of the Month awards, the Jusuf Nurkic anthem and finish by answering listener questions about the Blazers’ playoff odds vs. the Golden Sta...

In the newest edition of the Rip City Report podcast, Joe Freeman and Casey Holdahl discuss Noah Vonleh’s recent emergence and what it means for the Blazers moving forward, the upcoming slate of games, including three in two weeks versus the Timberwolves, Evan Turner's comfort level after returning from injury, Damian Lillard's continued assault on opposing defenses and finish by answeri...

On this latest road edition of the Rip City Report, Joe Freeman of The Oregonian/OregonLive.com and Casey Holdahl of TrailBlazers.com discuss the back-to-back against New Orleans and San Antonio and how it epitomizes the Blazers’ season, Damian Lillard's incredible play since the All-Star break and whether fans take him for granted, Evan Turner on the verge of returning, whether the Blazes ca...

On the latest edition of the Rip City Report podcast, The Oregonian's Joe Freeman and the Trail Blazers’ Casey Holdahl discuss the growing legend of Jusuf Nurkic and his impact on the rest, whether the team's recent play changed our outlook on the season, the Minnesota postponement fiasco and whether it helps or hurts the Blazer and finish by answering listener questions about Evan Turne...

On this edition of the Rip City Report, Joe Freeman of The Oregonian/OregonLive.com and Casey Holdahl of Trailblazers.com discuss Ed Davis’s season-ending shoulder surgery, Evan Turner's eventual return, early impressions of Jusuf Nurkic, being the same distance from a playoff spot and a high draft pick and whether they'd be better off "tanking" and finish by answering listener...

On this All-Star break edition of the Rip City Report podcast, The Oregonian's Joe Freeman and the Trail Blazers’ Casey Holdahl discuss the Jusuf Nurkic and first round pick for Mason Plumlee and second round pick trade, Nurkic’s promising Trail Blazers debut, the state of the team overall at the All-Star break, how CJ McCollum might fare in the Three Point Contest, pick winners for the other...

On this edition of the Rip City Report, Joe Freeman of The Oregonian/OregonLive.com and Casey Holdahl of TrailBlazers.com discuss Evan Turner’s broken hand injury and what it means moving forward, Portland's buzzer-beating victory in Dallas, CJ McCollum ballin', the Blazers having more than one late-game option, whether it's OK for other players to use Damian Lillard’s trademark “Li...

On the latest edition of the Rip City Report, Joe Freeman and Casey Holdahl discuss the Trail Blazers’ new starting lineup, Evan Turner’s improved play, Allen Crabbe's great shooting, whether the Blazers have "turned the corner," and answer listener questions about Noah Vonleh in the starting lineup, whether it’s best for the team to make the playoffs, the latest on Festus Ezeli, th...

On a new edition of the Rip City Report podcast, recorded on location in Philadelphia, Joe Freeman and Casey Holdahl discuss if anyone knows why the Trail Blazers have the Blazers been so disappointing this season, the team's inability to string together quality play for an extended period, the organization honoring the 40th anniversary of the 1977 championship team next week and finish by an...

On the newest edition of the Rip City Report podcast, Joe Freeman and Casey Holdahl discuss whether games against the Lakers, Pistons and Lakers are "must wins," the defensive substitutions the Trail Blazers have made as of late, Mason Plumlee and CJ McCollum ballin', whether the Blazers will still be in the eighth seed at the end of the month, how Sunday night’s game was a microcos...

On the newest edition of the Rip City Report podcast, Joe Freeman and Casey Holdahl discuss what the heck is wrong with Portland's defense and whether it can be fixed, where the team is at mentally after a tough stretch of games, whether or not their current issues are indicative of the kind of team they are, why making trades won't be easy and finish by answer listener questions about C...

On this road trip edition of the Rip City Report podcast, Joe Freeman of The Oregonian/OregonLive.com and Casey Holdahl of TrailBlazers.com discuss the improved play of Evan Turner, the return of Al-Farouq Aminu, incremental improvements to Portland's defense and finish by answering Twitter-submitted questions

In the latest edition of the Rip City Report podcast, Joe Freeman of The Oregonian/OregonLive.com and Casey Holdahl of TrailBlazers.com discuss Portland's continued woes on defense, whether their recent play has changed expectations, the strong play of Maurice Harkless, the mystery of when Al-Farouq Aminu might return from injury and answer Twitter-submitted questions about Meyers Leonard&apo...

In the latest edition of the Rip City Report podcast, Joe Freeman of The Oregonian/OregonLive.com and Casey Holdahl of TrailBlazers.com discuss what to expect on the upcoming five-game trip, how the Blazers have fared in the absence of Al-Farouq Aminu, winning ugly and winning close, Moe Harkless' recent performance and whether he's emerging as Portland's third scorer, Damian Lillar...

In Election Day edition of the Rip City Report podcast, Joe Freeman of The Oregonian/OregonLive.com and Casey Holdahl of TrailBlazers.com discuss the play of Portland's bench, Al-Farouq Aminu's shooting, the team's road record, CJ McCollum's performance in Memphis, ponder which players would make the best presidential cabinet members and answer listener questions about Ed Davis...

In the latest edition of the Rip City Report podcast, Joe Freeman of The Oregonian/OregonLive.com and Casey Holdahl of TrailBlazers.com discuss Portland's crazy win over the Nuggets in Denver, Terry Stotts' ATO wizardry, the Noah Vonleh vs. Meyers Leonard conundrum, Damian Lillard’s remarkable early-season play, whether the Blazers have or need a consistent third scorer, Evan Turner cont...