The Blazers Balcony

On the latest post-game edition of the Rip City Report, Joe Freeman and Casey Holdahl discuss Damian Lillard's 61-point performance in Tuesday's win versus the Mavericks and whether he's being guided by otherworldly powers, Portland moving past the Grizzlies for eighth-place, another impressive performance from Carmelo Anthony, Hassan Whiteside returning with purpose, CJ McCollum&ap...

In another post-game restart edition, Joe Freeman and Casey Holdahl discuss the Trail Blazers’ great escape against the injury-riddled Philadelphia 76ers, the performance not instilling a whole lot of confidence regarding Portland's chances going forward, the Blazers' inability to put teams away, Damian Lillard bouncing back with a 51-point performance, Carmelo Anthony moving into 15th a...

In the latest post-game edition of the Rip City Report, Joe Freeman and Casey Holdahl banter about the Trail Blazers’ inability to put teams away in the bubble, the Damian Lillard-Patrick Beverley-Paul George beef, NBA pettiness, Gary Trent Jr.’s continued strong play, Portland's playoff chances and schedule with three games to play and more as the Blazers drop to 3-2 in Orlando and move with...

In this latest post-game bubble edition of the Rip City Report, Joe Freeman and Casey Holdahl discuss the The Blazers’ record-setting victory versus the Denver Nuggets and what they like about how Portland is playing, defiant and dismissive Gary Trent Jr. continuing to torch the NBA bubble, another Damian Lillard record-setting performance, the Trail Blazers attitude and approach in Orlando, movin...

In this latest post-game NBA restart bubble edition of the Rip City Report podcast, Joe Freeman and Casey Holdahl the Trail Blazers' 110-102 victory versus the Houston Rockets, Portland's playoff chances with five games to play, which are looking a lot better than they did a week ago, another clutch — and vintage — performance from Carmelo Antony, the the ascension of Gary Trent Jr., win...

In the second post-game edition of the Rip City Report from the NBA restart in Orlando, Joe Freeman and Casey Holdahl discuss Portland's loss to the Celtics, whether they're more or hopeful about this team’s playoff chances after two games, the play of Gary Trent Jr., the first instance of "Dame Time" in the bubble, Jusuf Nurkic continuing to impress and the coming game against...

Joe Freeman and Casey Holdahl discuss the Trail Blazers first game, a 140-135 overtime victory versus the Memphis Grizzlies, in their eight-game restart schedule in Orlando, the play of Jusuf Nurkić and the news that his grandmother is in a coma due to the coronavirus, the first few days in the bubble breaking well for Portland's playoff chances, Terry Stotts shortening his rotation, the play...

On the eve of the restart to the Trail Blazers' season, Joe Freeman and Casey Holdahl preview the matchup versus the Memphis Grizzlies, Portland's eight-game schedule, two reasons the Blazers might make the postseason and two reasons why they might not, Joe covering protests, the challenges of covering basketball remotely and the big man rotation. They also play a round of "Walton o...

Joe Freeman and Casey Holdahl recap Portland's first two scrimmages in Orlando, what they like to see more of and less of in their final scrimmage, the return of Jusuf Nurkić, the prospect of a "twin towers" lineup rotation and how Terry Stotts might go about allocating minutes at power forward and center, play a round of "Walton or Oden" and finish up by answering listene...

In the latest season-postponed edition of the Rip City Report, Joe Freeman and Casey Holdahl discuss the Trail Blazers' eight-game restart schedule, Portland's difficult path to the playoffs, Trevor Ariza not joining the team in Orlando and which direction the Trail Blazers might go to replace him, reported plans about players utilizing their platform in Orlando to speak out on issues an...

Joe Freeman and Casey Holdahl discuss the NBA's plan to restart the 2019-20 season in Orlando and how the Trail Blazers fit into the truncated, 22-team season at Walt Disney World, why were the Blazers the only team to vote against the NBA’s plan and protests and world developments. Joe and Casey also play another round of "Walton or Oden" and answer listener questions the Blazers’...

On latest edition of the Rip City Report, Joe Freeman and Casey Holdahl discuss the latest developments regarding the postponement of the 2019-20 NBA regular season, reports that the league is making positive steps toward a resumption of play, Portland's practice facility reopening, the 2-4 week timeline for a decision about how the NBA moves forward and the team refunding season and single g...

In this edition of the Rip City Report podcast, recorded via video conference, The Oregonian's Joe Freeman and the Trail Blazers’ Casey Holdahl discuss the latest on the NBA season and the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, life under shelter-in-place and the uncertainty we’re all facing, if the NBA season resumes, what it might look like and whether next season is also in jeopardy. Joe and...

In this season on hiatus edition, Joe Freeman and Casey Holdahl discuss the COVID-19 pandemic and its effect on the NBA and life in general, the latest out of Portland and the NBA as the sports world temporarily stops, what the remainder of the season might look like if/when the NBA starts back up and Rudy Gobert changing the world before playing another round of Walton or Oden and finish as alway...

In this edition, Joe Freeman and Casey Holdahl discuss the impending return of Jusuf Nurkic, Portland's playoff chase with roughly three weeks to play in the regular season, whether Nurkic’s return affects the Blazers’ playoff chances and give some initial details of the next live podcast taping, which is currently scheduled for April 1 at Tough Luck. Joe and Casey also play a round of "...

In this week's edition, Joe Freeman and Casey Holdahl discuss the win over the Detroit Pistons and how they came away from it feeling about Portland's playoff chances, the play of CJ McCollum in Damian Lillard's absence and the lack of offensive production from the bench. Joe and Casey also play another round of Walton or Oden and finish up by answering listener questions about Carm...

In the first 2020 post All-Star break edition, Joe Freeman and Casey Holdahl discuss whether the Trail Blazers are primed for yet another late-season run, give three “make-or-break” factors that could decide the Blazers’ playoff fate and Damian Lillard’s health after he strained his right groin in the last game before the break. Joe and Casey also play another round of "Walton or Oden" a...

In this week's edition, Joe Freeman and Casey Holdahl look at the moves made during the NBA trade deadline, why the team decided to keep center Hassan Whiteside, the trade sending Skal Labissiere to Atlanta for luxury tax savings and the Blazers making their "bigger" trade a few weeks prior. They also play another round of "Walton or Oden" and finish up by answering listen...

In the latest edition of the Rip City Report, Joe and Casey discus the tragic death — and powerful life — of Kobe Bryant, the Trail Blazers’ reaction to there news of Bryant's passing, Damian Lillard's remarkable performances over the last week, the trade for Trevor Ariza being a better fit that originally thought and give a quick update on the Blazers’ injured players, including Jusuf N...

In this edition of the Rip City Report podcast, The Oregonian's Joe Freeman and the Trail Blazers’ Casey Holdahl banter about the trade with Sacramento that netted Trevor Ariza, Wenyen Gabriel and Caleb Swanigan, whether the trade does more than shed salary and luxury tax obligations and the time Kent Bazemore and Anthony Tolliver spent in Portland. Joe and Casey also play another round of &q...

In the first 2020 edition of the Rip City Report podcast, Joe Freeman and Casey Holdahl discuss where the Trail Blazers stand at the midway point of the 2019-20 season, whether the playoffs are still in play, and if not, how the team might proceed, Jusuf Nurkic's return and how the team should play it and thoughts on why Portland hasn't signed a stop-gap center before playing a round of...

In the final 2019 edition of the Rip City Report, Joe Freeman and Casey Holdahl discuss where the Trail Blazers find themselves going into the new year, yet another serious injury and if and how they could go about adding talent, whether the style of play that they've been forced to employ is all that interesting, play another round of "Walton or Oden" and finish up by answering lis...

In the latest edition of the Rip City Report, recorded on location at Talking Stick Hotel Resort Arena in Phoenix, The Oregonian's Joe Freeman and the Trail Blazers’ Casey Holdahl banter about Jusuf Nurkic’s rehabilitation, his workout in Phoenix, being pain-free and when he might return, the struggles of the Trail Blazers' bench, play another round of "Walton or Oden" and answ...

In an abbreviated edition of the Rip City Report, Joe Freeman and Casey Holdahl discuss the season-ending injury to Rodney Hood and why it's such a bummer, how the Trail Blazers might go about replacing his production, or whether such a thing is even possible, and if the injury changes Portland's long-term plans. Joe and Casey also play a round of "Walton or Oden" and finish up...

In the latest edition of the Rip City Report, Joe Freeeman and Casey Holdahl discuss whether the Trail Blazers have turned the corner, the recent play of Hassan Whiteside and whether he's making improvements, the price of Christmas trees and Carmelo mania. Joe and Casey also making their Blazers stock watch picks, play a round of Walton or Oden and finish up with listener questions about pote...