The Blazers Balcony

In the latest edition of the Rip City Report, Joe Freeman and Casey Holdahl discuss the current state of the Trail Blazers 16 games into the season, a disappointing road trip, Carmelo Anthony’s impact through four games, whether there's still time to turn the season around, Pau Gasol’s departure, play a round of "Walton or Oden" and finish up by answering listener questions about Ha...

In this, an especially emergency edition of the Rip City Report, Joe Freeman and Casey Holdahl discuss the report that Carmelo Anthony and the Trail Blazers have agreed in principle to a non-guaranteed contract, whether it's worth the risk, how well Anthony will fit with the current Blazers team, Anthony's motivations at this point in his career, opinions of Damian Lillard and CJ McCollu...

In the latest edition of the Rip City Report podcast, Joe Freeman and Casey Holdahl discuss the current state of the Blazers and breakdown some of their issues, Mario Hezonja and Anthony Tolliver struggling and the lack of depth at the power forward and center positions, rookie Nassir Little’s surprising rise and issues replacing Zach Collins on the defensive end. Joe and Casey also play a round o...

In the latest edition of the Rip City Report podcast, Joe Freeman and Casey Holdahl discuss Damian Lillard's 60-point performance in a loss to the Nets, the Blazers’ losing streak and general struggles, the play and criticism of Hassan Whiteside, CJ McCollum’s shooting woes, Zach Collins’ injury, play a quick round of "Walton or Oden" and finish up by answering listener questions ab...

In this week's edition, The Oregonian/OregonLive’s Joe Freeman and the Trail Blazers’ Casey Holdahl discuss where the Blazers stand after five games, Zach Collins’ shoulder injury, the impact of injuries on the early-season rotations and up and down play in the early going, especially from the bench. Joe and Casey also play a round of "Blazers Stock Watch," consider a few "Walt...

In the 2019-20 season preview edition of the Rip City Report, Joe Freeman and Casey Holdahl look at where the Trail Blazers stand heading into the regular season, give their opinions on whether Portland will win 50 games this season, how the Blazers will finish in the West, predict conference standings and NBA awards, debate which player will be the Blazers’ third-leading scorer, how many games Ju...

In the latest edition of the Rip City Report, Joe Freeman and Casey Holdahl discuss Portland’s preseason opener, the debuts of Mario Hezonja and Kent Bazemore, whether the Blazers are going to play faster before playing a round of “Walton or Oden” and finishing up as always by answering listener questions about throwback jerseys, Hassan Whiteside’s offense, Zach Collins, the coach’s review, Blazer...

On the latest edition of the Rip City Report, Casey Holdahl and Joe Freeman discuss the first few days of training camp and what they've been hearing about the workouts, Anthony Tolliver potentially having a larger than expected role, the team being bullish on their defense, Gary Trent Jr. putting up highlights, the "vibe" around the team this year, play a round of Walton or Oden an...

In the first 2019-20 edition of the Rip City Report, Joe Freeman and Casey Holdahl give their initial thoughts on the season a few days away from the start of training camp, whether the Trail Blazers are better this season, discuss win/loss projections, the increased importance of Zach Collins and Anfernee Simons, the hype around Simons going into his season season, play a round of "Walton or...

In the latest edition of the Rip City Report, recorded live in Las Vegas, Joe Freeman and Casey Holdahl discuss the Portland Trail Blazers’ busy offseason thus far, the Hassan Whiteside trade and his fit with the Blazers, every new Blazers addition and say brief goodbyes to the seven players who have moved on, Anfernee Simons and Zach Collins taking on more prominent roles, play another round of W...

In the post 2019 NBA Draft edition of the Rip City Report, Joe Freeman and Casey Holdahl look discuss the Trail Blazers selecting UNC forward Nassir Little, whether there was good reason for his draft stock falling, it being the perfect draft pick for a team selecting 25th in a bad draft, the “rap beef” between Damian Lillard and Marvin Bagley III, play another round of “Walton or Oden” and finish...

In the 2018-19 season ending edition of the Rip City Report podcast, Joe Freeman and Casey Holdahl look back at the best and most enjoyable Trail Blazers season in 20 years, recap of the playoffs and what a wild ride it was, discuss what the playoffs meant to the future of this group, break down the Blazers’ cap and roster situation heading into the offseason, play yet another round of "Walto...

In the latest edition of the Rip City Report podcast, The Oregonian's Joe Freeman and the Trail Blazers’ Casey Holdahl discuss Portland's Game 6 win and the team's incredible playoff run so far, the play of Rodney Hood and Zach Collins, Hood’s chance at playoff redemption, the upcoming Game 7 in Denver, whether the Blazers should bench Moe Harkless and Al-Farouq Aminu in favor of Co...

In the first 2019 Western Conference Semifinals edition of the Rip City Report podcast, Joe Freeman and Casey Holdahl discuss the Blazers’ Game 1 loss to the Nuggets in Denver, what adjustments the Blazers might consider for Game 2, Nikola Jokic's incredible play and whether the Blazers have an answer for him, transitioning playing playing the Thunder to the Nuggets and why that's a chal...

In another 2019 Playoff edition of the Rip City Report podcast, The Oregonian's Joe Freeman and the Trail Blazers’ Casey Holdahl discuss Damian Lillard’s remarkable Game 5 performance and unforgettable buzzer-beater against the Thunder, whether Lillard is the best player in franchise history, the special nature of the moment and why you should savor it, the scenes that stand out to us from a...

In the latest 2019 Playoffs edition of the Rip City Report, Joe Freeman and Casey Holdahl discuss the taunting and trash-talking of Game 3, how that will affect Game 4, the need for the Blazers to not get involved in the sideshow antics, which plays into the Thunder’s hands, Oklahoma City's role players finally showing up, officiating and free throw shooting, play yet another round of Walton...

In the third 2019 Playoffs edition of the Rip City Report podcast, Joe Freeman and Casey Holdahl discuss Portland's Game 2 victory versus the Thunder, Moe Harkless being the Trail Blazers’ X-factor, what adjustments, if any, the Thunder make, Damian Lillard’s defense and dominance in the series and Russell Westbrook’s struggles before playing another round of Walton or Oden and finishing up b...

In the second 2019 Playoffs edition of the Rip City Report podcast, Joe Freeman and Casey Holdahl discuss the Trail Blazers' victory versus the Thunder in Game One at the Moda Center, what they liked and didn’t like about Portland's performance, Enes Kanter's career game, Moe Harkless setting the tone with his defense, Paul George’s health and struggles, the Thunder running their of...

In the first 2019 Playoffs edition of the Rip City Report podcast, Joe Freeman and Casey Holdahl look the Blazers vs. Thunder in the three-six matchup, the bad blood between the two teams, Paul George and Russell Westbrook's dominance against the Blazers this season, how the Blazers’ recent playoff failure impacts the series, the wild season finale and Anferee Simons’ rookie moment, play a Pl...

In the latest edition of the Rip City Report, Joe Freeman and Casey Holdahl discuss Jusuf Nurkic’s season-ending injury, what it means for Nurkic moving forward, the mood both in the arena and in the locker room after the injury, what it means for the Blazers’ playoff hopes, who starts in Nurkic’s absence, how this injury rank among the worst in franchise history and finish off by answering listen...

In the latest edition of the Rip City Report podcast, Joe Freeman and Casey Holdahl discuss CJ McCollum’s left knee strain, when he might return and how it impacts the rest of the season, what the Blazers’ rotation might look like moving forward, a rundown of the Blazers’ closing schedule, which is rather easy, give their Not Top Blazers’ Starting Five — the worst players in franchise history, pla...

In the latest edition of the Rip City Report podcast, Joe Freeman and Casey Holdahl take a look at where the Trail Blazers stand with 15 games left, the team being ready for the playoffs and how that's the most important marker for success or failure by postseason success or failure, give a quick rundown of the most likely playoff matchups, play a round of "Walton or Oden" and finis...

In the latest edition of the Rip City Report podcast, recorded on the road in Boston, The Oregonian's Joe Freeman and the Trail Blazers’ Casey Holdahl discuss the Trail Blazers’ propensity for post-All-Star break success, initial impressions of Enes Kanter, the Blazers suddenly being a deep team team, their current seven-game road trip, play another round of "Walton or Oden" and fin...

In the latest of the Rip City Report podcast, recorded on the road in Brooklyn, The Oregonian's Joe Freeman and the Trail Blazers’ Casey Holdahl banter the Enes Kanter signing, the Trail Blazers' rotation over the final 25 games, Jake Layman and whether he should be starting, Damian Lillard's run at All-Star Weekend, play a round of "Walton or Oden" and finish by answering...

In the latest edition of the Rip City Report, recorded live at Tough Luck Bar in NE Portland, Joe Freeman and Casey Holdahl discuss the NBA trade deadline, the deal that brought Rodney Hood to Portland, the wing rotation with the arrival of Hood and the recent strong play of Jake Layman, play a quick round of Walton or Oden and finish by answering questions from fans in attendance.