March Madness in Rip City
Holy Backboard
Dustin and Sage recap the last Portland Trail Blazers week: a messy 124–114 win over Utah marked by 46 threes and 24 turnovers, a frustrating 109–103 loss to a short-handed Philadelphia team despite a fast start, and a 114–95 win over a talent-thin Brooklyn squad. They highlight Scoot Henderson’s efficient scoring in limited minutes and strong on-ball defense, plus Donovan Clingan’s rebounding, rim protection, and growing poise. The hosts criticize Portland’s high turnover rate, poor three-point shooting, and lack of offensive structure under acting head coach Tiago Splitter, and...
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The Long & Short of It
Holy Backboard
In the 435th Holy Backboard Podcast, Dustin and Sage recap Portland’s last stretch, including a lethargic road trip (wins over Chicago and Memphis, blowouts vs. Charlotte and Atlanta, and a competitive loss to Houston), a strong Scoot Henderson bounce-back game vs. Indiana, and a frustrating late collapse vs. the Hornets despite a 19-point lead. They debate Scoot’s recent struggles, praising his off-ball defense while criticizing how his minutes were handled, and question prioritizing veterans like Jrue Holiday and Jeremy Grant over development, including Donovan Clingan’s usage. They...
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No Man's Land
Holy Backboard
In the 434th Holy Backboard Podcast, Dustin and Sage recap a Lunar New Year event before discussing the Portland Trail Blazers’ uneven post–All-Star stretch: an embarrassing 157–103 loss to Denver, a 92–77 win at Phoenix, and a close 124–121 loss to Minnesota, leaving Portland 28–31 and effectively fighting for the 10th seed and poor lottery odds. They criticize coaching decisions and recurring defensive lapses, argue Jrue Holiday’s on-ball/clutch role and turnovers are hurting development, and push for more responsibility and possibly starting Scoot Henderson. They...
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Cling Kong, Camara Right the Ship in Rip City
Holy Backboard
Dustin and Sage recap the Portland Trail Blazers’ week: ending a six-game losing streak with a win over the Memphis Grizzlies in Scoot Henderson’s return, a second win over Memphis, a 49-point third quarter blowout of the 76ers (with Joel Embiid out), a road loss to the Timberwolves, and an ugly but successful closeout win over the Utah Jazz highlighted by Donovan Clingan’s big stat line. They discuss Scoot’s impact as a playmaker, his improved scoring efficiency, and concerns about fouls, turnovers, shooting variance, and pace, as well as frustration that Scoot and Shaedon Sharpe have...
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Happy Scoot Day
Holy Backboard
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All The Small Things
Holy Backboard
Welcome to the 431st edition of the Holy Backboard Podcast! Hosts Dustin and Sage delve into the Portland Trail Blazers' recent performance, highlighting the highs and lows of their latest games against teams such as the Miami Heat, Toronto Raptors, Boston Celtics, and Washington Wizards. They discuss key player performances, game stats, and areas for improvement, such as free throw shooting and defense. The episode also speculates on potential trade moves ahead of the deadline, focusing on rumors involving players like Jrue Holiday and the impact of possible trades on the team's future. Tune...
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Loving Caleb’s Contributions
Holy Backboard
In the 430th episode of the Holy Backboard Podcast, Dustin and Sage discuss the Portland Trail Blazers recent performance, standing at 22-22 and ninth in the Western Conference. They analyze the team's games against the Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Lakers, and Sacramento Kings, highlighting key players like Deni Avdija, Shaedon Sharpe, and Donovan Clingan. The hosts also provide insights into upcoming games against the Miami Heat, Toronto Raptors, Boston Celtics, and Washington Wizards, debating strategies and potential outcomes. With the NBA trade deadline approaching, they consider possible...
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Sitting Solid at the Halfway Mark
Holy Backboard
In the 429th edition of the Holy Backboard Podcast, Dustin and Sage discuss the challenges of aging, the current season's impact on the Portland Trail Blazers, and the development of players. They discuss recent games, injury updates for key players like Deni Avdija and Jerami Grant, and assess the Blazers' playoff chances. Discover mid-season evaluations of players like Shaedon Sharpe and Donovan Clingan, potential trade rumors, and the team's strategy moving forward. Join for an in-depth look at Rip City's hopes and hurdles.
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Back from the (Jrue) Holidays.
Holy Backboard
In the 428th episode of the Holy Backboard Podcast, hosts Dustin and Sage discuss their holiday experiences and delve into the current state of the Portland Trail Blazers. They examine the team's recent performance, notable wins, player development, and injury updates. The podcast highlights Donovan Clingan’s improvement, the strategic challenges posed by upcoming games against strong opponents like the Rockets, Knicks, and Warriors, and the potential impact of trade decisions and player injuries on the team's future. The episode also explores the controversial strategy of fouling when ahead...
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Unlocking Shaedon Sharpe’s Potential
Holy Backboard
Welcome to the 427th edition of the Holy Backboard Podcast! Join Dustin and Sage as they delve into the latest happenings with the Portland Trail Blazers. They discuss Sage's basketball card collection hobby and provide personal updates, including Dustin's upcoming holiday plans and a string of unfortunate events involving his glasses and chiropractic visits. Key highlights include an in-depth analysis of the Trail Blazers' performance, focusing on crucial games against teams such as the Sacramento Kings, Detroit Pistons, and Orlando Magic. The hosts ponder trade possibilities for key...
info_outlineKobe 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 situations and shooting off the dribble. I discuss his potential fit in the NBA, particularly with the Portland Trailblazers, emphasizing his shooting ability, intelligence, and supplementary skills like cutting and passing. Brea could be an early second-round pick and highly valuable to teams needing shooting.