Victorious in the Valley, Previewing San Antonio
Holy Backboard
Dustin and Sage recap the Blazers’ 114–110 win over Phoenix in a high-stakes, Amazon Prime–only broadcast, criticizing the lack of local access while celebrating Deni Avdija’s dominant 41/12/7 performance and Portland’s late-game execution. They argue Portland didn’t deserve the win based on a sloppy, three-heavy start, but credit improved rhythm, clutch rim pressure from Deni and Shaedon, and key corner threes and a late strip from Jerami Grant. They highlight bench advantages (33 points vs Phoenix’s 17), defensive work on Devin Booker, and debate Tiago Splitter’s rotation...
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Previewing the Play-In Versus Phoenix
Holy Backboard
Dustin and Sage recap Portland’s two straight wins, a 116–97 victory over the Clippers and a 122–110 win over the Kings, noting the team’s composure, defense, and ball security in a high-leverage spot plus the return of Shaedon Sharpe. They discuss injury/availability expectations (likely everyone except Jerami Grant and Damian Lillard), debate keeping a tight eight-to-nine-man rotation, and highlight Scoot Henderson’s surge as a confident two-way guard. They break down Deni Avdija’s standout 35-point game and the importance of scoring through contact rather than hunting fouls,...
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The Race for Eighth
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Dustin and Sage break down the 438th Holy Backboard Podcast as the Blazers near the end of the season with Shaedon Sharpe and Vít Krejčí potentially returning, stressing strict minutes for Sharpe and hoping for more Sharpe–Scoot time. They recap two road losses: a gut-punch OT collapse in Denver after an 18-point fourth-quarter lead despite a franchise-record 25 threes, and a 112–101 loss to San Antonio. They cite Portland’s failure to win non-Jokic minutes, inability to get stops, and predictable late-game offense, plus Toumani Camara’s foul trouble as a turning point; Camara is...
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Rip City Races to the Finish Line
Holy Backboard
Dustin and Sage return for the 437th Holy Backboard Podcast after illness and recap roughly two weeks of Portland Trail Blazers action and standings. Portland sits 40–38 with four games left (Nuggets, Spurs, Clippers, Kings), jockeying for position around the 7–10 play-in spots, with a pivotal April 10 home game against the Clippers likely deciding seeding via conference-record tiebreakers. They review big wins over the Nets, Giannis-less Bucks, Wizards, Clippers (114–104), and Pelicans (118–106), and a frustrating loss to the Mavericks marked by missed layups, turnovers, and free...
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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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