Rip City Report

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, the trade market, Ed Davis, the Blazers’ over/under on wins, the Paul George trade that didn’t happen, expectations for Caleb Swanigan and Zach Collins and much more.

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 exception to sign someone in free agency and finish by answering listener questions about Noah Vonleh, Jusuf Nurkic’s body “imbalance,” Meyers Leonard’s offseason, Portland chances of hosting the 2020 All-Star Game, the NBA awards show, summer beer and much more.

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 Trail Blazers care that they’re going to be in the luxury tax and finish by answering listener questions about potential Blazers draft targets, getting under the tax, Portland summer events, Gonzaga’s Zach Collins, their favorite sports stadiums, their picks for the Blazers in an Olympics 3-on-3 tournament and more.

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 always by answering istener questions about Meyers Leonard, Festus Ezeli, what fans have to look forward to next season, Noah Vonleh’s development, the Blazers’ inconsistency, the importance of organic growth, a guess about the number of new faces on next season’s roster, the team’s draft strategy and much, much more.

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, Nurkić’s status going forward, playoffs vs. tanking, Noah Vonleh and summer vacation plans.

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 Teams, the upcoming draft, Festus Ezeli, Meyers Leonard, bad PA announcers and whether there was any fallout from Game One trash talk.

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 on both ends of the floor, the "latest" on Jusuf Nurkić and finish as always by answering listener questions about Draymond Green (and Warriors) hate, Ed Davis, the long layoff between games whether Nurkic would have made a difference in Game 1 and more.

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 and finish by answering listener questions about Nurkić, the best games of the season, the Blazers’ X-factor in the series, the starting lineup the Blazers will use if Nurkic can’t play, Noah Vonleh’s improvement, food halls and much more.

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 nominated for prestigious awards from the Professional Basketball Writers Association and finish by answering listener questions about Nurkic comparisons, pet peeves while traveling, Evan Turner’s role, why the Blazers haven’t picked up another center, the new logo/uniforms, postgame locker room interviews and more.

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 State Warriors, the Blazers’ improved defense, Ed Davis’ recovery from shoulder surgery, the most memorable moment of the last 10 games, the Blazers’ new uniforms and much more

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 answering listener questions about PB&J, preferred first-round playoff matchups, Portland tacos, whether or not Jusuf Nurkic is in line for a long-term contract extension and much more.

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 can get to 40 wins, which movie titles best describe the team and finish by answering listener questions about Noah Vonleh’s play, Nurkic fever, “Fort Stotts,” our NCAA Tournament brackets, our favorite movie and much more.

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 Turner’s place in the rotation moving forward, Neil Olshey’s decision to make the trade, playoff confidence, who would win between Joe and Casey in a game of one-on-one and much more.

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 questions about the NBA draft, fruit, uniform changes, Festus Ezeli and more.

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 All-Star Weekend events and answer listener questions about trades, the Trail Blazers’ struggles this season, Damian Lillard’s slump, All-Star break plans and more.

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 “Lillard Time" watch tap and finish by answering listener questions about Ed Davis, future Blazers All-Stars, beard oil, Blazers uniforms, Moda Center food and more.

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, the Blazers’ penchant for slow starts to the season, good road trip foods, whether the sixth or seventh seed is attainable and much more.

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 answering listener questions about whether the Blazers still have a chance at the playoffs, the need (or not) for a veteran leader, the team’s waning optimism, the best Portland beers to help forget the blowout losses and covering a winner team vs. covering a loser.

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 microcosm of the season and finish by answering listener questions about the Blazers’ big man rotation, morning routines, “McCollum Time,” the Blazers’ best hockey player and more.

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 Chris Kaman, the feud between Meyers Leonard and DeMarcus Cousins, the locker room after losses, covering a struggling team and food poisoning.