Rip City Report

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's fractured back, whether Jusuf Nurkic is hitting the wall and where the Trail Blazers stand going into their final seeding game.

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 all-time in scoring, Portland's remaining games in the bubble and the chase for the eight seed with two games to go. 

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 a 1 ½ games behind the Memphis Grizzlies for 8th in the West. 

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, moving to within a half game of the Grizzlies for eighth and what you need to do to have a chance to win a "virtual fan seat" to Sunday's game versus the 76ers.

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., winning in different ways, Terry Stotts' success with regard to coaching challenges and more as they improve to 2-1 in Orlando. 

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 the Rockets on Tuesday. 

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 of Gary Trent Jr. and Mario Hezonja, CJ McCollum taking it back to the Denver series, Damian Lillard and whether he's dealing with injury and Carmelo Anthony coming up big in the clutch. 

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 or Oden" and finish up as always by answering listener questions about Anfernee Simons, Mario Hezonja, crowd noise in empty gyms and more! 

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 listener questions about playing for the postseason versus scouting for the future, Wenyen Gabriel, why Gary Trent Jr. wasn’t a first-round draft pick, the Blazers’ chances of making the playoffs, perimeter defense, Anfernee Simons’ playing time and more.

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 and the relationship between the league and the players union.Joe and Casey also play \another round of Walton or Oden and finish by answering listener questions about the Blazers’ playoff chances, the likelihood the team signs another player, the starting lineup, the quality of play we can expect in Orlando, how the players feel about the restart and more.

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’ playoff chances, a Twin Tower lineup featuring Jusuf Nurkic and Hassan Whiteside, free agency, the Blazers’ starting lineup and more.

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 game tickets. Joe and Casey also play another round of "Walton or Oden" and finish up by answering listener questions about how they're managing the COVID-10 pandemic, Damian Lillard's chances of being a Top 15 scorer all-time, the returns of Nurkic and Collins and how much time has been spent playing video games. 

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 Casey also play a round of "Walton or Oden" and finish up by answering listener questions about wearing sweatpants during quarantine, Blazers classic games, NBA after COVID-19, Anfernee Simons’ 21st birthday, our favorite old Blazers teams and more. 

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 always by answering listener questions about old games/series we’d like to see now that sports are paused, players we’d like to be quarantined with, whether the time off will help the Blazers, movie and television recommendations, our favorite apple varieties and more.

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 "Walton or Oden" and finish up with answering lister questions about making the playoffs vs. building long-term chemistry, trading this year’s draft pick, Rodney Hood, coronavirus, our favorite sports to watch, playing in empty gyms, David Vanterpool and more.

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 Carmelo Anthony’s future with the team, Anfernee Simons’ development, whether Hassan Whiteside would embrace a bench role, the decade nights and more.

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" and finish up as always by answering listener questions about Jusuf Nurkic and Zach Collins, the All-Star game, marriage proposals, the buyout market, over/under on Blazers wins the rest of the season, tanking and more.

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 listener questions about Hassan Whiteside, the buyout market, Carmelo Anthony, Pau Gasol’s coaching future, Anfernee Simons’ play, Rasheed Wallace vs. LaMarcus Aldridge, breakfast carbohydrates and fashion.

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 Nurkic, who returns to full practice last week. Joe and Casey also play a round of "Walton or Oden" before finishing up by answering listener questions about grieving players and their obligations to speak to the media, Carmelo Anthony’s role when Zach Collins returns, Ariza’s defensive impact, replacing the NBA logo with Bryant and more.

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 "Walton or Oden" and finish the show as always by answering listener questions about Hassan Whiteside, future trades, whether the Blazers are going to quit, 90s night, reddit AMA’s, the Blazers’ young players, scented candles, beer and much more.