Blazer Focused

By The Oregonian/OregonLiveSports Basketball

Blazer Focused episodes

January 10, 2023Reeling Blazers return home in desperate need of wins and the return of key bench players
The Portland Trail Blazers (19-20) are struggling but return home to play 10 of the their next 11 at the Moda Center during what could be the most critical stretch of their season.
On the latest Blazer Focused podcast, Aaron Fentress and Craig Birnbach analyze the Blazers chances of turning their season around in January after falling below .500 for the first time.
On this week’s show:
The Blazers are a mess. Can it be fixed?
How many games must they win the rest of this month to save the season?
Is lack of depth due to injury a legitimate excuse? The Blazers have been missing Justise Winslow, Nassir Little and Gary Payton II.
Fact or Fentress. Yet another market correction.
No-Look pass: Mystery question.

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36 min
January 03, 2023 Gary Payton II's long-awaited debut, Jerami Grant's continued excellence
It's a new year and GPII is finally here!
On the latest episode of Blazer Focused, Aaron and Craig discuss Gary Payton II's long-awaited debut as a Portland Trail Blazer.
Is this the mojo this team sorely needed? They also discussed:
- Jerami Grant continues to dazzle
- Is Grant an All-Star this season?
- The January schedule
- Fact or Fentress
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45 min
December 22, 2022Damian Lillard sets scoring record, but is he the greatest Trail Blazer ever?: Blazer Focused podcast
The Portland Trail Blazers continue their up-and-down season that included a loss Monday at Oklahoma City on the night Damian Lillard became the franchise’s all-time leading scorer.
The Blazer Focused podcast, supported by ZoomCare (Beyond Better™ Healthcare) goes over that night and Lillard’s somber reaction given the loss.
The podcast is hosted by Aaron Fentress, who covers the team for The Oregonian/OregonLive, and Craig Birnbach.
On this week’s show:
What does Lillard’s record mean for his legacy?
Is Lillard the greatest player in franchise history.
How does one even measure such a thing?
The Blazers’ wild ride within the wacky Western Conference.
More.

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41 min
December 07, 2022Blazers suddenly in a good spot? Team leaders say so after a difficult stretch
Turns out Dame is important.
The Blazers got their leader back, and after a challenging stretch of games, things are suddenly looking slightly better in Rip City. On the latest episode of Blazer Focused, Aaron and Craig explain why.
They hit on:
Dame's return
What Anfernee still can do to improve
The defense: Which version should fans expect going forward
Fact or Fentress

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46 min
December 01, 2022The Blazers are losing, injured and not so fun right now, but are better times ahead?
The Portland Trail Blazers lost back-to-back games to the LA Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers to fall to 11-11 on the season.
The Blazer Focused podcast, supported by ZoomCare (Beyond Better™ Healthcare) goes over what’s going wrong with this team that has now lose eight of their last 10 games.
The podcast is hosted by Aaron Fentress, who covers the team for The Oregonian/OregonLive, and Craig Birnbach.
On this week’s show:
Blazers collapse? Concerning or injury-related?
What’s wrong with the defense?
Shaedon Sharpe’s powerful dunk at the Lakers was something he said he needed. And the Blazers certainly need more bench scoring from him.
No Look Pass.

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42 min
November 23, 2022The Blazers’ recent struggles and Dame's health chip away at great start
The Portland Trail Blazers entered Wednesday having lost four out of their last five games and were without Damian Lillard, out for at least a week because of a second lower-leg injury.
The Blazer Focused podcast, supported by ZoomCare (Beyond Better™ Healthcare) goes over what has gone wrong for the Blazers (10-7) since that eventful 4-2 road trip that left them at 9-4.
The podcast is hosted by Aaron Fentress, who covers the team for The Oregonian/OregonLive, and Craig Birnbach.
On this week’s show:
Crashing back to earth with close losses, poor defense and recurring turnover issues.
How concerning is Lillard’s second injury?
Defensive regression and turnovers.
Shaedon Sharpe’s ups and downs.

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53 min
November 14, 20225 key takeaways from Portland's epic road trip
The Portland Trail Blazers went 4-2 on their recent trip and return home tied for the best record in the Western Conference at 9-4.
The Blazer Focused podcast, supported by ZoomCare (Beyond Better™ Healthcare) goes through the five observations on the trip made by Aaron Fentress, who covers the team for The Oregonian/OregonLive. He is joined by podcast producer, Andrew Theen. Craig Birnbach is on vacation and unavailable to keep Fentress in check this week. Theen stands no chance.
On this week’s show:
Team chemistry is legit.
The defense is for real.
Jerami Grant playing like an All-Star.
The depth has proven reliable.
Clutch factor shines.

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39 min
November 07, 2022Kelly AuCoin talks Blazers, his latest acting projects and fandom
Kelly AuCoin, the actor and Portland Trail Blazers super fan, joined the Blazer Focused podcast this week. Blazer Focused is supported by ZoomCare and hosted by Aaron Fentress and Craig Birnbach.
On this week's show:
How Kelly convinced Craig to come to Portland back in the day.
Kelly is a total diehard fan
Projects he is working on, including a show on former LA Clippers owner, Donald Sterling.
His expectations for the rest of the season.

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45 min
October 31, 2022 Dame's injury, Shaedon Sharpe's athletic mastery and the big road trip
The Blazers are sitting tied atop the Western Conference standings. But, Dame is out and a big road trip looms.
On the latest episode of Blazer Focused, Aaron and Craig discuss all that and more.
They hit on:
-How concerned should we be about Dame's injury?
-Shaedon Sharpe, of course
-The brutal road trip
-Fact or Fentress
Blazer Focused is supported by ZoomCare. Subscribe to Blazer Focused anywhere you listen to podcasts.

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49 min
October 25, 2022 Your undefeated Portland Trail Blazers are fun, scrappy and playing defense
The Portland Trail Blazers are red, hot and rollin.
On the latest episode of the Blazer Focused podcast, which is sponsored by ZoomCare, Aaron and Craig go back to their season previews. Lo and behold, they had a great formula for Blazers success.
They hit on:
- Dame's return to Dameness
- Jerami Grant doing it all
- Nurk is Nurk
- Josh Hart and Anfernee Simons
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32 min