Blazer Focused

By The Oregonian/OregonLiveSports Basketball

Blazer Focused episodes

October 18, 20222023-2023 Blazers season preview, plus analyzing the Nassir Little extension
The NBA season is finally back!
On the latest episode of Blazer Focused, Aaron and Craig talk about what a realistic season looks like for the Trail Blazers. Will this team make the playoffs, and what are the playoffs in the age of the play-in tournament?
They discussed:
Nassir Little's extremely team-friendly deal
What it would take for this team to underperform
What it would take for the Blazers to beat expectations
How the West shakes out

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48 min
October 12, 2022Can the Trail Blazers’ uninspiring preseason be dismissed? We hand out preseason grades
The Portland Trail Blazers ended the preseason at 1-4 with zero wins against NBA teams.
It wasn’t pretty but is the sky falling?
The Blazer Focused podcast, sponsored by ZoomCare, provides some hope and answers during its latest episode with hosts, Aaron Fentress and Craig Birnbach.
TOPICS:
Just how bad was it?
Deep look, with grades, at where the Blazers stand in key areas: Is Damian Lillard all the way back? Does Jusuf Nurkic look like a $70 million man? How Jerami Grant is living up to the hype? Anfernee Simons’ preseason struggles. That defense. Yikes.
Will Gary Payton II be a game changer?
Fact or Fentress: Schedule related.
No-Look pass surprise question?

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56 min
October 06, 2022Trail Blazers’ preseason musings: Damian Lillard looks fierce, Shaedon Sharpe struggling, Jerami Grant excelling
The Portland Trail Blazers are off and running in the preseason and the Blazer Focused podcast, sponsored by ZoomCare, dissected the goings on with the team through two games.
Hosts Aaron Fentress and Craig Birnbach hit on several pressing topics in this latest episode:
Damian Lillard looks right.
Rookie Shaedon Sharpe struggling.
Jerami Grant is having a tremendous impact.
Anfernee Simons off to a slow start.
Competition at small forward.

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49 min
September 29, 2022Shaedon Sharpe is turning heads but how much will he play?
Portland Trail Blazers training camp is underway in Santa Barbara, Calif., and the Blazer Focused podcast, sponsored by ZoomCare, is on the case.
Hosts Aaron Fentress and Craig Birnbach hit on several pressing topics:
Sloppy play with high energy mark the first two days.
Rookie Shaedon Sharpe turning heads.
Competition at small forward.
Jerami Grant and Jusuf Nurkic learning each other’s games.
What we hope to see during three preseason games next week.

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46 min
September 23, 2022Training camp preview: 5 musts for the Blazers to contend
The season from hell is in the rearview mirror. Now, what exactly do we make of the Portland Trail Blazers?
On the latest episode of Blazer Focused, Aaron and Craig set the stage for training camp next week. They talk about the major themes and issues facing the Blazers.
They hit on:
Back to the old Dame?
What exactly will Jerami Grant's role be?
Nurk still in the crosshairs
Ant's time to shine

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53 min
September 09, 2022How Damian Lillard and Jerami Grant rank among NBA’s top duos; training camp in Santa Barbara; Gary Payton II chased the cash
Welcome to this week’s episode of the Blazer Focused podcast with Aaron Fentress and Craig Birnbach.
Here are some highlights from this week’s show:
Training camp moves to Santa Barbara. Good move?
Gary Payton II says he chose Portland for the money. Big deal?
Donovan Mitchell leaves the Western Conference and the LA Lakers add Patrick Beverley. Do those moves matter to the Blazers?
How does the pairing of Damian Lillard and Jerami Grant rank among the league’s best duos?
Blazers add size with 7-footer Olivier Sarr. Will he market he final roster?

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46 min
August 25, 2022Damian Lillard vs. Kyrie Irving; Blazers schedule; broadcast talent on the road; Summer fun (no more roller coasters)
Welcome to this week’s episode of the Blazer Focused podcast with Aaron Fentress and Craig Birnbach.
Here are some highlights from this week’s show:
First podcast in a few weeks, what have the hosts been up to? One saw the Yankees play in NY and the other went on college tours with his daughter and retired from roller coaster.
To travel the broadcast team or not to travel the broadcast team? That was the question finally settled by the Blazers.
The Blazers’ schedule is out. Let’s take a look.
Damian Lillard vs. Kyrie Irving. This became a thing this week for no real particular reason.
Fan question of the week.

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45 min
July 15, 2022 Happy Birthday Dame, Jabari Walker gets contract and what to make of Keon Johnson
Damian Lillard is officially 32-years-old and likely still basking in the glow of the two-year $122 million extension.
On this week’s episode of the Blazer Focused podcast, Aaron and Craig discuss that deal a bit more in depth, Jabari Walker turning all sorts of heads and much more.
They also hit on:
·     The ripple effect of the Dame deal on the books
·     How effective could Jabari Walker really be?
·     Keon Johnson talk. What is he?
·     Other Vegas takeaways
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52 min
July 08, 2022 Dame signs extension, refutes NY Post report as Shaedon Sharpe is injured in debut
Damian Lillard has no problem getting in touch with Jody Allen.
He’ll also have no problem paying the bills anytime soon.
The franchise superstar directly refuted a NY Post assertion from this week that Lillard tried, and failed to reach chair Jody Allen. He also signed a two-year $122 million contract extension, ending the speculation of when that would occur.
On the latest episode of the Blazer Focused podcast, Aaron Fentress and Craig Birnbach discuss that tabloid drama, plus they weighed in on the Shaedon Sharpe debut.
They also discussed:
-Summer League takeaways
-Gary Payton II
-Nurk and Ant
-Grant is here

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43 min
June 24, 2022 Shaedon Sharpe and Jerami Grant head to Portland
The Blazers offseason of intrigue started with a bang. Jerami Grant is headed to Portland and the mysterious Shaedon Sharpe is also headed westward.
On this week’s episode of the Blazer Focused podcast, Aaron and Craig discuss what to make of the trade, the draft and much more.
Here are some highlights from this week’s show:
·     Shaedon Sharpe is a mystery, and a big swing
·     Jerami Grant heads home
·     Jabari Walker thoughts
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26 min