We Have A Take: A Portland Trail Blazers Fan Podcast

Because everything is (still) awful, we started off with some real joy, oohing and ahhing over the beautiful celebration that was the Lillard wedding. #ItsAboutDameTime, as they say! Then we deep dive on Larry Nance Jr and stage a dramatic reading of Marquese Chriss’s Wikipedia page. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and hopefully you will learn something new!

00:30 Icebreaker: What would YOU give Mr and Mrs Lillard for a wedding present? 

3:20 On watching real joy. 

4:55 Spotted at the wedding

8:00 Outfit recaps

9:30 Thankfully no trades happened during the wedding

10:10 About Larry Nance Jr.

12:10 Dunk Contest diversion (save those hops for athletic rebounding fellas!)

14:25 Soccer player diversion

16:30 Wyoming vs Lehigh

17:50 Larry living with Crohn’s disease and starting Athletes Vs Crohn's and Colitis

19:50 How will Larry fit in basketball wise (don’t worry, we barely go into it. Virtually every other Blazers podcast will give you lots more details)

21:10 Larry Nance Jr wedding story

23:35 A dramatic reading of Marquese Chriss’s wikipedia page and why we are his mother’s biggest fans. 

30:00 Is this the roster the Blazers are going to go with this season?

35:00 Ben Simmons thoughts

44:00 Blazers got better?

45:00 What is a satisfactory season? 

49:45 We chose this.

51:30 Damian Lillard is a storyteller, even in the clothes he wears. 

Find us on Twitter! @tcbbiggs, @cassidygemmet, @Wehaveatake

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Here for the right reasons.

With Brandon Earl Smith (@brandonearl_) of Two Bros and a Rose a Bachelor Franchise Podcast (@twobrosandarose).

:30 Getting to know Brandon who grew up in Indiana but Hoosiers is not his basketball story. 

3:30 If teams had to approach free agency like it was The Bachelor, who would make the best NBA Bachelor? Russell Westbrook, TJ McConnell, Enes Kanter, Jusuf Nurkic?

10:30 Which teams would be best at playing the game and trying to win over the Bachelor? The Heat, (not the Knicks)

13:30 Both the Lakers and the Clippers show up in helicopters. 

14:40 How do the Blazers show up? Does Olshey insist on going? Will Damian go? 

18:00 Do the Charlotte Hornets or the Chicago Bulls send Michael Jordan?

21:00 Group Date activities- gotta see if they are there for the right reasons so what can they do on the court? Scrimmage, NBA Trivia, CBA Quiz

23:30 A good group activity could be to tell your best Chris Paul story. In front of Chris Paul. 

25:30 How would Rose Ceremonies work? 

27:10 Is Bachelor in Paradise more like the playoffs or like Summer League? 

28:00 What lines would work in both Bachelor and NBA Free agency? “Empty Stats Guy”, “I’m here for the ring”, “I think we can get there”

31:00 Disaster free agencies like Bachelor disasters. 

32:30 What about 1:1 activities? Maybe if LaMarcus Aldridge could have written his fears on a balloon and let them fly away he’d still be in Portland. 

33:30 We’re going to lure Klay Thompson with Burgerville.

36:00 We’ve reached the mascot portion of the Bachelor!

39:00 What if it was fans who had to woo the free agents. 

40:00 Who would be the NBA Bachelor Host? Sheed & Bonzi, Joel Embiid, Chris Paul,

JR Smith, LaMar Hurd, Malika Andrews & Hassan Whiteside, Patty Mills, Turtle from Entourage, Rihanna, Lizzo, Adelle, KD Lang, Ian Karmel or Kelly Aucoin,  

46:00 Cody Zeller interlude. 

53:30 Question from Brandon, what do Portland fans really want or expect from their team? (2016 Never happened)

56:30 Have we ever really had expectations of a Championship for Damian Lillard?

59:00 Adam Silver if you are listening, we’ve got a solution for evening the playing field for small market teams. 

1:00 The closest we ever felt to a Championship lately was the year Wesley Matthews got injured. 

1:03 Hornets fans don’t like Nicholas Batum.

Find us on Twitter! @cassidygemmet, @tcbbiggs, @wehaveatake

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Its been 3 days of free agency chaos and the Blazers did the one thing they had to do - re-sign Norman Powell. They also added new players to the roster so we work out how Cody Zeller, Ben McLemore and Tony Snell might fit in - with or without any more moves.

1:00 Ice Breaker: Favorite Carmelo Anthony moments in Portland

5:15 Melo says farewell

7:45 Zach Collins moves on

11:15 Goodbye Enes Kanter. Summer lovin' had us a blast.

13:00 Norman, Odin, and Apollo Powell are committed to Portland

18:15 Norman Powell makes buckets in the restricted area

22:00 Welcome Cody Zeller

26:30 Indiana fundamental basketball

28:20 Ben McLemore - classic Neil Olshey signing

32:38 Is Ben Simmons going to be traded to Portland - rumors

37:00 Whatever happens, we want to see Damian Lillard off the ball more.

37:50 Welcome Tony Snell - possibly Tara's new favorite player

43:20 LaMarcus Aldridge rumors - we would love to have him back in Portland as long as it is safe for him. We'd be happy if he just sat on the bench. Bring him home!

49:30 Why are they signing so many vets to their summer league roster?

56:00 IF the Blazers don't make it to the championship, who are our early favorites?

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This week we are joined by Aimee Stiegemeyer (@hoopcityhellcat) to discuss the trade that sent Jonas Valančiūnas to New Orleans for Steven Adams. What does it say about the direction of their franchise? What is the relationship like between Memphis fans and the Grizzlies front office?

Then we talk about the leagues new rules to reduce fouls on non basketball moves. And the we ask for Aimee's outside perspective on what is going on with Damian Lillard? Why all the drama? And speaking of drama, both Cassidy and Aimee saw Space Jam: A New Legacy so they give their impressions.

1:00 Icebreaker: If you could partner with a brand who would it be?

5:00 Aimee's reaction to the Memphis/New Orleans trade from earlier in the week. Its going to make them take a step back. It might be a better move in the long run but it could make them worse in the short term.

7:30 Free throw problems in Memphis

10:00 Why some Memphis fans have a grudge against Steven Adams

11:30 Reviewing the Andre Iguodala and Chandler Parsons's saga.

16:00 Jaren Jackson's development

19:00 Why Memphis fans have a hard time with CJ McCollum

21:30 More on the rebuilding of the Grizzlies including the superstar potential of Ja Morant

26:00 What is the relationship between the front office and the Grizzlies fans?

31:00 New rules to reduce fouls on non-basketball plays

36:00 3x3 Interlude

41:00 Outside perspective on the Lillard drama.

45:00 Trying to get to the bottom of the True Hoop situation.

50:00 It doesn't make sense that this was leaked on Space Jam Day

51:00 Space Jam review

Find us on Twitter!

@cassidygemmet, @tcbbiggs, @wehaveatake and today's guest @hoopcityhellcat

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Its been a minute since we caught up with Dillon Sage (@dasage) from Holy Backboard. He shared his reactions to the last few weeks of Rip City nonsense, discussed what a new coach might bring to the team, and speculated about possible off season roster moves. (If your kids are listening there are just a couple of small swears, nothing dramatic)

1:45 Icebreaker: favorite Summer Olympic sport to watch

6:15 Off season reactions, how Charles Lee could have helped the Blazers.

10:00 What could a new coach bring to the team?

12:45 Any new schemes you would introduce if you were in charge?

14:15 Dealing with below average dunking.

18:00 Praise for Monty Williams

20:45 What did Nurkic mean by he wants a bigger role?

25:30 Other centers in the league have skills

27:30 With Zach Collins out, do you think the Blazers will sign another center?

30:00 . . . . or will Rondae Hollis Jefferson be back?

33:45 CJ McCollum for Ben Simmons rumors and possibilities

38:00 Is Damian Lillard going to leave?

4200 Keep and eye out for Miles McBride - Sage things the Blazers should get a late first round or early second round pick to draft Miles "Deuce" McBride.

45:20 One more thing Sage would do if he was the GM.

Find us on twitter at @tcbbiggs, @cassidygemmet and @wehaveatake

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CW: Sexual assault.

Skip to 46:00 for basketball and reality TV topics.

If you want to help victims of sexual assault and abuse here are some organizations we suggest you look up:

rainn.org

Rose Haven Day Shelter for Women and Children

Call to Safety

Times Up Legal Defense Fund

Victim Right's Law Center

If you need to talk to someone, call the Call to Safety Crisis Line: 1.888.235.5333

Oh boy do we have a take about the Blazer's coaching situation. If you would like to skip past the talk about the Blazer's new head coach forward to 46:00 to hear about how we're gonna get weird this season: Welcome Ben Simmons! Kevin Love? Bring him home! Which Blazer would be the best Chief Stew and who should be the Bosun? We tackle the tough stuff first and then try to end on a lighter note.

2:15 Tara's experience during the coaching hire saga

6:15 Strange sense of detachment

7:00 Cassidy's story. Its really hard to watch the organization that has meant so much he whole life carry on with so little regard for the feelings of the fans.

9:30 Believing in reform and what reform means

13:00 A glimmer of hope and then the press conference

17:00 This organization doesn't care about us

17:30 Dame didn't make the hire

22:00 PR Blunders? Or calculated moves that say you don't care

24:10 What message does it say when you won't let the Head Coach talk?

28:00 Why does the league celebrate women one day and then celebrate people who victimize them the next?

29:30 Length of the coaching contract was surprising

32:15 Be careful how much you care about sports

34:00 What are we going to do about it?

40:00 Rachel Nichols and Maria Taylor. Ugh!

45:00 Oh look at that! All the other coaches being hired by other teams

46:00 Lets get weird

47:45 Come on over Ben Simmons! 76ers would be lucky to have CJ McCollum on their roster

50:15 Just bring poor Kevin Love home. We don't care any more (for a vet minimum, and he has to bring his dog.)

52:45 Bravo TV talk

56:15 Finals pics

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00:30 Icebreaker: Which NBA Player do you think you are most like? 

04:50 PORvsDEN: the story so far.

10:00 Damian Lillard shot chart for that game was ridiculous.

14:00 WHAT are we going to remember about the 2020-2021 regular season?

14:40 CJ McCollum hot start

16:05 Awkward, empty arenas and teams in the wrong color jerseys.

17:45 Fans becoming armchair epidemiologists

19:20 Finally let Ant dunk, Damian Lillard called “game”, Paul George apologizes. All Star weekend turned out okay. (20:30 Aaron Gordon slander)

21:30 Blazers vs 76ers CJ Elleby game

23:20 Enes Kanter’s 30 rebound game. 

24:20 Gary Trent Jr trade. #UsTheNorth (28:25 wanting what's best for a player)

29:30 Watching Carmelo Anthony move up in the ranks of all time scorers. What did we learn about being the custodian of someone’s legacy?

35:00 What if Stotts leaves and Damian leaves to go be with him? 

36:00 Melo’s impact beyond the box score. 

39:00 Guys over 30 are still good. The window feels like it is open longer for players than it used to be. 

39:50 Turnaround road trip during a really hard part of the season. 

41:10 Lillard Twins and Keljin Blevin’s baby cuties!

42:00 20-21 was the year Zach Collins got a stylist or he started dressing himself. In any case it was interesting.’

43:00 Being back in the Moda Center for the Laker game.

44:00 Comments on the rest of the league

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1:00 Shout out to Taelor Jae @taelorrrjae for the inspiration for an icebreaker: Favorite sports memories. Kenny Wheaton’s gonna score, and watching Allen Crabbe getting a career high.

5:10 When Dame goes off vs when a bench or role player goes off

7:10 From six weeks ago to now. What happened? 

10:00 Coaching rumors

18:00 Having everyone healthy again

19:35 Recapping how some of the individual players have been down the stretch starting with Norman Powell.

22:00 Size matters though, on defense. 

24:20 Was Kendyl disappointed that the Blazers didn’t trade for Aaron Gordon?

26:25 Robert Covington report

32:00 CJ McCollum (Tara is still sorry she didn’t include him on the 5 most important Blazers this season).

36:35 Carmelo Anthony. So many games against the Nuggets come down to the 4th quarter, so this will be an opportunity for him to shine. 

39:00 Anfernee Simons, time to shine!

40:00 Will we see any other players outside the chosen 8 in the lineup during the playoffs? When? 

44:05 Kendyl uses logic on Tara and who is going to guard Michael Porter Jr? 

46:55 Around the league - Lakers vs Warriors play-in game. 

50:25 Similarities between the narrative around Steph this year and Damian Lillard in other years. 

55:00 The shocking turn of opinions about Chris Paul

49:45 How we like the play in tournament and how it could be improved

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1:15 If you could be great at one basketball play, what is it? 

3:45 Getting to know Marlow Ferguson and how he got started with basketball and writing about basketball. 

5:30 2011 The summer of Blazers Fan Fiction

7:15 Rip City Recap Ball movement, where did that come from? 

8:30 Energy from fans

13:15 Playoff feel of recent games

14:30 Ranking the 5 most important Trail Blazers this season.

15:30 Number 5: Carmelo Anthony, Norman Powell, Carmelo Anthony

19:00 Number 4: Jusuf Nurkic, Jusuf Nurkic, Robert Covington

22:30 Number 3: Robert Covington,

23:15 Derrick Jones Jr interlude

27:15 Number 3, continued: Robert Covington, Enes Kanter

30:00 Number 2: CJ McCollum, Enes Kanter, CJ McCollum

36:00 Number 1: Damian Lillard, Damian Lillard (but Tara why are you talking about CJ again?), Damian Lillard

41:45 Is the team built appropriately around Damian Lillard? 

47:25 Stotts status

47:45 Potential round one playoff opponents

 

Find Marlow at @meloferg and @blazersedge. Follow us on twitter: @wehaveatake, @cassidygemmet and @tcbbiggs. We are part of @bluewirehustle

Join the Women’s Hoops And Talks Facebook group to talk about Trail Blazers with others who identify as women who love basketball.

Music used in the episode: “Happy Alley” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under

 Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

.

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1:30 Ice breaker: If you were in a horror movie situation, which two NBA or WNBA players would you want with you? How did Hassan Whiteside get in here? 

8:00 Getting to know Taelor Jae from Sports Talk . . . Mostly! Podcast

12:00 Growing up in a family of referees

19:00 About Sports Talk . . . Mostly!

24:00 Catching up on the Trail Blazers recent play

31:00 Why isn’t Derrick Jones Jr playing? 

35:20 Conspiracy and speculation about LeBron James

39:00 What do we want to see the rest of the season? 

48:00 Question from @Hecubus01 about Kevin Love and Carmelo Anthony

55:00 WNBA Season Preview - which players to watch

1:01:00 Excess of talent in the WNBA

1:08:00 How to dip your toes into the WNBA

1:11:00 Key storylines

Find Taelor at @taelorrrjae, Sports Talk... Mostly! Podcast, get shirts and other merchandise supporting women in sports.

Join the Women’s Hoops And Talks Facebook group to talk about Trail Blazers with others who identify as women who love basketball.

Music used in the episode: “Happy Alley” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License.

Follow us on twitter: @wehaveatake, @cassidygemmet and @tcbbiggs. We are part of @bluewirehustle

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