Blazer Focused

Portland Trail Blazers news, interviews and analysis from The Oregonian/OregonLive's Aaron Fentress and co-host Craig Birnbach.

Sports
Basketball
151
Do the Blazers have much of a chance against Ut...
The Portland Trail Blazers suffered yet another blowout loss to a good team on Tuesday with first-place Utah Jazz up next. Will Portland's defense ever come around? What did Norman Powell say about the team's defensive effort? How can the Bla...
20 min
152
Can Trail Blazers survive with limited size in ...
Jusuf Nurkic is out for the Clippers game. Also, the Blazers were throttled by the taller, longer Bucks on Friday and on Tuesday face the equally long and athletic Clippers. Can the Blazers' three-guard lineup get the job done against bigger teams?
24 min
153
Retooled Blazers search for chemistry (with Joe...
Aaron Fentress and Joe Freeman discuss the Portland Trail Blazers' retooled lineup as the team prepares for the tough final third of the season.
46 min
154
NBA Trade Deadline: Blazers trade Trent, land P...
Aaron is joined by Aron Yohannes to discuss how new Portland Trail Blazers guard Norman Powell fits with the Blazers after they acquired him from Toronto for Gary Trent Jr. and Rodney Hood. Plus, Jusuf Nurkic is set to return Friday. Finally, we take a...
40 min
155
Damian Lillard the MVP? Reaction to Dallas loss...
Damian Lillard is one of the leading candidates for the NBA MVP award. What must he and the Blazers do for him to win it, and does geography matter as some suggest? Also, look at the Dallas loss and what it means.
29 min
156
CJ McCollum is back; what to make of loss to Ti...
Portland Trail Blazers guard CJ McCollum is set to return after injury. Then, the Portland Trail Blazers lost to a team with the worst record in the NBA while gearing up for some tough days ahead — what does it mean? And, what to make of Nassir Little...
26 min
157
Portland Trail Blazers midseason report (with J...
Aaron Fentress and Joe Freeman hand out midseason awards, recap the NBA All-Star Game and ponder the Portland Trail Blazers’ chances in the second half of the season.
47 min
158
Lillard, Trent, the West race and two Melos (wi...
Aron Yohannes joins the pod to discuss Damian Lillard backing out of the NBA Three-Point contest, whether the NBA is big enough for two 'Melos', how the Blazers need wins over Western Conference contenders and — what will Gary Trent Jr.'...
41 min
159
Portland Trail Blazers limp toward the NBA All-...
Portland Trail Blazers reporters Aaron Fentress and Joe Freeman take a look at the team one week before the NBA All-Star break.
53 min
160
Blazers on a roll; Lillard an MVP candidate? Jo...
The Portland Trail Blazers have won four consecutive games leading to Damian Lillard's name being thrown around more often as a possible MVP candidate. But what do the analytic numbers say? Also, Atlanta forward John Collins is reportedly on the t...
47 min
161
Road trip offers reasons for optimism
The Trail Blazers went 3-3 on a tough road trip despite numerous injuries and in the process saw the growth of several young players. All told, the Blazers at 12-10 should feel positive about their situation moving forward.
30 min
162
Injury-riddled Blazers getting by on the road
The Portland Trail Blazers are 2-2 on their road trip with three games remaining while dealing with numerous injuries. Is coach Terry Stotts to blame for the team's poor defense? Helping the cause has been the play of young players, Anfernee Simon...
45 min
163
Headlines: Blazers get routed, 134-106 by Milwa...
Blazers lose big at the Bucks, Nassir Little has a big game, Defensive issues continue.
6 min
164
Trail Blazers hit road with hot Simons and stil...
The banged up Portland Trail Blazers begin a six-game trip Thursday and while the defense is still a mess, the Blazers have received a spark from Anfernee Simons who just had the best back-to-back games of his career.
22 min
165
Headlines: Blazers Injuries adding up
Blazers injuries adding up and Blazers blow shot at win before heading out on road trip
3 min
166
CJ McCollum breaks foot, Blazers search for ans...
Days after losing Jusuf Nurkic with a broken right wrist, the Blazers have lost CJ McCollum with a broken left foot. Aaron Fentress and Joe Freeman discuss how the Blazers can navigate the next few weeks without two star players.
36 min
167
Reaction: Trail Blazers' Jusuf Nurkic fractures...
Aaron Fentress and Joe Freeman discuss the impact of Trail Blazers center Jusuf Nurkic being sidelined with a fractured wrist. They break down how team could respond, lineup adjustments, whether Harry Giles III will step up, should the Blazers pursue a...
33 min
168
Do Lillard and McCollum form the NBA's best bac...
Aaron Fentress addresses the situation from Jan. 13, when Portland star Damian Lillard called him out for daring to suggest that another backcourt tandem could be superior to Lillard and CJ McCollum.
34 min
169
Blazers defeat Toronto but lose Nurkic
Nurkic injured, Blazers schedule, Blazers heroes vs. Toronto
4 min
170
Fentress and Freeman react to Blazers' first 7 ...
The 3-4 Blazers are off to a disappointing start, compounded by Tuesday's loss at home to Chicago. Aaron Fentress and Joe Freeman examine where the Blazers sit after seven games while examining the team's defense, the play of Jusuf Nurkic, wh...
55 min
171
Headlines: Blazers fall to Bulls
Blazers upset at home by Bulls; injury updates for Hood and Little
3 min
172
Trail Blazers vs. Warriors preview with Connor ...
Connor Letourneau, Golden State Warriors beat writer for the San Francisco Chronicle, joins Aaron Fentress to preview the Trail Blazers' two-game set at Golden State. Plus, recap of the Blazers' loss Wednesday to the Los Angeles Clippers and ...
50 min
173
Blazers' big Lakers win, plus Oregon coach Kell...
Aaron Fentress takes a look at the Blazers big win over the Lakers, how the defense has turned the corner the past two games and the mini-controversy surrounding the inconsistent minutes played thus far by Gary Trent Jr. Plus, a little debate with Oreg...
47 min
174
Headlines:Carmelo Anthony misses road trip
Carmelo Anthony misses road trip, Blazers upset Lakers, James Harden trade rumors, Gary Trent Jr. lights up Lakers
5 min
175
Headlines: Blazers' Simons returns to action
Derrick Jones Jr. returns from back contusion. Blazers' defense in need of fine-tuning. Blazers don't offer contract extension to Zach Collins.
4 min