Blazer Focused-logo

Blazer Focused

Sports & Recreation Podcasts

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

Location:

United States

Description:

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

Language:

English


Episodes
Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Trail Blazers enter offseason with plans to remain on development path

4/18/2024
The Blazer Focused podcast, featuring Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian/OregonLive and Craig Birnbach, discusses the franchise’s offseason following a 21-61 season. Plus, why the Blazers retained coach Chauncey Billups, why GM Joe Cronin plans to remain on the development path and what to expect this offseason and next season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:00:53:22

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Positive road trip includes growth from Scoot Henderson; what we hope to learn during exit interviews

4/10/2024
The Blazer Focused podcast, featuring Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian/OregonLive and Craig Birnbach, discusses rookie Scoot Henderson’s growth during the team's recent road trip, as well as what we've learned about the young forwards and what we hope to learn during upcoming exit interviews following the end of the season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:00:44:28

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Chauncey Billups a Hall of Famer, Blazers snap 10-game losing streak with a 'bad win?'

4/4/2024
The Blazer Focused podcast, featuring Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian/OregonLive and Craig Birnbach, takes a look at Chauncey Billups getting elected into the Hall of Fame, how the Blazers ended their 10-game losing streak with a "bad win" and if any signs of hope for the future have been on display. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:01:00:49

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Scoot Henderson struggles, Kris Murray flashes, Chauncey Billups’ future

3/22/2024
The Blazer Focused podcast, featuring Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian/OregonLive and Craig Birnbach, discusses rookie Scoot Henderson’s recent struggles, forward Kris Murray’s potential, and coach Chauncey Billlups’ future. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:00:49:09

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Reaction to recent interview with Deandre Ayton, who discussed overcoming obstacles to become 'DominAyton’

3/15/2024
The Blazer Focused podcast, featuring Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian/OregonLive and Craig Birnbach, discuss Deandre Ayton’s dominant play and react to his comments to Fentress about his transformation into becoming a dominant force for the Blazers. Also, Ayton talked about that whole situation with the ice strom. Plus, Scoot Henderson and when is the tank coming? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:00:43:09

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

The many positives that can be extracted from the Trail Blazers' 2-1 trip

3/6/2024
This episode of Blazer Focused, an Oregonian Sports podcast featuring Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian/OregonLive and Craig Birnbach, reviews the team's 2-1 weekend with a focus on Anfernee Simons, the team's young forwards and if Dalano Blanton is a keeper. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:00:27:43

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Trail Blazers simply not showing reasonable progress during season of development

2/26/2024
Blazer Focused, an Oregonian Sports podcast featuring Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian/OregonLive and Craig Birnbach, reacts to the Blazers’ horrible loss Sunday night to the Charlotte Hornets and what it means big picture. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:00:46:05

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Did the Trail Blazers drop the ball at the trade deadline?

2/13/2024
Blazer Focused, an Oregonian Sports podcast featuring Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian/OregonLive and Craig Birnbach, reviews the team's inactivity at the trade deadline, what GM Joe Cronin said regarding feeling good about where the team is headed and what teams in the NBA are worse off than the struggling Blazers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:01:05:50

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Damian Lillard's return lives up to the hype with high emotions and a dramatic Blazers' win

2/1/2024
Blazer Focused, an Oregonian Sports podcast featuring Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian/OregonLive and Craig Birnbach, returns to Wednesday night's epic atmosphere during the Portland Trail Blazers’ win over Damian Lillard and the Milwaukee Bucks. Also, trade talk, what to expect in the second half from these Blazers and the evolution of Anfernee Simons. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:00:53:32

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Blazer Focused: Blazers' midseason report, what have we learned about this team?

1/22/2024
Blazer Focused, an Oregonian Sports podcast featuring Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian/OregonLive and Craig Birnbach, examines the Portland Trail Blazers’ first half of the season while naming MVP, most improved, best rookies, biggest disappointment, greatest surprise and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:00:48:46

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Scoot Henderson and other young players show improvement as Blazers face a tough 7-game trip: Blazer Focused podcast

1/2/2024
The Blazer Focused podcast, featuring Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian/OregonLive and Craig Birnbach, discuss the improvement of Scoot Henderson, Jabari Walker, Duop Reath and Ibou Badji. Also, what do victories mean for this team, if anything? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:00:42:15

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Blazers earn impressive win over Suns thanks to DominAyton and Scoot Henderson's improved aggressive play

12/21/2023
Blazer Focused, an Oregonian Sports podcast hosted by The Oregonian/OregonLive’s Aaron Fentress with Craig Birnbach, examines the Portland Trail Blazers breaking their seven-game losing streak against the Phoenix Suns, the play of Deandre Ayton and the continued development of Scoot Henderson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:00:50:35

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Scoot Henderson impressive during disappointing loss to Utah, the Blazers' 3-guard dilemma, evaluating Deandre Ayton

12/15/2023
The Blazer Focused podcast, hosted by The Oregonian/OregonLive’s Aaron Fentress with Craig Birnbach, react to the Portland Trail Blazers getting blasted by a depleted Utah team and what the recent hot play from Scoot Henderson means in regards to the team's future in the backcourt. Also, Deandre Ayton has yet to dominate. Plus, what to make of the Draymond Green situation in Golden State and how it could impact the Blazers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:00:42:20

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Anfernee Simons returns, Blazers no push over, could they make a run at the play-in if healthy?

12/7/2023
Blazer Focused, an Oregonian Sports podcast featuring Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian/OregonLive and Craig Birnbach, reacts to the return of Anfernee Simons and how the Blazers have defied the odds in games where they were listed as heavy underdogs. Could a healthy Blazers team become a postseason threat? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:00:39:00

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Blazers show improvement, defense legit, Jerami Grant a force

11/28/2023
The Blazers have won two out of three thanks to improved shooting and a solid defense. Could they be on to something? Blazer Focused, an Oregonian Sports podcast featuring Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian/OregonLive and Craig Birnbach, takes a look a the Blazers' sudden improvement. Get exclusive insights and bonus content from the sports staff at The Oregonian/OregonLive. Oregonian Sports Insider Texts are your ticket to entertaining and informative analysis and discussion of the Ducks, Beavers, Blazers, Timbers, Thorns and high school sports from the state’s premier news source. Text JOIN to (503) 386-0095. Then simply click the link and subscribe today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:00:46:05

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Trail Blazers’ young players stepping up during rough stretch

11/16/2023
Blazer Focused, an Oregonian Sports podcast featuring Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian/OregonLive and Craig Birnbach, react to the play of Shaedon Sharpe, Toumani Camara, Duop Reath and Skylar Mays during the team's recent struggles. Plus, Deandre Ayton continues to search for consistent offense in a system not yet designed for him. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:00:56:08

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Trail Blazers show positive signs during 3-4 start but Robert Williams' injury stings

11/7/2023
Blazer Focused, an Oregonian Sports podcast featuring Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian/OregonLive and Craig Birnbach, dives into the Portland Trail Blazers' 3-4 start that revealed several positive signs including the rapid development of Shaedon Sharpe and the impact being made by rookie Toumani Camara. Then there is the bad news surrounding the injury to Robert Williams. How much will losing Williams hurt the Blazers now and into the future? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:00:48:52

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Trail Blazers and Scoot Henderson off to bumpy start in season of development

10/31/2023
The Blazer Focused podcast, featuring Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian/OregonLive and Craig Birnbach, evaluates the Portland Trail Blazers 1-3 start to the season. While stacking losses should have been expected, is there reason for concern regarding rookie Scoot Henderson's poor start? Shaedon Sharpe is filling in nicely for Anfernee Simons, Deandre Ayton is a rebounding force, and what to make of James Harden landing with the LA Clippers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:00:46:47

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Trail Blazers exit preseason facing long season of development: Blazer Focused podcast

10/18/2023
The Blazer Focused podcast, featuring Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian/OregonLive and Craig Birnbach, evaluates the Portland Trail Blazers following a 1-3 preseason. The defense looked awful. The offense has the potential to be exciting. A season filled with losing could boil down to the development of Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:00:49:05

Ask host to enable sharing for playback control

Trail Blazers look shaky early in preseason, reason for concern?

10/13/2023
The Blazer Focused podcast, hosted by The Oregonian/OregonLive’s Aaron Fentress with Craig Birnbach, react to the Portland Trail Blazers first two preseason games. Rookie Scoot Henderson looks solid. Shaedon Sharpe, not so much. Deandre Ayton up and down. Is this team simply too young and not put together well enough to compete? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duration:00:53:25