The Brief Case

In the latest edition of The Brief Case podcast, Trail Blazers beat reporter/Insider Casey Holdahl discusses... • The 2024 NBA Playoffs and which teams might be due for a reset if they're bounced in the first round • Which players a new mock draft from CBS Sports has the Trail Blazers selecting with the fourth and 14th picks • The last batch of Exit Interviews with Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups and general manager Joe Cronin

On this edition of the Brief Case podcast, Trail Blazers beat reporter/Insider Casey Holdahl discusses... • The latest from the first round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs • The recent breaking of ties as it pertains to the NBA Draft Lottery and what it could mean for the Trail Blazers • Exit Interviews with Toumani Camara and Dalano Banton

On this edition of The Brief Case podcast, Trail Blazers beat reporter and Insider Casey Holdahl discusses... • The first weekend of the 2024 NBA Playoffs • Predictions on how each first round series ends • Checking out who ESPN has the Trail Blazers selecting with the third, 14th, 33rd and 40th picks of 2024 NBA Draft • Exit interviews with Anfernee Simons and Deandre Ayton

On this, another Exit Interview edition of The Brief Case podcast, Trail Blazers beat reporter and Insider Casey Holdahl discusses... • The Golden State Warriors being eliminated from the postseason and what that means for the Portland Trail Blazers at the 2024 NBA Draft • The remaining Play-In Tournament games • Malcolm Brogdon's comments at Exit Interviews regarding his future in the NBA, thoughts on Scoot Henderson, Chauncey Billups, Portland’s locker room and being a mentor, his health and the culture the Trail Blazers are trying to instill • Matisse Thybulle's comments at Exit Interviews regarding his thoughts on a “challenging” season that “didn’t go the way I wanted it to,” playing for the Australian national team at the upcoming summer Olympics in Paris, injuries, Chauncey as a teacher and having the opportunity to expand his game

On this edition of The Brief Case, Trail Blazers beat reporter/Insider Casey Holdahl discusses... • The Trail Blazers ending their 2023-24 season with a loss to the Kings in Sacramento Sunday afternoon • Portland finishing in a tie with Charlotte for the third-worst record and what that means in terms of their odds at the 2024 Draft Lottery • What we learned and didn't learn about some of the Trail Blazers' players this season • A final tally on the Trail Blazers' offensive rating, defensive rating, net rating and their record versus the spread • Exit interviews with Robert Williams III and Shaedon Sharpe

On this edition of The Brief Case podcast, Trail Blazers beat reporter and Insider Casey Holdahl discusses... • The final three games of the Trail Blazers' 2023-24 home schedule • Toumani Camara winning the Maurice Lucas Award • Where the Blazers stand in terms of draft lottery odds with one game to play • Portland's record versus the spread in the last 10 days of the season • Scoot Henderson's comments during his exit interview Friday night

On this edition of The Brief Case, Trail Blazers reporter/insider Casey Holdahl discusses... • Games versus the Magic, Hornets and Wizards as the Trail Blazers start to wrap up their last long road trip of the season • Chauncey Billups being names to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame • The end of the Rip City Remix's inaugural season and whether it qualifies as a success • The bottom of the NBA standings and whether there is much movement to be made in terms of getting the best possible lottery odds • Portland covering in their last three games of the trip after failing to do so in the first three games of the trip • An interview with Deandre Ayton about Friday's win in DC, his recent performances, building confidence and chemistry with Scoot Henderson, staying motivated on a long trip when the playoffs are already out of reach, his first season with the Trail Blazers and why he goes out of his way to praise his teammates.

On this edition of The Brief Case podcast, Trail Blazers beat reporter/Insider Casey Holdahl discusses... • The Trail Blazers losing their first three games of a seven-game trip, including Friday's game in Miami by... 60 • Injury updates on Deandre Ayton, Matisse Thybulle, Shaedon Sharpe and Toumani Camara • The lottery odds landscape with roughly two weeks to go and the very real chance of the Trail Blazers ending up with the best possible odds at the draft lottery • Portland dropping their last three games versus the spread and the official end of the chance of winning the over on the Trail Blazers' season win projection • An interview with Justin Minaya on his season with the Trail Blazers, getting a two-way contract, decided to focus on basketball rather than baseball, his relationships with the players and coaches in Portland, his time playing in Mexico City and what he's hoping to accomplish going into the offseason

On this edition of The Brief Case, Trail Blazers beat reporter/Insider Casey Holdahl discusses... • The Trail Blazers starting three rookies and whether any other first-year players are due for more minutes in the last three weeks of the season • Portland's loss to the LA Clippers • The upcoming 15-day, seven-game road trip • A breakdown of draft lottery positioning and Portland's chances of ending up with a higher probability of the top overall pick And the show ends with a conversation with rookie forward Toumani Camara about his rookie season, what he's done well in his first year, what he'd still like to improve upon, playing in front of friends and his host family next week in Florida, his Dayton Flyers in the NCAA Tournament, getting under opposing players' skin and what he hopes to get accomplished in the final days of his first NBA season

On this edition of The Brief Case, Trail Blazers beat reporter/Insider Casey Holdahl discusses... • The Blazers going 0-2 on a two-game trip to New Orleans and Chicago • The performance of Anfernee Simons and Deandre Ayton the last few weeks • Scoot Henderson and Jabari Walker returning to the lineup • Three games at home before a seven-game road trip • Portland offensive rating, defensive rating, net rating and record versus the spread

On this edition of The Brief Case podcast, Trail Blazers beat reporter/Insider Casey Holdahl discusses... • The Trail Blazers' record with a month to play in the 2023-24 regular season • The play of Deandre Ayton and Scoot Henderson since returning from injury • The last days of the Rip City Remix's inaugural season and how you can see them in person before the end of Year One • The debut of the Unofficial Matisse Thybulle Book Club • Offensive/Defensive/Net ratings remaining unchanged and Portland's record versus the spread last week And the show ends with an interview with Dewayne Hankins, Trail Blazers' president of business operations, about how the season has gone from a business perspective, the recently-signed lease deal with the city of Portland, the Rip City Remix, the prospect of the WNBA in Portland after a bit of a setback and TV deals in Portland and the NBA broadly.

On this edition of The Brief Case, Trail Blazers beat reporter/Insider Casey Holdahl discusses... • Chauncey Billups comments after Portland's loss to Oklahoma City on Wednesday • The wins versus the Grizzlies leading to close losses to the Timberwolves and Thunder • The Trail Blazers recent improvement in offensive rating, defensive rating and net rating • Portland covering in four-straight games after failing to do so in seven-straight games And the show finishes up with the second part of a two-part interview with Ian Karmel about his new book, T-Shirt Swim Club, being a "fat" person, his podcast, All Fantasy Everything, what beach he thinks of when drafting "the beach" and his considerable contribution to Beaverton High School.

On the latest edition of The Brief Case podcast, Trail Blazers beat reporter/insider Casey Holdahl discusses... • The Trail Blazers breaking an extended losing streak with a pair of wins versus the Grizzlies in Memphis last weekend • Moses Brown returning to action while the rest of the injured Trail Blazers have remained out of the lineup • Portland covering in back-to-back games after losing seven-straight versus the spread And the show ends with the first of a two-part interview with Comedian/Writer/Podcaster/Trail Blazers Fan Ian Karmel about, amongst other things, the origins of his fandom, being a Trail Blazers fan living in Los Angeles, NBA/Hollywood labor solidarity, Toumani Camara, who wouldn't want to be Jerami Grant and Ian's photo that has become a local meme.

On the latest edition of The Brief Case podcast, Trail Blazers beat reporter/insider Casey Holdahl discusses... • Portland's loss to the Heat on Tuesday to finish off a winless month of February • Staying motivated during a nine-game losing streak • Deandre Ayton suffering a right hand sprain and the status of Portland's injured players • Portland's offernsive, defensive and net ratings with a month and a half to go • The Trail Blazers failing to cover in seven-straight games and the increasingly unlikely prospect of hitting the over on their season win projection And the show wraps up with an interview with Trail Blazers guard/forward Dalano Banton regarding his first few weeks in Portland, the difference between playing for his former team and his current team, whether a "perfect situation" exists, how he would describe his style of play, growing up in Toronto, the state of basketball in Canada when he was growing up compared to where it's at today, his journey from Rexdale to New England to Western Kentucky to Nebraska and what his hopes are for himself and the Blazers in the last month and a half of the season.

On this edition of The Brief Case, Trail Blazers Insider Casey Holdahl discusses... • Where the Trail Blazers stand coming out of the 2024 All-Star Break • Center Duop Reath having his two-way contract converted to a full NBA contract • Ashton Hagans reportedly getting the two-way contract vacated by Reath • Scoot Henderson's thoughts on All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis • And an update on Portland's offensive/defensive/net ratings and what they need to do in order to surpass their Las Vegas win projection of 28.5 wins

On this edition of The Brief Case, Trail Blazers beat reporter/Insider Casey Holdahl discusses... • Joe Cronin's comments about Portland's relative inactivity at the 2024 trade deadline • The lack of significant moves league-wide • The loss to the Detroit Pistons Thursday night • Shaedon Sharpe undergoing surgery and his timeline for return And the show ends with a conversation with Trail Blazers rookie guard Kris Murray about his first season with the Trail Blazers, his time playing with the Rip City Remix, what's been more difficult than he expected, improving defensively and his life off the court.

On this edition of The Brief Case, Casey Holdahl discusses... • The Trail Blazers besting Damian Lillard and the Bucks in his return to Moda Center • Portland playing well but losing both games to the Nuggets in Denver on Friday and Sunday • The recent play of Scoot Henderson • Kris Murray getting the first start of his career • The upcoming trade deadline, which expires on Thursday • The Trail Blazers covering the spread in their last four games

On this edition of The Brief Case, Trail Blazers beat reporter Casey Holdahl discusses... • Damian Lillard's return to Portland with the Milwaukee Bucks Wednesday night • Portland's recent play in a loss to the Bulls and a win versus the 76ers • Shaedon Sharpe and Scoot Henderson being invited to play in the Rising Stars Challenge at All-Star Weekend (and why Duop Reath SHOULD get an invite if Sharpe can't play) • An injury update on Shaedon Sharpe, who has missed the last two weeks with an abdominal strain • The Trail Blazers being back down to 13 players with Taze Moore's 10-day expiring • Slight improvements to Portland's offensive and defensive ratings • The Trail Blazers' 1-2 week versus the spread And the show ends with an interview with Damian Lillard regarding the response from the community to his return, coming back to not just the city, but his home, his first few months in Milwaukee and what is next for the future Hall of Famer.

On the latest edition of The Brief Case podcast, recorded from the Trail Blazers' team hotel in San Antonio, Casey Holdahl discusses... • The Trail Blazers' overtime victory versus the Rockets in Houston • Thoughts from Jerami Grant, Anfernee Simons and Chauncey Billups regarding Grant's shot to send the game to overtime in Houston • Having two players in Jerami Grant and Anfernee Simons who can close games offensively • Wednesday's game being a team win • Getting the short end in the final moments of Tuesday's loss to the Thunder in Oklahoma City • A five-game winning streak for the Rip City Remix • The Trail Blazers signing Taze Moore to a 10-day • Maintaining flexibility and the possibility of a quiet trade deadline for the Trail Blazers • Drops in both offensive and defensive rating • The Trail Blazers covering in five of their last six games

On this edition of The Brief Case, Casey Holdahl discusses... • The Trail Blazers getting their second win in 10 days versus the Brooklyn Nets • Anfernee Simons adding another game-winner to his resume • Deandre Ayton's difficulty getting to the game Wednesday night and the uninformed (and idiotic) analysis of the situation • Chauncey Billups switching up the starting lineup (as previewed on the last edition) • Shaedon Sharpe being sidelined at least two more weeks with a lower abdominal strain • Portland's recent record versus the spread And the show wraps up with a brief conversation with rookie Rayan Rupert regarding his recent play, splitting time between the Remix and Trail Blazers, the areas in which he's improved and what kind of player he believes he can become.