Episodes

  • The Race for Eighth

    The Race for Eighth
    Apr 10 2026
    Dustin and Sage break down the 438th Holy Backboard Podcast as the Blazers near the end of the season with Shaedon Sharpe and Vít Krejčí potentially returning, stressing strict minutes for Sharpe and hoping for more Sharpe–Scoot time. They recap two road losses: a gut-punch OT collapse in Denver after an 18-point fourth-quarter lead despite a franchise-record 25 threes, and a 112–101 loss to San Antonio. They cite Portland's failure to win non-Jokic minutes, inability to get stops, and predictable late-game offense, plus Toumani Camara's foul trouble as a turning point; Camara is praised as the week's best Blazer with improved confidence and defense. They discuss the better use of Donovan Clingan vs small lineups, frustrations with Portland's roster depth vs the Spurs, and preview a high-stakes home game vs the Clippers to decide play-in positioning and tiebreakers, while also reassessing Scoot Henderson's progress and fixable finishing issues.
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    37 mins
  • Rip City Races to the Finish Line

    Rip City Races to the Finish Line
    Apr 3 2026
    Dustin and Sage return for the 437th Holy Backboard Podcast after illness and recap roughly two weeks of Portland Trail Blazers action and standings. Portland sits 40–38 with four games left (Nuggets, Spurs, Clippers, Kings), jockeying for position around the 7–10 play-in spots, with a pivotal April 10 home game against the Clippers likely deciding seeding via conference-record tiebreakers. They review big wins over the Nets, Giannis-less Bucks, Wizards, Clippers (114–104), and Pelicans (118–106), and a frustrating loss to the Mavericks marked by missed layups, turnovers, and free throws. They discuss injuries/uncertainty surrounding Shaedon Sharpe, Robert Williams, and Jerami Grant, critique coaching/rotation decisions, especially the limited development minutes for Scoot Henderson and the usage of Donovan Clingan, and debate play-in matchups, preferring the Spurs over the Thunder. They also discuss excitement for the WNBA's return to Portland ,but criticize the WNBA expansion draft presentation and touch on hopes and worries about new Blazers ownership.
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    45 mins
  • March Madness in Rip City

    March Madness in Rip City
    Mar 18 2026
    Dustin and Sage recap the last Portland Trail Blazers week: a messy 124–114 win over Utah marked by 46 threes and 24 turnovers, a frustrating 109–103 loss to a short-handed Philadelphia team despite a fast start, and a 114–95 win over a talent-thin Brooklyn squad. They highlight Scoot Henderson's efficient scoring in limited minutes and strong on-ball defense, plus Donovan Clingan's rebounding, rim protection, and growing poise. The hosts criticize Portland's high turnover rate, poor three-point shooting, and lack of offensive structure under acting head coach Tiago Splitter, and discuss how incoming ownership (Tom Dundon) could trigger front office and coaching changes. They also debate eight-player expansion protections, preview prospects for March Madness, and briefly touch on the WNBA.
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    59 mins
  • The Long & Short of It

    The Long & Short of It
    Mar 11 2026
    In the 435th Holy Backboard Podcast, Dustin and Sage recap Portland's last stretch, including a lethargic road trip (wins over Chicago and Memphis, blowouts vs. Charlotte and Atlanta, and a competitive loss to Houston), a strong Scoot Henderson bounce-back game vs. Indiana, and a frustrating late collapse vs. the Hornets despite a 19-point lead. They debate Scoot's recent struggles, praising his off-ball defense while criticizing how his minutes were handled, and question prioritizing veterans like Jrue Holiday and Jeremy Grant over development, including Donovan Clingan's usage. They argue that coaching and organizational decisions are hurting the team's offense, defense, and fundamentals, express broader frustration with management, then preview upcoming games against Utah, Philadelphia, and Brooklyn, and briefly discuss draft/watchlist college prospects.
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    52 mins
  • No Man's Land

    No Man's Land
    Feb 25 2026
    In the 434th Holy Backboard Podcast, Dustin and Sage recap a Lunar New Year event before discussing the Portland Trail Blazers' uneven post–All-Star stretch: an embarrassing 157–103 loss to Denver, a 92–77 win at Phoenix, and a close 124–121 loss to Minnesota, leaving Portland 28–31 and effectively fighting for the 10th seed and poor lottery odds. They criticize coaching decisions and recurring defensive lapses, argue Jrue Holiday's on-ball/clutch role and turnovers are hurting development, and push for more responsibility and possibly starting Scoot Henderson. They highlight Donovan Clingan's strong play, including a big game vs Phoenix, and call for more usage and better schematic support. Major injuries include Shaedon Sharpe's left fibula stress reaction, ending his season, and ongoing concerns about Deni Avdija's back. They preview games at Chicago, Charlotte, and Atlanta, and discuss the roster
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    57 mins
  • Cling Kong, Camara Right the Ship in Rip City

    Cling Kong, Camara Right the Ship in Rip City
    Feb 13 2026
    Dustin and Sage recap the Portland Trail Blazers' week: ending a six-game losing streak with a win over the Memphis Grizzlies in Scoot Henderson's return, a second win over Memphis, a 49-point third quarter blowout of the 76ers (with Joel Embiid out), a road loss to the Timberwolves, and an ugly but successful closeout win over the Utah Jazz highlighted by Donovan Clingan's big stat line. They discuss Scoot's impact as a playmaker, his improved scoring efficiency, and concerns about fouls, turnovers, shooting variance, and pace, as well as frustration that Scoot and Shaedon Sharpe have barely played together due to Sharpe's calf strain and other injuries. The episode highlights Toumani Camara's strong recent stretch (including a big game vs. the 76ers and defense on Tyrese Maxey) and Clingan's growth as a rebounder, passer, shot blocker, and occasional floor spacer, while noting team issues like rebounding, turnovers, and struggles versus stretch bigs. They assess Portland's play-in positioning around the All-Star break, argue coaching has contributed to fundamental mistakes and an unsustainable fast pace, and debate roster decisions involving two-way limits (City Sissoko and Caleb Love), Matisse Thybulle's roster spot, and potential cuts. The conversation also shifts to league-wide tanking incentives and possible fixes to the draft system, recommends a Locked On Blazers episode about the possibility of the Blazers leaving Portland and Moda Center renovation plans, and closes with thoughts on All-Star Weekend
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    57 mins
  • Happy Scoot Day

    Happy Scoot Day
    Feb 6 2026
    1 hr
  • All The Small Things

    All The Small Things
    Jan 28 2026
    Welcome to the 431st edition of the Holy Backboard Podcast! Hosts Dustin and Sage delve into the Portland Trail Blazers' recent performance, highlighting the highs and lows of their latest games against teams such as the Miami Heat, Toronto Raptors, Boston Celtics, and Washington Wizards. They discuss key player performances, game stats, and areas for improvement, such as free throw shooting and defense. The episode also speculates on potential trade moves ahead of the deadline, focusing on rumors involving players like Jrue Holiday and the impact of possible trades on the team's future. Tune in for an in-depth analysis of the Blazers' current standing and strategic insights on how they can bounce back in the upcoming games! 00:00 Introduction and Podcast Welcome 00:14 Recap of Recent Games 02:33 Analyzing Team Performance 03:17 Free Throw Woes and Shooting Struggles 06:27 Defensive Issues and Player Limitations 20:03 Trade Deadline Speculations 26:46 The Giannis Trade Dilemma 27:16 Evaluating Giannis' Value and Trade Options 28:10 Potential Trade Packages for Giannis 29:55 Risks and Rewards of Trading for Giannis 36:14 Blazers' Upcoming Games and Predictions 46:36 Final Thoughts and Trade Deadline Speculations
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    48 mins