Episodes

  • 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
  • Loving Caleb's Contributions

    Loving Caleb's Contributions
    Jan 21 2026
    In the 430th episode of the Holy Backboard Podcast, Dustin and Sage discuss the Portland Trail Blazers recent performance, standing at 22-22 and ninth in the Western Conference. They analyze the team's games against the Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Lakers, and Sacramento Kings, highlighting key players like Deni Avdija, Shaedon Sharpe, and Donovan Clingan. The hosts also provide insights into upcoming games against the Miami Heat, Toronto Raptors, Boston Celtics, and Washington Wizards, debating strategies and potential outcomes. With the NBA trade deadline approaching, they consider possible roster moves and reflect on the Blazers' development and playoff prospects. Tune in for an in-depth chat about the Blazers journey, key players' performances, and future outlook!
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    54 mins
  • Sitting Solid at the Halfway Mark

    Sitting Solid at the Halfway Mark
    Jan 14 2026
    In the 429th edition of the Holy Backboard Podcast, Dustin and Sage discuss the challenges of aging, the current season's impact on the Portland Trail Blazers, and the development of players. They discuss recent games, injury updates for key players like Deni Avdija and Jerami Grant, and assess the Blazers' playoff chances. Discover mid-season evaluations of players like Shaedon Sharpe and Donovan Clingan, potential trade rumors, and the team's strategy moving forward. Join for an in-depth look at Rip City's hopes and hurdles.
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    42 mins
  • Back from the (Jrue) Holidays.

    Back from the (Jrue) Holidays.
    Jan 8 2026
    In the 428th episode of the Holy Backboard Podcast, hosts Dustin and Sage discuss their holiday experiences and delve into the current state of the Portland Trail Blazers. They examine the team's recent performance, notable wins, player development, and injury updates. The podcast highlights Donovan Clingan's improvement, the strategic challenges posed by upcoming games against strong opponents like the Rockets, Knicks, and Warriors, and the potential impact of trade decisions and player injuries on the team's future. The episode also explores the controversial strategy of fouling when ahead by three and outlines potential roster adjustments that may be necessary due to the impending 50-game cap for two-way contract players Caleb Love and Sidy Cissoko.
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    44 mins
  • Unlocking Shaedon Sharpe's Potential

    Unlocking Shaedon Sharpe's Potential
    Dec 17 2025
    Welcome to the 427th edition of the Holy Backboard Podcast! Join Dustin and Sage as they delve into the latest happenings with the Portland Trail Blazers. They discuss Sage's basketball card collection hobby and provide personal updates, including Dustin's upcoming holiday plans and a string of unfortunate events involving his glasses and chiropractic visits. Key highlights include an in-depth analysis of the Trail Blazers' performance, focusing on crucial games against teams such as the Sacramento Kings, Detroit Pistons, and Orlando Magic. The hosts ponder trade possibilities for key players like Jerami Grant and Jrue Holiday, and explore the challenges and strategies the Blazers must navigate to achieve their trade season and playoff aspirations. They also talk about the development of young talent like Shaedon Sharpe and the potential of players like Yang Hanson in the G League. Dive into the intricacies of the Blazers roster dynamics, trade scenarios, and what it will take for them to secure a playoff spot. Happy Holidays to all and Go Blazers!
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    47 mins