Blazer Focused

39

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

Recent Episodes
  • Did Trail Blazers make the right move retaining coach Chauncey Billups?
    Apr 14, 2025 – 58:49
  • Trail Blazers GM Joe Cronin’s contract extended, Chauncey Billups should be next
    Apr 8, 2025 – 47:14
  • Trail Blazers, led by Deni Avdija, continue playing with heart
    Apr 2, 2025 – 38:03
  • Can Deni Avdija, Anfernee Simons lead Trail Blazers to play-in berth?
    Mar 21, 2025 – 42:08
  • Trail Blazers fading, but Henderson and Avdija shining
    Mar 13, 2025 – 45:09
  • Possibility of Trail Blazers earning play-in berth just improved
    Mar 5, 2025 – 41:04
  • Trail Blazers remain in play-in hunt, Shaedon Sharpe posterizes on career night
    Feb 27, 2025 – 40:38
  • Trail Blazers enter All-Star break with no clear direction
    Feb 14, 2025 – 01:00:20
  • Surging Trail Blazers complicate future
    Feb 5, 2025 – 56:25
  • Is the Trail Blazers' rise legit or smoke and mirrors?: Blazer Focused podcast
    Jan 31, 2025 – 01:01:56
  • Making sense out of an interesting few days for the Trail Blazers
    Jan 22, 2025 – 44:25
  • Scoot Henderson shines, but Trail Blazers still reeling
    Jan 16, 2025 – 49:02
  • Simons, Sharpe and Avdija rolling with trade deadline a month away
    Jan 7, 2025 – 51:23
  • Reviewing the first quarter of the Trail Blazers' season
    Dec 5, 2024 – 51:46
  • Trail Blazers performing reasonably well through injuries, inconsistent play
    Nov 27, 2024 – 48:58
  • Did Trail Blazers' Sharpe and Clingan flash glimpse of positive future?
    Nov 15, 2024 – 44:33
  • Trail Blazers show encouraging signs during 3-5 start
    Nov 6, 2024 – 45:12
  • Trail Blazers were a hot mess in the opener. Is it a fluke or a bad sign?
    Oct 25, 2024 – 41:03
  • Evaluating the Trail Blazers after 2 preseason games
    Oct 15, 2024 – 37:32
  • Trail Blazers already hit by injuries ahead of first preseason game
    Oct 9, 2024 – 43:45
  • Trail Blazers start training camp, seek clarity on franchise's direction
    Oct 2, 2024 – 01:01:29
  • Blazers get new TV partner, guard preview, WNBA to PDX
    Sep 24, 2024 – 47:55
  • Training camp preview part 2: How will forwards Jerami Grant and Deni Avdija fit?
    Sep 13, 2024 – 36:16
  • Trail Blazers training camp preview part 1: How will Deandre Ayton and Donovan Clingan co-exist?
    Sep 5, 2024 – 37:45
  • Trail Blazers summer league report card
    Jul 22, 2024 – 47:28
  • Evaluating Donovan Clingan's summer league performance thus far
    Jul 17, 2024 – 58:43
  • What to look for from rookie Donovan Clingan when summer league starts on Saturday
    Jul 11, 2024 – 28:13
  • Trail Blazers draft Donovan Clingan, trade for Deni Avdija
    Jun 27, 2024 – 41:45
  • NBA draft week is here, let's get prepped
    Jun 24, 2024 – 58:50
  • NBA draft a week away, Payton Pritchard wins a ring, Caitlin Clark drama is a good thing
    Jun 20, 2024 – 51:50
  • Pre-draft workouts continue, and how many titles could the Blazers have won with a healthy Bill Walton?
    May 30, 2024 – 47:52
  • Trail Blazers face puzzling situation after falling to No. 7 in NBA draft lottery
    May 13, 2024 – 58:05
  • Lillard's playoff runs ends early, and just how far behind the rest of the Western Conference are the Blazers?
    May 7, 2024 – 46:26
  • Trail Blazers enter offseason with plans to remain on development path
    Apr 18, 2024 – 53:22
  • Positive road trip includes growth from Scoot Henderson; what we hope to learn during exit interviews
    Apr 10, 2024 – 44:28
  • Chauncey Billups a Hall of Famer, Blazers snap 10-game losing streak with a 'bad win?'
    Apr 4, 2024 – 01:00:49
  • Scoot Henderson struggles, Kris Murray flashes, Chauncey Billups’ future
    Mar 22, 2024 – 49:09
  • Reaction to recent interview with Deandre Ayton, who discussed overcoming obstacles to become 'DominAyton’
    Mar 15, 2024 – 43:09
  • The many positives that can be extracted from the Trail Blazers' 2-1 trip
    Mar 6, 2024 – 27:43
  • Trail Blazers simply not showing reasonable progress during season of development
    Feb 26, 2024 – 46:05
  • Did the Trail Blazers drop the ball at the trade deadline?
    Feb 13, 2024 – 01:05:50
  • Damian Lillard's return lives up to the hype with high emotions and a dramatic Blazers' win
    Feb 1, 2024 – 53:32
  • Blazer Focused: Blazers' midseason report, what have we learned about this team?
    Jan 22, 2024 – 48:46
  • Scoot Henderson and other young players show improvement as Blazers face a tough 7-game trip: Blazer Focused podcast
    Jan 2, 2024 – 42:15
  • Blazers earn impressive win over Suns thanks to DominAyton and Scoot Henderson's improved aggressive play
    Dec 21, 2023 – 50:35
  • Scoot Henderson impressive during disappointing loss to Utah, the Blazers' 3-guard dilemma, evaluating Deandre Ayton
    Dec 16, 2023 – 42:20
  • Anfernee Simons returns, Blazers no push over, could they make a run at the play-in if healthy?
    Dec 8, 2023 – 39:00
  • Blazers show improvement, defense legit, Jerami Grant a force
    Nov 29, 2023 – 46:05
  • Trail Blazers’ young players stepping up during rough stretch
    Nov 16, 2023 – 56:08
  • Trail Blazers show positive signs during 3-4 start but Robert Williams' injury stings
    Nov 7, 2023 – 48:52
Recent Reviews
  • Brads Review on JBW
    Furness is a clown.
    All the podcast is nothing but a furnace of negativity regarding the Trail Blazers and without a touch of reality in it. Aaron Furness is nothing but a PNW version of Stephen A. Smith. Just a loud clown who edgy for the sake of it and that’s not a good listen at all. Jacked Ramseys is a much better Blazer podcast. Don’t listen to this ragebaiter!!!
  • Shaler503
    Volume issues
    I think the information, whether I agree or not, is compelling. My big issue is they need an audio engineer or something to keep Fentress’ volume at a consistent level. Sometimes he gets so quiet I can barely hear him. It detracts from the quality of the production.
  • EweSaidIt
    Fun Podcast Despite Audio
    Maybe it’s me, but Aaron doesn’t seem able to maintain reasonably consistent audio levels, whether he’s moving around the mic or simply alternating between shout and whisper. At times it borders on unlistenable, and I find myself constantly adjusting my headphone level. Craig’s audio levels, on the other hand, are fairly consistent.
  • Ben-W.
    Brutal Episode
    I’ve listened to these guys in the past and didn’t dislike the show, but I tuned into the 10/2/23 episode and they spent the hour mostly trashing the Blazers past and present. Negative, at times uninformed, belligerent takes. Specifically, omitting the fact that Dame never rescinded his trade request in their evaluation of Cronin’s denying his return to the team, devaluing the RW III and Brogdon pick-ups in their comparison to the Miami offer and suggesting Scoot isn’t or shouldn’t be the starting PG on opening night. Blazers fans are already feeling beat up post-Dame trade and these guys just spewed all over the mics at the worst time. Please take this criticism constructively. I am not a person who writes reviews, but I just have to say this was really tough to listen to as a Blazers fan. I think we deserve better.
  • StEvE-O985
    Yikes. This is bad.
    This is the podcast for you if you’re looking for some of the worst content about the Blazers. Aaron Fentress often confuses being a clown with being edgy. The only thing he feeds more than his burgeoning belly is his ego. Hopefully he is run out of Blazers coverage soon. I can see why Ducks fans felt relief when he moved on. Absolutely terrible show.
  • kingsulia
    Not insightful
    It’s a shame the local paper of record employs a beat writer for the only major pro team in the state who clearly doesn’t know or like the NBA and would rather be covering football. There are better Blazers podcasts out there.
  • Puttermsn
    Not as good as RCR, mainly due to Fentress
    The balance of Casey and Joe worked extremely well and stands in stark contrast to the twitter Stephen A Smith wannabe that is Fentress. Better content and analysis can be found elsewhere where the primary hosts don’t act like they are better than than the listeners.
  • Blazers Superfan
    Can’t stand Fentress
    Beyond just general disagreements with his opinions, I had the absolute displeasure of listening to Fentress talking down on female coaches. I was slightly optimistic after hearing him talk positively about coach Eddy, but then listening to him follow that up by saying that women should be required to jump over more hurdles than men was nothing short of disgusting. The fact that he said that on air and diminished the credibility of female assistant coaches and their experiences playing in the WNBA, no matter how well they coach in an assistant role, left an awful taste in my mouth. In a society that should be striving to break down barriers formed on the basis of gender, Fentress represents the antithesis of that. Needless to say, I won’t be listening to this ever again for as long as Fentress is the host.
  • playday rider
    Who can follow this guy?
    OMG!!! Get off the steroids! Slow down! With such great content and so much knowledge it’s really sad that so many of us can’t listen to it!
  • Tsaracova
    Blazers
    I never listened to the podcast with different hosts so I have no history. I thought Aaron was insightful, knew the team, and appreciates good basketball. The back-and-forth was entertaining and the enthusiasm each host demonstrated was a plus. This Blazer moment has a lot of uncertainty and the Podcast navigated the uncertainty and possible season, and beyond, outcomes well. The Blazers are fun to watch and the hosts encouraged fans, including the tank now advocates that no matter what they should enjoy the way the team is playing.
  • chevyC/10
    Good pod
    Always nice to hear someone keep it 100
  • Drummer_dude
    Run of the mill pod with a clunky host
    Aaron Fentress is just a rough host. His ability to talk the X’s and O’s of basketball is rudimentary. Due to this, it sometimes makes his analyses hard to follow and clunky. He also gets really stuck on his storylines and takes that he wants to push. Even if they become factually disputed by the team, players and other more informed analysts, he drives his invalid points or takes. My take on Aaron is that he’s trying to be edgy and against the grain so that he can get that national attention. He wants to make loud takes like Stephen A. Smith but doesn’t have the chops or charisma to do so. Not only can the Oregonian do better for a Blazer’s Pod, but they can find a much more qualified and astute beat writer to follow the Blazers. The guests and other commentators have more knowledge and ability to speak about the team and those thoughts just get interjected with Aaron’s infatuation and love for Anfernee Simons
  • rtytedhufbjfn he rhkv
    Deserves better
    A lot of one star reviews for this podcast. I suspect they are from the fallout from when the Oregonian started this show and ended another. Not the fault of the host who brings a long term reporter’s perspective and has many good insights. I find him refreshing. No random filler. This podcast has been moving up my list.
  • bldforth
    Great pod for Blazer beat perspective
    I like that Aaron Fentress keeps it real. He makes it known he is a Chicago fan and a Blazer beat writer. He bring objective opinions and good insider details from covering the team. Love the pod!
  • tmonkeypunch
    Logical and reasonable
    This is a man who uses logic and reasoning instead of in-the-moment feelings to assess the Blazers. I love it. If you don't like what you're hearing, there problem is probably with you.
  • StOilbear
    Getting there
    I enjoyed RCR as much as the next guy, but most of the negative reviews here are mad about what happened, let’s all be honest. Aaron is definitely different but he’s coming into his own. I love the added audio clips of coach/player interviews. The last episode with no guest was solid and had some good analysis backed up with stats. I think this will be a 5 star show soon enough.
  • ripcity7727
    Disappointing
    With any new podcast, I try to keep an open mind, but this one has just been really hard to listen to. The host has seemed very defensive, goes on long rants, gets off topic quite a bit, and is just overall not fun to listen to. I was particularly disappointed to learn that RCR was ended for this podcast to happen. Just save your time and skip it, there are better Blazers podcasts out there.
  • fdhzDz
    No
    This is just bad. RCR was so much better. Just don’t bother listening to this.
  • eddielugo
    Love Joe, Aaron too much
    I don’t enjoy Aaron’s approach and his one sided opinions
  • Utah Blazer
    Ditch Aaron
    Joe is great. Love his analysis, unbiased view, and overall demeanor. Aaron comes off as an arrogant and pretty rude guy. Not interested in this while he’s there.
  • LaGrandeFan
    Bad move.....
    Where are Casey and Joe? Big mistake guys, big mistake
  • TheMan J
    Blazers podcast?
    What is the podcast about? I listened to a good amount of the first episode and they didn’t really talk about the blazers. They actually talked a lot about football. I miss the old podcast that this one replaced.
  • grantvincentamiths
    Bring back RCR
    I’m done reading OLive because they killed RCR.
  • Iow@88
    You and the Oregonian Killed Rip City Report
    I like how you emphasized “objective” as if Casey can’t be because he works for the team 🙄. Get the Oregonian to bring Joe and Casey back, and I’ll listen to you AND RCR...imagine that!
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork on this page are property of the podcast owner, and not endorsed by UP.audio.