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On this week's episode of KGW's 3-on-3 Blazers podcast, KGW sports anchor Orlando Sanchez and digital producers Jared Cowley and Max Barr talk about the hiring of Chauncey Billups as the Blazers' new head coach. The hire angered a portion of the Blazers' fan base because of allegations of sexual assault in Billups' past. In 1997, Billups was accused of rape. He denies the accusation, wasn't charged and the case was settled out of court in 2000. Orlando, Jared and Max also talk about the controversial way the Blazers conducted this week's press conference introducing Billups as the team's new head coach. Next, they discuss reports that Damian Lillard is considering leaving Portland because of frustration over the backlash over the hiring process and concerns over whether a championship contender can be built in Portland. Finally, they talk about another setback for Blazers big man Zach Collins.

It’s only been a week since the Portland Trail Blazers' season ended with another first-round exit. In a very busy seven days since, Terry Stotts was fired, the Blazers started their search for a new coach, Neil Olshey went a couple rounds with the media and questions arose about the future of CJ McCollum and the rest of the roster in Rip City. Orlando, Jared and Max break it all down, looking back on a very strange 2020-21 season and ahead to what promises to be an interesting offseason in Portland. Plus, it's the final chapter of this season’s Playoff Rip It! Who will be crowned champion? Hosts: KGW sports anchor Orlando Sanchez, KGW digital producers Jared Cowley and Max Barr Subscribe: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/3-on-3-blazers/id1290344201

Damian Lillard scored a franchise playoff record 55 points, hit an NBA record 12 3-pointers and the Portland Trail Blazers still lost Game 5 against the Denver Nuggets. Now they head back to Portland for a must-win Game 6 on Thursday. Orlando, Jared and Max discuss Dame's transcendent performance, debate whether Dame's teammates let him down and ask the question: Can Portland bounce back? After that, it's Week 2 of Playoff Rip It! Hosts: KGW sports anchor Orlando Sanchez, KGW digital producers Jared Cowley and Max Barr Subscribe: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/3-on-3-blazers/id1290344201  

The Nuggets bounced back in Game 2, beating the Blazers by 19 to even the series. Orlando, Jared and Max talk about their biggest concerns after Game 2. next, they discuss adjustments the Blazers need to make to win Game 3 back in Portland. And finally, Orlando and Jared face off in Week 1 of Playoff Rip It! Hosts: KGW sports anchor Orlando Sanchez, KGW digital producers Jared Cowley and Max Barr Subscribe: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/3-on-3-blazers/id1290344201

The Portland Trail Blazers struck first, beating the Denver Nuggets 123-109 to take a 1-0 lead in their best-of-7 first-round series. Damian Lillard and Jusuf Nurkic led the way for the Blazers on offense and defense. KGW’s Orlando Sanchez and Jared Cowley break down everything that went right for the Blazers in Game 1 and look ahead to Game 2. Hosts: KGW sports anchor Orlando Sanchez, KGW digital producers Jared Cowley and Max Barr

How do the Blazers and Nuggets match up? What are the keys to a Blazers victory in this series? How many games will the series go? And which team will win? Orlando, Jared and Max go deep on the first-round series between Portland and Denver. And then they wrap up regular-season Rip It! and welcome back Playoff Rip-It! Hosts: KGW sports anchor Orlando Sanchez, KGW digital producers Jared Cowley and Max Barr

Orlando, Jared and Max first talk about Thursday’s heartbreaking loss to the Phoenix Suns (1:18). Then they discuss the keys to a Blazers win in Sunday’s regular-season finale against the Denver Nuggets (13:20). Next they make predictions for the three-team race between the Blazers, Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers. Which team will finish fifth, sixth and seventh? (26:39). Finally, they play another outstanding game of Rip It! (32:40) Subscribe: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/3-on-3-blazers/id1290344201 Hosts: Orlando Sanchez, Jared Cowley, Max Barr

Orlando, Jared and Max first talk about the Blazers’ impressive play on their 5-1 road trip (1:15). Then they discuss the Blazers welcoming fans back into the Moda Center for the first time in more than a year (5:43). Next they talk about the report from The Athletic about head coach Terry Stotts’ job security (19:58). After that, they break down the playoff race between the Blazers, Mavericks and Lakers (34:23). Finally, they play another rip-roaring game of Rip It! (44:45)! Subscribe: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/3-on-3-blazers/id1290344201 Hosts: Orlando Sanchez, Jared Cowley, Max Barr

Orlando, Jared and Max first talk about what has changed for the Blazers in their past two blowout victories (1:40). Then they talk about the development of Anfernee Simons (16:58). Next they talk about the chase for the sixth seed and look ahead to the week of games for the Blazers and Dallas Mavericks (28:28). Finally, they play another exciting game of Rip It! (38:01)! Subscribe: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/3-on-3-blazers/id1290344201 Hosts: Orlando Sanchez, Jared Cowley, Max Barr

Orlando, Jared and Max first talk about their assessment of the team during the recent string of close losses to good teams (1:19). Then they talk about how their expectations for the team have changed (21:30). Next they talk about the playoff picture, including the next week of games for the sixth-place Blazers and the seventh-place Dallas Mavericks (31:51). They then play another rousing game of Rip It!, this time with a special guest competitor (39:36)! Subscribe: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/3-on-3-blazers/id1290344201 Hosts: Orlando Sanchez, Jared Cowley, Max Barr

Orlando, Jared and Max first talk about LaMarcus Aldridge’s retirement, share their favorite memories of Aldridge and discuss his departure from Portland (6:20). Then they talk about the Blazers’ recent slump, what’s causing it and whether there are any reasons for optimism (28:05). Next they talk about the playoff picture and whether the Blazers can hold off the Dallas Mavericks and avoid the play-in (47:14). They then play another sensational game of Rip It! (57:00). Subscribe: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/3-on-3-blazers/id1290344201 Hosts: Orlando Sanchez, Jared Cowley, Max Barr

Orlando, Jared, Nate and Max first talk about the return of Jusuf Nurkic and their impressions of Norman Powell's first three games with the Blazers (6:10). Then they talk about Robert Covington's impressive March and how much he impacts the game for the Blazers (20:10). Next they talk about the Blazers' next three games against the Bucks, Thunder and Clippers and make win/loss predictions (37:12). They then play another fantastic game of Rip It! (46:56). Finally, they end the podcast saying goodbye to co-host Nate Hanson and sharing their favorite memories from the pod with Nate (1:02:50). Subscribe: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/3-on-3-blazers/id1290344201 Hosts: Orlando Sanchez, Jared Cowley, Nate Hanson Producer: Max Barr

The Blazers got two good pieces of news Thursday. One, Jusuf Nurkic is back! He announced he'd be returning from injury Friday against the Orlando Magic. Second, Portland made a trade for one of the best shooting wings in the game, Norman Powell! The sad news? The Blazers had to trade Gary Trent Jr. and Rodney Hood to Toronto to make it happen. On this week's episode of KGW's 3-on-3 Blazers podcast, KGW sports anchor Orlando Sanchez and KGW producers Jared Cowley, Nate Hanson and Max Barr talk about the deal the Blazers made, the one they didn't (Aaron Gordon was traded to Denver instead) and what it all means for the team moving forward. They also discuss the return of Nurkic, make predictions for the next four games and play another stimulating game of Rip It!

The first week of the second half of the season has been similar to the first half. Bad Blazers defense and Damian Lillard heroics. Should Blazers fans believe this is the ride they're going to be on the rest of the season? SUBSCRIBE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/3-on-3-blazers/id1290344201 With the trade deadline a week from today, should the Blazers be buyers, sellers or stay the course? What do you expect the Blazers will do at the trade deadline and/or in the buyout market? The Blazers play four games, all at home, between now and the next time we meet: Thursday night against the Pelicans, Friday and Sunday against the Mavericks, and Tuesday against the Nets. Which games do the Blazers win and which do they lose? FULL STORY: https://www.kgw.com/article/sports/nba/blazers/history-indicates-jusuf-nurkic-can-rectify-blazers-terrible-defense/283-52e34e60-cbc0-47f8-b281-0c72d1d36084 KGW sports anchor Orlando Sanchez is joined by KGW's Jared Cowley, Nate Hanson and Max Barr to discuss these topics and play another zippy game of Rip It!

Former Portland Trail Blazers big man LaMarcus Aldridge, a seven-time All-Star who played his first nine seasons in Portland, is available for trade. After the news broke on Wednesday, Blazers fans and media on Twitter began speculating about what it would take to bring Aldridge back to Portland and whether the Blazers should attempt to make such a move. SUBSCRIBE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/3-on-3-blazers/id1290344201 That was one of the main topics of conversation during this week's episode of KGW's 3-on-3 Blazers podcast. KGW sports anchor Orlando Sanchez and digital producers Jared Cowley and Max Barr discussed Aldridge, the pending return of CJ McCollum and Jusuf Nurkic from injury, made predictions for the next four games and played another thrilling game of Rip It! MORE COVERAGE: https://www.kgw.com/article/sports/nba/blazers/should-portland-trail-blazers-bring-back-lamarcus-aldridge/283-57e44574-89b1-4c9f-b16d-5b81b6dcd768  

It has been an impressive first half of the season for the Portland Trail Blazers, who go into the All-Star break in fifth place in the West with a 21-14 record. The Blazers' first-half performance has been even more impressive considering the injuries to CJ McCollum and Jusuf Nurkic. On this week's episode of KGW's 3-on-3 Blazers podcast, KGW sports anchor Orlando Sanchez and digital producers Nate Hanson, Jared Cowley and Max Barr talk about Damian Lillard's perseverance, Enes Kanter's consistency and more. They also revisit the worst predictions they made before the season started, make a prediction or two for the second half of the season and play a thrilling game of All-Star Rip It! Also, someone trips and falls.

The Portland Trail Blazers are on a three-game losing streak and have four games left in the first half of the 2020-21 season. The team also released its second-half schedule this week. On the latest episode of KGW's 3-on-3 Blazers podcast, KGW sports anchor Orlando Sanchez and KGW digital producers Jared Cowley, Nate Hanson and Max Barr discuss both areas of concern and reasons Blazers fans can remain optimistic in the midst of a losing streak. SUBSCRIBE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/3-on-3-blazers/id1290344201 Orlando, Jared, Nate and Max also talk about the second-half schedule, which has a lot of back-to-backs, little rest and a killer closing stretch. They make predictions for the final four games of the first half of the season and play another exciting game of Rip It! READ MORE: https://www.kgw.com/article/sports/nba/blazers/portland-trail-blazers-3-game-losing-streak-shooting-slump-podcast/283-4b2679c1-e49d-44e5-b610-5797d58c993d  

Damian Lillard has been one of the most clutch players in the NBA since the Blazers drafted him in 2012, and his ability to close out games has shined bright in the national spotlight this past week. SUBSCRIBE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/3-on-3-blazers/id1290344201 It started when Lillard hit what ended up being a game-winning 3-pointer in a 34-point performance to beat the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday night, a game that was aired on ESPN. And even though the season isn’t even to the midway point, many of ESPN’s personalities argued the next day that Lillard should be in the MVP conversation. The Dame for MVP campaign was born.  That was the big topic of conversation on the latest episode of KGW’s 3-on-3 Blazers podcast, hosted by KGW sports anchor Orlando Sanchez, alongside KGW's Jared Cowley, Nate Hanson and Max Barr.

The Portland Trail Blazers are 5-5 since CJ McCollum and Jusuf Nurkic went down with injuries nearly a month ago and still sit in fifth place in the Western Conference. On this week's episode of KGW's 3-on-3 Blazers podcast, KGW sports anchor Orlando Sanchez and KGW digital producers Jared Cowley, Nate Hanson and Max Barr talk about reasons the Blazers have been able to stay afloat, including the brilliance of Damian Lillard and the team's improved depth. SUBSCRIBE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/3-on-3-blazers/id1290344201 They also discuss Gary Trent Jr., who continues to excite Blazers fans with his level of play. They discuss Gary Trent Jr.'s ceiling and what NBA player they'd compare him to, including Wesley Matthews, Tyler Herro, Khris Middleton and others. Finally, Orlando, Jared, Nate and Max make predictions for the next five games on the Blazers schedule and play another fantastically fun game of Rip It!

The Portland Trail Blazers continue to stay afloat in a crowded Western Conference despite an injury list that continues to grow. Going into Thuesday night's game against the Philadelphia 76ers, the Blazers have been 4-4 in their eight games without center Jusuf Nurkic and 3-4 in their seven games without CJ McCollum. The team is 11-9 so far this year, just percentage points behind the Memphis Grizzlies for the 5th seed in the West. SUBSCRIBE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/3-on-3-blazers/id1290344201 The Blazers have not only been overcoming injuries the last couple weeks but also consistent poor defensive performances. That was the main point of discussion in this week's episode of KGW's 3-on-3 Blazers podcast, hosted by KGW sports anchor Orlando Sanchez alongside KGW's Jared Cowley, Nate Hanson and Max Barr. Overall, on the season the Blazers rank 29th out of 30 teams in the NBA in defensive rating, which calculates a team's defensive efficiency, measured by how many points they give up per 100 possessions. But is the current bad defense attributable to injuries, and the roster head coach Terry Stotts currently has to work with, especially considering the importance of Nurkic, as well as McCollum this season, to the defensive side of the ball? Or is there a bigger systemic problem for the Blazers' defensive woes?