The Blazers Balcony

On this edition of The Blazers Balcony, presented by Spirit Mountain Casino, Trail Blazes reporters Brooke Olzendam and Casey Holdahl discuss... • The Trail Blazers defeating the Suns in Phoenix in the Play-In Tournament to earn the seven-seed in the Western Conference Playoffs • Making the playoffs always means something to fans, as it should • Deni Avdija getting the respect he deserves for his performance versus Phoenix • Jerami Grant returns and makes a huge difference in the fourth versus the Suns • The way the Trail Blazers have had to fight to get into play-in could be a good thing in the playoffs • Neither team has much playoff experience • Initial thoughts on the matchup versus the two-seed Spurs, which starts Sunday night in San Antonio • Most important Spur other than Wemby, most important Blazer in the series, the most important reserve for both teams and what "battle" Portland needs to win • Brooke enjoys the watch party, come on Haberstroh, holding in a sneeze, re-recording segments, marg vs. frosé and almost falling into the Riverwalk

On this edition of The Blazers Balcony, presented by Spirit Mountain Casino, Brooke Olzendam and Casey Holdahl discuss... • The Trail Blazers finishing the season eighth in the Western Conference standings • Defeating the Clippers on Friday to win the tiebreaker • Taking care of business in the season finale versus the Kings on Sunday • Portland playing their best basketball and getting healthy at the exact right time • No more local broadcasts for the postseason • The benefits of having to be "locked in" for the last month of the season • There's not much playoff experience on the roster outside of Jrue and Rob • Deni is back to form, Toumani is playing the best basketball of his career, Jrue is unflappable, Donovan is a double-double, Scoot is finding his rhythm and Shaedon can get you a bucket • Matisse, Rob and Kris have made a huge difference off the bench • What, if anything, can be taken from the three previous games this season versus the Suns • Trying to slow down Devin Booker • Sometimes you need guys like Dillon Brooks • A win sets up a playoff matchup versus the Spurs while a loss mean another game at Moda Center on Friday • New graffiti at Brooke's house, Casey isn't buying the new "Summer House" scandal, what do DJs really do anyway and thanks so much for listening!

On this edition of The Blazers Balcony, presented by Spirit Mountain Casino, Trail Blazers reporters Brooke Olzendam and Casey Holdahl discuss... • The Trail Blazers are in Denver to start the last two road games of the regular season • The local television broadcast no longer gets to broadcast the first round of the playoffs nor the play-in tournament, so this is their last week of work regardless • The Trail Blazers moving into eighth in the West with four games to go thanks to an 8-2 record in their last 10 contests • The win versus the Clippers in Los Angeles • Jrue Holiday is a true veteran • Kris Murray plays arguably the best game of his pro career • Breaking down the various scenarios in play with four games to go • The Rip City Rising ownership group officially takes control • Rooms that look onto the mezzanine level, it's hard to turn down an interview on a live stream, how early is too early for turndown service and we'll be doing a live shot at Spirit Mountain some time in the not to distant future

On this edition of The Blazers Balcony, presented by Spirit Mountain Casino, reporters Brooke Olzendam and Casey Holdahl discuss... • The Trail Blazers winning four of their last five games to get back to .500 for the season • The importance of playing the right way outside of just getting a win • Rounding into form but also continuing to experiment with three weeks left in the regular season • Holding the Nets and Bucks under 100 and defeating the Timberwolves in Minneapolis • Toumani Camara's career night versus the Nets • Tiago Splitter's message to the team and how it's not necessarily dependent on wins or losses • The race for the play-in could very well come down to the two games remaining versus the Clippers • The format of the Play-In Tournament • Very little is decided in the Western Conference with less than 10 games to play • You can call her "Brooklyn," why are people at bars so mean to Brooke, pull tabs in Minneapolis, Toumani jersey confusion,

On this edition of The Blazers Balcony, presented by Spirit Mountain Casino, Trail Blazers reporters Brooke Olzendam and Casey Holdahl discuss... • Starting a five-game trip by losing the the 76ers in Philadelphia • The mood of the locker room after Sunday's loss • Overcoming a 16-0 run versus the Nets • Donovan Clingan at center, Kris Murray at backup center • The fans in Brooklyn go wild for Deni Avdija • Brooke explains the post-win "player signs the camera" logistics to Casey • Bussing from Philadelphia to Brooklyn and other instances of taking busses rather than flying in Trail Blazers' history • If sports don't ever make you happy, why are you really a sports fan? • How do you translate "mojo" • Facing the Pacers on Wednesday then moving on to the Western Conference portion of the trip versus the Timberwolves and Nuggets • A fond farewell to Nick West, comparing hotel rooms, no-mayo bakeries, Brooke thought she hated pizza but it was actually the olives, getting caught telling the truth, Casey has never had a tuna fish sandwich, Theo doesn't play baseball, please make bar soap available

On this edition of The Blazers Balcony, presented by Spirit Mountain Casino, Trail Blazers reporters Brooke Olzendam and Casey Holdahl discuss... • Brooke returning back to work after Case filled in on the last road trip • Portland returning home to defeat the Indiana Pacers Sunday night • Scoot Henderson turns in his best performance of the season • While lots of players say they're unbothered, Scoot actually walks the walk • The Blazers losing to the Hornets for the second time this season in an odd game • Late-game execution and rebounding sink Portland's chances • Damian Lillard joins the broadcast • Bam goes for 83 and Dame's "ethical" 71-point performance • Lamar explains the life and times of Punch the monkey • Senate Bill 1501 passes, now it moves on to the govenor • Heading out for another five-game road trip, but with Brooke this time

On this edition of The Blazers Balcony, presented by Spirit Mountain Casino, Trail Blazers reporters Brooke Olzendam and Casey Holdahl discuss... • How Brooke is dealing with staying back on the current five-game trip • Casey attempting to fill in for Brooke, with mixed results • Thanks for the shoutout, Sidy Cissoko • Going 2-2 on a five-game trip with one game to go in Houston • The mysterious movie night in Memphis • The veterans leading the way in the second half to secure a win versus the Grizzlies • Donovan Clingan gets tossed, Matisse Thybulle gets a technical • Still a chance to win the trip with a win in Houston • Self-serve movie popcorn butter • Interesting last names • The thin line between handsome and hideous • Brooke still hasn't seen "Wuthering Heights" • Jrue Holiday keeps the Trail Blazers afloat with Deni Avdija and Shaedon Sharpe on the sidelines • Deni Avdija is close but has not yet returned (and he's listed as doubtful for Friday's game in Houston)

On this edition of The Blazers Balcony, presented by Spirit Mountain Casino, Brooke Olzendam and Casey Holdahl discuss... • Brooke's health scare over All-Star Weekend • The importance of listening to your body, especially during Brooke Hearts Your Heart month • Someone give Brooke a pharmaceutical sponsorship • Everybody misses games sometimes • Which of the three games the Trail Blazers have played since the All-Star break is the most encouraging • It's not a "make or break" trip, but it will tell us if the Trail Blazers are primed to make a run in the last month and a half of the season • Donovan Clingan's making progress on and off the court

On this edition of The Blazers Balcony, presented by Spirit Mountain Casino, Brooke Olzendam and Casey Holdahl discuss... • The Trail Blazers' losing streak extending to six games with Tuesday's loss to the Suns at Moda Center • Offense was good enough Tuesday night but the defense wasn't • The Trail Blazers trading Duop Reath and two second-round picks to Atlanta in exchange for Vít Krejčí • First impressions of Vít both on and off the court • Blake Wesley returning to the lineup after missing three months with a broken bone in his right foot • The imminent season debut of Scoot Henderson • Deni Avdija named a reserve for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game and the makeup of the international team and the two United States teams • It's Brooke Hearts Your Heart month! • Shoutout to season ticket holder fashion, Blake Wesley's mom, Jusuf Nurkic's three-straight triple-doubles, more NBA trades, live reaction to mascot violence, All-Star in L.A. is going to be spread out and hot chicken plays

On this edition of The Blazers Balcony, presented by Spirit Mountain Casino, Brooke Olzendam and Casey Holdahl discuss... • The Trail Blazers losing three-straight after winning four-straight • Another rough start, this time versus the Celtics in Boston • Poor free throw shooting and turnovers leading to a loss versus the Wizards in Washington DC • The factors that made Tuesday's game versus the Wizards more difficult than it might have initially appeared • Deni Avdija returning (again) to Washington DC and the way he view his job as a professional athlete • Appreciation for the way Tiago Splitter deals with the media • Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen to race off at the 2026 Rising Star Game at the 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend

On this edition of The Blazers Balcony, presented by Spirit Mountain Casino, Trail Blazers reporters Brooke Olzendam and Casey Holdahl discuss... • The Trail Blazers having the best record in the NBA since the start of 2026 • Having a good team to root for • Donovan Clingan taking a big step this season • Jerami Grant picking up right where he left off • Whether the Blazers can get out of the play-in and get into the playoffs • Putting wins above individual performances • The reasons to think Portland's recent success is sustainable • Deni Avdija finishing fifth in 2026 NBA All-Star starters fan voting but finishing seventh in the total vote • Winter days, Brooke going to a live taping of the Drew Barrymore Show, the things we say that no one else understands, Jon Lovitz gifs, Deni's ice cream, Duop's British accent and Cameo requests, turtlenecks and "shackets," Mark Normand has a wife and baby, New Brunswick to New York

On this edition of The Blazers Balcony, Brooke Olzendam and Casey Holdahl discuss... • The Trail Blazers ending a five-game winning streak and a four-game homestand with a loss to the Knicks • Losing Deni Avdija to a back injury in the fourth quarter of the loss to New York • Trail Blazers, more shorthanded than usual, come up short versus the Warriors • If the Blazers lost to the Warriors so no one would have to do a non-Brooke post-game interview • Figuring out how to play with Avdija out of the lineup and if they're at a breaking point with regard to injuries • Jrue Holiday's return and the potential for other players to rejoin the rotation with four of the next five games at home • The upcoming schedule the next two weeks • the potholes are getting worse, Portland's locker room debating which language is the most beautiful, sci-fi sucks, Brooke's plea for "Heated Rivalry," retelling the Nikki Glasser/Ian Karmel Golden Globes Trail Blazers joke, Brooke meets Sean Penn, "I love wrinkly old men," absence resulting in annoyance, "the bad back broadcast," friend group chat etiquette, comp ticket etiquette and just keeping your mouth shut

On this edition of The Blazers Balcony, presented by Spirit Mountain Casino, Brooke Olzendam and Casey Holdahl discuss... • The Trail Blazers starting a three-game road trip with the loss to the Thunder • Spending New Years in Oklahoma City • Deni Avdija, Shaedon Sharpe and Donovan Clingan leading the way • Bouncing back to defeat the Pelicans in New Orleans • One of the best wins of the season versus the Spurs in San Antonio • Deni's birthday triple-double and Donovan's career-high versus the Spurs • A rare blowout versus the Jazz on Monday to start a home-heavy January • Deni Avdija is doing a bit of everything and is finally being recognized for his efforts • Cornhole competition, Donovan's three-point shooting, Caleb Love keeps shooting, post-game interview adjustments and Brooke sitting out the trip to San Francisco

On the latest episode of The Blazers Balcony, presented by Spirit Mountain Casino, Brooke Olzendam and Casey Holdahl discuss... • The Trail Blazers defeating the Warriors for the third time this season at Moda Center on Sunday • Winning the season series versus the Warriors for the first time since the 2020-21 season • Jerami Grant, Shaedon Sharpe and Deni Avdija all having impressive performances versus Golden State • Finally overcoming a great shooting night from Steph Curry after not doing so for a decade • A great crowd Sunday at Moda Center • The team's new "box" award for defense that they're giving out after every game • A supportive locker room • Good vibes in the gym even after losses • Hoping that Jrue Holiday and Matisse Thybulle are able to return some time soon • Decorating for the holidays after returning from a road trip, trying to keep it fair when no one really cares, Steph Curry as Nicole Kidman, "LEBRON" Blazers license plates, Cheri O'Terri is not Rachel Dratch

On this edition of The Blazers Balcony, presented by Spirit Moutain Casino, Brooke Olzendam and Casey Holdahl discuss... • The Trail Blazers starting a four-game trip with a close loss to the Raptors in Toronto • Portland rallying in the fourth quarter in Toronto but unable to overcome missed free throws (and at least one missed call) • The Blazers bouncing back by winning in Cleveland on the second night of a back-to-back • The pre-game film session in Cleveland that helped Portland get the win • Portland players refusing to give up even in losses • Free throws, free throws and more free throws • Finishing the trip on Friday versus the Pistons and Sunday versus the Grizzlies • RoboCop statues, telling someone they're tall in an elevator might be part of our evolution, sit down Matisse and how long can you keep Lil' Caesars pizza

On this edition of The Blazers Balcony, Brooke Olzendam and Casey Holdahl discuss... • Arriving in Oklahoma City for a Sunday game versus the Thunder • The ridiculousness of having a five-game road trip, returning home to play a back-to-back, then heading back out for three more games • Finally winning a game in San Francisco Friday night versus the Warriors and whether it's the end of an era • Needing everyone to contribute when you're trying to break losing streaks when you're incredibly shorthanded • Donovan Clingan going beast mode • Caleb Love and Sidy Cissoko making a difference on two-way contracts • Deni Avdija Most Improved AND a first-time All-Star? • Toumani Camara taking on off-court responsibilities and having is best game of the season versus Golden State • Sidy shouts out Shae, Brooke's boutique shuts down, big glasses, Duop the Sweetest, a different brand of leadership and old boyfriends catching strays

On this edition of The Blazers Balcony, presented by Spirt Mountain Casino, Brooke Olzendam and Casey Holdahl discuss... • Starting the five-game trip with two losses... but not feeling bad about it • Going cold down the stretch versus the Heat in Miami • Losing on a buzzer-beater to the Magic in Orlando • Upcoming games versus the Pelicans, Rockets (in the NBA Cup!) and Mavericks • Only one "bad" loss in the first 10 games • Deni Avdija continues to play at an All-Star level • Brooke gets hit in the head in Miami • Hitting Casey where it hurts (sandwiches) • The pool should be open • Who should get bylines for broadcast stories

On the latest edition of The Blazers Balcony, presented by Spirit Mountain Casino, Brooke Olzendam and Casey Holdahl discuss... • The Trail Blazers losing to a short-handed, second game of a back-to-back Lakers squad Monday night at Moda Center • Wins versus the Denver Nuggets and Utah Jazz • Trying to win when the shots aren't falling • Injuries to Matisse Thybulle and Blake Wesley catching up to the team • The upcoming game versus the Thunder leading into a five-game road trip • Cubano sandwiches, tall people in elevators and sitting out road trips

On this edition of The Blazers Balcony, presented by Spirit Mountain Casino, Trail Blazers sideline reporter Brooke Olzendam and Trail Blazers digital reporter Casey Holdahl discuss... • The Trail Blazers starting the 2025-26 season 2-2 and how they're weren't far off from starting 4-0 • Portland following through on changing their style of play • The "new look" Trail Blazers drawing praise from their opponents • Changing perceptions about a team takes some time • Matisse Thybulle has been unleashed • Jerami Grant thriving off the bench, accepting his role and being honest when it would be easier to lie • Deni Avdija having a historic start -- at least in terms of franchise history -- to the season • Jrue Holiday is just what the Trail Blazers needed • Young Donovan Clingan taking a considerable step forward in his second season • Being starstruck by Instagram chefs, too old for Apple Pay, someone let Calabro buy a sandwich, eating Golden State's post-game locker room spread

On this edition of The Blazers Balcony, sideline reporter Brooke Olzendam and digital reporter Casey Holdahl discuss... • Shaedon Sharpe and Toumani Camara signing four-year contract extensions • Feeling great about both teams which reward the players for what they've already done while also expecting continued improvement • What it means to have a wing rotation featuring Shaedon, Toumani, Deni Avdija and Jerami Grant all under contract for the next few seasons • Toumani's waffle mix • Inflatable Halloween decorations and how long unattended candy lasts • Defining your own worth • How much money is enough? (answer: there's no such thing) • Javonte Cooke getting the third and final two-way spot with the Trail Blazers, who now have the max number of players under contract • An increase in enthusiasm going into the 2025-26 season • The Holiday family settling into life in the Pacific Northwest • Predicting various stats such as "How many assists will Scoot Henderson average?" "How many minutes will Yang Hansen play?" and "How many charges will Toumani Camara take?"