The Rose Garden Report: A Portland Trail Blazers and NBA Podcast Sean Highkin

Sean Highkin (@highkin) welcomes Erik García Gundersen (@blazerbanter) back onto the show. They discuss the Blazers' recent losing skid (5:00), whether they should shut Damian Lillard down for multiple weeks to address the calf issue (11:35), the Blazers' team identity helping them weather injuries (17:00), Shaedon Sharpe's rookie wall (22:00), the emergence of Drew Eubanks (29:00), and the rash of injuries around the league (31:00).


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Sean Highkin (@highkin) breaks down recent Blazers news including a Gary Payton II injury update (1:20) and the signing of Ibou Badji to a two-way contract (5:55). Then, Utah Jazz beat writer Sarah Todd (@NBASarah) of the Deseret News joins to discuss the Jazz's surprising hot start to the season (13:30), whether Jazz fans want the team to tank or go for the playoffs (22:55), why Will Hardy is having immediate success as a head coach (35:45), Lauri Markkanen's breakout (42:30), the Jazz and Blazers getting national attention for their hot starts (46:00), and fun rookies (52:15).


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Sean Highkin (@highkin) is joined by Seth Partnow (@SethPartnow), a national NBA writer for The Athletic, author of the book The Midrange Theory and former analytics director for the Milwaukee Bucks. Seth gives his thoughts on how sustainable the Blazers' defense is (6:05), why Jerami Grant has fit so well (19:30), how impactful Gary Payton II's return will be (21:45), how the Blazers could fix their turnover problem (23:30), which of the underperforming Western Conference competition will improve (29:45), what roster upgrades might be available at the deadline (34:45), Seth's thoughts on Shaedon Sharpe (37:45), and playing pickup basketball with Randy Moss (44:30).


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Sean Highkin (@highkin) gives some thoughts on the start of the Blazers' road trip before being joined by Phoenix Suns beat writer Gerald Bourguet (@GeraldBourguet) of PHNX Sports. They discuss the back-to-back the two teams recently split (10:45), the status of Deandre Ayton's relationship with the Suns (18:00), the impact of Cam Johnson's knee injury (22:30), the bizarre Jae Crowder situation (27:45), the Suns' title window with Chris Paul (34:40), how the Suns and Blazers are approaching building contending teams around point guards in their 30s (38:45), the status of the Suns' sale in the aftermath of the Robert Sarver investigation (43:35), and how to approach covering a team dealing with an off-court controversy (45:35).


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Sean Highkin (@highkin) and Erik García Gundersen (@blazerbanter) check in on the Blazers after a 5-1 start to the season. They discuss Shaedon Sharpe's 2009 Rudy Fernandez vibes (2:30),  the Blazers' uptick in transition offense (9:40), whether the defensive improvement is sustainable (18:10), whether the hot start has changed their expectations for the season and how the upcoming road trip could impact that (21:30), the early-season turnover problems (28:45), revisiting the February trade with the Clippers (33:50), health updates on Gary Payton II, Damian Lillard and Josh Hart (39:15), where the Blazers' "connectivity" stands (43:40), the tanking teams being better than expected (45:00), and Jusuf Nurkic's performance this season (52:40).


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Sean Highkin (@highkin) goes solo to break down the news that Damian Lillard will be out 1-2 weeks with a right calf strain, as well as discuss how Chauncey Billups may fill his minutes in the rotation.


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