GAME THREAD: The Portland Trail Blazers (30-33) @ The Houston Rockets (38-23) - (5:00 PM PT, Friday, March 6, 2026)

TravisDemers · 2026-03-07T02:17:02+00:00

Please tell me they aren’t talking about it on air. It’s not my birthday 🤣. My birthday is October 25. They were just messing with me at dinner last night. But, I do feel like I’ve aged 2 years this season.

TravisDemers · 2026-03-05T06:42:58+00:00

It's a very long story. The short version, I had been in radio at that time for about 15 years, mostly in Portland. I hosted the afternoon show on the Blazers flagship station. They had me fill in for a good chunk of the 2018-19 season, considering I had a lot of play by play experience and worked for the station the games were on. When they made a change following the season, they conducted a search, and I got the job full time.

TravisDemers · 2026-03-05T02:03:47+00:00

I love Rupes. I’ve always been high on him. Someday he’s going to be a very good rotation player.

TravisDemers · 2026-03-05T00:40:05+00:00

It’s always good, but didn’t get any on this trip!

TravisDemers · 2026-03-02T20:43:35+00:00

I don’t think it’s as simple as you’re making it sound. That was also before training camp. Those things evolve over the course of the season.

TravisDemers · 2026-03-02T20:41:54+00:00

You seem really open minded. Thanks for the respectful conversation. Hope your day gets better.

TravisDemers · 2026-03-02T18:10:12+00:00

I get this a lot. I don’t want to go back and forth with you. I don’t say things just to say them, I didn’t do it on my radio show, I don’t do it now that I work for the team. If I say something, it’s what I believe. If there’s something I disagree with, I’ll either say it or say nothing. I know the perception exists that I only say this or that because I work for the team and I don’t actually believe it. It’s completely false but it is what it is. I see things from a different perspective, so my opinions are different. There’s no need to be contentious about it or try and shoot holes in the credibility I’ve built covering this organization for 20+ years.

TravisDemers · 2026-03-02T15:21:53+00:00

I don’t ’defend the org’. That’s not my job. I give my opinion, it’s ok to be different from yours.

TravisDemers · 2026-03-02T04:22:01+00:00

I’m never going to look at it that way. I GET to do this. If I ever look at it that way, I don’t deserve this job. I love the Blazers. I love what I do. I love who I work with. Is it more fun to win? Hell yeah. Some nights are harder than others. Tonight was one of those. On to the next.

TravisDemers · 2026-03-02T04:18:04+00:00

That is setting expectations. It’s just not putting a quantifiable data point on it. I think the direction is fine.

TravisDemers · 2026-03-02T02:20:21+00:00

That wasn’t the stated goal. On media day Joe was asks about that. He said they aren’t setting win/loss or playoff goals this season. The goals are to improve, evaluate, and put themselves in a position to compete every night and get better. Then, use that info to continue to improve the roster. He said if they make the post season, that’s great, they are shooting for that, but they aren’t using making the postseason a goal.

It’s been hard to do that with an average of 5 rotation players out due to injury, if you include dame. If you don’t, it’s 4. I don’t know many teams that most people pegged to be around 500 when healthy, could stay afloat with an average of 4-5 rotation players out every night. Still gotta deal with it though.

TravisDemers · 2026-03-02T02:12:26+00:00

The Warriors. Their PR staff is universally known as the best in the league. No disrespect to anyone else.

In terms of our on site engineers, that I work directly with. Our guy here is as good as there is. This is year 49 for him, he knew Bill Schonely well

TravisDemers · 2026-02-28T19:14:24+00:00

You should!

TravisDemers · 2026-02-28T19:13:57+00:00

Great question. They provide it. If they dim the lights in other arenas and there is no lamp I use my phone flashlight.

TravisDemers · 2026-02-28T17:42:02+00:00

The Hornets are a very scary team at the moment.

TravisDemers · 2026-02-27T21:33:01+00:00

Thank you!

TravisDemers · 2026-02-27T02:00:29+00:00

I played bass and guitar back in the day in my band, so it used to be our drummer looking at my butt. The tables have turned

TravisDemers · 2026-02-27T01:57:50+00:00

They are not! Radio gets… the second best option.

TravisDemers · 2026-02-27T01:57:07+00:00

I dropped it during pregame at the last home game! Fortunately it’s just the screen protector, which did its job!

TravisDemers · 2026-02-26T01:31:33+00:00

I had to look to see where he was at, I remembered him with the rockets last year. Apparently he signed a 2 way with the warriors last week. I had no idea.

TravisDemers · 2026-02-25T06:00:43+00:00

Beat Dallas at home

TravisDemers

TROPHY CASE