How do the Portland Trail Blazers Look From a National Perspective?

Former Blazer's Edge editor and current SI.com NBA writer Ben Golliver joins the weekend edition of the podcast to talk about CJ McCollum's year-over-year improvement, Allen Crabbe's place on the roster, the negotiating of Meyers Leonard's upcoming contract, Golliver's history covering the Trail Blazers and more!

Click on the times below to be linked to that part of the conversation!... may not work on mobile :(

• 0:00 - Intros
• 0:44 - Welcoming ancient Blazer's Edge relic (and SI Staff Writer) Ben Golliver
• 1:37 - CJ McCollum: Did Ben see McCollum becoming a 20ppg scorer?
• 5:45 - Will CJ McCollum's defense get better, or is he limited physically?
• 8:27 - Most Improved Player: McCollum's to lose?
• 10:30 - Getting way more minutes, but McCollum's efficiency didn't tank
• 13:19 - Thoughts on Allen "Cool Breeze" Crabbe's development
• 16:48 - Crabbe's getting paid this summer... right?
• 18:52 - How does Meyers Leonard's season-ending surgery affect his free agency?
• 24:08 - Does Meyers Leonard deserve a big contract at this point?
• 27:48 - Question from Paul H.: Will Blazers pursue 3rd scorer in offseason? Maybe a big?
• 32:04 - Would NBA ever make rules preventing "Big 3" teams from forming?
• 34:36 - Terry Stotts for Coach of the Year?
• 40:56 - Ben Golliver's Blazer's Edge origin story (shout to DraftKevinDurant.Blogspot.com)
• 49:35 - History of the Blazer's Edge Media Row Report
• 54:47 - How to balance relationships with team/players and reporting interesting stuff?
• 57:37 - The famous Raymond Felton cupcake photo / Chris McGowan photo
• 1:02:11 - Best and worst Blazers to interview?
• 1:10:10 - Jerry Stackhouse now and forever
• 1:14:41 - Where you can find Ben's work
• 1:15:06 - Outtro / Say your prayers / Take your vitamins

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Check out Ben Golliver on SI.com's Open Floor NBA Podcast here.

This week's intro and outro music comes courtesy of local beatmaker and audio engineer Odar. See more of his work at soundcloud.com/odarbeats.

The direct .mp3 link of the podcast is here.

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-- Chris Lucia | blazersedgepodcast@gmail.com | @ChrisLuciaPDX