The Dontonio Wingcast Episode 017

Ben Golliver from Blazersedge and Kevin Pelton of Basketball Prospectus discuss Joel Przybilla's knee injury, the virtues of small ball, other potential adjustments for Nate McMillan, reviewing the Blazers' medical practices, Sam Presti's trade for Eric Maynor and the Christmas holidays.

The Dontonio Wingcast Episode 016

Ben Golliver from Blazersedge and Kevin Pelton of Basketball Prospectus discuss the Sacramento Kings, the Blazers' recent struggles, trade rumors and which point guard (if any) should be moved.

The Dontonio Wingcast Episode 015

All-access, behind-the-scenes of Greg Oden's season-ending knee injury with Ben Golliver from Blazersedge and Kevin Pelton of Basketball Prospectus.

The Dontonio Wingcast Episode 014

Kevin Pelton from Basketball Prospectus and Ben Golliver from Blazersedge tackle the Blazers' recent two game skid, the emergence of Dante Cunningham and whether December is the most tenuous month of Nate McMillan's tenure in Portland.

The Dontonio Wingcast Episode 013

Ben Golliver from Blazersedge and Kevin Pelton from Basketball Prospectus discuss the Blazers' recent road trip, the injury to Travis Outlaw, Brandon Jennings' breakout and more.

Music Selections:

Cormega - Rap's a Hustle

Kanye West - Through the Wire

The Dontonio Wingcast Episode 012

Ben Golliver from Blazersedge and Kevin Pelton from Basketball Prospectus discuss the first week of the Blazers season, the Rajon Rondo Signing and Bill Simmons' Book of Basketball.

Music Selections:

Nas - New World

Nas - Rule

The Dontonio Wingcast Episode 011

Ben Golliver from Blazersedge and Basketball Prospectus's Kevin Pelton offer preseason predictions for the 2009-2010 NBA season.

Music selections:

Diplomats -- I Really Mean It

Jay-Z -- Young Forever

The Dontonio Wingcast Episode 010

Basketball Prospectus's Kevin Pelton and Ben Golliver from Blazersedge discuss LaMarcus Aldridge's extension, Patty Mills' signing and the Portland Trail Blazers' point guard battle.

Music selections:

Dem Franchise Boys - White Tee

Tupac Shakur - Breathin

The Dontonio Wingcast Episode 009

Basketball Prospectus's Kevin Pelton and Ben Golliver from Blazersedge put John Hollinger's Blazers player rankings under the microscope, going position by position to get Kevin's insight on each Blazer that made one of Hollinger's list. Along the way, Ben offer some observations from Blazers training camp.

Music selections:

Boyz In The Hood -- Dem BoyzArrested Development -- TennesseeShyne -- Diamonds and Mac 10s

The Dontonio Wingcast Episode 008

Basketball Prospectus's Kevin Pelton is busy editing his season preview book so Blazersedge's Ben Golliver goes one-on-one with good friend and writer "Brother" Wendell Maxey.

Wendell reflects on his time covering the Knicks, Nets and Blazers over the last six years, including telling the story of his first ever interview... with Patrick Ewing.

Wendell explains the impact having access to players, coaches and GMs has on writers .

Wendell talks about how the writing game has changed over the 6 years he's written online.

Wendell walks us through the Shaq = Shogun, Greg = Ninja quote from last season.

Wendell details the reasons he decided to leave HoopsWorld.

Wendell chides me for running players out of town.

Music selections:

Theme Song: Cam'ron -- Sports, Drugs and Entertainment

Big Daddy Kane -- Nuff Respect

The Streets -- Blinded by the Lights

Blackalicious -- Blazing Arrow

Masta Ace -- No Regrets

The Dontonio Wingcast Episode 007

Taped 09.24.09 and 09.25.09. Episode Length: 34 minutes

Ben Golliver from Blazersedge.com and Basketball Prospectus's Kevin Pelton preview Kevin's new book, discuss the return of Martell Webster and its impact on who starts and finishes games, and engage in a debate -- split over 3 mini-segments-- regarding the successes and failures of Minnesota Timberwolves General Manager David Kahn.

Segment 1:
Kevin clears up his alleged beef with ESPN's John Hollinger.
Ben and Kevin give some initial thoughts on Blazers Media Day.

Segment 2:
Kevin shares his favorite Media Day experience.
The guys debate the pronunciation of Jarron Collins' name and settle on J. Collins before analyzing how he might fit with the Blazers roster.

Segment 3:
The replacement officials: the gag order is in full effect.

Segment 4:
In a bonus segment, Kevin and Ben discuss Ime Udoka's signing to the Blazers training camp roster.

Musical Interludes:
Theme Song: Cam'ron - Sports, Drugs and Entertainment
Clipse -- Keys Open Doors
Scarface -- Guess Who's Back

Ma$e -- Welcome Back

The Dontonio Wingcast Episode 006

Taped 09.17.09. Episode Length: 12 minutes

Ben Golliver from Blazersedge.com and Basketball Prospectus's Kevin Pelton break down the Portland Trail Blazers' signing of veteran forward, and former Fab Five member, Juwan Howard.

The Dontonio Wingcast Episode 005

Taped 09.04.09. Episode Length: 38 minutes

Ben Golliver from Blazersedge.com and Basketball Prospectus's Kevin Pelton preview Kevin's new book, discuss the return of Martell Webster and its impact on who starts and finishes games, and engage in a debate -- split over 3 mini-segments-- regarding the successes and failures of Minnesota Timberwolves General Manager David Kahn.

Segment 1:

Kevin offers a preview of his new book.
Ben tries to goad Kevin into a bicoastal rap beef with John Hollinger.
Kevin announces that Ben will be granted 150 words in the Blazers chapter of the book, and takes much grief.

Segment 2:

Ben's memories of Jay-Z's 9.11.2001 release of Blueprint I.
Kevin reveals he thought Jay-Z was a sell out and then, in the same breath, demands the NBA use "Run This Town" in its next marketing campaign.

Segment 3:

Martell's return: who starts and who finishes games?
Will a back-up trio of Martell/Blake/Rudy leave the Blazers exposed?
Would going small at the end of games be advantageous?

Segment 4:

Kevin and Ben debate David Kahn's Randy Foye/Mike Miller for the #5 pick.

Segment 5:

The debate continues into a look at the Rubio pick and the process of trying to lure him to the NBA.

Segment 6:

The discussion wraps up with an analysis of Kahn's offer sheet to Ramon Sessions and what it means for the Minnesota franchise.

Musical Interludes:

Theme Song: Cam'ron - Sports, Drugs and Entertainment
Snips from Jay-Z's Blueprint 3: A Star is Born, Run This Town, Reminder, Empire State of Mind and Thank You.

The Dontonio Wingcast Episode 004

Taped 08.27.09. Episode Length: 46 minutes

Ben Golliver from Blazersedge.com and Basketball Prospectus's Kevin Pelton are back after a one-week hiatus with episode 4 of their newly-christened The Dontonio Wingcast.

Intro:

The official naming of the podcast.
Briefly reminiscing about collecting basketball cards.

Segment 1:

LaMarcus Aldridge: where does he stand, what's next and is there a better, younger 4 in the NBA?
The evolution of the Power Forward position: has any position changed more over the last decade than the 4?
When and why do 7 foot 4s fall in love with their jumpers?
How does Blake Griffin fit in? A hybrid between throwback and modern 4s? What about Rashard Lewis? Paul Millsap? David Lee?
How Steve Novak helped Ben win an argument over KP2.

Segment 2:

Inflated scorekeeping: a threat to the sanctity of basketball?
Kevin's experiences keeping score over the years.
Discussing the over-reliance on box scores: How "Groupthink" develops in the post-game locker room hallways and makes its way into game recaps.
Could more advanced box scores be helpful? What would they include?

Segment 3:

A number-crunching post preview: What is the relationship between roster retention and winning percentage? Does winning cause roster retention or does roster retention cause winning?
A look back at 40 years of Blazers rosters: when was there the most turnover? The least? Which 4 Blazers played together the longest? Which 2 players played together the longest?
What makes the last 6 years of Blazers history so remarkable from a winning percentage standpoint? Why is this good news for Kevin Pritchard?

Musical Interludes:

Theme Song: Cam'ron - Sports, Drugs and Entertainment
Ahmad - Back in the Day (remix)
Boom Tho - Internet Dominance
AZ - I'm Back

The Dontonio Wingcast Episode 003

Taped 08.13.09. Episode Length: 54 minutes

Stat heads, this one is for you as Ben Golliver from Blazersedge.com probes Basketball Prospectus's Kevin Pelton's vast mind for some intricate, never-before-seen-or-heard Blazers stat knowledge. Ben and Kevin round out this episode with their first special guest interview: NBA Hall of Famer Clyde Drexler.

Segment 1:

Our continued struggle to name the podcast
Shortened rosters in the NBA: Causes and Effects
An extensive look at which players currently without contracts could make a difference for a contender this year

Segment 2:

KP2 introduces Basketball Prospectus's improved player projection system for 2009
Nic Batum and Steve Blake: what does KP2's system expect from each?
Pelton's system answers the question, "Does it matter whether Miller or Blake starts?"

Segment 3:

Pelton discusses his team projections with an early preview of the Western Conference and predicts a Northwest Division winner
Expectations for the Blazers: What's more important, total wins or the division title?
Pelton explains the "Plexiglass Principle" and whether the Blazers might fall victim to it

Segment 4:

Guest interview with Clyde Drexler
The Glyde discusses: Memories from the 1992 Dream Team, the Andre Miller signing, handicapping the Western Conference race, how many games it would take for the Dream Team to beat the 2008 Men's National Team in a 7 game series, among other topics.

The podcast is 54 minutes long and is a 50 megabyte MP3.

Musical Interludes:

Theme Song: Cam'ron - Sports, Drugs and Entertainment
Mos Def - Mathematics
Beanie Sigel - Feel It In The Air
Rick Ross - Magnificent

The Dontonio Wingcast Episode 002

Taped 08.06.2009. Episode length: 48 minutes.

Ben Golliver from Blazersedge.com and Kevin Pelton from BasketballProspectus.com talk hoops over the course of 4 segments.

Segment 1
Whether Kevin, as a Seattleite, is more proud of his personal accomplishments or of Brandon's accomplishments.
Whether Brandon has a greater emotional pull on his fans than other NBA stars.
A short look at B Roy's contract negotiation and the false comparison with Andrea Bargnani.
Segment 2
A look back at B Roy's statistical similarity scores.
What specific improvements we would like to see in B. Roy's game.
How I think B Roy can and should be more proactive this season in helping Greg Oden.
Segment 3
Discussion of Rashard Lewis's positive PED test.
I admit to snooping in NBA lockers for illegal supplements and recount my interview with Blazers strength and conditioning coach Bobby Medina.
Kevin shoots down all NBA/steroid conspiracy theories.
Segment 4
Scouting in the NBA: what role do scouts play? Is it changing?
Reaction to Memphis's decision to disband their college scouts.
Kevin's thoughts on Moneyball's influence on MLB and NBA scouting, including a mind-blowing quote to end the podcast.

Musical Interludes

Theme Song: Cam'ron - Sports, Drugs and Entertainment
Jay-Z - Dope Man
Gangstarr - Full Clip
Richie Rich - Do G's Get to Go to Heaven?

The Dontonio Wingcast Episode 001

Taped 07.29.09. Episode length: 49 minutes.

Ben Golliver from Blazersedge.com and Kevin Pelton from BaskektballProspectus.com discuss Andre Miller to the Blazers, Greg Oden's continued development, and the 2012 Olympic team. Kevin explains what it's store for Ben during his first WNBA game and breaks down whether Sue Bird could beat Sergio Rodriguez 1 on 1.

Musical Interludes

Theme Song: Cam'ron - Sports, Drugs and Entertainment
Fabolous - I Miss My Love
AZ - City of Gods