The future of the NBA:

Portland Trailblazers and the Seattle Supersonics meet in the NBA Summer League




Las Vegas 15/07/07

The Trailblazers and Supersonics meet for the first time since they took the first two picks in the draft. A match up that in a few short years will see these two transformed from basement dwellers to probably the premier two in the league due to some wise drafting and trading.

Lets start with the Trailblazers after trading up in last years draft they acquired Brandon Roy (rookie of the year) and La Marcus Aldridge (check that) two potential talents at the 2 and 4 spots. At the one they have Jarret Jack, Sergio Rodriguez, two young talents and with the free agent acquisition of Steve Blake, a player who has proved he can run a team, who should be the wise veteran that the team will need in a couple of years when all the young talent around him develops. This years first round pick though was the real coup of the draft offering them the choice of Oden or Durant, the former a Big man with the potential of O'Neil or Duncan and the latter a 2/3 who could have the scoring potential of Bryant or Jordan. In the end they chose Oden and this allowed them to dispense of Randolph thus dumping a player who often caused trouble and acquiring contracts that can be dropped soon freeing up cap money down the line.

Up in Seattle this year they gained the second pick and with it they took Durant allowing a team with ageing talent in Lewis and Allen to immediately transform into a young team with plenty of potential. They also traded Allen to Boston allowing them to acquire Jeff Green with Boston's pick. This allowed them to acquire their future 3 and 4 spot and like Portland the chance to free up cap room in two years when the contracts they acquired from Boston expire, another smart move. Unlike Portland though they do not have as much young potential looking very week at the 1 and 5 spots, but the extra cap room available in two years should help if their young GM can continue to make smart moves.

On to the game itself and it begins with a little disappointment in my hearth as Oden is out having his tonsils removed. I guess we will just have to wait a little longer to see him and Durant in action in the same game. But there is still enough talent on display to make the game a worthwhile fixture as Durant, Green and a whole host of trailblazers with future potential are on display.

From the beginning Portland show that for at least next season they will hold the advantage over their northern neighbours taking a early lead with Sergio Rodriguez running the team from the one and some contributions from the big Brit Joel Freeland. Half time saw Portland go to the locker with a 10 point lead. It wasn't all bad for Seattle though as Green showed his stuff while Durant, getting of to a slow start but still knocking down shots and getting to the line. In the second half Durant finally showed his stuff adjusting to the Portland's defence and along with Green finally managed to tie the game up late in the 4th. Talent wise though, even without Oden, Portland finally proved too strong pulling away once more for the win.

In conclusion Portland showed that as a team they are nearer the complete package than Seattle, but in Durant and Green, my man of the match, they have two huge talents to build around. Pity the Eastern conference, at this rate no team over there will be able to win the championship for about ten years especially with the West's current dominance in the form of San Antonio, Phoenix and Dallas.