Le Basketbawl

The one thing that really gets under New York Vinnie’s skin and makes my blood  boil watching an NBA game is when a team has run a great offensive set and then makes that “One Pass Too Many” and ends up turning over the ball! All too often you will see a player not take that perfect wide open shot and instead dishes off and then there is a turnover.

 A very wise man told me recently that ninety percent of life is being in the right place in the right time; but the other ten percent is far more important. That is what you do with the opportunity once it is presented to you. Do you capitalize on it or do you make that extra pass and blow it?

The Portland Trail Blazers right now find themselves in a very position in the NBA Western Conference. As your Old Pal New York Vinnie wrote  recently I believe that along with the Dallas Mavericks and the San Antonio  Spurs the Blazers as the team is currently put together will be a serious contender to be the Conference representative in next June’s NBA Finals.

The Blazers have a very strong core as everything is built around their All-Star Brandon Roy.  Add in the always improving forward LaMarcus Aldridge and Portland also has three young players with very big upsides; Jerryd Bayless, Nicolas Batum and Rudy Fernandez.

Portland Trail Blazers General Manager Kevin Pritchard truly augmented his team this summer with the signing of veteran Free Agent point guard Andre Miller. Miller possibly one of the most underrated players in the NBA will add offense, smarts and veteran leadership to a young talented club. It also gives them some great depth at the position as Miller will most likely be starter which would bring in last season’s stater at the point Steve Blake off of the bench. Well that is as long as Pritchard does not make  that “One Pass Too Many” and end up trading Blake.

Our buddy here at the “House That New York Vinnie Built” Le Basketbawl Ira Winderman who covers the NBA for the “South Florida Sun-Sentinel” believes that Blake could be changing addresses soon possibly to the cit of Miami. Now this is just speculation om My Man Winderman’s part; however he does present a strong argument for his case. With Miller being the present at the point and Jerryd Bayless if he keeps progressing  most likely represents Portland’s future as the Floor General. Blake is no longer a required piece for this team. The Heat need depth at the point could a deal be reached?

New York Vinnie thinks that if Pritchard made that deal that would be that “One Pass Too Many” for the Blazers. Number one it leaves you short if Miller or Bayless get hurt; but even more importantly it messes up the chemistry of your team. Steve Blake is a good guy and a hustler and a plugger admired by the Portland fans and his teammates. You don’t give a guy like that up unless the deal is overwhelming; and the Heat have nothing on their roster they would be willing to give up that could overwhelm the Trail Blazers.

So Kevin stick with what you got. You have a team that is poised to make some noise this upcoming season. Don’t do anything that can be a stumbling block in your way.