The following is the transcript of a live text chat conducted with Petteri Koponen during the Las Vegas Summer League.

RMoreau35: Petteri great job so far, but what do you think you could improve on/ what else do you think you need to show to make it on the team?

Petteri: First, thanks. The last three games I need to keep my turnovers down. I had 4 last game, and 3 in the first quarter. I need to take better care of the ball. I'll just try to do my best and play hard like I know I can. That will be enough.

ryan: how much more physical are you finding the game to be here in the states?

Petteri: The game is quicker and guys are much more athletic than they are in Europe. So there's been some adjustment. When I get use to this level I think I will be alright. I still think I'm able to play better than I am right now.

Espoo On The Map: Milta tuntuu Petsku !?!? You are the MAN!!!

Petteri: Hyvalta tuntuu kiitos, thanks!

Guest: What will you do if you dont make the Blazers roster this season?

Petteri: Well, I think then I have to go to play somewhere in Europe. A bigger club. My dream is to play in the NBA, but big clubs in Europe want to sign me for like 5 years. Then the buyouts are big, so I really hope I can make the team this year.

Ray: Kings pressured pretty hard to try to take away the pick and roll and to take you and Jerre'd out of your comfort zone. Is that something that is new for you?

Petteri: Guards here try to pressure me and Jerryd a lot, maybe because they know that we don't have that kind of inside threat that we had last year, where we could just dump the ball into the post. They're trying to get us out from our offense. I just have to get use to that pressure, and I know I can handle it. I just have to play against these guys. I know that I will be all right.

Blake: petteri you have a great command of the english language! has this made it easier for you to play well in the summerleague?

Petteri: Well, of course if you can communicate with the players and coaches it's usually easier. I have to thank Finnish schools for that. We have to study English in our schools. We have to study Swedish and English.

jon: Tervetuloa, Petteri!

Petteri: Thanks!

Jon: Anteeksi, I accidentally hit enter. Terve!

randy: are you as pumped to play here as we are pumped up to have you

Petteri: Sure. This is my dream. This is where I want to play. I have been working hard for this. Like I said earlier, I didn't go play somewhere else in Europe because I wanted to come here to play.

Chelsi: have you become friends w/ bayless since you've been on the summer league team together or any of the other guys? you're doing an awesome job! i hope we sign you!

Petteri: Yes. We are teammates. We talk together and spend some time together. We've only been together two weeks, but all my teammates are nice guys. Jerryd is a great player, but I like him as a person too.

jon: Did it again, damn! Somebody fix this thing. Who are some of your NBA idols, past and present?

Petteri: Steve Nash has been my idol over the last years. He's the guy I've been watching. This year, I've been watching a lot of Chris Paul. I can say though that Steve Nash is my idol.

santeesioux: Do you have a nickname in Finland? How about the Finnisher?

Petteri: Everybody calls me Petsku back home. It's just shorter that Petteri. Finnisher sounds good too.

Finland On The Map: What aspect of your gameplay you think right now is your biggest strenght after those 2 games?

Petteri: That's a hard question. I have been playing lots of minutes and I've been showing the Blazers management that I can play. They all say that they are surprised by what I've shown in the first two games. First game I shot the ball pretty well, but not in the second game. It seems like I need until the 3rd quarter to get warm. Maybe I need to start warming up earlier. They only give us 10 minutes.

I think I've been playing pretty good D. I need to keep that up over the next three games.

ForcaRudy: Hey Petteri. Congrats on the good performance so far. Did you have a chance to follow the Blazers this past year in Finland? What were your impressions?

Petteri: They didn't show lots of games in Finland, but I downloaded all the games when I could. I watched on the internet every day. Especially when they won 13 in a row. That was amazing. It was a nice year, especially without Oden. This is the team of the future, and they will only get better.

Guest: PK, would you be ok with being deep on a talented roster and possibly playing the bulk of your minutes in the D-League if you were signed this year?

Petteri: Well, I know that is the option. There are lots of point guards and lots of talent. I know it isn't going to be easy to get big minutes. But it's still better to come over this year. That's my dream. If I stay in Europe, I'd have to be there for 4-5 years. I know the D-League is an option, but there's good competition there. I'll have a chance to get better and improve on playing the NBA. The D-League is still a good league, it's a similar to the NBA

Clement: You have shown good grit and determination in your first two games, I love it. How much do you think you fearlessness will be taken into account by the Blazers management?

Petteri: Thanks. I hope. I really hope so. I just try to do my best and show what I can do. I'm glad I've had the opportunity to get playing time. To have the ball in my hands and show I can do something with it. I'm trying to do my best to show what I can do.

Tina: Have you been getting a lot more recognision by the media now that you're playing so well in the summer league?

Petteri: Maybe a little bit. It's nice that I will get some attention too.

Randy: Petteri, I'd like to echo the first posters comment, you have looked fantastic the past two games. If I were KP, you would definitely be on the roster. What do you think your chances are given the current logjam Portland has at the point?

Petteri: I really want to be on the team next year. I know there are lots of point guards. Getting lots of playing time isn't going to be easy. I will work hard to be a better player every game. I hope I can be the starting point guard someday.

Petteri: My goal is to be on the team regardless of my role. To be with the organization and the coaches. Playing against better players that I can learn from. The opportunity to be on a team and practice hard every day. It's always hard for young point guards. I know many don't get playing time in their first year.

Blake: what in your own opinion do you need to work on the most?

Petteri: Everything. I'm still young. I'm 20. I'm still learning the game. This is the highest level of basketball, and there are lots of things I need to learn. In Europe, you can make a mistake and get away with it. Here, they will punish you every time. I need to keep working hard. I know I can play on this level.

Smoothy: Petteri, Great job so far keep it up...Just remember that the payoff could be dishing to better quality players like Oden and LaMarcus....

Will W: Do you feel as comfortable dribbling with your left as you do with your right (you're great with your right)???

Petteri: I do, but lots of our offense is run from the right side. Our set offense starts from there. I feel comfortable with my left too. During training camp when I went to the left side I got yelled at. "Run the offense from the right side." So that's what I have to do.

julian: Petteri, there's been a lot of controversy about the pronunciation of your name. I know it would be hard by text msg, but could you tell us how to pronunce it right? maybe using sounds from other words... :P

Petteri: It's PET-ari KOPE-o-nen. I know it's hard.

Shawno: As you probably know, Brandon Roy has been initiating the offense from the SG spot and/or playing PG a fair bit of the time while covering SGs on defense -- being on the floor with a PG like Blake playing off of him. Can you see yourself doing the same kind of thing at the NBA level or would you really much prefer to be playing PG at both ends?

Petteri: I can see myself playing with Brandon. Of course, he's a great player. Everyone wants to play with him. He makes everybody around him look better. I know he's good at running the pick and roll. He's good at that. He's comfortable with the ball. If he can create something, that's good. I just need to knock down shots if I'm open. I have size so I can guard two spots, so that's my advantage, guarding two spots.

KEN: Hey Kopo can't wait to see you this year dishin that rock to the big boys. Never thought much of finish ballers but you seem to have the poise to be something more than a summer league wonder. Keep up the hard work.

Gretchen: Petteri, after watching you, you've made me a believer! I believe you'll do great things in the NBA someday.

Nathan: Petteri, I have also been incredibly impressed by your game. I sure hope we don't lose you to a European team for extended years. I hope you and Bayless are the PGs of the Blazers future... Obviously one of your goals right now is just to make the Blazers roster, but what are your long-term goals once you get into the NBA?

Petteri: Thanks. I also want to be on the team next year. I know the first couple of year, especially for a young point guard, it's hard to get minutes. My goal is to be a starting point guard in this league. I know I can do that. I just need to keep up the hard work that I've been doing so far. I hope I can stay healthy, of course. I hope to be the best player I can be, a starting point guard in this league.

Petteri:Thanks everybody. I'm sorry that I couldn't answer all of your questions. It was nice to chat with you and give you some answers. We still have three more games to go, and we're going to win all three. I hope I will see you all next season.