Durant looks up to Rockets’ McGrady

Published 11:03 pm Sunday, January 20, 2008

HOUSTON — Seattle SuperSonics rookie Kevin Durant looks at perennial NBA All-Star Tracy McGrady and sees what he can become if his game continues to improve.

“That’s probably the guy I look up to the most, him and Vince Carter,” Durant said. “That’s a guy I would like to get to know, just to try to put me underneath his wing and try to help me grow while I’m in the NBA.

“He’s a great guy to look up to. He’s a terrific player. A Hall of Famer. So I’ve just got to watch him and learn from him.”

The similarities between the two, graceful swingmen are obvious. Both move effortlessly and have a deft shooting touch from the perimeter. For big guys — Durant is 6 feet 9 inches, McGrady 6-8 — both handle the ball well and can take their man off the dribble.

And both entered the league at a young age — McGrady came straight out of high school and Durant after only one year at the University of Texas.

But Durant has played more extensively in his rookie season than McGrady did a decade ago when he entered the league. During his rookie season at Toronto, McGrady played in 64 games, starting 17 of those and averaging 7 points and 4.2 rebounds in about 18 minutes a contest.

The Sonics have made Durant the centerpiece of the team offensively. He’s averaging 19.5 points and 4.2 rebounds in 33 minutes a game.

“I don’t think it’s fair to compare a 19-year-old kid who’s played 40 games to someone who’s been in the league and is an All-Star and has done all of the things that he has done,” Seattle coach P.J. Carlesimo. “Kevin Durant is Kevin Durant. I think for a long time that’s going to be good enough.”

Dallas swingman Josh Howard has seen both in action, and sees similarities.

“He reminds me of Tracy McGrady, being able to handle the ball and do all types of things,” Howard said about Durant. “If he keeps working hard, the sky’s the limit.”

Along with developing McGrady’s skill set, Durant also aspires to reach McGrady’s level of accomplishments in the NBA. Although he has struggled in the playoffs — McGrady-led teams have yet to win a playoff series — McGrady is a seven-time All-Star and two-time league scoring champion.

McGrady recently returned to action on Saturday, helping the Rockets earn a gritty 83-81 win over the defending NBA champion San Antonio Spurs. McGrady, who had missed the previous 11 games with a left knee injury, finished with nine points and four rebounds in 27 minutes.

Sonics seeking confidence, playing time: The Sonics went through a light practice Sunday at The Downtown Club at the Met in Houston, working through the scouting report for today’s game against the Rockets.

Attempting to curb a 10-game slide, the Sonics will probably not change their starting lineup against Houston.

Said Carlesimo: “We have to get back to feeling good about ourselves and feeling confident.”

And confidence comes from, I think to a large degree, from past positive experience.

“We’re just not consistent enough on either end of the floor, but particularly the defensive end. If you’re playing on either end you can hang in the game. But for us, to get where we want to go we have to be a good defensive team. But unfortunately right now that’s really a challenge.”

Playing time also is an issue. With Luke Ridnour, Delonte West and Chris Wilcox all healthy, Carlesimo has to find playing time for 10 players, which means one guy will be left out. Lately, that guy has been Damien Wilkins. Since being replaced in the starting lineup by Jeff Green, Wilkins is only averaging 17 minutes a game.

“We’re all getting along and we’re all great guys, but the fact of the matter is you’re paid to play and get minutes,” Wally Szczerbiak said. “And the situation we’re in is a dogfight pretty much for minutes and spots. It’s never fun. It’s not easy on the coach. It’s a tough decision for the coach to make a lot of the time.

“It’s just one of those things where we have to be professional and when we get the opportunity to play just make the most of it and do whatever we can to help the team win.”

Gameday

Seattle (9-31) at Houston (21-19)

Tipoff: 11:30 a.m. TV: FSN

Radio: 770 AM KTTH

Series: It’s the first regular-season meeting between the two teams, which will face off again in Seattle on Wednesday. Houston defeated the Sonics in an exhibition game in Seattle, 117-94 on Oct. 20th. Seattle leads the all-time series 93-83.

Scouting report: After missing 11 games, McGrady came off the bench Saturday in his team’s two-point victory over the San Antonio. He was 4-of-12 from the field, totaling nine points, four rebounds, four assists and one blocked shot in 27 minutes. McGrady was out with a bone bruise, a strained tendon and patellar tendinitis in his left knee, and is still hobbled by the injury. McGrady has averaged 33.9 points in his last seven games against the Sonics. … The Rockets have won nine of the last 10 meetings against Seattle, including all three last season and five straight in Houston.

Next: Seattle vs. Houston, Wednesday, 7 p.m, Key Arena.