You’ve probably heard it before — the only person who can stop the Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James consistently is LeBron James.
Add the Ohio State Patrol to that short list.
Blessed with a rare combination of brute strength, speed and incredible explosiveness, James is a match-up nightmare for most NBA teams.
The Seattle SuperSonics will have to try to figure out how to stop James and the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers tonight if the Sonics want to earn their second straight win after rallying to defeat San Antonio on Tuesday, snapping a franchise-record, 14-game losing streak.
James, who was stopped by the Ohio State Patrol and ticketed for driving 101 mph in a 65-mph zone, leads the league in scoring at 30 points a contest, is eighth in the league in assists per game (7.3) and averages 7.7 rebounds a contest.
Seattle rookie Jeff Green more than likely will start on James, relying on help from several of his teammates.
“In a perfect world he’d be taking jump shots and we wouldn’t be fouling him,” Seattle coach P.J. Carlesimo said. “But that’s easier said than done. He’s probably the toughest combination to deal with in the whole league in terms of size, strength, quickness, ballhandling and shooting. He’s basically the whole package.”
Durant, Green headed to New Orleans: On Wednesday Seattle rookies Kevin Durant and Jeff Green were officially selected by the NBA to the rookie roster to play in the Rookie Challenge during All-Star weekend in New Orleans, Feb. 15.
Along with Durant and Green, Mike Conley (Memphis), Al Horford (Atlanta), Jamario Moon (Toronto), Juan Carlos Navarro (Memphis), Luis Scola (Houston), Sean Williams (New Jersey) and Yi Jianlian (Milwuakee).
Brandon Roy will lead the sophomore team.
Both said it’s an honor to be selected.
“To be a part of that is a blessing,” Durant said. “And it’s even better to have Jeff (Green) down there as well. With us being teammates to go down there and play in the Rookie game is pretty fun. So I’m just going to go down there, meet some people and enjoy the All-Star experience, then get back to work.”
Added Green: It’s my first time so I want to enjoy it. It might be the last time, so you never know. So I’m just going to enjoy while I’m down there, have fun and do my best when I’m in the game.”
Banged up Sonics: Seattle held a short practice with just seven healthy players available, including recovering center Robert Swift. Wally Szczerbiak sat out to rest a sore ankle but should be ready to go today. Veterans Kurt Thomas and Nick Collison also sat out to nurse various nagging injuries. Chris Wilcox had a sore elbow he hurt against San Antonio on Tuesday, and Damien Wilkins stayed home with the flu.
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