Cavs tonight at 7. I guess we'll see how many people tune in or out before the Lost premiere.
(have never watched a single episode but thought I'd throw that in there)
Durant and Green make the Rookie Game
"I haven't been playing the way I want to play," said Green, the draft's fifth pick. "I guess the NBA saw something that I didn't see."
During his four-game slump, he's averaging 2.8 points on 4-for-16 shooting, 1.5 assists and 1.3 rebounds.
"Things are not going my way," Green said. "The shots are not falling."
Among rookies, though, Green is a star. He's fifth in scoring (8.7 average), fifth in assists (1.3), sixth in rebounds (4.6) and sixth in minutes (24.6).
"Jeff deserves to be on the team," Durant said. "He told me he wasn't sure he would make it and I looked at him like, 'I don't know why you would say that.' ... If you look at what he's done over the course of the entire year, how could you leave him off the team?"
During a season in which he has been spectacular at times and non-existent recently, Green admits he might have hit the proverbial rookie wall. He'll play his 46th game — 18th start — tonight against Cleveland (24-19) at KeyArena. The most games he played in three years at Georgetown were last season's 37 as the Hoyas made the Final Four.
Interesting point and one that isn't discussed much about guys making the jump to the NBA. Fatigue isn't necessarily an excuse but it is real.
Kevin Pelton's writeup on same
Durant and Green are the first Sonics rookies chosen for the Rookie Challenge. Guards Flip Murray, Desmond Mason and Luke Ridnour have all played in the game for the Sophomore Team.
Green plans to enjoy the opportunity to experience the events he's watched on TV up close and personal, in addition to participating in the Rookie Challenge.
"I'm going to just have fun and enjoy the moment," said Green. "Your first year you get picked to go to join All-Star weekend. I'm going to just enjoy it - meet a lot of people, talk to a lot of people, just have fun. The first time I want to enjoy it. It might be the last you - never know. I'm going to do my best in the game, just continue to work hard and get better for the second half of the season."
"I remember them saying that I was a big part of the trade, but I guess I'm bringing up the rear now," West said. "I'm anchoring the team down. A team is only as good as the last man on the bench. And I'm the last man."
James is enjoying his most complete NBA season. He's always been an impressive scorer and stat stuffer, but now he's become a defensive menace, too.
Late in Wednesday's game, he took on the responsibility of guarding Roy, and he won the matchup. Before his winning reverse, James forced Roy into an impossible jumper, which he missed. To Cleveland coach Mike Brown, that play was as impressive as the last-second shot.
"Brandon Roy is an All-Star, a superstar," Brown said. "LeBron, he had to body up Roy, get over the top of screens. He just did a terrific job on defense."
Not that he doesn't want more help. King James suggested a trade earlier this week, telling Cleveland reporters that his team should make a deal for disgruntled New Jersey point guard Jason Kidd.
"It's Jason Kidd," he said. "It's not someone else asking for a trade. It's Jason Kidd."
Then he turned bold and declared that his team would win a title with Kidd.
"Yeah," he said. "It's that easy."
Rumors last night that LBJ might not play tonight ... G-Dub at the P-U notes that everyone's banged up.
Five players missed practice with injuries either suffered or aggravated during the 88-85 victory Tuesday over the San Antonio Spurs, but all are expected to play as the Sonics seek to stretch their winning streak to two Thursday against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Damien Wilkins (flu), Kurt Thomas (left knee), Nick Collison (left quadriceps), Chris Wilcox (elbow) and Wally Szczerbiak (right ankle) did not participate Wednesday, but there remained a positive vibe after the Sonics beat a team with a winning record for just the second time this season.
Anderson Varejao is also out for tonight's game and for about the next 3 weeks with a sprained and bruised left ankle. Ow.