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By TIM REYNOLDS[/size][size=0.8em]

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS[/size][size=0.8em]

MIAMI —[/size][size=0.8em] LeBron James says no one can guard Kevin Durant without help.

Maybe not, but it’s entertaining to watch the two superstars square off.

It’s Heat vs. Thunder, not James vs. Durant, one-on-one. But James will be guarding Durant at times tonight when Miami plays host to Oklahoma City in a matchup of the teams who met in the 2012 NBA Finals.

It’s an unenviable task, especially when considering that Durant is on career-best paces this season and that he’s scored at least 30 points in his last 11 games.

“Individually, he can’t be stopped by any one-on-one player,” James said. “There’s nobody that can guard him one­on- one.”

Perhaps fortunately for James, it’s never been a mano-a-mano scoring matchup, or else the won-loss records might be a bit different.

In 16 meetings of their teams to date, Durant has outscored James nine times. But James’ teams are 13-3 in those games, including Miami’s 4-1 series vic­tory in the 2012 Finals. As long as that trend continues tonight, James likely won’t care — not much, anyway — about[/size][size=0.8em] the individual numbers at game’s end.

“I like going against the best,” James said. “And he’s definitely right up there. ... He’s a great guy to compete against, man. I wish I could play against him ev­ery night because he brings that compet­itive nature out of you.”

This roll Durant is on — averaging 38.5 points in his last 11 games, shooting 64 percent over his last six and guiding the Thunder to the best record in the West­ern Conference at 36-10 even without Russell Westbrook for 21 games so far — has James marveling. If the season was ending right now, voters would likely tab Durant as the one who should be hoisting the league’s Most Valuable Player trophy over James, who has gotten it in four of the past five seasons.

James insists that he’s not fixated on the MVP race, especially since the sea­son is barely half over.

And Durant isn’t thinking about how what he does now might pay off with some hardware come May, either.

“I’m just going out there and having fun, man,” Durant said. “I’m just trying to play. I’m not coming in saying, ‘I’ve got to do this.’ I’m not one of those guys that predetermines anything. ... I’m just enjoying it and having fun with it and taking it a day at a time.”

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Durant living up to his billing coming into the league. They double him he dishes. They don't, he scores from three. Even when doubled he is so f***ing quick to the hoop or deadly on his jump shots. All the promise he showed at University of Texas in full bloom right now. Top five player of alltime and moving up.

He is great… he is unreal and he could someday be a top five player.

But this post.. everything in it…. as great as it is..when you say that he is a top five player already it just knocks everything else in the post.

He isn't a top five player at this point.

If he blew out his knee this week and never returned to form he wouldn't even be in the conversation…. come on.

Half the guys in your top five played when the league was half slow white guys. Durant, against the best competition the leauge has ever offered proves you can't see. You idealize the past.


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Edited by: tyrone, Jan 30th, 2014 @ 7:14 pm

This morning Skip Bayless opined that Durant is better than Lebron. Lebron couldn't guard him last night as hes maturing and getting better all the time on both ends of the court. Monk you got to pay attention and forget about guys who played against Heinsohn and Cousy et al.

In the next 3 years this guy will be averaging 40 ppg on 50%+ FG, 40%+ 3P, 90%+ FTs. Absolute insanity.

And never go with Skip Bayless.

Hi Hip. No one at this site talks hoops other than you, me, Monk and heyhey. I'm not that comfortable here. I'll go between the two. Wish heyhey could get on OT.

At least we're matching twinzies with our ? cubes

Tyrone, you keep saying silliness going back to BC for some reason...which is fine but it is what it is and it diminishes the rest

In my opinion the league's defense in the 90s and before was allowed to be far, far more physical. You can disagree... but that would be akin to saying that Shula never won a ring.

Also, 40 points today is no greater than scoring 30 in the late 90s.

Finally, Durants scoring is other-worldly, no doubt... but no player should be considered top 5 when they didn't dominate on both ends of the court.

Durant isn't an elite defender.

Magic is top 5 and he wasn't an elite defender, but he made that whole team move, just like KD.

It all comes down to championships, c'mon KD, go get yours !!