Paul George Calls Kevin Durant the NBA’s Toughest Cover

LeBron James and the Miami Heat invade Indy tonight for a highly-anticipated showdown with the Pacers. According to Paul George, Kevin Durant (and not LBJ) is the hardest player in the League to guard. From the team website: “Previously, Pacers swingman Paul George has said that Carmelo Anthony of the New York Knicks is the toughest player in the Association for him to defend. ‘Pick your poison,’ he said last season of guarding Anthony. Following the Pacers’ 118-94 loss in Oklahoma City (on Sunday night), George told reporters that Durant is his toughest cover in the league. ‘It is,’ he said. ‘It is a tougher matchup. I watch their games, I watch a lot of NBA games. And offensively, KD is most of the times he’s scoring in bunches off of iso plays and one-on-one plays. And when they play against us, he’s moving a lot. He’s the screener, he’s getting back-screened and he’s coming off pin-downs and it’s a little different when I’m guarding him and it makes it a tougher cover.’ Durant finished with a game-high 36 points on 14-of-23 shooting. Pacers coach Frank Vogel firmly believes that George is the best wing defender in the game and the Thunder frequently sending screens to help Durant, the NBA’s leading scorer, helps demonstrate how tough it is to score on George alone.”