Demarcus Freaking Cousins

[The_Jamal]

He IS the player Brick thinks he is. You might question whether he can continue to do it, but right now he's walking the walk.

A really big hurdle for me was watching Boogie continue to work hard and play his butt off in the 4th quarter when the game was all but lost. He didn't have a strong defensive game, but he was still getting after it on the boards and making positive plays on the offensive end. The old Boogie would be forcing up bad ISO shots or not really giving strong effort if the game was lost. For him to become the leader of this team on and off the court, he needs to be giving 100%, no matter the situation. Tonight, he made some really nice strides towards doing so

[Bricklayer]

These are the numbers of a dominate center. If he keeps this up he will be the player that Brick thinks he can be.

A technicality perhaps, but an important distinction.

I have always thought he had the talent to be that guy. He IS the talent I think he is. But he's only shown flashes of being the actual player thus far. I have been awaiting his arrival like a prophet on the seashore looking out to sea. I've never argued the boat was docked yet. When it docks though, its gonna be fun. And of late I think I see a sail.

[Padrino]

in my estimation, demarcus cousins has, in his recent stretch of excellent play, proven what happens when two events occur in the kings' gameplan: 1) cousins is made the primary option and consistent go-to guy down low, and 2) the coaching staff is able to convince cousins that it is worthwhile for him to kick the ball out of a double-team. in this way, demarcus cousins, perennial manchild and supposed cancer, actually manages to make his team better, which is more than can be said for just about anybody else on the team, save tyreke evans when he is also playing at his best and at his most unselfish. if tyreke can reclaim that success he had during his best stretch this season and merge it with demarcus' current level of play, then you've got the one-two punch the kings were always looking for. what absolutely cannot happen, however, is a return to "green light" ball, where lesser players like aaron brooks, isaiah thomas, jimmer fredette, marcus thornton (when he comes back from injury), or, god forbid, james johnson attempt to dominate a ball that should, much more often than not, be in the hands of the team's cornerstone center. somebody, anybody on that coaching staff needs to step up and make it clear that demarcus cousins is the first option in just about any halfcourt set. from there, the kings can build outward towards a more nuanced gameplan. but, in the meantime, with the growth and maturity of demarcus cousins' at stake, it should be very, very simple: move the ball in a purposed way, with the purpose being to get it to big cuz where he can be most effective...

[bajaden]

in my estimation, demarcus cousins has, in his recent stretch of excellent play, proven what happens when two events occur in the kings' gameplan: 1) cousins is made the primary option and consistent go-to guy down low, and 2) the coaching staff is able to convince cousins that it is worthwhile for him to kick the ball out of a double-team. in this way, demarcus cousins, perennial manchild and supposed cancer, actually manages to make his team better, which is more than can be said for just about anybody else on the team, save tyreke evans when he is also playing at his best and at his most unselfish. if tyreke can reclaim that success he had during his best stretch this season and merge it with demarcus' current level of play, then you've got the one-two punch the kings were always looking for. what absolutely cannot happen, however, is a return to "green light" ball, where lesser players like aaron brooks, isaiah thomas, jimmer fredette, marcus thornton (when he comes back from injury), or, god forbid, james johnson attempt to dominate a ball that should, much more often than not, be in the hands of the team's cornerstone center. somebody, anybody on that coaching staff needs to step up and make it clear that demarcus cousins is the first option in just about any halfcourt set. from there, the kings can build outward towards a more nuanced gameplan. but, in the meantime, with the growth and maturity of demarcus cousins' at stake, it should be very, very simple: move the ball in a purposed way, with the purpose being to get it to big cuz where he can be most effective...

I think your dead on! This is very similiar to how we played with Webb and Vlade. We ran the ball through one of them almost all the time. Of late, Cuz is making good decisions with the ball. Passing to cutters, and many times creating, by driving to the basket and then passing to the open man when they collapse on him. He may actually be taking more shots, but its his shot selection thats made the difference. Fewer forced shots, and taking what the offense gives him. Hopefully he's realizing that by trying to pass more, he's actually scoring more with less effort. If he continues down this path, then he will in short order, be the best center in the NBA.

I have no objection to Jimmer, Outlaw, Cisco, Thronton, Brooks or IT shooting the ball, as long as they have open shots, hopefully out of the offense being run. What I don't like to see, is one after another player, overdribbling and forcing something when its not there. I realize that there are times when someone is going to have to make something out of nothing, and thats fine. But too often, its a common occurence. It'll be interesting to see how Tyreke fits in tonight, if he plays.

[mac]

I think your dead on! This is very similiar to how we played with Webb and Vlade. We ran the ball through one of them almost all the time. Of late, Cuz is making good decisions with the ball. Passing to cutters, and many times creating, by driving to the basket and then passing to the open man when they collapse on him. He may actually be taking more shots, but its his shot selection thats made the difference. Fewer forced shots, and taking what the offense gives him. Hopefully he's realizing that by trying to pass more, he's actually scoring more with less effort. If he continues down this path, then he will in short order, be the best center in the NBA.

I have no objection to Jimmer, Outlaw, Cisco, Thronton, Brooks or IT shooting the ball, as long as they have open shots, hopefully out of the offense being run. What I don't like to see, is one after another player, overdribbling and forcing something when its not there. I realize that there are times when someone is going to have to make something out of nothing, and thats fine. But too often, its a common occurence. It'll be interesting to see how Tyreke fits in tonight, if he plays.

One thing that annoyed me was how we simply didn't go to Cousins in the post early on in the Nets game. We let Reggie Evans push him outside and the result was a lack of ball movement and Cousins taking perimeter jumpshots. I just feel that the team doesn't milk our stars enough.

[Chupacabra]

Name a better center in the league right now. Chandler? Howard? Meh.

[LWP777]

Name a better center in the league right now. Chandler? Howard? Meh.

Duncan

[Glenn]

Duncan

I expected a long list. We'll convert you, yet.

[mac]

Name a better center in the league right now. Chandler? Howard? Meh.

Hard to really quantify "better" - depends on what the team needs, offense or defense. A team like the Heat would benefit far more from Tyson Chandler than Cousins.

[Chupacabra]

Duncan

I thought Tim Duncan is the greatest POWER FORWARD of all time. Why dont you just include Lebron James as the best center while youre at it, guy.

[Npliam]

Jefferson is better.

[HereWeVivek]

^lol @ the Jazz fan

[Big Cuz 15]

in my estimation, demarcus cousins has, in his recent stretch of excellent play, proven what happens when two events occur in the kings' gameplan: 1) cousins is made the primary option and consistent go-to guy down low, and 2) the coaching staff is able to convince cousins that it is worthwhile for him to kick the ball out of a double-team. in this way, demarcus cousins, perennial manchild and supposed cancer, actually manages to make his team better, which is more than can be said for just about anybody else on the team, save tyreke evans when he is also playing at his best and at his most unselfish. if tyreke can reclaim that success he had during his best stretch this season and merge it with demarcus' current level of play, then you've got the one-two punch the kings were always looking for. what absolutely cannot happen, however, is a return to "green light" ball, where lesser players like aaron brooks, isaiah thomas, jimmer fredette, marcus thornton (when he comes back from injury), or, god forbid, james johnson attempt to dominate a ball that should, much more often than not, be in the hands of the team's cornerstone center. somebody, anybody on that coaching staff needs to step up and make it clear that demarcus cousins is the first option in just about any halfcourt set. from there, the kings can build outward towards a more nuanced gameplan. but, in the meantime, with the growth and maturity of demarcus cousins' at stake, it should be very, very simple: move the ball in a purposed way, with the purpose being to get it to big cuz where he can be most effective...

they need to add you to the coaching staff. why doesn't smart implement this crap right now boggles the mind

[Heuge]

Jefferson is better.

I needed a good laugh today.

[jalfa]

not better, but also on a tear: Pekovic. hardly worse numbers in January. talk about things I'd never expected when he came into the league.

[HereWeVivek]

so after the OKC-GSW game on NBAtv on Wednesday, on NBA Gametime with EJ/Steve Smith/Shaq,

EJ asked shaq "what caught your attention around the league on this night?"
Shaq answered "DeMarcus Cousins, he's the most talented big man in the league" and he went on to compliment big Cuz with the occasional comment of "if he gets his head on straight"

EJ also chimed in and said that its been nothing but good things since his last suspension.

[bajaden]

so after the OKC-GSW game on NBAtv on Wednesday, on NBA Gametime with EJ/Steve Smith/Shaq,

EJ asked shaq "what caught your attention around the league on this night?"
Shaq answered "DeMarcus Cousins, he's the most talented big man in the league" and he went on to compliment big Cuz with the occasional comment of "if he gets his head on straight"

EJ also chimed in and said that its been nothing but good things since his last suspension.

Ahhhh, what the hell does Shaq know. Whats he ever done in the league. These guys on the fourm are far more knowledgable, and they certainly know more about playing the center position than Shaq does..

[Tetsujin]

Ahhhh, what the hell does Shaq know. Whats he ever done in the league. These guys on the fourm are far more knowledgable, and they certainly know more about playing the center position than Shaq does..

To be fair, if Shaq had ever bothered to work on his game in the least bit, he'd probably be the greatest of all time rather than top twenty.

[andremiller07]

Best of Janaury when for other than the last 4 games he was "DFC" watch on 720 for best quality

[The_Jamal]

I thought Tim Duncan is the greatest POWER FORWARD of all time. Why dont you just include Lebron James as the best center while youre at it, guy.

Duncan has been a C for the past 5 years