Fans, detractors alike ready to see Cousins play Friday
Before last season went so terribly wrong for DeMarcus Cousins, he had a date with the people of Sacramento. It was his first appearance there since being traded to New Orleans, and he gave them something to remember.
In a decidedly mixed atmosphere, blending detractors with sympathizers, that lateOctober evening brought clarity to the elevated state of Cousins’ game. Combining raw power with an artist’s touch, he posted 41 points, 23 rebounds and six assists in the Pelicans’ 114-106 victory.
No NBA player had put up such numbers in more than 30 years, and you could imagine the conversations among fans as they left the arena.
“I really don’t like the guy,” someone surely said.
“I know,” said the next person. “But man, can he play.”
How things have changed, with Cousins about to take the court for the first time this season after a long recovery from Achilles tendon surgery. The Warriors really like the guy, and they’re dearly hoping he can play.
Was adding the man often called the most talented center in the league a good decision?
Ill-advised? The first bits of evidence arrive in Los Angeles on Friday night, when the Warriors play the Clippers at Staples Center.
Here’s what we know about his game, and what we’ll soon find out:
A fit for the offense?
The perfect-world scenario drifts into the realm of fantasy. Quite simply, the Warriors will be unguardable with five All-Stars in the starting lineup. For the first time in the Steve Kerr era, they can dump the ball into the low post, just as we see with Karl-Anthony Towns, Joel Embiid, Anthony Davis and Nikola Jokic, among other centers around the league. Like those versatile scorers, Cousins can hit the three-point shot with touch and consistency.
You might ask yourself: What about Tuesday night? The Warriors approached basketball perfection in their 31-point rout at Denver, draining three-pointers like 2-foot putts and moving the ball like a dream. That was vintage Warriors, reminiscent of the 2015 championship and the 73-9 performance the following regular season, and that team doesn’t need Cousins.
It’s just that the Warriors have experienced too much stagnation this season, losing too often at home, and things tend to slow down in the playoffs. In Game 7 of the 2016 Finals, with a hobbled Stephen Curry consistently misfiring and the offense totally out of sorts, they went scoreless over the final 4:39 and lost to Cleveland at home. Who knows how that game ends with Cousins a low-post option? And don’t forget the injury factor: Cousins can pick up the slack if one of the Big Three shooters goes down.
At their best, the Warriors thrive on their all-out sprints off turnovers or an opponent’s miss. With the exception of JaVale McGee, and flashes from Jordan Bell, their dynasty-era centers haven’t been fastbreak contributors.
It’s wise to remember that Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar merely initiated the break on their elite-level teams, rarely participating. It makes no sense to slow things down, waiting for the big guy to arrive, when the deal is already done.
The Warriors’ system is built around sacrifice, and it will take strong doses of humility from Curry, Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson to make this work. Other teams (see Boston and Philadelphia) struggle mightily with a surplus of ego-driven talent. That’s not the case with Golden State. But this is a radically new element, and Cousins will need to bring some humility, as well. He’ll be just another highly functioning component in the halfcourt set, not the centerpiece.
Advice from here: Stay cool, big man. You’re sitting on a gold mine after years of exasperation with terrible teams.
A force on defense
Protecting the rim has never been Cousins’ forte, but with his size — and a desire to prove his worth — he’s automatically a huge improvement for the Warriors, who have been overmatched at center all year.
He won’t be Rudy Gobert, but he won’t be out there laying down red carpets, either.
When it comes to quick reactions and the lateral movement required to play tough defense, particularly in a switch-heavy style employed by the Warriors, you can’t be sure about a seriously injured player until he takes the court for real.
Ron Adams, the Warriors’ defensive guru, has been encouraged with what he’s seen.
“He has defensive skills to offer us,” Adams said by telephone this week. “His movement is good. I think he has pretty good feet, and we’ll try to do things defensively that help him fit into what we do.
“Playing against him, this is one of the hardest bodies to work around in the league. He’s just a force in that regard, so that works in our favor. And there’s such a thing as defensive momentum when a team is really playing well, making guys want to give their best because the offense is flowing so well. You see that happen a lot with us. Personally, I feel good about the future with him — but I think we’ll go through a process.”
Control his temper?
During his tempestuous seven-year stay in Sacramento, and to a degree in his short stint with New Orleans, it was impossible to mention Cousins without bringing up his temperament.
“Once you get to know him as the Kings and Pelicans did, you don’t want him around,” wrote NBA.com’s Sam Smith, who authored “The Jordan Rules” and has covered the NBA since the 1980s. “He’s just too angry. He’s like the person you know who comes to work mad every day, yelling at people, sulking, and everyone just freezes because nobody wants to trigger the anger again.
“I’m not sure how he fits with this team. He’s not stupid, though he plays stupid because of the anger, holding the ball, yelling at teammates and officials. He comes with a lot of baggage, and I’m not sure if he’s willing to play a limited role where he’s not the first or second option offensively.” Ailene Voisin, another longtime NBA writer and a Sacramento Bee columnist during Cousins’ time in the capital, said, “It’s really a matter of how he can learn to be humble, and hungry, and how much he’s matured this past year.
“He didn’t have a lot of friends in that (Kings) locker room, and he has such a hard time suppressing anger. You have to remember that he comes from a really tough background,” Voisin said. “But he can be absolutely charming, as well. If anybody can get DeMarcus’ good side out of him, it’s going to be (head coach Steve Kerr) and the players. If it doesn’t happen there, then it never will.”
Fans watching the Warriors’ telecasts have witnessed an engaged, content Cousins blending seamlessly into the climate.
“He’s a delightful guy,” Adams said. “He’s honest, the conversations with him are always good, and he likes to kid people, get into that giveand-take that’s so important around our team. I just think he’s a real straight shooter, enjoyable to be around.”
So many questions. So much truth to be told. Friday night, the answers will start to come — as an entire league closely watches.