DeMarcus Cousins, the Kings’ athletically gifted and extremely skilled center, is going to be a handful for the Golden State Warriors.
Let me start off by saying that DeMarcus Cousins is a problem for all 30 NBA teams. And, yes, I know that I said all 30 because he even gives his own team problems. His emotional outbursts become the main narrative surrounding the big man far too often.
But, make no mistake, Boogie Cousins is the real deal. Our own Angelo Mendoza joined Chat Sports and definitively asserted that he believes the Kings’ center is the best at his position in the entire Association. Mendoza and Tom Downey discussed Cousins’ dominance and how it can make Sacramento a threat (click here to watch the whole video).
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They’re right to fawn over Cousins, he’s a beast. He’s averaging 28.5 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 3.9 assists. He’s expanded his game and is shooting 37 percent from beyond the arc. He’s extremely gifted offensively and can do anything from anywhere on the court.
The Warriors have yet to play the Kings in the regular season, but they did face off in the preseason. In 20 minutes of action, Cousins had 20 points on 72 percent shooting, 6 rebounds, 4 steals, and 1 block. It was a pretty dominant performance.
Golden State was just physically overpowered by the Memphis Grizzlies. Zach Randolph had 27 points and 11 rebounds off the bench as he helped lead his team back from a 24 point deficit. Randolph absolutely punished Kevin Durant and Zaza Pachulia in the post.
Cousins has the Kings fighting for a playoff spot. They’re currently tied for the eighth seed in the Western Conference. Sacramento, as Mendoza noted, is overachieving. Their talent is limited, their chemistry seems to be on thin ice, and Rudy Gay has dealt with injuries.
Pachulia and the Warriors are going to have to get creative if they want to stop Cousins. Golden State can try and get in his head. They can try to get him to get into early foul trouble and let him take himself out of the game.
Cousins is a special talent that, unfortunately, has been stuck in a horrible situation. His outbursts are a product of an unhealthy culture in the organization and his own stubbornness. But Boogie is one of those players that just makes your jaw drop. He’s that good.
Golden State’s interior defense isn’t as horrible as everyone thought it would be after Andrew Bogut’s departure. Durant has risen to the occasion and become of the best rim protectors in the league. Draymond Green, of course, is a wonderful rim protector as well. Neither of those guys can really handle Cousins on their own.
The Warriors are going to have their hands full tonight.