Golden State Warriors: DeMarcus Cousins does not look healthy
By Tony Pesta
One of the biggest concerns for the Golden State Warriors this season was DeMarcus Cousins health. Right now, it looks like he isn’t fully healthy.
The Golden State Warriors felt like they struck gold when they signed DeMarcus Cousins last Summer. Cousins was fresh off of a phenomenal season and was arguably the best center in the league. However, his looming Achilles injury is something that had the potential to derail his 2018-19 campaign.
Last season, Cousins averaged 25.2 points and 12.9 rebounds a game. He was an elite center that could score in a number of ways as well as being a force on the glass. His mobility and size made him unique in every way and he was a serious threat to opposing teams.
Since his debut with the Warriors, Cousins has shown only flashes of his previous self. It is abundantly clear that he has lost some of his mobility. Boogie’s speed and footwork are what made him such a dominant offensive player.
Now that Cousin’s is unable to move the way he used to, he often finds himself in bad situations. On the offensive end, DeMarcus is prone to forcing up bad shots in the paint. Since he can no longer use his speed he is attempting to overpower opponents. This method can work but has not proved to be effective for Cousins so far.
Where his lack of spring is hurting him the most is on the defensive end. Cousins constantly finds himself being beat by opponents and forcing to foul or give up a bucket. He has always been prone to foul trouble, averaging 3.9 fouls per game for his career.
However, this year he has been egregious when it comes to getting in foul trouble. On average, Cousins is committing a foul once every seven minutes he is on the court. At that rate, he would foul out of every single game in which he plays over 42 minutes.
Cousins hasn’t looked bad all year. In fact, he has actually had some great games for the Dubs. But, it is this inconsistency that makes me believe he isn’t fully healthy. Or, at the least, Cousins has permanently lost some agility due to his Achilles injury.