Golden State Warriors: DeMarcus Cousins will be key to winning title
By Tony Pesta
There are a ton of superstars on the Golden State Warriors roster. However, DeMarcus Cousins will prove to be the key to winning a championship this year.
The Golden State Warriors are spoiled to choice when it comes to superstar players. With a roster containing Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, it might be a surprise to think that DeMarcus Cousins is the key to this team winning the championship.
When the Warriors made the decision to sign Cousins last Summer, they understood that they were taking a risk. Cousins, who was fresh off of an Achilles injury, is someone who already had a bad reputation in the NBA.
Despite being a 4x All-Star and a 2x All-NBA member, Cousins has never reached the NBA Playoffs. He displayed poor leadership during his time in Sacramento and failed to stay healthy with New Orleans. His on-the-court antics have always plagued the teams that he has played for.
Cousins is notorious for getting into foul trouble and having temper tantrums on the court. Cousins averages nearly four fouls per game for his career and has led the league in total fouls three different times.
So far this season, Cousins has continued to get himself into foul trouble. It seems he has not fully recovered from his Achilles injury as he is lumbering up and down the court, clearly lacking the speed he previously had.
The impact Cousins has on the Warriors might be bigger than you think. The Dubs have a 9-1 record in games in which Cousins scores 15 or more points. When he is clicking, this team is simply too tough to beat.
In contrast, if Cousins isn’t playing well, the rest of the team suffers too. He often commits unwarranted fouls and isn’t afraid to pick up a technical foul as he displays his frustration. These type of plays can derail the momentum of a game for the Warriors.
As the Dubs prepare to defend their title as world champions, they will hope that Cousins can keep his cool throughout the playoffs. If Cousins plays up to expectations, the Warriors should be bringing home a third consecutive title.