I know we get on Stevens a lot for his love of rotations but limiting players minutes is important. Fatigue and overuse is a problem over the course of a long season.
I don’t really see how this is relevant to Cousins though. He plays with the intensity of a walk through. The amazing thing is that he can get you 30 and 15 with such little effort.
I think this is a false conclusion. Boogie ran the 7th most miles of any center this year, just barely behind Horford and Steven Adams. He was 5th in miles run on defense.
He’s still putting a ton of wear and tear on his body.
Well there's running back on defense and then there's what Cousins does. He kinda of saunters back on defense and that's when he isn't taking forever to get back up off the floor or isn't still complaining to the refs while standing there or walking slowly back.
Cousins fans (me included) and lovers (me excluded) - please note that the Pels are no worse without his contributions.
27-25 before the injury, 17-11 since he went down.
Sure, he can score 26 PPG, grab 12 RPG and still it is all worthless if it doesn't change your team's performance in a positive manner.
Empty counting stats.
I am sure that many believe that Mirotić is an inferior player (talent-wise I agree), but the on-court product is no worse.
Give the ball more to Jrue, (7 APG since February, 5,2 before)
Let AD score more, (30.8 PPG since February, 26,4 before)
Niko will space
And Gentry will know what to expect each game (no early 2 PF foul trouble, no 2 technicals, no sleeping in transition D, no getting out of shape after 2 months, no weak body language)
And you get to that 17-11
So is Cousins worth 25-30 mils yearly?
Even before this tough injury, I'd say a resounding - No.
Will he get it?
We will see, but that is a different pair of trousers.