DeMarcus Cousins historic night goes unnoticed

[Roy H.]

I don't get why Sacramento is so bad.  Cousins is a monster.  Rudy Gay is a pretty darn good player.  Darren Collison is a good PG (though has missed some time).  The fact that Sacramento is so bad gives me pause about Cousins.  A guy that good should not be on a team this bad.  He should be able to will his team to 30 victories alone and Gay should be worth another 10 at least.  Makes me wonder if he really isn't as good as he seems.

He quits on plays all the time, especially getting back on defense . I'm sure his attitude has an affect on his team mates as well.

This isn't even close to true, though.  Cousins is one of the most impactful defensive centers in the NBA this season, almost all of it due to effort.  He's the league leader in charges taken, he's near the top of the league in Defensive RPM, he protects the rim well, he blocks shots...

The reason the Kings aren't good is because:  1) Rudy Gay isn't a good player, especially in a team setting; 2) Darren Collison is well below average as a starter, and he's been out since early February; 3) of the Kings who are currently healthy, Ben McLemore is the only one who belongs in an NBA rotation outside of Cousins; 4) the team has had three coaches, all of whom have had different styles; the team switched in mid-season from a defensive, ball-control team to an up-tempo, offensive team; 5) management is in flux, with multiple comings and goings in the front office, and serial leaking of stories to the media.

I get all that of course, but they weren't good last year and none of that was in play and in fact had a better starting unit and supporting cast and were just as bad.  There has to be something with Cousins that just isn't clicking, because statistically no one that good should be on a team as bad as Sacramento has been.

KG was on some pretty terrible Twolves teams. Pierce was on some bad Celtics teams. Heck, Wilt once averaged 45 points and 24 rebounds, and his team won 31 games.

Sacramento doesn't win because they have one good player and terrible management. It's no more complicated than that.  The Kings, despite their lack of talent, have out scored opponents with DMC in the game. Getting your team the lead / outscoring the opposition is about all you can ask from a player devoid of talent.

[Moranis]

I don't get why Sacramento is so bad.  Cousins is a monster.  Rudy Gay is a pretty darn good player.  Darren Collison is a good PG (though has missed some time).  The fact that Sacramento is so bad gives me pause about Cousins.  A guy that good should not be on a team this bad.  He should be able to will his team to 30 victories alone and Gay should be worth another 10 at least.  Makes me wonder if he really isn't as good as he seems.

He quits on plays all the time, especially getting back on defense . I'm sure his attitude has an affect on his team mates as well.

This isn't even close to true, though.  Cousins is one of the most impactful defensive centers in the NBA this season, almost all of it due to effort.  He's the league leader in charges taken, he's near the top of the league in Defensive RPM, he protects the rim well, he blocks shots...

The reason the Kings aren't good is because:  1) Rudy Gay isn't a good player, especially in a team setting; 2) Darren Collison is well below average as a starter, and he's been out since early February; 3) of the Kings who are currently healthy, Ben McLemore is the only one who belongs in an NBA rotation outside of Cousins; 4) the team has had three coaches, all of whom have had different styles; the team switched in mid-season from a defensive, ball-control team to an up-tempo, offensive team; 5) management is in flux, with multiple comings and goings in the front office, and serial leaking of stories to the media.

I get all that of course, but they weren't good last year and none of that was in play and in fact had a better starting unit and supporting cast and were just as bad.  There has to be something with Cousins that just isn't clicking, because statistically no one that good should be on a team as bad as Sacramento has been.

KG was on some pretty terrible Twolves teams. Pierce was on some bad Celtics teams. Heck, Wilt once averaged 45 points and 24 rebounds, and his team won 31 games.

Sacramento doesn't win because they have one good player and terrible management. It's no more complicated than that.  The Kings, despite their lack of talent, have out scored opponents with DMC in the game. Getting your team the lead / outscoring the opposition is about all you can ask from a player devoid of talent.

KG's rookie year the Wolves won 26 games, they didn't win less than 40 until KG's final 2 seasons in Minnesota. 

Pierce was never as dominant as Cousins or KG.  That year for Wilt there were 9 teams in the league, I don't put much stock in those type of seasons and it was also a one time thing.  The Kings have been awful every single year Cousins has been there.  He is no longer a young guy learning the league and maturing into his body.  There is no way the Kings should be this bad without there being something wrong with Cousins. 

[Roy H.]

I don't get why Sacramento is so bad.  Cousins is a monster.  Rudy Gay is a pretty darn good player.  Darren Collison is a good PG (though has missed some time).  The fact that Sacramento is so bad gives me pause about Cousins.  A guy that good should not be on a team this bad.  He should be able to will his team to 30 victories alone and Gay should be worth another 10 at least.  Makes me wonder if he really isn't as good as he seems.

He quits on plays all the time, especially getting back on defense . I'm sure his attitude has an affect on his team mates as well.

This isn't even close to true, though.  Cousins is one of the most impactful defensive centers in the NBA this season, almost all of it due to effort.  He's the league leader in charges taken, he's near the top of the league in Defensive RPM, he protects the rim well, he blocks shots...

The reason the Kings aren't good is because:  1) Rudy Gay isn't a good player, especially in a team setting; 2) Darren Collison is well below average as a starter, and he's been out since early February; 3) of the Kings who are currently healthy, Ben McLemore is the only one who belongs in an NBA rotation outside of Cousins; 4) the team has had three coaches, all of whom have had different styles; the team switched in mid-season from a defensive, ball-control team to an up-tempo, offensive team; 5) management is in flux, with multiple comings and goings in the front office, and serial leaking of stories to the media.

I get all that of course, but they weren't good last year and none of that was in play and in fact had a better starting unit and supporting cast and were just as bad.  There has to be something with Cousins that just isn't clicking, because statistically no one that good should be on a team as bad as Sacramento has been.

KG was on some pretty terrible Twolves teams. Pierce was on some bad Celtics teams. Heck, Wilt once averaged 45 points and 24 rebounds, and his team won 31 games.

Sacramento doesn't win because they have one good player and terrible management. It's no more complicated than that.  The Kings, despite their lack of talent, have out scored opponents with DMC in the game. Getting your team the lead / outscoring the opposition is about all you can ask from a player devoid of talent.

KG's rookie year the Wolves won 26 games, they didn't win less than 40 until KG's final 2 seasons in Minnesota. 

Pierce was never as dominant as Cousins or KG.  That year for Wilt there were 9 teams in the league, I don't put much stock in those type of seasons and it was also a one time thing.  The Kings have been awful every single year Cousins has been there.  He is no longer a young guy learning the league and maturing into his body.  There is no way the Kings should be this bad without there being something wrong with Cousins.

That "something" is management and his lousy teammates. We've been over this.

[FreddieJ]

I don't get why Sacramento is so bad.  Cousins is a monster.  Rudy Gay is a pretty darn good player.  Darren Collison is a good PG (though has missed some time).  The fact that Sacramento is so bad gives me pause about Cousins.  A guy that good should not be on a team this bad.  He should be able to will his team to 30 victories alone and Gay should be worth another 10 at least.  Makes me wonder if he really isn't as good as he seems.

He quits on plays all the time, especially getting back on defense . I'm sure his attitude has an affect on his team mates as well.

This isn't even close to true, though.  Cousins is one of the most impactful defensive centers in the NBA this season, almost all of it due to effort.  He's the league leader in charges taken, he's near the top of the league in Defensive RPM, he protects the rim well, he blocks shots...

The reason the Kings aren't good is because:  1) Rudy Gay isn't a good player, especially in a team setting; 2) Darren Collison is well below average as a starter, and he's been out since early February; 3) of the Kings who are currently healthy, Ben McLemore is the only one who belongs in an NBA rotation outside of Cousins; 4) the team has had three coaches, all of whom have had different styles; the team switched in mid-season from a defensive, ball-control team to an up-tempo, offensive team; 5) management is in flux, with multiple comings and goings in the front office, and serial leaking of stories to the media.

I get all that of course, but they weren't good last year and none of that was in play and in fact had a better starting unit and supporting cast and were just as bad.  There has to be something with Cousins that just isn't clicking, because statistically no one that good should be on a team as bad as Sacramento has been.

Better starting lineup? Do you see how Thomas isn't a starter? He is right here in Boston. They picked Collison over him for a reason, and DC is a solid player who fits

The team is 3-25 over the last two years without Cousins. The team, and specifically SG/PF/Bench need to be better on a nightly basis. That can be done with in growth at certain positions but the team is going to need a makeover this summer

[celticsclay]

Maybe if they had a bench as good as the 76ers they would win some more games. Am I right?

[SparzWizard]

Who cares about knucklehead/locker room problem as long as you have talents, and I mean all-star status talents.

Get 'em Ainge!

[Celtics18]

I love the talent level of Demarcus Cousins, but I do think there's something to the criticisms.  I understand that the Kings are not a well managed team, but if Cousins wants to be truly special, like among-the-best-to-ever play type special, he needs better leadership skills.  In my experience, co-workers don't respond well to the "sulky toddler" style of leadership. 

If he spends the rest of his career doing amazing basketball things while never winning very many basketball games, history won't remember him with much distinction.  And, rightly so.