All things DeMarcus Cousins (merged thread)

[saltlover]

I dont know much about Karl, other than he coached the Sonics to the Finals.  Could someone give me a run down on what hes done in the past to earn a bad reputation? 

He's been referred to as a "snake" by Carmelo Anthony, Ty Lawson, J.R. Smith, and Andre Iguodala.  That's backed up by his actions in Sacramento:  he immediately isolated his best player, tried to trade him without the front office's permission, and then attempted to organize a mutiny within his own locker room.

When did Carmelo Anthony, Ty Lawson, J.R smith and Andre Iguodala ever play NBA basketball on the same team as Cousins, may I ask?  Oh, never?  Thought so.

I asked if any of his teammates (guys who actually shared a locker room with him) have ever criticized him afterwards.  I don't recall any such cases.  If he was as bad a guy as people make him out to be, then every second player who leaves Sacramento should be complaining about him and dissing him - why aren't they?

Also, since when did Carmelo Anthony, Ty Lawson and JR Smith earn any credibility in this league for their personalities?  They are all guys who have been seen as head cases at some point or other in their careers. 

Iggy is a credible guy, but he's also never played with Cousins, so it's a moot point.

There are a million guys around the NBA who hate Kevin Garnett too, but aside from Wally Sczerbiak every teammate seams to love him.  From what I've seen, it seems to be the same deal with Cousins.

If Cousins is such a horrible cancer, then:
1) Why has he not been traded or allowed to walk in FA?
2) Why has he not acted like a diva and tried to request a trade?

No player in the NBA has had to deal with a more cancerous organisation than he has, yet he's stayed put and for the most part stayed quiet.  That's more than I can say for most guys out there with his level of talent.  Even Pierce and Kobe tried to force trades at some point in their careers.   

Karl has been referred to as a snake, not Cousins.  All those players were coached by him.

[Sketch5]

I dont know much about Karl, other than he coached the Sonics to the Finals.  Could someone give me a run down on what hes done in the past to earn a bad reputation? 

He's been referred to as a "snake" by Carmelo Anthony, Ty Lawson, J.R. Smith, and Andre Iguodala.  That's backed up by his actions in Sacramento:  he immediately isolated his best player, tried to trade him without the front office's permission, and then attempted to organize a mutiny within his own locker room.

When did Carmelo Anthony, Ty Lawson, J.R smith and Andre Iguodala ever play NBA basketball on the same team as Cousins, may I ask?  Oh, never?  Thought so.

I asked if any of his teammates (guys who actually shared a locker room with him) have ever criticized him afterwards.  I don't recall any such cases.  If he was as bad a guy as people make him out to be, then every second player who leaves Sacramento should be complaining about him and dissing him - why aren't they?

Also, since when did Carmelo Anthony, Ty Lawson and JR Smith earn any credibility in this league for their personalities?  They are all guys who have been seen as head cases at some point or other in their careers. 

Iggy is a credible guy, but he's also never played with Cousins, so it's a moot point.

There are a million guys around the NBA who hate Kevin Garnett too, but aside from Wally Sczerbiak every teammate seams to love him.  From what I've seen, it seems to be the same deal with Cousins.

If Cousins is such a horrible cancer, then:
1) Why has he not been traded or allowed to walk in FA?
2) Why has he not acted like a diva and tried to request a trade?

No player in the NBA has had to deal with a more cancerous organisation than he has, yet he's stayed put and for the most part stayed quiet.  That's more than I can say for most guys out there with his level of talent.  Even Pierce and Kobe tried to force trades at some point in their careers.   

I'm pretty sure they were talking about Karl being a snake, not Cousins. So all those guys calling Karl a snake would make sense since they all played for him.

[crimson_stallion]

I'm pretty sure they were talking about Karl being a snake, not Cousins. So all those guys calling Karl a snake would make sense since they all played for him.

Exactly

Which, if true (and it seems to be, after Karl tried to force a trade on Cousins in the off-season) would very easily help to explain why Cousins is so infuriated with Karl.

Wouldn't surprise me if he has back-stabbed half the players on that roster.

If people take a look at Cousin's quotes after the spurs game, he was strongly hinting that the problems with the team are all in the locker room, not on the court.  He also went on to say that he has no problems with any of the players on the team, and said that they all need to stick together. Makes it all sound like this "locker room problem" is a staff member, not a player, and that all the players are pretty much on the same page in terms of how they feel about it.

The fact that Karl's request to suspend Cousins was denied, is further evidence to suggest that Karl was the one causing the problem, and that Cousins' response was seen as justified.

That Divac then went to the players after (reportedly) to ask if the coach should be fired, is only FURTHER evidence that the problem is Karl - not Cousins. 

Sounds to me like George Karl is frequently stabbing players in the back (getting them into trouble behind their back, then acting like nothing is wrong to their face) and the players are getting fed up with it, and that Cousins (since he has the most influence on the team) decided to stand up for his teammates and say/do something about it.

If that's the case, then I applaud him. That takes a lot of courage and a lot of character, and to put himself in the firing line to stand up for his teammates is a very unselfish thing to do.  Being as passionate/emotional a guy as Cousins seems to be,it's not surprising that the conversation became heated, but at the end of the day it's the thought (standing up for his teammates) that counts.

[tarheelsxxiii]

It's Cousins hand to lose. If he wants Karl gone, I'm sure he can make that happen. If he wants to get traded, I'm sure he can make that happen, too. I will go out on a limb and say I doubt Cousins has ever woken up one morning thinking "Man, if only I were in Boston with the Cs today. Could go grab some chowder and a BL with KO."

[Roy H.]

I dont know much about Karl, other than he coached the Sonics to the Finals.  Could someone give me a run down on what hes done in the past to earn a bad reputation? 

He's been referred to as a "snake" by Carmelo Anthony, Ty Lawson, J.R. Smith, and Andre Iguodala.  That's backed up by his actions in Sacramento:  he immediately isolated his best player, tried to trade him without the front office's permission, and then attempted to organize a mutiny within his own locker room.

When did Carmelo Anthony, Ty Lawson, J.R smith and Andre Iguodala ever play NBA basketball on the same team as Cousins, may I ask?  Oh, never?  Thought so.

I asked if any of his teammates (guys who actually shared a locker room with him) have ever criticized him afterwards.  I don't recall any such cases.  If he was as bad a guy as people make him out to be, then every second player who leaves Sacramento should be complaining about him and dissing him - why aren't they?

Also, since when did Carmelo Anthony, Ty Lawson and JR Smith earn any credibility in this league for their personalities?  They are all guys who have been seen as head cases at some point or other in their careers. 

Iggy is a credible guy, but he's also never played with Cousins, so it's a moot point.

There are a million guys around the NBA who hate Kevin Garnett too, but aside from Wally Sczerbiak every teammate seams to love him.  From what I've seen, it seems to be the same deal with Cousins.

If Cousins is such a horrible cancer, then:
1) Why has he not been traded or allowed to walk in FA?
2) Why has he not acted like a diva and tried to request a trade?

No player in the NBA has had to deal with a more cancerous organisation than he has, yet he's stayed put and for the most part stayed quiet.  That's more than I can say for most guys out there with his level of talent.  Even Pierce and Kobe tried to force trades at some point in their careers.   

I'm not sure how you misread my post so badly, but we seem to be on the same page regarding DMC.

[crimson_stallion]

I dont know much about Karl, other than he coached the Sonics to the Finals.  Could someone give me a run down on what hes done in the past to earn a bad reputation? 

He's been referred to as a "snake" by Carmelo Anthony, Ty Lawson, J.R. Smith, and Andre Iguodala.  That's backed up by his actions in Sacramento:  he immediately isolated his best player, tried to trade him without the front office's permission, and then attempted to organize a mutiny within his own locker room.

When did Carmelo Anthony, Ty Lawson, J.R smith and Andre Iguodala ever play NBA basketball on the same team as Cousins, may I ask?  Oh, never?  Thought so.

I asked if any of his teammates (guys who actually shared a locker room with him) have ever criticized him afterwards.  I don't recall any such cases.  If he was as bad a guy as people make him out to be, then every second player who leaves Sacramento should be complaining about him and dissing him - why aren't they?

Also, since when did Carmelo Anthony, Ty Lawson and JR Smith earn any credibility in this league for their personalities?  They are all guys who have been seen as head cases at some point or other in their careers. 

Iggy is a credible guy, but he's also never played with Cousins, so it's a moot point.

There are a million guys around the NBA who hate Kevin Garnett too, but aside from Wally Sczerbiak every teammate seams to love him.  From what I've seen, it seems to be the same deal with Cousins.

If Cousins is such a horrible cancer, then:
1) Why has he not been traded or allowed to walk in FA?
2) Why has he not acted like a diva and tried to request a trade?

No player in the NBA has had to deal with a more cancerous organisation than he has, yet he's stayed put and for the most part stayed quiet.  That's more than I can say for most guys out there with his level of talent.  Even Pierce and Kobe tried to force trades at some point in their careers.   

I'm not sure how you misread my post so badly, but we seem to be on the same page regarding DMC.

My apologies, for some reason I read Celticsdog's comment as :

"Could someone give me a run down on what hes done in the past to earn a bad reputation?" and completely missed the "I don't know much about Karl" part, and so I thought your response was regarding Cousins haha

 

My bad!!! 

[crimson_stallion]

P.s.

Just on a side note - Cousins is shooting 4/5 from three so far today, and IIRC he also hit 4 threes in Sacramento's first game this season.

If Cousins adds a legitimate three point shot to his arsenal then wholy smokes...he could very easily become the most dominant offensive big since i don't even know who.

That's almost like Shaq with a three point shot.  The thought is frightening!

[Monkhouse]

Been the hugest supporter of Cousins.

I remember I once made a thread about the possibility of acquiring during the Big 3, and so many people were so against giving up Bradley, and a few select players....

Then again, I doubt that trade would've ever happened anyways, but yeah... What a shame.

[crimson_stallion]

I will go out on a limb and say I doubt Cousins has ever woken up one morning thinking "Man, if only I were in Boston with the Cs today. Could go grab some chowder and a BL with KO."

You might be surprised.

If I put myself in DMC's shoes and had just spent the first 5 years of my career playing for the implosive disaster that is the Sacramento Kings, then there would only be two things I would really care about when choosing the next team:

1) Stable management / coaching
2) A competitive group of guys who are hard working and want to win

Boston would certainly be up around the top of that list.

[moiso]

P.s.

Just on a side note - Cousins is shooting 4/5 from three so far today, and IIRC he also hit 4 threes in Sacramento's first game this season.

If Cousins adds a legitimate three point shot to his arsenal then wholy smokes...he could very easily become the most dominant offensive big since i don't even know who.

That's almost like Shaq with a three point shot.  The thought is frightening!

I think Shaq would have been a lesser player if he had a 3 point shot.  He wouldn't have been Shaq, that's for sure.

[hpantazo]

P.s.

Just on a side note - Cousins is shooting 4/5 from three so far today, and IIRC he also hit 4 threes in Sacramento's first game this season.

If Cousins adds a legitimate three point shot to his arsenal then wholy smokes...he could very easily become the most dominant offensive big since i don't even know who.

That's almost like Shaq with a three point shot.  The thought is frightening!

I think Shaq would have been a lesser player if he had a 3 point shot.  He wouldn't have been Shaq, that's for sure.

Forget the 3 pt shot, if Shaq had a free throw shot, he would have been completely unstoppable.

[alldaboston]

Meanwhile, Rondo has himself another triple double.

[hpantazo]

Meanwhile, Rondo has himself another triple double.

but wait.....I thought the league had evolved to the point that Rondo's skill set and dominant big men were both obsolete!?!?!

[Boris Badenov]

In the near term the only relevant question for the Kings is "Who's more replaceable, George Karl or DeMarcus Cousins?"

The answer is obvious.

[Csfan1984]

My views on player conduct is no matter how a player feels you should respect your coach. If you are having issues be calm and respectful about it. If very mad go vent in the bathroom or locker room don't show a guy up who is suppose to be the boss. I like Cousins but he needs to be more in control. In this situation notify the GM that you are having troubles with the coach. At least that way a meeting can be made and problems can be handled  without effecting the team. If management doesn't help then request a trade privately. But don't argue with him in front of anyone sends a bad message.