Willie Cauley-Stein starting to impact the Kings

[Eddie20]

They're now 8-4 with him in January and has done all the little dirty things expected of him when the team drafted him with their high lottery pick. Teammates have noticed too.


http://www.sacbee.com/sports/nba/sacramento-kings/kings-blog/article56401800.html

What’s changed? Besides Cousins playing like a superstar, rookie center Willie Cauley-Stein has started the last five games and injected a defensive spark.

That change came after the Kings’ last loss, Jan. 13 against New Orleans, when defensive intensity was lacking most of the night.

“I can give credit to Willie,” Cousins said. “He’s come in and, as a rookie, changed the whole identity of our team. That’s huge, especially for a rookie. So it just shows his impact on this team, and he does so many things for us that don’t show up on paper.”

The Kings have held their last three opponents under 100 points, and perhaps their most impressive win during the streak, a 91-88 victory Thursday over Atlanta, showed they can win when their high-paced offense is not clicking.

Not only Willie, but I feel like everybody’s picked up the defensive identity, and it’s helping us win games right now,” Cousins said. “So we’ve just got to keep going.”

The Kings have played their way into the top eight in the Western Conference this month and believe they will keep improving if they continue to play better defense.

[wayupnorth]

He is just a poor man's Biyombo.

[mahcussmaht]

It looks like Kings will have the last laugh.   Cousins and Rondo are playing like Superstars.  Cauley-Stein is proving to be a great fit next to Cousins.  They are now in the playoffs.   They must feel very vindicated.  I wouldn't want to play them in round 1.

[Eddie20]

It looks like Kings will have the last laugh.   Cousins and Rondo are playing like Superstars.  Cauley-Stein is proving to be a great fit next to Cousins.  They are now in the playoffs.   They must feel very vindicated.  I wouldn't want to play them in round 1.

Yep. WCS is very active catching lobs from Rondo and just being active on both ends with his energy and athleticism.

[mahcussmaht]

It looks like Kings will have the last laugh.   Cousins and Rondo are playing like Superstars.  Cauley-Stein is proving to be a great fit next to Cousins.  They are now in the playoffs.   They must feel very vindicated.  I wouldn't want to play them in round 1.

Yep. WCS is very active catching lobs from Rondo and just being active on both ends with his energy and athleticism.

It's too bad we couldn't trade up to take him before the Kings.  Ainge tried to trade up to #4 on draft night, but it sounds like he would have taken Justice Winslow.  How mad would you have been if we traded all the way up to #4 and took Justice Winslow instead of Willie Cauley Stein? 

With the way the Kings have played lately, that should put to rest the DeMarcus Cousins trade ideas.

[acieEarl]

I woulda been happy with Stein or Winslow. Both will turn out to be pretty good players.

 I don't see Rozier making it in this league. I hope I'm wrong.

[GreenWarrior]

really this team has way too much talent to be where they've been for the last couple yrs.

still think WCS was a massive reach though.

[max215]

I don't know, but something about using the #6 Pick on a guy who's ceiling is an excellent role player kind of bothers me, especially with guys like Mudiay and Winslow still available. That's how you assure achieving treadmill status, but I guess that's what Vivek and Vlade wanted after a decade of mediocrity.

[2short]

I woulda been happy with Stein or Winslow. Both will turn out to be pretty good players.

 I don't see Rozier making it in this league. I hope I'm wrong.

Or if rozier does prove out it will be about 6-7 years in, great athlete but too much deer in head lights going on so far

[CelticSince83]

I don't know, but something about using the #6 Pick on a guy who's ceiling is an excellent role player kind of bothers me, especially with guys like Mudiay and Winslow still available. That's how you assure achieving treadmill status, but I guess that's what Vivek and Vlade wanted after a decade of mediocrity.

I'm with you here.  He isn't a building block or needle mover at all.  I think even bottom of the lottery guys like Turner and Booker have higher ceilings.  Not hating on WCS, because I like him, but I don't see him ever being a top 50 player in the league. 

[Boris Badenov]

I don't know, but something about using the #6 Pick on a guy who's ceiling is an excellent role player kind of bothers me, especially with guys like Mudiay and Winslow still available. That's how you assure achieving treadmill status, but I guess that's what Vivek and Vlade wanted after a decade of mediocrity.

I'm with you here.  He isn't a building block or needle mover at all.  I think even bottom of the lottery guys like Turner and Booker have higher ceilings.  Not hating on WCS, because I like him, but I don't see him ever being a top 50 player in the league.

If his primary contribution is keeping Cousins happy, it was a good pick.