Demarcus Cousins attrocious

[jambr380]

There are a lot of Cousins fans out there and it's easy to see why. When he is engaged, he is a complete center on both ends of the court; his talent is undeniable.

But, it is just hard to let go of the fact that his teams have always been bad...not just average or slightly below average, but bad...always. At some point, a player as talented as Cousins should at least be able to bring his team to a .500 record. Every other top player has been able to do the same, even if it was just briefly. Why hasn't Cousins?

This isn't to say that he couldn't be a winning player. Any player who joins forces with other top players will win - that's just how it works. It just seems like something is missing with Cousins.

His teams are bad.

His teams are not bad when he is playing, however.

I think there's a distinction there, and that's without even getting into coaching / front office problems.

I know, I really do. When he is on the floor, Sacramento actually outscores their opponents. He looks the part, he puts up huge stats, but something just doesn't add up. When KG was on some terrible Wolves teams, he was still a huge motivational force. That is obviously a very high standard to live up to, but that is the type of talent Demarcus possesses. There are countless examples of other top big men that lift their teams up beyond expectations.

Better coaching and better talent around him would likely make a difference in how he is perceived and I'd like to think it might make him a happier person.

he definitely seems like a player you don't want around when there's the slightest bit of adversity. he seems to go the other way when the goin gets tough.

This seems mostly true...but things can change.

[footey]

Admittedly I have not watched him play much the last couple of seasons. But when I have, I get the impression that he is a prototype old school center, not unlike Okafor, but obviously better. Not a shot blocker. Average foot speed, poor jumper. I must say his stats are off the charts so I must be missing something. In any event just to see him being a cog for a winning formula. About as far away from Bill Russell as I could imagine. And I feel the changes in today's game don't favor his style of play.

[gift]

I knew this for a while, but watching the olympics gives the opportunity for fans to see how bad this guy can be

He is not a winning basketball player. As you get older, you start to throw away all the stupid hype talk from every end of the spectrum. You start to break down the reality of basketball.

If you start watching Euroleague ball as well as the entire world basketball you become even more smarter, then you begin to see how NBA players are not as good as advertised.

With all that said you see the differences of team basketball and one on one ball.

You also see how FIBA basketball play defense. They do not give you 5 feet to shoot at will like the NBA does, they play tight.

You watch Cousins and you realize he is a drifter basketball player, posing as an All Star. He need the ball, or he becomes a lazy worthless ball player on offense. Defensively he is attrocious. Lazy, non caring, also low low IQ.

No way you want a guy like Cousins here to win a ring. The team he is on , any team , besides maybe a Warriors team will not win a ring.

Did you watch the World Cup two years ago?

[Big333223]

Admittedly I have not watched him play much the last couple of seasons. But when I have, I get the impression that he is a prototype old school center, not unlike Okafor, but obviously better. Not a shot blocker. Average foot speed, poor jumper. I must say his stats are off the charts so I must be missing something. In any event just to see him being a cog for a winning formula. About as far away from Bill Russell as I could imagine. And I feel the changes in today's game don't favor his style of play.

I gotta disagree with all of this. He's not a great shot blocker but he's still better than average. He's got great athleticism, including foot speed that I think is incredibly impressive given his size. And last seson he shot 33% from 3 point range. His problems are not in his skill set.

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

I don't understand the argument that there must be something wrong with Cousins because the Kings always suck.

It's the Kings we're talking about. The Kings.

There is no world in which Cousins plus Gay plus spare parts = success. Cousins has never had a decent amount of talent around him. The Kings are a terrible organization, with terrible drafting (other than Cousins), and no one wants to play in Sacramento, California.

I do think Cousins has a bit of an attitude problem, but I don't think it's an insurmountable hurdle. If I was the only really good player on a sucky team year after year, I'd be pretty miserable about it, too.

[Rosco917]

Cousins is another Derrick Coleman. Coleman had huge talent, there isn't much Coleman couldn't do, but he couldn't stop acting like a nitwit, until finally his time ran out.

The Kings of last year had enough talent to win 46-48 games. They needed someone to unite them, and lead by example, and Demarcus simply didn't show up.

Frankly, he needs someone to lead him.   

[Eddie20]

Whether you like him or not, the fact is that his play in the olympics has been dreadful. Until we see otherwise it could be argued that he's a good stats on a bad team guy who doesn't do a lot of the little things that ultimately contribute to winning. As for the Kings and the losing culture comment, Jeff Goodman has stated that he has watched Cousins since high school and he's had the same sulky attitude/inconsistent energy since then, despite being on winning teams in high school and college. He even used the adage "a zebra doesn't change it's stripes" about him.

[FreddieJ]

Cousins is another Derrick Coleman. Coleman had huge talent, there isn't much Coleman couldn't do, but he couldn't stop acting like a nitwit, until finally his time ran out.

The Kings of last year had enough talent to win 46-48 games. They needed someone to unite them, and lead by example, and Demarcus simply didn't show up.

Frankly, he needs someone to lead him.

Or a coach the team doesn't quit on

[tarheelsxxiii]

Whether you like him or not, the fact is that his play in the olympics has been dreadful. Until we see otherwise it could be argued that he's a good stats on a bad team guy who doesn't do a lot of the little things that ultimately contribute to winning. As for the Kings and the losing culture comment, Jeff Goodman has stated that he has watched Cousins since high school and he's had the same sulky attitude/inconsistent energy since then, despite being on winning teams in high school and college. He even used the adage "a zebra doesn't change it's stripes" about him.

He showed the same at Kentucky, too. No doubt he's incredibly talented, but I don't think a team is capable of winning a title with him as the guy. I think PhoSita fleshed this notion out pretty well a while back, suggesting he's better suited as a #2 on a team with a strong locker room and veteran leadership.

[GreenFaith1819]

I just think that the Olympic Team in general needs more gelling......it's really too late now for that, unfortunately.

To my memory I've NEVER seen us in THREE close games back-back-back like this before.

We could very well lose...and with every close game these opposing teams are getting more and more confident....I bet Australia is smelling blood in the water already.

I'd still give Cousins a chance under Stevens and in this organization - as long as we didn't have to gut the team to do so. If we could somehow keep our core together I'd certainly take him.

[PAOBoston]

Stay away from this guy. He has a loser mentality. He's a front runner. When everything is going his way, he's amazing. The moment something goes against him, he gets derailed. I wouldn't waste assets to gets this guy. The C's have worked too hard to get those assets and create a positive culture for their young players.

[timpiker]

I think Cousins would be great to have on the C's.  But trading away our future for what it would take to get him is awful risky for a guy with motivational and attitude issues.  Chief and DJ didn't cost what Cousins will cost.  Spending a couple of 1's and a starter or 2 is too rich for my blood.

[pearljammer10]

Right because he's been such a hinderance to the team and has been a major factor in all those team USA loses this year....Oh wait.

[LarBrd33]

Olympic basketball is a different sport from the one played in the NBA

[Bobshot]

Cousins is playing like a bull in a china shop. LOL. Makes you wonder if he can function anywhere he isn't the top banana.