Summer League Game 1 Quickie Grades
- Thread starter Bricklayer
- Start date
How am I antagonizing him?
Apparently you have no idea what I'm talking about because it has nothing to do with attitude or toughness. Dribbling between his legs 15-20 feet out and taking long jumpers is not his strength and I suspect it's him just trying to show off how "versatile" he is I.E. showboating.
Apparently you have no idea what I'm talking about because it has nothing to do with attitude or toughness. Dribbling between his legs 15-20 feet out and taking long jumpers is not his strength and I suspect it's him just trying to show off how "versatile" he is I.E. showboating.
I kind of agree with you on this one. But hey, this is just summer league. IMO, it was nice of him to showboat his skills to let fans know he is more than just the "typical" CENTER some of us wants him to be.
Now, I am more than convinced this kid can play PF if the need arises. He showed in some instances he could be a lot quicker than what everyone thinks he could be.
Now, I am more than convinced this kid can play PF if the need arises. He showed in some instances he could be a lot quicker than what everyone thinks he could be.
Perhaps the best outsider view of Cousins work in the first summer league game was provided by Zach Harper of the TruHoop Network via ESPN: Cousins Ready to Get Physical for Kings. Check it out:
http://espn.go.com/nba/dailydime/_/page/dime-100713/daily-dime
http://espn.go.com/nba/dailydime/_/page/dime-100713/daily-dime
If you did watch the game then you know that Elie was on all his guys. So the coaches will sort out what is not wanted out of him. Don't put too much importance on one summer league game for a guy trying to silence some critics. He's a bit pumped up now and trying to do too much. Let it play out and see how he progresses.
And just to remind some people. If a center is versatile enough to play on the block or shoot from the perimeter, then that is a good thing. Remember that DMC hit a higher percentage of shots than any other player during workouts. He has some perimeter game. I seem to recall a very good center the Kings used to have that could shoot, pass well and play in the post. We might just have a more talented version of that scruffy faced guy who rebounds better and has a bit of attitude thrown in too.
And just to remind some people. If a center is versatile enough to play on the block or shoot from the perimeter, then that is a good thing. Remember that DMC hit a higher percentage of shots than any other player during workouts. He has some perimeter game. I seem to recall a very good center the Kings used to have that could shoot, pass well and play in the post. We might just have a more talented version of that scruffy faced guy who rebounds better and has a bit of attitude thrown in too.
Everybody is talking about Whiteside and Cousins but I really like what I saw out of Ryan Thompson. I noticed he didn't play well for Boston much at all so I wasn't that excited about seeing him out there but he did surprise. I liked his slashing ability and his shot seemed nice, he could also handle the rock well. I hope he keeps it up as I would love for him to get a good shot on making the team and doing the NBA thing with his big bro.
I agree. He was showboating, trying to be Mr Superskill. However, for better or worse, we were up 20-25 at the time and I think he was a little tired which might have made him a little less enthusiastic to bang. I thought in the first half he was making smart fundamental plays and trying to plant his *** down on the block.
I don't think Cousins is a shot blocker, nor will ever be. I give him credit for trying to take the charges though. He's got quick feet, and he's obviously got strength. Eventually he should be good to very guys at keeping guys out of post position. He's not the help defender like Whiteside, and Whitside isn't the one-on-one post defender of Cousins. They look to be perfect complements to each other. It's very fortunate it worked out this way.
I was surprised to see Cousins trying to draw multiple charges. No, he isn't a shot blocker. Much more like Karl Malone's interior D.
I'm not worried about him shooting jumpers either. Looks like the Kings are trying to teach him the high pick and roll which left him straggling out on the perimeter at times. Easily fixable. He will learn to crash the boards more when he runs it with Tyreke - because he probably won't be getting the ball back.
Cousins looked a little sloppy, but Detroit was really focused on him. He will get a ton of open looks, dunks, put backs etc once Tyreke is on the floor. Good times ahead.
I'm not worried about him shooting jumpers either. Looks like the Kings are trying to teach him the high pick and roll which left him straggling out on the perimeter at times. Easily fixable. He will learn to crash the boards more when he runs it with Tyreke - because he probably won't be getting the ball back.
Cousins looked a little sloppy, but Detroit was really focused on him. He will get a ton of open looks, dunks, put backs etc once Tyreke is on the floor. Good times ahead.
It is indeed, because shotblocking is almost a sine qua non of a truly great center. Without it you are talking about maybe a new Brad Daugherty as a high end, and the oddity where your great center is not your defnsive anchor. That's awkward. But maybe doable if Whiteside realizes his potential. Who'd they play next to Daugherty back in the day? Explosive leaper/shotblocker Larry Nance.
Loved Nance - one of the better nicknames at the time "The High-Ayatolla of Slamola". I totally agree he will need a shot blocking specialist alongside for the Kings to have an effective interior team D. He sure is strong and eats rebounds, which is nice.
If one little summer game showed me anything it was that Cousins is not a true center, but a fascinating big man with skills. Cousins isn't Shaq by any stretch as far as centers go, if anything, with Cousins skill set I'd call him more of a PF than anything else on defense. Daugherty is an interesting comparison but I think Cousins is much tougher mentally.
If one little summer game showed me anything it was that Cousins is not a true center, but a fascinating big man with skills. Cousins isn't Shaq by any stretch as far as centers go, if anything, with Cousins skill set I'd call him more of a PF than anything else on defense. Daugherty is an interesting comparison but I think Cousins is much tougher mentally.
Daugherty couldn't block shots at all. Even in college he barely averaged one a game in 30 minutes. Cousins blocked 1.8 per game in 23 minutes last year. I'd say (hope) maybe Cousins would be more like a Moses Malone ceiling, great rebounder and scorer, but just an ok shot blocker. Malone had a few years above 2 bpg, but was mostly around 1.5 or so for his prime.
Obviously, but isn't that more what you expect from a prototype center, to take up space near the basket and stuff shots in his area? Whitesides flying from one side of the floor to the other to erase shots is amazing but the antithesis of that.
Definitely, one SL game isn't enough but after TWO everything's locked in for all time.
But yeah, I guess we'll have to wait until after tonight's game to know for sure.
I think your analogy is a good one for the defensive end. That's why I thought it was ludicrous to think he has superstar potential. But he still can be very good.
Cousins bread is going to be buttered on the offensive end. As I said many times prior to the draft, it's an absolute must that he become a low post scorer who must be double-teamed. That's where his strength is (and rebounding). He's got the feet and the strength to do to be very good in that area, but as we all know, consistent low post scorers are almost extinct in the NBA. Coaches and players just aren't patient enough to develop low post scorers. It's really got be a bigtime commitment on his part and the coaching staff to get him to that point. That's why I can understand Vlade's sensitivity on the subject, even this early in the "season". The last thing I want him doing is shooting outside shots right now. I want Cousins to be extremely boring on offense - inside, inside, inside....
Cousins bread is going to be buttered on the offensive end. As I said many times prior to the draft, it's an absolute must that he become a low post scorer who must be double-teamed. That's where his strength is (and rebounding). He's got the feet and the strength to do to be very good in that area, but as we all know, consistent low post scorers are almost extinct in the NBA. Coaches and players just aren't patient enough to develop low post scorers. It's really got be a bigtime commitment on his part and the coaching staff to get him to that point. That's why I can understand Vlade's sensitivity on the subject, even this early in the "season". The last thing I want him doing is shooting outside shots right now. I want Cousins to be extremely boring on offense - inside, inside, inside....
He absolutely has superstar potential. Brick was saying in the instance of "if" he doesn't have any shotblocking skills, then his ceiling as a great center goes down considerably. But that's a big "if" going off just one summer leage game where his focus seemed to be taking charges.
Just based off college stats and his mobility...I'd peg him for about 1.5 bpg give or take, with maybe a year or two where he jumps up around 2. Not all-world...but he has the potential in his prime to average 24-28 points and lead the league in rebounds along with that.
Keep in mind, that is just potential. He's got a long way to go, but let's not lower his ceiling off of one summer league game.
Just based off college stats and his mobility...I'd peg him for about 1.5 bpg give or take, with maybe a year or two where he jumps up around 2. Not all-world...but he has the potential in his prime to average 24-28 points and lead the league in rebounds along with that.
Keep in mind, that is just potential. He's got a long way to go, but let's not lower his ceiling off of one summer league game.
http://blogs.sacbee.com/sports/kings/archives/2010/07/cousins-attract.html
"I heard from several NBA types - including coaches - who watched the Kings/Pistons game and are ready to anoint Cousins as a franchise player and a top-tier center."
Stupid NBA coaches. Don't they know a journeyman non-center when they see one?
"I heard from several NBA types - including coaches - who watched the Kings/Pistons game and are ready to anoint Cousins as a franchise player and a top-tier center."
Stupid NBA coaches. Don't they know a journeyman non-center when they see one?
I doubt Cousins will be a top 10 shotblocker in the NBA, but I see no reason why he cant average a block+ a game. I mean, Spencer Hawes was #27 in block shots last year among centers, with 1.15 bpg. Add in the fact that Cousins will be much better at keeping guys out of the paint with his strength .. Im not too worried about him on D.
Especially if he is paired with a guy like Dalembert or Whiteside. Both guys are MUCH better weakside blockers than man defenders, so long as Cousins can keep guys from backing him down, the help defender should have enough time to slide over and block shots. This is something Donte Greene was able to do last season too.
One thing to remember about summer league is that, like college, most of the damage is done by guards. I mean .. how many chances did Cousins REALLY get to block a shot? Monroe got the ball in the post what .. like 5 or 6 times all game? The pistons only scored 68 points. Whiteside was getting all of the weakside blocks available anyways.
Not to mention a charge, something Cousins wasnt afraid to go for on multiple occasions, is MUCH better than a blocked shot. You get possession AND the player gets a foul. Im not sure what a good number for 'charges per game' is but if Cousins can average about 1 charge and 1 block per game, and play solid positional defense .. im fine with that.
All that being said, Cousins just isnt the best athlete. He has good quick feet, but he's not the crazy leaper that Dwight Howard or Hassan Whiteside is. I dont see how he can ever be 'that guy' but like I said 100 times in this post, I think his defense will be fine.
Especially if he is paired with a guy like Dalembert or Whiteside. Both guys are MUCH better weakside blockers than man defenders, so long as Cousins can keep guys from backing him down, the help defender should have enough time to slide over and block shots. This is something Donte Greene was able to do last season too.
One thing to remember about summer league is that, like college, most of the damage is done by guards. I mean .. how many chances did Cousins REALLY get to block a shot? Monroe got the ball in the post what .. like 5 or 6 times all game? The pistons only scored 68 points. Whiteside was getting all of the weakside blocks available anyways.
Not to mention a charge, something Cousins wasnt afraid to go for on multiple occasions, is MUCH better than a blocked shot. You get possession AND the player gets a foul. Im not sure what a good number for 'charges per game' is but if Cousins can average about 1 charge and 1 block per game, and play solid positional defense .. im fine with that.
All that being said, Cousins just isnt the best athlete. He has good quick feet, but he's not the crazy leaper that Dwight Howard or Hassan Whiteside is. I dont see how he can ever be 'that guy' but like I said 100 times in this post, I think his defense will be fine.