Cousins Back for Team USA

Mod note: Comments concerning Cousins are still here. Comments concerning other players, or the game at large, have been moved to the [Game] thread in the NBA Forum.
 
hrdboild said:
Boogie does play defense. In fact, he's actually pretty good at it. He's not a freak athlete like Howard or Davis and maybe he doesn't produce the same quantity of highlight reel defensive plays, but he's a steady contributor who uses his bulk to create leverage in the post and has quicker hands and feet than you'd expect from a guy his size. 1.3 bpg last season puts him in good company (Marc Gasol and Chris Anderson - 1.3, Taj Gibson and Josh Smith - 1.4, Derrick Favors and Joakim Noah - 1.5) and he averaged more steals and more rebounds per game than all of those guys. In fact, only Howard, Love, Drummond, and Jordan averaged more rebounds last season and the only big who averaged more steals was Paul Millsap. Every defensive metric shows Cousins was the best defender on the team last year by a wide margin, which should have been obvious to anyone who was watching the games. He turned a corner big time last year yet a lot of people continue to judge him on the basis of his first three seasons.
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Blocks and steals? Really? I KNOW you know better than that.

I'm saying, it would make more sense if they went and grabbed a Joakim Noah or Roy Hibbert.A proven, elite, defensive stalwart who doesn't care about shots on offense. That would at least make sense with how USA basketball has operated the past decade. They simply just haven't taken a low-post scorer like Cuz.

And while I like Mason Plumlee in the future as a player, he's simply just not USA basketball material. It's like inviting Jason Thompson to the USA basketball squad. What's funny is he's not even the best NBA player in his family; Miles just got done having a great year in PHX
 
Plumlee allowed Cousins to feast at the line. Am I crazy or are all these hard fouls by Plumlee out of place on an intra-squad game like this?
 
King Baller said:
Plumlee allowed Cousins to feast at the line. Am I crazy or are all these hard fouls by Plumlee out of place on an intra-squad game like this?
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Cousins get's hacked hard religiously, players know they can't compete with him so they resort to those sort of things, imo I doubt he feels it he's so use to it. What else is Plumlee or any other big man on the team USA squad going to do against him?
 
The_Jamal said:
Blocks and steals? Really? I KNOW you know better than that.

I'm saying, it would make more sense if they went and grabbed a Joakim Noah or Roy Hibbert.A proven, elite, defensive stalwart who doesn't care about shots on offense. That would at least make sense with how USA basketball has operated the past decade. They simply just haven't taken a low-post scorer like Cuz.

And while I like Mason Plumlee in the future as a player, he's simply just not USA basketball material. It's like inviting Jason Thompson to the USA basketball squad. What's funny is he's not even the best NBA player in his family; Miles just got done having a great year in PHX
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I don't have access to or know how to get Sloan conference style FG% allowed numbers. But every stat I do have access to says Cousins was an above average defender last year so I went with what I have. But really I don't think we disagree, I just took issue with your wording. Cousins isn't a bad defender but he's also not a defensive anchor. Not yet anyway. I wonder whether a few years in Thibodeau's system would completely turn that perception around. In any case, it appears right now that team USA brass is afraid an offensively skilled pivot will just get in the way of their uptempo system. That's junk ball to me. If you can't find a way to use a player as gifted as Cousins in your offense than you shouldn't be a basketball coach. And I say that even as a 100% defense first all the time believer.
 
hrdboild said:
I don't have access to or know how to get Sloan conference style FG% allowed numbers. But every stat I do have access to says Cousins was an above average defender last year so I went with what I have. But really I don't think we disagree, I just took issue with your wording. Cousins isn't a bad defender but he's also not a defensive anchor. Not yet anyway. I wonder whether a few years in Thibodeau's system would completely turn that perception around. In any case, it appears right now that team USA brass is afraid an offensively skilled pivot will just get in the way of their uptempo system. That's junk ball to me. If you can't find a way to use a player as gifted as Cousins in your offense than you shouldn't be a basketball coach. And I say that even as a 100% defense first all the time believer.
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When he tries he is for sure he always shows glimpses of imo having the ability to be one of the better man to man defenders in the NBA, he's got a similar sort of heavy body type to Kendrick Perkins but with more length/agility (superior athlete off course), that kind of body type is near impossible to move (prime Perkins was a great defender with a shot blocker next to him in KG) and his hands are elite when it comes to anything with them. It's just comes to to effort/stamina which I think he's still got a way to go on but has improved.
 
Obviously the George accident lessens the import of Cousin's plight. Still, I have to say that I thought Cousins effort and attitude were swell, but if he is left off the team I don't think it qualifies as a crime. Like we learned with Isaiah it's about fit. He definitely had a body presence last night, but it was also evident his speed was not at the level of anyone else on the team. He grabs balls with authority, but also gets jumped over and out-quicked for rebounds and occasionally lost on defense. Glad the Kings have him for the NBA, but don't think there is a conspiracy if he's not chosen. Plumlee looked like a nervous wreck in the first half, but was also everywhere in the 3rd Quarter. Drummond and Faried weren't awful. Cousins could prove a more usable piece just in case and it would be nice, but there were not any stiffs on the court last night. All excellent players.
 
LA King Fan II said:
Obviously the George accident lessens the import of Cousin's plight. Still, I have to say that I thought Cousins effort and attitude were swell, but if he is left off the team I don't think it qualifies as a crime. Like we learned with Isaiah it's about fit. He definitely had a body presence last night, but it was also evident his speed was not at the level of anyone else on the team. He grabs balls with authority, but also gets jumped over and out-quicked for rebounds and occasionally lost on defense. Glad the Kings have him for the NBA, but don't think there is a conspiracy if he's not chosen. Plumlee looked like a nervous wreck in the first half, but was also everywhere in the 3rd Quarter. Drummond and Faried weren't awful. Cousins could prove a more usable piece just in case and it would be nice, but there were not any stiffs on the court last night. All excellent players.
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I disagree, it would be criminal, it would be a Duke coach picking a Former Duke player. All are excellent players but Cuz is an elite big man. Out-quicked and out-jumped for rebounds? Maybe at times but which big man doesn't have that happen. Is there any big man there that is more than a physical presence down low than Cuz? Maybe Drummond but the difference in offense is great.

I think you drank the Kool-Aid being spewed by K and Colangelo about fit. Plumlee does very little if anything better than Cuz. Why wouldn't you want at least one post scoring option in case your outside shots aren't falling. Why wouldn't you want the presence down low to help open it up for the spacers?

Plumlee is about the 6th best big out of those guys which puts him about last.
 
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LA King Fan II said:
Obviously the George accident lessens the import of Cousin's plight. Still, I have to say that I thought Cousins effort and attitude were swell, but if he is left off the team I don't think it qualifies as a crime. Like we learned with Isaiah it's about fit. He definitely had a body presence last night, but it was also evident his speed was not at the level of anyone else on the team. He grabs balls with authority, but also gets jumped over and out-quicked for rebounds and occasionally lost on defense. Glad the Kings have him for the NBA, but don't think there is a conspiracy if he's not chosen. Plumlee looked like a nervous wreck in the first half, but was also everywhere in the 3rd Quarter. Drummond and Faried weren't awful. Cousins could prove a more usable piece just in case and it would be nice, but there were not any stiffs on the court last night. All excellent players.
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Pretty much agree with this. Good news is the USA Team will be playing against slower competition, not all of the amazing rabbits flying around like last night. One thing Cousins does to impress me is even if it doesn't seem like he's doing a lot, you look at the stats and he has 12pts and 13reb.

Even if Plumlee's fits K's vision of the team better, he isn't better than Brow and Drummond. Cousins would/will come in very handy in situations.
 
Another thing I noticed about Cousins last night is that when an outside shot went up, he usually had inside offensive rebounding position, but much to his surprise most of those went in... quite different than his Kings experience last season. ;)
 
Lets see Cousins only had 11 points and 11 rebounds and clearly outplayed anyone he faced. I guess you could choose one of the other Bigs with a double-double last night.

If Cousins is not chosen I will have lost a lot of respect for Team USA. I'm sorry for those of you that disagree. methinks the Coach K koolaid is laced with a supreme soft sell approach that you have taken hook, line and sinker.
 
I just hope that if cousins is left off the team the media doesn't start bringing cousins attitude up as the reason he was left off. That same song and dance is getting old.
 
Do you think he has a second thought about bowing out of this World Cup after PG's injury? What if it could have been him? Could've lost his future dream and some cheddar. If you want to stay with USA, "take it easy Boogie, play injury free".
 
TonyTouch21 said:
Do you think he has a second thought about bowing out of this World Cup after PG's injury? What if it could have been him? Could've lost his future dream and some cheddar. If you want to stay with USA, "take it easy Boogie, play injury free".
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Cousins has a guaranteed contract, so that part isn't in question. As far as losing his future dreams go, from what he's said, playing for Team USA is part of his dream.
 
Unfortunately, injury risk is part of playing basketball.
Paul George could have had this injury playing in Drew League, at Rucker Park or in any of these unorganized basketball exhibitions that many NBA players do during summertime.
I prefer DMC training seriously with some of the best NBA players and playing a high level competition in the World Cup.
Same risk, much more benefits.
 
Thought the Voison interview was very good. Cousins really sounds wyth the program, both the National team's and ours. Sounds like he is on the cusp of making it or not. I wish him good luck on making the team but
I'll offer him a big vote of confidence if he doesn't.
 
Tetsujin said:
Voisin has a new Q&A with Boogie in today's Bee.

http://www.sacbee.com/2014/08/02/6601062/ailene-voisin-a-qa-with-kings.html

Certainly not earth-shattering stuff but I always have loved how candid Cuz is compared to some of the other stars in the NBA. Just like us, Cuz definitely wasn't a fan of the Maloof era.
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it's really hard not to admire the strides that big cuz has made since the vivek ranadive got to town last year. i have my criticisms of the new regime's strategies thus far, but their influence on cousins' attitude is clear, and it is nothing but an absolute positive. demarcus sounds absolutely ready to catapult himself into the uppermost tier of the nba, and with his passion and determination, it's bound to happen; as he continues to learn how best to corral his emotions on the court, and as he continues to develop on both sides of the ball, he's going to earn the respect and recognition he both wants and deserves. and it's going to be fun to watch...
 
That interview was great. Cousins seems positively PSYCHED to be a King. Absolutely behind the FO, excited about the future, a fan of our rookies...The franchise has come a long way, and has a long way to go, but, as Padrino just said, its fun to be on the upswing again.

Cant wait until next season. Dude is going to destroy everyone. Its insane that he puts up 22/12/3/1.5/1.5, and here we all are waiting for him to get even BETTER, because we know the kid (23!) has barely scratched the surface.

Feels good to have a franchise cornerstone again.
 
http://www.sheridanhoops.com/2014/0...s-three-things-you-didnt-know-about-team-usa/

By Bobby Gonzalez

Since Andre Drummond did not have a good scrimmage whatsoever, it would appear to me that the other five bigs will make the cut – and Plumlee will be one of them. Anthony Davis can start at center or power forward, DeMarcus Cousins is too good to cut, and Paul Millsap and Kenneth Faried give Coach K a pair of big bodies in reserve for those nights when the opposing team sends out a front line of big, burly brutes.
Read more at http://www.sheridanhoops.com/2014/0...idnt-know-about-team-usa/#47sVoC6mry37Qtrb.99
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Why would they take Faried over Drummond? Plumlee literally would not make the roster of half the Euro teams. I doubt he would make the Australian one either when they are fully healthy.
 
Čarolija said:
Err.....Millsap and Faried are both 6'8"! Gasol brother are both 7'0" + and they are not the only country who have 7 footers on their team.

Got to love sheridan hoops! :D
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Yeah. Not exactly where he got the whole "Faried and Millsap are big bodies" narrative from. If 6'8" is big-bodied, then Cuz is practically a house.

International ball isn't D-2 college hoops.
 
Tetsujin said:
Voisin has a new Q&A with Boogie in today's Bee.

http://www.sacbee.com/2014/08/02/6601062/ailene-voisin-a-qa-with-kings.html

Certainly not earth-shattering stuff but I always have loved how candid Cuz is compared to some of the other stars in the NBA. Just like us, Cuz definitely wasn't a fan of the Maloof era.
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I think this is perhaps Cousins best interview to date. The excerpt below goes a long way in explaining "Position-less Basketball" :

Cousins said:

"Yeah, I think so. I was always taught (that) the ball, when passed, moves faster than the body. There were times when I played for Otis Hughley in high school, I would rebound and outlet the ball, and it was bam, bam, bam, we ran and we scored. Kentucky, same thing. Then I get to the Kings, and I’m standing in the low post, and everybody’s standing around, watching me, or dribbling the ball, and maybe we get a shot off or maybe not. And we got so caught up in labels, “Well, he’s a power forward, so he can’t do that.” Or, “He’s a shooting guard, so he can’t do that.” I’m like … take advantage of our (versatility). And we are getting more versatile players who really think the game. Man, I just love Sacramento. I am so happy to be a part of this."

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2014/08/02/6601062/ailene-voisin-a-qa-with-kings.html#storylink=cpy
 
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