DeMarcus Cousins

[TheRaven]

I went back and watched both segments of the interview again. There's no doubt he's uncomfortable doing them and justs wants to get them over with. He said as much. One telling statement that he made, was when he said, "when I was a 15 or 16 year old kid, and they were looking at me like I was a man". In a sense, he probably lost part of his childhood. He also appears to be a shy kid inside. His temperment is most likely a defense mechanism. Not that it matters how he got to be who he is right now, because your still stuck with it regardless.

The thing is that there are almost two different DeMarcus Cousins. The one we mostly see is the awkward dude who hates being surrounded by a crowd of media and isn't afraid to make it known. Since the media is the only real window we have into a player's personality, we generally only see that side of him. Then you see the counterpoint at times like with this video where he looks completely comfortable in a smaller setting amongst his friends/teammates, to the point that he interviews random strangers. It is our GM and scouting staff's job to figure out which DeMarcus Cousins we are going to be getting, whether or not we have the right locker room and structure to help him develop as both a man and a player, and whether or not he has the work ethic and drive to fulfill his potential.

 

[bajaden]

Coverage of Cousins at the combine. It ain't pretty.

Full article here: http://www.sbnation.com/2010/5/23/1483227/2010-nba-draft-combine-demarcus-cousins-fails

I'm not defending Cousins on this one. But in the interview that I watched he admitted that he was basicly putting up with the interviews with the press. He also said that he didn't mind the team interviews because he wanted to let them get to know him and answer their questions. How the team interviews went I have no idea, and I suspect the author of the article has no idea either. But I'm sure he has no problem speculating.

I trust journalists about as much as I can throw a 1 ton boulder. Here's why. On a cold sunday morning in March a long time ago, my stepson was killed in a rice field in a hunting accident. He was standing right next to his mother when a dog stepped on a shotgun and it went off instantly killing him. It could have been me or my wife. But on that morning, god chose him.

That same day, or that evening at home the phone kept ringing off the hook. I was trying to get my head on straight to try and comfort my wife who was curled up in a ball on the bed. On the phone, every call I got was from the Sacramento Bee or the, then Sacramento Union, or Channel 3, or 10, 0r 13, or any other vulture infested organization that was out there. They wanted to talk to his Mom or me. They didn't give a damm about me or my wife, or the dead boy. They only cared about the story. Sorry, but to this day they are the scum of the earth to me.

And here's the ironic part. None of them. Not one single newspaper or news channel got the story right. Not one!!!!! So excuse me if I don't trust what some sports journalists writes. For all I know Cousins blew him off and now he has an axe to grind. I don't know, and frankly I don't care. I watched the interviews that were available and I think I'm capable of deciding on my own how well Cousins did or didn't do.

 

[bajaden]

http://www.nba.com/2010/news/featur.../22/draft.combine/index.html#?ls=iref:nbahpt1

This is basicly what I said. That I'm not that concerned with his immaturity. But I'am concerned with his dedication, or perhaps, lack there of. And I'm not saying that he has a problem in that area. Its just that I don't know for sure. I watched him play a lot, and I'm not going to tell you that there weren't moments where it looked like he was coasting for a bit. But I can say that I never saw him coast when the game was on the line or when it was a game that was very contested.

How much of his coasting was lack of conditioning, and how much was mental I don't know, and I'll leave it up to Petrie and company to decide that.

 

[pshn80]

How much of his coasting was lack of conditioning, and how much was mental I don't know, and I'll leave it up to Petrie and company to decide that.

I will too. I basically don't like the idea of drafting Cousins partly because I don't believe I would enjoy watching him on the team even if he is great. Just my personal preference but I am confident in Petrie and company, so whatever they do is OK with me.

 

[fnordius]

I will too. I basically don't like the idea of drafting Cousins partly because I don't believe I would enjoy watching him on the team even if he is great. Just my personal preference but I am confident in Petrie and company, so whatever they do is OK with me.

My reasoning behind posting a link to that article had nothing to do with the opinions of the press, but rather the opinions of his teammates.

"Unpredictable," Orton described Cousins as. "After a while you can kinda predict what he's going to do, you can kind of read him as a person after a while, when he's going to get mad."
"If you step back and kind of laugh at it, you can kinda laugh at him really," Orton went on to say. "It's like watching a little kid throwing a temper tantrum, but it's a big little kid so you gotta kinda control it before he gets way out of hand. He might hurt somebody to tell you the truth."

But I agree about leaving it to Petrie, not because I think Geoff's infallible or anything, but just because he gets to deal with the candidates first hand. That's an advantage which will always give him at least a theoretical edge over fans in situations like this.

 

[Chupacabra]

lol good lord that was terrible.

 

[Fear the Putin]

I can care less about his maturity level right now.

All I care about is if he has the hunger to be an absolute beast. If he has that nasty streak inside to chop off heads. THAT'S what I care about.

He is 19 years old for crying out loud. He's still technically a "teen". Boo hoo he's not mature. Many men are still immature at the age of 23.

Time will solve the maturity level especially if it's in a good environment like ours.

 

[Chupacabra]

Im really starting to believe Cousins is going to interview himself out of the top 4 picks and be available to us. I mean, with all of the media playing up his "questionable demeanor" and then for him to go out and give interviews like what i saw...its very possible he slips enough for us to grab him. Hopefully Petrie has the clarity of vision to draft him.

 

[Sparky6string]

Im really starting to believe Cousins is going to interview himself out of the top 4 picks and be available to us. I mean, with all of the media playing up his "questionable demeanor" and then for him to go out and give interviews like what i saw...its very possible he slips enough for us to grab him. Hopefully Petrie has the clarity of vision to draft him.

I think our boy is trying to avoid Minnesota at all costs.

He may not be a rocket surgeon but he ain't exactly all that bright neither.

 

[Smills91]

The dropoff in talent from the fourth pick to the fifth is HUGE imo... I don't see Cousins falling past four but stranger things have happened I guess.

You're wrong. The drop off is around 6-7. Both Johnson and Monroe will be players. Aminu might as well. So I'd say the proverbial 'drop-off starts around 6-7 but there will still be a lot high quality talent later in the draft like Henry, J. Anderson and Paul George.

 

[joemama]

Minnesota likes Cousins

Based on Kahn's interview yesterday on NBATV. All Kahn (minny's GM) said was he was concerned of the length of L.A. and Portland, so it seems logical that he/minny go for cousins. We all need to look beyond wall, turner, favors, and cousins

 

[Sparky6string]

Take Johnson, try to trade for Aldrich on draft day.

 

[roasthawg]

Based on Kahn's interview yesterday on NBATV. All Kahn (minny's GM) said was he was concerned of the length of L.A. and Portland, so it seems logical that he/minny go for cousins. We all need to look beyond wall, turner, favors, and cousins

I agree... those are the top four picks right there in that order. We have to move up to get Cousins.

 

[D13]

Based on Kahn's interview yesterday on NBATV. All Kahn (minny's GM) said was he was concerned of the length of L.A. and Portland, so it seems logical that he/minny go for cousins. We all need to look beyond wall, turner, favors, and cousins

Kahn's a moron. He isn't gonna have to worry about competing with those teams for years to be concerned about bigs... not to mention what the heck is wrong with Al Jef and Love?

Minnie needs shooting bad (which if they want to worry about LA and Portland is a concern), but Kahn will pick Cousins anyway. Then he'll stick him in their log jam at center for a while, which won't help his attitude at all... All while they search for the perfect trade for Big Al that'll drag out till everyones disgruntled.

Kahn should be fired if he doesn't nail this draft and move the Wolves is a more positive direction. I really hope he leaves Johnson to us. It'll be fun to watch the fireworks.

 

[bajaden]

Kahn's a moron. He isn't gonna have to worry about competing with those teams for years to be concerned about bigs... not to mention what the heck is wrong with Al Jef and Love?

Minnie needs shooting bad (which if they want to worry about LA and Portland is a concern), but Kahn will pick Cousins anyway. Then he'll stick him in their log jam at center for a while, which won't help his attitude at all... All while they search for the perfect trade for Big Al that'll drag out till everyones disgruntled.

Kahn should be fired if he doesn't nail this draft and move the Wolves is a more positive direction. I really hope he leaves Johnson to us. It'll be fun to watch the fireworks.

From everything I read in the Minny newspapers, they're leaning hard toward Johnson. And to be honest, they need help on the perimeter more than they need help at center. There's little doubt that they were going to take Turner if they had stayed a 2. So there's not reason to think they won't take Johnson. I mean if your willing to pass up Cousins and Favors at the 2 spot in order to get perimeter help, why not at the 4 spot? Actually less pressure on you there.

 

[TheRaven]

Based on Kahn's interview yesterday on NBATV. All Kahn (minny's GM) said was he was concerned of the length of L.A. and Portland, so it seems logical that he/minny go for cousins. We all need to look beyond wall, turner, favors, and cousins

I wouldn't put much stock in what any GM says this time of year. Whether they actually like Cousins or not, Minny has an incentive to say positive things about him and try to spread positive rumors. Doing so could boost the value of their #4 pick since they probably would love for a team to fall in love with Cousins and trade up. Then they could move down a spot or two and still pick up a good outside shooter or a defensive role-playing center like Aldrich to play next to Jefferson or Love.

 

[mr. moustache]

Travvvvvvy!!!!!!!!

Oh my. Seafood diet my a$$. Hopefully that poster is an imposter.

---
http://twitter.com/boogiecousins

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Breakfast at da waffle house 20 sausage biscuits ...hold up excuse ma'am what come on a sausage biscuit???!!! Travvvvvyyyyyy!!! 9:16 PM Jun 3rd via Twitterrific

Staying the night in atl ...hope it's a waffle house nearby

 

[sc3252]

Wow, that is dumb, is he that dumb??? If that was really him, I do not want him even with the 8th pick.

 

[ElRey]

I see him sliding the same way Paul Pierce did during his draft year when he reportedly came into the draft overweight. But I don't remember there being that many questions about Pierce's character as there is for Cousins this year.


Cousins' agent is not doing a good job.

 

[beb0p]

If I'm Khan, I'll take Cousins and give myself a high-five. Use the #16 pick on a wing player but there is no excuse for not taking a 6'-11 center with 20-10 potential when my starting center is Darko Millicic. Will Cousins fit with Love or Jefferson? I dont know and I don't care, take Cousins and figure out the rest later.

Now, it's possible that Khan pull some magic and move up to the #2 spot, but whoever lands at #4 is still going to take Cousins. How can anyone turn down a 20-10 center for Wesley Johnson? I just don't see it. No matter how immature Cousins is, he's still the best center prospect since Greg Oden.

The wing is the easiest position to fill while the center position is next to impossible. Sure, I'd love for the Kings to draft Cousins but I've come to terms that barring some miracle, Cousins is not going to be there.

.

 

[bajaden]

If I'm Khan, I'll take Cousins and give myself a high-five. Use the #16 pick on a wing player but there is no excuse for not taking a 6'-11 center with 20-10 potential when my starting center is Darko Millicic. Will Cousins fit with Love or Jefferson? I dont know and I don't care, take Cousins and figure out the rest later.

Now, it's possible that Khan pull some magic and move up to the #2 spot, but whoever lands at #4 is still going to take Cousins. How can anyone turn down a 20-10 center for Wesley Johnson? I just don't see it. No matter how immature Cousins is, he's still the best center prospect since Greg Oden.

The wing is the easiest position to fill while the center position is next to impossible. Sure, I'd love for the Kings to draft Cousins but I've come to terms that barring some miracle, Cousins is not going to be there.

.

Were in agreement. I think Cousins has the potential to be a star in the league. whether he will or not is up to him. But the potential is certainly there. I hope your wrong about The T Wolves taking him at 4, but my gut tells me your right.

 

[Widowmaker2k]

Cousins would be my first choice, should he fall to us. In the Pacific, we'll have to deal with Bynum, Oden, and Griffin for a lot of years, and it would be nice to have a serious player up front (who happens to be huge). I would like to echo the sentiment that he probably will be gone already, though.

 

[SacKings7]

Cousins would be my first choice, should he fall to us. In the Pacific, we'll have to deal with Bynum, Oden, and Griffin for a lot of years, and it would be nice to have a serious player up front (who happens to be huge). I would like to echo the sentiment that he probably will be gone already, though.

Oden's not in the Pacific division, but I agree with the rest of your post. I'm hoping Kahn pulls a...well, Kahn and takes Wesley Johnson, but I just don't see it happening

 

[mr. moustache]

I'd prefer Cousins too, but seriously; his gravy/waffle tweeting doesn't have me impressed with his draft preparation.

 

[sono]

Oh my. Seafood diet my a$$. Hopefully that poster is an imposter.

---
http://twitter.com/boogiecousins

---
Breakfast at da waffle house 20 sausage biscuits ...hold up excuse ma'am what come on a sausage biscuit???!!! Travvvvvyyyyyy!!! 9:16 PM Jun 3rd via Twitterrific

Staying the night in atl ...hope it's a waffle house nearby

Send that link to T.Wolves' FO.

 

[UK_King]

his latest tweet.

"Graduated from hungry and made it to greedy!"

i bet he means he's hungry for success but i can't help but see him at the waffles.

 

[Sparky6string]

Graduated? He finished that course in 5 days, but I bet he finished the course of biscuits in 5 mins.

 

[ParniValjak]

This might be just me but there is no way in hell I see Petrie picking Cousins! He is just SO different to what Petrie looks for. A greatly talented big man but a few penny's short by all accounts.

And with the Artest drama all too recent, I don't see Petrie taking a risk on Cousins. Lets face it, there has been NOTHING positive said about his character or his work ethic for the entire year and if this draft were based purely on talent, he goes top 2 no doubt!

Hopefully we can somehow work a trade for Favors!

 

[Widowmaker2k]

This might be just me but there is no way in hell I see Petrie picking Cousins! He is just SO different to what Petrie looks for. A greatly talented big man but a few penny's short by all accounts.

And with the Artest drama all too recent, I don't see Petrie taking a risk on Cousins. Lets face it, there has been NOTHING positive said about his character or his work ethic for the entire year and if this draft were based purely on talent, he goes top 2 no doubt!

Hopefully we can somehow work a trade for Favors!

I have to disagree to some extent. Petrie has a history of acquiring bad attitudes with the hopes that the franchise can turn them around. Webber, Bonzi, Artest, Keon (who lost it after he left), Jim Jackson (?). I'm not saying Cousins is a Petrie type pick, but I don't think his attitude would scare Geoff off.

 

[pdxKingsFan]

But all those bad attitude guys turned around under Adelman. I am not sure PW is up to the task, I'm also not sure Cousins is anywhere near as bad as he is being made out to be which is why even though I don't think Cousins is a Petrie guy I hope if he drops to us we nab him because without the questions about his head and committment he would be seriously considered with the #1 pick.

All the Coleman what ifs, if Coleman had been drafted 5th in 1990 I think his career would be viewed much differently than drafted first overall because that #1 carries so much baggage.