You can't have it both ways. Were the Kings playing above .500 due to coaching, or Cousins? If it was coaching, then you have to acknowledge that their current scheme cannot succeed with their personnel.A lot of people thought Kevin Love was a top 5 player before he went to a team that had good talent......Also again excuses about the roster tell me who on the 18-17 Bucks who are missing 3 starters (Parker/Larry/Ersan) would be a starter on "most" NBA team's as you like to say? Is Zaza/Greek Freak/Middleton/Knight/Rookie PF/Henson better than what we have?
A lot of bad teams come hard out of the game the Lakers last year without Kobe were 9-9, it's what bad teams do they come out hard that about 20-30 games they realise who they are that's the difference between good and bad teams.
If it's Cousins, then you have to acknowledge that this style of play does not suit his skillset.
You can't blame Malone for his style of coaching AND blame Cousins for his current play (I'm not even bringing up his health.)
There is no direct fix with our current situation. "Play harder" just means "move faster in the wrong direction."