Honestly, I've been Watching him closely this season and it actually made me question if he's trying to get traded or not.
Game 1 - Pick a fight with Devin Booker
I don't understand...
Go and watch the 3rd quarter vs the heat and tell me if you feel his effort was great and I'll shut up about it...I literally just watched him and his effort was disgusting....and then he was pulled by Dave joeger.
His one on one defense in isolations is fantastic, his defense guarding pick and rolls is poor and the reason he was moved to the bench in the Olympics, I think thats the point he was trying to make. He was pretty good at pick and roll defense in the Malone days, not sure about reason for regression. At the end of the Minnesota game Thibs was exclusively running Wiggins/Towns pick and roll until Joerger switched Barnes onto Towns and we were able to handle it better.
There he is surrounded by elite talent and coached by elite coaches, another fish in the pond representing his country. Here he is the Megaladon of the Sacramento Kings.
I think the guy carries the team and this year Rudy is also a big piece. I think others cost us way more than Cousins. I wish Cousins could keep it in control better but he doesn't and I accept it as who he is. I don't believe he destroys team morale as these are professionals and not middle school or high school kids. I don't go into each game thread ready to jump on any one player in particular unlike many others here who just go on there and bang that tired drum. I think those who believe that Cousins is the main reason for our bad seasons are way off base and have an axe to grind because they just can't stand him.....so be it. I've read your posts, couldn't disagree with you more and that is fine, you can click ignore, you wouldn't be the first.
This post is a joke...So your response is to question my history as a Kings fans? I was born and raised in SAC...have been a Kings fans all my life.Yes, of course, that's what everyone is telling you to do.
An honest question....are you currently living in sacramento or have a history with the city? I'm legitimately curious. I no longer live in sac but grew up there. Was a fanatic from day one. Unfortunately, college and work took me away just when we started our "glory years" in the early 2000's, but I remained a fan. I remained a fan when they took a deep dive into oblivion over the last 10 years. I've lived in the bay area and now seattle. So you ask, why the hell would I keep following this loser of a team? Because I am a Sacramentan at heart. And why would I put up with all of Cousins' behavior issues? You know why? Because Demarcus legitimately seems to love Sacramento just as I do. He feels like "one of us". He's doing great things in the community and, and oh, by the way he's also a top 10 player in the league that possibly will go down as a hall of famer. He has put up with so much crap in his career here. Some of it self imposed, but the vast majority due to an unbelievably inept organization. You don't think he could have gone to the organization before this year and requested a trade? He could have done that privately or publicly and the vast majority of the country would think he's justified. But he didn't. Because he loves the city and he wants to succeed here. Could that change tomorrow? Maybe. Probably? But as of right now he's a Sacramentan. That makes me super proud of him and the city, just like I'm proud of the Golden 1 and all the attention it's given the city. Am I going to give him a free pass on some of the crap he pulls on the court that annoys me? Damn right.
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Think about it like if its in your work environment, if there was a guy that was great at his job but was constantly nagging and complaining, yelling at your manager from clock in time to clock out time, would it not rub you the wrong way? I find it hard to believe that at least on the court some teammates don't get annoyed with Cousin's antics. Especially him being so good and coddled by the organization that you can't really do much to confront issues with him.
It's fitting you bring up the ignore button, cus that's what you and some fans like to do with Cousins' faults.
I didn't ask anyone why they like boogie. It's fine that you do. I like boogie too.[/quote]
I think if Cousins stopped whining and complaining after every call and focused on the game for 48 minutes it would be the difference from a 35 win team to a 50 win team, with the team as currently constructed. He is that talented that if he just corrected his one major flaw he instantly enters the category of "if he's on your team you win 50 games". It not only boosts his game but teammates will give more effort when they see their best player giving it his all for the team. That doesn't excuse the bad drafting, revolving doors of players, coaches and front office personnel of the franchise, but its the one thing that seems like can be adressed in the here and now, its up to Demarcus because I think its pretty clear this is a do or die season for him in SAC.
I
He had zero fouls going into the 3rd quarter. I still question his effort on his defensive rotations. I agree with the officiating.[/quote]
so I think you're saying, no fouls going into the 3rd = bad cousins defense. Officiating good = deserved to foul out in the 4th. but....oh, nevermind....
And I thought I thought Cuz was talented. I mean, basically you are saying he's Top 10 All-Time without the complaining. Its kind of a backhand way to compliment a guy but I'm sure his agent thanks you. 
so I think you're saying, no fouls going into the 3rd = bad cousins defense. Officiating good = deserved to foul out in the 4th. but....oh, nevermind....[/quote]
Pretty much, if you stick the brain of say a Chris Paul into the body and talent of Demarcus Cousins you have a top 5 current player without question. Your stats are nice but just sitting back and observing things you can notice thr human variables that affect things. Paul is basically Cousins in that he is a fiery competitor, complains to the refs, key with him is he knows when and how to do it and he doesnt let referee calls and other players take him off of his game. Cousins mentally is walking on stilts and can lose balance at any given moment.Wow.
Charles Barkley spent years winning less than that on a lost Philly franchise (5 out of 6 years in the late 80s/early 90s), and he's Top 20 all time.
Moses Malone actually won an MVP winning 42 I think it was. Top 20.
after his MVP, KG's Wolves went into a tailspin and he spent years winning 20-30 something games until the Boston trade. Top 20ish
after Sampson's knees disintegrated, Hakeem spent half a decade out in the sub-50 win wilderness before the MVP years. Maybe just outside Top 10 now.
Big O spent much of his career winning less than 50. Top 10 guy.
Ewing was sub 50 wins 5 of his first 6 seasons
Realistically, few of the Top 10 guys themselves even ever put the theory to the test. Magic Johnson never had to prove he could do that, nor Larry Bird, nor Bill Russell. They were always on stacked teams.
DeMarcus Cousins scored 1748 points last year. He gave up 16 points to technicals. I doubt every technical cost us a game.
He's also carrying a +24.5 On/Off right now, with all the complaining. Its virtually impossible to improve on such a massive number (indeed it will almost surely drop to more reasonable levels as the season goes on). For comparison Steph won MVP last year with an insane +22.2. This year LeBron is at a +9.5, Westbrook +18.1, Davis -7.7(!), and Harden...well Harden is at an even more comic book level +38.7.
The problem with complaining about Cuz's demeanor has never been the observation that his demeanor is bad, its in making the all too human mistake of wildly WILDY overstating its importance and missing the forest for the trees.
Yes reputation plays a role in some situations but Cousins and Artest have more than earned theirs.
I was unable to include the hundreds of other players in the NBA.
