Playoffs?
- Thread starter rexb_kings
- Start date
Sac.Kings
All-Star
Why is that so far fetched? He isn't top 5 in my mind at this moment because of the lack of winning (again, not just his fault, primarily ours), but if we win this season he has to at least be in the discussion. You're talking about a guy that was top 5-6 in scoring, top 3 rebounding, top 10 in blocks, and in the top 3 (maybe #1) in steals for a big man. He also averaged 3.6 apg on a team that couldn't hit an outside shot to save its life and next to nothing in terms of role-players. This is one talented and large human being. If we win 45+ next season, he WILL be known as the best center in the league. He has been for 2 seasons now, but the complaints were 1) immature and hot-headed (90% solved now) 2) Not an all-star player (solved) 3) Not a winner. Only problem #3 exists and is the sole reason he isn't known as the best center in the league. Statistically, he blows away Marc Gasol.
Bosnian Diehard
Starter
If we regularly win 50 games per year, he'll become an MVP candidate imo. This would make him a top-5 NBA player.
Bricklayer
Don't Make Me Use The Bat
and others just have no clue what they are watching.
There are in fact no more than 8-9 candidates for the Top 5 in the entire league. There are some second tier guys that ignoramuses like to throw into the top crew, but no, there's a pretty distinct break.
here is your list:
LeBron James
Kevin Durant (if he's himself after the injuries)
Stephen Curry
Anthony Davis
Russel Westbrook
Chris Paul
DeMarcus Cousins
James Harden
and then if, and only if, you factor in his playoffs and consider that to be the real Blake: Blake Griffin
The next grouping begins with Aldridge, Gasol, George (if he's himself after the injury), Kyrie, Lillard, Wall etc. The not quite superstars. Who knows what Love is now.
Statistically the group is distinctly superior:
James 25.3pts 6.0reb 7.4ast 1.6stl 0.7blk 3.9TO 25.9PER
Durant N/A
SCurry 23.8pts 4.3reb 7.7ast 2.0stl 0.2blk 3.1TO 28.0PER
ADavis 24.4pts 10.2reb 2.2ast 1.5stl 2.9blk 1.4TO 30.8PER
Westbrk 28.1pts 7.3reb 8.6ast 2.1stl 0.2blk 4.4TO 29.1PER
ChrPaul 19.1pts 4.6reb 10.2ast 1.9stl 0.2blk 2.3TO 26.0PER
Cousins 24.1pts 12.7reb 3.6ast 1.5stl 1.7blk 4.3TO 25.2PER
Harden 27.4pts 5.7reb 7.0ast 1.9stl 0.7blk 4.0TO 26.7PER
no other player in the league notched better than a 22.8PER. There have been 177 total seasons of 25+ PER in the 68yr history of the league. So on average you get about 2 1/2 or so. This year we had 7 spectacular seasons.
You could of course also just note that Boogie was 2nd Team All NBA while being clearly superior to the guy who made First Team:
14-15 Cousins 34.1min 24.1pts (.545TS%) 12.7reb 3.6ast 1.5stl 1.7blk 4.3TO
14-15 MGasol 33.2min 17.4pts (.558TS%) 7.8reb 3.8ast 0.9stl 1.6blk 2.2TO
slotting him in even by sloppy media vote into the top 6-10, and realistically belonging among the Top 5.
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kingsboi
Hall of Famer
Thank you. Fans keep spitting out he's top 5 all ready and not taking into account wins here...that's why I said this season all the pressure is on DeMarcus, despite what people want to say. He has something to prove and he should prove why he belongs in the elite category of NBA players and not just all-star players. Winning will take care of a lot of negativity that's been surrounding him.
Bricklayer
Don't Make Me Use The Bat
Shhh, he's so close anything will do. Stephen Curry was nobody's MVP until this year and then pop. Boogie's a clear Top 10 player who can make a Top 5 argument at any moment.
Age 24:
2014-15 Cousins: 34.1min 24.1pts (.545TS%) 12.7reb 3.6ast 1.5stl 1.7blk 4.3TO 25.2PER
1996-97 O'Neal: 38.1min 26.2pts (.556TS%) 12.5reb 3.1ast 0.9stl 2.9blk 2.9TO 27.1PER
1986-87 Hakeem: 36.8min 23.4pts (.554TS%) 11.4reb 2.9ast 1.9stl 3.4blk 3.0TO 23.8PER
go ahead, tell those guys they wouldn't be Top 5.
He is close. He might not be there today but he might be. His numbers look great, his defensive effort was better last year, especially when the Kings were still in the hunt. I have no idea what you are even looking at when you watch games.
The only thing that I might say is holding him back from being a top 5 player is his consistency. He was great most nights, good some but some nights he was terrible. Some of those nights he just didn't play well. Some of those nights he didn't play and he lost his cool with his temper effecting the team.
Demarcus made a big jump in offensive efficiency and defensive effort last year. He also had a better temperament. I don't know if he will really improve much in the first 2 categories this year. There simply isn't that much realistic room for improvement in those areas. I would expect his behavior on the court to continue to improve as he grows up.
Entity
Hall of Famer
Leadership. He has to be a leader. Get his team up, not just yelling and screaming because your mad. Pick somebody up having a bad night. If he must yell do it with purpose other than anger and screaming out expletives because somebody made a bad pass. Back your teammates up. If they make a stupid play then you make a great one. Stats are there, game is there. If he can legitimately make his teammates better thats when you make playoffs, that's when you contend and that is what makes you MVP. Stats alone will not get it done. We all know he is good now make your team good
rexb_kings
Bench
No one expected Atlanta Hawks even the Warriors to do so well last season. Pretty much everyone hailed the Cavs with LBJ, Love joining forces and Spurs as previous years world Champs as favorites to win it all.
I'm hoping Karl can get the team playing well together in no time. Pretty much my point is a big jump by a team is possible. Kings lineup looks promising, we now have a legit point guard, shooter, slasher, defensive anchor, and a dominant low post threat, bench might need some help.
The common trend now to Championship is a deep dependable bench, we get that in place and Kings could really surprise.
I'm hoping Karl can get the team playing well together in no time. Pretty much my point is a big jump by a team is possible. Kings lineup looks promising, we now have a legit point guard, shooter, slasher, defensive anchor, and a dominant low post threat, bench might need some help.
The common trend now to Championship is a deep dependable bench, we get that in place and Kings could really surprise.
Media playoff predictions have always been just about as useful as team grades the day after the draft.
Yes, the Spurs added LaMarcus Aldridge and a 35 year old David West. They also lost Splitter, Bellinelli, & Joseph, and their big 3 are all a year older on a team that was only a 6th seed last year. They could be very good but to have the talking heads already talking about how the WCFs will be Warriors vs Spurs is a bit ridiculous. The Lakers also had a championship team on paper when they added Gary Payton and Karl Malone to Kobe and Shaq. How did that work out again?
The craziest part about the Cavs is that I'm not even sure the guy they just signed to a max deal in Kevin Love actually makes them a better team. I think Teletovic (if healthy) would give them 80-90% of what Love does (and slightly better defense) for 1/4th the cost.
And that's before we even talk about injuries.
The Kings have been an embarrassment. They've been a circus. And because of that they've become a punching bag and the narrative is that they can't possibly succeed. And yet people miss the fact that their starting five last year was as good as any in the league. That DeMarcus is probably the best center in the league, even over the previous DPOY and 1st team all-NBA guy in Gasol. And that they've massive upgraded their bench and have a HOF coach that I believe will ultimately reach an understanding with Cousins and go on to prod this team to be as good as it can be.
There's too much cognitive dissonance created by the lingering narrative around the Kings for the casual fan or even the national media to realize that this team is very possibly ready for a major leap forward. And honestly I think that will just make it more fun when and if it happens.
lwc
Starter
Remember the start to the season that the Kings had where they were beating great teams and started 9-5 until Cousins got sick? They showed last season BEFORE they got Rondo, Belinelli, Koufos, Butler, Bargnani, Willie Cauley-Stein, and Anderson that they can play with an beat almost anyone.
Remember, Cousins missed 23 games, Rudy missed 14 games, and Collison missed 37 games last season and the team was obviously tanking toward the end of the season.
31 games: That is all that Boogie, Rudy, and Darren played together last season. Therefore, for me, the 29 wins they had last season was as bad as it can get. The only team that I can remember spanking the Kings over and over again was the NBA Champion Warriors.
Thus, I don't know who that knocks out of the playoffs but someone will miss the playoffs this season and the Kings will get in.
Remember, Cousins missed 23 games, Rudy missed 14 games, and Collison missed 37 games last season and the team was obviously tanking toward the end of the season.
31 games: That is all that Boogie, Rudy, and Darren played together last season. Therefore, for me, the 29 wins they had last season was as bad as it can get. The only team that I can remember spanking the Kings over and over again was the NBA Champion Warriors.
Thus, I don't know who that knocks out of the playoffs but someone will miss the playoffs this season and the Kings will get in.
Bricklayer
Don't Make Me Use The Bat
Hmmm I wonder if George Karl will be coaching the AS game this season......
I wonder if that means he'll give Bargs the start in the AS game?
If he gets to coach the AS game (which means.....), I'll be so happy I'll give him a pass if he does.I wonder if that means he'll give Bargs the start in the AS game?
