Report: DeMarcus Cousins in gym 'nonstop,' even on weekends

[Letsgokings13]

"Cousins looks to be in supreme shape heading into training camp. Hear he's been at the Kings practice facility nonstop, including weekends." - Jason Jones

"#Kings assistant coach Nancy Lieberman: "I say that DeMarcus Cousins will go down as one of the greatest big men to ever play this game." - Dwain Price (@DwainPrice)


Feel free to merge/delete if needed, but I am just so excited for this season. Cousins is going to blow people away again and I just can't wait.

http://www.foxsports.com/nba/story/...ut-nonstop-best-big-men-ever-play-game-092315

 

[funkykingston]

In his last 10 games of the season Boogie averaged 27 PPG, 15 RPG and 5 APG.

In his final 1o games McLemore put up 15.4 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 2.8 APG and 1.7 SPG. He also shot 47.9% from the field. His 34.6% on threes was actually a slight dip compared to the rest of his season but all the other numbers are significantly higher than his career averages.

And for his last 1o games Casspi averaged 18.6 PPG, 4.9 RPG, and 2.8 APG. Sure he was playing more minutes (31.1 MPG which is exactly 10 over his season average) but other than his rebounding (which dipped a bit) those numbers are higher than his per 36 for the season. And most incredibly he shot 53.6% from the field and 52.9% from three.

With more talent on the roster I certainly don't expect those numbers from any of the three but I DO think Karl will maximize the talents of the players on this team and that could mean a massive year out of Big Cuz.

DMC still needs to be more efficient and the team still needs to have a better defensive focus & scheme but it's hard not to think the Kings could be a huge surprise to the rest of the league this season.

 

[Sac.Kings]

Awesome news. I got goosebumps just reading that... I have been thinking about something lately in regards to Cousins. We know he is a beast, but his FG% has been low his entire career (that's what happens when you are the target of defenses for years with no help from your own team, plus poor shot selection). However, now with Rondo and Collison, two PGs that he likes very much and ones that can create (Rondo is better at creating obviously), his FG% should increase significantly. Last season for every 18 shots he took, he made 8 of them (somewhat roughly). If he continues to take 18 shots a game, which he will be and maybe even more (the last 10 games of last season, he averaged 21.4 shot attempts) and improves his FG% to just .500, he will average 2 points more than last season. Take it to 55%, add another 2 points. I full expect Cousins to average right around 20 shot attempts a game with a full season of George Karl. If he makes 10/20 shots, that's 20 points right there and he averages 9 free throws a game, while making 7.

In other words, I full expect Cousins to average more points this upcoming season. Just imagine. 50+ wins, 27ppg, 13rpg.... It would be difficult to seriously not consider giving him the MVP, if he doesn't win it outright. Consider me PUMPED for this season!

http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/couside01/gamelog/2015/

 

[macadocious]

In his last 10 games of the season Boogie averaged 27 PPG, 15 RPG and 5 APG.

In his final 1o games McLemore put up 15.4 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 2.8 APG and 1.7 SPG. He also shot 47.9% from the field. His 34.6% on threes was actually a slight dip compared to the rest of his season but all the other numbers are significantly higher than his career averages.

And for his last 1o games Casspi averaged 18.6 PPG, 4.9 RPG, and 2.8 APG. Sure he was playing more minutes (31.1 MPG which is exactly 10 over his season average) but other than his rebounding (which dipped a bit) those numbers are higher than his per 36 for the season. And most incredibly he shot 53.6% from the field and 52.9% from three.

With more talent on the roster I certainly don't expect those numbers from any of the three but I DO think Karl will maximize the talents of the players on this team and that could mean a massive year out of Big Cuz.

DMC still needs to be more efficient and the team still needs to have a better defensive focus & scheme but it's hard not to think the Kings could be a huge surprise to the rest of the league this season.

Not trying to put a damper on this enthusiasm, but weren't our last 10 games against mostly non-playoff teams, some who were not so subtly tanking?

EDIT: Basically 7 non playoffs teams

73Mar 30, 2015 Kings@Memphis GrizzliesL 83- 97lost 226-47
74Apr 1, 2015 Kings@Houston RocketsL 111- 115lost 326-48
75Apr 3, 2015 Kingsvs.New Orleans PelicansL 95- 101lost 426-49
76Apr 5, 2015 Kingsvs.Utah JazzL 95- 101lost 526-50
77Apr 7, 2015 Kingsvs.Minnesota TimberwolvesW 116- 111won 127-50
78Apr 8, 2015 Kings@Utah JazzL 91- 103lost 127-51
79Apr 10, 2015 Kings@Oklahoma City ThunderL 103- 116lost 227-52
80Apr 12, 2015 Kings@Denver NuggetsL 111- 122lost 327-53
81Apr 13, 2015 Kingsvs.Los Angeles LakersW 102- 92won 128-53
82Apr 15, 2015 Kings@Los Angeles LakersW 122- 99won 229-53

 

[kingsboi]

in other news....he is a professional basketball player, therefore he should be putting in the work "even on weekends" anyways...his work ethic has come along really nicely though, I have to admit.

 

[Sac.Kings]

Not trying to put a damper on this enthusiasm, but weren't our last 10 games against mostly non-playoff teams, some who were not so subtly tanking?

EDIT: Basically 7 non playoffs teams

73Mar 30, 2015 Kings@Memphis GrizzliesL 83- 97lost 226-47
74Apr 1, 2015 Kings@Houston RocketsL 111- 115lost 326-48
75Apr 3, 2015 Kingsvs.New Orleans PelicansL 95- 101lost 426-49
76Apr 5, 2015 Kingsvs.Utah JazzL 95- 101lost 526-50
77Apr 7, 2015 Kingsvs.Minnesota TimberwolvesW 116- 111won 127-50
78Apr 8, 2015 Kings@Utah JazzL 91- 103lost 127-51
79Apr 10, 2015 Kings@Oklahoma City ThunderL 103- 116lost 227-52
80Apr 12, 2015 Kings@Denver NuggetsL 111- 122lost 327-53
81Apr 13, 2015 Kingsvs.Los Angeles LakersW 102- 92won 128-53
82Apr 15, 2015 Kings@Los Angeles LakersW 122- 99won 229-53

Cousins did not play in a majority of those: His last 10 games were against (non-playoff teams are bolded):
-Sixers
-Wizards
-Atlanta
-Wizards
-Sixers
-Suns
-Pelicans
-Rockets
-Pelicans
-Jazz

It's not really fair to say that the Thunder weren't a playoff team, because they had an identical record to the 8th seed team in the West. They were good enough to be in there, but were riddled with injuries. The Jazz weren't a pushover either (we lost both of those games). Plus the last 10 games that Cousins played, 6/10 were against playoff teams, but 8/10 were against solid teams (Jazz are solid and the Suns weren't horrible). Only the Sixers were the clear cut tanking team on that list.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/couside01/gamelog/2015/

 

[funkykingston]

Not trying to put a damper on this enthusiasm, but weren't our last 10 games against mostly non-playoff teams, some who were not so subtly tanking?

EDIT: Basically 7 non playoffs teams

73Mar 30, 2015 Kings@Memphis GrizzliesL 83- 97lost 226-47
74Apr 1, 2015 Kings@Houston RocketsL 111- 115lost 326-48
75Apr 3, 2015 Kingsvs.New Orleans PelicansL 95- 101lost 426-49
76Apr 5, 2015 Kingsvs.Utah JazzL 95- 101lost 526-50
77Apr 7, 2015 Kingsvs.Minnesota TimberwolvesW 116- 111won 127-50
78Apr 8, 2015 Kings@Utah JazzL 91- 103lost 127-51
79Apr 10, 2015 Kings@Oklahoma City ThunderL 103- 116lost 227-52
80Apr 12, 2015 Kings@Denver NuggetsL 111- 122lost 327-53
81Apr 13, 2015 Kingsvs.Los Angeles LakersW 102- 92won 128-53
82Apr 15, 2015 Kings@Los Angeles LakersW 122- 99won 229-53

To start, yes, end of year numbers are always a bit of fools gold. Outside of those few teams really trying to claw their way into playoffs or those in the playoffs battling for home court advantage teams aren't going full tilt. Really good teams are starting to rest guys more and bad teams are tanking.

That said, the Pelicans were scrapping. Houston was fighting for home court advantage. I'm not sure if OKC was mathematically eliminated at that point or not. And the Utah Jazz were absolutely on fire (especially defensively) to finish the season. The Wolves and Lakers were tomato cans but the rest were pretty legit games.

But more importantly DMC's last 1o games weren't the Kings last 10 games. He shut it down with six games left and missed games here and there before that. His last 10 games actually fell between games 64 and 76.

In any event, I was just looking at how Karl was trying to utilize his players. He had his hands tied by injuries and a pretty terrible bench (upgraded from historically awful mostly due to the Miller/Sessions deadline swap) and a lack of a training camp etc, but he WAS clearly getting more out of the same group. Upgraded talent, upgraded coaching, growth from Boogie and McLemore all could lead to something special this season.

 

[lawlman91]

Sounds like a hungry, hungry dog. We need that mentality going into this year and every year from every player.