What would their record be?

[Bricklayer]

In 2001-02 this franchise posted its Sacramento best record of 61-21, .744 win%. Actually that's not just Sacramento best, its franchise best, unless you go by win%, in which case the old Rochester Royals won .750% of their games in each of the first two years of the NBA in 1948-49, and 1949-50.

Here was the roster for that team:

C- Vlade Divac
PF- Chris Webber
SF- Peja Stojakovic
SG- Doug Christie
PG- Mike Bibby

6th- Bobby Jackson
7th- Scot Pollard
8th- Hedo Turkoglu

Lawrence Funderburke
Gerald Wallace
Mateen Cleaves
Chucky Brown
Jabari Smith
Brent Price

Coach: Rick Adelman

Simple question: swap out Chris Webber (who only played in 54 games that year btw) for the current DeMarcus Cousins. What do you think their record would be?

 

[Padrino]

that's a tough call. on the one hand, that kings team won so many games due in no small part to exceptional team chemistry, and one should pause to consider whether or not cousins would seamlessly fit into that chemistry. on the other hand, it's mouth-watering to think about what demarcus could have accomplished in an era in which opposing bigs were less hamstrung by the nba rulebook. he also would have been surrounded by four legitimate nba starters (with peja and bibby at the height of their powers), backed by a capable bench on a tight, disciplined rotation, and coached by one of the great offensive minds of recent nba history. i'll err on the conservative side and say 55-60 wins, which ain't nothin' to sneeze at.

 

[swisshh]

This is difficult to answer because Cousins developed his game to adapt to the modern NBA and his modern game would likely destroy the defenses from that time. He could body up Shaq as well as Vlade did, and then drag Shaq out on defense and quickly get him into foul trouble. On the other side, his passing, while very good, isn't Webber's level yet, nor is his athleticism. He's also better at center than at PF, so not sure if his game would suffer if having to face Duncan, KG, Malone and the like.

 

[The Hammer]

The 3pt shooting on that team would be insane.

 

[Ron]

I voted 62-64

 

[Dreadnought]

I actually say that team wins a couple extra games. I recall that team being a lot of finesse on offense. While I still think Webber had better hands, Boogie is clearly no slouch and he can bruise. Maybe my memory is bad, but I don't remember Webber really bullying people.

 

[Hoovtrain]

50-54

 

[kingdivac]

This is difficult to answer because Cousins developed his game to adapt to the modern NBA and his modern game would likely destroy the defenses from that time. He could body up Shaq as well as Vlade did, and then drag Shaq out on defense and quickly get him into foul trouble. On the other side, his passing, while very good, isn't Webber's level yet, nor is his athleticism. He's also better at center than at PF, so not sure if his game would suffer if having to face Duncan, KG, Malone and the like.

Cousins passing ability will never be on Webbers's level nor his atheleticism. Some of Webber's dunks Cousins could never hope to achieve, although that's fairly meaningless. Webber was also a better rebounder, and leader. In sum, Cousins is not up to Webber's level, granted he does not have an excellent team to back him up. Cousins is a very good player, but he has growing still to do.

 

[kingdivac]

50-54

Yep...agree.

 

[Tetsujin]

Cousins passing ability will never be on Webbers's level nor his atheleticism. Some of Webber's dunks Cousins could never hope to achieve, although that's fairly meaningless. Webber was also a better rebounder, and leader. In sum, Cousins is not up to Webber's level, granted he does not have an excellent team to back him up. Cousins is a very good player, but he has growing still to do.

Chris Webber famously threw a hissy fit when he was traded to the Kings. Also he only has one season where he averaged more rebounds than Boogie has in his career.

 

[DC222]

It doesn't matter the Lakers would still have been given the championship

 

[kingdivac]

Chris Webber famously threw a hissy fit when he was traded to the Kings. Also he only has one season where he averaged more rebounds than Boogie has in his career.

So Webber threw one fit prior to coming to Sacramento and that somehow makes it comparable? Webber even acknowledged his mistake in reaction in subsequent interviews and calling himself blessed often for coming to Sacramento. Yes leadership - making players around you better, while being a good sportsman, both things that Cousins has to work on . Stats are not too convincing when you look that Cousins has had principle rebounding duty on this Kings team for years. That goes for points too. Of course he will have more rebounds and points. Like I said, Cousins has some growing to do (still). I'd seen Webber whine on occasion, but with Cousins its a regularity, night in and out.

 

[Glenn]

Impossible question but good question. They have a different type of game with the big guy to make both lineups good is Vlade. He would fit with both. Are we really factoring in the amount of whining?

 

[Big Cuz 15]

one big difference between the two players. you can throw it to cuz and he will make something happen. how many times did you see them throw it to chris and he'd do a jump shot or hook that was unreliable. boogie would have so much room to operate on the low block with all those good shooters around him.

 

[kingdivac]

Impossible question but good question. They have a different type of game with the big guy to make both lineups good is Vlade. He would fit with both. Are we really factoring in the amount of whining?

Sure, if you're going to talk about leadership.

 

[kingdivac]

one big difference between the two players. you can throw it to cuz and he will make something happen. how many times did you see them throw it to chris and he'd do a jump shot or hook that was unreliable. boogie would have so much room to operate on the low block with all those good shooters around him.

True that Cousins is a better post player with better footwork. Who knows how he'd actually fit in though....would he buy into the team well, and share the ball consistently? Cousins sometimes fails to make the obvious pass when defenses converge on him or driving. Maybe he doesn't trust his teammates much, who knows....

 

[Glenn]

Sure, if you're going to talk about leadership.

The leader on either team was Vlade and certainly wasn't Webber. It would take the pressure off of Cuz as he is NOT a leader. He never has been. I think Cuz would have been a much calmer person if on the court with Vlade.

 

[Big Cuz 15]

True that Cousins is a better post player with better footwork. Who knows how he'd actually fit in though....would he buy into the team well, and share the ball consistently? Cousins sometimes fails to make the obvious pass when defenses converge on him or driving. Maybe he doesn't trust his teammates much, who knows....

we'll never know. all i know is if it was crunch time and we needed a bucket on the low block (playoff bball) -- demarcus would be tearing it up.

 

[kingdivac]

The leader on either team was Vlade and certainly wasn't Webber. It would take the pressure off of Cuz as he is NOT a leader. He never has been. I think Cuz would have been a much calmer person if on the court with Vlade.

I would argue that Webber was the leader of the team as plain as the team deteriorating with his decimating injury and play. And I agree that Cousins is not a leader now, but could be, and could even be a good one if he worked at it. Notice him get excited and animated for Cauley-Stein here and there.

 

[DC222]

we'll never know. all i know is if it was crunch time and we needed a bucket on the low block (playoff bball) -- demarcus would be tearing it up.

I always give bibby the final shot.

 

[Telemachus]

I would argue that Webber was the leader of the team as plain as the team deteriorating with his decimating injury and play. And I agree that Cousins is not a leader now, but could be, and could even be a good one if he worked at it. Notice him get excited and animated for Cauley-Stein here and there.

Sorry, but Vlade was the leader of those teams. Webber was no more of a leader than Cousins, and was lucky enough to have Vlade there to pick up the slack.

I also think Cousins would have a lot more faith in his teammates if he was passing the ball to the likes of Peja, Bibby, BJax, Christy, Hedo, Vlade, Maxwell, Barry, etc.

 

[Glenn]

Sorry, but Vlade was the leader of those teams. Webber was no more of a leader than Cousins, and was lucky enough to have Vlade there to pick up the slack.

I also think Cousins would have a lot more faith in his teammates if he was passing the ball to the likes of Peja, Bibby, BJax, Christy, Hedo, Vlade, Maxwell, Barry, etc.

This is what I meant.

 

[KingsFanSince85]

I have no idea what, if any, difference there might be. But I do know that I'd like to have seen Shaq try to guard Boogie. Vlade gave Shaq trouble from time to time because he didn't want to defend him out to the 3pt line. But Vlade couldn't put the ball on the floor and drive like Cuz can. Boogie is far too nifty and skilled for him.

As much as Boogie would have problems with Shaq inside -- just as every player in the NBA did -- he'd cause just as much trouble on the other end. It'd be a fun matchup to watch.

Whomever the Lakers put at PF couldn't guard him either.