Cousins has also been Sacramento’s best player, and it isn’t really close. One thing I love: how...

Cousins has also been Sacramento’s best player, and it isn’t really close. One thing I love: how Cousins, on spin moves and drop-steps, finds space along the baseline that just doesn’t seem to be there. He’ll spin himself so close to the baseline that, as you’re watching, you’ll question what in the heck he’s doing and wait for the inevitable stumbling turnover. But then Cousins will carve out just enough space to jump from behind the glass for either a standard layup or an up-and-under job.

Zach Lowe, SI.com

4 months ago Tom Ziller 16 comments 0 recs |

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disagree

tyreke is making plays even when he’s not scoring, and playing better defense. Cousins is having a solid year though.

by jadams12 on Jan 23, 2012 1:00 PM PST reply actions

Both have been playing better under Smart

I’ve been impressed that even when they have bad games they still hustle and find ways to impact the game.

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by sac_faithful on Jan 23, 2012 1:03 PM PST up reply actions

me too

cousins can usually lose interest if he picks up some fouls, or struggles early on. Haven’t seen that from him lately

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by lemmetakeutodamovies on Jan 23, 2012 1:05 PM PST up reply actions

Nice comments from Zach Lowe.

Shows people are noticing Cousins on-court play.

Asked if the Kings had any intention of trading Cousins, basketball president Geoff Petrie said, "No."

by Slam_Dunk on Jan 23, 2012 1:07 PM PST reply actions

Nope.

Cousins has also been Sacramento’s best player, and it isn’t really close.

Except on nights that Tyreke has clearly been our best player. Zack Lowe, who is a marvelous writer by the way, and highly astute in most instances, is wrong on this one. I would agree Cousins has edge over Reke, overall, but it is close, especially if you look at their contributions during each of 5 victories. Both have been instrumental, with exception of one win in which Cousins was excused from participation for reasons that escape my memory.

Smart Era, y'all.

by bench_blob on Jan 23, 2012 1:08 PM PST reply actions

Kings didn't need him that night so they rested him.

by Ultrakingsfan on Jan 23, 2012 1:14 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs

How about also including the losses in you analysis.

Cousins has clearly been the best and most consistent player on the team this season.

Asked if the Kings had any intention of trading Cousins, basketball president Geoff Petrie said, "No."

by Slam_Dunk on Jan 23, 2012 1:15 PM PST up reply actions

^your analysis.

Asked if the Kings had any intention of trading Cousins, basketball president Geoff Petrie said, "No."

by Slam_Dunk on Jan 23, 2012 1:16 PM PST up reply actions

I agree with Bench Blob here

Cousins has brought the most consistent energy every night, but when Tyreke is on, he is still our best player. Tyreke has not showed a continuous strain of dominant play yet. He has played really well, especially since Smart took over, but hasn’t been dominant. I am still waiting for that game where he just takes over. (Rookie year at MSG comes immediately to mind)

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by Wonderchild on Jan 23, 2012 1:49 PM PST up reply actions

I think the Spurs game was pretty dominant

Although, I don’t think we will get consistency from Evans until he develops his midrange jumper further.

When it’s falling it adds an extra dimension to his game. It’s just not consistent enough and leads to too many 7-18 shooting nights.

by SPTSJUNKIE on Jan 23, 2012 2:13 PM PST up reply actions

I think when you are talking about your best player,

you have to consider consistency. Cousins has been by far away the most consistent player, not only averaging a double-double, but playing that way almost every game. A coach needs to have some reliance that he can count on a player nearly every game. Cousins is like money. Reke has put in a couple really outstanding games, but not on a consistent basis. Reke is a shooter, averaging 16.5 points per game; yet, Demarcus averages 14.4 points per game, nearly as many.

Tyreke still is not playing as well as he did his rookie year, but Demarcus has shown tremendous growth, particularly in the area of improving his consistency over last season. Tyreke is a very good player and on some outings he is brilliant, but Cousins is our best player. Hands down. Moving forward, if past performance is any indication of future performance, Demarcus is on a higher-trajectory curve of improvement, over Reke, whose curve is more flat-line in comparison.

Asked if the Kings had any intention of trading Cousins, basketball president Geoff Petrie said, "No."

by Slam_Dunk on Jan 23, 2012 3:13 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs

I think Tyreke is playing better than his rookie year

Even if it’s not showing in the stats.

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by Aykis16 on Jan 23, 2012 4:12 PM PST up reply actions

I won't debate you on this.

There are definitely some things he is doing better, some aspects of his game have grown, but he showed more consistency as a rookie and he did do a lot of amazing things as a rookie. The stats aren’t as good, but as you indicate, they do not necessarily tell the tale.

Asked if the Kings had any intention of trading Cousins, basketball president Geoff Petrie said, "No."

by Slam_Dunk on Jan 23, 2012 5:24 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs

I don't know if Reke will ever "look" as good as he did his rookie year

He was the “end all, be all” with this team. Only that team didn’t win.

I would much rather him average 18-5-6 or 7 on a winning team.

by Allbenji on Jan 23, 2012 6:43 PM PST via mobile up reply actions 1 recs

I agree that among the starters he's been the most consistant threat

It sure looks like he may average that double-double this season.

I think most of us would have been thrilled in the summer if we could predict 45% shooting, 16pts and 11-12 rebounds

Oh wait – I did
nah-nah-nah
(cue Hannibal Lector suckas)

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by lietothegirls on Jan 23, 2012 1:32 PM PST reply actions 1 recs

I dunno

45% shooting from our big man doesn’t exactly give me goosebumps. And his rebounding is partially buoyed by his own and his teammates’ horrendous shooting.

I could see someone thinking that Cousins has been “Sacramento’s best player”, but it’s certainly arguable that he’s not.

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by otis29 on Jan 23, 2012 5:06 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs