Despite the loss, DeMarcus Cousins had another strong stat line for the Kings Our friend Kevin Pelton of Basketball Prospectus attended the Kings' Monday game in Portland and wrote up a piece on Cousins' development, including quotes from Keith Smart:
"I'm pleased with the way he's playing," Smart said after the game. "He's making big-time steps--the steps the franchise wants him to make at this age in his second year. He's on a great pace right now of doing the things I want, doing the things the team need him to do: Good energy, being a passer and decision-maker, rebounding, getting in better shape. Across the board, he's doing everything. He's showing he can play a little bit longer. He's on track."
It's a highly encouraging read that I highly encourage you to check out in full.
0 recs | 91 comments
I'm starting to get a kick out of the repetitive Kings.com headlines after losses:
(12/28/2011) DMC’s Double-Double Not Enough In Portland
(1/23/2012) DMC’s Double-Double Not Enough To Beat Blazers
feelgood - January 24, 2012
gotta find some silver
in those dark clouds
TheFifthMookie - January 24, 2012
The good news
is that we just need to get four more guys averaging double doubles and we’ll wing a championship. Shouldn’t be too hard.
SavageBeast - January 24, 2012
only if
1 player is double double with assists as one of the doubles and the other is with blocks
want2win - January 24, 2012
And as long as none of them are turnovers
SavageBeast - January 24, 2012
Also no fouls - averaged per 36 minutes
CowbellKings - January 24, 2012
did someone say you wanted a player to average a double double every game? Then why didn't you re-sign me?
betweentheeyes - January 24, 2012
Damn I want some In-N-Out now
Thanks alot!
raiderking21 - January 24, 2012
In & out is the most overrated burger place ever
Their burgers are just ok & their fries are disgusting. I just don’t get the fascination with in & out
Allbenji - January 24, 2012 via mobile
Craziness, man
otis29 - January 24, 2012
Agree.
In and Out is awesome! The price can’t be beat!
Now as far as best burger in Sac?
Ford’s Real Hamburgers, can’t be beat!
Dirkula - January 24, 2012
Disagree here- Gotta love Squeeze Inn burgers
Widowwolf - January 25, 2012
Have you tried both!?
The only good/cool thing about Squeeze is the cheese, otherwise its a pretty plain burger.
Ford’s isn’t about the gimmicks, they are all flavor and fresh baked local buns.
Dirkula - January 25, 2012
If you like Fords now
you are missing out because back before they were sold about 10 years ago they were the bomb … yo.
Personally prefer Cookies although insanely expensive (that being said, Ford’s used to be by far the best for years and years).
I know they were tiny as hell and maybe nobody remembers the place but Tiny’s was awesomely affordable.
wallywagon11 - January 25, 2012
We live close to Fords and they it's a mediocre Burger
lietothegirls - January 25, 2012
(sigh)
Clarify; they aren’t that good.
lietothegirls - January 25, 2012
Yeah I've only been there 3 or 4 times in the past few years since I moved back to Sac
and not what it used to be at all.
wallywagon11 - January 25, 2012
Taste like they did back in the 90's
The owner of 10 years ago bought it back a couple years ago. I spoke to him last time I was there, He said he had left to be a sports writer, though I didn’t care enough to ask him where.
I just know from the places I have tried, its the best. I want to go check out “Dad’s”. I hear its pretty good too
Dirkula - January 25, 2012
Dad's is good
interesting story with the owner of Ford’s. To be honest, haven’t been back in probably about a couple of years now.
Crap, now you are making me want to try it again because it was damn good back in the 90s.
wallywagon11 - January 25, 2012
And now I feel like I belong on that show Portlandia
wallywagon11 - January 25, 2012
I've been told The Flaming Grill
Is the best in town. have yet to try them though…
Dirkula - January 25, 2012
Now I need to get some squeeze inn after work today
Thanks for contributing to my gut
SharkKings49 - January 25, 2012
For me squeeze in is the most overrated
especially for the price, and having to wait for it forever. Plus having the girl there treat us like shit. If I’m waiting for an hour, it’s going to be for Flaming Grill
prowseinthehouse - January 25, 2012
Actually was in there Saturday, Only wait 20 minutes total (In line and for food), and it was a
Widowwolf - January 25, 2012
Never had a problem at the one in Roseville
section214 - January 25, 2012
I've only been to the one on Power Inn
Needless to say, unless I become so rich that my money doesn’t matter, I wont be back
prowseinthehouse - January 25, 2012
Your opinion
The burgers are awesome, the fries are great, the prices aren’t bad, and the off-menu is cool too. I think it’s rated just fine, IMO.
raiderking21 - January 24, 2012
I like their burgers alot
but don’t care too much for the fries. The reason they are iffy is because for a good french-fry, it needs to be twice fried, and In-n-Out only does one dip. You can ask for them to be twice-fried, and I think it makes them come out much better (as long as they don’t burn them).
prowseinthehouse - January 25, 2012
Double-double protein style was my diet meal. Lost 20 lbs!
Their fries do suck.
chri5 - January 24, 2012
+1
The burger is 45% lettuce, 30% onion, 20% bun and 5% meat.
The fries are garbage.
I like Five Guys.
caseycheesecake - January 24, 2012
The burger is 45% lettuce, 30% onion, 20% bun and 5% meat.
that’s actually a pretty healthy burger, add some beans to it and it would be fine.
Skeptic con Urquell - January 25, 2012
It's a healthy salad.
It’s a horrible burger.
caseycheesecake - January 25, 2012
It’s a horrible burger.
for a death row inmate yeah, but for someone who wants to live it’s a good burger.
Skeptic con Urquell - January 25, 2012
You sure are difficult.
caseycheesecake - January 25, 2012
You sure are difficult.
haha, the truth sucks sometimes :>)
Skeptic con Urquell - January 25, 2012
haven't tried the Five Guys that expanded out west
but out on the East Cost, pretty darn good. Granted, not the biggest fan of pure fatty burger all the time but considering most of the veggies suck when you pay for a burger (instead of making it at home) Five Guys is pretty tasty.
wallywagon11 - January 25, 2012
I just love getting as much as I can on everything I buy.
You should have seen the pizzas I made myself at Round Table…barely fit through the oven.
Another reason I like Subway and their billions of toppings.
Anyway I love it because they have like 20 toppings and they’re all free – including cool things like mushrooms and jalapenos.
caseycheesecake - January 25, 2012
I actually really agree with you..Best thing there is their shakes
Widowwolf - January 25, 2012
Hey,
don’t get me started on shakes…
section214 - January 25, 2012
They are nothing compared to STR’s Thick and Creamy ones!
Widowwolf - January 25, 2012
TWSS
wallywagon11 - January 25, 2012
I'm not fond of their french fries
I like mine crunchier. The burgers are great.
lietothegirls - January 25, 2012
pretty much how I feel
now, the fries taste better and are in fact crunchier if you ask them to cook the fries a bit longer but dear lord the stomach pain afterwards is soooo not worth it (and no clue why just at that place it goes down like that)
wallywagon11 - January 25, 2012
His play has been promising
His mid range jumper is becoming a good option. From watching him play so far I think his biggest issue is conditioning. He’s still slow to get back of defense and gets heavy footed on that end as the game goes on. Still needs to clean up the decision making, mainly when to drive and pass, but all things I think he’ll improve.
Crocoduck - January 24, 2012 via mobile
DMC's 1st YR under PW to me is a wash
A some what wasted year.
This season being shortened and brutal may actually teach him more than all of last year… having a better coach is the key, which then can lead him in the correct direction (evidence attests to this)
kromeace - January 24, 2012
Thankfully for him, it was only 1 year under PW
Not as much damage to undo. How long will it take to wash the Westphal stink off of the other young players who spent 2 wasted years learning nothing under him?
dampania - January 24, 2012
I disagree that it was wasted
Cousins, like most rookies, needed a year to learn the league, the schedule, the talent out there and the refs. He needed to learn he had to be in better shape.
lietothegirls - January 24, 2012
Also learn there are shittier coaches the one he currently has.
Shizzo - January 24, 2012
Needs a good 'big man' coach in the offseason.
The sky is the limit for DMC. He can be a huge star.
It would help if the Kings had any perimeter scoring. We need to space the floor.
Hoops Mike - January 24, 2012
C-webb would be great for that..
avishai - January 24, 2012
He would be
But he’s an excellent commentator. Don’t think he’ll leave that job anytime soon
vfettke - January 24, 2012 via mobile
Webber wanted to come back, which never happened. Since he wanted to come back, I can’t help but think the fault lies with the Kings front office. That being said, I do think he’d make an excellent big man coach.
http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/sports/kings/archives/021432.html
Carl - January 24, 2012
Doesn't Cousins shoot enough jumpers already?
I’d prefer him taking direction from Vlade (except on conditioning!).
defender96 - January 25, 2012 via mobile
In a season of not met expectations,
DeMarcus has proven to be the exception. I really felt that he would experience the sophomore slump, but he and Greg Monroe have been the best players from their class this year.
section214 - January 24, 2012
No question
We talk a lot about Cousins dropping below Favors, Turner and Wes, but the Warriors passed up Monroe for Udoh. Looks like a really bad decision right now.
Tom Ziller - January 24, 2012
agreed
Monroe looks to be a beast. Imagine him on the Warriors right now …. wow.
Dub_TC - January 24, 2012
That draft should have had Cousins and Wall as 1 and 2 (depending on need), then Monroe at 3
Thats why the Warriors will always be the Warriors. Then again, thats what I used to say about the Clippers
SharkKings49 - January 24, 2012
Greg Monroe was projected to be Spencer Hawes v.2.0
Both NorCal teams are trying to avoid the “soft” label and to be tougher on defense. After his somewhat disappointing Frosh season at HoyaTown, Monroe got classified as more of a finesse player than a “tough” player.
Another question that can’t be answered: Would the Kings have pulled the trigger on Monroe over Udoh (they claimed to like both) had DMC been chosen by the TWolves?
betweentheeyes - January 24, 2012
Nah, we woulda taken Hassan Whiteside
Shizzo - January 24, 2012
Petrie'd!
Shizzo - January 24, 2012
Monroe, I think
Even with the Hawes experience still in their minds. Petrie has never used a high pick on a player like Udoh.
Tom Ziller - January 24, 2012
FWIW
I still think Udoh can be a legit NBA contributor. But Cousins and Monroe are potential All-Stars. Cousins might become even more.
Tom Ziller - January 24, 2012
It's not hard to imagine Cousins in a year or two
If he got in real shape, Amare condition and playing above the rim a bit more, being talked about as one of the dominant big men in the NBA
lietothegirls - January 25, 2012
Pretty sure it was between Cousins and Monroe for the Kings
and the year before it was between Reke and Flynn (Thank God we got on the right end of that decision)
This year? I think it was Jimmer as 1a, Kemba as 1b and Nikola Vucevic at 2.
Aykis16 - January 24, 2012
Never understood the Flynn love
but then again back before the draft I thought Curry was overrated so what the hell do I know
wallywagon11 - January 25, 2012
IIRC, his "leadership" skills at Syracuse
Were what really drove his rise in the draft. Turns out he’s got some serious talent deficiencies that he’s been unable to overcome.
otis29 - January 25, 2012
yeah I just remember looking at all his advanced numbers and what not
and there was just nothing there other than a smile and a great overtime game
wallywagon11 - January 25, 2012
In college (and on some NBA teams)
they are desperate for a player who leads and is willing to take over when needed.
In college, against that talent level, sometimes that’s enough to be dominant at key moments.
lietothegirls - January 25, 2012
back before the draft I thought Curry was overrated
He might still be. He has potential due to his shooting, craftiness, and IQ but lacks strength and athleticism to pull off all he visualizes.
Skeptic con Urquell - January 25, 2012
we are talking about completely different things
wallywagon11 - January 25, 2012
we are talking about completely different things
Eddy Curry ?
Skeptic con Urquell - January 25, 2012
No Stephen Curry
but you are responding to the hype in the Bay Area. Look, nomatter what I think it’s safe to say Curry isn’t a bust or a role player off the bench. That’s the kind of stuff people who would have thought of him as not a good pick would have been worried about on draft day. You are just talking about the hype now.
wallywagon11 - January 25, 2012
but you are responding to the hype in the Bay Area. Look, nomatter what I think it’s safe to say Curry isn’t a bust or a role player off the bench.
I was just sayin he might still be overrated(even if he is an above average player) and that I wasn’t convinced he was the best pick at the time either. Like Jimmer I felt the hype of being a standout at a small school had pushed up his draft value above his athletic potential. Stef has shown some flashes of exceeding my expectations but his health and strength issues have confirmed my original doubts.
Skeptic con Urquell - January 25, 2012
Cousins and Wall would have been 1 and 2, had it not been for the "red flags"
Greg Monroe has been, perhaps not a surprise, but developed better than projected.
Slam_Dunk - January 24, 2012
Apparently all those red flags DeMarcus had were supposed to be sent as warnings to other bigs in the league
Yet another mistake by our front office
vfettke - January 24, 2012 via mobile
If he ever gets into even better shape next year or maybe 2 years from now
which will enable him to play above the rim, he’s gonna be great
jadams12 - January 24, 2012
That's a big key as mentioned in the article
playing stronger at the rim in traffic. To get off flat footed you must be in excellent shape.
lietothegirls - January 24, 2012
To me DMC
Seems to show the most desire, and passion to win. He doesn’t like losing and it shows.
As a fan, I appreciate that. The double doubles are becoming more and more consistent, and DMC’s apparent growth is the one thing about this season that I am excited about.
Well, that and IT. He’s a lot of fun to watch, just hope he calms down on all the shots.
Dirkula - January 24, 2012
IT's shots are usually open shots, within the flow of the offense
Alot of our guys just can’t get a break on some of their shots, especially in the paint. Cousins and Evans, and even IT, have missed shots that just roll off the rim, which is incredibly frustrating. It’s only a small part of the problem, but we have gotten some breaks.
raiderking21 - January 24, 2012
Sure. But he can't shoot.
LeaguePassAddict - January 25, 2012
Who can't?
Is that a ‘pick one’? Of the three, who is actually the worst shooter?
I don’t like the answer either.
lietothegirls - January 25, 2012
The Kings should keep Smart.
If for no other reason, to ensure DMC continues to develop.
fryingpan136 - January 24, 2012
It worked for Westphal's extension, re: Tyreke Evans
As for Cousins, the Kings have no other option but to develop their future because the present ain’t pretty. Any coach – ok, most any coach – would figure this out because a developing Cousins is going to win you games and that’s what coaches are paid to do and want to do.
betweentheeyes - January 24, 2012
im my opinion
he has been the only bright spot this season. Every one else has not lived up to the expectations- everyone.
sacman - January 24, 2012
John Salmons has exceeded my expectations...
I thought he was garbage when we traded for him.
elfboy_ - January 25, 2012
And he's managed to exceed just how utterly garbagey he is.
elfboy_ - January 25, 2012
The cynic in me
Says it is easy to lead the league in offensive rebounding when there are so many missed shots to grab…
Having said that, it is great that he is grabbing them and not leaving them for the other team. Shows determination.
I like DMC. His desire to win is evident, but his reaction to losing needs improvement.
Rickyflip - January 25, 2012
His desire to win is evident, but his reaction to losing needs improvement.
Well do not expect him to change quickly on accepting losing etc… I can relate to DMC on that part.
I hate losing at anything- PERIOD! Even today I hate it when I lose a sale, and it is that feeling the drives me to get the next win. I don’t get over excited with wins since I expect them to some degree, and I have learned (slightly) to control my upset about a loss and move forward. I have it easier than DMC since I have hours to get over it and relax, he has to get over it in seconds.
Like one of the articles said, that if you take away his emotion on the loss side it will impact his passion on the win side, again I can relate to the passion side… I do agree that he does need to curb the out bursts and body language a bit since it impacts the next play(s)… that takes time… a lot of time!
kromeace - January 25, 2012
Agreed
I don’t want him to get comfortable losing, I want him to channel that feeling into positive reactions. He is still young and will hopefully learn this. Take the knocks and use them to get better.
Rickyflip - January 25, 2012
I think we are way overreacting to Cousins' emotions
There’s a certain big man who leads the NBA in tech fouls every year and it’s just a side story.
lietothegirls - January 25, 2012
He's at 21st in the league in Def Reb Rate
which isn’t great, but for the most part he’s having to do it all by him self. Hayes is the only other player with good numbers on the defensive boards but he’s not playing. And JJ is only in 85th place just 7 places ahead of Donte.
HighTops - January 25, 2012
You must Login with your SB Nation account and be a member of Sactown Royalty to post a comment.