It always amazes me how angry and fired up both his defenders and detractors can be about a guy who plays basketball like DeMarcus Cousins. At best, Cousins is the best player on his team and he can sometimes let his emotions get the best of him, often to the detriment of the team. At worst, Cousins is the best player on his team and he can sometimes let his emotions get the best of him, often to the detriment of the team.
Why does DeMarcus Cousins divide NBA fans so decisively? It seems many people are either pro-Boogie or absolutely detest the man’s presence. He’s the type of player everyone seems to have an opinion on and many in the more negative camp tend to use very strong terms to express their protest. He’s a player who’s only real “flaw” is being temperamental, but the emotions he brings out in people makes you think he has actually done something morally reprehensible.
It seems even when he quietly tries to pay for the funeral of a slain Sacramento teenager, some people can’t seem to stop from questioning if he’s just doing it for public relations reasons. Personally my feeling is that he isn’t, and even if he is, at least a grieving family has one less thing to worry about at this time.
The word hate is even thrown out, even if it is still used in within the frame of reference as sports, but it still makes me think of the strange way we process sports. Twitter isn’t exactly the best way to test the waters for anything, but I believe I saw the words “Greg Hardy w/o the guns & domestic violence,” which to be fair to Hardy, are the legitimate reasons people don’t like him. Other than that Hardy seems like a nice enough guy….
I don’t really have any hot takes on Cousins. All I know is he’s a hell of a basketball player in a dysfunctional franchise which never seems to know whether to acquiesce to the demands of their temperamental star or to leave him in the dark.
On Sunday night, we saw the reason he can be demanding and should at least be listened to by the Sacramento Kings as he dropped a double-double in the form of 36 points and 10 rebounds, as well as three blocks.
The Kings picked up the 107-101 victory over the Toronto Raptors and once again all is well in the Cowbell Kingdom, at least until they lose a few and people decide they hate Cousins again.
Westbrook Tries To Erase A Rim From Existence
Russell Westbrook tried to erase a rim from ever existing as he loaded up for a powerful dunk during the Oklahoma City Thunder’s 100-85 loss to the Boston Celtics. Isaiah Thomas also got his ankles broken along the way but at least his team got the last laugh.
Westbrook had 27 points to lead all scorers but Thomas had a respectable 20 while Marcus Smart led the Celtics with 26.
Melo vs the Brow at MSG
Carmelo Anthony continues to duel against the league’s best players but this time the New York Knicks came out on top 95-87 over the New Orleans Pelicans and Anthony Davis.
Melo scored 29 points while David won the showdown between the two with 36. Anthony won the rebounding battle with 13 compared to Davis’ 11.