Golden State Warriors: 3 expectations for DeMarcus Cousins' return

Golden State Warriors: 3 expectations for DeMarcus Cousins’ return

OAKLAND, CA - JANUARY 16: DeMarcus Cousins #0 of the Golden State Warriors laughs prior to a game against the New Orleans Pelicans on January 16, 2019 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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Slated to play for the Golden State Warriors for the first time on Friday night, it’ll be interesting to see what DeMarcus Cousins brings to the table.

The much-anticipated return of center DeMarcus Cousins is finally upon us, as the four-time All-Star is set to make his debut with the Golden State Warriors this coming Friday night in a nationally televised game against the Los Angeles Clippers.

As we all know, Cousins has been rehabbing from a torn Achilles suffered last season, with his 2018-19 debut of Jan. 18 coming 356 days after that horrific injury.

There is a solid list of players in the NBA who have suffered the same fate as Cousins, although their production level following a return to the court hasn’t always been the most encouraging of sights.

This is partially why Cousins opted to sign with Golden State in the offseason. He wouldn’t feel pressure to rush back to the court, and once there, he could simply ease himself back into game-shape next to the four All-Stars the Dubs already house.

Expectations for Boogie are a mixed bag of both highs and lows. Prior to the injury, he was arguably the best big man in basketball. Adding any semblance of that same guy to a team that doesn’t lack offensive firepower is a scary sight for the rest of the league.

Nonetheless, an Achilles tear is still one of if not the worst injuries in sports, so those projecting an immediate return to form may have to dial down the hype meter just a bit in order to remain relatively sane over these next few months.

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