The Golden State Warriors will activate their previously-sidelined center DeMarcus Cousins for Game 1 of the NBA Finals, a change that will only incentivize the full meaning of the Strength In Numbers motto that has been so endeared by the fan base.
While many skeptics have their reservations about potentially tinkering with a roster than has managed to go 5-0 in the absence of leading scorer Kevin Durant, Cousins' return gives the Warriors yet another weapon to deploy against a talented Toronto Raptors team, a version of it which the Warriors have only seen twice this season.
The Boogie Effect is now one the defending champions can throw into the mix, going from a wolverine-paced run-and-gun team to a more half-court based, execution-style of offense that can eventually prove too much to counteract without the right personnel.
Let's analyze how Cousins can impact the game in several areas.
Size
Cousins is easily the biggest body the Warriors have on the roster, topped in height only by Andrew Bogut, but edging the aforementioned by at least 10 pound. His strength and stature are reliable factors in the paint, where he can turn shots away on defense and finish plays around the rim.
Having a player of Cousins' caliber, even if it is in limited minutes, gives the Warriors a two-way presence at center like they have never had, as well as one that can force the Raptors to play a less linear approach throughout the series.
Offense
The DeMarcus Cousins the Warriors saw in the regular season had a lot of the attributes they'd seen him display in his brief venture with the New Orleans Pelicans. While his ability to shoot the ball from deep took a major step back (shot 8% less accurately than in 2017-18), the big man proved to be a load in the paint, finishing 48% of his field goal attempts, the second-best percentage of his career.
Cousins is a bull in the offensive glass, and while he snatched only 1.4 per game in his 30 games with the team this season, if his career numbers are any indication (2.8 per game), he will pound the boards if given the opportunity.
The 28-year-old is also a deft passer, able to handle the ball and pick out his target with ease. As this clip shows, Cousins isn't as nifty as Draymond Green with his passing, but he consistently makes the right reads, resulting in easier baskets for his teammates.
Yet his biggest contribution is his innate ability to draw fouls, something that was consistent, even after coming back from a season-ending Achilles injury. Boogie attempted 4.8 free throws per game in the regular season while playing only 25.7 minutes. If he can put the likes of Serge Ibaka, Pascal Siakam or Marc Gasol in foul trouble, Nick Nurse could have his hands full deciphering who to put on the floor against a pick-your-poison team like the Warriors.
Defense
Cousins' biggest concern is his defense in the pick-and-roll, and while he's proven capable of handling it correctly — doing so at this stage of the game is a whole different monster. Expect Steve Kerr to keep him away from those situations by putting his perimeter defenders in position to close the gap, allowing for him to patrol the paint with more freedom.
At the rim, Cousins has seen no issues, blocking shots at the third highest rate of his NBA career (1.5 blocks per game) while also being a factor in the steals department due to his length and defensive awareness.
The first two defensive plays in this video showcase how effective he can be at both of these things in what was likely his best all-around game of this season against the Denver Nuggets.
https://youtu.be/KmZ7qGwKXVg?t=32
The major question comes when guarding Marc Gasol. While most expected two big-bodied behemoths to bang against one another, Gasol has mainly been a 3-point sniper and facilitator since joining the Raptors, something that could make Kerr's life more difficult.
Cousins isn't the most light of foot and closing out on a stray Gasol could prove difficult, especially considering he's still going through the gears after sustaining a torn quad a little over a month ago.
Transition
This area could make or break Cousins' NBA Finals stint, as it will mostly rely on his stamina and his ability to quickly react to situations on the fly.
DeMarcus Cousins is a capable ball-handler that can push the ball after a rebound, taking on a Draymond Green-esque task of leading his team up the floor. As a trail man, Cousins is a capable, but not great option as a 3-point shooter (only 27.5% this season) and a sound finisher at the end of alley-oop plays or inside passes.
In this play, Cousins trails Durant and sets a quick screen against a shakily set Los Angeles Lakers defense, putting Kyle Kuzma on a body bag for the hoop and the harm after taking the pocket pass from Kevin Durant.
The biggest drawback comes on the defensive end, as it will be Cousins' legs that determine whether he is able to hang with the pace of these playoffs or not.
Cousins has now been out for more than six weeks and it's hard to fathom him being in ideal shape to go up and down the court time and time again. The Raptors are a team that excels in transition with a top-flight finisher in Pascal Siakam and containing him could prove to be Boogie's biggest challenge upon returning.
Observations
There is a great possibility that Cousins comes off the bench to help a Klay Thompson-led the second unit, giving the team another scorer and a different dimension, which would maximize his time on the floor by giving him ample opportunities to score, as well as limiting his defensive weaknesses in transition.
Cousins has told Steve Kerr he'd be willing to do whatever is necessary to help the Warriors capture their third straight title — and if that is his true intent, his usage and role will rest solely with Kerr's discretion through the course of the NBA Finals.
At this point of the game, the Warriors will need many bodies to go against a battle-hardened Raptors team, and even if Cousins doesn't have a major impact on the Warriors' play, he will at least force coach Nick Nurse to shuffle his deck to account for the big dipper — something that will just add to the adjustments he will have to make through the course of this final series.
If DeMarcus Cousins has fully bought into the motto of Strength In Numbers, he could prove to be a very vital number that can throw a wrench in the Raptors' plans.
Follow Us
Subscribe