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When Los Angeles Clippers head coach Doc Rivers learned about DeMarcus Cousins signing with the Golden State Warriors, he was happy for the All-Star big man. Now, less so.
The Clippers are set to face the Warriors in the first round of the playoffs, and Rivers is less than pleased that they are playing a strong Dubs team that just got deeper with the addition of Cousins.
“I didn’t overreact like everyone else; I thought, ‘Good for DeMarcus,’ ” Rivers said, per Mirjam Swanson of The Press-Enterprise. “Honestly, I thought it was great for him. I thought the Warriors were the right team to sign him, you know, because they could wait for him (to return from a torn Achilles tendon).
“Listen…He would’ve had a huge pay day and he tore his Achilles. And the nice side of me, cause it’s in the summer, was thinking like, ‘Good. This’ll give him a chance to get right.' “
“Maybe I shouldn’t have thought that because now we’re playing them. They’re better (with him). He’s a great player.”
DeMarcus Cousins hasn't fully integrated with the Warriors, and he struggled adjusting with the team as he tried to find his rhythm. However, he might just be peaking at the right time.
In his last 10 appearances for Golden State, he averaged 17.2 points, 9.0 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks per game. He also played around 25 minutes a night during that stretch while shooting an efficient 50.4 percent from the field.
Sure enough, Doc Rivers knows they can exploit Cousins, particularly on pick-and-roll situations which turned out to be the Warriors' Achilles heel this season. However, that doesn't erase the fact that playing an All-Star caliber center is still a tough task.
The Clippers have no traditional big man that can match-up with Cousins, so Rivers certainly has to find a different way to handle the center from wreaking havoc inside the painted area.
