DeMarcus Cousins has built a reputation as a rough-grinding, ball-pounding, board-snatching, might-accidentally-elbow-you-in-the-face-while-I-come-down type of player.
And he claims that hasn't helped him at all.
Mason Plumlee of the Denver Nuggets used that against him with 1:25 left in the fourth quarter, going down like Drago in the 12th round with Rocky Balboa, holding his face and grimacing in pain as the Pelicans center secured the rebound with his elbows high.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXvx1OwmbeI
The acting didn't work, and the refs miraculously held their whistle after Cousins shook his head from the poor acting job, later condemning guys like Plumlee for trying to sell cheap phantom fouls to these officials.
“It kinda sucks,” he said, according to SB Nation's Kristian Winfield. “The competitive spirit of basketball is slowly leaking out. Taking pride in one-on-one defense is slowly leaking out. It’s more about selling calls and flopping. So you just gotta kinda ignore the B.S. and play your game.”
Cousins finished with a game-high 40 points and 22 rebounds, a monster performance coupled with four assists and four blocks in a 123-114 win over the Denver Nuggets.
Just like how the referees have been trigger-happy with ejections, it's refreshing to see that they're also able to pick out these floppers and not reward them for their antics.
Enjoy your soon-to-come fine from the league office, Mr. Plumlee.
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