DeMarcus Cousins' first trip to the postseason is likely over almost before it started. The only silver lining? At least the Golden State Warriors star won't have to go under the knife for a second time in as many years.
“The Warriors do not plan for Cousins to have surgery,” writes Mark Medina of The Mercury News, “but they are bracing a postseason run that will require them to lean on a fluid center spot, including veteran Andrew Bogut, fourth-year forward Kevon Looney, second-year forward Jordan Bell as well as possibly Draymond Green and Jonas Jerebko with spot minutes.”
Cousins, who missed most last season with a torn Achilles tendon, went down in a heap near the Warriors bench after tracking down a loose ball early in his team's historic loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday night. He immediately grabbed for his left quadriceps, and video of him walking to the locker room minutes later appeared to show clear muscular damage to his upper left leg.
After the game, Golden State confirmed those fears by announcing that Cousins suffered a torn left quadriceps. Though he's listed as out “indefinitely,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr seemed to suggest that the four-time All-Star will likely miss the remainder of the playoffs, calling his injury “significant.”
Golden State, with Kevon Looney playing the best basketball of his career, Draymond Green ready for sustained playing time at center in small-ball lineups, and multiple other solid options in the middle, should manage just fine without Cousins. The injury is more debilitating to his value on the free-agent market this summer, where Cousins hoped to recoup some of the money he sacrificed last July by signing a cheap one-year deal with the Warriors.
It's certainly good news that he doesn't need surgery. Other than that, though, Cousins' latest health setback is just another unfortunate break that will prevent him from reaching his potential both on the court and in the bank.
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