Since DeMarcus Cousins returned last month, the Golden State Warriors look nearly invincible, as if they needed anymore star power.
Warriors guard Shaun Livingston said he noticed the difference in the team with Cousins the first time they went through shootaround:
“The first time we went through a shootaround,” said Livingston, according to Andrew Sharp of Sports Illustrated, “we do our [new] starting five, and I’m like, ‘Holy (expletive). This is crazy.’ I had the same feeling when KD got here. Then that kind of wore off, and it became normal. Then Cousins got here.”
Golden State has won 15 of its last 16 games, and since Cousins returned on Jan. 18 against the Los Angeles Clippers, the Warriors have gone 9-1. Most recently, the Dubs defeated the Miami Heat by a score of 120-118 on Sunday night.
This recent run of dominance comes on the heels of a stretch in which the Warriors went just 16-13, leading many to wonder if the relationship between Kevin Durant and Draymond Green had polluted the locker room and whether or not Golden State was still a title favorite.
Of course, the Dubs have gone on to silence all of the doubters since then, re-assuming their perch at the top of the Western Conference with a record of 40-15 and re-establishing themselves as the clear-cut best team in the NBA.
Since returning from his torn Achilles, Cousins is averaging 14.1 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists over 22.9 minutes per game while shooting 45.5 percent from the floor.
The Warriors will play host to the Utah Jazz on Tuesday evening.
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