Playing in his first NBA game in almost a year, DeMarcus Cousins had about as good a Warriors debut as anyone with Golden State could've hoped for. The numbers: 14 points in 15 minutes, 3-of-4 from 3-point range, six rebounds, three assists and, so fittingly, six fouls. Cousins' first bucket as a Warrior was a monster dunk off a pick and roll with Kevin Durant:
ESPN ✔@espnA GRAND ENTRANCE FROM BOOGIE COUSINS
From that point forward, Cousins made shots. He looked fluid, strong, aggressive. He showcased the interior power Golden State hasn't had throughout this four-year run. He ran the floor, finished in transition. He made decisive passes from the post. He argued calls. He griped at refs from the bench. If he wasn't back to full Boogie, he gave us every reason to believe he will be at some point this season, if not shortly.
And, man, is that terrible news for everyone else.
"Honestly I didn't [expect to play that well]," Cousins said in his post-game interview with ESPN. "I told myself coming in I was going to try to go with the flow of the team and try to make all the right plays. Things kind of got going for me, I'm happy with the results."
Steve Kerr has said the Warriors will not slow their pace to accommodate Cousins, and they didn't on Friday. You can already see the potential for Cousins to have his pick of trail 3s as everyone scrambles back to match up with Golden State's other shooters. On occasion, he'll be the first down the court. When he is, this team rewards you:
Shane Young ✔@YoungNBAHe might be slower, but Cousins running the floor in transition with the GSW playmakers will be cool
Cousins knocking down 3-of-4 triples was perhaps a surprise given the first-game jitters, but that's a shot he can make at a high clip for a man his size. He shot 35 percent from 3 last season before he ruptured his Achilles. He shot 36 percent the year before that. He is going to get as many 3s as he desires on this team. On Friday, the Clippers were dropping their big men in help coverage, daring Cousins to shoot. He did.
Scott Charlton@Scott_CharltonThird 3 pointer for Boogie Cousins.
You can already see the impossible dilemma facing defenses: Help down with your bigs, or drop them on pick and rolls to contain (or least moderately bother) Curry or Durant coming downhill, and Cousins can splash. Come out on him and the lane is open, the rim free of shot blockers for penetrators. Good luck.
Comments