Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
DeMarcus Cousins, like the other members of the Sacramento Kings, is waiting to find out if he’ll be playing in Sacramento or Seattle for the 2013-14 NBA season. But he probably is hoping Keith Smart, as expected, is fired as coach, although that decision won’t come until the team’s location is determined.
But if Smart isn’t the coach, his replacement can’t just let Cousins play and be completely free from any oversight from the coaching sidelines.
Cousins is extremely talented, as he’s shown in just three seasons, but obviously has a temper. How much that temper is hurting the team is really debatable, but once a player is allowed to do his own thing, his teammates no longer respect him.
The new coach will have to make sure Cousins plays all out and still shows a little bit of temper, but manages it in such a way he’s not going to get on the wrong side of the officials. That will hurt the Kings in close games, but a new coach will hopefully be able to get Cousins to control his temper while still being highly intense.
Cousins can get better in many areas. He’s at 17.1 points and 9.9 rebounds a game. Both figures could grow, along with his 2.7 assists a game. Cousins has been among the top players the past two seasons. He was at 18.1 points and 11 rebounds the year before. He showed a slight decline in stats this season but it was healthy enough to indicate that Cousins continues to be the franchise’s best player.
