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Toronto's DeMar DeRozan and Detroit's Andre Drummond, widely regarded as prime candidates to be left home at the start of the week, claimed the last two roster spots alongside starters Kyrie Irving (Cleveland), Stephen Curry (Golden State), James Harden (Houston), Kenneth Faried (Denver) and Anthony Davis (New Orleans) and reserves Derrick Rose (Chicago), DeMarcus Cousins (Sacramento), Klay Thompson (Golden State), Rudy Gay (Sacramento) and Mason Plumlee (Brooklyn).

ICMTM wrote:I don't think he was misunderstood. I think he had to change, but I also think he's a person that needed to see people change how they treated him. New ownership is what was needed for him. He came here and the staff was kind of like "we know who you are..."

It's kind of funny in that regard. You treat someone childish and they act childish.

"We have believed in DeMarcus right from training camp," Krzyzewski said after Cousins' 11-point, seven-rebound performance in the 86-63 win vs. Mexico Saturday that included a solid defensive job against Mexico big man Gustavo Ayon. "All the reports about him not making the team and all that were all not right. We felt that he would be the perfect guy with or in place of (New Orleans Pelicans big man and starting center) Anthony (Davis) at times, but more in the place of Anthony.

"I think it's just a matter of him continuing to get in better shape. Our guys are getting accustomed to where (and) when he does come in the game, he's different than Anthony. And so (they need) to look for him (offensively). And I think they see him more now. I think his defense has really improved. He tried to take three charges today, (and) played Ayon pretty well without getting help so (Mexico) couldn't get a three off of him."

And then, having already raised the topic of Cousins without being prompted in the postgame news conference, Krzyzewski put an exclamation point on his Cousins endorsement.

"He'd get an A-plus for me today," he said. "Let's put it that way."

In all, Cousins has hit 70.6% of his shots in FIBA play while averaging 9.8 points, five rebounds and 14 minutes per game.

That's a couple games in a row where he has been a force for us," Krzyzewski said. "He's a different player than Anthony Davis, and that's kind of what we were hoping we would continue to move forward with, and DeMarcus is coming through for us."

boogie-reke wrote:So after 6 games DeMarcus is leading the US big men in almost every category (good or bad) per 40 minutes, besides blocks.

Anthony Davis
26.99 PPG // 12.35 RPG // 1.62 APG // 2.27 SPG // 4.22 BPG // 0.97 TO // 3.25 FPG


Kenneth Faried
23.87 PPG // 14.57 RPG // 0.62 APG // 1.24 SPG // 1.55 BPG // 0.93 TO // 2.79 FPG


DeMarcus Cousins
28.78 PPG // 14.63 RPG // 3.41 APG // 3.9 SPG // 1.46 BPG // 3.41 TO // 5.85 FPG