Around the League Discussion - 2018-2019 (Playoffs)

[Sixerscan]

Ironically, if we just took him at 2, he would have been matched up with Jrue and would have had a nice little core for a rebuild. However, our future wouldn't have been as bright as it currently is.

Boogie and Collins would have been something else. Like a poor mans AI/Brown.

[Kobblehead]

Ironically, if we just took him at 2, he would have been matched up with Jrue and would have had a nice little core for a rebuild. However, our future wouldn't have been as bright as it currently is.

Could have worked if we still had a guy like Mo Cheeks. Doug "unstable" Collins would have been such a toxic coach for Cousins.

[Kobblehead]

Ironically, if we just took him at 2, he would have been matched up with Jrue and would have had a nice little core for a rebuild. However, our future wouldn't have been as bright as it currently is.

Boogie and Collins would have been something else. Like a poor mans AI/Brown.

Guaranteed Spreewell incident.

[Kobblehead]

But he wasn’t so no hall of fame for him mostly likely.

Mitch Richmond is the weakest modern guy in right now and he still had a much stronger resume than boogie does.

You’re not getting in the hall with only 7.5 healthy seasons, 4 all stars, 2 all nba teams, and literally zero playoff appearances during your prime unless you have some sort of special angle from some other part of your career.

If Cousins hangs on to ring chase in a 10-15 minute role and gets lucky and wins one, does he get a sympathy nod for his injury derail?

[Kobblehead]

Sometimes voters just need to see the ring to make them feel good.

Speaking of Mitch Richmond, dude didn't even take off his warmup during the 2002 Lakers championship he was apart of. But it could have been the cherry that voters needed.

[VDT]

Embiid in his rookie season playing 20 min per game and with a largely tanking roster would have led (if healthy) the Sixers to more wins than Cousins ever did.

Probably. Embiid is better than Cousins.

Cousins played for some bad teams but he was part of the problem. No surprise how the team is on the rise since he was traded.

Sure, he was part of the problem. Most players in their early 20s don't know how to win yet. That usually comes with seasoning.

Kings are on the rise because they've been on fire with young talent for a couple of years now. If they did that during the Cousins era instead of whiffing on nearly everyone, they would have won more.

Defensively he doesnt protect the rim and he cant defend on the perimeter.

Sounds like you just described Jokic. Both he and Cousins are wayyyyy better defenders than they get credit for.

Offensively he is skilled but he lacks the physical profile to be dominant as a center. He is fairly strong but that's it. Not explosive, not agile\quick not particularly tall\long. He was never going to be an efficient volume scorer on a good team. He is not a bad passer and maybe could further improve his 3point shooting and play a bit like Marc Gasol, maybe with a bit more inside scoring. That's probably his role offensively on a good team. Is Marc Gasol without the defense HOF material?

Or....Nikola Jokic. Or....Chris Webber.

Let's stop pretending that Cousins needed to take a backseat for his team to ever become winners. He easily could have been the #1 or #2 option on a team that made noise in the playoffs.

Jokic is better offensively than Cousins and is not a headcase. Cousins was until 27, around the age players peak, with the Kings. It is not that he lacked experience or that he would get any better. He played his best basketball with the Kings and was every year in the lottery.

Since the discussion was about his Hof chances, has there ever been a player like that inducted to the hof?

Regarding Cousins as a player my issue is that a lot of his value is based on volume scoring but his efficiency was mediocre and he did that playing on perennially lottery teams. Sure give him PG and they would be likely in playoffs most years and be a first or second round exit. I am just not sure of his role on good teams. A center that is not a strong defender and is a volume scorer on mediocre efficiency doesnt have much appeal to me at a max contract particularly with his lack of leadership.

The fact that the Kings are better with rookie and second year players leading the team than they were with peak Cousins is not only a matter of roster construction. A hof player at his peak should win more than 30 - 35 games when his team is trying to win.

[Bum Adebayo]

he had the passion for the game

his passionate yet immature at times personality and game.

I see this a lot in regards to Cousins and I'm always urged to push back. I always got the impression that Cousins' demonstrative nature on the court was just due to his emotional instability. I never really got the sense that he had this intense passion for the game.

He has a very high passion for the game, evident when watching him play, the problem is that analytics cannot see that, so it is naturally very hard for some people to believe in his passion for the game.

[VDT]

he had the passion for the game

his passionate yet immature at times personality and game.

I see this a lot in regards to Cousins and I'm always urged to push back. I always got the impression that Cousins' demonstrative nature on the court was just due to his emotional instability. I never really got the sense that he had this intense passion for the game.

He has a very high passion for the game, evident when watching him play, the problem is that analytics cannot see that, so it is naturally very hard for some people to believe in his passion for the game.

I think Cousins would have benefited tremendously from good coaching. Someone to help him use his passion in a more beneficial to the team way and show him how to play in a way that helps the team.

[Sixerscan]

But he wasn’t so no hall of fame for him mostly likely.

Mitch Richmond is the weakest modern guy in right now and he still had a much stronger resume than boogie does.

You’re not getting in the hall with only 7.5 healthy seasons, 4 all stars, 2 all nba teams, and literally zero playoff appearances during your prime unless you have some sort of special angle from some other part of your career.

If Cousins hangs on to ring chase in a 10-15 minute role and gets lucky and wins one, does he get a sympathy nod for his injury derail?

Nah I still think he had too short of a peak and the peak really wasn't even that good. He's one of the what if guys of his generation.

[Kobblehead]

He has a very high passion for the game, evident when watching him play, the problem is that analytics cannot see that, so it is naturally very hard for some people to believe in his passion for the game.

Again, you're hastily equating emotional instability with passion for the game. Not every guy that throws tantrums and loses his temper on the court has passion for the game. Sometimes it just means they can't control their behavior.

[Kobblehead]

Between the Kawhi situation and the team USA pullouts, does Gregg Popovich have a major perception problem?

[the_process]

Between the Kawhi situation and the team USA pullouts, does Gregg Popovich have a major perception problem?

If players start pulling out from the Olympics, which is highly unlikely, then you can attribute it to a Pop problem. All these players are pulling out because they don’t want to get hurt from playing in a World Cup when the NBA title is wide open.

[Kobblehead]

It feels like the Celtics have positioned themselves to be America's team among neutral fans if we win the Cup. And Donovan Mitchell has positioned himself as America's darling.

Great play for the brands.

[LloydFree]

Between the Kawhi situation and the team USA pullouts, does Gregg Popovich have a major perception problem?

Players don't like risking injury playing for free.

[Sixerscan]

The tournament just isn't that big of a deal. Plus it's in China so all of the games will probably be on at like 4 o'clock in the morning. If this level of guys are skipping the Olympics then it might be time to worry.

[Eyeamok]

Between the Kawhi situation and the team USA pullouts, does Gregg Popovich have a major perception problem?

If players start pulling out from the Olympics, which is highly unlikely, then you can attribute it to a Pop problem. All these players are pulling out because they don’t want to get hurt from playing in a World Cup when the NBA title is wide open.

The Process let me just add to your good point. I think it was CJ McCollum that said it. Even if you play for the USA in the world cup. when the Olympics come around all the top tier stars will want back in and basically everyone that played on the World cup team gets pushed down a rung or two and probably won't make the Olympic team.

Thank you for your service on the World cup team...now scram the stars are back.

[Kobblehead]

Looks like Justin Anderson is close to securing a camp deal with Washington.

Why can't this guy get on somebody's roster?

[Sixerscan]

Looks like Justin Anderson is close to securing a camp deal with Washington.

Why can't this guy get on somebody's roster?

Seems like he’s always injured, just hard to really develop when that happens. He’s 26 not really a developmental guy anymore.

[Kobblehead]

I would consider him a playable vet, at this point. I think he is good enough to play even without more developing. Seems to be productive in the majority of short spurts he's been granted on his various teams.

[Sixerscan]

For his sake I hope someone agrees with you.