With Sacramento suffering another disappointing season and the injuries taking it’s toll, the discussions to shut down young stud DeMarcus Cousins have already begun. Per ESPN,
Starting center DeMarcus Cousins sat out Monday’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies due to several injuries that are bothering him and he may get more rest for most, if not all of the remaining games of the 2014-15 regular season, according to Michael Wallace of ESPN.com.
“We talked when he commented after one game that his body was beat up,” said head coach George Karl. “I said, ‘Instead of thinking about shutting it down, let’s try to find some days that you can get your body rested.’ We might schedule a piece of our games and (rest Cousins) again.”
Cousins has been unavailable for 17 games this season and one scenario could have the Sacramento Kings center resting for the remaining five road games, but playing in the last four home games.
“I think Cousins likes to play and I think he’s doing it because he wants to play at a higher efficiency,” Karl said. “It gives me an opportunity to experiment a little bit. At home, I’d like to go in and (let Cousins play) every game. But on the road, I might experiment a little bit more.”
There’s nothing left to gain from this season, so letting the big man rest may not be a bad idea. After beginning his NBA career with some controversy, he’s since matured and developed into a consistent beast in the paint.
They’re going to need to prove themselves in order to keep Boogie happy, though. He’s seen a taste of the good life after becoming a member of Team USA and competing in All-Star games. The Kings are now missing the playoffs for their ninth straight season. Though he’s signed through 2017, Cousins isn’t going to keep his mouth shut for long if his teams continue to stink. Something’s gotta give.
The good news is they have plenty to build around. Boogie (age: 24) and Rudy Gay (age: 28) are a dynamic duo in the league and are set to play together for the next three seasons. After this year, they’ll have huge flexibility with a total of only eight players currently signed on. On top of that, the Kings finally have a coach with a proven track record of success in George Karl.
Shut Boogie down, Sacramento. It’s looking like you’ve got a bright future.
H/T BR