Cleveland Cavaliers: Demarcus Cousins playing himself right into Cavs hands?

DeMarcus Cousins could be playing himself right into the Cleveland Cavaliers’ hands.

DeMarcus Cousins has been the best big man in the league one-third of the way through the NBA season. In fact, he’s been so dominant that whispers carried over the bayou winds have started to wonder: are the New Orleans Pelicans his team now and not Anthony Davis’?

Now, listen closely. Do you hear that melodic, soul-searching sound accompanying their hushed and hurried whispers? That’s music to Cleveland Cavaliers’ ears – the potential dysfunction that could take place as a 27-year-old player in the final year of his contract overshadows the 24-year-old face of the franchise. A player under contract through the 2020-2021 season.

Comparing their stats side by side paints an interesting picture:

Cousins averages 25.9 points, 12.6 rebounds (2.1 offensive rebounds), 5.1 assists, 1.7 blocks and 1.6 steals per game (25 games). He has a PER of 23.3.

An athletic, assertive and highly skilled stat-stuffing true big man in the modern era is hard to come by. Especially a center shooting 6.6 three-point attempts per game but still manages to get to the free-throw line 7.9 times per game and shoot 46.2 percent from the field (33.1 percent from three-point range). The only negative is that Cousins is averaging 5.0 turnovers per game.

Davis is averaging 25.2 points, 11.0 rebounds (2.4 offensive rebounds), 2.6 assists, 1.7 blocks and 1.2 steals per game (21 games). He has a PER of 28.6.

As ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, co-anchor of First Take, pointed out – Davis is as much of a freakish combination of size, athleticism and skill as rising superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. At 6-foot-10 and 253 pounds, Davis can handle the ball in space, score anywhere from the low-post to three-point range (shooting 35.9 percent on 1.9 threes per game) and still be a defensive dynamo with the ability to defend both players on the perimeter and the interior. Davis has been heralded in the NBA since playing for Team USA in the 2012 Olympics at just 19-years-old. In the 2014-2015 season, Davis would lead the Pelicans to their first playoff appearance since 2010-2011.

Together, and with all-around point guard Jrue Holiday providing his own type of venom, the Pelicans were supposed to have a Big Three that could compete in the Western Conference playoffs. At times last season, the team looked better with just one of two in the game than with them co-starring on the court. However, with Cousins having less than three months to form on-court and off-court chemistry with Davis and the Pelicans, that should have been expected.

This season, as the Pels find themselves with a 13-12 record (7th-place in the Western Conference), that storyline doesn’t have the legs to stand on as the duo outscores opponents by 4.7 points per 100 possessions when they share the court together, making them their fourth-most effective 2-man combination. In addition, four out of ten of the Pels’ five-man units to receive a positive net rating have Cousins and Davis sharing the court. The other six are three with Cousins dominating sans David and three with Davis dominating sans Cousins.

However, while it was their inability to be successful early on that led many to speculate that Cousins could opt to leave after the season, the bigger issue between these two big-name big men is that Cousins comes first in the pecking order and it’s not close; Cousins has a usage rate of 33.8 percent while Davis’ is at 27.0 percent. All this with Davis having nearly double the win shares per 48 minutes (.252 compared to .121).

Last season, Cousins had a usage rate of 33.1 percent while Davis had a usage rate of 32.6 percent. Cousins was still being utilized more but Davis is being utilized far less now.

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Maybe Davis has no problem with the difference in usage or that he was taking 20.3 shots per game last season compared to 16.0 shots per game this season. Perhaps he’s fine with being a media darling one moment and in the Boogeyman’s shadow the next. There certainly hasn’t been any word that Davis is frustrated with his touches.

However, it would be naive to think that he doesn’t care. Nobody likes to be perceived as lesser than somebody else or like they were better in the past. The desire for proper acknowledgement and appreciation is human nature.

So, while Davis may not care it’s also possible that he does. Especially because at his age players are still focused on building their brand. Right now, the Pelicans finally look like they can make some noise again and losing has to be a worse feeling than being “The Face of the Franchise” but averaging fewer shots per game and being utilized less than “The New Guy”. But would cracks start to show if Cousins re-signed and the trend continued for x more years?

Possibly. These are questions that the Pelicans front office has or will likely acknowledge before the trade deadline and during the offseason, and they’re relevant.

(1) It’s always important to keep the face of the franchise happy.

(2) Davis is the player actually guaranteed to come back next season.

Must Read: Why Anthony Davis should be Cavs' top trade target

While the Cleveland Cavaliers are riding high on a 13-game win streak (tied for a franchise record), they have kinks to work out as players return from injury and others have yet to meet expectations this season. Instrumental to their success has been Kevin Love, who’s being as assertive and physical as he has since being in The Land.

Over the last 13 games, Love is averaging 20.6 points, 10.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.5 blocks and 0.5 steals per game while shooting 50.5 percent from the field, 38.2 percent from three-point range and 90.6 percent from free-throw range. He’s had 10 double-doubles and scored 20+ points on six occasions.

He’s even paying passionate defense and staying alert on that end.

Yet, when 5-foot-9 Isaiah Thomas comes back, he and Love will be the unfortunate target of many a pick-and-roll. An issue caused by Thomas’ lack of height but also because of Love’s physical limitations as a defender.

Love isn’t an explosive athlete but he’s an intelligent, skilled player with broad shoulders fit for banging around in the post. However, when the Cavs need a defensive stop or a player who can protect the rim, they’re more likely to rely on a player like Tristan Thompson or Jeff Green than Love.

The Cavs shouldn’t have to replace offense with defense though. They need a center who can do both.

Cousins, though a player known to let his defensive intensity slip when his offense isn’t going right, has the physical tools that Love will never have. What Cousins doesn’t have is the knowledge of what it takes to win a championship, including all-out effort and sacrifice.

Part of James’ championship blueprint is getting players to buy-in to the team concept though. Cousins joining a team headed by a player like James, who is youthful and fun-loving but all business on the court and a player who knows what it takes to win at the highest level, would be perfect for him.

In addition, while he’s firmly in his prime, his next contract will likely be one where he hopes to be on a championship-contending team for the duration of his prime years. With that said, what gives him a better chance than chasing championships in the East with James?

While James does love him some Love, will a student of the game see the basketball ability Cousins has and be muffed at the trade in terms of what he could bring on the court? A player who could carry the torch for the Cavs in future regular seasons while making the Warriors re-think using Draymond Green at center in the playoffs because he can dominate with his skills and physical tools on a nightly basis?

Sentimentality can’t be that important.

Ultimately, when the trade deadline approaches and the Pelicans brass to get something for Cousins’ services instead of letting him walk away for nothing or allowing Davis to seethe internally at being overshadowed by a newcomer, the Cavs will have the best package: Love and the Brooklyn Nets’ 2018 first-round pick.

It’s a win-win for both sides really, as the Pels get a dominant big man who won’t take the shine away from Davis and a lottery pick. The Cavs just get a big man who could be the best of his generation and who is in the midst of his prime. No biggie.

Just Boogie.

*All stats gathered from www.basketball-reference.com

DeMarcus Cousins could be playing himself right into the Cavaliers’ hands

By Quenton S. Albertie | Dec 8, 2017

DeMarcus Cousins could be playing himself right into the Cleveland Cavaliers’ hands.

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