DeMarcus Cousins Calls Sacramento Kings' Season a Complete Circus
There haven't been any clowns or trapeze artists, but the Sacramento Kings' 2014-15 season has resembled a circus.
At least, that's what All-Star center DeMarcus Cousins thinks, according to The Washington Post's Michael Lee:
"It’s been a circus, man. It’s been a complete circus. We got off to a hot start. Unfortunately, I got sick, so it ruined the look of the team. I take some blame for that. I know for a fact, if I wouldn’t have gotten sick, things wouldn’t have happened the way it happened. It was no way it could. At the same time, a lot of it is not my fault and we all know why. But this has been a disappointing year.
"
Between Cousins' battle with viral meningitis, a shocking coaching change and the midseason implementation of a new regime, the big man's career-best numbers have been overshadowed by the Kings' inability to establish a comfortable equilibrium.
After exceeding expectations and finishing November with a record of 9-8, it appeared as though Sacramento was on the fast-track toward positive developmental progress. Then Cousins contracted the nasty illness, former head coach Mike Malone was canned after an 11-13 start, and mass confusion set in.
"Cousins was forced to miss 10 games after being hospitalized with a viral infection, and when Sacramento dropped seven of nine in his absence, the organization used the slide as an excuse to fire Malone, when really, the coaching decision was more about the style of play than anything else," NBC Sports' Brett Pollakoff wrote.
Since Malone's dismissal, the bottom has dropped out in California's capital. Over the past three months, Sacramento's won a total of 13 games—better than a handful of teams that have made it their mission to acquire as many ping-pong balls as possible come lottery time.
And while Cousins is on track to join Kevin Love, Kevin Garnett, Tim Duncan and Shaquille O'Neal as the only players to average at least 23 points, 12 rebounds and three assists since 2000, Sacramento's defense has been simply woeful.
With George Karl heading up the bench, Sacramento's transformed from a poor defense into a putrid one, surrendering 107.9 points per 100 possessions since he was introduced as head coach on Feb. 11.
The offense has improved fairly dramatically in that span without question, but adequate balance on both ends continues to elude the Kings. In fact, the last time Sacramento had a positive net efficiency rating, Mike Bibby and Peja Stojakovic were thriving under the tutelage of Rick Adelman.
So in case you're keeping score at home, the Kings haven't operated as a model of consistency since making the playoffs in 2006. Not so coincidentally, that was the last time Sacramento qualified for the postseason.
Cousins is firmly entrenched as one of the NBA's most dynamic superstars, but until the Kings can compile a track record of organizational stability and surround him with worthy sidekicks, they will continue spinning their wheels in hopes of rejoining the West's upper echelon.
In other words, don't expect this three-ring act to close its doors anytime soon.
All stats current as of March 24 and courtesy of NBA.com unless noted otherwise.
