Kings Finding Success Behind Underrated Big 3
No one will make too much of the Sacramento Kings' 103-88 victory over a Chicago Bulls team missing stars Derrick Rose and Pau Gasol.
But there's a lot to like about the team's promising 7-5 record, and there's even more to like about the emergent "Big Three" carrying the load. DeMarcus Cousins, Rudy Gay and Darren Collison combined for 59 points Thursday night, setting the tone against a defense that was allowing just 100.4 points per 100 possessions coming into the contest (per Hollinger Stats).
Cousins added 14 rebounds while Collison added 12 assists, headlining a collective effort in which six players scored in double figures.
| Player | Points | Rebounds | Assists | FG |
| DeMarcus Cousins | 22 | 14 | 4 | 9-19 |
| Rudy Gay | 20 | 7 | 3 | 7-11 |
| Darren Collison | 17 | 6 | 12 | 5-10 |
It's the latest manifestation of Sacramento's encouraging start, a testament to the organization's growth as it pursues its first postseason appearance since 2006. The Kings can also boast quality wins against the Portland Trail Blazers, Los Angeles Clippers, Phoenix Suns and San Antonio Spurs—all clubs who've won at least 50 percent of their games thus far.
"To play a good team like this, a well-coached team like this, and be able to finish like we did—it says a lot about the growth of this team," Gay said after the game, per NBA.com.
Head coach Mike Malone's defensive message deserves some of the credit. Coming into Thursday night's contest, his Kings were allowing 103.9 points per 100 possessions—a marked improvement over the 106.3 they yielded a season ago.
But this team's core talent has been indispensable, and more than a little surprising.
Cousins' ability has been well-documented, particularly after a career-best 2013-14 campaign in which he tallied 22.7 points and 11.7 rebounds per game. With the 24-year-old continuing to mature after a summer spent with Team USA at the FIBA World Cup, that kind of production isn't going anywhere.
If anything, it will probably become more consistent and efficient. With four seasons under his belt, the Kentucky product is discovering his prime—and the Kings are liking what he's found.
Meanwhile, Gay is turning into the kind of primary scoring option for which Sacramento had hoped when it acquired him via trade last season from the Toronto Raptors. The longtime Memphis Grizzly averaged 20.1 points in 55 games with the Kings last season, but the more impressive development was his 48.2 percent success rate from the field.
Through 12 games this season, the 28-year-old is averaging 21.7 points—a pace that would be a career high should it continue. And after dropping 40 points on Portland, that career high could well be within reach.
Sacramento recently signed Gay to a three-year, $40 million extension, so one can deduce that the organization has been pleased with his results.
As Sports Illustrated's Ben Golliver put it this month:
"The challenge for Gay now will be to use his newfound security as fuel for a career year. There are some promising early signs. Gay's assist numbers and free throws attempts are at career-high levels and he's shooting fewer long twos, percentage-wise, than ever before. Both need to continue if Sacramento is going to keep pace in the West.
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And the Kings' front office knew it.
"He is an immensely talented player who is critical to our team on and off the court, and he is a significant reason why things are changing in Sacramento," Kings owner Vivek Ranadive said in the team's announcement, per NBA.com. "Players as talented as Rudy have their choice on where to play.
"He is committed to making the Kings great again and we are committed to his success. I am looking forward to seeing a sea of No. 8 jerseys filling the seats of the new arena."
It remains to be seen whether Gay can really sustain All-Star-caliber play, but he's an ideal sidekick for Cousins.
The Kings have their big man of the future. They have their two-way presence on the wing.
And—it would appear—they have a point guard who can put it all together.
In his 11 appearances this season, Collison has posted 15.6 points and seven assists per contest. Though his three-point shooting (at .241 for the moment) leaves something to be desired, that should sort itself out. The sixth-year veteran has made 36 percent of his career three-point attempts.
Either way, this franchise has to be thrilled with what it's getting out of the 27-year-old. Sacramento signed him to replace the blossoming Isaiah Thomas, dealt to the Phoenix Suns this summer via a sign-and-trade arrangement.
Having spent most of last season backing up Chris Paul for the Los Angeles Clippers, Collison didn't have a lot of bargaining power this summer. He'll make just $4,797,664 this season, the first of a three-year deal totaling $15 million.
Given today's market for starting floor generals, that's a certifiable bargain.
While Collison hasn't traditionally been regarded as one of the league's premier point guards, his role in Sacramento assures him an opportunity to change that. And his experience playing alongside Paul and Co. may have given him all he needs to take advantage of it.
"When you leave a team that's contending for a championship, you want to make sure you're going to a team that's—if not doing the same thing—[at least] committed to winning," Collison told reporters earlier this month. "We're not where the Clippers are at as far as goal-wise, but at the same time, everybody's committed to winning."
That commitment is paying dividends so far.
This remains a young roster, and it's far too soon to get carried away with especially optimistic projections.
That said, these Kings are surpassing their customarily low expectations—and their unheralded trio at the top is leading the way.
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