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CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Even as he fights through layers of rust and imposing offenses, DeMarcus Cousins has proven one thing. He still remains one of the NBA’s best centers.
In the Warriors’ 121-110 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Monday, Cousins had season-highs in points (24) and playing time (31 minutes) while shooting 9-of-15 from the field. It marked a breakthrough after Cousins both had sluggish performances with his shooting accuracy and Kerr’s refusal to play him more than 27 minutes even after the team’s medical staff lifted its previous minutes restriction on him.
“I’m more happy about that than the actual game,” Cousins said. “I’ll make sure I give Steve [Kerr] a big hug.”
The Warriors’ coach would likely reciprocate it after the Warriors (43-17) both rectified a six-point loss to Houston on Saturday and won their 16th road game in the past 18 contests.
“This is the happiest he’s looked and where he’s looked the most comfortable,” Ker said. “This is the best he’s looked.”
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At the behest of other 29 NBA teams, the Warriors also featured Klay Thompson (26 points), Kevin Durant (24), Draymond Green (14), and Stephen Curry (16) logging double figures. But most of the attention centered on Cousins, who became the first Warriors player in two years to have four consecutive double doubles. Curry logged such a streak two years ago in points and assists. Former Warriors forward David Lee made that mark in points and rebounds four years ago.
“It was very important and great for his mental [psyche],” Green said of Cousins playing 31 minutes. “He’s probably still not happy, but it was great.”
Cousins was at least happier than what he showed following the Warriors’ loss to Houston on Saturday. Then, Cousins admitted feeling “frustrated” after shooting 4-of-12 from the field, committing four fouls and recording the team’s worst plus minus (-17). In the past seven games leading into the Charlotte game. Cousins shot only 39.2 percent from the field while averaging three turnovers and 3.4 fouls per game.
So, Cousins reported Durant was “cussing me out” to “play my game.” Warriors assistant coach Jarron Collins encouraged Cousins “to be aggressive.” Though Cousins looked tested defensively, he exerted his aggression on offense.
“In the Houston game, there was a lot of bumping going on and he was more worried about getting the foul calls than playing through the contact,” Green said. “Tonight he just played through the contact. It was great for us.”
The Warriors featured Cousins both in the starting lineup and a staggered second unit. But the Warriors insisted they did not do anything to make Cousins feel more comfortable. Durant said “that was all on him.” Kerr credited to Cousins breakout game to “talent,” while Green called him “one of the best centers we’ve seen.”
“We play within our offense. We understand if we move the ball well and set good screens for each other and move bodies, somebody is going to be open,” Curry said. “He was aggressive finishing at the rim and taking his shot when he was open and trying to keep things simple. That’s what we expect and it’s only going to continue to get better. Baby steps.”
The Warriors were bewildered with Cousins’ technical
Not everything went well for Cousins. He was called for a technical with 4:51 left in the game after tossing Jeremy Lamb’s shoe into the stands.
“Next time I’ll step on the shoe, roll my ankle, break it and tear an Achilles,” Cousins said with obvious sarcasm. “Just leave it out there next time. I guess that’s what they want. I’ll keep that in mind.”
The Warriors sounded just as perplexed. Lamb’s left shoe fell off after cutting toward the free-throw line. To avoid an injury to someone, Cousins casually toss the shoe to the sideline.
“I don’t know if there is an automatic if you toss the shoe out of bounds,” Kerr said. “On the other hand, it’s in the way. Somebody could get injured.”
During the 2014 pre-season, former Lakers guard Ronnie Price received a technical for throwing his shoe at Warriors forward Andre Iguodala in hopes to stop a fast break.
Curry joked that Cousins “is too strong” and should be “a little more delicate throwing it into the sidelines.” Cousins joked Lamb’s shoes weighed lighter because it did not have any soles.
“That’s crazy. It was sitting in the middle of the floor,” Green said. “We have all these rules about player safety. You can barely contest a shot without getting a foul. But you’re supposed to leave a shoe sitting there.”
Draymond Green has no reported setbacks with his left ankle
Green played against Charlotte two days after spraining his left ankle against Houston. Green had 14 points on 6-of-8 shooting, 10 assists and eight rebounds in 34 minutes. Green also practiced on Sunday evening.
“It felt really good tonight,” Green said. “It swelled up on me that first night. But over night it went down.”
Warriors veteran guard Shaun Livingston also played despite nursing left hamstring tightness. Warriors second-year forward Jordan Bell will sit, though, after missing practice on Sunday because of the flu.
Kerr said that Bell has stayed at the team hotel in Charlotte, but planned to be with the team when it left for Miami on Monday night for Wednesday’s game against the Heat.
What’s up with Steph’s shooting?
Just as the Warriors exited the locker room, Curry huddled up his teammates.
“I need this one in Charlotte,” Curry told them.
Curry received his wish with the Warriors winning in his hometown. After after missing last year’s homecoming because of a sprained right ankle, Curry did not exactly put on a show for his family and friends at Charlotte Christian and Davidson College. He had 16 points while going 5-of-18 from the field and 4-of-14 from 3 along with nearly as many turnovers (four) as assists (six). In the NBA All-Star game last week here, Curry also had 17 points while shooting 6-of-23 and 4-of-17 from deep.
“It’s never easy coming back to your hometown, especially for somebody like Steph,” Kerr said. “He’s like the mayor here. Everybody knows him in the stands.”
Kerr said he has “no concern” over Curry’s shooting struggles, though they have extended past games in Charlotte. Ever since Cousins return for the past 13 games, Curry has shot 37.1 percent from the field and 31.3 percent from 3 in the first quarters. Still, Durant said that Curry “still played hard” against the Hornets.
“I enjoy the atmosphere and try to do little things to help my team win,” Curry said, “and not get caught up in the stats when we’re winning games.”
Durant makes a milestone with his 3-point shooting
Durant ended the first quarter by doing something Curry perfects so well. He buried a 26-foot step-back 3 over Hornets guard Michael Kidd-Gilchrist.
“I’ve been doing that since I was 10,” Durant boasted.
Durant is not known as a high volume 3-point shooter. But he has taken and made enough to make 403 3’s through 2 ½ seasons with the Warriors. On Monday, Durant became the ninth player in Warriors franchise history to make at least 400 3’s. He trails former Warriors guard Baron Davis (434).
Durant said he “started bouncing off the dribble a little bit more” during the 2011-12 season with OKC. But with the Warriors, Durant remains deliberative from distance.
“Steph and Klay shoot at the 3-poiint line a lot,” Durant said. “So to avoid them and get out of their way, I try to just work inside the 3-point line and pick and choose my spots at the 3.”
Kerr not exactly happy with the team’s performance.
In less than a minute, Kerr called two timeouts for the same reason. The Warriors threw a careless turnover that led to a transition basket. When Charlotte trimmed the Warriors’ lead to 85-81 with 4:34 left in the third quarter,
Kerr was not angry enough to break a clipboard. But he still appeared frustrated with the team’s apathy. This comes on the heels of the Warriors fighting apathy since the NBA All-Star break.
Therefore, Kerr had the same thought process as Spurs coach Gregg Popovich on if he felt happy after the game.
“Happy is the wrong word,” Kerr said. “Anytime you win, you have to be satisfied in the NBA. I’m satisfied with the win and satisfied with the game, but not all of it. I thought we had some pockets we could tighten things up.”
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Will Warriors rest anyone on back-to-back?
Kerr said “there’s a good chance we won’t have everybody available” in the team’s upcoming back-to-back in Miami (Wednesday) and Orlando (Thursday)
Kerr plans to speak with Dr. Rick Celebrini, the Warriors’ director of sports medicine and performance, since the Warriors have been cautious with Cousins, Livingston and Andre Iguodala. Kerr did not just want to factor in Monday’s game against Charlotte. He also wanted to calculate how things would turn out when the Warriors landed in Miami on Monday night.
“You follow me?” Kerr said.
Yes, Miami nightlife can do wonders to someone’s health. But Kerr joked that he will have a long film session. Instead, the Warriors plan to have off on Tuesday.
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