Before Cousins left the game on Sunday he was having a monster day as he had 13 points and nine rebounds before halftime. We’ll have a better way to evaluate them after the next… oh, five games against teams expected to be in the playoff race in the West.
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The Grizzlies, who pushed the Warriors to six games in the Western Conference semifinals last season, were outscored 72-27 in the middle two quarters Monday in Oakland to put that rout in motion. Rondo and Cousins both played at the University of Kentucky and now have lockers next to each other in the Kings’ locker room.
Instead of the free-flowing game the Kings like to play, the Griz imposed their physical style. The Kings shot 2 of 15, their fewest field goals in a quarter since March 27, 2009, when they also had two baskets against Utah. For a group that loves to get out and run, defensive stops allow the offensive unit to attack before the opposition can get set.
Memphis reserve forward JaMychal Green finished with 12 points and 12 rebounds Tuesday, and forward Brendan Wright came off the bench to add 10 points.
With Cousins out Saturday, backup center Kosta Koufos played 17 minutes in the second half, with starting center Willie Cauley-Stein logging 11 minutes and backup forward Omri Casspi logging 11 as well.
After opening the first quarter with a four-point lead, the Kings managed to score just eleven points in the ensuing quarter, digging into a hole in which they were unable to climb out.
“We were much more consistent on defense”.
Cousins won’t play for the Kings at Phoenix on Wednesday.
“Just one of those quarters where the shots weren’t falling”, Koufos said.
Kings: Karl appeared amused before the game when asked about Cousins’ remark following the previous meeting with the Clippers that he hates them. The Kings averaged 115 points in their first three games before the disappointing showing that included 39.2 percent shooting from the field and a subpar 24-of-40 effort from the free-throw line.
Injury Report: DeMarcus Cousins (out) with a sore right Achilles.
Memphis Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph, (50) shoots against Sacramento Kings forward Rudy Gay (8) during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Tuesday, November 3, 2015. Entering Monday, the Kings were tied for sixth in the league with 23.3 assists per game.
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Sacramento (1-3) averaged 105.5 points per 100 possessions for one of the league’s best marks and an NBA-high 59.3 points in the paint through three games with Cousins in the lineup. He was averaging 22 points and five rebounds against the Grizzlies since they traded him to the Toronto Raptors in January 2013. They collapsed the lane and took away one of Sacramento’s major weapons – the dribble drive.
