Cousin's early dominance helps kings to susprising 5_1 start

Cousin's early dominance helps kings to susprising 5_1 start

DeMarcus Cousins has always been an immensely talented offensive player who poses a tough task for any defense. But the oft-mercurial and temperamental would-be star struggled to stay focused for long stretches in recent years, making him the most maligned 20-and-10 lock in the league.
Whether it was a summer spent with USA Basketball at the FIBA World Cup or the maturity that develops after four seasons in the league, Cousins looks like a different player to start 2014-15. It seems this is a new Boogie: mature leader, engaged defender, and, through the tiniest of samples, legitimate MVP candidate.
The most noticeable change with Cousins has been in his demeanor. Some scoffed at his self-imposed limit of five technical fouls for the season, but Cousins is calmer in his reactions and more measured in his treatment of referees, coaches and teammates.
To wit, on Friday night he got into a minor scuffle after fouling Miles Plumlee harder than it appeared he meant to, got whistled for a traveling call on a key possession, and then fouled out on a borderline illegal screen call in the final minutes of regulation. That was all in a span of minutes, but instead of the hot-headed Cousins causing trouble over seemingly unfair treatment, it was the 24-year-old acting as the calming presence on the Kings' bench, cooling down head coach Mike Malone and rallying teammates in the huddle.

Cousin's early dominance helps kings to susprising 5_1 start