[ad_1]
LOS ANGELES – Less than a minute into his first game as a member of the LA Clippers, DeMarcus Cousins maneuvered around Enes Kanter, hit an offensive rebound for himself and scored on a recoil right in front of delighted Clippers owner Steve Ballmer. .
He makes his debut for the team after signing a 10-day contract on Monday with seven points, four rebounds and two assists from Cousins in seven minutes in the Clippers’ 133-116 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday. at Staples Center.
“He was great,” said Paul George, who hit six 3-pointers and finished with 36 points. “He’s an All-Star. He’s still one of the most talented greats in the league. He can finish, he bounces. I thought you had seen a bit of everything from him tonight, and he showed that ‘he still had a lot to give. “
The Clippers are the last stop for Cousins since serious injuries threatened his All-Star career. Cousins tore up his Achilles in 2018 with the New Orleans Pelicans and had a lengthy rehab before returning. He then suffered a quadriceps tear in the first round of the playoffs with the Golden State Warriors in 2019. He returned and played in the NBA Finals against the Toronto Raptors, then joined the Los Angeles Lakers, to tear up his ACL before the 2019- 20 season has started.
After missing all of last season, Cousins returned and played 25 games with the Houston Rockets this season before his release. The way back was long and grueling.
“It took a tremendous amount of work to get to this place,” Cousins said. “I feel great, my body feels great. I’m probably in the best shape I’ve been in my entire career. At this point it’s about going out there and putting it all together and trying to keep showing that i’m healthy and i’m here to play this game at a high level.
“I understand the situation I am in. Whatever opportunity is given to me, I plan to take full advantage of it, just to control what I can control.”
Cousins provided the Clippers with much needed depth down the center, with Serge Ibaka (full back) missing his 12th game in a row. Cousins set up screens, had two offensive rebounds and drew to go to the line four times in his first game since Feb. 17.
“Cousins was good,” said Clippers head coach Ty Lue. “[It’s] just tough because he doesn’t know that many plays right now, so we’re limited offensively. But it’s a problem [for opponents]. It’s a big load, he can post, he can shoot the 3, he can pass the basketball. … Just get him back in shape and acclimatize him to what we’re trying to do offensively and defensively, but we already know that’s a great talent. “
Cousins also has some familiarity with this Clippers team. He is former teammates with recently acquired Rajon Rondo, and he played with George on the 2016 US Olympic team and with Patrick Patterson in college in Kentucky.
Cousins said he doesn’t see many weaknesses in the Clippers, who have won back-to-back wins with losses to the Lakers and Blazers.
“Obviously they have a two-headed snake in Kawhi [Leonard] and PG, “Cousins said.” And obviously everyone’s job is to make their jobs easy. I think it’s probably one of the most complete teams in the league. I bring everything I can to help and raise this team. I don’t really see that this team is missing much. “
George said he was eager to see Cousins return to his All-Star form with the Clippers.
“He can still really play at a high level,” said George. “So I can’t wait for him to get into a groove, see the ground and be just a great teammate for us.”
[ad_2]
Source link