VIDEO: DeMarcus Cousins Speaks to Media for First Time Since Quad Injury
By Michael Luciano
With all the discussion and hysteria surrounding Kevin Durant's calf injury and his potential return at some point during the NBA Finals, some seem to forget that Golden State Warriors are also down an All-Star big man in DeMarcus Cousins. For the first time since Boogie limped off of the court against the Clippers with a rough-looking quad injury, he made himself available to the media Thursday, claiming he's targeting a Finals return of his own.
DeMarcus Cousins speaks in front of the group for first time since his injury. Says he’s not targeting specific Finals game, but clear he’s near return. pic.twitter.com/w1DCQ2fB1T
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) May 23, 2019
In 30 games for the Dubs since returning from an Achilles injury he suffered as a New Orleans Pelican, Cousins averaged 16.3 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. His scoring and passing ability is a huge bonus to any offense, and would be especially needed if Durant can't be his normal self.
While his slower, low post style didn't always mesh with the Warriors' pace and space offense, he gives the team a new dimension of nastiness, toughness, and physicality inside that a guy like Kevon Looney just doesn't have.
Warriors say they "anticipate" DeMarcus Cousins (quad) playing in The NBA Finals while remaining merely "hopeful" that Kevin Durant (strained right calf) can also return
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) May 23, 2019
Against either a Milwaukee or Toronto side that both like to drop the ball down low and let their bigs slowly go to work, Cousins' presence inside could give the Warriors yet another important edge in their race for a three-peat.