Prediction number two: JaVale McGee will start over DeMarcus Cousins
Lakers fans are giddy over this potential starting lineup for next season:
- LeBron James
- Danny Green
- Kyle Kuzma
- Anthony Davis
- DeMarcus Cousins
I don’t think it’s going to shake out like that next year. Instead, JaVale McGee will get the starting nod at center.
The Warriors front office is one of the best in the NBA. They got an up close view of Cousins last season and instead of offering him a deal to come back and play for them again next year, they inked Kevon Looney and Willey Cauley-Stein to play center.
Last season the Warriors were 2.5 points worse when Cousins was on the floor. However, most Lakers fans will ignore that information and argue that he was still recovering from his Achilles injury last year. The majority of folks in LA believe that once Cousins has more time to convalesce he’ll get back to his old self.
Two years ago in New Orleans, before he tore his Achilles, the Pelicans were only 0.6 points better when DeMarcus Cousins was on the floor, while at the same time New Orleans was 13.9 points better when Jrue Holiday was playing and 11.3 points better when Anthony Davis was in the game.
The knock on Cousins- pre-injury and post-injury- has always been that he puts up big stats, but that he doesn’t impact the game in a meaningful way. Why has everyone forgotten that?
The best case scenario for DeMarcus Cousins next season is that he does regain 70% of his old self. However, even if he does start to look more like he did two years ago, he’s never going to be a plus defender again. After he tore his Achilles he lost his side-to-side mobility and what little hops he had before.
The Lakers don’t need a slow footed center who can’t protect the paint in the starting lineup. The Lakers need JaVale McGee to provide defense in the starting lineup while LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Kyle Kuzma, and Danny Green work their magic on offense.
Plus, if DeMarcus Cousins does become an offensive powerhouse once again, he’ll be much more useful scoring in bunches for the second unit and closing games for the Lakers.