Replacing an MVP-caliber center like DeMarcus Cousins is no ordinary human feat. The Sacramento Kings offense and defense revolved around the 6-foot-11, 270-pound pivot, until he was sidelined with viral meningitis over Thanksgiving. The Kings have struggled mightily since, but they’re smiling ear to ear today as Cousins is expected to play versus the Milwaukee Bucks.
The table below highlights disparities in team production in his absence.
| Cousins in the lineup | Cousins out the lineup | |
| Sacramento Kings record (25 games) | 9-6 | 2-8 |
| Points per game | 102.1 | 98.3 |
| Opponent points per game | 98.8 | 101.3 |
| Field goal percentage | 45.2% | 45.2% |
| Opponent field goal percentage | 43.6% | 44.7% |
| 3-point attempts per game | 14.9 | 14.1 |
| 3-point percentage | 31.7% | 34.7% |
| Free throw attempts per game | 32.6 | 29.5 |
| Free throw percentage | 80.8% | 73.4% |
| Points in the paint per game | 46.4 | 41.5 |
| Opponent points in the paint per game | 44.7 | 44.3 |
| Fast break points per game | 13.5 | 11.9 |
| Opponent fast break points per game | 13.5 | 16.4 |
| Assists per game | 18.5 | 20.2 |
| Rebounds per game | 45.3 | 43.7 |
| Opponent Rebounds per game | 37.2 | 38.4 |
| Offensive rebounds per game | 11.2 | 11.5 |
| Opponent offensive rebounds per game | 10.1 | 10.3 |
| Second chance points per game | 13.3 | 15.2 |
| Opponent second chance points per game | 11.3 | 14.2 |
| Steals per game | 6.1 | 5.6 |
| Opponent steals per game | 7.1 | 8.9 |
| Blocks per game | 4.1 | 3.3 |
| Opponent blocks per game | 6.3 | 5.9 |
| Turnovers per game | 15.8 | 16.8 |
| Personal fouls per game | 23.2 | 21.5 |
Notes:
- The Kings needed others to step up their scoring without Cousins’ 23.5 points per night. The team as a whole is shooting more efficiently, maintaining the same field goal percentage and upping their 3-point accuracy, but Sacramento has lost nearly four points per night. This may be attributed to the fall in points in the paint and free throw makes.
- Sacramento is drawing free throws at a similar, smaller clip, but their aim from the stripe has fallen drastically. Cousins was shooting 80.6 percent on 8.3 attempts per game before his illness.
- Without Cousins’ dominance on the boards (12.6 rebounds this season), the Kings have done an admirable job maintaining their numbers. Sacramento has actually hauled down more offensive rebounds without their star, and scoring more second chance points as a result.
- Ball movement has increased in Cousins’ absence, but the Kings are surrendering more steals and turnovers as a result.
- Casual observers would assume that sitting a lumbering big like Cousins would increase the pace of the offense, but the Kings are averaging less fast break points since Thanksgiving. The center is certainly capable of running the floor and leading the break, which bodes well for Sacramento and its focus to run more moving forward.
- The Kings defense has regressed without Cousins. Sacramento is producing less steals and blocks while allowing more baskets with a higher rate of makes and fast break points. On the flip side, the Kings are fouling less and holding their ground defending the paint.
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