So, we have lost 16 games in a row without DeMarcus Cousins. Coach Malone has never coached a single victory without Cousins on the floor. He's 0-14 for his career without his big meal ticket.
And we need these games now. Our fast start has been battered by a spate of terrible luck, and our whole realistic chance to make the playoffs may rest in dominating the rest of this month on our home floor.
So here's what we face before we have any chance of getting Boogie back: a rare (although its going to happen to us twice more on this long hometand) home court back to back, but against two weak East teams on long road trips.
Team 1 -- Indiana Pacers (Friday 7;00PST)
Overall Record: 7-12
Road Record: 3-7
3-7 on the road, coming off of road losses to Phoenix and Portland, Boogie or not this is one you just have to win if you want to be talked about like those teams as a West power. The Pacers have recently gotten back David West, and along with Hibbert (who has been much better this year without Stephensen around) that makes them very tough inside defensively. Offensively its another story, its not clear how much West has left at 34 coming off injury, and despite some big games, the stats say the Pacers score better when Hibbert isn't out there (although possibly normal little chuckers run and chuck when freed of the need to slow down and play basketball). The real key is the backcourt -- the Pacers don't have one. All 3 starters from last year are gone at the moment. What they do have is a variety of any given night guys just waiting for a team to come along with shaky defensive focus and set them free for a big night. Chris Copeland can be particularly scary in that regard, although he's slumping badly.
C- Roy Hibbert
PF- David West
SF-- haha
SG-- Stuckey?
PG-- haha
various other random guys. Some Scola, Copeland, Watson, Miles etc.
Team 2 -- Orlando Magic (Saturday 7;00PST)
Overall Record: 7-14
Road Record: 5-9
They have a better road record than the Pacers, and might even be able to increase it tonight as they play the Jazz. With both teams playing the night before, there won't be any back to back excuse stuff. We're the final stop on a 5 game road trip through the West, and they don't play for 4 days after we're done, so maybe they might be looking forward to the break. Have lost 6 of 7, but note: they beat Phoenix a few games ago, and came within 1 point of beating the Warriors. They can be dangerous. A major key or problem could be Nikola Vucevic. While we have appropriately been mostly interested in Boogie and Davis and Gasol, Vucevic has quietly been putting up big numbers emerging as maybe the East's best center. Not special like Cousins, but a big strong kid who uses his size and has solid moves. Not much on defense, but if we are Boogieless all of a sudden our frontline looks like the Suns, or a team in the East, and he could kill us...but only if he's healthy. Because that's the potential key : he's been missing games due to back spasms, and plans tonight (Jazz game) as a time to return to the court. How will he feel on the second night of a back to back? If he doesn't go, then Kyle O'Quinn, who a number of people around here think would make a nice young PF next to Cousins, has been getting those minutes.
C- Nikola Vucevic (or hopefull, Kyle O'Quinn)
PF- Channing Frye
SF- Tobias Harris
SG- Evan Fournier (started season hot, has cooled dramatically)
PG- Victor Oladipo
Payton off the bench
So, no more fooling around. Good teams win even when their top guys are out. Two beat up East teams on the backend of long Western trips? Gotta win. So I added a poll. Get it right and you a free copy of Honey Boo Boo: The Complete Collection in your stocking this Christmas.
And we need these games now. Our fast start has been battered by a spate of terrible luck, and our whole realistic chance to make the playoffs may rest in dominating the rest of this month on our home floor.
So here's what we face before we have any chance of getting Boogie back: a rare (although its going to happen to us twice more on this long hometand) home court back to back, but against two weak East teams on long road trips.
Team 1 -- Indiana Pacers (Friday 7;00PST)
Overall Record: 7-12
Road Record: 3-7
3-7 on the road, coming off of road losses to Phoenix and Portland, Boogie or not this is one you just have to win if you want to be talked about like those teams as a West power. The Pacers have recently gotten back David West, and along with Hibbert (who has been much better this year without Stephensen around) that makes them very tough inside defensively. Offensively its another story, its not clear how much West has left at 34 coming off injury, and despite some big games, the stats say the Pacers score better when Hibbert isn't out there (although possibly normal little chuckers run and chuck when freed of the need to slow down and play basketball). The real key is the backcourt -- the Pacers don't have one. All 3 starters from last year are gone at the moment. What they do have is a variety of any given night guys just waiting for a team to come along with shaky defensive focus and set them free for a big night. Chris Copeland can be particularly scary in that regard, although he's slumping badly.
C- Roy Hibbert
PF- David West
SF-- haha
SG-- Stuckey?
PG-- haha
various other random guys. Some Scola, Copeland, Watson, Miles etc.
Team 2 -- Orlando Magic (Saturday 7;00PST)
Overall Record: 7-14
Road Record: 5-9
They have a better road record than the Pacers, and might even be able to increase it tonight as they play the Jazz. With both teams playing the night before, there won't be any back to back excuse stuff. We're the final stop on a 5 game road trip through the West, and they don't play for 4 days after we're done, so maybe they might be looking forward to the break. Have lost 6 of 7, but note: they beat Phoenix a few games ago, and came within 1 point of beating the Warriors. They can be dangerous. A major key or problem could be Nikola Vucevic. While we have appropriately been mostly interested in Boogie and Davis and Gasol, Vucevic has quietly been putting up big numbers emerging as maybe the East's best center. Not special like Cousins, but a big strong kid who uses his size and has solid moves. Not much on defense, but if we are Boogieless all of a sudden our frontline looks like the Suns, or a team in the East, and he could kill us...but only if he's healthy. Because that's the potential key : he's been missing games due to back spasms, and plans tonight (Jazz game) as a time to return to the court. How will he feel on the second night of a back to back? If he doesn't go, then Kyle O'Quinn, who a number of people around here think would make a nice young PF next to Cousins, has been getting those minutes.
C- Nikola Vucevic (or hopefull, Kyle O'Quinn)
PF- Channing Frye
SF- Tobias Harris
SG- Evan Fournier (started season hot, has cooled dramatically)
PG- Victor Oladipo
Payton off the bench
So, no more fooling around. Good teams win even when their top guys are out. Two beat up East teams on the backend of long Western trips? Gotta win. So I added a poll. Get it right and you a free copy of Honey Boo Boo: The Complete Collection in your stocking this Christmas.
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