The Warriors don't have anybody that can guard Cousins. They certainly can't get away with using Draymond Green on him as they did against Marc Gasol - not in a playoff style game anyway.
Even though he had little help and the Warriors keyed on him, he still averaged 24 ppg, 10.2 rpg, 3.2 apg, 2 stl, and 1.25 blk against Golden State this season. How is exactly is that a scheme that others should follow?
Imagine what Cuz would have done to the Warriors defense if he had capable shooters to pass to.
I know the Warriors, Rockets, etc. are the flavor of the month right now, but the most consistent way to win is with a dominant BIG. Most teams don't have one, which is why they opt for the style that they do. And you can win that way. However, you're more likely to win with a 27-year old Olajwon, Shaq, or Duncan that you are with a 27-year old Steph Curry, Russell Westbrook or James Harden. Nothing has changed in that regard
People say that the game has changed, but last I looked the star players with the most rings (still actively playing) either is a dominant BIG or happened to play alongside one. Duncan has 5 rings as a dominant BIG. Kobe Bryant also has 5 rings, but 3 of them were as a sidekick to the most dominant BIG of the past 20 years and the other 2 were with Pau Gasol - a top 3 big at the time.
I think it's been proven over time that the best way to win is from inside-out, not outside-in. The Warriors may indeed win a title playing outside-in this season, but they wouldn't beat a team like the Spurs, Lakers or Rockets who won their titles playing inside out.
The Kings need to understand that they have a chance to become one of the rare teams that can play like those 3 teams mentioned and resist the temptation to follow the crowd. They can still include the 3 ball as staple of the offense, it just needs to come off double teams out of the post like Houston used to do with Olajuwon. Surround Boogie with shooters and let him decide when to kick it out and when not to. The rest is up to Big Cuz and how much he continues to improve.
The Warriors have a guy named Bogut if you forgot.. I think he's the best player in defending Cousins out of the entire NBA. He has the size to match up with him and Cousins always struggles vs GSW.
Even with those stats, he shot only .440% from the field.
The Warriors are actually very good in recovering. They have great off-ball defenders in Iggy, Barnes, Klay, and etc. They're very smart and disciplined on defense. The only way to actually beat them is if we have shooters who could pas and shoot.. via Spurs.
All 3 of those players are better than Cousins. You're comparing GOATs and top 10 players of all NBA history to good players now.
I think the NBA does lack dominant big men like Cousins so it's changed to the point where you can win..without one. (as crazy as that may sound). So the question is, if the game has changed so much, how can big men/post players play to this new style? That's the entire question.
Duncan and Shaq are goats and HOFs. I could make the argument that Shaq has had Kobe along his side and that Parker/Ginoboli helped Duncan. So it goes both ways. But of course, both bigs are dominant. I think trying to use the example that the 2000s are part of today's game is wrong.
The game changes every day. Combo guards were frowned upon..even at Curry in 2009. If you were a tweener, you had a disadvantage and it's frowned upon..Derrick Williams(2011). Now, we have guys like Curry, Lillard, Irving, Westbrook, Draymond Green, Middleton, Morris Twins, and etc dominating the league... Keep in mind, a few years ago being "untraditional" was frowned upon throughout the entire NBA.
I don't disagree with you at all on the fact that we could become one of those rare teams. I think it's just going to be hard to assemble.
Here's the perfect roster next to Cousins without using any All Stars:
PG- Jrue Holiday
SG- Wesley Matthews
SF- Chandler Parsons
PF- Rudy Gobert
C- Demarcus Cousins
Here's the closest thing to do that roster that could actually realistically happen depending on a few things..
PG- Brandon Knight
SG- Danny Green
SF- Rudy Gay
PF- WCS
C- Demarcus Cousins