Who Replaces Boogie Cousins?
The Los Angeles Lakers suffered a huge blow last Monday when DeMarcus “Boogie” Cousins tore his ACL during a preseason workout. Things got worse last Thursday when the news was released that he will miss the upcoming season. JaVale McGee will be the teams starting center going forward. However this leaves them with a lack of depth at the five.
Some of the names which have drawn interest include Joakim Noah, Kenneth Faried and a possible reunion with former Laker Dwight Howard. With the power of modern technology available through NBA 2K19, I was able to give each of these big men a shot a joining the Lakers roster. I utilized six minute long quarters on the All-Star setting. In each of these matchups, they served as the team’s backup center to replace Cousins.
Matchup: Lakers vs Knicks
Joakim Noah with the block at the rim.
Storyline: Noah joins the Lakers after rejuvenating his career as a member of the Memphis Grizzlies. He is brought in by the Lakers due to his defensive prowess. He will take on his former team the New York Knicks.
Stat lines:
Joakim Noah: 0 points ,1 rebound, 1 assist, and 2 blocks.
Mitchell Robinson: 0 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal.
Observations: The Knicks held the lead the entire first half of the game. Although McGee provided a much needed spark on the offensive end with 6 points and 4 rebounds, it was Noah’s 2 blocks and 1 assist that helped the Lakeshow swing the momentum their way during the third quarter.
Summary: The Lakers did not begin their offensive surge until the third quarter. LeBron James began to take over the game during the fourth quarter. As a result, it lit a fire under his teammates, guiding them on an 18-7 run. The Knicks offense sputtered and they were never able to regain momentum. James was named the player of the game.
Highlight: Noah with the huge rejection on Damyean Dotson towards the end of the third quarter.
Final Score: Lakers 56-43 Knicks
Matchup: Lakers vs Nuggets
Kenneth Faried contests Paul Millsap’s shot.
Storyline: After proving to be a valuable asset to the Rockets last season, the Lakers employed the services of free agent power forward Kenneth Faried. Faried was brought in to add depth at the center position. He will take on his former team the Denver Nuggets.
Stat lines:
Kenneth Faried: 0 points 3 rebounds
Mason Plumlee: 0 points, 5 rebounds, and 1 block
Observations: Besides holding Plumlee scoreless, Faried did not have much of an impact in this game at all. He logged a total of 9 minutes. Although he grabbed 3 boards and set a couple of screens, Faried had no output on the offensive end whatsoever. McGee proved to be the more valuable big man all around.
Summary: The Nuggets scorched the Lakers in the first half by shooting 50% from beyond the arc. However, the Lakers had back to back dunks towards the end of the first half, including a spectacular alley oop from Danny Green to McGee. It helped cut the Nuggets lead to four points.
Denver’s biggest lead at one point in the game was 10 points. James and McGee combined forces to create a deadly tandem in the second half, leading the team on a 13-5 run in the fourth quarter. By doing so, they helped to seal the win for the Lakers in a very tightly contested match up.
Highlight: None
Final Score: Lakers 54-50 Nuggets
Matchup: Lakers vs Wizards
Dwight Howard goes up strong inside.
(Note: John Wall was active for the Wizards… to give them a fighting chance, lol)
Storyline: After negotiating a buyout with the Grizzlies, Howard comes to terms and agrees to rejoin the Lakers. He seeks retribution from his first stint during the 2012-13 season which ended in disappointment. The Lakers received an early first round exit of the playoffs courtesy of the San Antonio Spurs. He gets to start that path to redemption against his former team the Washington Wizards.
Stat lines:
Dwight Howard: 7 points, 5 rebounds, 2 blocks, and 2 steals
Ian Mahinmi: 0 points and 1 rebound
Observations: Howard had a hot start upon entering the game late in the first quarter. He earned a bucket, grabbed a rebound, getting a steal, and dished out an assist. Howard logged 10 valuable minutes and contributed across the board on both sides of the ball. This was the most well rounded performance by all of the potential replacements for Cousins.
Summary: The Lakers jumped out to a 17 point lead in the first half. The most impressive part of this run was the fact that they did so without their first unit on the floor. Also, Anthony Davis hosted a block party which three other Lakers chose to attend. As this game wasn’t already lopsided enough, the Lakers rejected the Wizards five times.
The Lakers were not satisfied with their first half dominance, so they chose to increase the lead by as many as 29 points. Howard might have led the team in steals, but Davis stole the show with 17 points 8 rebounds and 2 blocks. The Wizards could not find a way to conjure up a spell for a winning formula. So as a result, they lost in huge fashion to the visiting Lakers.
Highlights: Howard’s sweet one handed layup off an alley oop
Final Score: Lakers 64-35 Wizards
Conclusion: Howard Appears To Be The Front Runner To Replace Boogie Cousins
At the moment, Howard appears to be the leading candidate to replace Boogie Cousins in reality… Coincidence? Stay tuned to find out!
