At least the Kings are keeping their good humor. Despite this past week’s inter-team turmoil with franchise cornerstone DeMarcus Cousins cursing out coach George Karl and re-igniting their beef from this past summer when Karl asked management to trade the tempestuous star, the Kings have won their last two games, including last night’s 111-109 win over the visiting Nets. Boogie score a game-high 40 points, but it was Rajon Rondo’s third triple-double in four games that had the mercurial big man singing his praises after the game, while joking that Rondo — who finished with 23 points, 10 rebounds and 14 dimes — swiped some of his boards.
“I kind of get caught up watching him (Rondo) play. It’s just amazing being able to watch his effort on a nightly basis,” Cousins said. “But as far as his rebounding it kind of gets on my nerves. He’s stealing my boards, man. But man, he plays every spot on the floor.”
Rondo did have a couple hiccups to end the game. He missed two late free throws (he’s still shooting a dreadful 35 percent from the stripe), and turned the ball over on the inbounds while leading 111-109. But he intercepted the ensuing tipped pass to seal the game.
Plus, he’s busting out some of the moves that made him an All-Star in the East, like when he faked the behind-the-back pass for this crafty reverse layup late.
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Through his last four games, three of which he’s gone for a triple-double, the former Celtics and Mavs point guard is averaging 14.8 points, 14.0 assists and 9.8 rebounds. Yes, he’s still not shooting very well (we mentioned the free throws, but during his nostalgic triple-double streak, he’s shooting 41.8 percent and a good-for-him 30.0 percent beyond the arc), but he’s efficiently running the Kings offense and finding the behemoth on the block, something Cousins hasn’t really experienced during his five-year tenure in Sactown.
Who else but Rondo can loft this pass so perfectly after Cousins seals his defender so early in the possession?
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And how about this pocket pass in traffic for an and-1 DMC lay-in.
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Yes, the Kings were only playing the one-win Nets, and they were in Sacramento, but with all the drama surrounding them this past week, Cousins’ 40 points and Rondo’s second straight triple-double netted them a second straight win.
Not everything is broken, and even Ben McLemore, — he, who was shot down in that players meeting earlier in the week — broke out slightly with 15 points off the bench.
Things could be a lot worse. Lets hope Vivek Ranadive doesn’t rock the boat.