Crashing back to reality

Another letdown

Just when I became optimistic about the Raptors turning around they're season, they go and lose to the Kings to bring my world crashing down. The Raptors are now on a two-game losing streak, having lost to both Sacramento 105-96 and Oklahoma City 104-92.

Yes, Toronto wasn't expected to beat OKC, but their loss to Sacramento was a little hard to take. The Raps squandered a second-quarter lead, thanks to their cold shooting (38 per cent).  Demarcus Cousins destroyed the Raps, dropping 31 points and grabbing 20 rebounds. Yep, that Demarcus Cousins: the player who was suspended a few games earlier for conduct detrimental to his team, the Cousins who has been named in trade rumors, and the Cousins deemed by some as still too immature to succeed in the league.

I'll be honest, I'm still bitter about the loss (if you couldn't already tell). Cousins has the potential to be a franchise player and he showed that potential when the Kings beat the Raptors. When Cousins puts together a strong game like the 31 and 20 he had against the Raps, I see the parallels between him and Zach Randolph. Like Randolph, Cousins has all the potential to be an all-star player. Unfortunately, also like Randolph, Cousins is struggling with immaturity through the early years of his career. 

Randolph always put up good numbers regardless of which team he played with, but problems always seemed to follow him. He was nearly charged criminally for misleading police during a shooting while with the Portland Trailblazers and struggled to get playing time with the New York Knicks, despite the terrifying potential combination of him and a blimp-sized version of Eddie Curry dominating the paint.

It wasn't until Z-Bo landed in Memphis after eight NBA seasons that he finally pieced things together. He lead the Grizzlies on an impressive playoff run, where the Griz upset the top-seeded San Antonio Spurs in the first round of the 2011 playoffs before eventually losing to the Thunder the next round.

Cousins meanwhile is in his third year, is currently averaging 17 points and 10 rebounds per game on the season, and is producing 21.6 points and 13.8 rebounds per game - similar to Randolph's career numbers (not including the last two seasons) - over his last five games. He hasn't had serious accusations brought against him like Randolph has, but Cousins has been criticized a number of times for immature conduct, which is only hurting his team.

Cousins in only 22 years old. Randolph was 29 when he joined the Grizzlies and stopped being a headcase. I'm rooting for Cousins because he's a dynamic, dominant player when he's mentally focused. I just hope it doesn't take him seven more years to reach that level of play on a consistent basis.

Something serious

Usually I refuse to propagate the tragedy porn that is prevalent in the media these days but I would be doing an injustice if I didn't post this.

Here, poor Jimmer Fredette is suffering a seizure. I know I can say all of you are with me in offering condolences and hoping he's all right.

Get well soon, Jimmer!