OAKLAND -- From a symbol of extravagance last July to the subject of microscopic examination in January, to his team's inside advantage in Game 1 of the playoffs, to an illustration of frustration after Game 2, DeMarcus Cousins now finds himself in position to save the Warriors from being derailed by their mounting injury list.
The Warriors finally need Boogie as much as he needs them.
The Warriors need him now, against Toronto in the NBA Finals, because Kevon Looney, their most effective center this postseason, sustained a fracture in his collarbone region in Game 2 and no longer is available.
They need Boogie in Game 3 Wednesday night, because Kevin Durant, the team's leading scorer this postseason, still recovering from a calf strain, has been ruled out.
The Warriors need Cousins because Klay Thompson and his 20 or so points per game, most coming off his constant motion, are in jeopardy as he copes with a hamstring strain.
Suddenly, the most dangerous scorer among Warriors aside from Stephen Curry is the big man who last summer signed a deeply discounted one-year contract with the team because it would provide his surest chance to compete for a championship while also proving his career would not be derailed by an Achilles' tendon rupture.
Sports
"I'm not putting pressure on just myself," Cousins said Tuesday. "It's going to take a team effort. Everybody in that locker room is needed, from the first guy to the last guy. We believe in our saying: Strength in Numbers. When one guy goes down, the next steps up. That's what's going to happen in Game 3. Somebody else is going to step up when another person is out. That's how we rock."
No lies there. The Warriors will need the players coming off the bench to perform well, whether it's Andrew Bogut or Quinn Cook or Alfonzo McKinnie or anyone else called to duty.
The most accomplished scorers among those with reasonably good health are Curry, the two-time MVP, and Cousins, who has averaged no fewer than 22.7 points per game over his last five full seasons. Curry received plenty of attention from the Raptors in Games 1 and 2 and may see even more in Game 3.
Cousins will have opportunities to do something he excels at. Given his journey, he's delighted about it.
Boogie missed the first half of the regular season while rehabbing, returning in midseason to be stung by critiques of his defense. He overcame that, rolling into the postseason only to be struck down in Game 2 of the first round by a torn quadriceps muscle that initially was thought would bring a bitter end to his comeback season.
"I would be lying if I say I didn't have my dog days," Cousins said. "But I went through them, I pouted, I sulked, I felt sorry for myself and I just started the process. Me just sitting around feeling sorry isn't going to help me get on the floor."
The team's medical and training staffs told Cousins there was "a small window" of a chance he could return. That was enough for Boogie to attack his rehab. Less than seven weeks later, he's back. And his timing is perfect for The Comeback, Pt. II.
If Game 2 on Sunday in Toronto is any indication, Cousins is ready to make an impact.
"I'm just happy for him, to be honest," Curry said. ". . . there was so much uncertainty around his timeline coming back. For this to be his first Finals experience, you can't be happier for him to have an opportunity to really impact the series in a positive way for us. Game 2 was a huge step in the right direction in terms of him being able to play that many minutes and just increase his workload with all he's been through this last, call it, what, 16, 18 months.
"So, I'm happy to have him back. He's going to be huge for us the rest of the series. And you can tell he's reminding people of how special of a talent he is and how versatile he is and how he's been playing and just getting more comfortable with his body out there. I think it's only going to continue to improve as the series goes on."
After coming off the bench to play eight minutes in Game 1, his first appearance in six weeks, Cousins started Game 2 and played 28 productive minutes. He totaled 11 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and two blocks. He was a plus-12, tying Draymond Green and Curry for best on the team. He looked somewhat like the All-Star the defending champs hoped they were getting when he signed as a free agent, as others around the NBA griped about the Warriors stacking their team.
Moreover, he rather dominated Toronto center Marc Gasol.
"He played great," Raptors coach Nick Nurse said. "And I figured -- he's an All-Star player. He's got tons of talent. He's a big body. I figured as the series goes on and he gets the timing back and things, he'll keep playing better."
The loss of Durant robs the Warriors of someone averaging 35 points this postseason. Even if Thompson is able to return in Game 3 or later, he likely will be compromised, making it difficult for him to deliver his patented scoring outbursts that can carry the team.
[RELATED: Klay believes he'll be ready to play in Game 3 of NBA Finals]
The return of Boogie gives the Warriors someone they can lean on, someone for whom the Raptors must game plan. Game 2 provided a boost in confidence.
"Definitely the best scenario in a difficult situation, but I obviously wish it could've been avoided," Cousins. "But these are the cards I was dealt, and I'm going to maneuver through the (BS)."
At this stage, with the ailing health of the roster, the Warriors also accept those cards. Graciously. Then, too, they don't have much of a choice.
