Former NBA All-Star DeMarcus Cousins has discussed how changes in defensive strategies made life increasingly difficult for traditional centers, particularly when teams began switching defenders on nearly every possession.
Cousins explained that the growing use of defensive switching forced big men to guard much quicker perimeter players, including some of the league’s most dangerous scorers.
The former Sacramento Kings center admitted that he struggled with the responsibility of defending elite guards such as Stephen Curry and Damian Lillard, especially when opponents deliberately created mismatches.
“When they started putting the bigs on the guards, ‘Oh, man, it’s the fu*king worst.’ The guards can’t guard the guards; what the fu*k you think I can guard them? I mean, when it’s Steph, Dame. I’m slow. Like you said never been chase like that before.
“Once that new era came in and every possession get the big on the guard you know, drag him out it’s like, ‘Bro, I hate basketball like what the fu*k is this?’“
