Take Your Best Shot: Isaiah Cousins
By Rafe Wong
In this article, A Royal Pain continues its series of analyzing the roster on the Sacramento Kings to see where each player is at their most efficient shooting the ball.
The player that will be evaluated in this piece is recently drafted point guard Isaiah Cousins.
Where To Let It Go?
Based on the shooting chart listed below, Cousins shot the ball at a solid rate last season.
Isaiah Cousins's Shot Chart from last season with Oklahoma courtesy of https://t.co/1GxNKMuery pic.twitter.com/61fg3a2PDD
— A Royal Pain (@ARoyalPain) September 16, 2016
From what is shown in the data, Cousins was able to make over 40% of his shots in five different locations inside the perimeter, but what is most impressive is that every area where Cousins shot the ball beyond the perimeter (excluding the corners) he made over 40% of his attempts.
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Summary
Based on the raw statistics, Cousins should be fine in shooting the ball this season, but there are a few factors to consider.
For one, the transition from college ball to the pros can be overwhelming for rookies. The players in the NBA are a lot stronger, faster, and smarter than the competition Cousins was facing previously, so the former Sooner might have trouble translating his collegiate results to the professional level.
Another thing to consider is that Cousins’s shooting stroke is more on the slow side than quick. Especially at the perimeter, where the range is longer in the NBA than in college, Cousins will have to shoot the ball quicker to be effective in scoring the ball this year. To see what his shooting stroke looked like last season, check out the video posted below.
must read: Take Your Best Shot: Lamar Patterson
Overall, the numbers on Cousins’s shooting chart look good. He does most of his damage from the perimeter but can also hit shots inside the three-point line as well. But the unfortunate reality is that there is a low chance that those numbers will translate to this season with the Kings.
Cousins is still a rookie, and with that usually comes the obstacles of getting acclimated with NBA competition. Although Cousins’s showcased solid numbers on his shooting chart, I don’t expect those stats to reflect what he does this season.