Cousins' effectiveness in post depends on teamwork

Kings coach Michael Malone would like to play inside-out, with Cousins working as a facilitator for teammates in some halfcourt sets, but said it's not only Cousins' responsibility to post up and make something happen.

"We have to do a better job of occupying the defense when he does post up," Malone said before Cousins collected 16 points and 12 rebounds against the Lakers. "We just can't sit there."

Cousins said Malone's offensive sets are giving him freedom to make plays, especially when the Kings have the proper spacing on offense and aren't stubbornly playing one-on-one.

"There's a time to run an iso (isolation play); there's a time to run a set," Cousins said. "All that comes into play and makes the game so much easier."

-- Sacramento Bee