NBA 2017-18: All-Injured Roster  

Starting Center: DeMarcus Cousins

DeMarcus Cousins finishes a typical post move against the Dallas Mavericks

When fit and in full flow, there are few forces more unstoppable than DeMarcus Cousins down at the low post. Cousins is a straight-up bully at that, but the rest of his offensive skillset is so well-refined that he has been the best center in all of basketball for around 2-3 years now.

The New Orleans Pelicans were finally coming into their own with a fully fit core of Rajon Rondo, Jrue Holliday, Anthony Davis and Cousins when they lost their All-NBA center to a season-ending Achilles injury in late January. Through 48 games of the regular season, Cousins was averaging 24.9 points, 12.8 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game on 47% shooting from the floor and 35.4% from 3-point range.

The Pelicans will still make the Playoffs with Anthony Davis playing the best basketball of his career, but they have lost the ability to advance too deep into a Western Conference playoff bracket loaded with many other talented and deep teams.