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HOUSTON -- You saw it in small doses on Monday night for Team USA, but in the big picture of the life and times of DeMarcus Cousins, this sequence might demonstrate why hes such a talented player.In the middle of the second quarter of Team USAs easy 110-66 victory over Team Nigeria at the Toyota Center, there was a stretch where Cousins took over.He pulled down a rebound over Ekene Ibekwe, and the Nigerian got a little miffed at how physical Cousins was.If this were a regular-season NBA game in December, instead of the final exhibition game before Team USA heads to Rio, Cousins might have shoved Ibekwe and then jumped in his face. The reality of what this game is, an exhibition, gave Cousins pause and a certain calmness. He just smirked when Ibekwe shoved his arm down a little.No problem, because Cousins just kept playing, and on the next possession, he took the ball on the wing, drawing the defense toward him -- and then sent a pass to the corner, where DeMar DeRozan was waiting.DeRozan took the pass and stormed to the basket for a left-handed dunk from the baseline. This was Cousins showing his skills. When the night was over, Cousins had 10 points, five rebounds and a game-high plus-34 on the plus/minus column of the box score.Ive coached him before, and he knows international competition, Team USA coach Mike Krzyzewski said. I thought he played really well, and he has played well; he ran well and he really defended well on the perimeter. Its something unusual for those big guys to be on the perimeter like that; theyre adjusting. And he gives us a low-post threat, and hell pass out of it too -- very unselfish.During the NBA portions of his life, Cousins is seen as someone who has problems with coaches, teammates and referees.This past season, Cousins averaged a career-high 26.9 points per game and pulled down 11.5 rebounds while shooting 45.1 percent from the field. He was second among centers in real plus/minus at 4.83. However, he led the NBA in technical fouls for the third time in the last four seasons with 17. Cousins temperament can be the biggest distraction to the truth of how good of a player he can be.The next month might be beneficial for Cousins as an opportunity to show the international world just how good of a player and person he is.It goes with whatever storyline is going on at the time -- if its negative, then its negative, Cousins told ESPN. Then if the story is going to be positive and then Im a great guy, I can only control what I can control. I know who I am as a person and thats all that really matters.When several American players -- including Russell Westbrook, James Harden and LeBron James -- were backing out of the Olympic Games to rest their bodies, Cousins raised his hand. He also dealt with health issues this past season, but he wanted to play on the international stage again. In 2014, he was part of the U.S. national teams FIBA World Cup championship team.The only stir Cousins has caused this offseason was questioning the Sacramento Kings draft. Cousins told The Undefeateds Marc Spears he was in hot-sculpting class the night of the draft. Whatever you believe, maybe these Olympic Games will bring more positivity from Cousins.I love the game, he said. I think thats obvious, and Im very passionate in what I do. I love my job. If I have a chance to play against some of the top talent in the world or whether its against guys around the corner, Im going to play.Custom Philadelphia Phillies Jerseys . "Thank you for the warm welcome," Beckham said on an 80-degree February morning. In this case, it was soccer weather. The sport moved a step closer to returning to South Florida on Wednesday, when Beckham confirmed he has exercised his option to purchase a Major League Soccer expansion franchise in Miami. Phillies Jerseys 2019 .Y. -- Injured Buffalo Sabres forward Marcus Foligno did not practice with the team Monday and head coach Ron Rolston said its unlikely hell play in Wednesdays season opener in Detroit. https://www.cheapphilliesjerseys.us/ . After Mondays hard-fought loss, the wait seemed longer than usual. Getting set to go their separate ways for a short Christmas break, the Raptors coach credited his team for their effort on a seemingly impossible three-game road trip, urging them to build on that success when they get back to work at the end of the week. Wholesale Phillies Jerseys . LOUIS -- St. Phillies Jerseys China . But when it comes to determining if Raymond will find a place on the Leafs roster when training camp concludes in a week, well, that decision will ultimately fall to the head coach.Rory McIlroy is planning a more assertive approach in the Arnold Palmer Invitational as he looks to bounce back from squandering a four-shot lead in his last event.The 26-year-old took a three-shot lead into the final round of the WGC-Cadillac Championship 10 days ago and moved another stroke clear when nearest challengers Adam Scott and Dustin Johnson both made early mistakes.But the World No 2 then paid the price for adopting a conservative strategy and struggled to a closing 74 as Scott recovered from a six-shot deficit to win his second tournament in succession. It was the first time McIlroy had failed to convert a lead of three shots or more after 54 holes since collapsing to a closing 80 in the 2011 Masters, but he Irishman believes he has learnt from the experience. McIlroy admits he played too conservatively in the final round of the WGC-Cadillac Championship It was a tough one because if I go out theree, I shoot 71, I win the golf tournament, McIlroy said.dddddddddddd. Doral is a tough place with the wind to play with the lead because theres danger lurking around every corner and if youre going to make mistakes, youre conscious of limiting it to a shot.I played the way I thought I needed to play, I just didnt hit close enough. I didnt have a realistic birdie chance inside 25 feet until the 12th hole. I was playing smart and hitting it to 30 feet but youre not going to make birdies, youre not going to gain ground on the field by doing that.Three bogeys on a day like that wasnt too bad but to only make one birdie I felt was my downfall and if I had to take it back, I would have played a little bit more aggressively.Watch the Arnold Palmer Invitational throughout the week live on Sky Sports 4 - your home of golf. Live featured group coverage gets underway on Thursday from 11.30am.Also See:Scott chasing PGA trebleFlorida Swing: Ways to watch2015 recap: Every retains titleGolf live on Sky Sports 4 ' ' '