"DeMarcus Cousins had 21 points and 20 rebounds Saturday night for the Kings in their 114-106 overtime victory over the Warriors.

Much of that can be attributed to Keith Smart, who seems to have changed Cousins' attitude since becoming head coach Jan. 5.

"He wants to be good, and he wants to be an All-Star," Smart said. "They all have a couple of things in common. They are workers, and they get their teammates to follow them. That's what he needs to start doing, and he's really putting forth the effort."

Paul Westphal, who was 51-120 in two-plus seasons as Sacramento's head coach, was fired because he couldn't control the talented but volatile Cousins. Westphal released a statement criticizing the center the weekend before he was fired, and his escalating dispute with Cousins threatened to consume the locker room."