In the aftermath of the Paul George injury, it was a genuine concern on how determined the remaining players on the pool would play. DeMarcus Cousins would have none of that. "Boogie" is still bent on making the Team USA roster for the first time.

With all the big man withdrawals (La Marcus Aldridge, Blake Griffin and Kevin Love), one would believe that a player with size and skill like Cousins would be a shoo-in.

Not so fast. International competition is less about individual skill and more about team chemistry and fluidity. Team USA learned this the hard way with crippling losses in the past decade. This is why they have tryouts and extensive practices.

If the selection process was similar to the past wherein Team USA just names the most talented players they can muster, Cousins is a sure thing, being probably the third best center in the NBA (after Dwight Howard and Joakim Noah).

But because of the possible small-ball tactic and priorities on the strict adherence to the system, Cousins may lose out:

NBC Sports talked to head coach Mike Krzyzewski: "The big guys have given good efforts: Drummond, Cousins, even Faried. Then Plumlee, we didn't expect that (level of performance). He's going to be in the scrimmage Friday, so we'll take a look at that."

And then, there's this tweet:

2 things from Team USA: post practice games between Durant/Harden/George are epic; Mason Plumlee likely to make team over DeMarcus Cousins

— Brian Windhorst (@WindhorstESPN) July 31, 2014

Cousins did not take that lightly, as The Sacramento Bee reports, he was visibly shaken:

"Q: Have you heard anything about your chances?

DMC: Nothing. They don't really tell us much. I saw Coach K in the elevator, but we just chatted.

Q: How disappointed would you be if you don't make the team?

DMC: I would be crushed. Everyone knows how much I want to do this. This is my third year here (two with Select Team), and I don't run from any challenge. I would be crushed, but I'm not a quitter. I would come back and try again."

Is Cousins once again being pre-judged for his past behavior issues or is it simply a strategic move? Who knows, he might even make the team in the end!