nickmcclure
Bench
WTF? I just read that he'll be coming off the bench in PW's lineup...why? Anyone?
JJ Hickson isn't starting?
- Thread starter nickmcclure
- Start date
RookieOfTheDay
Starter
Probably because he wants Hayes starting.
OptimusRhyme
Jive Turkey
Easy, the starting lineup needs D. And thats Hayes' mission. Listen to Cousins interviews and he talks about how Chuck makes his job alot easier.
Let Chuck make the oppositions best post scorer work for everything. Then bring JJ in to dominate the second lineup. The best players dont always have to start, sometimes it comes down to just inserting them into the game at the right times.
Let Chuck make the oppositions best post scorer work for everything. Then bring JJ in to dominate the second lineup. The best players dont always have to start, sometimes it comes down to just inserting them into the game at the right times.
MassachusettsKingsFan
All-Star
This was to be expected after we signed Chuck Hayes.
Hayes is our only defensive minded big man. When you sign a player specifically for his defensive abilities, especially as a big man, it doesn't make a whole lot of sense for that player to come off the bench. Odds are the opposing teams best post player is going to start. Would you rather have Hayes play defense against Dirk or whoever backs him up? It's just a matter of getting the most out of the talent you have on your roster. Chuck coming in off the bench to defend one of the other teams backup bigs is a waste of what he brings to the team.
Even though Hayes is the starter, Hickson will get just as much playing time.
Hayes is our only defensive minded big man. When you sign a player specifically for his defensive abilities, especially as a big man, it doesn't make a whole lot of sense for that player to come off the bench. Odds are the opposing teams best post player is going to start. Would you rather have Hayes play defense against Dirk or whoever backs him up? It's just a matter of getting the most out of the talent you have on your roster. Chuck coming in off the bench to defend one of the other teams backup bigs is a waste of what he brings to the team.
Even though Hayes is the starter, Hickson will get just as much playing time.
RookieOfTheDay
Starter
It's amazing how many people and even NBA players overlook this. All one needs to do is look at guys like Jason Terry, Lamar Odom, Bobby Jackson, etc. to see that it isn't always about who starts.
PurpleHaze
All-Star
Exactly right. There's so many examples all over the NBA - take Spencer Hawes. He started nearly every game last season for Philly at center but routinely played only 10-20 minutes per night. Majority of minutes in the middle were then allocated to Speights, Batte, or other 76er bigs who obviously Coach Collins trusted more than Hawes to get it done when it most counted.
Sac.1989
Starter
Its the players that embrace their roles in the L that go the furthest. Its not about who starts games but who finishes them and whose on the floor when the games on the line. JJ will play his role and whilst my preference next to boogie is dalembert im resigned to the fact that hayes is the next best thing
Bricklayer
Don't Make Me Use The Bat
this is true, and with chucker alley lined up behind him on the depth chart, starting Hayes even makes tactical sense. But these aren't chess pieces, and whether JJ Hickson, an offensive minded big man in a contract year no less, is going to buy in to coming off the bench behind Chuck Hayes and competing for backup minutes with Jason Thompson...
Section 101
All-Star
Right now JT is the back center. I don't think JJ will be fighting for those minutes.
Bricklayer
Don't Make Me Use The Bat
Hickson played a lot of center last year. Don't ask me why. This is how you lose 29 games in a row. 6'6" Chuck Hayes played center too. In fact I don't think we have a fonrtcourt player who didn't split between PF/C last year, so barring a miraculous Daly return they are probably all in competition with each other, especially given Westphal's penchant for shuffleboard.
Padrino
All-Star
this was true of most teams last season. very few teams have what could be described as traditional centers anymore, which is, of course, what made the kings all 6'11" club so encouraging. we played big last season at PF/C no matter what (aside from the occasional small, oddball westphalian lineup). losing dalembert definitely hurts. but signing chuck hayes in free agency is a good stand-alone move. tough glue guys with affinities for hustle and defense are important to any team, especially as bench solidifiers. its just unfortunate that hayes' signing, in tandem with dalembert's leaving, pretty much guarantees him a starting spot...
bringing kirilenko over would solve a lotta problems, though. i mean, geezus, this really is one helluva tough starting lineup, regardless of hayes' size (he does play rather big for being so stumpy):
PG marcus thornton (6'4")
SG tyreke evans (6'6")
SF andrei kirilenko (6'9")
PF chuck hayes (6'6")
C demarcus cousins (6'11")
couple it with a bench that looks something like this:
PG jimmer fredette (6'2")
SG john salmons (6'6")
SF donte greene (6'11")
PF jj hickson (6'9")
C jason thompson (6'11")
...with young, raw talent like isaiah thomas (5'9"), tyler honeycutt (6'9") and hassan whiteside (7'0") in deep reserve, and you have a kings team that is at least two-deep at every position, and BIG at every position, aside from fredette and thomas off the bench. i've obviously traded francisco garcia in the above scenario (for cap space? picks? dunno what you could get for him), because he seems like the odd-man-out in a BIG KINGS lineup. you'd hate to lose his leadership, but he's an oft-injured utility player on a team that needs to start defining its roles so that it might settle into a consistent rotation...
HighFlyingMonkey
Starter
For what it's worth, I'm really encouraged by Hickson's interviews so far. He's talking about setting good screens, playing defense, rebounding and blocking shots, the classic big man role player stuff. He calls the scoring "icing on the cake"
I really hope Hickson can be DMC's front court partner of the future. He's very talented and athletic.
I really hope Hickson can be DMC's front court partner of the future. He's very talented and athletic.
Last edited by a moderator:
I expected Hickson to come off the bench when Petrie traded for him. Of course, I also expected the team to resign Dalembert. Just as with Cousins, Dalembert would cover some of his weaknesses.
That said, I'm still okay with Hickson coming off the bench. He may not like it but the message should be that Hayes is getting the starting nod because of rebounding and defense. And that if Hickson really wants to be in the starting lineup he'll need to dedicate himself to doing those things.
Having him come off the bench may well decrease the chances that he stays in Sacramento after this season (assuming he isn't traded at the deadline) but it also likely decreases his value on the open market which might lead to him coming back should the team want him.
We'll see.
That said, I'm still okay with Hickson coming off the bench. He may not like it but the message should be that Hayes is getting the starting nod because of rebounding and defense. And that if Hickson really wants to be in the starting lineup he'll need to dedicate himself to doing those things.
Having him come off the bench may well decrease the chances that he stays in Sacramento after this season (assuming he isn't traded at the deadline) but it also likely decreases his value on the open market which might lead to him coming back should the team want him.
We'll see.
bajaden
Hall of Famer
I know a lot of people have JT on the back burner, but don't count him out. I followed him closely this past offseason, and he has really put in the work. Especially on his midrange jumper, and in the post. I know he's feeling very confident right now. Just how well that work will translate to the floor is up for grabs, but JT could be one of those late bloomers who suddenly emerges into the limelight. No guarantee's, but keep an eye on him this season.
Also, if there's a real emphasis on defense, then JT is more likely to get the nod over Hickson at crucial moments of the game. JT's defense has improved every year, and right now he's a better/smarter, defender than Hickson.
Also, if there's a real emphasis on defense, then JT is more likely to get the nod over Hickson at crucial moments of the game. JT's defense has improved every year, and right now he's a better/smarter, defender than Hickson.
IllinoisKingsFan
Prospect
Over/Under 6.5 games before Hickson is in the starting lineup... My guess is Under.. Sounds like he's looking great so far
