Keith Smart Still Tinkering with Starting Lineup- Link!

[jcwkings]

After thinking about pros and cons im pretty set that this is what our lineup SHOULD be, given that Evans is the starter at SG.

Pg: Brooks
sg: Evans
sf: Johnson
pf: Hayes
C: Cousins

I start Hayes because his skillset(post defense/overall team defender) would be best utilized straight from tip off. For example against Chicago, if Hayes can slow Boozer down right from the start, we have a better chance of being in the game. Also Evans, Johnson, Cousins are all solid defenders, Brooks is capable of pressuring opposing pg's. This lineup could be a good defensive unit to start off games and set a good defensive tone.

Bench

6. Thornton
7. IT
8. JT
9. Robinson
10. (if needed) SF platoon/Jimmer

JT off the bench is a good idea because he can play either PF or C which is good trait to have as the first big off the bench. Robinson can come in with his energy and along with IT and MT, they can really pressure opposing benches. This unit will sacrifice some defense and play extremely fast up and down basketball.

On most nights i would expect the lineup to be closing game to be

brooks/IT(depends whose having a better night)
Thornton
Evans or JJ
JT or Hayes or JJ(when we want a smaller lineup)
Cousins

 

[HereWeBoogie]

i think Isaiah is gonna be starting for sure. Smart has that set i think. i dont necessarily like Hayes or want him to start, but i do like your comment of how he could try to shut down the other teams best big guy from the beginning

 

[HereWeBoogie]

I think its a legit concern as you'd love to open up the middle more for Evans/Cousins. We have more outside firepower that we can bring off the bench but unfortunately the team is poorly constructed.

i agree with this. this is why id like to see Thornton start over Evans, OR Brooks start over IT. or of course theres the option of putting Evans at the PG again. it does cause a hell of a mismatch for the opponent to try to match up with us. but then idk how the bench would work, does Brooks then come in as a SG behind marcus?

 

[Prog]

Exactly what I was thinking. Brooks and Evans have to be a pair in my mind. Their strengths mesh well. Same goes with IT and Thornton. The only problem I have is putting a player who has under performed in Tyreke, his fault or not, and a new signing who's played little so far in the starting lineup over two guys who i think I have earned the spots. Someones going to have to set there egos aside for this to work.

Easy solution: Start IT and Thornton. Let Brooks and Tyreke earn their spot in the starting lineup. BTW, I don't see how IT and Thornton is a more justified or more effective combo in any way compared Brooks and Thornton. Personally, I'd start the last two.

I like JJ, Hayes and Cuz in the starting lineup. I think Hayes as earned his spot with his defense and passes. Bill Simmons recently referred to him as a "Low Post Defense Ninja" and I think it's a more than fitting description.

 

[Kings Faithful]

Easy solution: Start IT and Thornton. Let Brooks and Tyreke earn their spot in the starting lineup. BTW, I don't see how IT and Thornton is a more justified or more effective combo in any way compared Brooks and Thornton. Personally, I'd start the last two.

Its not so much about an It and Thornton combo being more effective than a Brooks Thornton combo. Its more about who fits with Tyreke better. IT is a playmaker first and most of his time is spent doing just that. Brooks is a shooter who can make plays. With Brooks on the floor Tyreke has the freedom to handle the ball while still having a deadly outside option to pass too, this makes them a good pair in my mind. Not saying IT is a bad shooter, but that just isn't his main role.

Brooks and Thornton would probably be fine together as well but we lack play making ability for everyone else on the floor.

 

[Sac.1989]

were falling into the same trap we have in past seasons. WE need a dam starting lineup to base the season on and a short bench rotation. We cant involve everyone and we cant go through half a season like this. we need some dam continuity

 

[Kingster]

IT
Thornton
Cousins
Robinson
Johnson

IT makes the team go. He's better by far than anybody on this team in running the pick and roll. He gets the ball to Cousins better than anybody on this team. The Brooks/Tyreke combo would be assist deprived and it would be the "I'll take my shot; you take yours" offense. (That would work better off the bench). I don't think that combo complements Cousins either. Both Johnson and Robinson offset some of the defensive disadvantage of Thornton. Also, Robinson needs to play with IT to get easy shots at the basket. Thornton gets the start because he's outplayed Tyreke in the preseason and you need two guys who can stretch the floor with 3s.

*The above lineup won't happen because Smart is going to play match-up ball all season. That allows him to spread the wealth around and rationalize to his players why they play big minutes in some games and not in others. Better to have a state of confusion and and semi-happiness than tell a guy he's just not all that great.

 

[mac]

IT
Thornton
Cousins
Robinson
Johnson

IT makes the team go. He's better by far than anybody on this team in running the pick and roll. He gets the ball to Cousins better than anybody on this team. The Brooks/Tyreke combo would be assist deprived and it would be the "I'll take my shot; you take yours" offense. (That would work better off the bench). I don't think that combo complements Cousins either. Both Johnson and Robinson offset some of the defensive disadvantage of Thornton. Also, Robinson needs to play with IT to get easy shots at the basket. Thornton gets the start because he's outplayed Tyreke in the preseason and you need two guys who can stretch the floor with 3s.

*The above lineup won't happen because Smart is going to play match-up ball all season. That allows him to spread the wealth around and rationalize to his players why they play big minutes in some games and not in others. Better to have a state of confusion and and semi-happiness than tell a guy he's just not all that great.

Hmm I'd say he's the best at running the pick and pop. But pick and roll ...? Haven't seen much rolling done by any of our bigs. Certainly not on the same level that Nash and Amare did at least. Don't recall Cousins getting very many dunks rolling to the basket and getting the pass. Ironically the one I do remember was off an Evans feed, but that wasn't so much off a pick and roll as it was Evans just finding him on the way to the basket

 

[PurpleHaze]

Kings starters in Chicago for opener 10/31/12 (of course, just as important or more important who finishes game):

C: Starting off where everyone agrees, including Coach Smart.
DeMarcus Cousins No brainer, no competition, no more silly fouls Big Cuz - pleeezzz

SF: Build on solid foundation at center, getting players around Boogie to compliment his dominance as Kings budding superstar.
James Johnson JJ may be top defensive specialist on team, easily best weakside shot blocker. Won't need his scoring and can easily bring it off bench with glut of scoring swingmen.

PF: Another roster spot with glut of inside talent including Jason Thompson, Thomas Robinson, Chuck Hayes. Take your pick choice based on matchups but I'd go with JT who has experience plus 6'11."
Jason Thompson

SG: Flip a coin, Tyreke or Thornton. I think Reke is correct choice but needs quick return to something close to his rookie season excellence or make the switch. Plus, playing both Reke and Thronton together can work in stretches. MT off bench is explosive scoring punch every NBA team wants.
Tyreke Evans

PG: Flip a coin, Thomas or Brooks. Same logic applies as above and ultimately it might be who compliments Cousins better. Brooks should start for now with short leash. Back to Reke at lead guard when going big works or IT when being really tiny is just fine.
Aaron Brooks

 

[The_Jamal]

Hmm I'd say he's the best at running the pick and pop. But pick and roll ...? Haven't seen much rolling done by any of our bigs. Certainly not on the same level that Nash and Amare did at least. Don't recall Cousins getting very many dunks rolling to the basket and getting the pass. Ironically the one I do remember was off an Evans feed, but that wasn't so much off a pick and roll as it was Evans just finding him on the way to the basket

To be fair, Nash and Amare were one of the greatest PnR duo's of all time, probably just behind Stockton and Malone. It's not really reasonable to expect any of our guys to run it on that level

 

[mac]

To be fair, Nash and Amare were one of the greatest PnR duo's of all time, probably just behind Stockton and Malone. It's not really reasonable to expect any of our guys to run it on that level

Well yes, but my point is you don't see Cousins getting wide open lanes to the basket where he just catches the ball takes a step or a dribble and dunks. I mean, we got owned by far lesser teams running the pick and roll than those with Nash on it. Our pick and roll coverage was terrible. On the offensive side of things you don't see us getting very many baskets off of it. You see way more where IT dishes it back out to an open JT or Cuz for a free throw line jumper

 

[KingsCitizen]

I'll go with starters of

PG - Brooks - spreads the floor to Reke and possible the quickest cat next to Ty Lawson
SG - Evans - should be able to excel now as SG
SF - Johnson - a good weak side blocker is what you need next to Hayes whose defense is ground bound and the passing lanes.
PF - Hayes - passing ability will benefit the rotation as most likely teams will double on DMC if Hayes is in there. Best big man pair to keep DMC out of foul trouble
C - DMC - no brainer

Bench
C - JT - Keeps the size and rebounding
PF - TRob/Outlaw - TRob next to JT should overwhelm most bench in rebounding, especially in saving a bunch of Thornton's attempt
SF - Garcia/Honeycutt - Cisco as a spot up shooter next to Thornton keeps the lane open
SG - Thornton/Salmons - MT could get a lot of 6th man considerations this year if he blooms from the bench
PG - IT/Jimmer - IT with MT and Jimmer with Salmons (as last year) should keep the backcourt stable.

 

[Peja]

Kings starters in Chicago for opener 10/31/12 (of course, just as important or more important who finishes game):

C: Starting off where everyone agrees, including Coach Smart.
DeMarcus Cousins No brainer, no competition, no more silly fouls Big Cuz - pleeezzz

SF: Build on solid foundation at center, getting players around Boogie to compliment his dominance as Kings budding superstar.
James Johnson JJ may be top defensive specialist on team, easily best weakside shot blocker. Won't need his scoring and can easily bring it off bench with glut of scoring swingmen.

PF: Another roster spot with glut of inside talent including Jason Thompson, Thomas Robinson, Chuck Hayes. Take your pick choice based on matchups but I'd go with JT who has experience plus 6'11."
Jason Thompson

SG: Flip a coin, Tyreke or Thornton. I think Reke is correct choice but needs quick return to something close to his rookie season excellence or make the switch. Plus, playing both Reke and Thronton together can work in stretches. MT off bench is explosive scoring punch every NBA team wants.
Tyreke Evans

PG: Flip a coin, Thomas or Brooks. Same logic applies as above and ultimately it might be who compliments Cousins better. Brooks should start for now with short leash. Back to Reke at lead guard when going big works or IT when being really tiny is just fine.
Aaron Brooks

I'd put those guys in the starting lineup.

Thornton and T-Rob should have 25+ minutes of the bench.

 

[Kingster]

Hmm I'd say he's the best at running the pick and pop. But pick and roll ...? Haven't seen much rolling done by any of our bigs. Certainly not on the same level that Nash and Amare did at least. Don't recall Cousins getting very many dunks rolling to the basket and getting the pass. Ironically the one I do remember was off an Evans feed, but that wasn't so much off a pick and roll as it was Evans just finding him on the way to the basket

Doesn't matter. Pick and roll. Pick and pop. He's better by far than anybody else on this team. Yes, they run pick and pop more, but he can run the pick and roll; it doesn't take any skill that he doesn't already have.

 

[mac]

Doesn't matter. Pick and roll. Pick and pop. He's better by far than anybody else on this team. Yes, they run pick and pop more, but he can run the pick and roll; it doesn't take any skill that he doesn't already have.

Well yes I suppose I agree with you. IT is definitely the best and most natural playmaker on the team.

 

[The_Jamal]

Hayes's defense and rebounding have been really impressive this preseason. Amazing what health and being in shape can do for a player!

 

[Bricklayer]

The really annoying thing is that this was the same nonsense we got with Westphal every year, and eveyr year his team struggled out of the gate as he tinkered. And new coach, looking to make the same mistake, and we CAN'T struggle out of the gate. The soft early schedule is our entire season. If yet another bargain basement coach screws it up while tinkering and dithering our season could be compleely sunk before Christmas.

 

[pshn80]

The really annoying thing is that this was the same nonsense we got with Westphal every year, and eveyr year his team struggled out of the gate as he tinkered. And new coach, looking to make the same mistake, and we CAN'T struggle out of the gate. The soft early schedule is our entire season. If yet another bargain basement coach screws it up while tinkering and dithering our season could be compleely sunk before Christmas.

It is annoying but we are in the here and now. As stated above our pRoblems always go back to how to use Thornton and Evans and who to play with them. Go with something different and sure - AB and IT at PG, Garcia and Salmons at SG, and the front court as usual. Send Thornton and Evans somewhere for a 1st round draft choice. How bad off would we be?

 

[MassachusettsKingsFan]

I'm starting to worry that this is going from a good thing (everyone will get a chance to start / camp competition) to a huge distraction. It's clearly more of a distraction now than anything else.

I don't know if this is Smart telling the truth about wanting versatility or if he's just covering up for the fact that he doesn't have the cojones to bench a guy like Tyreke Evans, Marcus Thornton, or his creation Isaiah Thomas.

At some point you have to believe in something and own it. I've liked a lot of what Smart has done, and I have a feeling that I like him more than a lot of people around here, but this is bringing him down a few pegs for me. Is there another team in the league with a perfectly healthy roster where literally only ONE player is a known starter?

Smart needs to squash this thing after the game tonight, one way or another.


--One more thing, I suppose there is always a possibility that the players know who is starting, which I guess is all that matters. We have had no indication that that is actually the case, though.

 

[jcwkings]

I agree, Smart just needs to man up and go with a lineup, if someone doesn't agree, too bad. He has to put a lineup that makes sense and balances our bench. Manu Ginobli, Jason Terry and James Harden are all better players than Evans or Thornton, so there should be no bitching about not starting. We are the only team in the NBA that doesn't have a set rotation.

 

[Bricklayer]

I agree, Smart just needs to man up and go with a lineup, if someone doesn't agree, too bad. He has to put a lineup that makes sense and balances our bench. Manu Ginobli, Jason Terry and James Harden are all better players than Evans or Thornton, so there should be no bitching about not starting. We are the only team in the NBA that doesn't have a set rotation.

Jason Terry is better than neither. And the argument becomes a lot easier when your team is well established and winning.

 

[rainmaker]

I have to wonder, and it's a bit of a conspiracy angle, but it appears that Smart makes a lot of promises to players behind the scenes, and then it comes back to bite him somewhat. Even something like telling Cuz if he works on his 3's he can shoot them in games, then when Cuz does that and says Smart wants him to shoots 3's, Smart backtracks off that. Wonder if he promised Jimmer more playing time if he's aggressive and looks for his shot. Wonder if he promised Brooks a certain number of minutes when recruiting him to sign. Wonder if he's promised both MT and Reke a certain amount of playing time when visiting them this summer. Given how he talks, and even yesterday admitted to take what he says sometimes with a grain of salt, I don't want to imagine what he's promising or guaranteeing players when paying them 1v1 visits over the summer.

That to me, would be a reason why he can't, or isn't willing to put together a set starting lineup, set rotations, and instead says he'll play 10-12 guys per night. Did he promise all these guys a certain amount of minutes if they did what he asked when visiting them this summer?

And here's the thing I'm wondering. Smart knows MT's family well. High school connections. From the same town. Knows his mom. Is that effecting his ability to define a role for he and Reke?

You might call BS, but I'll bring this up too. When with GS he spent 3 weeks in Latvia with Beidrens. When Beidrens was playing poorly Smart stuck with him. When questioned about sticking with him Smart brought up taking 3 weeks of his own time to go to Latvia, which his wife didn't appreciate, and he's sticking with him due to the time he spent with him back home. Did that personal relationship conflict with what was best for the team? Was it fair to the guy behind Beidrens?

So the focus is on Smart this season. He is unlikely to be fired before the end of the season, but he needs to win if he is going to last any longer.

That explains why he has been grinding with his veterans at the expense of younger, unproven players.

He is doing what his instincts tell him to, and that is to act like an assistant. A notable example: He has stuck with center Andris Biedrins through some very rough patches this season.

“I didn’t go to Latvia and leave my family for three weeks to waste that,” Smart said of his offseason visit with Biedrins. “My kids play basketball; I want to see them, too. But I was in Latvia. And I’m committed to him, to get him up “…

“I didn’t throw my three weeks away. My wife’s still mad at me about that.”

Funny. True. From the heart. But is that the way you would hear Phil Jackson explain his decision-making? Mike Krzyzewski? Doc Rivers?

No.

 

[MassachusettsKingsFan]

I have to wonder, and it's a bit of a conspiracy angle, but it appears that Smart makes a lot of promises to players behind the scenes, and then it comes back to bite him somewhat. Even something like telling Cuz if he works on his 3's he can shoot them in games, then when Cuz does that and says Smart wants him to shoots 3's, Smart backtracks off that. Wonder if he promised Jimmer more playing time if he's aggressive and looks for his shot. Wonder if he promised Brooks a certain number of minutes when recruiting him to sign. Wonder if he's promised both MT and Reke a certain amount of playing time when visiting them this summer. Given how he talks, and even yesterday admitted to take what he says sometimes with a grain of salt, I don't want to imagine what he's promising or guaranteeing players when paying them 1v1 visits over the summer.

That to me, would be a reason why he can't, or isn't willing to put together a set starting lineup, set rotations, and instead says he'll play 10-12 guys per night. Did he promise all these guys a certain amount of minutes if they did what he asked when visiting them this summer?

And here's the thing I'm wondering. Smart knows MT's family well. High school connections. From the same town. Knows his mom. Is that effecting his ability to define a role for he and Reke?

You might call BS, but I'll bring this up too. When with GS he spent 3 weeks in Latvia with Beidrens. When Beidrens was playing poorly Smart stuck with him. When questioned about sticking with him Smart brought up taking 3 weeks of his own time to go to Latvia, which his wife didn't appreciate, and he's sticking with him due to the time he spent with him back home. Did that personal relationship conflict with what was best for the team? Was it fair to the guy behind Beidrens?

I can certainly believe this has something to do with it, however I can't say that this way of coaching is exclusive to Smart. Most coaches do the "If you can improve on X, Y, and Z, you'll get 'this' amount of minutes". I'm not saying it's right or wrong, but coaches use incentives all the time to get the most out of players. What happens when all of those guys do all of the things you want them to do? I don't know. We may be looking at it here.

I also hear you on the Thornton thing, people have brought this up in the past and I don't totally buy it, but if this turns into a real thing down the road it wouldn't shock me. My issue with that line of thinking .. Evans was benched one game. Marcus came in off the bench, I think, 3 times? He was also benched first. It doesn't sound like any type of favoritism so far.

The other thing is, it's really ****ing close. You could make the case that Thornton has outplayed Evans overall since Thornton came here. Thornton is also a really good basketball player. He's a starter. Now, other teams have what I would call 'starters' coming in off the bench for them, but most of those teams are good.

Do I think your thoughts are possible? Hell yea, but I think it's more likely that Smart just doesn't know what to do, which is BAD. I'm not making excuses for him, he should know what he wants to do by now (and again, maybe he does and just isn't telling anyone). But the bottom line is, this shouldn't still be a story.

 

[rainmaker]

I can certainly believe this has something to do with it, however I can't say that this way of coaching is exclusive to Smart. Most coaches do the "If you can improve on X, Y, and Z, you'll get 'this' amount of minutes". I'm not saying it's right or wrong, but coaches use incentives all the time to get the most out of players. What happens when all of those guys do all of the things you want them to do? I don't know. We may be looking at it here.

I also hear you on the Thornton thing, people have brought this up in the past and I don't totally buy it, but if this turns into a real thing down the road it wouldn't shock me. My issue with that line of thinking .. Evans was benched one game. Marcus came in off the bench, I think, 3 times? He was also benched first. It doesn't sound like any type of favoritism so far.

The other thing is, it's really ****ing close. You could make the case that Thornton has outplayed Evans overall since Thornton came here. Thornton is also a really good basketball player. He's a starter. Now, other teams have what I would call 'starters' coming in off the bench for them, but most of those teams are good.

Do I think your thoughts are possible? Hell yea, but I think it's more likely that Smart just doesn't know what to do, which is BAD. I'm not making excuses for him, he should know what he wants to do by now (and again, maybe he does and just isn't telling anyone). But the bottom line is, this shouldn't still be a story.

I'm not sure all this is the case. That's why I started about by saying I wonder....

Too early to tell. But it's a possibility. I saw similar things during his time in GS. I agree other coaches use these tactics, but at the same time it doesn't seem to effect their lineups and rotations, or implementation of them nearly as much. I don't mind that tactic in general. I do mind it if it effects your decision making when we get to the regular season though. I've watched a number of pre season games and just about every other team has had regular season rotations for at least a week. Does Smart not know yet? That would be bad. Does Smart not have the balls to set a lineup and rotations yet? That would be bad too. Does he know what he will do but doesn't want to ruffle feathers going into the last pre season game? Not good either. I just don't see a possibility at this moment where what he's doing is a positive.

 

[twslam07]

I'm going to go with the starting lineup Brick originally came up with and add my own rotation into the mix.

Brooks (20 min)/Thomas (20 min)/Evans (8 min)/Fredette (0 min)
Evans (20 min)/Thornton (28 min)/Salmons (0 min)
Johnson (30 min)/Garcia (10 min)/Evans (8 min)/Outlaw (0 min)/Honeycutt (0 min)
Hayes (16 min)/Robinson (20 min)/Thompson (12 min)
Cousins (35 min)/Thompson (13 min)/Ndiaye (0 min - if we sign him)

Evans = 36 min
Cousins = 35 min
Johnson = 30 min
Thornton = 28 min
Thompson = 25 min
Robinson = 20 min
Brooks = 20 min
Thomas = 20 min
Hayes = 16 min
Garcia = 10 min

Thomas is the best playmaker on our team, but Brooks and Evans are also decent playmakers. Pair them up together to share ballhandling duties, and then have Thomas handle the ball with Thornton next to him. If Brooks can shoot from downtown like he did when he was in Houston, then our best 3pt shooter will be on the floor to start the game which will help spread the floor a little more.

Hayes is starting in order to keep our best player out of foul trouble by defending their best post player. Our key to success this year is to keep Cousins in the game for as long as possible. Hayes gives us the best chance to do that without getting taken advantage of. Hayes has also rebounded very well this preseason. He is a very fundamentally sound rebounding big, but he can fall victim to very athletic rebounding bigs. Although with Cousins, Johnson, and even Evans in the game, I don't think rebounding will be a problem. I only want Hayes to start and finish the game (the first 8 minutes of the game and the last 8 minutes of the game). His sole purpose will be to keep Cousins in the game and to slow down the opposing team's best post player.

The lineup I want to finish the game with is:

Evans
Thornton
Johnson
Hayes
Cousins

This gives the majority of the ball possession to Evans and Cousins with Thornton spotting up and running off screens from Hayes. Our frontcourt (Cousins, Hayes, Johnson) would all be good passers who are capable of setting teammates up, and with Evans penetrating, it should force someone to be left open. The defense would be very tough as well. Hayes takes the best big. Cousins ,who is not a bad defender, takes the other big. Johnson takes the SF and Evans takes whoever is the better player between the PG and SG leaving Thornton with the easiest assignment. Again, the main thing I like about this ending lineup is it leaves Evans and Cousins in charge to determine the outcome of the game.

 

[Kingster]

I have to wonder, and it's a bit of a conspiracy angle, but it appears that Smart makes a lot of promises to players behind the scenes, and then it comes back to bite him somewhat. Even something like telling Cuz if he works on his 3's he can shoot them in games, then when Cuz does that and says Smart wants him to shoots 3's, Smart backtracks off that. Wonder if he promised Jimmer more playing time if he's aggressive and looks for his shot. Wonder if he promised Brooks a certain number of minutes when recruiting him to sign. Wonder if he's promised both MT and Reke a certain amount of playing time when visiting them this summer. Given how he talks, and even yesterday admitted to take what he says sometimes with a grain of salt, I don't want to imagine what he's promising or guaranteeing players when paying them 1v1 visits over the summer.

That to me, would be a reason why he can't, or isn't willing to put together a set starting lineup, set rotations, and instead says he'll play 10-12 guys per night. Did he promise all these guys a certain amount of minutes if they did what he asked when visiting them this summer?

And here's the thing I'm wondering. Smart knows MT's family well. High school connections. From the same town. Knows his mom. Is that effecting his ability to define a role for he and Reke?

You might call BS, but I'll bring this up too. When with GS he spent 3 weeks in Latvia with Beidrens. When Beidrens was playing poorly Smart stuck with him. When questioned about sticking with him Smart brought up taking 3 weeks of his own time to go to Latvia, which his wife didn't appreciate, and he's sticking with him due to the time he spent with him back home. Did that personal relationship conflict with what was best for the team? Was it fair to the guy behind Beidrens?

You might be right, or not right. Hard to know. One thing for sure: The continual uncertainty with the lineup breeds confusion and the speculation on reasons behind his changing lineups. He better be transparent and forthright with the players on why they are playing (or not) and getting big minutes (or not); otherwise it's going to be very demotivating for the team after a while. The fans might never know why someone is playing and another is not and that's very unsatisfying for a fan, but the key is that the players know what's going on.

 

[Prog]

I'm going to go with the starting lineup Brick originally came up with and add my own rotation into the mix.
<snip>

Very nice post, twslam07. It all makes sense to me, but I fear Smart's rotation will be much more chaotic.

 

[bajaden]

You might be right, or not right. Hard to know. One thing for sure: The continual uncertainty with the lineup breeds confusion and the speculation on reasons behind his changing lineups. He better be transparent and forthright with the players on why they are playing (or not) and getting big minutes (or not); otherwise it's going to be very demotivating for the team after a while. The fans might never know why someone is playing and another is not and that's very unsatisfying for a fan, but the key is that the players know what's going on.

I don't know about a conspiricy theory, but there may be some truth to Smart asking a player to work on certain things, and then rewarding him for doing so. However, its one thing to reward a player with a certain amount of minutes, but its quite another to continue giving him those minutes if he doesn't perform up to the right standards. As for Cousins and his three point shot, I guess its a matter of who you want to believe. Cuz said Smart told him to work on his three point shot. Smart said he told Cousins that if he was going to shoot the three point shot, then he'd better work on it. But Smart also added that he wanted Cousins in the post where he thought he most effective. It could just be a matter of a player hearing what he wanted hear. It happens on this fourm all the time.

All I know is that I don't want Evans starting at SF. Period!!!! By the way, my starting lineup would Cousins, Robinson, Johnson, Evans, and IT. If it turns out you don't have enough scoring with that lineup, then replace IT with Brooks. But I like the way Johnson and Robinson play together. Both are very active defensively and neither needs the ball in his hands to be effective. That would place most of the scoring burden on Cousins and Evans, with IT filling in when needed. It would also give us JT coming off the bench with Hayes. So we could keep some serious height on the floor. Add in Thornton and Brooks, and pick your poison between Outlaw Salmons, or Cisco at SF. You would always have at least two good scorers on the floor with either lineup, and as Robinson grew into the offense, he could increase his offensive responsibility. In the short term both Johnson and Robinson are good rebounders and will get their share of putbacks.

 

[SacTownKid]

i think Isaiah is gonna be starting for sure. Smart has that set i think. i dont necessarily like Hayes or want him to start, but i do like your comment of how he could try to shut down the other teams best big guy from the beginning

Hayes is a specialist and if he looks "horrible" to people it's usually because that player is being used improperly. He's made a name for himself in the NBA for one reason, if you don't use him for that, it not only hurts your team but him as well. It's like putting Tyreke at the corner to spread the floor. That piece of the puzzle doesn't fit there.

 

[SacTownKid]

I'm going to go with the starting lineup Brick originally came up with and add my own rotation into the mix.

Brooks (20 min)/Thomas (20 min)/Evans (8 min)/Fredette (0 min)
Evans (20 min)/Thornton (28 min)/Salmons (0 min)
Johnson (30 min)/Garcia (10 min)/Evans (8 min)/Outlaw (0 min)/Honeycutt (0 min)
Hayes (16 min)/Robinson (20 min)/Thompson (12 min)
Cousins (35 min)/Thompson (13 min)/Ndiaye (0 min - if we sign him)

Evans = 36 min
Cousins = 35 min
Johnson = 30 min
Thornton = 28 min
Thompson = 25 min
Robinson = 20 min
Brooks = 20 min
Thomas = 20 min
Hayes = 16 min
Garcia = 10 min

Thomas is the best playmaker on our team, but Brooks and Evans are also decent playmakers. Pair them up together to share ballhandling duties, and then have Thomas handle the ball with Thornton next to him. If Brooks can shoot from downtown like he did when he was in Houston, then our best 3pt shooter will be on the floor to start the game which will help spread the floor a little more.

Hayes is starting in order to keep our best player out of foul trouble by defending their best post player. Our key to success this year is to keep Cousins in the game for as long as possible. Hayes gives us the best chance to do that without getting taken advantage of. Hayes has also rebounded very well this preseason. He is a very fundamentally sound rebounding big, but he can fall victim to very athletic rebounding bigs. Although with Cousins, Johnson, and even Evans in the game, I don't think rebounding will be a problem. I only want Hayes to start and finish the game (the first 8 minutes of the game and the last 8 minutes of the game). His sole purpose will be to keep Cousins in the game and to slow down the opposing team's best post player.

The lineup I want to finish the game with is:

Evans
Thornton
Johnson
Hayes
Cousins

This gives the majority of the ball possession to Evans and Cousins with Thornton spotting up and running off screens from Hayes. Our frontcourt (Cousins, Hayes, Johnson) would all be good passers who are capable of setting teammates up, and with Evans penetrating, it should force someone to be left open. The defense would be very tough as well. Hayes takes the best big. Cousins ,who is not a bad defender, takes the other big. Johnson takes the SF and Evans takes whoever is the better player between the PG and SG leaving Thornton with the easiest assignment. Again, the main thing I like about this ending lineup is it leaves Evans and Cousins in charge to determine the outcome of the game.

If you want balance and ability, that's the lineup you want starting, finishing and playing at all times in between. Look, swapping rosters left and right doesn't really change the color of that big pink elephant in the room. Tyreke plays more like a PG than a SG. He's more comfortable getting in the teeth of the defense and creating, his size is awesome at PG, not nearly as much at SG/SF. I think all the pieces are here if Tyreke can't "run and offense" like you'd want a top tier PG to. That lineup right there should be getting at least 6 apg a game from the frontcourt alone. Reke can run an offense if it's the right offense. This team is stuffed with players than can create for others and added 2 more in Thomas Robinson and James Johnson. Getting good shots shouldn't be an issue with this team.