It's early- what do you think of this starting lineup for game one?

#1
Opening night starters and rotation:

C- Koufos, PF- Randolph, SF- Jackson, SG- Hield, PG- Hill.

Primary rotation layers (6):

Carter, Cauley-Stein, Labisslerre, Temple, Bogdanovic, Fox.

We can slice it lots of ways but it doesn't sound half bad. We might win a few games. Season starts 3 months from today.
 
#4
Have to agree with starting WCS. Kosta and Zach is a very slow frontcourt. Also it's Willie's 3rd year and Kosta won't be here more than one or two more seasons most likely.

Otherwise, I think the rest are probable starters. The only other possibility is maybe Bogdan over Hield, but that's yet to be determined. I would not be surprised though.
 
#5
WCS
Randolph
Carter
Hield
HIll

^^ Knowing Joerger this will probably be the starting 5 on opening night. (I don't think Carter gets starters minutes tho)

If Bogdonovic is the player I think he'll become I'd like to eventually see this.

WCS
Randolph
Jackson
Bogdonovic
Hill

solid defensively and lots of passing and shooting.

I really like the potential of Bogs and Jackson beside each other.. High IQ Shooters/Play-makers.
 
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#6
I would rather put Bogdan in at SF and keeping Hield at SG for now..

C - WCS
PF - Randolph
SF - Bogdan
SG - Hield
PG - Hill

Let's face it.. Jackson isn't going to start at SF. They will work something out with the SGs we have.. Maybe Temple will start at SF.
 
#7
I would rather put Bogdan in at SF and keeping Hield at SG for now..

C - WCS
PF - Randolph
SF - Bogdan
SG - Hield
PG - Hill

Let's face it.. Jackson isn't going to start at SF. They will work something out with the SGs we have.. Maybe Temple will start at SF.
Huh? The two rookies that have a chance at starting is Fox and Jackson. They are not the normal rookies. I think Jackson in particular, can help us right from the start because he doesn't make the traditional rookie mistakes and he plays smart and hard-nosed. We didn't see enough of Fox in SL to know if he can also handle his minutes without costing us points.
That said, I'm not hoping that all of our rookies end up starting. I like the way that Joerger does it. I'm just saying that we have one, and maybe two, rookies that might be starters early in the season (if not on day 1). And if it works out that way with Joerger as the coach, that's gotta be a good thing.
 
#11
Starters:
WCS
Zbo
Bog
Hield
Hill

Bogdanovich starts to serve as the secondary ball handler.


Bench:
Koufos
Skal
Carter
Temple
Fox

Fox is surronded by vets, with Skal as the other bench scorer.


Jackson will get peekaboo spot minutes to start the season.
 
#12
Unless WCS has a poor preseason, I think his play at the end of last season has earned him the starting nod. He's in his 3rd year and his growth should be part of the King's future. Not sure about Jackson, as a rookie may need to ease him into the starting role. Kind of wide open at the SF spot, right now.
 
#13
Joerger does not start or play rooks a lot. Not here or in Memphis.

Hill will get the bulk of the minutes at PG. 30-32. Fox will see the rest.
Carter will start at the 3 and Joerger will give him all the minutes he can handle. Jackson will see some action 15-20 minutes.

The other guys will not even see the floor this season until the Kings are firmly out of the Playoff Picture(LOL)
Mason and Giles.
 
#15
I don't think Jackson starts, nor plays any significant minutes for a bit. Still needs to get stronger and work on his body to handle the physicality of the NBA.

Hill
Hield
Temple
WCS
Koufos
 

Kingster

Hall of Famer
#16
I don't know about starting. When it comes to minutes, I think Hill and WCS get 30-32 minutes a game. Carter probably gets 15-20 minutes a game, with Zbo getting 22-28 minutes a game. (I can see Zbo playing backup center sometimes, depending on the matchup). Barring injuries, Fox should get all the minutes that Hill doesn't get, and maybe more because Hill could play the SG at times). Hield will get 20+ minutes a game. After that, it's going to be a war for minutes played. Temple and Koufos could easily see a diminution of minutes played over last year. Some guys might spend a lot of time in the "G" League. Jackson, Giles, Richardson, Bog, Mason, Skal, and Papa better come to camp fully in shape, healthy, and prepared for the season in order to get minutes.
 
#17
Whether starting or not, doesn't it make the most sense to pair the speed of WCS and Fox, while playing the slower vets together, at least for significant stretches?
 
#18
Knowing Joeger's preference for starting veterans. I can see the opening day line up and rotation as:

PF: Randolph / Skal / Giles (G League)
SF: Jackson / Temple / Carter
C: KK / WCS / Papa (part time G league)
SG: Hield / Bogdan / Richardson (part time G League)
PG: Hill / Fox / Mason (part time G League)

If WCS brings "IT" during training camp, he may be the starter at center, otherwise I think Joeger loves KK.
 
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#19
KK/Z-Bo/Temple/Hield/Hill looks to be the way to go. You'd rather let the rookies go in without a lot of pressure so they can learn how to make the game slows down for them.
 

bajaden

Hall of Famer
#20
Center: Cauley-Stein - backup: Koufos
PF: Randolph - backup: Labrissiere
SF: Jackson - backup: Carter, Richardson
SG: Bogdanovic - backup: Hield, Temple
PG: Hill - Fox, Mason

Willie either is or isn't the center of the future of this team, so he needs to start and get the majority of the minutes. Hopefully Skal will rise to the occasion and limit Randolph's minutes by his play. If not, Giles is waiting in the wings. I think Jackson proved he ready for big minutes, and I think we can agree that Carter isn't a big minute player anymore. It will be up to Malachi to earn minutes at either the SF or the SG position. Or both! Right now, he's the odd man out. I think who starts at SG could go either way with Bog's and Buddy. It might and probably will come down to training camp. Not sure where any of this leaves Temple. Hill, Fox and Mason are fairly straight forward.

I think big Papa should be back in the G-League, but not sure how the Kings look at it. It's possible that both Malachi and Giles spend time there as well. It's one way to ease the playing time situation.
 

bajaden

Hall of Famer
#21
KK/Z-Bo/Temple/Hield/Hill looks to be the way to go. You'd rather let the rookies go in without a lot of pressure so they can learn how to make the game slows down for them.
Unless Willie is downright terrible, I think he's the starter. This isn't about wins and losses, it's about finding out if Willie is the guy going forward. He'll be eligible for an extension after this year, and the Kings need to find out exactly what they have in Willie. So I think they're willing to take a few lumps in that regard. To play any veteran big minutes over a young player would be the antithesis of what they're trying to accomplish. In my humble opinion...o_O
 
#22
Unless Willie is downright terrible, I think he's the starter. This isn't about wins and losses, it's about finding out if Willie is the guy going forward. He'll be eligible for an extension after this year, and the Kings need to find out exactly what they have in Willie. So I think they're willing to take a few lumps in that regard. To play any veteran big minutes over a young player would be the antithesis of what they're trying to accomplish. In my humble opinion...o_O
I really hope WCS wins the starting center spot outright.

But, I don't see Joeger just handing him the starting job. WCS will have to earn it.

That is why it is very important that WCS comes to training camp ready to compete. He can't be "space cadet" Willie! He needs to be the focused WCS that ended last season!

Because KK is a solid pro and will take the starting spot if willie doesn't come ready to compete.
 
#24
Huh? The two rookies that have a chance at starting is Fox and Jackson. They are not the normal rookies. I think Jackson in particular, can help us right from the start because he doesn't make the traditional rookie mistakes and he plays smart and hard-nosed. We didn't see enough of Fox in SL to know if he can also handle his minutes without costing us points.
That said, I'm not hoping that all of our rookies end up starting. I like the way that Joerger does it. I'm just saying that we have one, and maybe two, rookies that might be starters early in the season (if not on day 1). And if it works out that way with Joerger as the coach, that's gotta be a good thing.
Still not going to happen. Guarantee Joerger will be starting Bogdan, or Temple at SF before even trying to start Jackson. Experience goes to both Temple and Bogdan.

EDIT: crappity crap crap.. Totally forgot about Vince Carter.. OK Carter would DEFINITELY get the nod over Jackson. 100000% .
 
#25
I think starting doesn't matter much as long as there's wide minutes distribution. Unless there's a minor miracle in chemistry, this team will not win more than 35 games. Worst I can see happening is a vein attempt to get more wins at the expense of minutes distribution. This is a transition season. There should be at least 10 players getting some minutes - no excuses for not playing hard, and that includes all the "starters". You can expect what Carter, Randolph, and Hill will bring, so its time to see how all the rookie and 2nd year players do.
 
#26
I think starting doesn't matter much as long as there's wide minutes distribution. Unless there's a minor miracle in chemistry, this team will not win more than 35 games. Worst I can see happening is a vein attempt to get more wins at the expense of minutes distribution. This is a transition season. There should be at least 10 players getting some minutes - no excuses for not playing hard, and that includes all the "starters". You can expect what Carter, Randolph, and Hill will bring, so its time to see how all the rookie and 2nd year players do.
I think starting does matter. If the best player at the position s a vet or a rookie start him. Put your best team out there, play to win, take every opportunity to give the young ones minutes based on their performance. I think the way Joerger has done this in the past is just fine.
 
#27
I think starting does matter. If the best player at the position s a vet or a rookie start him. Put your best team out there, play to win, take every opportunity to give the young ones minutes based on their performance. I think the way Joerger has done this in the past is just fine.
I am not sure that coach Joerger does subscribe to starting his best players at position. Certainly didn't last year.

I think people tend to have short memories. Last year Temple was clearly our best SG and coach Joerger was reluctant to start him as SG and went with Afflalo. Even when Gay blew his achilles, He opted to go with McLemore for a lot of the time. His reasoning was that the bench functioned very well together and he liked how Temple played with the 2nd unit.

It's not as simple as picking best player at position and going with them. It's a team game and some players play better with certain team mates because their games mesh better together. Bobby Jackson never started for the Kings unless Bibby was injured but he sure as hell finished a lot of games.
 
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#28
I think starting does matter. If the best player at the position s a vet or a rookie start him. Put your best team out there, play to win, take every opportunity to give the young ones minutes based on their performance. I think the way Joerger has done this in the past is just fine.
On the heavy off-chance the team magically clicks , surprises, and wins a bunch competitively, then starting makes more of a difference. However if the team is mediocre to poor which it is much more likely to be - starting means much less, and giving more minutes to all to give longer looks to players is warranted. Players need their chances to earn minutes, and I doubt Carter or Randolph stay long especially if they injure themselves during the season
 
#29
Projected starters and bench (approximate average minutes)

Hill (35)
Hield (30)
Carter (20)
Randolph (25)
KK (25)
---
Fox (25)
Bogdanovic (25)
Jackson (30)
Skal (25)
WCS (25)

Anyone else needs to earn their way into the rotation.
 
#30
It's not as simple as picking best player at position and going with them. It's a team game and some players play better with certain team mates because their games mesh better together. Bobby Jackson never started for the Kings unless Bibby was injured but he sure as hell finished a lot of games.
Great point. An example here is that WCS didn't play his best (offensively) until Lawson learned how to take advantage of Willie's athleticism. Collision never really got the same production out of WCS.