Sacramento Kings: Best Rotations- Small Ball

Mar 30, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) high fives forward Rudy Gay (8) after a basket against the Washington Wizards during the second quarter at Sleep Train Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 30, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) high fives forward Rudy Gay (8) after a basket against the Washington Wizards during the second quarter at Sleep Train Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
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Nov 11, 2015; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings forward Rudy Gay (8) high fives forward DeMarcus Cousins (15) as a timeout is called after a play against the Detroit Pistons during the third quarter at Sleep Train Arena. The Sacramento Kings defeated the Detroit Pistons 101-92. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 11, 2015; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings forward Rudy Gay (8) high fives forward DeMarcus Cousins (15) as a timeout is called after a play against the Detroit Pistons during the third quarter at Sleep Train Arena. The Sacramento Kings defeated the Detroit Pistons 101-92. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Small Forward- Rudy Gay

Traditional Stats

Rudy Gay is a man with an underrated two-way game that fits nicely into the Kings optimal small ball lineup.  For the statistics, let us view just Gay’s Sacramento career of 193 games because I feel it gives us the best view of what we can expect from Mister Gay moving forward.  He averages 1.0 threes, 6.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.6 blocks, 2.5 turnovers, and 19.4 points per game in 34.6 minutes a night.  Gay’s shooting percentages rate at 46.5% from the field, 83.0% from the line, and 34.2% from three point land.  Rudy Gay produces an effective across the board stat line.

Advanced Metrics

Now let us view Rudy Gay’s advanced metrics to get a different look at  his Sacramento Kings career.  His averages for box score plus/minus are positive 1.4 on offense and negative 0.2 on defense.  He has a cumulative VORP of 5.3 in those two-plus seasons.  His cumulative win shares are 9.6 offensive and 4.9 defensive.  He rates at 0.104 in the win shares per 48 metric.  The advanced metrics rate Rudy Gay as both an above replacement and above league average player.  It is no surprise that he makes his way into the Kings best small ball lineup.

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