The Sacramento Kings yet again this summer overhauled their roster where fans will see many different faces rocking the purple and white this upcoming season.
For the last week, A Royal Pain has written up a series where we analyze the best lineups for certain situations for the team.
Some of these lineups are the Starting 5, Best Bench, Bigs Lineup, Perimeter Shooting Lineup, and Defensive Lineup.
With that being said, please enjoy this slideshow that shows what we think are the best lineups in specific situations for the Sacramento Kings.
Next: Starting 5
Starting Lineup
For the Starting Five, we have Ty Lawson (PG), Arron Afflalo (SG), Rudy Gay (SF), Willie Cauley-Stein (PF), and DeMarcus Cousins (C).
Originally, we had Darren Collison starting the point. But since he will be suspended for the first 8 games of the season, we expect Ty Lawson to take the reigns because of his ability to score and distribute the ball.
We then have Arron Afflalo starting at two-guard because of his experience and success starting for successful teams in his past.
Rudy Gay is chosen at small forward because he is the second best scorer on the roster, Cauley-Stein is in because his game is complementary to DeMarcus Cousins, and finally Cousins is chosen because he is the best player on the team.
To see our full analysis of our selections for the starting lineup, click here.
Next: Bench
Bench
For our ultimate bench lineup, ARP has Ty Lawson (PG), Ben McLemore (SG), Matt Barnes (SF), Omri Casspi (PF), and Kosta Koufos (C).
Once Collision is available to play, we think Lawson will be the #1 facilitator off the bench. We then have McLemore at two-guard because of his potential.
If Ben is able to be consistent with his three-point shooting, he will make a great asset coming off the bench for the Kings this season. Fingers crossed…
We then have Omri in this lineup because of his ability to score. We expect him to be the main scorer in this group based on his efficiency to drive to the basket and make the perimeter jump shot.
Barnes and Koufos are in this lineup primarily for their defense. Their presence will definitely add balance on both ends of the floor.
To see the full article for our reasoning, click here.
Next: Need To Score?
Offensive
If the Kings were down by a point and had the last possession, the team should call upon Darren Collison (PG), Arron Afflalo (SG), Rudy Gay (SF), Omri Casspi (PF), and DeMarcus Cousins (C).
All the players listed above have shown through their careers that they can score at an efficient rate. What also makes these players reliable in a dire situation is that all of them have the capability to create their own shots as well.
To read our full explanation for this lineup, click here.
Next: Defensive Lineup
Defensive
If the Kings were in a situation where one defensive stop would grant them the victory, the Kings should send in Garrett Temple (PG), Arron Afflalo (SG), Rudy Gay (SF), Willie Cauley-Stein (PF), and DeMarcus Cousins (C) to complete the task.
For Temple and Afflalo, these two were no-brainers. Both have had success on the defensive end, and in our opinion, they are the best perimeter defenders on the Kings right now.
Cauley-Stein was also an easy choice for this lineup. He stands at 7-feet tall and has the athleticism of a track star. His physical tools allow him to be very versatile as a defender which can benefit the Kings if forced to switch off a pick and roll.
Cousins and Gay are more known for their offense, but the reason why we have them in this lineup is because we believe that their abilities as defenders will heighten if the game is on the line.
Click here to see the full reasoning for our selections.
Next: Playing Big
Bigs Lineup
For the bigs lineup, we have Garrett Temple (PG), Omri Casspi (SG), Skal Labissiere (SF), Willie Cauley-Stein (PF), and DeMarcus Cousins (C).
The reason why we chose Temple and Casspi at the guard positions is because this duo brings a good balance of offense and defense while bringing a sizable presence at the perimeter.
Labissiere was a little bit of a stretch at small forward, but he brings a solid shooting stroke to the position. He might face struggles as a defender to keep up with players faster than he is, but hopefully, his length can help him to his advantage.
As for Cauley-Stein and Boogie, there is no question that these guys would be the power forward and center. Both players complement each other really well and both are really lengthy for their positions already. Hopefully, this duo can be a powerhouse for the Kings for many years to come.
To see the full article for this lineup, click here.
Next: 3-Point Shooters
Three-Point
If the Kings are in desperate need for a three-pointer, they should send out Darren Collison (PG), Arron Afflalo (SG), Omri Casspi (SF), Anthony Tolliver (PF), and DeMarcus Cousins (C) to the floor.
Our reasoning for this lineup is based on the fact that these players are the best perimeter shooters on the team at their positions.
To check out the full analysis, click here.
Next: Death Lineup
Small Lineup
The “death lineup” that we have for the Sacramento Kings includes Ty Lawson (PG), Darren Collison (SG), Rudy Gay (SF), Omri Casspi (PF), and DeMarcus Cousins (C).
This group of five definitely caters to the offensive side of the ball. Lawson is a great distributor, Collison and Casspi are consistent shooters, and Gay and Cousins are playmakers. If this quintet were to be called upon in an actual game, expect a lot of baskets to be made by the Kings.
To see our full explanation for this lineup, click here.