Kings Lock In Starting Five, Bench the Twin-Tower Experiment for Now
Underdog NBA reported: 'Lineup alert: Kings will start Acuff Jr., LaVine, Hunter, Murray, Sabonis on Wednesday.'
Underdog NBA just dropped the Sacramento Kings' starting five for Wednesday night, and we finally have clarity on Doug Christie's rotation. Darius Acuff Jr., Zach LaVine, De'Andre Hunter, Keegan Murray, and Domantas Sabonis are getting the nod.
If you were holding a fantasy lottery ticket on the Kings rolling out a supersized frontcourt, it is time to cash out. The coaching staff spent the summer teasing a twin-tower look with Sabonis and sophomore big man Maxime Raynaud, but they are playing it safe with Hunter and Murray on the wings instead.
The biggest sigh of relief here belongs to anyone invested in Acuff Jr. The rookie point guard out of Arkansas had a recent injury scare where he limped off the court against the , but his name in the starting five confirms he is fully good to go.
Slotting LaVine and Hunter next to the rookie gives Sacramento a fascinating mix of pure scoring and defensive length. LaVine is out there to get buckets, while Hunter is basically tasked with guarding whoever the other three guys lose track of on the perimeter.
It is a very modern NBA lineup, which is a polite way of saying they are going to try to outscore you because getting stops might be optional. After getting blown out 126-97 by the San Antonio Spurs last week, you can see why Christie wants as much offensive firepower on the floor as legally permitted.
The Kings tip off against the Los Angeles Clippers next, and this starting unit will get an immediate stress test. Keep an eye on how early Raynaud actually checks in, because if this small-ball experiment gets bullied on the glass, that two-big lineup is coming out of the garage in a hurry.