does anyone still think dalembert should start?

[some_rand]

the way i see it, it just makes too much sense to start cousins and JT together. they could be a bynum/gasol lite.

everyone knows you dont win with 6'7 starting pfs and landy/dally is a perfect mix of offense/defense off the bench

[KF10]

I think we are going to at least test Dalembert as a starter for this team. If he works well with Cousins (or Thompson) he sticks but if he is better suited as a primary big off the bench, he stays in the bench.

Don't get me wrong, I want to see Cousins start at the 5 with Thompson at the 4 (or whoever). The Kings need to get Cousins acclimated into the starting role with Evans and co.

I like the idea of bringing Landry and Dalembert off the bench . Add a guy like Whiteside to the mix too and all of the sudden, the Kings have a surprisingly good frontcourt.

[Kingsforlife]

http://espn.go.com/nba/lottery2010/mockdraft cant believe this is still up, anyone else want Orton heard a Magic fan wanted Landry. And Dalembert could be added for something else since he would be on a championship team he most likely wont leave.

[Kingsforlife]

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachi ... Id=2epsdal the Thunder and Kings give their second rounders to the Jazz and Ak-47 gets bought out.

[RoyalCourtJestr]

I wouldn't touch that with a ten foot pole. We've already got our backup big of the future (Whiteside), Landry is better than Orton will every be, and Green, Landry and Dally are far superior to Orton and Maynor.

[wiltchamberlain]

As of right now I'm still for starting Dalembert. I think the best thing about starting him is that you know what he brings to the table, and you know he can bring it night in and night out. I'll be interested to see Cousins tested though, if he can show he can hang with the best Centers this league can offer then I'd definitely consider putting Sam on the bench.

[Wolfay]

I've wanted Cousins to start since day one. Franchise players don't come off the bench.

[Bac2Basics]

I think Dalembert starts to begin the season, but if Cousins can keep up the pace of the 16 pt, 16 reb pace that he did on the first preseason game, that could change quickly.

[rpa]

I'm still for starting Dalembert but I think you start Cousins too--at the 4. The way I see it is this:

#1: Landry is NOT a starting PF. He's too small and too weak of a rebounder to play 30 minutes a night against the Gasol's, Duncan's, etc. of the league. However, Landry is PERFECT for a bench role in the 22-28 minutes per night range. Put him out there where he's playing against less skilled players (i.e. players that can't take advantage of the size difference as well as starters could) and he's going to dominate. It also means the Kings will be able to bring in instant offense off the bench--which is extremely valuable

#2: I don't think JT is a good choice to start because of his foul problems. I think if you play him 22-26 minutes off the bench he's going to be in a position to succeed because he won't have to be so concerned with his fouls.

#3: Starting Cousins/Dalembert means we can dominate rebounding on both ends of the floor--that's HUGE.

[Wolfay]

Cousins doesn't have the athleticism or quickness to guard better PFs. Cousins is 100% a C in my eyes.

[SacKingsPejaFan]

Big cuz is a franchise player. We start him and JT. They're our future. Landry and Dalembert should still get a lot of minutes off the bench though. We know exactly what we're getting from them--offense from Landry, defense from Dalembert. Being able to depend on them when our younger starters aren't playing well is a huge asset we should take advantage of. It is in our best interest going forward to give Cousins and Thompson as many minutes as possible though, as starters. Tell me Evans/JT/Cousins trio isn't our own "big 3" in couple of years...

[ICMTM]

Big cuz is a franchise player. We start him and JT. They're our future. Landry and Dalembert should still get a lot of minutes off the bench though. We know exactly what we're getting from them--offense from Landry, defense from Dalembert. Being able to depend on them when our younger starters aren't playing well is a huge asset we should take advantage of. It is in our best interest going forward to give Cousins and Thompson as many minutes as possible though, as starters. Tell me Evans/JT/Cousins trio isn't our own "big 3" in couple of years...

This is the lineup/front court has the most potential. If JT just plays smarter defense and just goes through a natural maturation he is a near all star talent. It's really JT's to lose if you ask me. You can't be a starting PF in the A and not rebound the ball well. It just doesn't happen.

[RoyalCourtJestr]

Landry is becoming very undervalued in my opinion. His weaknesses are obvious but I'd still start him and Cousins.

[ICMTM]

Not at all. Landry's value hasn't changed in my mind since we got him.

[KiNgSbOi]

For now, I think Dalembert should start. Just to see what we get from him on a nightly basis and we don't want to push DC's minutes right off the bat. He still has conditioning and stamina issues he needs to work out before he can compete for a full time starting center. Constantly banging and running up & down the court for 40 min. or so can take its toll on a youngin' that's so used to playing limited minutes and games in college. Eventually, whether it's early in the season or after all-star break, he should be ready (I hope) to start, if not well it's for the better then I'm sure.

[SacKingZZZ]

I still disagree with the notion that Landry isn't a starting quality player. I will relent to the fact that it really depends on need, but in reality both JT and Landry are the kind of players that start based on need. Neither is complete enough a player to demand a starting spot on any type of NBA team. Cousins is however and I still want to see Cousins and Daly start together. Webber seems confident it can work and that Daly is athletic enough to cover 4's.

The potential problems starting either Landry or Thompson with Cousins is defense. Cousins is not a defensive intimidator around the basket and if he's asked to be he's going to be in foul trouble. In a perfect world Hassan develops really fast, because I think that is the frontcourt of the future for this team.

[wiltchamberlain]

For now, I think Dalembert should start. Just to see what we get from him on a nightly basis and we don't want to push DC's minutes right off the bat. He still has conditioning and stamina issues he needs to work out before he can compete for a full time starting center. Constantly banging and running up & down the court for 40 min. or so can take its toll on a youngin' that's so used to playing limited minutes and games in college. Eventually, whether it's early in the season or after all-star break, he should be ready (I hope) to start, if not well it's for the better then I'm sure.

I still disagree with the notion that Landry isn't a starting quality player. I will relent to the fact that it really depends on need, but in reality both JT and Landry are the kind of players that start based on need. Neither is complete enough a player to demand a starting spot on any type of NBA team. Cousins is however and I still want to see Cousins and Daly start together. Webber seems confident it can work and that Daly is athletic enough to cover 4's.

The potential problems starting either Landry or Thompson with Cousins is defense. Cousins is not a defensive intimidator around the basket and if he's asked to be he's going to be in foul trouble. In a perfect world Hassan develops really fast, because I think that is the frontcourt of the future for this team.

I agree with both of these comments.

I think KiNgSbOi is right to point out possible stamina issues in Cousins, remember this is the same guy that got gassed playing against sub-par talent in the SL. I know he played a lot of minutes but starting in the league is brutal and if he can't handle 2 weeks of SL then there's no chance in hell he'll make it through an entire season.

At the same time I agree with SacKingZZZ, I too would like to see a Dally/Cousins lineup attempted at least a couple of times in the preseason. I also agree with his points about Landry and Thompson.

[longfellow44]

I still want to trade landry and split the minutes between thompson cousins and dalembert. And give whiteside some garbage minutes. I dont care who the starters are with that trio.

[deNIEd]

I still disagree with the notion that Landry isn't a starting quality player. I will relent to the fact that it really depends on need, but in reality both JT and Landry are the kind of players that start based on need. Neither is complete enough a player to demand a starting spot on any type of NBA team. Cousins is however and I still want to see Cousins and Daly start together. Webber seems confident it can work and that Daly is athletic enough to cover 4's.

The potential problems starting either Landry or Thompson with Cousins is defense. Cousins is not a defensive intimidator around the basket and if he's asked to be he's going to be in foul trouble. In a perfect world Hassan develops really fast, because I think that is the frontcourt of the future for this team.

"Starting quality" is completely dependent on the remaining 4 players.

Landry is in no way shape or form, talented enough to be a top 3 starter on a contending team. However, as a 6th man, he could virtually destroy every opposing team, whereas as a starter, he is average at best.

[pillwenney]

Landry is over all certainly starting caliber. That doesn't mean he should start. Manu is starting caliber and he usually comes off the bench. It's not about that. It's about how he should be used on the team.