The NBA season is long and unforgiving, and as injuries plague teams they have to adapt their rotations. Sometimes, we end up with a horrific hodgepodge of puzzle pieces that simply don’t fit. Since Thanksgiving ended, three teams have stood out with jaw-droppingly weak rotations. Let’s take a look at the three worst starting lineups during December.
Orlando Magic: December 13 vs. Clippers, L 106-95
Starting 5: Elfrid Payton, Jonathan Simmons, Wesley Iwundu, Mario Hezonja, Nikola Vucevic
If this were an article about the line-up with the coolest names then the Magic would likely be at the top with these four (not Simmons, sorry man). This, however, is not a cool-names article. The Magic decided to give rookie Wesley Iwundu his first start, a puzzling decision rationalized by Orlando’s wings being spread thin due to injury. In fact, the only reason this line-up is so bad is because of injuries to Terrence Ross and Aaron Gordon, so I have to give the Magic a small pass.
Considering that small-ball usually relies on shooting and athleticism to work, this starting group doesn’t make sense. Elfrid Payton is having a good season from deep, but only because he’s limiting his attempts. Simmons is 33% from deep. Iwundu shoots 0.6 threes per game and is 25% from out there. Hezonja is shooting well on the year, but when Nikola Vucevic and the other starting three limit spacing so much, there are going to be problems. And problems there were. Even though Simmons went for 20 points and 8 assists, Vucevic racked up a double-double, Hezonja scored 17, the Magic ended with 95 points and surrendered 31 to Lou Williams alone. Because of injuries, the Magic were forced to trot out this starting squad, but it doesn’t make it any less painful.
New York Knicks: December 4 @ Pacers, L 115-97
Starting 5: Jarrett Jack, Courtney Lee, Damyean Dotson, Michael Beasley, Enes Kanter
Yes, the Knicks did not have Porzingis for this game, but you know who they did have? Frank Ntilikina and Doug McDermott. Instead, New York opted to play Jarrett Jack and Damyean Dotson. The only defensive plus on this squad was poor Courtney Lee, who had a plus/minus of minus-34 in 19 minutes of play. Jarrett Jack didn’t fare much better, with a minus-19 in 16 minutes. The Knicks bled points in this one, and by the time their second unit hit the floor, the game was already almost sealed. The holes in this lineup were quickly exposed by Victor Oladipo and company. When there are clear options like Ntilikina to improve the line-up’s defensive prowess and maybe McDermott to give Beasley and Kanter more space, this group make even less sense.
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Sacramento Kings: December 2 @ Bucks, L 109-104
Starting 5: De’Aaron Fox, George Hill, Garrett Temple, Willie Cauley-Stein, Kosta Koufos
The score of this game indicates that the young Kings held their own in a tight battle with an Eastern Conference playoff team. The catch is that the Kings could have won this game if they didn’t start with this line-up. Koufos and Cauley-Stein ended up only playing about nine minutes each, and they combined to have a plus/minus of minus-33. In nine minutes!
In fact, the entire starting five was at least minus-14, and they came back, because their seven-man rotation off the bench willed themselves back in it. Some might blame this on the starters as a bad game for them, but if you look at the Kings’ roster, there is no true explanation for why they started these five together!
De’Aaron Fox is quick, but his play-making and shot-creating skills are unpolished. George Hill is playing like Kevin Durant during Thunderstruck. Garrett Temple is 32 years old and has a ZERO value over replacement, which means he’s the embodiment of the average player. Finally, Cauley-Stein and Kosta Koufos only share one thing in common: neither can shoot. There is no go-to guy to put the basketball in the hoop, and the offense is cramped. Defensively, they have absolutely no answer for Giannis Antetokounmpo, who started at PF for this game. When Sacramento had options like Buddy Hield, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Skal Labissiere, and even Zach Randolph to choose from, this starting five is inexcusable.
Should I post more of these? Which one was the worst? Give me a shout at @PerSourcesSam!