Kings coach Dave Joerger to go with smaller starting lineup

Big isn't always better. Just ask Sacramento Kings coach Dave Joerger, who's ready to make wholesale changes after the team's 4-9 start to the season.

"I've seen enough," Joerger told reporters after the Kings' 121-115 loss to the LA Clippers on Friday night. "We're going to play small."

That means moving DeMarcus Cousins, who had 38 points and 13 rebounds, to center and surrounding him with smaller players. Kosta Koufos, who started at center on Friday, did not play in the second half vs. the Clippers.

"DeMarcus is going to play center. I don't know who else will play with him," Joerger said. "It just gives us more zip, more life, more experience. That's not any detriment to anyone else or what they've done."

The Kings had trailed at halftime by 26 points. He said the smaller lineup energized the team in the second half, and that's what he'll try moving forward.

Along with sliding Cousins to center, Joerger inserted point guard Darren Collison to play alongside Ty Lawson, and he moved Arron Afflalo to small forward and Rudy Gay to power forward.

"We have five skill guys then," Joerger said. "You can't cheat, you can't roam, you have to play everybody. It gave us another dimension in the pick-and-roll, having two playmakers out there."

Said Collison: "It's easier to get in the paint when two bigs are not there."