A Royal Pain
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Game Preview: Sacramento Kings Look To Sweep The Magic

By Rafe Wong

Dec 6, 2014; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings forward Omri Casspi (18) battles for control of a rebound with Orlando Magic forward Channing Frye (8) in the fourth quarter at Sleep Train Arena. The Magic defeated the Kings 105-96. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 6, 2014; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings forward Omri Casspi (18) battles for control of a rebound with Orlando Magic forward Channing Frye (8) in the fourth quarter at Sleep Train Arena. The Magic defeated the Kings 105-96. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Sacramento Kings will look to gain momentum during their homestand as they play against the Orlando Magic tonight.

The Kings already have trouble winning games this season, and it is going to be a lot harder tonight as Sacramento will be without the services of DeMarcus Cousins due to a suspension by the franchise.

The chances for the Kings to win this game dramatically decrease with the news of Cousins being out, but they still have a good shot at coming out victorious.

The Magic this season are still in the process of developing their young and talented core, and as a result, their inexperience has shown through their record of 27-36.

For the purple and white (actually powder blue and red) to achieve in defeating the Magic, they have to spread the scoring distribution and play good defense. Sounds too familiar to Kings fans.

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With Cousins unable to play, the Kings are absent of roughly around 27 points and 12 rebounds for tonight’s game. There is not one player that can solely make up that production on Sacramento’s roster, so therefore, the Kings as a collective group need to step up their game.

This means players like Kosta Koufos and Willie Cauley-Stein will have to be relied on to score in the paint and crash the boards. This also means that the Kings so-called “shooters” will have to find spots to get open and make their shots.

The Kings will also need to be dependent on Rajon Rondo to distribute and orchestrate the offense and for Rudy Gay to score in a variety of ways like he is accustomed to.

Since the new calendar year, the Kings have relied too heavily on Boogie to score the basketball, and now they have the chance to see if they can run the offense effectively without his presence.

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For the Kings to also win this game, the defense (for the millionth time) needs to get better. The Kings are currently dead last in NBA in allowing opponents to score a whopping 109.6 points a game.

Orlando is not an offensive force, averaging 100.8 points a game, but they definitely could have a field day in Sleep Train Arena if the Kings continue their defensive ways.

Like I mentioned in my analysis a couple of days ago, show effort and execute adequately and the Kings should be alright in handling the Magic’s young core of players.

With or without Cousins, this is a winnable game for Sacramento. If they can share the wealth on the offensive side and have a solid performance defensively they be should fine. Although with the Kings, they tend to play worse against inferior competition so you never know with this team.

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