Sacramento Kings: 3 Ways To Defeat The Orlando Magic
By Rafe Wong
Control The Boards
One of the main weaknesses for the Kings this season has been their ability to rebound. For the year, they are currently ranked 21st in rebounds per game as they grab around 44 a night. In terms of offensive rebounds, the Kings get around 10 a contest which is ranked 13th to their counterparts. Sacramento also allows their opponents to grab around 49 rebounds a game which is ranked the highest amongst any team.
The Magic are not necessarily a great rebounding team. In fact, they only grab about 43 rebounds a game which is ranked lower than Sacramento, and only nine of those rebounds are on the offensive end. But with that said, there is still the possibility that Orlando can dominate Sacramento in this aspect of the game.
On Orlando’s roster, they have a ton of size and length at their big man positions. Players like Nikola Vucevic, Aaron Gordon, Jonathan Isaac, and more have the capability to control the boards if the Kings get caught slipping.
If Sacramento is able to win the battle of the boards tonight, it will immensely increase their chances of winning the game. In order for the Kings to be successful, guys like Willie Cauley-Stein, Nemanja Bjelica, and Harry Giles have to be aware and aggressive when in the paint. Based on the past, if the Kings are getting dominated in the rebounding game, it usually means a loss is in store for them.