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4 Keys for the Sacramento Kings To Beat The Atlanta Hawks

By Gurjus Singh

ATLANTA, GA - November 1: Nemanja Bjelica #88 of the Sacramento Kings handles the ball against the Atlanta Hawks on November 1, 2018 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - November 1: Nemanja Bjelica #88 of the Sacramento Kings handles the ball against the Atlanta Hawks on November 1, 2018 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Here are four keys that the Sacramento Kings must follow in order for them to beat the Atlanta Hawks tonight.

The Sacramento Kings are looking to get back on track after falling to the Toronto Raptors last Wednesday night. Tonight they play the Atlanta Hawks, and here are four keys to the game they need to follow if they want to come out victorious.

Consistency Through Four Quarters

The Kings forgot when the game started on Wednesday as they started cold in the first quarter. The purple and white need to know that every quarter is important as the other. They cannot relax for spans of minutes or else their opponents will torch them. The NBA is a 48-minute game and the Kings need to be dialed in and not fall into the gaps.

Defense

During the fourth quarter against Toronto, I did not see any defense played by Sacramento. The Kings did make their shots, but when there is no defense, that hot shooting goes to waste and ends with a loss.

The Kings allowed the Raptors to shoot 55% from the field and score 124 points. They need to make sure to be more efficient on defense or they will not win many games. The Kings have shown they can play defense, most notably in their second match against the Utah Jazz. But they cannot take nights off as they did in Toronto.

More Ball Movement

The Kings have been better in sharing the ball, as the team has increased their assist total in the last few games. But with that said, they can do better.

When watching the Kings, the team has not moved well without the basketball. The goal for this squad should be to record at least 30 assists per game while keeping turnovers to a minimum. If this team does increase its ball movement, I am sure they will get closer to their goal.

Rebounding

Rebounding should be a key in every game. The Kings did a good job rebounding on Wednesday, as they outrebounded the Raptors 43-37. But this aspect of the game has been a struggle for them this season. The Kings have to keep getting better in rebounding because it will allow them offensively to get second-chance points and defensively to get stops. Both are recipes for winning more games.

The Suns Are What The Kings Should Have Been. dark. Next

With the Kings playing the Hawks tonight, all four keys listed above must be addressed during the game. Luke Walton needs to be adamant about these keys if the Kings want to finally break their 13-year playoff drought.

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