Doug Benc - Getty Images
Orlando Magic at Sacramento Kings
The Gymmer, Sacramento
3 p.m. Pacific, Comcast SportsNet California
The Kings play at home for the last time until 2017 this afternoon as Ryan Anderson and the Magic visit. That's only a slight exaggeration: after Sunday's game, for the rest of January the Kings will play 10 games on the road and two at home. They won't be back in Sacramento until January 18.
That makes the last chance to rely on home court vital. Unfortunately, the Magic are damn good, as teams with Dwight Howard ought to be. Local boy Anderson has been on fire this season; he's average about 18/7, shooting 42 percent on threes as the Magic's new feature stretch four. I'm just glad Anderson has taken from Matt Barnes the mantle of 'best current NBA player from Sacramento.' (Even though Anderson is from El Dorado Hills.)
The Magic are 5-3 and again have one of the league's better offenses (No. 9) and defenses (No. 11). Orlando is shooting well this season, and has a top-tier shooting defense based around Howard. That facet plus Sacramento's iffy shooting could spell doom. But the Kings won't be cajoled into many turnovers; if Sacramento racks them up, it'll be only because they are playing sloppy.
Game's at 3. Game threads at 3 and 4:30. Let's go Kings!
0 recs | 71 comments
First
Kings are going to have to play almost a perfect game to beat Orlando. It’ll be tough without Hayes. It can be done! (Am I an optimist or what?)
Hoping for a great effort from our guys as I’ll be at the game with my father.
SayWhat? - January 8, 2012
Orlando is not THAT good
A merely good game from the Kings should suffice.
deadenddude - January 8, 2012
Seriously?
Orlando is pretty good. We are not very good. I would expect a loss and hope for a win.
Lotusprime - January 8, 2012 via mobile
They aren't good enough to require a perfect game to beat them
that was my point.
deadenddude - January 8, 2012
A perfect game from the Heat? No.
A perfect game from the Kings? Prolly.
PhutureKings - January 8, 2012
Heat?
unfair weather - January 8, 2012
Miami Heat...
HarveySpecter - January 8, 2012
We're playing the Magic.
unfair weather - January 8, 2012
caseycheesecake - January 8, 2012
I think you missed the point...
They meant that it would not take a perfect game from the Heat, but it will take a perfect game for the Kings.
Use of Gif Fail.
HarveySpecter - January 8, 2012
As a team, Orlando averages 9-23 from 3 per game
So what’s the prediction for today? I’ll set mine at 13-28.
section214 - January 8, 2012
Shoot, at least over 30 attempts.
Bet they make half.
Ice_9ine - January 8, 2012
No so fun fact:
The Magic rank 7th in the league in 3% at 39%, while the Kings rank 21st at 30%…frightening that 8 teams are shooting under 30% for the season, with Memphis in last at 21%.
section214 - January 8, 2012
Well Mareese Speights should help Memphis with that.
Not that he will. But he should. Somebody should.
/rimshot
Ice_9ine - January 8, 2012
Didn't check today
but aren’t the Kings near the top of 3 point D?
ElRonToro - January 8, 2012
How much of that is skewed by two terrible 3 PT shooting performances
by the Lakers and Hornets?
Aykis16 - January 8, 2012
And yes, the Kings are 27th in the league in opponent 3PT%
Aykis16 - January 8, 2012
I know your not suggesting that
there 48% FG % against isn’t that high because of hot shooting against them…but , really, aren’t all #’s skewed by something?
ElRonToro - January 8, 2012
There = their
but I am a humble guy and try to keep “I” out of stuff
ElRonToro - January 8, 2012
my weight is skewed
Because i drink too much and like cheese
want2win - January 8, 2012 via mobile
my weight is skewed
Because i drink too much and like cheese
want2win - January 8, 2012 via mobile
3-24! Kings win!
KingsFanInPortland - January 8, 2012
Hot chick caption contest
“Yeah yeah, Dwight Howard is tall. Where is that damn beer man?”
Ice_9ine - January 8, 2012
Alternate caption.
“Mmmmm…. I love portly men in tight turtlenecks.”
Ice_9ine - January 8, 2012
Alternate Caption
Dwight: Eiffel Tower time!!
brobro - January 8, 2012
Don’t worry guys we will win, I think jimmer will explode in this game. Being the 1st person this season to score at least 40 points.
CousinsEvansDUO - January 8, 2012
I am assuming there is going to have to be at least 40 assists made by the other team players for that to happen.
Slam_Dunk - January 8, 2012
40 points?
Jimmer better start launching once he crosses half court, because I don’t think Marcus Thornton & Tyreke are gonna see him standing at the 3pt line, wide open, no defender on him.
elfboy_ - January 8, 2012
It will cut down on TOs
ElRonToro - January 8, 2012
Jimmer launching from half court??
We call that a free throw in jimmerisms
HeuristicLineup - January 8, 2012
El Dorado Hills = Sacramento
No need for a qualifier there.
RJinFairOaks - January 8, 2012
Agreed.
Anyone from the Sac metro area counts, particularly if they help us forget Matt Barnes.
Juan Primo - January 8, 2012
I'm in Roseville
and the second I leave town and have someone ask me where I’m from, I say Sacramento. No one knows where EDH or Roseville is outside of people from here.
HeuristicLineup - January 8, 2012
I'm moving to Rancho Cordova.
I’m discovering that when people ask me where I have a job lined up, it’s much easier to just tell them Sacramento.
jveezy - January 8, 2012
Welcome to Sacramento, jveezy!
RJinFairOaks - January 8, 2012
In a month or so, but thanks.
jveezy - January 8, 2012
I'd avoid mentioned Rancho Cordova as much as possible as well.
HeuristicLineup - January 8, 2012
mentioning*
HeuristicLineup - January 8, 2012
I'm from Modesto.
It’s all relative.
jveezy - January 8, 2012
Ahh, then enjoy delightful Rancho!
HeuristicLineup - January 8, 2012
Not gonna lie, it actually looked quite nice from what I saw.
jveezy - January 8, 2012
Rancho has some nice areas, brand new houses
I was more just generalizing it as a whole. I’ve spent a lot of time in the not so great areas of Rancho. I must say getting a sandwich at Safeway was always entertaining
HeuristicLineup - January 8, 2012
East Rancho/Gold River > West Rancho
IMHO.
RJinFairOaks - January 8, 2012
All the Magic have to do is give it to Howard every single time
If we didn’t have an answer for Gooden, Howard is going to absolutely obliterate us. I’m really worried about foul trouble this game
prowseinthehouse - January 8, 2012
But, if Cousins does get into foul trouble...
it will be interesting to see whether Smart leaves him in the game, given his statements regarding his philosophy over fouls.
Slam_Dunk - January 8, 2012
We don't have anyone though with Hayes out to be able to match up to Howard in any way
As soon as Cousins gets into foul trouble (I’m sure this is game plan A for Orlando) we are completely screwed, or well, more screwed
prowseinthehouse - January 8, 2012
No doubt. We will be in trouble if Cousins gets into foul trouble.
The only point I was bringing up – How will Smart deal with the situation if Cousins gets into foul trouble? If he gets into trouble in the first half, does he pull him out of the game? More interesting, if he gets into trouble in the fourth, will he keep him in the game, as he said he would do in such situations?
Slam_Dunk - January 8, 2012
Ya it will be interesting
This is a game where Cousins needs to keep his arms down stay low and do his best to hold him as far from the basket as possible (take a note from hayes). Howard is going to score on you either way, but don’t do him a favor by fouling him as well
prowseinthehouse - January 8, 2012
I'm more concerned about Anderson and Hedo
DeMarcus can defend his own man, it’s when he has to leave his man to defend penetration that he gets into foul trouble.
The Kings allow the highest FG% at the rim in the NBA at 74.6%. They allow the most made baskets 170, on the 2nd most attempts 228. But of the 170 made baskets 110 are made by guards and SF’s. Rudy Gay was 8 for 8 at the rim, which is why I’m more concerned about Hedo with John defending him. And, Anderson is shooting 42% from 3 on almost 8 attempts per game while still taking amost 5 attempts at the rim. JJ is going to have to guard him closely beyond the arc, and I’m not sure he can stay in front of him going to the basket.
Now as we all know quite a few of the guards points at the rim come from fast break points, but they still get the paint too often. Which create blocking fouls for DeMarcus and dishes to players left open by our bigs (Chuck & DMC) moving away to help.
We’re going to have to double team Howard to give DeMarcus help, but I think it’s going to have to come form the guards more often than JJ or Salmons. And, double teams mean rotating to support the double teamers man, which I’m not sure we’re ready for just yet.
HighTops - January 8, 2012
I'll be stoked if Cousins can get 30 minutes tonight
I’m really worried about the lack of depth in our bigs tonight and if Cousins gets in foul trouble early, it could get ugly
HeuristicLineup - January 8, 2012
As long as we get the tip,
we’ll get Howard in to foul trouble first and win!
caseycheesecake - January 8, 2012
Finally get to sit down relax watch a Kings game
GO Kings!
Also, anyone been watching Rubio play? Amazing true PG in the making.
Wonder if Grant is still trashing the guy now on his Radio show.
Apoet - January 8, 2012
Aileen Viosin approves
HeuristicLineup - January 8, 2012
The nightmares I'm going to be having now...
WHAT HAS YOU DONE
Apoet - January 8, 2012
wallywagon11 - January 8, 2012
Can you kill fire with fire?
HeuristicLineup - January 8, 2012
No
Viosin is impervious to your mortal methods of death. It will take something far stronger than mere fire to vanquish her.
darooster - January 8, 2012
(I like to think he is crying in fear and not laughing diabolically)
wallywagon11 - January 8, 2012
yuck
DiegoKing - January 8, 2012
Why the hate for Matt Barnes?
Honestly I don’t understand. Did he screw over Sacramento in the past or something?
Beastradamus - January 8, 2012
He makes us look bad...
not the team, the people…we mostly make our team look bad..
anthonysam - January 8, 2012
He's a dirty dirty player.
He seems like a great person off the court, but on the court I absolutely hate him.
HeuristicLineup - January 8, 2012
That's what I think
Like a number of guys in the league …when talent is not quite enough they turn to dirty.
I’ve never liked any dirty player.
ElRonToro - January 8, 2012
Well
except for beating up his girlfriend…
prowseinthehouse - January 8, 2012
Release the Boogie!
GO KINGS!
wallywagon11 - January 8, 2012
This game is a big test for the Smart regime
I think we’ll understand how much of an improvement Smart is over Westfail from this game. The Kings can’t afford to get down big like they did against the Bucks, there’s no way they can comeback like that against the Magic. If Smart really is better than Westfail, I expect the Kings to be competitive the whole game.
darooster - January 8, 2012
personally
I think it’s just one game either way.
wallywagon11 - January 8, 2012
This
HeuristicLineup - January 8, 2012
I'd give it at least 10-15 games
before we truly start to judge how much has or hasn’t changed with Smart
HeuristicLineup - January 8, 2012
Let's go Kings!
DiegoKing - January 8, 2012
Marcus Thornton will have a very good game tonight I'm thinking.
won’t be enough though. Howard and Turkoglu are going to be a handful.
DiegoKing - January 8, 2012
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