Milwaukee Bucks Game Preview: Jan. 20 at Orlando Magic
By Ti Windisch
Major Key For Orlando: Take Smart Shots
Although the Orlando Magic are built to rebound, grabbing tons of boards doesn’t necessarily lead to wins for this team. Orlando is 2-4 in games where the team pulls down 50 or more rebounds so far this season.
For the Magic, their efficiency from the field is a lot more important than their rebounding numbers. Orlando is 6-1 when the team makes half or more of their field goals. It’s a bit surprising that a team with so many big men hits that mark so rarely.
The Bucks, for the sake of comparison, have shot 50 percent or better from the field 15 times this year, and they’re 10-5 in those games. Giannis and Jabari Parker taking lots of shots and making most of them definitely helps there, and Orlando’s tendency to shoot a lot and not make many threes definitely does not help the Magic.
Considering it looks like two of the four shooters the Magic have who make more than 33 percent of their threes might sit out on Friday night, maybe Orlando should focus on the higher percentage shots instead of watching Aaron Gordon and Elfrid Payton chuck threes all night.