Nuggets vs. Magic: Game 35 Preview

(Boulder-CO) The Orlando Magic are in town on a west coast road trip that is already two games in the making. Additionally, when comparing these two teams side by side I think that this game could potentially be decided in the final minutes.

The most obvious reasons for my assertion are the numerous different facets of statistical breakdown that have the Nuggets and the Magic almost identical in so many ways. For instance, Dwight Howard is leading the league in rebounding at 15.2 boards per game and right behind him in second place is Marcus Camby at 14 rebounds even. Even more surprising is how the Nuggets are currently the second best defensive rebounding team in the NBA with 33.4 glass cleaning rebounds per game while, you guessed it, the Magic are right on their tail in third place at 33.3 defensive boards per game. And since we’re looking at which team is superior in rebounding, let me just add that the Nuggets are averaging a total of 45.2 rpg, while the Magic once again are right on par with 43 total boards on any average night.

But the eerie similarities don’t stop there.

Both teams turn the ball over an average of 14 times a game. The Nuggets are getting to the free-throw line a league best 30.4 times a game with the Magic ranking second at 29.5 attempts from the charity stripe nightly. And both teams are allowing their opposition to make an average of 44% of their field goal attempts, while also standing neck and neck as to how many made field goals they surrender at a number around 38 made baskets per game.

So now that I have illustrated how similar these teams are statistically, allow me to also point out a couple of key stats that could hold the answer to who is going to win this game and how.

The biggest statistical discrepancy in these two teams can be found in two defensive categories with the Nuggets holding the edge in both facets. Denver comes into tonight’s match-up with the number one average of blocked shots per game at 7.3 rejections a night. On the other hand, the Magic are currently ranked the ninth worst team in the league at blocking shots. If Denver is to win tonight they need to block shots and, most importantly, control the swatted attempts to sway the game in their favor. The other area that the Nuggets seemingly have a large advantage in is steals. Denver is also tops in the league in steals per game at 9.38 thefts nightly. The Magic are not as adept to stealing the ball and are the fifth worst in the NBA in this regard. Furthermore, the Nuggets are best in the league at forcing turnovers while the Orlando Magic are in the bottom third. This highlights just how important things like steals and blocked shots, that sometimes get overlooked, are going to be to the Nuggets if they are going to be able to pull out a win tonight .

But overall I have a feeling that tonight’s game is going to be close. These two teams are both on the cusp of entering that upper echelon of teams considered to be NBA contenders. The Nuggets need this win to once again move back into a tie for first place in the Northwest Division with the Portland Trailblazers and the Orlando Magic currently have a four-game cushion on the Wizards for first place in the Southeast Division. Oh, and I almost forgot… the Nuggets are one of the NBA’s tougher teams to play at home with a record of 14-5 and the Magic are one of the league’s best road teams with a record of 16-6.

We need this one, Nuggets Nation. Who’s with me?

Go Nuggets!