Some Orlando Magic (Quote) Gems

[Rondo_is_better]

http://www.thirdquartercollapse.com/2009/5/13/873820/boston-celtics-92-orlando-magic-88

Here are a few quotes from Orlando papers and players that I found...interesting:

"They didn't do anything — it was all us," forward Hedo Turkoglu said about the collapse. "We had control before the last two minutes and then it just stopped."


Hmm... I didn't realize that you pulled down every rebound, and then just decided to give some of them to the Celtics. Nor did I realize that you actually took the ball back each time and put it into your own basket, scoring all the points for Boston, too. I must be blind, or maybe I was watching the wrong game, because I sure didn't see any of that.


Mike Bianchi says: "Yes, the Celtics do miss Garnett; there's no question. But at this juncture in this playoff series, a case could be made that the Magic might miss Nelson even more."


And I say: "Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh........what? Okay Mike, sure. Whatever you say."



SO that's how their dealing with it: more gracefully than two hundred ballerinas dancing in a field of goose down, basically.

[cdif911]

http://www.thirdquartercollapse.com/2009/5/13/873820/boston-celtics-92-orlando-magic-88

Here are a few quotes from Orlando papers and players that I found...interesting:

"They didn't do anything — it was all us," forward Hedo Turkoglu said about the collapse. "We had control before the last two minutes and then it just stopped."


Hmm... I didn't realize that you pulled down every rebound, and then just decided to give some of them to the Celtics. Nor did I realize that you actually took the ball back each time and put it into your own basket, scoring all the points for Boston, too. I must be blind, or maybe I was watching the wrong game, because I sure didn't see any of that.


Mike Bianchi says: "Yes, the Celtics do miss Garnett; there's no question. But at this juncture in this playoff series, a case could be made that the Magic might miss Nelson even more."


And I say: "Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh........what? Okay Mike, sure. Whatever you say."



SO that's how their dealing with it: more gracefully than two hundred ballerinas dancing in a field of goose down, basically.

I actually agree with Hedo - any NBA team should be able to preserve a 14 point lead with 8 minutes left in the game... they choked and blew it.. our benefit

as to the other one, Nelson was having a very good season - when you look at what Alston is doing statistically to replace him vs. what Baby has done in the wake of Garnett, its almost a wash - now there's obviously intangibles that go beyond PAR though - with KG its the defensive leadership and the fact that they have to guard him in the post - with Nelson its the ability to set up an offense, leadership, etc.

but for giggles:

Nelson (Regular season)

17 ppg, 5 apg, 3 rpg

Alston (Playoffs)

13 ppg, 5 apg, 3 rpg - basically losing 2 buckets a game

KG (regular season)

16 ppg, 9 rpg, 3 apg

Baby (playoffs)

17 ppg, 6 rpg, 2 apg

gaining a point, losing 3 boards and an assist

so statistically both fill ins are doing quite the admirable job - its the obvious intangibles that are a factor here

[kheeko]

I actually agree with Hedo - any NBA team should be able to preserve a 14 point lead with 8 minutes left in the game... they choked and blew it.. our benefit

what i dont get is why they dont start lee,stan fat tummys not very smart

[CoachBo]

As long as Turkey Glue and his boys refuse to grasp the notion that they can't finish a game, we're in pretty good shape.

[Rondo_is_better]

http://www.thirdquartercollapse.com/2009/5/13/873820/boston-celtics-92-orlando-magic-88

Here are a few quotes from Orlando papers and players that I found...interesting:

"They didn't do anything — it was all us," forward Hedo Turkoglu said about the collapse. "We had control before the last two minutes and then it just stopped."


Hmm... I didn't realize that you pulled down every rebound, and then just decided to give some of them to the Celtics. Nor did I realize that you actually took the ball back each time and put it into your own basket, scoring all the points for Boston, too. I must be blind, or maybe I was watching the wrong game, because I sure didn't see any of that.


Mike Bianchi says: "Yes, the Celtics do miss Garnett; there's no question. But at this juncture in this playoff series, a case could be made that the Magic might miss Nelson even more."


And I say: "Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh........what? Okay Mike, sure. Whatever you say."



SO that's how their dealing with it: more gracefully than two hundred ballerinas dancing in a field of goose down, basically.

I actually agree with Hedo - any NBA team should be able to preserve a 14 point lead with 8 minutes left in the game... they choked and blew it.. our benefit

as to the other one, Nelson was having a very good season - when you look at what Alston is doing statistically to replace him vs. what Baby has done in the wake of Garnett, its almost a wash - now there's obviously intangibles that go beyond PAR though - with KG its the defensive leadership and the fact that they have to guard him in the post - with Nelson its the ability to set up an offense, leadership, etc.

but for giggles:

Nelson (Regular season)

17 ppg, 5 apg, 3 rpg

Alston (Playoffs)

13 ppg, 5 apg, 3 rpg - basically losing 2 buckets a game

KG (regular season)

16 ppg, 9 rpg, 3 apg

Baby (playoffs)

17 ppg, 6 rpg, 2 apg

gaining a point, losing 3 boards and an assist

so statistically both fill ins are doing quite the admirable job - its the obvious intangibles that are a factor here

Those are all good points, but what those stats don't factor in is something that is in fact very crucial to this debate:

defense.

What's the other teams FG percentage against the Magic without Nelson vs. the Magic with Nelson? What's the PPG average in the same scenario for Orlando?

I know for the Celtics we give up WAY more PPG without KG and the other team shoots a higher percentage. People like Derrick Rose also get into the lane a lot easier, and this one guy Rashard Lewis has gone 5 games without having to be covered by his worst nightmare: a taller, equally athletic, smarter, more talented, and more tenacious defender, specifically Kevin Garnett.

With KG, I have a strong sense that we would win a series vs. Orlando in 5 games or less. The same can't be said for Jameer Nelson, and really, NONE of the above can be said for him. That's why you just can't make the case that Orlando misses Nelson more than the Celtics miss KG.