Do the Magic Miss Turkeyglue?

[Bankshot]

I know I spelled his name wrong, but I don't know how to spell it.

Anyway, it appears to me that they miss him, at least in this series.  Turkey handled the ball (Jameer Nelson looks like a 2 guard in a point guard's body) and he was clutch.  Vince is shrinking in the big moment.  And Turkey would have made those free throws.

[wdleehi]

Not sure.


Do Orlando miss him or did the Celtics just really miss KG last year? 

[Roy Hobbs]

If they don't, they should.  Hedo always seemed to come through for them; he was truly their "poor man's Pierce".  I'm not sure what Vince is, other than a career loser.

[Bankshot]

Not sure.


Do Orlando miss him or did the Celtics just really miss KG last year? 

What does Vince/Turkey's performance have to do with KG? KG doesn't defend either of them. I'm not saying they would win, but I doubt they would be in jeopardy of being swept and would at least make this a series.

[BudweiserCeltic]

I think Vince is playing well so far. He did have that hard fall too you know, that surely affected a bit of his shot in the FT line. Even Ray misses at the end of games.

What they're missing is Pietrus from last year.

[wdleehi]

Not sure.


Do Orlando miss him or did the Celtics just really miss KG last year? 

What does Vince/Turkey's performance have to do with KG? KG doesn't defend either of them. I'm not saying they would win, but I doubt they would be in jeopardy of being swept and would at least make this a series.

Because I think the over-all defense of the Celtics is better.  The offense is better.  The bench is better.


For the Magic, Lewis has disappeared.  Barnes is doing nothing.  

Carter is still averaging 19 points a game.  Missing two FTs hurt at that point (as we know when the Celtics Ray Allen did the same thing this playoffs)

Carter isn't the issue.  The play of the Fs (Barnes and Lewis) are the issue.  Turk would be a major improvement over Barnes.

[Slugger]

Orlando do not have a wing who can play off down screens and receive the ball in the triple threat position.

Turk had the ability to shoot, put the ball on the floor, and just as important to the Magic's success, PASS the ball off a screen.

VC is not a good passer at all.  This really has hurt their perimeter game and spacing

[Slugger]

Not sure.


Do Orlando miss him or did the Celtics just really miss KG last year? 

What does Vince/Turkey's performance have to do with KG? KG doesn't defend either of them. I'm not saying they would win, but I doubt they would be in jeopardy of being swept and would at least make this a series.

Because I think the over-all defense of the Celtics is better.  The offense is better.  The bench is better.


For the Magic, Lewis has disappeared.  Barnes is doing nothing.  

Carter is still averaging 19 points a game.  Missing two FTs hurt at that point (as we know when the Celtics Ray Allen did the same thing this playoffs)

Carter isn't the issue.  The play of the Fs (Barnes and Lewis) are the issue.  Turk would be a major improvement over Barnes.

Carter is the problem.  His game is more of an iso-type offense.

This does not lend itself to good team basketball.

I dont think you can just look at the numbers and say, "Well, Vince is getting his 20, so you cant blame him".

Replace Vince with Turk, leaving Barnes and Lewis there, we definately have a tougher series.

[BballTim]

I know I spelled his name wrong, but I don't know how to spell it.

Anyway, it appears to me that they miss him, at least in this series.  Turkey handled the ball (Jameer Nelson looks like a 2 guard in a point guard's body) and he was clutch.  Vince is shrinking in the big moment.  And Turkey would have made those free throws.

  They miss playing against a shorthanded team coming off of the most grueling 1st round series in the history of the league.

[MMacOH]

Yes, they miss him dearly and I knew this would happen.  Losing Hedo was one of the reasons I thought the Cavs would beat orlando if they played them this year.  Hedo was their finisher last year.  Orlando ran their offense through him.  His size and penetration ability are a huge matchup problem for any team.  Vince Carter does not pose near the matchup problems.  The Magic basically have no one to go to finish close games now.

I have loved seeing Boston dismantle the Magic.  The Celtics are playing great, you guys must be pumped.  

[wdleehi]

Not sure.


Do Orlando miss him or did the Celtics just really miss KG last year? 

What does Vince/Turkey's performance have to do with KG? KG doesn't defend either of them. I'm not saying they would win, but I doubt they would be in jeopardy of being swept and would at least make this a series.

Because I think the over-all defense of the Celtics is better.  The offense is better.  The bench is better.


For the Magic, Lewis has disappeared.  Barnes is doing nothing.  

Carter is still averaging 19 points a game.  Missing two FTs hurt at that point (as we know when the Celtics Ray Allen did the same thing this playoffs)

Carter isn't the issue.  The play of the Fs (Barnes and Lewis) are the issue.  Turk would be a major improvement over Barnes.

Carter is the problem.  His game is more of an iso-type offense.

This does not lend itself to good team basketball.

I dont think you can just look at the numbers and say, "Well, Vince is getting his 20, so you cant blame him".

Replace Vince with Turk, leaving Barnes and Lewis there, we definately have a tougher series.

Actually, Carter is a good passer.  His career average is 4.2 assists.  He was the back up PG for Jason Kidd when he was in NJ.  

How would the Celtics have a tougher series?  Would Lewis suddenly find his shot even though he is still being defended by KG?

Lewis was a 20 point a game scorer last year.  This year, he is invisible.  

[Moranis]

I'm with roy and wdlee.  The difference is KG (and to a lesser extent Sheed). 

Remember Orlando didn't even have Nelson for the Boston series.  I think Nelson, Carter, and Barnes are better then Turkey, Alston, and Alexander and are just a better fit for that team.

KG is absolutely shutting down Lewis.  He isn't doing anything.  And with Sheed coming in off the bench, the Celtics can continue the man up defense on Howard that they just couldn't do as well last year when Davis, Powe, etc. were backing up Perkins and playing a lot more minutes at PF. 

[Q_FBE]

I always thought that having Vince (I mean Wince) Carter might cause chemistry problems (ie he has to do it himself) when the team faced real headwinds. The Celtics defense right now is a 200 mph jet stream they are imposing on teams (with lots of cross-wind turbulence).

Turkoglu was always a smart player who committed few turnovers and was a better defender than people give him credit for. He kept Sacremento in the championship debate for years out west (in fact they did get whistled out of an NBA finals appearance in the Shaq-Kobe era). Never cared for the guy much (Probably because he said something about not wanting to play for Boston - maybe he had bad oysters or something on a visit here) but I always respect his game.

Vince, it seems, always has to be the 1st option wherever he goes and he does not get it that he has to give up some of his game (in this case to Jameer Nelson, Rashard Lewis, and Dwight Howard) for the Magic to be most effective and possibly go on and win a title.  

[Who]

I thought it was a good decision, a good plan, to go after Carter and let Turkoglu leave. Vince just got old, hasn't been near as good as he was last season particularly in pick and roll situations.

The switch from Hedo to Vince has made the Magic a considerably worse passing team as a result and has effected the number of quality perimeter jump shots that they can create (especially for Lewis).

But overall I thought it was a good plan. No complaints. Vince just got old.

[MBunge]

Yes, they miss him dearly and I knew this would happen.  Losing Hedo was one of the reasons I thought the Cavs would beat orlando if they played them this year.  Hedo was their finisher last year.  Orlando ran their offense through him.  His size and penetration ability are a huge matchup problem for any team.  Vince Carter does not pose near the matchup problems.  The Magic basically have no one to go to finish close games now.

You also can't underestimate the defensive matchup troubles of having Howard flanked by a pair of 6'10'' forwards.  There's no way Pierce could get the same mid-range looks against Hedo that he can against Vince.

Mike