Re: Do We Even Need TurkeyBoy? Hedo let Kobe get around him so that he could block him from behind. You get it done however you can.
Re: Do We Even Need TurkeyBoy? It all depends on who we are targeting at PG. If we bring in Miller (or some other "true" PG), we don't "need" Hedo. If we go for someone like Hinrich, then Hedo becomes very important. You can argue stats all you want, but anyone watching Hedo and Outlaw play can tell who will be the better playmaker, decision maker, and third option on offense. I like Outlaw. For years, I have defended Outlaw. After 6 years, however, he still makes rookie mistakes, doesn't make full use of his physical talent, and frequently appears to be just plain dumb! He plays too many minutes and plays too important of a role in our offense. He is being asked to shoulder more of a load than he can handle.
Re: Do We Even Need TurkeyBoy? And he let the Lakers beat the Magic for the title so that the Lakers would be overly-confident next year and be easy pickings! That Turkoglu never fails...he's always just setting you up for the next move!
Re: Do We Even Need TurkeyBoy? Think again: Webster 2007-08 assists = 90 Outlaw 2007-08 assists = 109 Batum 2008-09 assists = 74 Outlaw 2008-09 assists = 83 Total assists for starting and back-up SF over the last two seasons = 356 Turkoglu 2007-08 assists = 409 Turkoglu 2008-09 assists = 374 Total assists over the last two seasons = 783 There's more to offense than scoring. Hedo puts up more assists in a single season than our current starting and back-up small forwards combined do in two seasons. Over the past two seasons, he's put up 427 more assists than our starter and back-ups combined. He also had more assists in the play-offs (116 assists in 24 games) than Webster (90 assists in 75 games), Outlaw (106 assists in 82 games and 83 assists in 81 games) or Batum (74 assists in 79 games) have put up in the the regular season in 2007-08 or 2008-09. And guess who a great many of those assists went to - Dwight Howard. Getting Hedo will immediately make Greg Oden a more effective offensive player. It was so frustrating this past season to watch Greg roll down the lane and our PGs completely unable to get him the ball. That won't happen with Hedo, he WILL get Greg the ball, just like he did with Dwight. That alone makes him a huge upgrade over anyone we currently have playing the 3. Please look again: Turkoglu 2007-08 RPG = 5.7 and APG = 5.0 Turkoglu 2008-09 RPG = 5.3 and APG = 4.9 Two year average = 5.5 RPG and 5.0 APG Webster 2006-07 RPG = 4.9 and APG = 1.1 Webster 2006-07 RPG = 5.0 and APG = 1.5 Two year average = 5.0 RPG and 1.3 APG So, Hedo averages an extra half rebound per game and nearly 4x as many assists per game was Webster. That's a huge difference. We don't know if Webster will be back. He is still not allowed to run on his broken foot. Outlaw will be involved in a deal to bring us an upgrade at starting PG. That gets us down to two small forwards - three when Webster completes his recovery. And Webster's PERs for his three full seasons have been 11.6, 9.9 and 12.0. It's not like he deserves starters minutes - or even significant back-up minutes even if he is healthy. So far, he is a significantly below average NBA player. I see no problem with cutting his minutes. BNM
Re: Do We Even Need TurkeyBoy? Did you watch the playoffs? Turkoglu played long stretches as PG. I'm serious. Watch the tapes of the Finals. SVG had stretches where Nelson and Alston were both on the bench and Turk was running the team. And they won the game in which he did that the most, finishing with 18 pts, 7 assts, 6 rebs, 1 turnover in Game 3. Check out these back to back games by Turkoglu: Game 7 vs the Celtics IN Boston: 25 points, 12 assts, 3 turnovers Game 1 vs Cavs IN Cleveland: 15 pts, 14 assts, 2 turnovers He's a big time player. And a big time playmaker. Yes, they failed to win the title, but he helped them get all the way to the Finals, past Boston and LeBron (who had HCA for the series). Learn the game, then post.
Re: Do We Even Need TurkeyBoy? I do imagine what Greg would be like in shape and recovered from MF and actually getting a competent pass on a pick and roll from Hedo. It makes me smile.
Re: Do We Even Need TurkeyBoy? Hedo played his best basketball in the Finals: 18.0 ppg, 49.2% FGs, 43.8% 3ptrs But he can't do it by himself. If Lee makes a layup (from a PERFECT pass by Hedo) and Dwight Howard hits a free throw, the Magic win the series.
Re: Do We Even Need TurkeyBoy? You know what else would make you smile, taco pizzas. That day you showed your Outlaw like BBIQ hurts me. With that that, yes, we do need "TurkeyBoy." Sure he doesn't play defense, but that means he fits in with the rest of the Blazers! Ok seriously, TSE already mentioned one of the biggest reasons why I want TurkeyGlue because the experience he had with Dwight on running the pick and roll makes me think he can do that just as well with Oden. He will make Oden's life easier. Not only that, he will also makes Roy's life easier because he will relieve some of the pressure from Roy. Maybe then Roy won't break down at age 28 after doing EVERYTHING for us with Hedo around to help handle the duties of having the ball in his hands. I could go on, but that right there should sell all of you why Hedo is our guy. Yeah!!!!!!!!!!
Re: Do We Even Need TurkeyBoy? Quick... what was Hedo's PER in this year's playoffs? He did NOT have a good playoff run. He was remarkably inconsistent and he was not a productive player. His PER in this year's playoffs? Let's pay attention to this. Let's all say it together. Let's memorize it. 13.2. Which was down from his regular season (a sub-average 14.8) as well as his playoff PER last year (15.3) but above his career playoff average of 12.4... he's had two sub-9.0 PER playoff years of the seven times he's been in the playoffs and has never reached 16.0. Terrible? Maybe not. Impressive? Definitely not. If he were a defensive stopper, this could be more acceptable. But he's not. He's an offensive player that doesn't shoot that well and who doesn't do much of ANYTHING well. Ugh. Ed O.
Re: Do We Even Need TurkeyBoy? That's ridiculous. PER doesn't tell the whole tale. Turk had a great playoffs. His scoring increased each round. He played big in big games. See Game 7 in Boston and Game 1 in Cleveland. Those were probably two of the best individual performances of the entire playoffs. He also hit lots of clutch shots and made clutch defensive plays. To say he doesn't do anything well is RIDICULOUS. Look at his line during the Cleveland series: 17, 7, & 6. Look at those two games I mentioned before: Game 7 In Boston: 25 pts, 12 assts Game 1 In Cleveland: 15 pts, 14 assts I'd say he was a great playmaker, one of the best in big games in this year's playoffs.
Re: Do We Even Need TurkeyBoy? 25 & 12 in a Game 7 on the road?? That's not doing anything well? Please. Learn the game, then post.
Re: Do We Even Need TurkeyBoy? UPDATE: The Toronto Star reports the Raptors seem to have pulled back on a decision to take a run at Hedo Turkoglu. There was a report yesterday afternoon that Toronto was planning a $60M offer to Turkoglu, however, the newspaper says that was debunked by a handful of sources. It would take Toronto renouncing the rights to Shawn Marion, Anthony Parker, Carlos Delfino and others to get that deal done and that won't happen as the Raptors are close to re-signing Delfino.
Re: Do We Even Need TurkeyBoy? WHAT!!!!! No triple double? Fuck him! It should also be pointed out that Travis, Batum or Webster has ever had 7 assists in 1 game. EVER
Re: Do We Even Need TurkeyBoy? There are no point guards worth getting in the free agent pool or that are available via trade. Miller is too old, since his game really is predicated on speed. Kidd isn't going to come to Portland. Bibby is a pile of shit. Sessions is going to be resigned by the Bucks. Hinrich is not going to be traded by Chicago now that Gordon is gone. Who else do you believe Portland should get? We all better hope that Bayless makes huge strides this off season. There just aren't many other options out there.
Re: Do We Even Need TurkeyBoy? Here is the only scenario that we would want or need Hedo... Let's say Webster's foot is a lot worse than we're being told (very possible as players in the NBA don't have long careers with permanent screws in their foot). Let's further say that we've decided to give up on Outlaw as our 6th man. Again, this is also possible as he's as good as he's going to get and with his salary he's excellent trade bait for a veteran back up PF. The wouls leave Hedo & Batum at SF. While I still don't care for Hedo, under this scenario I can understand why we are the only NBA team left interested in him. And, it's not like Hedo can't play at all. He can do some things well. So I wonder ...
Re: Do We Even Need TurkeyBoy? Pshh... I bet his PER was horrible that game. That's the only thing that matters anyway, even over wins.
Re: Do We Even Need TurkeyBoy? Dude if Gerald Wallace would have been available it would have been signed and done a long time ago. You have to work within the reality of the situation. The reality of the situation is the Blazers will be over the cap this year after they re sign Roy and Aldridge. This is the last year they can pick up a free agent. Roy needs help. Now is the time, Turk is the guy.
