IF Orlando still had Hedo Turkoglu, do you think they could've beat the Celtics?

Now that the series is over, let's speculate and discuss.

Let me get this out of the way: Vince Carter was almost absent in this series. He did okay in game 6 but he didn't have the same impact that Turkoglu had last year.

A lot of the analysts are saying that if Orlando still had Turkoglu they would've had a better chance of beating the Celtics. His 6'10 frame, playmaking abilities, and closing skills would've helped during the 4th quarter stretches especially during the first two games they lost at Orlando. Turkoglu is definitely a great closer and he could've made a difference.

Then there's the argument that Celtics could've won last year if KG was healthy. True, but Jameer Nelson wasn't healthy. So if both of these teams were in full health and faced each other, who would've won?

Here's what I think. I think they definitely would not have lost twice at Orlando and definitely not three in a row if Turkoglu was still on the team. It would've been closer and possibly a final showdown in game 7.

What do you guys think?

Here's what I think. I think they definitely would not have lost twice at Orlando and definitely not three in a row if Turkoglu was still on the team. It would've been closer and possibly a final showdown in game 7.

What do you guys think?

ASK_Story

I pretty much agree with the above. V.C. gave them basically nothing, Turkoglu would have caued more problems in general along with freeing Rashard up more...Also thought Vangundy should have played Bass more and given Reddick more of V.C.'s minutes.

When they dumped Hedo and then got Vince Carter i knew this team wouldn't go back to theFinals...X360PS3AMD05

No. If KG were healthy last year we would be talking about a Celtics 3-peat right now. Master_Live

[QUOTE="Master_Live"]No. If KG were healthy last year we would be talking about a Celtics 3-peat right now. ASK_Story

It wouldn't have made a difference at all. Vince averaged 5 more points a game, only one less assist, and grabbed about the same amount of boards. Hedo didn't do much this year and I think he would have made Orlando worse this year with how ineffective he was overall.

[QUOTE="Master_Live"]No. If KG were healthy last year we would be talking about a Celtics 3-peat right now. ASK_Story

[QUOTE="ASK_Story"][QUOTE="Master_Live"]No. If KG were healthy last year we would be talking about a Celtics 3-peat right now. Master_Live

I didn't click either of the poll dots because Orlando was clearly the better teambut for whatever crazy, alternate-dimension, reason they played like crap this series. Don't give me the "Celtics had Kevin Garnett back" thing either. The Magic beat the Celtics 3 out of 4 times in the regular season with KG.

As for Hedo, ya he fit great with the Magic but he chose to goto the Raptors which basicly tells me he only cared about the money and not about winning a championship. Anyone who has had great chemistry with a team and they make it all the way to Finals but chooses to leave clearly does not think winning a championship is that important.

Don't give me anything on the Raptors either. Yes Chris Bosh is a good, and sometimes even great, player but Hedo knew (as did everyone else) that team was not a championship contender.

who knows, i doubt it

rondo damn near averaged a triple double, and glen davis played very well as garnett's replacement (as much as i hate davis, hes comes up big in the playoffs), you add a healthy garnett and i dont think orlando would have won

As a Raptors fan, I'd say they're both gutless. Orlando should find themselves someone who actually wants to win, rather than collect a paycheck.

No...the celtics are just that good and pluse kg is healthy.

I don't think so. Turk was playing for a contract last season wasn't he?

He got it. Then sat back, relaxed and enjoyed some Pizza Pizza and Sprite and didn't give a crap about playing basketball in Toronto.

No I believe they would have lost last year had Garnett been in the series to cover Reshard Lewis. This year because everyone was healthy, Garnett was able to cover Reshard while Perk was able to cover Howard and Rondo had Nelson, and thats all she wrote. They didn't have to double Howard because Perk did his job, and thatkept the Magicfrom goingout and landing threes all series. This year if Turkoglu was in there it would have been the same result.

They would of had a much better chance IMO. I think the real difference this year is Sheed. He has always had DH's number. Probably the only reason they signed him.

I didn't click either of the poll dots because Orlando was clearly the better teambut for whatever crazy, alternate-dimension, reason they played like crap this series. Don't give me the "Celtics had Kevin Garnett back" thing either. The Magic beat the Celtics 3 out of 4 times in the regular season with KG.

wildcat2000

Please don't tell me you're basing the idea that "Orlando was the better team" thing based on the regular season, as that's never a good idea. This was all about the Celtics ability to plan for what the Magic does well and defend against it, which is something you can't do as effectively in the regular season as you can in the playoffs, where your focus for two weeks is on one team. The Magic played the way it did because Boston had a superior defensive gameplan to the offense Orlando plays. Simple as that.

Anyways, I think at full strength, Boston would have still beat Orlando, even with Turkoglu on the roster. Orlando's offensive structure wouldn't have been so greatly changed to the point where it would have caused panic for Boston's defensive gameplan; Howard would have still been guarded one-on-one, closing out on three pointers would have still been a major point of focus, and Pierce would be guarding Turkoglu. If anything, I see it taking away some of the Nelson/Howard pick-and-roll plays that actually had some effectiveness in Games 4 and 5 this past series.

But yeah... I agree with some of the other members on this board in saying that if Boston was at full strength last year, we're probably talking 3-peat right now.

I didn't click either of the poll dots because Orlando was clearly the better teambut for whatever crazy, alternate-dimension, reason they played like crap this series. Don't give me the "Celtics had Kevin Garnett back" thing either. The Magic beat the Celtics 3 out of 4 times in the regular season with KG.

As for Hedo, ya he fit great with the Magic but he chose to goto the Raptors which basicly tells me he only cared about the money and not about winning a championship. Anyone who has had great chemistry with a team and they make it all the way to Finals but chooses to leave clearly does not think winning a championship is that important.

Don't give me anything on the Raptors either. Yes Chris Bosh is a good, and sometimes even great, player but Hedo knew (as did everyone else) that team was not a championship contender.

wildcat2000

yes. as a toronto fan he is not a fit in toronto. he deserves more. i read in the news paper he is not comming back.

yes. as a toronto fan he is not a fit in toronto. he deserves more. i read in the news paper he is not comming back.

T_REX305