Pistons-Magic Recap Game 5
May 14, 2008
I am very busy this week, so a very short recap on this topic. I have to admit, I’m a little afraid to say anything, because for once, I actually knew what I was talking about when it came to the NBA. I did predict Pistons in 5, I praised Flip when he played Stuckey for major minutes in Game 2 and said that would be important, I identified Hedo as the key if the Magic were to get back in the series (and his failures against tough Tayshaun D are why the Magic are not preparing for Game 6 right now), and I recommended that the Pistons not rush Chauncey back. I will shut up now not to be “that guy” who keeps bragging, but quite honestly, it’s more like “that guy” who can’t believe how lucky he is, because I almost NEVER correctly analyze a series.
I’m still sticking with my original pick; Detroit vs. LA in the finals, Detroit wins the championship. Yeah, I’d love to select my Cavaliers instead, but I think the trade they made hurts them against Detroit (but helps them against the Celtics). What do you think?
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13 Responses to “Pistons-Magic Recap Game 5”
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So….you suggested that the Pistons play their back-up PG when Billups went down, that the key to the Magic would be their best outside shooter and to rest Billups when the Pistons were up 3-1 in the series? Earth shattering.
What’s next? Are you going to tell us that Obama is going to get the nod for the Democrats?
Jesus, instead of the little effort you put into this, next time just skip the post.
Jack! My old buddy, back again. And here I was afraid no one would comment on this weak post–thanks for the attention. Looks like I need to clarify a few things.
I commended Flip for playing Stuckey during my Game 2 recap. That means I said so before the game in which Billups was injured.
Hedo Turkoglu is not the Magic’s best outside shooter, Rashard Lewis is. At best Hedo ties with Rashard. During the play-offs, Rashard has a higher 3-point % and shot twice as many 3’s as Hedo did. Rashard also took more total shots. Hedo was only the team’s third-leading scorer during the play-offs. The regular season comparison is not much different. Kindly peruse http://www.nba.com/magic/stats/ .
Finally, I suggested that the Pistons not rush Chauncey back for Game 4 during my Game 3 recap. The series was only 2-1 and Orlando had a chance to even the series. There were plenty of articles on how the Pistons were doing their best to get him back for Game 4. See http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs2008/news/story?id=3389833 for example.
nevertheless, to say to play the backup pg is not anything earth shattering. You realize that Stuckey only played 1:05 more in Game 2 than Game 1? Where was the applause after Game 1?
shooting %’s don’t mean everything as we all know who the Magic go to when they need a bucket from the outside which is why prince was on hedo and not lewis.
the chauncey thing is common sense and certainly not newsworthy. anyone with a brain knew that was going to happen. the fact that it was written about means nothing as the magic had mediocre guard play, at best.
don’t pull anything while trying to pat yourself on the back. I’m going to head over to some better posts where I can actually learn some things. Don’t quit your day job, if you have one.
Jack Sikma,
Go easy on young McBias here man. There comes a time in every writer’s day/night/life when they post the obvious. It’s almost a guarantee that at least 1 post during each week or possibly day is going to be a dud.
Hedo averaged 19.5 points during the regular season while on his way to winning most improved player. As you say and I’m paraphrasing “big whoop, you say the Magic’s best 3 point shooter has to have a big game”. First, he’s not their best 3 point shooter, Jameer is. Second, his improvement this season is the reason why the Magic made it past the 1st round.
Cut the man some slack… he’s providing entertainment and you’re biting the hand that feeds you
Boney-you’re an idiot for saying Nelson is their best 3 point shooter. I hope you don’t have a blog, too.
I’m hoping that by biting this ‘hand’, that it goes away and never comes back. Or at least goes back to do some better research and better writing.
Anyway…
That’s two important players (can we agree that Hedo is “important to his team?”) that Tayshaun has shut down in two series now.
Here’s stating the obvious for you: Tay can play (stating the obvious always sounds better when it rhymes, no? Work on it, McBias, and maybe Sikma’ll leave you alone!).
Has Tayshaun been the most important player for Detroit during this year’s playoffs, more important than Chauncey or Sheed?
Jack,
Technically speaking, Jameer’s at 42% and Hedo is at 40% and Rashard is at 41%… technically speaking, if you want to sound like you know what you’re talking about, you’d at least know the stats of the guys before running off at the mouth.
In a perfect world I’d be all excited about Tayshaun keeping guys quiet, but let’s be honest:
Iggy and Hedo are not exactly world beaters. Iggy is a very poor man’s version of LeBron James meaning that he has no perimeter game, and if you clog the lane then he’s going to be a non-factor.
Hedo only averaged 2 points less than his season average which is still up from his 13 ppg average from the year before. He’s more perimeter oriented, so putting a hand in his face is key.
Pierce and James are going to be harder matchups for Tay, especially James. Detroit can get away with lining up Afflalo on Pierce because Pierce plays smaller than he actually is. With James it’s going to be Tay and not much else… maybe Rip? Which is why Detroit is likely wanting to see Boston in the ECF because they offer a more traditional style of play. Cleveland’s style is give the ball to LeBron and get out of the way… more of a superstar centered style Chicago Bulls drive and kick offense.
The most important component of Detroit’s success so far in this playoffs has been that there is no significant dropoff when a starter takes a 5 minute rest. Unlike last year with Flip Murray, Saunders has been able to stick Afflalo and Stuckey in and the offense has continued to flow with ball movement rather than having Flip Murray dribble out the shot clock and force his teammates into bad situations.
Hedo is no world beater, but he absolutely thinks he is - and so do his teammates, it seems. Ultimately, I think you’re right about him (you’re right about Iguodala, too), but you can’t tell me that Tay didn’t frustrate Hedo into taking all those wild shots at the end of game 4 (at least I think it was game 4 - anyway, I’m sure you know the game I’m talking about).
I had forgotten you are a Pistons fan, Boney, so I’ll bow to your superior judgment…
Tay definitely did frustrate Hedo, but let’s not forget:
Hedo is not a guy who can create shots for himself. He’s a stiff. I know it sounds like I’m taking credit away from Tay, but Hedo is not everything the media has made him out to be. I’d go so far as to say he’s in the mold of Robert Horry. He’ll hit a big shot, but it’s usually from 15 feet and farther out.
If it’s LeBron driving instead of Hedo or Iggy, someone is getting dunked on. LeBron has 70lbs on Tay and anyone else on the roster that would be guarding him. Actually, I’d like to see Jason Maxiell on LeBron if the situation came about again this offseason. After the last 2 seasons of Lindsey Hunter and Hamilton flopping around Bron, it’d be nice to match up strength on strength with Maxey and Bron.
Maxey is quick enough to move his feet on d, but if it ended up being a foot race well then I can understand why they don’t do it…
I think that everybody is selling Hedo’s game short here based off of one play:
“but you can’t tell me that Tay didn’t frustrate Hedo into taking all those wild shots at the end of game 4″
Tay played him well on the last shot which they kept replaying, but actually Hedo was ON FIRE prior to that last shot. He dropped 11 consecutive points within the final 4 minutes and was the reason that Magic even had a chance to win. His mistake was driving at a time his jumper was dead-on. Even in Game 5, Hedo dropped a couple of big buckets in the last minute to give Magic another shot at a win. Hedo shot quite well throughout the entire Pistons series (47%).
“He’s a stiff”
Can the Knicks get a stiff who can spread the floor by shooting 46% from the field and 40% from 3-point land and thrown in 5 assists and 5 rebounds? In other words, he shoots from 3 what JCrawford shoots from the entire field. Hedo is a better player than Robert Horry unless there is a minute left in a close playoff game.
Indeed, Modi, I certainly disagree with Boney’s assertion that Hedo is a “stiff.” I saw him play live at the Graden and at whatever they call their arena in Jersey now (sorry, I forgot, it’s still Continental Airlines Arena as far as I’m concerned) and he was the best player on the floor both times. He did much more than shoot from 15 feet and out. He was a facilitator and playmaker for his teammates, he had enough handle to get to the rim at will, and he showed more confidence and leadership than anyone else on the floor. In Jersey, he even showed some fan appreciation by repeatedly ackowledging a throng of Turkish patrons sitting in the cheap seats holding a huge national flag and shouting chants in their native language. I had gone to both games to see young Superman take flight, but each time I came away more impressed with Hedo.
So, yeah, I still say the long arms of Tayshaun had much to do with shutting down such an important player. Even if Tay only defended one crucial shot in the 4th qtr extremely well, and otherwise Hedo was lighting him up, as you say, Modi - so be it, sometimes, one defensive stop is all it takes…
Sure, he can spread the floor with the 3 ball. He’s not the man when it comes to taking it to the rack on one of the better on the ball defenders in the league.
Hedo filled it up for 11 points prior to that, but this is also the same team that hit 11 consecutive 3s in an earlier game in the series. Before you go hanging your Orange and Blue hopes on a guy like Hedo just know that he is not far from the nothing he was in Sactown and the bench warmer in San Antonio. Without Dwight Howard in the paint for a dump and kick out, he isn’t half of what everyone thinks he is.
Rashard is the 2nd best player on that team, and then it’s a tossup between shorty Jameer and Hedo