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Are we underestimating the Hedo Turkoglu effect on Josh Smith?

by Orlando Magic
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Could it be? As we all get frustrated by the general lackluster play of Hedo Turkoglu, perhaps we aren’t paying enough attention.  He IS being guarded by one of the better wing defenders in the league in Josh Smith and is giving up somewhere around 528% percent in the athleticism department.  Maybe we aren’t giving Hedo enough credit for the work he is doing on the defensive end.

In the 5 games that Turk has played against Smith this season, Josh has averaged 14.8 points per 36 minutes in the regular season (3 games) and 13.6 per 36 in the playoffs (2 games).  For the season, Smith averaged 17.3 per 36.

Looking further, Hedo has for the most part been able to keep Josh Smith and his body language from getting all the way to the rim for easy shots.  

To continue reading this post and to view the stats breakdown of Smith vs Turkoglu, click HERE.

Topics: Atlanta Hawks, Hedo Turkoglu, Josh Smith, Orlando Magic

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Comments
  • Justin Brown

    Our fans still don’t realize all the benefits that come along with having a player the size of a PF who can play almost all 5 positions. It really doesn’t matter that he often runs hot-cold offensively or that he’s lost a step. He DOES impact a game even when he’s not scoring. You can let him cover a more athletic guy on the perimeter bc of his length. Sure, Turk might let his smaller man blow by him every time but that’s why Dwight’s down low. Even w/o scoring he still creates good match-ups for his teammates just by being on the floor (esp when he’s running pick&roll) & overall he’s an excellent passing SF…. I will admit that sometimes he can impact a game negatively: he does gets a little careless/lazy with the ball (turnovers) & on defense (that’s just conditioning IMO, he seems to be in decent playoffs shape right now)… But I think he still has very positive value (EV = poker term haha) even when he’s not scoring much.

  • Justin Brown

    Turk lacked any confidence in game 4; that was just poor effort. He had no idea what he was doing on offense throughout the WHOLE game. At least in game 3 he was making plays for others & guarding well, the last possession was his only big mistake in that game (even tho he couldn’t hit shots). All his overlooked attributes I mentioned previously fly out the window if he can only give us is what we got in game 4. Sad to say this but Turk’s minutes gotta be slashed tonight, & SVG better think twice about going to Mr. 4th quarter late if the game’s on the line.

  • Justin Brown

    Our fans still don’t realize all the benefits that come along with having a player the size of a PF who can play almost all 5 positions. It really doesn’t matter that he often runs hot-cold offensively or that he’s lost a step. He DOES impact a game even when he’s not scoring. You can let him cover a more athletic guy on the perimeter bc of his length. Sure, Turk might let his smaller man blow by him every time but that’s why Dwight’s down low. Even w/o scoring he still creates good match-ups for his teammates just by being on the floor (esp when he’s running pick&roll) & overall he’s an excellent passing SF…. I will admit that sometimes he can impact a game negatively: he does gets a little careless/lazy with the ball (turnovers) & on defense (that’s just conditioning IMO, he seems to be in decent playoffs shape right now)… But I think he still has very positive value (EV = poker term haha) even when he’s not scoring much.

  • Justin Brown

    Turk lacked any confidence in game 4; that was just poor effort. He had no idea what he was doing on offense throughout the WHOLE game. At least in game 3 he was making plays for others & guarding well, the last possession was his only big mistake in that game (even tho he couldn’t hit shots). All his overlooked attributes I mentioned previously fly out the window if he can only give us is what we got in game 4. Sad to say this but Turk’s minutes gotta be slashed tonight, & SVG better think twice about going to Mr. 4th quarter late if the game’s on the line.

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