Lunchbox Links: The Hedo-Bashing Edition

by RaptorsHQ - Defensive Stance on Jan 11, 2010 1:40 PM EST in Daily Links

Just to recap: You sign an average to below average free agent, who hit a couple of big shots on national TV during last season's playoffs, to a five-year, US$53-million deal. That free agent continues to produce at a rate similar to the last couple of seasons of his career, but not necessarily in line with the exhorbitant contract you bestowed upon him in the offseason. And fans continue to wonder why he hasn't flipped a switch and started to contribute in crunch time like LeBron James or Kobe Bryant?

Introducing 'Mr. 4th Quarter', Hedo Turkoglu! He's probably here for four more years, folks -- so get used to it.

Turkoglu -- star of the most unfortunately appropriate TV commercial ever -- is not playing with the ball in his hands as much as he was accustomed to in Orlando and he's having a hard time making an impact in games without it.

Jeff Blair remains unconvinced that 'Hedo Turkoglu' really is how you say 'Vernon Wells' in Turkish.

The Globe and Mail's Michael Grange isn't sure what to make of Turkoglu's comments after the game.

Hoops Addict is 'In the Scrum' with Ray Allen and Rasheed Wallace.

Did you notice that Jay Triano went away from the Jarrett Jack-Jose Calderon backcourt pairing during the final minutes of yesterday's game? Don't get your hopes up. The Toronto Star's Doug Smith expects to see Triano go back to that awful combination during tonight's game against the Indianapolis Pacers.

~~Fiction writer~~ Peter Vecsey has a source who believes the Los Angeles Lakers will offer Andrew Bynum for Chris Bosh.

Bynum responds to the Bosh trade rumours.

Mike Monroe scrapes the bottom of the barrel to come up with a reason why Bosh won't continue his career north of the border beyond this season.

The Zan Tabak Herald on the growing legend of one Reggie Evans.

Former Raptor Michael 'Yogi' Stewart is on Twitter, where he will reveal how he suckered Toronto into giving him a six-year/$24 million contract in 140 characters or less. (via Raptors Republic)

What's worse? Leaving three guns on a chair or defecating in a teammate's shoe?

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Comments

re Hedo "The Great"

Contrary to popular belief Turk’s playmaking (assists) are very similar in TO as ORL being 4.9 in ORL vs 4.5 in TO per game.

However what he is doing is playing less, shooting less, going to the line less, rebounding less, and consequentially scoring less @ 13.2 in TO vs 16.8 in Orlando.

This is a problem in TO as the Rap’s require consistent scoring from the veteran SF, as the SG position is a rookie, with given unpredictability, and minutes.

Some big shots in crunch time would not hurt, but 36/37 mins of quality play is most important during the game also.

by Johnn19 on Jan 11, 2010 2:36 PM EST reply actions

All the more reason to trade Jose, and let's get rid of CB4 while we're at it.

I have little doubt that Jose will be moving come deadline time, as I’ve said before (and will say again). Having him around is simply redundant, and he has a negative effect on the team (i.e. Hedo’s worse, Jack and Jose “tandem” is gutwrenching to watch, etc.).

I also agree with Johnn10 – Turk needs more minutes and to be more involved.

As for the CB4 rumours – Bynum is certainly more than I thought any team would offer. I was expecting a steady stream of poo-poo platters. This is only the second young player I’ve heard of potentially coming back, the other being Beasley. Of the two, I’d prefer Bynum, if only because it would allow Bargs to move to the 4 and shore-us-up in the middle for years to come. Then again, I’d bitch and whine when he got hurt, so maybe we’ll just let CB4 break-my-heart-while-getting-nothing-in-return instead.

I also would do the Hedo, Jose and Banks for Tmac and Brooks deal someone else bandied about here. Why not – create the best possible championship situation for either Dwade or LeBron. As I’ve said before, our supporting cast would be far better than either have ever had. Too bad Daryl Morey runs the Rockets instead of Isaiah Thomas.

by RaptorsAddict on Jan 11, 2010 2:55 PM EST reply actions

your crazy

First off good luck tryin to find someone to trade for jose cause 1 he is injury prone and 2 he’s gotta a pretty sizable contract so that aint happening. I can see where hedo is coming from where he’s not being as effective on the floor as he was in orlando he’s sharing the. Ball with 2 other point guards on the floor with him in crunch time.that jack/jose thing can work some times during the game but when its crunch time I don’t like it.you paid a man 53 million dollars to be a go to guy, mr. 4th quarter like he was in orlando but yet he’s not getting the touches he needs to be that player. So I can see where thw frustration is coming from with him. If they wanted a player to just be a spot up shooter than they should have kept kapono for god sakes.

by sherwin316 on Jan 11, 2010 5:58 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

In relation to Bynum's injury woes

Both incidents have been pretty much freak accidents, unless you plan for players to fly into Bynum’s knee around mid-season every year.

To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself.

by Ben R on Jan 11, 2010 6:54 PM EST up reply actions

Reggie Evans - the Wrestler

In the old day of wrasslin, before all the tv, wrestlers would get all this hype before coming in to town for a match. They would be built up as the meanest, nastiest person on the planet. Stories of him taking 5 guys with a broken arm, or that he’d bitten off someones ear.

Of course you had to pay to see that! Then he’d actually arrive, and you’d think… huh.. much less scary than I thought.

That was my experience with Terry Funk. He looked like a homeless guy or a drunken uncle.. but I still loved him after he took chair shot after chair shot.

That’s Reggie Evans.. The real legend.

by Ustation on Jan 11, 2010 4:44 PM EST reply actions

Cleaning up the media

Your comment on Reggie Evans dont impress me, because I dont judge people. The only person that know Reggie is Reggie Evans and God. I dont even judge by looks either.
You however can judge Turk by how much he gets payed and how little he gives. Winning shot against Lakers means nothing individually but as a team great victory. I give him credit for that and I also want to say he stil owe the Raptor more. Once moment doesnt erase 40 no moments.
I would like to say over all big win for Raptors everyone played great but If Triano does not utilize the bench where key guys like marco and johnson is contributing the wright way then Turk wouldn’t have the opportunity to be a hero.

Let keep it real Bosh is the best all by himself. Then Bargnia, followed by Jack, Johnson,
Turk,Derozan,Calderon,Bellinelli,Weems,Banks, etc….. But Weems could be better could be in the Top 5 with proper guidance, but politics that why the Raptors have a hard time keeping above 500, especially when they have a team that can play above 500.
When You loose the politic the wins will roll in no doubt.

by RDUBLU aka RW on Jan 25, 2010 5:50 PM EST reply actions