timvp
10-20-2004, 03:11 AM
Early slump doesn't faze Turkoglu
By KEN HORNACK
ORLANDO -- Shooters are bound to go through prolonged slumps during the course of an NBA season.
If the Orlando Magic are fortunate, Hedo Turkoglu has already come and gone before they've even started playing for keeps.
The 6-foot-10 forward from Turkey, who was the Magic's top free-agent addition this past summer, had missed 15 consecutive field-goal attempts since going 6-for-8 in their preseason opener a week ago. Turkoglu finally ended his drought in the second quarter Sunday night against the Dallas Mavericks with a layup off one of Steve Francis' 13 assists in the Magic's 114-93 victory.
And his 3-pointer during a 29-14 run in the last 7 1/2 minutes by the Magic was an indication of what Turkoglu can do once he gets his stroke going.
"I'm not panicking at all. That's why I'm a good shooter," said Turkoglu, whose career-high shooting average of 41.9 percent from 3-point range last season with the San Antonio Spurs ranked him eighth in the league in that category.
Turkoglu struggled in the playoffs against both the Memphis Grizzlies and the Los Angeles Lakers at the end of his only season as a Spur. Last week, he went a combined 0-for-11 from the floor in 42 minutes of the Magic's losses to the Atlanta Hawks and the Miami Heat.
But even before getting off the schneid against the Mavs, he made his presence known in other areas. Turkoglu stole a crosscourt pass by Dan Dickau early in the second quarter and never broke stride until he was fouled and sent to the line for two free throws.
"He's a very active player," Magic coach Johnny Davis said. "He rebounds well from his position. He's a better defender than people give him credit for being. He's a heads-up player."
And the fifth-year pro claims he kept his head up when his jump shot wouldn't fall.
"I have those kinds of games at the beginning, always," Turkoglu said. "I don't think too much or worry too much -- just play through that and get better every day."
"There won't be a problem with Hedo hitting shots," Davis said. "That's what he does.":lmao
With how healthy and how impressive Grant Hill looked in the Magic's first win of the preseason, Turkoglu is more and more likely to be playing behind him when the regular season opens Nov. 3. But Davis used Hill and Turkoglu together for a three-minute stretch of the fourth quarter after Cuttino Mobley picked up his fifth foul, and the combination seemed to work well.
"I really enjoy playing with him (Hill)," Turkoglu said. "And I hope he will stay healthy because he's a great player, no question about that."
Despite his 2-for-9 shooting performance, the Magic broke the 100-point mark -- something they failed to do in any of their first three preseason games and their final 13 regular-season games.
Rookies Dwight Howard and Jameer Nelson joined Mobley, Hill and Francis among the Magic players who scored in double figures. In addition to scoring 10 points and grabbing eight rebounds, Howard recorded his first blocked shot when he rejected Dickau's 9-footer with less than two minutes to go.
By KEN HORNACK
ORLANDO -- Shooters are bound to go through prolonged slumps during the course of an NBA season.
If the Orlando Magic are fortunate, Hedo Turkoglu has already come and gone before they've even started playing for keeps.
The 6-foot-10 forward from Turkey, who was the Magic's top free-agent addition this past summer, had missed 15 consecutive field-goal attempts since going 6-for-8 in their preseason opener a week ago. Turkoglu finally ended his drought in the second quarter Sunday night against the Dallas Mavericks with a layup off one of Steve Francis' 13 assists in the Magic's 114-93 victory.
And his 3-pointer during a 29-14 run in the last 7 1/2 minutes by the Magic was an indication of what Turkoglu can do once he gets his stroke going.
"I'm not panicking at all. That's why I'm a good shooter," said Turkoglu, whose career-high shooting average of 41.9 percent from 3-point range last season with the San Antonio Spurs ranked him eighth in the league in that category.
Turkoglu struggled in the playoffs against both the Memphis Grizzlies and the Los Angeles Lakers at the end of his only season as a Spur. Last week, he went a combined 0-for-11 from the floor in 42 minutes of the Magic's losses to the Atlanta Hawks and the Miami Heat.
But even before getting off the schneid against the Mavs, he made his presence known in other areas. Turkoglu stole a crosscourt pass by Dan Dickau early in the second quarter and never broke stride until he was fouled and sent to the line for two free throws.
"He's a very active player," Magic coach Johnny Davis said. "He rebounds well from his position. He's a better defender than people give him credit for being. He's a heads-up player."
And the fifth-year pro claims he kept his head up when his jump shot wouldn't fall.
"I have those kinds of games at the beginning, always," Turkoglu said. "I don't think too much or worry too much -- just play through that and get better every day."
"There won't be a problem with Hedo hitting shots," Davis said. "That's what he does.":lmao
With how healthy and how impressive Grant Hill looked in the Magic's first win of the preseason, Turkoglu is more and more likely to be playing behind him when the regular season opens Nov. 3. But Davis used Hill and Turkoglu together for a three-minute stretch of the fourth quarter after Cuttino Mobley picked up his fifth foul, and the combination seemed to work well.
"I really enjoy playing with him (Hill)," Turkoglu said. "And I hope he will stay healthy because he's a great player, no question about that."
Despite his 2-for-9 shooting performance, the Magic broke the 100-point mark -- something they failed to do in any of their first three preseason games and their final 13 regular-season games.
Rookies Dwight Howard and Jameer Nelson joined Mobley, Hill and Francis among the Magic players who scored in double figures. In addition to scoring 10 points and grabbing eight rebounds, Howard recorded his first blocked shot when he rejected Dickau's 9-footer with less than two minutes to go.