17 assists tonight, two games after posting a triple double. What a HUGE difference the right team/situation makes for a player. See: Steve Francis.
I didn't follow other teams very much but I was shocked when they traded him after the finals appearance, I thought he ran the team very well during the playoffs.
They didn't trade him, He signed with Raptors as a free agent At that point Orlando was unwilling to give him a huge contract as they were already tied up with Shard, and Hedo wasn't getting any younger. But after the VC experiment didn't pan out, They got rid of three big contracts in Gortat, VC, and Shard to get Hedo back
Its a pretty good deal IMHO because It allowed them to trade away Lewis for Arenas. Hedo didn't really work in PHX because both the Raps and PHX already have good creators in Calderon and Nash. Here in Orlando he can create plays for everyone, and DH can compensate for his horrible D. I'm not sure how well he will work out once they meet Boston/Miami/LA. LBJ/Pierce/Odom will tear him apart.
Orlando are currently 9-2 since Hedo/Arenas/J-Rich have suited up for them. Looking at the other true contenders. Lakers: Kobe/Gasol/Odom/Artest Spurs: Manu/Parker/Duncan/Banana boat Celtics: Rondo/Jesus/PP/Garnett South Beach: Wade/LeBron/Bosh Mavs are in a free fall. Butler gone, Dirk out indefinately. Could they be a borderline playoff/lottery near season's end? Lakers season could be reminiscent of the last two the Spurs had when either Manu/Parker were injured or recovering from injuries. This season is all dependant on his Kobe's health but I wouldn't call it the end.
I'm really surprised by Turkoglu's resurgence. I watched quite a few Suns games early in the season and he looked like dead meat out there. I refuse to believe that it's just the envrionment/situation. It has to be something about his head/motivation as well.
I was penalized for telling people Hedo was there best playmaker when they traded him. The dude knew the offense.
I think the way Hedo returned to the Magic was for the best. I'm not convinced he would have stayed productive had the Magic offered him the same money as the Raptors. I think he was due for a letdown after getting the giant contract. After his complete flop job in Toronto and not fitting in with the Suns, I think Hedo has been refreshed by the return to familiar territory.
Hedo adn Dwight work well together. They can also run really well because Arenas, J-Rich, Turkoglu and Jameer can all bring the ball up.
no they won't. boston can single cover dwight howard easily with just shaq and perkins. with no inside double team, the shooters can't go off as easily. miami can stop orlando's perimeter game so it will force dwight to beat teams by himself, which he hasn't shown he can do.
Yes and they were wrong in doing so. What were the Magic thinking pairing up Vince Carter with Rashard Lewis? Two of the softest players in recent years with similar games (scorers/finsihers but not playmakers). When they lost Hedo, Nelson was their only true playmaker. Now that they have him back, he is once again their best playmaker. His ball handling/passng skills off of dribble along with his height is valuable for passing it off of picks, especially to Dwight Howard.
That is hell of an assumption. Not every player that gets new contract starts sucking it up. His revival in Orlando has not changed the amount of $$ he is getting from his new contract. Hedo's role was not the same in either Toronto or Phoenix. Neither of the teams had Howard. Hedo was the primary playmaker on the Magic and a successful one. He benefited from Howard as much as Howard benefited from him. Hedo plays well in Orlando because he fits well with the magic players/system. Put the ball in his hands and let him play with Howard and he would get his numbers on any team.
The passing talent from the big men in RA's Kings is flat out scary. Webber, Miller, Divac and Hedo. I wonder if RA had anything to do with it or if the Kings got incredibly lucky (in a sense).
