Why the Magic Win with Carter

    FOR ALL THE READERS:  When looking up Carter's stats, the NBA site has duplicates of the 04-05 playoffs.  Please be advised of that.   On to the article...

    I know, I know.  I'm doing yet another Carter-Turkoglu trade analysis.  Well, if you don't want to read, be my guest and leave.
 
    As we all know Turkoglu was the facilitator in the Magic's offense.  I'll even say he's a decently clutch shooter (I still say Lewis was the biggest clutch player on the Magic, but that's for another article, another time).  However, I, as most other NBA followers know he lacks the ability to create his own shot, or God forbid, drive to the basket.  That's where he, and by association the Magic fail.   When the Magic play a team with a good enough post player to smother Howard's two, or three post moves *Cough* Gasol *Cough*, they've just unravelled the Magic's offensive game.  Ya know, the "double-team Howard, and get an open three" offense.  

Now let's look at a match-up of Carter, and Turkoglu's stats:

Since Orlando brought in Carter to go deep (and possibly win) the playoffs, we'll only be looking at the respective player's playoffs stats.

Vince Carter's:

Year	Team	G	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	OFF	DEF	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	TO	PF	PPG
99-00	TOR	3	3	39.7	0.300	0.100	0.871	3.0	3.0	6.0	6.3	1.0	1.3	2.67	4.00	19.3
00-01	TOR	12	12	44.9	0.436	0.410	0.784	3.1	3.4	6.5	4.7	1.7	1.7	2.25	3.80	27.3
04-05	NJN	4	4	44.8	0.365	0.316	0.861	2.3	6.3	8.5	5.8	2.2	0.0	3.75	4.30	26.8
04-05	NJN	4	4	44.8	0.365	0.316	0.861	2.3	6.3	8.5	5.8	2.2	0.0	3.75	4.30	26.8
05-06	NJN	11	11	40.9	0.463	0.241	0.796	1.5	5.5	7.0	5.3	1.8	0.6	2.36	3.10	29.6
06-07	NJN	12	12	40.6	0.396	0.389	0.693	1.4	5.4	6.8	5.3	0.9	0.6	3.17	2.90	22.3
Career	--	42	42	42.2	0.418	0.332	0.780	2.1	4.8	6.9	5.2	1.5	0.9	2.71	3.40	25.9

  

Hedo Turkoglu's:

Year	Team	G	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	OFF	DEF	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	TO	PF	PPG
00-01	SAC	8	0	17.6	0.435	0.571	1.000	0.9	2.6	3.5	1.4	0.4	0.1	0.75	2.30	7.5
01-02	SAC	16	8	27.7	0.401	0.353	0.516	1.1	4.1	5.2	1.4	0.4	0.6	1.44	3.10	8.6
02-03	SAC	10	5	17.4	0.360	0.286	0.722	0.5	2.4	2.9	1.4	1.2	0.5	0.50	1.90	5.3
03-04	SAS	10	10	27.1	0.321	0.333	0.611	0.5	4.0	4.5	1.5	0.9	0.1	1.60	2.00	7.7
06-07	ORL	4	4	39.0	0.500	0.333	0.500	0.5	2.8	3.3	3.5	1.2	1.0	2.50	3.50	13.8
07-08	ORL	10	10	39.9	0.447	0.286	0.848	1.4	5.0	6.4	5.5	0.8	0.2	3.80	3.50	17.5
08-09	ORL	24	24	38.9	0.427	0.386	0.817	0.4	4.2	4.5	4.8	0.8	0.2	2.67	3.30	15.8
Career	--	82	61	30.7	0.416	0.359	0.766	0.7	3.8	4.5	3.0	0.7	0.3	1.98	2.90	11.4

      Turkoglu had a better FG and 3p%.  Turkoglu had less turnovers, and less PF/G.  Carter had a higher APG than Turkoglu.  Carter has a better RPG.  Carter smokes Turkoglu in SPG.  And, they're about equal in BPG.  

Carter, by far, is the better player.  He also has the "wisdom" that comes with age.  And, like someone in a comment in another article pointed out, "Just because they played that offense last season, they won't play it this season."  Meaning, Carter didn't come in to just become a facilitator, or to cover Turkoglu's roles.  Carter came in to make the team better.  And, if that means changing the offense, then so be it.  Carter also brings a psychological advantage to the Magic.  Even though his athleticism has dropped, he's still at an elite level.  Therefore, when he drives to the basket, he'll ease some defenders on to him.  Giving Magic a.... guess what.  An open three.

    This isn't just an article to raise awareness to he shrine of "Vince", so, let's talk Turkoglu.  Yes, Turkoglu's a clutch player, but, so is Carter.  Carter does it better, as well.  Turkoglu's a facilitator.  A facilitator is just a team player who can't create his own shot, or drive.  Carter can facilitate, and create his own shot.  Turkoglu doesn't have the necessary attack mentality to take over when games are on the line.  He's not as good as Carter.  Period.   I think he'll be an AMAZING fit to the Raptor's offense, as he doesn't have to score.  He has a superstar in Bosh, and a up-and-coming superstar in Bargnani.

    This is my final point.  Carter brings something to the table, that I find to be very necessary in winning games.  It's not an amazing jump shot.  It's not an amazing passing ability.  Carter owns perhaps the most sought after weapon any player can bring to a team.  Entertainment.  You heard it right.  When you're down, and you need to get back the first thing you need?   Momentum.  And, Carter can sure as hell bring the house down with one of his thunderous dunks.  If playing in the home building, a dunk is one of the best clutch tools one can bring to the table.  You get the crowd excited - you get the team energised.  If the team is energised, they'll play at a level needed to come back.  Between Carter's dunks, and Howard's emphatic blocks, the team will be energised on any given night.