Jeff Turner Q&A: What can Magic accomplish in final stretch?
FOXSportsFlorida.com checks in with color analyst Jeff Turner to get the latest on the Magic. You can follow Turner on Twitter at @JTurnerMagic.
FOX SPORTS FLORIDA: What would you like to see the Magic accomplish over their final seven games?
JEFF TURNER: I'd like to see them get back to the competitive fire we saw early after the coaching change (with James Borrego replacing Jacque Vaughn). I thought we saw a real competitiveness about them. They've gone through stretches where they've been doing really good, but then they've had a few letdowns -- the Denver game, much of the Detroit game.
FSF: Is it tougher on a younger player or a veteran player to be on a team where the playoffs are no longer a possibility?
JT: I guess if you're a veteran player who's been on a playoff team, it would be tough. These games are really important for our young guys and some of the guys who are going to be free agents. Every time you play in the NBA, somebody is watching. Nowadays everybody's taping it. So any minutes you get are important minutes. It's not like you can say, "OK, we're not in the playoffs; these games are meaningless." For each player, they do have meaning because they're always being evaluated. (Magic general manager) Rob Hennigan is looking at what this team is going to look like next year.
For all players, it should be hard. Now if you were Tim Duncan and you were used to being on a 60-win team, that would probably be a tough adjustment.
FSF: If you had a vote, would Elfrid Payton be your choice for Rookie of the Year?
JT: I think he has to be in the conversation. I haven't really sat down and looked at all the numbers. If you look at the analytics part of it, his player efficiency rating and some of those things, you've got to (consider him). It's not just about how many points you score. Unfortunately, that's what most of the voters look at, the cute dunks and things like that. The guy to me that's making a push and had a great March is (Nikola) Miritic (of the Chicago Bulls). What he's been able to accomplish on a team that's playing for something every night and becoming a go-to guy in the fourth quarter -- he's got to be somebody you look at too.
FSF: When it comes to most improved players, the tendency is to think of someone with previous professional experience who has gotten better. But can't a case be made for Payton being the Magic's most improved player this season?
JT: From November to now? You can make a case for it. To be honest with you, I think Victor (Oladipo) has made great strides. You look at his efficiency. He's starting to get to the basket a little more and finishing and things like that. He's shown improvement, which is really what management has been looking for -- to see these guys improve each and every game. So those are positives, those two guys.
FSF: For all of the weather-related travel problems you encounter flying during winter months, aren't you and the Magic catching a break by going to Minnesota in early April?
JT: It was 75 (Wednesday)! Very exciting. I'll have to get out. Everybody will be out on the streets. They'll have the tables outside when it's 60 degrees. If it's 40, that won't deter them at all. What we need is a good baseball game to go to.
FSF: Before we forget, how much fun was it for Shaquille O'Neal to join you and David Steele for the second quarter of the game against the Pistons? And how well did you think things went for him in his Magic Hall of Fame induction ceremony?
JT: It was a blast. You forget how much fun Shaq is to be around. I told David that I don't know if I've laughed that hard for that extended period of time in a while. You just never know what you're going to get from him. He's genuine. He just leaves it out there. And I hope our viewers enjoyed it as much as I did, reminiscing and looking back. It was just so appropriate to do the Hall of Fame thing because of what he meant, where the franchise went and what we accomplished with him. It's pretty amazing, when you think about it.
You can follow Ken Hornack on Twitter @HornackFSFla or email him at khornack32176@gmail.com.
