HEDO CAN-DO FOR KINGS TEAMMATES EXPECT TURKOGLU WILL DO JUST FINE IN NEW ROLE AGAINST LAKERS.

Byline: Vincent Bonsignore Staff Writer

SACRAMENTO - Hedo Turkoglu doesn't get what all the fuss is about.

Yes, the Kings' second-year forward from Turkey will replace injured All-Star Peja Stojakovic in the starting lineup when the Kings open the Western Conference finals today against the Lakers. And yes, the 23-year old Turkoglu needs to play well if the Kings are to beat the Lakers and reach the NBA Finals.

Sure, Turkoglu understands what he's facing. He just doesn't get why anyone would think that should cause him stress.

The fact is, this is nothing compared to the pressure cooker he found himself in last summer, when his native Turkey hosted the European Championship and found itself playing Dirk Nowitzki-led Germany in the semifinal. Try being the main man in your own country and having the most prestigious championship come down to whether you make the last two shots.

``I made a 3-pointer to tie it and put it into overtime, then we were down by one with 15 seconds left and I made a layup and we won,'' Turkoglu said, smiling.

So don't expect Turkoglu to get rattled by stepping in for Stojakovic against the world champion Lakers in the most anticipated event in recent Sacramento history.

And don't expect his teammates to be worried that Turkoglu won't be up to the challenge.

``Turk is gonna be fine,'' Doug Christie said. ``He's been through a lot playing in Turkey. Their mentality over there is a lot different than here in America. I mean they're throwing stuff at you in Turkey and there aren't any technicals. So I don't think he's going to get rattled.''

Kings coach Rick Adelman agrees.

``He's always responded so well,'' Adelman said. ``I think it's just his experience playing over in Europe. I mean, when you're the best player in Turkey and the World Championship is there, and the people expect you to get to the final, that's probably more pressure than he's facing right now. I mean, he was the guy over there.''

With Stojakovic sidelined for at least the first two games of the Western Conference finals, and likely more, with a sprained right ankle, Turkoglu will move into the starting lineup at small forward. Losing Stojakovic for any amount of time is a significant blow - he was an All-Star this year averaging 21.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists - but Turkoglu softens the blow.

He likely won't score as much as Stojakovic, but he's a better all-around player and adds certain skills absent from Stojakovic's game. He's a better defender, passer and ball handler, and though his jump shot isn't as effective as Stojakovic's, he can find more ways to put the ball into the basket.

``When he gets the ball we just tell him to shoot it,'' Christie said.

Turkoglu, the first player from Turkey ever to play in the NBA, averaged 10.1 points and 4.5 rebounds during the regular season and is averaging 7.0 points and 4.9 rebounds through the first two rounds of the playoffs.

Although he's struggled with shooting (.373 on field goals) he did have 20 points and 13 rebounds in the series-clinching victory over Dallas. The breakthrough performance could not have come at a better time, considering how much his role will increase against the Lakers.

``I hope he knows that he can just go out there and let it all hang out and that regardless of the situation, we're going to be there for him,'' Chris Webber said. ``You always worry about the worst, but hopefully that will give him the confidence to be able to play freely, and if he plays freely, he's going to be incredible.''

The Lakers will have to adjust defensively to Turkoglu's talents, as they discovered last year when he averaged 13 points and three rebounds in the Western Conference semifinals. The Lakers won the series in a four-game sweep, but Turkoglu definitely made an impression.

``Obviously, he doesn't shoot the ball as well as Peja, but he can run, rebound and do a lot of different things that cause matchup problems,'' Vlade Divac said. ``If he was coming from college, maybe I'd say he'd feel pressure, but coming from Europe, he's been in situations like this as far as media and fans. I don't worry about him. He'll be fine.''

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Hedo Turkoglu, right, will be counted on even more by his Sacramento teammates now that he'll start for injured All-Star Peja Stojakovic.

Kevork Djansezian/Associated Press