Collins has made mistakes, too, Turner being the biggest
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Collins has made mistakes, too, Turner being the biggest
John Mitchell, Inquirer Staff Writer
Perhaps my last post left the impression that I’m of the belief that the 76ers players are the sole custodians of this rapidly disintegrating season that at one point set you aflutter with visions of basketball at Wells Fargo Center weeks and maybe even a month after the conclusion of the regular season.
Oh, no. Quite to the contrary. This continuously evolving tragedy includes more than a few mistakes by coach Doug Collins as well, the biggest being the handling/mishandling of Evan Turner.
In an effort to salvage the season, Collins last Saturday openly speculated on the possibility of changing the starting lineup after the starters shot 13-for-44 from the field to help Orlando end a five-game losing streak.
Who knows what that means right now? Does that mean sending Spencer Hawes to the bench (I don’t think so; he’s a veteran and Collins loves that) in favor of Nik Vucevic? Or could it mean - benching Turner again and reinserting Jodie “The Glue” Meeks back in the starting lineup?
Maybe he’ll stand pat, but who really knows? However, now is not the time to reverse field on Turner, especially after saying a few weeks ago that “Evan Turner is a point guard.” Especially not now after saying, the same night Collins delivered the aforementioned quote that he has to find out how well Turner, Andre Iguodala and Jrue Holiday play together.
I was completely on board with the decision to start Meeks opposite Holiday in the backcourt at the start of the season. Dangle a carrot in front of the 2010 number two overall draft pick and keep him hungry for that starting position.
I get that.
And as the team got off to a great start – mostly because of the continuity carried over from the end of last season – I considered myself among the more erudite in the media who also got that you needed Meeks on the floor to spread it with his ability to snipe from outside.
But it’s not working anymore. In fact, Meeks’ ability to spread the floor hasn’t risen above an empty threat in back-to-back games all season long, and it’s not likely to happen over the final 10 games of the regular season.
Contact staff writer John N. Mitchell at jmitchell@philly.com. Follow him on Twitter @JmitchInquirer.
Comments (22)
Clearly anyone saying turner is a bust, didnt pay any attention to the 6 games where he was main guy running point. 3 of those games were loses but he still did great things. Look at the miami game where we almost came back from getting blown out by 30, turner brought the lead down to 5 with a 3 and down to 4 twice, and played great D on wade. Turner needs to have ball, if trade him and he flourishes on another team, i will give up on this org— cflip12- Doug Collins got ran out of Chicago because he didn't know what to do with a team that was ready. The guy is a college coach or a guy you bring in to get organized before you move onto a better coach when your team is ready to compete for championships.— UncleStosh
- when Evan turner go away.in couple years .you will recret it.HE IS THE BEST PLAYER RIGHT NOW 76ERS HAS.HE WILL BE A NBA ALL STAR.AND DC HE WILL HAS WHAT HE ....EVAN WIL BE THE ONLY GUY THAT WAS PICK TO DC TAKE THE BALL OUT OR HIS HANDS.— armando7676
- I believe Turner has scored 20 or more 6 times this year. But Collins for some reason is hurting this kids confidence and what has meeks done so impressive. I can see now what happened to collins in those other jobs. he plays favortism. you commit to a TURN OVER machine like Holiday and a brick shooter like Iggy and a car with blown tires like Brand, but you'll pull ET quick. FIRE COLLINS— kerryt
- Couldn't have said it any better myself. You don't build a team around the likes of Meeks, Iggy, Brand and Holiday (and i love the kid but hes just not a point guard). Collins has to move along. I'll drive him to the airport.
- Evan Turner is a stiff and has been since day 1. Anyone who says Evan Turner should be starting and needs more minutes (Missanelli and Gargano come to mind) knows NOTHING about basketball. NOTHING. Evan Turner can't shoot a lick and is NOT an assist guy, Doug Collins can't turn water into wine. Have you seen Evan Turner's shooting form? It's the opposite of smooth. Evan Turner has been in the league for 2 years and has scored more than 20 points TWICE. Anyone who thinks Evan Turner is good is exposing themselves as being totally stinkin clueless about basketball.— brmorgen81
- This post shows that you know less than nothing about basketball. Its not necessarily Turner's game that keeps him from scoring 20, its minutes and Collins' system. This is the same system that has produced a grand total of 4 30 point scoring games in the past calendar year among the entire team. For sure ET's shot needs to improve, but it actually has since last year and his mid-range jumper is at least as good as Iggy's, who by the way is the established leader of this team who has not scored more than 22 pts in 40 plus games and averages 14. Our leading scorer averages 15 a game and comes off the bench. Try educating yourself before you go spouting off. — ericthered1
- great. miss the playoffs and go lottery.— bloodymess
- Turner benched for Meeks AGAIN....Great way to destroy someone's psyche. When it is totally unwarranted. Jodie went 0-7 against the Celtics! Doug is the only coach the league who would play nonetheless start Jodie before Evan. What does this do? Is this going to help us get that 7th seed and play the Heat team that wouldn't even let Meeks get a shot off?
If you would love to call me a fraudulent fan go for it. You sheep can clap for each shot Jodie makes or play Jrue does. When in fact they should both be on the bench for Evan and Lou. Everyone else is able to play their crappy mistake prone game without any consequences. So you real fans can cheer on this move because you think Turner is a "bust" or a "cancer" to this team, but when you are hyped up about getting swept by Miami and missing the lottery you should be really happy.
Eddie Jordan sucked but at least he got us a good draft pick...
May this be Doug Collin's last ten games.— The Villain ET - just Fire Doug Collins, trade Jrue holiday aka playground man, amnesty Brand and let's go.
But first, FIRE DOUG COLLINS aka "THE LIER" quickly— amaru aka asce - What the hell has Turner ever shown in back to backs, other than his one 3-4 game explosion. This love affair with Evan Turner needs to stop. The media and the fan base has this tendency to fall in love with the young, unproven guy, because of "potential", while ignoring the flaws. They did the same with Thad Young. Now, you don't hear too much outward love thrown at Young. Fickle Philly media and fans.— PhilaPhans
- ""With a deep draft on the horizon, finishing out of the playoffs might be the best bet, as they need a quality draft pick."" CHUCK.............
You may be correct-but i would like to see them against the Bulls ---I think they could win a couple.I believe --NOW- that the only team they match up against better is the Hawks.
They will have enough $$$ and talent-to move up in the draft--or $$$ to get a quality player.The one turning point in all this is Marreese.
I understand he was not going to play-so he gets moved--then immed after-Spencer goes down.The Griz really like him(and he has had some nice games--and a few clunkers plus he is in a town where B-Ball is #1) as it keeps Zach fresh.They will be the 4th or 5th-in the west Clippers and Grizz.— HO HUM - Way to keep the energy and live in the moment!...This article should come the day after the season ends...Some weaker teams on the docket..A few easy baskets here and there, all of a sudden a few guys gain confidence in their shot...Pep in the step defensively and gain momentum in the last 10 games. Who cares if 8 are on the road...Less pressure...I too wouldn't mind Chicago, a team that has been playing less than stellar of late...Go Sixers. — bearsfriend
- Bears, you must know something because you really write posts like Collins or any of the players actually care what you post. Always trying to pump up the team and share a positive spin on stats. You should get a job with the Sixers PR department if you don't already work there. Actually you do a good job of analyzing the games, as does combocancer. I think you would do a better job of being the Deep Sixer than Mitchell does if your perspective was more balanced. — ericthered1
- Ho Hum: yes, Quixote has been on quite a roll, with both articulation and wit. Right now, hard to get excited about the remaining games, as the Sixers at best get a seventh seed and the Heat or an eighth seed and the Bulls, neither of which series they can win. With a deep draft on the horizon, finishing out of the playoffs might be the best bet, as they need a quality draft pick.— chuckw
- Tonite is a chance for the sixers to do some good for themselves..The Celts play the Heat-in Maimi-and the Knicks have the BULLS in Chig.
If The Sixers can take care of the Nets-there is a good chance one or both of the above will lose and that would bode well for them.
The soap story that has enveloped the sixers is sad.What started as a feel good story for the town has turned into a "he said-type thing with the word TEAM-and its concept hardly discussed .
It is truly -as in B Ball-become 1 on 1.Jabs being thrown all over.
So maybe-whatever it is-it can be put aside and they can play as a team again.Nets are playing good right now-so it wont be easy.Plenty of time to vent after the reg season-if they dont make it.QUIXOTE-Luv your posts................— HO HUM 
Comment removed.- Turner is no point guard. Someone broke down the stats and as a starter Turner averages like 2.6 assists and 1.8 turnovers. Move over Magic Johnson! I could have swore that the main job of a point guard was to make plays for others. And no coach is perfect the people defending Doug are not saying that he doesn't have flaws. Just that he is better then a lot of coaches and no coach could make this team much better. The roster is fatally flawed. As soon as the fans come to grips with that they will stop chasing the myth that Doug Collins is the problem because if another coach comes in you will see basically the same thing out of this roster if no changes are made.— brannigan73
- ET only played 6 games as the primary ballhandler at point. The rest of the season he has been playing off the ball as DC wants him to run plays like Meeks. So far he hasn't been given the free reign unlike Holiday. It's too early to decide if he or he cannot run point. Holiday and Iggy are the players whom DC wants to run point. Holiday is at 4.3 asst and 2.1 TO and Iggy 5.5 assts and 1.8 TO. Holiday has looked horrid at point this season who decides to run an instant iso play about half the time he brings up the ball. Lou can be the man at point with the drive and dish mentality or the real threat to score. Andre Miller doesn't look so bad now. Also, Dragic will be a FA but will command a lot of money. — Manok
- Also the wholesale obliteration of the rookie egos . . .— Leegles
- What Collins found out was that Turner and Holiday can't play together and that one has to go. In fact it looks like a complete blow it up off season and rebuild the team around Turner.— bsmart
- Besides mishandling Turner they gave away a big who could score which I can't get out of my crawl, yes I know defense wasn't his forte, and now they suddenly realize they have no half court offense and have guys taking jump shots all the time who can't shoot. If this was an evaluation season which I thought last season was as well the conclusion should be clear that they don't have the horses to compete.— golfer15
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About this blog
John Mitchell is in his second year covering the 76ers for the Inquirer after joining the paper in November 2011. He covered the Washington Wizards for the Washington Times from 1998 to 2008. He's also worked at the Philadelphia Tribune, the Wilmington News Journal, Courier-Post, Trenton Times and Elmira Star-Gazette.Born and raised in West Philadelphia - not too far from Will Smith - he graduated from Overbrook High School the same year the 76ers won their last championship. He's a proud graduate of Howard University and the proud father of two sons, Jared and Jordan.
ABOUT MARC NARDUCCI
Marc Narducci has served in a variety of roles with the Inquirer since beginning in 1983. He has covered the 76ers as a backup and a beat writer. In addition, Narducci has covered everything from the Super Bowl to the World Series and a lot in between. Narducci also has a true passion for South Jersey scholastic sports, which he has covered for many years.
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