Evan Turner, more than the bust question
News blogs, sports blogs, entertainment blogs, and more from Philly.com, The Philadelphia Inquirer and the Philadelphia Daily News.
Evan Turner, more than the bust question
Before we get to the heart of this post, it's time for a shameless plug of our new Pro Basketball APP for iPhones and Androids. We're already providing plenty of coverage in the newspaper and on philly.com, but this new product ties all of those together, delivering all stories, blogs, videos, pictures, and Tweets into one application, and directly to your phone. In addition, we're providing additional content, including additional blogs and videos, that can only be accessed through the APP. Check it out, consider it, because soon it'll be the best place to get everything about the 76ers. You can check out the APP here, for both iPhones and Androids: Sixers basketball application.
Last night at the Wells Fargo Center, we talked with Andre Miller before the game. Miller's 2009 contract situation with the Sixers is old news, but the clip (at the bottom of this post) gives you an idea of Miller's soft-spoken nature, as well as his confidence in his abilities. It's a leadership the Sixers' are certainly lacking.
Okay, onto the purpose of this post: Sixers rookie guard Evan Turner. For once, we're not going to talk about Andre Iguodala. Well, okay, wait, we're going to talk about him very quickly in reference to the game he played against the Trail Blazers. It's somewhat baffling for any Sixers' fan to be upset at Iguodala because he scored only 7 points and finished Tuesday's game 2 for 4. Isn't that exactly what we all determined would be precisely the kind of game we wanted from Iguodala? He finishes 2 for 4 from the floor with 7 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 41 minutes of excellent defense. Kind of an exact replica of how he played for the USA team this summer, and kind of exactly how the Sixers need him to play. Of course those aren't the numbers of an $80 million player, and that's a different article entirely, and one we've written 100 times. But for Iguodala, those are numbers that help the team win. It'd be nice if those numbers cost the Sixers $6-$8 million a year, but that's not reality.
Right, onto Turner, yes.
Let's make an observation: Everyone around this team has said that Turner will excel when he feels supported and when he has the confidence of his coaches and all of those around him. That makes sense, of course, but it also begs the question: How will he perform if he isn't bolstered by everyone telling him he's the best and deserves every minute of playing time? Because often if a player is waiting for the whole-hearted support of everyone in the franchise before excelling, he's also depending on them to pick him up and give him reason to perform. If this is what Turner needs, it could be a long season for him.
There's something overwhelmingly empty about the way Turner is playing, regardless of how he meshes with Iguodala (oops, we mentioned him again). And the problem with this rests not with anyone but Turner. Does Turner need to continue to receive playing time? Absolutely. Should he continue to start? Sure, that makes sense. In some ways, Turner finds himself in an enviable position: because he's the No. 2 pick, and much is invested in him, he'll continue receiving the minutes the franchise needs in order to continue evaluating him. Compared to a guy like Jodie Meeks, who won't be given anything he hasn't earned, Turner should start making more of the time he's being given.
Like Collins said after last night's game, he has a bulldog (Meeks) on the bench waiting to take Turner's minutes. So instead of Turner waiting for more faith to be put in him, and waiting for someone to change his position and give him the ball, he needs to start treating his minutes as importantly as they would be treated by a guy like Meeks. That would require a change in attitude. It's difficult to go from being the go-to, all-everything guy at Ohio State to just another option here. And making that shift takes maturity, something Turner needs to continue demonstrating.
Everyone who's watching these games is making his/her own assessment about Turner, about his game, about his attitude, about his future potential. And the one question that keeps returning is: Is Turner taking responsibility for his own poor play? It's one thing to struggle in the first quarter of your rookie season, but it's another to stop attacking on the floor, to become just a ball-swinger, catching and passing to the top of the key, and to look elsewhere every time a mistake is committed.
Turner has an opportunity here, borne of his draft position and status, and it's time he embraces the challenge.
Check out the APP!
--Kate
Each week, Kate will check in from the road and answer fan questions about the Sixers. Click here to ask Kate a question or e-mail her at kfagan@phillynews.com.
Comments (35)
As many posts have stated, the Sixers biggest problem is that they have 2 players making max dollars who are average/good ball players. And the thing that bothers me is that last year the Sixers brass said that they "would only make moves to better their basketball team, not financial moves". But under this cap structure the Sixers need to take a couple steps back to move forward on a winning course. If they have opportunities to trade Igoudala and Brand for expiring contracts and a gatorade cooler, they MUST do it. I don't care about "value" in return, because for those players we'll never get full value. So rather than taking on a stiff like Spencer Hawes or some other underachiever, acquire expiring contracts, cross our fingers in the lottery, and allow the young players to develop. This, along with a little luck, is the only way the Sixers will get better, positively the only way.— CosmoK
Enough with the "we shoulda kept Andre Miller" talk! His defensive shortcomings were growing gigantic at the end of the 08-09 season. Rondo went by him like he was a human turnstile and went over him with ease.— ml307n- Those are not the ideal numbers from Iggy with us, or any other team where he starts. Double those numbers (14 point on 8 shots) and you've got the "Iggy Ideal".— ml307n
- Just another opinion but Turner needs to come off the bench for now. Turner isn't the only one struggling (and winking at a teammate before he missed those 2 free throws vs Wash didn't help his confidence). Coach Collins is still figuring out what he has here & what his rotations should be.— Roadwork
- IGGY NEEDS TO GO NOW SO TURNER CAN DEVELOPE. THOSE TWO TOGETHER WILL NOT WORK AND ALSO PUTS THE OTHER PLAYERS IN DIFFERENT ROLES. PLEASE GO GET KEVIN LOVE AND WE WILL START TO WIN.— bill poore
Popular Posts
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.
Classifieds:
Site Services:
Partners:
Powered By:
