Ex-Sixer Jim Jackson: Turner best suited to play point guard
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Ex-Sixer Jim Jackson: Turner best suited to play point guard
John Mitchell, Inquirer Staff Writer
CHICAGO - Since the question of whether or not the Sixers’ Evan Turner is a point guard, shooting guard or small forward is a constant source of discussion, I figured that asking former Ohio State guard Jim Jackson (a veteran of 14 NBA seasons that included a brief stint with the Sixers) to weigh in on what he feels is the best way for the Sixers to maximize Turner’s talent was an appropriate question for the never-ending debate.
“The system best suited for Evan is a system that allows him to have the ball in his hands,” said Jackson, an analyst for the Big Ten Network. “If Evan is really going to be the player that he wants to be and can be, he needs the ball in his hands. “
The former guard and fourth overall pick in the 1992 by the Dallas Mavericks, Jackson said that initially when the Sixers selected Turner with the second pick in 2010 draft he thought it was a bad spot for him because he felt that Turner’s game would clash with point guard Jrue Holiday’s.
“I didn’t really like that pick early on for him because he’s the type of player that needs the ball in his hands. He’s not a catch-and-shoot player, but he’s a creative player off the dribble. With players like Lou Williams and Andre Iguodala and Jrue there’s just not enough time for Evan to have the ball in his hands and he struggled with is his first year. This past year I think you saw coach Collins have a little more confidence in him and handle the ball a little bit more.
Jackson said that if the Sixers remain constituted the way they are, Turner, if he’s going to continue to get better, is going to have to continue to work on his ability to catch-and-shoot. He believes that Turner does this, Collins will continue to expand his role and he will continue to show improvement.
But will Turner ever be the star that we expect a guy selected with the second overall pick in the draft to become?
“It’s really about being a professional,” Jackson said. “He has to figure out how to work well off the ball. That’s a part of being a professional, constantly working to hone your craft. I believe that if he does that Doug Will continue to expand his role.
“Can he become a star?” Jackson continued. “It’s all dictated on the system. In this league you can be a very good player, a great player in the wrong system and you can get lost. Or you can be a mediocre in the right system and look like an all star. It’s usually the talent that overrides everything, but sometimes the system dictates.”
So what works best for Turner?
“Can he become a star? It’s all dictated on the system,” Jackson said. “In this league you can be a very good player, a great player in the wrong system, and you can get lost. Or you can be a mediocre player in the right system and look like an all-star. It’s the talent that overrides but sometimes it’s the system. If you’re starting from scratch, though, you want the ball in his hands and go from there.”
I talked about this BEFORE we drafted him. Predicted it would be a problem and it is. After you draft em IT'S TOO LATE! Use foresight not hindsight. What you see on film how does that fit with the group that we currently have? All of our prospects MUST HAVE a strong catch and shoot skill set. 1st With length. 1a. Perry Jones. Forget handles we have ENOUGH BALL HANDLERS!! Jrue Lou and iguodala. That's enough ball handling right there. Turner made it excessive and a waste. Royce White makes it dumb. Everybody playing within 15' iguodala thad and jrue can stretch out a little but we wouldn't want them out there all night. That's not their game. But defense is their game and they are very good at it. Without a shot blocker. A shot blocker allows them to be more aggressive on defense. And score more points & rebounds during the process. That sounds like perry jones leonard or Moultrie to me. If white or sullinger struggles on offense they have nothing to offer. Leonard, jones III, Moultrie can run the floor show/defend /hedge screen roll and recover. White and sullinger can't hedge STOP THE GUARD IN HIS TRACKS and recover. Jones III can switch screen roll Leonard and Moultrie can do it occasionally.— combocancer1975- Meyer Leonard is everything Nik Vucevic should have been...Regarding Royce White...he DOES NOT have to have the ball in his hands, and he CAN do MANY things on the court (as he led his team in 5 categories)...He is a physical rebounder,crunching screen setter, and brilliant passer (albeit, his passes are HRs,not a DC staple)...His exquisite handle for a 270 lb man is his "extra", not his necessity.......Totally agree with you on the "bad fit" of ET on this current Sixers' roster.(which WILL change).
— bearsfriend - I'm trying to find out WHERE in this article it says ET is "best suited to play Point Guard"....Jimmy Jackson says, and this is a truism, that ET is much more effective with the ball in his hands...than he is without it (as his catch and shoot ability is not up to par, and he doesn't consistently run hard enough off screens to free himself up)...For him to reach the potential of a #2 pick, someone who year in and year out plays colse to an All-Star level, he CLEARLY has to improve conditioning,shooting, and tighten up turnover issues that were prevalent last season...His best attributes are his defensive rebounding,open court vision, and an edge of competitiveness/confidence..."Star" and ET should not be used in the same sentence at this time, let him become a good,consistent player first...and go from there.— bearsfriend
- Everybody sees this but doug collins. C.Barkely said it, and other national media said that turner is a point guard. And doug collins knows it, he said it as well. So why not play him at point guard and move Jrue to the shooting guard. Get your mind out the box and stop thinking of height and size and let your eyes guide you. holiday is a better shooter then turner and turner is a better playmaker than holiday. so make the switch. Larry Brown had the same problem with iverson, until he made A.I. the shooter and e. snow the point. problem solved. Hey collins make the switch!— male
- DC never called ET "his" point guard...He said, and this was after the infamous Celtics' game (when they were on fumes after an OT game the night before), that when ET rebounds, and takes off in the open court, that he is a "point guard"...In the open court is where ET wil get the opportunities to toss alley oops (who knows, maybe he'll make another three pointer that way),drive and dish, or pull up at the FT line and knock down a shot....In the halfcourt sets, the next double team that he'll split...will be his first....Not a point guard...keep lobbying though.— bearsfriend
- Please note, Jackson said Turner is better with the ball in his hands, he didn't say the team was better with the ball in his hands. Last I checked basketball was a team game and you're evaluated on team wins and losses not 1 player's happiness. Unless your name is Lebron or Kobe you don't get the ball just because you want it. Despite the headline writers's off target headline Jackson said more about Turner's limitations and lack of professionalism than he did about him playing pg.— Cole_World
- Thank You. — bearsfriend
- Lack of professionalism? C'mon dude. It's his 2nd year in the league. He's still working on his game.— tudobem
- Turner started at point only a few games this season. A couple he looked terrific. None of them did he look out of place. No reason not to think the more he plays it at this level the better he'll get. Jim Jackson, and Charles and Mo Cheeks are right. (So was Doug, after the Boston game.)— rzzzzz
- Jrue is and should continue to be THE point guard for the Sixers. He is a complete player. In case any forgot, Evan's biggest problem as a shooting guard is that he can't shoot. This is a problem no matter what position he plays.— syracusenats
- @bear, cmon dude I know you don't like Turner but please spare me of the excuses of why he single-handedly destroyed Boston that night. The kid is a PG, and yes Doug did called him such after the game that night whether you like it or not. Nothing more unbecoming than hating a player whose played out of position time and time again.. Ya boy Lou shot the Sixers outta games constantly this year and single-handedly lost them GM 1 in the Boston series but you ignored all of his failures. Shame on you. And they claim your a basketball afficienado on this board. Fraud Sixerfans over here apparently who root for specific individual players to succeed and not the entire TEAM.
- @bear, cmon dude I know you don't like Turner but please spare me of the excuses of why he single-handedly destroyed Boston that night. The kid is a PG, and yes Doug did called him such after the game that night whether you like it or not. Nothing more unbecoming than hating a player whose played out of position time and time again.. Ya boy Lou shot the Sixers outta games constantly this year and single-handedly lost them GM 1 in the Boston series but you ignored all of his failures. Shame on you. And they claim your a basketball afficienado on this board. Fraud Sixerfans over here apparently who root for specific individual players to succeed and not the entire TEAM.
- Lou was not good in Game 1, but he was the Sixer's best offensive player...BY ALOT this year..His PER was excellent, and he performed his role very well...To boot, his ball security was very strong as well...Regarding ET, DC said when he takes the ball on the break off a defensive rebound...then he's a point guard...In the halfcourt setting,sorry sir, no can do at the level required...The high dribble, and lack of quickness for consistent penetration prevents him from taking opposing PGs off the dribble...Let him play to his strengths,posting up smaller guards, catching the ball on the wing, to use his two dribble pull up at either baseline, or at the elbow for midrange scores...He's a hard worker who rebounds well against guards defensively, and has great hands slapping away balls from an opponent as a player brings the ball up to shoot...He's got a chance to be a good player, but #2 pick?...Child,please.
— bearsfriend - Igotarmyguns:Lou's gone, and time to move on...but find out and let me know who had the best +/- in the Playoffs for the Sixers?...Who had defenses plan for HIM?...Lou and Lou..That's who...He's far from a savior, and couldv;e used glasses from beyond the arc in the Playoffs...But he'll be missed..He was a player.— bearsfriend
- with the ball.
off the ball.
It's all irrelevant there needs to be trust and familiarity between players. Way too much is made out of this topic. If Jrue and Evan work together it won't matter who has the ball. Both players need to grow. I see a some Gary Payton in Holiday. I see some Mitch Richmond in Turner. Neither are close to being on that level yet but with hard work and building on the chemistry they can.— BigVilFromWestPhil
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.
