Falk not pressuring Sixers to play Turner
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Falk not pressuring Sixers to play Turner
John Mitchell, Inquirer Staff Writer
One-time super-agent David Falk has been conspicuous in his presence around the 76ers locker room in recent days, but don’t read too much into this.
Falk, who has represented Michael Jordan and Allen Iverson in the past, just represents a few players these days, and two of them, Elton Brand and Evan Turner, happen to be Sixers.
With Turner struggling and his minutes on the wan over the last month, there was speculation that Falk – who takes up residence in suburban Washington – was in town to attempt to do a little arm-twisting with coach Doug Collins to get Turner more time and perhaps in the starting lineup.
However, a battle royal between Falk and Collins over Turner’s minutes never occurred, according to a source with knowledge of the situation. Falk and Collins actually have a very cordial relationship that developed when Collins coached Jordan during his stint as the coach of the Washington Wizards.
I caught up with Falk on Thursday and he said that he came to Philly to meet with Brand and Turner, whom he met with following the team’s loss to Oklahoma City on Wednesday. Falk insisted that he did not try to coerce Collins at all.
“The only thing is that now they have lost six of their last seven games and now it might be time to reevaluate the way they are doing some things,” Falk said. “They are really having a hard time scoring the basketball.”
There is growing contingent of fans that want to see Turner, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2010 draft, get more minutes in order to find out whether or not he is the real deal or a mistake. If Turner does not work out, it could turn into a catastrophic mistake for the franchise, perhaps on the same level as the horrific 1993 draft that saw the Sixers select mega-bust Shawn Bradley with the second overall pick.
We all know how that worked out.
Early on, when things were going well, Turner looked fine in his role coming off the bench with Lou Williams and Thaddeus Young as the Sixers began the season 20-9. But the team’s recent slump, their inability to score and with Jodie Meeks giving them little if anything in the starting shooting guard position, the question as to why a player drafted so high not only can’t crack the starting lineup but sees his minutes reduced resonates as a problem.
Turner has seen his minutes-per-game fall from the low- to mid-twenties early on to where they are now. Over the last 10 games he has averaged a tad less than 20 minutes per game. In this stretch he’s averaged just 4.9 points and made just .290 percent of his field goals.
Meanwhile, Turner says he has done all that he can do to break into the starting lineup and is willing to let the chips fall where they may moving forward.
“It’s not a negotiation,” Turner said. “I did everything I possibly could over the summer to try to get into the lineup but it hasn’t happened. So you don’t even worry about it anymore. Why argue about it?
It’s about the team and it’s not about me. I’m sure there’s a whole group of people who want to start and stuff but you just try to fulfill your role and do what’s best,” Turner said.
Comment removed.
He's made his own bed. Either he tries to do too much and turns the ball over or he makes more than his share of bad decisions.— miket47- @Quixote...Jrue does a similar manuever on penetrators, except he swipes his arms down low, often deflecting the dribble...Concerning ET, something's brewing...or coming to a head...Yesterday, Thorn and Cooney in separate radio interviews had less than flattering comments on the kid...Today , on DNL, roundtable of Dick Jerardi (knowledgeable, but hasn't watched many Sixers' games) called for either playing or trading, while beat reporters Lynam and Cooney more or less said he hasn't earned it (not untrue)...They all seem to say ET just didn't fit...If he doesn't play, his value is in the crapper...Don't think the Rams have similar anxieties with their upcoming #2 pick......Funny thing, the beat reporters said ET was purely an Eddie Stefanski pick...— bearsfriend
- When he plays, he is playing with one eye over his shoulder at Collins. He, in his mind, has to play a perfect game lest he be yanked and put on the bench. He makes one mistake? His confidence shrinks even more. It was interesting listening to Thorn in saying that ET plays the same position as Iggy and not quick enough to be a PG in this league (that, along with the way Meeks 'opens' up the floor) where is there to play ET? This seems like an interesting pick considering the Sixers needed a big man and Cousins and Monroe are looking pretty good during their sophomore years. I have a feeling that if the Sixers make a trade, ET will be the focal point. Hopefully this doesn't come back to bite this franchise in the behind, because this could hurt.— ESFjellin
- Collins didn't want Turner. He was another player with a similar game to players the Sixers already have, and didn't feel a need. He's also just not that good.— Northeaster
- It sure seems that way...but DC WAS here when the Sixers took him...Did DC slip and hit his head BEFORE the pick? I find hit hard to believe that a lame duck Ed Stafanski was the SOLE decision maker behind the pick... — bearsfriend
- Sure let him play, only because Meeks is not lighting it up. But really what do you honestly expect from Turner? I hate to break out the B word but he looks like a BBBBBBUST.— bilmarz
- But while Dei and Bob protect DC from the "why" did they go with ET (he's not a #2 guard with his perimeter range, skill sets similar to Iggy,minus the D and verticality)...if my memory serves me, Dc was hired in May of 2010, and the workouts with ET,Wes Johnson,Cousins, and Favors (who Rod Thorn picked #3 for the Nets) took plae in mid June...DC HAD to have a say in who the club picked...PR pick as Evan was "College Player of the Year"?...Did the Sixers think they were trading Iggy, but found deals not worth doing because of his salary?...Somebody needs to take one for the team and turn an ankle slightly, so the Sixers can either showcase, or find out what they have...rather than be mired in being a "nice little team".— bearsfriend
As a player and as a coach, Doug Collins has always been hard-wired to win win ,win, That's why he has been successful. And he surely wants to improve over last season's .500 record, increase Wells Fargo Center attendance and please the Sixers' new owners.
But what Collins should be doing is finding out whether Even Turner will ever be good enough to allow Rod Thorne to trade Iguodala. The Sixers are not going to win an NBA title this year. And Meeks is never going to be anything more than a role-player. So wouldn't it be better to let Turner start at the two-guard position and see what we've got. The worst that could happen is that the Sixers get a better draft pick this summer.- It doesn't seem like Collins is a fan of Turner, and it appears that he's not the only one in management who feels that way. I think Turner at times DOES try to do too much, and other times he's too passive.
The perception of Turner is similar to Iguodala's. In the eyes of many, Turner should be expected to live up to the hype associated with a lottery pick, and Iguodala should be expected to perform based on his salary. While these arguments sound reasonable, they tend to make observers focus on what these two can't do, and ignore what they do and can contribute.
Before Iguodala was drafted, the consensus was that he was a all-around player, not a big-time scorer or shooter. While I question some of Collins' coaching moves, he has allowed Iguodala to play to his strengths, and he and the team has flourshed, even if his stats take a hit.
Turner is also more of an all-around player than a scorer, with more basketball IQ and a handle than Iguodala, but without Iguodala's breathtaking athleticism. Once Turner figures out his bread and butter is posting up smaller guards, his offense will come around. Other than inconsistent confidence, Turner's main problem is that HE this of himself as lottery pick and feels like he isn't getting a chance to prove it.
Collins and others in the front office probably see Turner as a player with the ego of superstar, without the accomplishments or maturity of a star.
Turner needs to forget his draft position, the fans and the front office's perception of him, and figure out his game. One of the first things he needs to do is stop the fancy dribbling, it only proves something to him, and contributes nothing to scoring.
Turner's game should be the blue collar, thinking man's approach, similar to Elton Brand, Sam Cassell, or even Andre Miller. Cassell did and Miller and Brand still do rely on anticipation and guile rather than athleticism.— DontBeFooled - speculation by who john? you? to stir things up? get real or go back to covering the wizards...bring back kate. at least she knew the game she wrote about— jmleo
- I believe it is a relevant piece, although right before a game? — bearsfriend
- DontBeFooled....great post, and it seems like we're beating it to death here. The key, like you say...is "figure out his game",as in knowing what he can and cannot do out on the court. Roaming around the court with the ball, attacking the rim may have worked against the Golden Gophers,yet the JaVale McGees of the league aren't backing down...Add Brandon Roy to the list of approaches for ET to take with his uncanny ability to get where he wants on the court, ET should feast on the mid range pull up shot, and work off that. Maybe a few shots go down early for him tonight!.....DBF, are you MLH?— bearsfriend
- Not sure an agent has any business being in the locker room, much less TALKING about coaching decisions.— aviator
- Bring back Gordan Giricek from Cibona Zagreb and all this two guard discussion becomes moot.— dasher
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.
