Evan's Turn
News blogs, sports blogs, entertainment blogs, and more from Philly.com, The Philadelphia Inquirer and the Philadelphia Daily News.
Evan's Turn
Not to press the panic button, but this feels a little like the 2008-09 season when Thaddeus Young sprained his ankle toward the end of the regular season and could never quite get back to form during the postseason against the Orlando Magic. That year, Young was electric for the Sixers, kind of like Lou Williams has been this season (as Young has been, too). Now, today at practice at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, things didn't look all that great for Williams. The notion of Williams bouncing right back from his recent hamstring strain died a quick death when Lou said, almost immediately, that he knows he's out for the rest of the regular season. No one's words today at practice -- neither Lou's nor Doug Collins' -- sounded especially promising.
There was even a foray down the "silver lining" road, as both Lou and Collins said it might be a "bit of a blessing," allowing Lou a few days of rest so perhaps he'd be "fresher" come playoff time. "A couple of days off for my legs could be a good thing," said Lou, whose right leg looked like it was wrapped from ankle to hip in tan athletic wrapping. That was a nice, optimistic gesture from Lou, but the rest of the words seemed more ominous. I'll let you judge for yourself.
A sampling from Lou: "I got a dead leg, but I’m good ... Hamstring sprain. Not sure about a timetable. I know I’m out for the regular season, but we’re eyeing the playoffs."
And then this: "I just have a golf-ball sized knot back there and it’s just a matter of getting rest and staying off of it."
When asked what he could have done today, if he'd had to do something: "Nothing, I can do nothing. But that’s the treatment for this type of injury, is just staying off of it."
And then the kicker, when asked if he'd be back for the playoffs: "I would hope so. I would hope so. I’ll do everything in my power to be ready for the start. But for these types of things there’s really not a timetable. I can come back and re-injure it. The best thing is to stay off of it. Like I said, I’ll just be ready whenever I can come back."
Collins wasn't any more reassuring when first asked about having Lou back in time for the playoffs: "I hope so. The one thing I never do is put a timetable on injuries, especially soft-tissue injuries. Everyone heals differently ... If we do get him back for the playoffs, it could be a little bit of a blessing. Maybe his legs will be a little bit fresher. Maybe it’ll give him that little juice if he is able to get back and play."
If you want Lou's offensive firepower for the playoffs, the news coming from today's practice threw a wrench into that plan. Nothing is for sure, he could be fine come April 15, but this has to be one of the trickier injuries out there. At least with Young's sprained ankle, it could be tender and sore, but you could have a definitive game plan on when he could get himself back on the floor. A hamstring sprain? Even if he's still feeling the tiniest of pulls, his game will be severely limited. Because you just can't play through something like that, it'd be like trying to play with a clothespin clamped to the back of your leg. It would affect every movement.
There's your official Lou Williams update. He says he's done for the regular season. No official timetable for his return. Both he and the team are eyeing a return for the playoffs -- if all goes according to plan. Also, swingman Andre Iguodala did not practice today because of his right knee tendinitis. No change in his game status as Iguodala is expected to play tomorrow night against the Boston Celtics.
There's even more news. And all of it, of course, reflected back on just how inconvenient Lou's injury is: The Sixers are meeting with veteran guard Antonio Daniels tonight in Boston, at which time he is expected to sign a 10-day contract that would take him through the end of the regular season. Collins said he expects Daniels to play minutes in these final five games. Collins even said it's possible Daniels could see some time tomorrow night against the Celtics. If you want more background on Daniels, you can find that in this earlier post: Daniels.
All of this brings us to, perhaps, the question on everyone's mind: what the heck is going on with rookie Evan Turner? In the past two-plus weeks he's completely fallen out of the rotation. When he does play a few mintues, he does very little with it. And now, with an opportunity for playing time, the Sixers decide to bring in a 36-year-old guard currently playing in the NBA's D-League? How is it possible that the No. 2 pick in the 2010 NBA Draft is so unprepared for this opportunity that the team would rather sign Antonio Daniels to a 10-day contract than have Turner as their primary backup option?
All valid questions.
We can't assume this signing means Daniels will receive all of Lou's backup minutes. In fact, it sounded today as if Turner will get his opportunity. It's not a great vote of confidence that the team hired Daniels in case Turner turns this opportunity into a failure, but Turner won't be bypassed. If Turner wants to pull himself out of whatever bad (basketball) place he's recently entered, he will see the court in order to do that.
"I think today was Evan’s practice," Lou said. "I think everybody rallied around him and getting his mind right. When you’re dealing with a guy who’s had some success and then not playing, it’s always an adjustment. Evan, coming to the end of his first season, has delt with some of that. I think this will be a great opportunity for him to get his wheels going again and get his confidence going ... We’re a team, guys get along great, it’s no secret about that. We love Evan as one of our own and hopefully he can get it together."
Collins said Turner will get a chance to play "a lot of minutes."
"I hope Evan is going to take these few games and really get back to where he was playing good basketball for us for a little while," Collins said.
Added Collins: "It’s not like I’m not playing him because I don’t like him. I’m trying to win games. My thing is, the minutes are going to be there. So be prepared and play well. The most important thing is that your teammates and your coaches can trust that you’re going to play well. That’s all we’ve asked him to do."
That's a little bit of insight right there: clearly Turner has been an unknown quanitity for much of the season. Occasionally great, generally mediocre, there was very little consistency in his game. As for the Daniels signing, Collins explained it this way: "If you’re going to bring somebody in, there’s no need to bring in a younger player. We have enough youth on our team right now. If we’re going to bring somebody in, it’s somebody that we think can pick things up quickly."
We've written all season that Turner needs the confidence of those around him before he excels. Well, right now that's just a convenient excuse that's allowing Turner to bury himself on the bench and wait for next season. It's game time for him. It seems unlikely that a guy can make himself the Naismith Player of the Year and No. 2 pick in the NBA Draft without some ego, flash, and confidence. Where is all of that buried? Where is that belief that must have previously propelled him?
Sixers fans need some of that -- right now. Because Lou's injury has left a gaping hole that needs filling, and I don't think many of those fans want Antonio Daniels doing the filling.
If you made it all the way to the end of this post, you're a serious Sixers' fan. For quick-hit news, follow on Twitter: Deep Sixer.
--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.
Download our new iPhone/Android app for all of Kate's Sixers coverage, plus app-exclusive analysis and videos.
Come on Evan...we're all rooting for you even if your coach isn't !!!— scmona
Comment removed.
Sounds more like a torn muscle rather than a sprain.— pedge- it's a strain, which is basically another word for a tear
- I don't understand what happened with Turner. Average 7 pts 4 rbs 2 assists in 22 minutes. That's fine to me. He's not playing like a #2 pick yet, but he's not playing like a total bust. Look at player efficiency. Among rookies he's 10th (9th if you throw out Griffin). Ok, so he's playing like a top 10 pick, not a #2. Fine. Across the league, his efficiency ranks around guys like JJ Reddick and Gerald Henderson, ahead of guys like Kyle Korver, Al Thorton, Shelden Williams, Mike Miller, and Derek Fisher. He's played well enough to warrant a spot in the rotation down the stretch, with or without Williams. His efficiency is 8.5, by the way, Speights and Nocioni are both mid 6's.
I'm not in love with PER, I'm just using it as a reference. You'd also expect Turner to be better now than the beginning of the season, and hence playing above his season long average.— tripleplay83 - Nice post, tripleplay. Real analysis. — wordsword
- Although I only follow b-ball casually these days (not living in the area and not too fond of the NBA's current brand) I've found myself at least following the team through Kate's columns. She absolutely knows the game and her straight forward, no puches-pulled style is refershing - particularly for Philly Sports.— GreenOrangeRedBlueBlood
- It took me a little while to get past my gender bias, but you are right about Kate's columns. I too am following the Sixers again through Kate from Carolina. — ameadie
- It took me a little while to get past my gender bias, but you are right about Kate's columns. I too am following the Sixers again through Kate from Carolina. — ameadie
- Hopefully, Collins will not yank Turner quick when he makes mistakes or the first sign of trouble. A coach showing confidence in a player goes a long way, or destroy it if he does not. Turner has had his moments this season, but inconsistent which is common for a rook. His intangibles and defense are better than Nocioni and even old vet Daniels. Daniels just has playoff experience going for him. If Daniels gets more minutes than Turner without a fair chance, then might as well trade him before next season. A lot of people thought Holiday was a bust last season. When he got consistent minutes late last year and started this year, he improved greatly.— Manok
- The kid needs to as they say grab the bull by the horns. There were huge expectations put on Turner coming into the season and he clearly struggled out of the gate. He has shown us flashes during the season, but he has yet to bring a high level of intensity on a nightly basis that you need to at this level. I am hoping that he will rise to the occasion as his length and size can be a tremendous asset coming off the bench. Evan seems to be very sensitive and I think he has struggled to adjust to "not being the guy". This is the NBA and it can be a brutal road. I think Evan should take a good look at James Harden who was in a similar position to him last year. He was drafted by a team that already had players set at his position and found himself losing the starting job to Thabo Sefalosha. This is kind of like Evan with Meeks this year. James had an up and down season, but was a valuable contributor against the Lakers in the playoffs. This year he still found himself coming off the bench until the Thunder decided to move Jeff Green, which finally freed up the minutes for Harden and he has thrived ever since. This could be a huge stepping stone towards Evan's future and he needs to show his teammates that he can be trusted on both sides of the ball.— Mattb
- this guy suppose to be the most nba ready. now we at the end of the season and for a number 2 pick he's shown nothing up to now with a good game here and there. it's clear we want to win and not wait for our number 2 pick to play like one. so am glad they signing daniels he can help jrue work on his game at the same time. evan just has to bring it and he will get the minutes doug been doing this all year so it's up to turner to get it.— sixerfanx25
- All the best to Lou. We'll miss his drawing fouls, scoring from behind the arc and in traffic.Are you listening, Thad and Evan. Get to the hole,score, draw fouls and score some more from the line. If Thad's and Evan's jumpers come around, look out. Problem solved.— philsix6
- Forgot to mention: Jodie now gets a few more minutes and more chances to drop a three or two. X factor. He'll be a key factor in least two playoff wins against a bench player. Watch him.— philsix6
I don't understand where all the Collins vs Turner comments are coming from. I thought players had to prove themselves worthy. The only game I question was the Bucks game when Turner got a DNP-CD and Igoudala gave us nothing for 40 plus minutes. Other than that Collins has for the most part made the right decisions. Turners was a luxury pick, even though we couldn't afford him to be, we needed a impact big man possibly Cousins. That didn't happen and it won't happen this draft either because there is nothing but garbage at the center position coming out. Mattb makes plenty of sense, sometimes things are not just handed to you. Turner's defense isn't bad he just need to focus and be aggressive.
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.
