Sixers play final Summer League game today
Maybe an early morning game will awaken Evan Turner's game.
Sixers play final Summer League game today
Bob Cooney
New Sixers guard Evan Turner says in his bio that he likes to golf during his off time. In golfing terms, then, Turner is probably going to take a mulligan on his play this week down here in the Orlando Summer League.
The second pick in the draft had a tough go of it again last night, making just 1-of-6 shots from the floor, scored 5 points, committed five fouls and had three turnovers in his 19 minutes of play. So frustrated is he with his play that he has gotten into the bad habit of showing it with his body language and, at times, not hustling up and down the floor at time.
Last night, towards the end of the third quarter, Turner failed to run hard down to the offensive end after a Bobcat turnover. At the end of the quarter, coach Doug Collins, seated at the end of the Sixers bench with assistants Michael Curry and Brian James, seemed a little upset. He then talked to assistant Aaron McKie, who is running the team, and McKie removed Turner from the game. He didn't go back in at all in the fourth.
The signs are there that Turner is a terrific athlete. It certainly isn't a time to panic. He seems to be a step off in everything he does, and it really does appear to be rust from not playing much basketball since the end of March in order to stay injury-free before the draft.
The body language and the lack of hustle is annoying, and it is certainly something Collins has/will address with Turner. Collins talked earlier this week about a player needing to have his motor constantly running at a high level when playing the game. That needs to happen with Turner, whether he's playing well or not. He is a good, smart kid. It wouldn't be surprising if that problem is corrected soon.
Uh-OH— sepsl45- Key words: isn't a time to panic. lets not make a decision on Turner till he plays some meaningful games, and even then its hard to make a decision on a young player— Llamaboy1375
- Turner was touted as having great competitive spirit. A great competitor doesn't give in when hit with new challenges and certainly doesn't pout and get easily frustrated. He has a lot of growing up to do to be a pro in the League but all signs point to him being a good young man and a good ball player. Thank goodness he got the chance to learn this lesson in Orlando rather than Philly.— JBP
- Doug Collins is ALREADY DOGGING HIS PLAYERS. Calling out and sitting your #2 draft pick in the 4th quarter of a SUMMER LEAGUE GAME? Don't micromanage Doug, the players will tune you out by midseason.— brmorgen81
- Turner is a new age Kenny Payne— Serge_Matthews
- The sixers are still playing in the NBA?— mikeyj34
- I don't understand what the problem is with Collins running a tight ship. I mean, look what Laviolette did with a similar philosophy. Yeah, yeah. I understand, this is the NBA where those poor underpaid players can't handle a little criticism and work ethic. But maybe Collins can get through to this kid before he gets a bad case of NBAitis.— 3-hit shutout
- Brmorgen, any coach in any league in any sport should bench a player that doesn't hustle. What planet did you grow up on ?— JBP
- Doug Collins is handling business. At least he isn't babying these players. GO DOUG— Jerseymagic
- who cares!— lev3472
- Let me spell this out for all of you who didn't hear me before the draft: B-U-S-T Mark it down!— narbolo
- Looks like the money changed him..— Leron
- Turner has not played organized ball in three months. The players are bigger, faster and more athletic than what he is used to. He will get it together. No worries. As far as Holiday and Speights. Wow! Holiday is totally dominating these games and Speights looks like a star in the making. Collins will figure out who can play and who can't. By the way, it looks like Stefanski committed robbery in acquiring Jody Meeks. Meeks also can play. It's all good.— syddan26
- Turner realizes that he doesn't have the skills to make it in the NBA. That explains the body language and attitude.— LA Mike
- should have taken cousins— scootch
Bob Cooney has been at the Daily News for more than 20 years, working in the sports department for the past 15. This is his third season on the Sixers beat. He has covered just about everything, but mostly college basketball, where he was the La Salle beat writer for six seasons. E-mail Bob at cooneyb@phillynews.com and follow him on Twitter.
