Turner just wants to play ball
After two frustrating seasons, Sixers swingman Evan Turner is ready to put that all behind him and just prove he is ready to shine.
Turner just wants to play ball
Bob Cooney
Evan Turner has a chip on his shoulder. He feels the fans anxiety about his play - so far not living up to that of a No. 2 overall choice. His frustration level over his first two seasons has reached a boiling point several times.
But now Turner, entrenched as the team's starting small forward and expected to play bountiful minutes, is ready to put all of that behind him and just concentrate on what drives him - playing ball.
Monday at the team's practice facility at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Turner fidgeted when asked if this was a "make or break" season. He didn't care for the question as he, quite frankly, didn't think he was given the proper chance to prove his worth. He was stymied in a reserve role in most of his first two seasons as coach Doug Collins went with shooter Jodie Meeks over Turner. It wasn't until last year's playoff run that Turner started getting the minutes he expected from the day he was drafted out of Ohio State.
"I basically sat for two years," Turner said. "I have time to make up and get my rhythm back. Fitting in and playing situational minutes for two years, that takes a toll on your game. I’m just trying to find my niche, keep getting better and find my rhythm.
"I knew I was going to play in the playoffs. I knew that was coming I knew two or three months prior to that. I might not have played that much during the season but playoff comes and my number gets called because I can play like that. I remember certain situations (that will help him this season), playing against great wing players like Paul Pierce and Rip Hamilton and Ray Allen. I remember how poised they were. They kept chucking away the whole game. In certain game Paul and Ray might not have been on fire but when it came down to it they hit big shots and made big plays. (This summer) every time I worked out I OD’d and made sure I was dead by the end of the day."
So far this season, Turner seems to have taken on a role of leader, vocalizing to new teammates more than he ever has in the past. He seems stronger, absolutely more confident and, above all, more settled in his role. And his teammates have impressed him mightily so far.
"I think these practices (the past week) were better than all the ones my past two years, to tell you the truth," he said. "There’s competition every single day, everybody is going at each other. People are more hungry. I’m not saying guys in the past weren’t but spots were solidified and everything like that."
And now his spot is solidified.
"The one thing is I’m just playing basketball. If I see someone open I’ll kick it and if I see my own shot I’ll go get it. This is how I always play," Turner said. "It’s just change – change of scenery, change of personell. Spots were solidified the past two years no matter what. Whether somebody played better or whatever those teams just made sense in how they were."
"I basically sat for two years" I call BS! Dude played 27 mins/pg last season that's hardly sitting. Craig Brackins sat or 2 years, ET might not have gotten the minutes he wanted but he was in the rotation and got plenty of time.
With a team option coming up next year, this is a make or break season for him. If his game matches his ego the Sixers will exercise the $6.7M option & will probably offer an extension. If he doesn't produce they'll let him walk when the season ends.— mtairy1- he did basically sit. he wasnt given the same chances jrue was given. he played but he also knew that he had to look over his shoulder. this is a big yr for him make or break i dont think so. you cant sit a your second overall draft pick in favor of jodie meeks for 2yrs and then give him one yr as a starter and decide if he is the one or not. hell jodie meeks was given more time than that!( almost 2yrs) he's right he didn't sit because he wasnt good enough he sat because of how the team was built. collins even said that. us philly people got no patience — Phillyphan@27
- Lol, Turner got the 2nd most minutes of the guards. He averaged a little more than LouWill and more than Jodie. I guess he wasn't a math major at OSU
- He is a different type of player. I wish more people here would do the math. You would find out if you tracked him game to game, in games where he played 30 or more minutes he actually averaged 15 ppg on 48% shooting. Its hard to say what that translates to over the course of a whole season since he only played 30 or more minutes in about 16 games. — ericthered1
- Nice theory math-boy but how do these numbers fit into your kooky theory?
Playoffs - 13 games, 34.5 mins per game, 11 ppg, 2.5 apg, 2.3 topg, 36% fg, 0% 3pt.
What's the excuse,Iggy stunted his growth? - Math-boy? Kooky theory? I just looked at the numbers, I was not theorizing. Anyway, I'm not an abashed ET fan, really a Sixers fan who hopes we didn't totally waste the #2 pick. I was merely pointing out that during the regular season he played well when given starter minutes. I was disappointed in his numbers from the post season but I still hope he does well with a more defined role for the Sixers sake. — ericthered1
- Time to put up or Shut up— eric300
- ET, you can't blame Iggy this year.— M420
- Time to "walk the talk" brother.....no excuses. Good luck— audrina
- Didn't know whether to respond to M420 or audrina but both are right. No excuses, no Iggy or Jodie or LouWill to blame. He needs to stop talking sh*+ and show us what he can do.
- don't kid yourselves. this is put up or shut up for just about everybody on the team, all the way to the coach. the good news is, right now everybody looks like their putting up.— rzzzzz
- Pierce? Rip? Ray Allen? Is this guy delusional? I want Evan to do well because I'm a Sixer fan if he does well the team will do well. But to bring up Pierce, Rip and Ray as his models tells me this guy is living in a fantasy land. They are champions and they are all SHOOTERS, thats why the coach gives them the green light. They made a career out of hitting outside shots with hands in their face. Evan Turner is a completely different kind of player, he's a slasher with a below avg outside shot. His last 5 games in the playoffs he shot 29% fg and 55% ft. In the words of Chris Carter "C'mon Man!" Just STFU and play— Cole_World
- i think that exactly the point! they are champions and if you wanna b the best wouldnt you model yourself in the mold of a champion!? he didn't say he was better than them or even in they class at this point. you wouldnt want him thinking of mike geminski as he was out there practicing would you?!?! — Phillyphan@27
- i know they played different positions but you get the point! — Phillyphan@27
- Since he's reaching for players that he plays nothing like to emulate why not Larry Bird, Dr J, Shaq, Hakeem Olajuwan or Bill Russell?
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.
