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."
- @caught: Its not a theory genius, its just stats. What happened against the Celts was he spent most of the 34.5 mpg standing in the corner trying to be Meeks with no jumper (not that Meeks had a consistent one either). Playing basketball or team game can not be done looking over your shoulder. If you played then you know that. Add in that he played erratic minutes, erratic roles and for a micromanaging coach and it gets even tougher. I would be interested to know how many of those 16 reg season games with 30 min+ were played along side Iggy. My theory is that ET was less effective playing with Iggy since both are ball dominant players, if you want a theory. But the stats have nothing to do with the theory unless a correlation is found between the two.
— ericthered1 - More excuses and finger pointing from a Turner fan. He's the greatest when things go right. It's someone else's fault when things go wrong. Hope that's not how you're raising your kids.
- fans in this city are a joke!
1st of all, Turner was asked a direct question and he tells you how he felt about it! I saw no problem with his response at all! Fans need to realize that there is a difference between EXCUSES, and things that FACTORED into the equation. I get how people can be rubbed the wrong waywhen he is complaining about the circumstances, but how the hll would you act if the entire city is calling you a bust after 2 years, and not the greatest of opportunities to succeed. He was NEVER given the chances that Jrue got. Instead as bears said before, he spent the season playing routineless minutes, lookin over his shoulder everytime he made a mistake. how many times was nhe really allowed to plAY THROUGH MISTAKES? Not many, with 13 players athis position playing in front of him. Maybe if the city wasnt calling him a bust every day since he has arrived, maybe he wouldnt feel the need to defend himself. He is just a kid. Some of you people are nuts. The kid will finally get his fair shot THIS YEAR, I prefer to not pass judgment on him til after this year!
BTW, TIME FOR DC to take the shackles off JRUE and allow him some more room to do his thing and see what he can do!— johnGiam - johnGiam you're the joke. It's jock sniffers like you that enable sports sociopaths like Evan Turner. Year 1 he pouts on the bench even though he can't shoot and can't guard my mother. Year 2 he whines, complains and calls in his agent even though he is part of the rotation and is getting time. Now with the fanbase eagerly awaiting the start of the season he gets reckless with his mouth. This tool better be the real deal or this fanbase will come down on him like a ton of bricks.— PokerBrat
- If it happens he has no one to blame but himself. People are only going to put up with his whining and excuse making if he's good and even then they'll only put up with it for so long.
- @Caughtstayingsleep.. How is it that there are Sixers fans that ARENT Evan Turner fans? He's on the damn team? Why wouldnt you want him to succeed or possibly be great? Some of the psychology of you fans are astonishing. Thats what I dont understand about you manic depressive dudes.. Why not root for the guy instead of waiting for him to mess up so you can say I told you so. What losers. Let the kid figure himself out. Give him time to figure it out. When has a plant grown from steel? Puff puff pass? Thats what most of you really need just to learn how to be a fan.— Zeru
- Ive read every post on here and included my own and this is the very best one on here! but sad to say it the philly way ( sometimes)rather look for the failure and go in on that instead of getting behind the kid and hoping for the best! this is yr 3 and people are really down on the kid that bad y? i think it just logic that he hasnt had a fair shot but people aint never gonna see it. i see his potential and im pulling for dude. i hope he prove'em all wrong! — Phillyphan@27
- phillyphan. great post. only in this city, instead of supporting its team n players, we become an obsticle. case in point: 3 stunads picketing outside the novacare complex wth signs encouraging the firing of andy reid. The eagles were mid season, going through tough timesa trying to get back on track...and on top of everything they had to deal with idiots comingf to their work place and encouraging the firing of their captain? As a fan, I dont know if my cheering or support has ever helped a team...but I do know that I never want to become another obsticle for my team.all these holier them thou poster make me laugh. I would love to see how each and every one of you would have handled being in the public eye at the age of 23. this kid isnt even a man yet, and NO, up to this point he has never been put in a position yet to truly succeed, yet we killed him because as the 2nd pick in the draft he wasnt durrant. this dude is still years away from being a mature man, so excuse me if i dont criticize him for answers that he gives to the press. he has tons to learn, and although we bash him, he has probably handled himself better then 99% of us would, at his age in his shoes... I will not pass judgment on the kid until this year is over. This is his 3rd year, and he will finally be in a position to truly succeed. am I certain he will live up to 2nd pick in the draft?NO! but Im not Basing the kid, til the end of year 3— johnGiam
- zeru: great post man. much respect. There cant be many city that tear down their own players worse then us. Its a disgrace. 50% of fans in this city dont even deserve to have a winning team. This city has some of the most amazing fans in the country, however we also have some of the worst fans in the country. its tough sharing these Philadelphia teams, with the illogical fanbase— johnGiam
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.
