Many felt early on in Evan Turner’s rookie campaign last year that he was going to be a complete bust. He struggled very badly in summer league, was horrible in exhibition games, and couldn’t ever seem to adjust to the NBA schemes on offense. His ball handling went to waste because he didn’t understand where he was supposed to be on the court, and he looked confused at times.

That has changed this season in his second year, and a big reason why is because he is hitting his shots, to make it quite simple. Magic coach Stan Van Gundy joked about it, saying “When guys hit their shots, people think they are playing well, and then when they don’t, people think they are playing poorly when they are doing the exact same thing but just missing the shot.”

So it has gone for Turner. This season, due to improved shooting mechanics, Turner is shooting 45.2% from the field and 73.5% from 9 feet and closer, up over 20% from that figure last season. That means Turner is hitting the shots he should hit. He is not, however, hitting his threes, as he shoots a very poor 21% from behind the arc. He can improve that, though, as many NBA players have become very good shooters who had no jumper early in their career (points in case, Jason Kidd, Nick Anderson, et al.,).

Turner says he is :”more comfortable with it (his shot)…and mechanics are the key…I get my shot off quicker now.” That is essential, and good shooters realize that a quicker shot means a more open and more clean look at the basket. Anyone at all familiar with the best two three point shooters in NBA history, Ray Allen and Reggie Miller, knows that both have extremely quick releases and were able to get off shots that were on-balance while winding off screens. As to whether Turner can ever reach that level of competency is anyone’s guess, but all indications are that he may put in the hard work to do so.

Turner is averaging 6.2 rebounds per game in his 26 minutes a night, which ranks him among the top rebounding guards in the league. That value is important and helps the Sixers prevent second chance points, which is one of their strengths as a basketball team on a regular basis.

So, for all of those doubters early on, I would think most are starting to realize Turner is going to have at least an above average career and not be a bust. I am reserving judgement on whether or not he can ever become an all All-Star, but I could see Turner averaging 15 to 18 a game at some point, possibly as early as next season. For right now, he is putting up 14.0 points per-36 minutes. That’s not too bad for a guy most were saying lacked the aggressiveness to ever succeed at the NBA level.

Turner has been compared from everyone to a pre-injury Brandon Roy to an offensively deficient Eric Snow, but the truth probably lies somewhere in the middle. Turner is not going to be a liability offensively like Snow, but he also won’t be a deadly closer like Roy was before his knees betrayed him.

We’ll keep an eye on Turner, especially in keeper leagues. If you lack a solid fifth keeper or sixth in a 5 or 6 keep league, Turner could prove to be an option this season. Since most keeper leagues don’t require owners to declare their keepers until the days prior to the draft, we can keep an eye on Turner’s progress this summer and even in through the early part of the exhibition season before making a ruling on whether we keep Turner or a player who has already posted a slightly higher value.

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At least one important person in the Philadelphia 76ers organization values Evan Turner as a starter. Fortunately for him, that person happens to hold the most influence over the decision. 76ers coach Doug Collins said he told Turner that he is a starter. However, 76ers fans like me shouldn’t get too excited about seeing Turner in the starting five anytime soon. It seems that Collins views Turner as a starter in terms of how important he is to the team. However, he isn’t planning to elevate him to starter status officially any time soon.

Collins said he spoke to Turner about his status with the team. He said he acknowledged that being a starter was a goal of Turner’s and that is one reason he worked so hard in the offseason. Collins respected that by telling Turner that he believe he’s a starter. However, he also believes Turner works great with fellow reserves Thaddeus Young and Lou Williams. He essentially gave Turner an endorsement by saying that if he switched roles with Jodie Meeks, the 76ers would not be as good because Meeks would not be able to play as well with Young and Williams.

Collins is committed to the idea that he has eight starters. I respect that formula because the 76ers have depth and it worked in the 2010-11 season. Turner will no doubt get as many minutes as most starters so it doesn’t really matter when he gets them. However, I have to think he will eventually be a guy that opens the game on the court. The expectation is that Turner will be much better this season than he was as a rookie. I can’t see Collins looking at that improvement and not doing something about it.

For now, all seems well with the way Collins has set the lineup. I only hope Turner keeps his head on his shoulders. He will no doubt face questions as to why he isn’t starting. But I think he understands that he is one of the top five players on this basketball team. As long as his minutes are strong, I think he will stay happy. But if Turner is as good as everyone hopes, Collins will have to find a way to get him on the court more. That likely means he will hear his name as a starter.

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The Philadelphia 76ers have one of the best young rosters in the NBA. One of the key players in that group is Evan Turner. As the second overall pick in the 2010 draft, Turner is counted on to be a big part of the Philadelphia future. His rookie season was nothing to be excited about, but he has shown signs of improving. As a 76ers fan, I expect much bigger things from Turner in the 2011-12 season. If he can take his play up a notch, he will have a successful season.

Turner’s rookie season left a lot to be desired. He appeared in 78 games and started just 14 of them. He averaged just 7.2 points per game and played about 23 minutes per contest. Those aren’t the kind of numbers you expect from a hot rookie. However, Turner did improve as the season progressed. By the time the playoffs started, Turner was showing 76ers fans that his potential is worth his draft status. For him to convince them further, he needs a big year.

I am looking for Turner to eventually crack the starting lineup. He spent a lot of time working on his shot in the offseason and it showed in the two preseason wins. Now, he has to prove it in the regular season. Turner will start the season coming off the bench but he will see a lot of minutes. I think it will only be a matter of time before he unseats Jodie Meeks in the starting lineup. If that happens, Turner’s season will definitely be on the right track.

Turner isn’t an All-Star yet, but he is going to be. I think he will lay the groundwork for that throughout this campaign. He seems to have more energy and a better grasp on the system. Even coming off the bench, Turner should become a double double guy. I am hoping he gets me to start asking questions about how long Doug Collins can keep him out of the starting lineup. A strong start by Turner will trigger those questions. If that happens, I know he is living up to the hype.

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As John Wall approached, Philadelphia 76ers second-year guard Evan Turner got down in his defensive stance, and waited for Wall to make a move. Turner bit as Wall dribbled left, then stumbled as Wall crossed over and drove right. Wall blew past the frozen Turner, then elevated for vicious one-handed jam over Craig Brackins.

(Nick Wass – API’m not John, okay.)
Turner went back to the next play, as Wall hooted and cursed, and had to deal with another reminder of the explosiveness and athleticism that led the Wizards select Wall over him with the No. 1 overall choice in June 2010. But since Wall’s dunk merely brought the Wizards within 38 points during an eventual 103-78 loss in the preseason opener on Friday, Turner also left Verizon Center with a victory.

There never was much debate within the Wizards’ organization when it came time to take Wall, but there was speculation from outside surrounding Turner, who had won nearly every college player of the year award as a junior at Ohio State.

Wall wound up runner-up to Blake Griffin for rookie of the year, MVP of the Rookie Challenge game, and a near-unanimous choice for the all-rookie team. Turner, the No. 2 pick, was left off nearly every rookie squad as he came off the bench for the 76ers.

“I think John’s a competitor an NBA starter, whatever he is, and honestly, until I put up or shut up, I wouldn’t even compare us,” said Turner, who averaged 7.2 points and 3.9 rebounds as a rookie. “It’s kind of disrespectful to John, to tell you the truth. I don’t want to be going through that stuff the rest of my career. I’m worrying about myself and getting myself right.”

Turner had a difficult adjustment his rookie season in Philadelphia. He was the primary ball-handler and playmaker at Ohio State and the Buckeyes relied on him in the clutch. But when he joined the 76ers, Jrue Holiday was the primary ball-handler and Andre Igoudala was the primary playmaker and he was forced to back up Jodie Meeks.

Unlike Wall, Turner wasn’t given the freedom to play through his mistakes. Philadelphia Coach Doug Collins had no problem sitting him, focusing more on wins than development. Turner was heavily criticized because of an inconsistent jump shot and his confidence was shaken.

“I think at first I was down, because it was a culture shock to me. but you’ve got to keep living, keep fighting and I’m a fighter, so it motivated me,” Turner said. “I mean, not starting and dealing with all the stuff. You go from being loved to being called this, called that. I just had to get in where I fit in. Growing up, I kind of had a system around me and when I started playing here I just had to fit in and do stuff I never did before.“

Turner may not have had the acclaim as Wall, but he already has something that Wall desires – a playoff appearance. Although he struggled through the regular season, Turner was a solid contributor during the 76ers’ five-game, first-round loss to the Miami Heat. He improved his scoring and rebounding numbers from the regular season, and had 17 points and six rebounds in the 76ers’ 86-82 victory in Game 4 of that series.

“I played well in the playoffs, which I hear a lot of people don’t do. But I just want to stay hungry and play well and keep competing,” Turner said. “I think, every time I get an ample amount of minutes, I feel I can make the best of this minutes and play well.”

As he approaches his second season, Turner has again been asked to come off the bench, but he is better prepared for what’s ahead. He worked on improving his jump shot and is expected to have a more expanded role as Philadelphia attempts to improve upon a surprising campaign.

“It’s a long season, you’re going to have a lot of ups and downs,” Turner said. “You keep preparing and move on to the next game. I think that’s the most important thing. It’s always moving on to the next game, the next play. That’s pretty much it.”

MORE

Nick Young returns to Wizards

Maurice Evans back to his regular job

As John Wall approached, Philadelphia 76ers second-year guard Evan Turner got down in his defensive stance, and waited for Wall to make a move. Turner bit as Wall dribbled left, then stumbled as Wall crossed over and drove right. Wall blew past the frozen Turner, then elevated for vicious one-handed jam over Craig Brackins.

(Nick Wass – API’m not John, okay.)
Turner went back to the next play, as Wall hooted and cursed, and had to deal with another reminder of the explosiveness and athleticism that led the Wizards select Wall over him with the No. 1 overall choice in June 2010. But since Wall’s dunk merely brought the Wizards within 38 points during an eventual 103-78 loss in the preseason opener on Friday, Turner also left Verizon Center with a victory.

There never was much debate within the Wizards’ organization when it came time to take Wall, but there was speculation from outside surrounding Turner, who had won nearly every college player of the year award as a junior at Ohio State.

Wall wound up runner-up to Blake Griffin for rookie of the year, MVP of the Rookie Challenge game, and a near-unanimous choice for the all-rookie team. Turner, the No. 2 pick, was left off nearly every rookie squad as he came off the bench for the 76ers.

“I think John’s a competitor an NBA starter, whatever he is, and honestly, until I put up or shut up, I wouldn’t even compare us,” said Turner, who averaged 7.2 points and 3.9 rebounds as a rookie. “It’s kind of disrespectful to John, to tell you the truth. I don’t want to be going through that stuff the rest of my career. I’m worrying about myself and getting myself right.”

Turner had a difficult adjustment his rookie season in Philadelphia. He was the primary ball-handler and playmaker at Ohio State and the Buckeyes relied on him in the clutch. But when he joined the 76ers, Jrue Holiday was the primary ball-handler and Andre Igoudala was the primary playmaker and he was forced to back up Jodie Meeks.

Unlike Wall, Turner wasn’t given the freedom to play through his mistakes. Philadelphia Coach Doug Collins had no problem sitting him, focusing more on wins than development. Turner was heavily criticized because of an inconsistent jump shot and his confidence was shaken.

“I think at first I was down, because it was a culture shock to me. but you’ve got to keep living, keep fighting and I’m a fighter, so it motivated me,” Turner said. “I mean, not starting and dealing with all the stuff. You go from being loved to being called this, called that. I just had to get in where I fit in. Growing up, I kind of had a system around me and when I started playing here I just had to fit in and do stuff I never did before.“

Turner may not have had the acclaim as Wall, but he already has something that Wall desires – a playoff appearance. Although he struggled through the regular season, Turner was a solid contributor during the 76ers’ five-game, first-round loss to the Miami Heat. He improved his scoring and rebounding numbers from the regular season, and had 17 points and six rebounds in the 76ers’ 86-82 victory in Game 4 of that series.

“I played well in the playoffs, which I hear a lot of people don’t do. But I just want to stay hungry and play well and keep competing,” Turner said. “I think, every time I get an ample amount of minutes, I feel I can make the best of this minutes and play well.”

As he approaches his second season, Turner has again been asked to come off the bench, but he is better prepared for what’s ahead. He worked on improving his jump shot and is expected to have a more expanded role as Philadelphia attempts to improve upon a surprising campaign.

“It’s a long season, you’re going to have a lot of ups and downs,” Turner said. “You keep preparing and move on to the next game. I think that’s the most important thing. It’s always moving on to the next game, the next play. That’s pretty much it.”

MORE

Nick Young returns to Wizards

Maurice Evans back to his regular job

The Philadelphia 76ers face the Washington Wizards in a preseason game on December 16. This is the first of two games against the Wizards before the regular season starts. As a fan, I am excited to see how the team looks in this game. There are going to be kinks to work out for sure, but I think the team should be impressive overall. Here are five things to watch for in the preseason opener.

1. Evan Turner

Turner was the second overall pick in 2011. He is a player that needs to become a star. We saw him play well periodically as a rookie but he was inconsistent overall. In the offseason, Turner dedicated a lot of time to working on his shot. This new element should make him more effective in his second season. I’m excited to see how he looks in this game. I have dreams of a dominant backcourt of Turner and Jrue Holiday. I hope we start to see some signs of that.

2. Marreese Speights

Speights is the most questionable player on the roster. He didn’t really fit the Doug Collins mold last season. Speights needs to be a defensive force that can get rebounds. If he doesn’t start showing signs of that, it will be another season spent on the bench. I expect it will take some time for Speights to adapt, but I want to see if he has improved at all as a defensive player.

3. Andre Iguodala

Iguodala is not going to be traded unless this season turns out to be a disaster. As a fan, I have accepted that. Now that he is here to stay, I want to see Iguodala continue to grow with Collins. He had his best season as a 76ers in the 2010-11 campaign. Iguodala is not a superstar but he is a team leader. He is healthy and that will make him even better in the coming season. He should be right in the flow of things when the game starts.

4. The rotations

I suspect Jodie Meeks will open the season as a starter and he will start in this game. However, the prevailing thought is that Evan Turner will eventually assume that role. I am curious how Collins works the rotation with Turner, Thaddeus Young, and Lou Williams off the bench. All three players will see a lot of minutes in this game and beyond. It will almost feel like the team has eight starters.

5. The energy

Even though this is a preseason game, I want to see the 76ers come out with a lot of energy. A flat start will set the wrong tone for the game and maybe the season. This team seems excited about the coming year and I think that should be evident right out the gate. Again, the games might not matter in the standings but they do matter in terms of establishing rhythm and confidence. The right energy level will go a long way for this team.

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The Philadelphia 76ers will open up training camp on December 9. Between now and the season opener around Christmas, there are going to be a lot of changes facing the 76ers. As a fan, I’m looking forward to seeing what Rod Thorn and Doug Collins have in mind for this team. While the 76ers definitely have room for improvement, the team is going to focus a lot on the young talent they have. One thing I want to see is the backcourt of the future take shape in the 2011-12 season. That means that Jrue Holiday(notes) and Evan Turner(notes) need to have big seasons.

Holiday is already on that track. He really played well under Collins in his second season in the league. When I watch Holiday, I see a potential superstar point guard in this league. He knows how to pick his shots and he knows how to set up the offense. I expect Holiday to take his game to the next level this season. He could be an All-Star if he stays on the track he is now. I think the 76ers expect a lot from this year and I believe he will deliver.

The progress of Turner will be a little slower. The second overall draft pick in 2010 entered the league with a lot of promise. However, it took him a long time to find his niche in Collins’s system. In fact, there are many that think he might not be there yet. Turner showed flashes of brilliance last season but also went several games without even seeing the floor. In the offseason, he spent a lot of time working on his shot. That should help him improve. I think Turner will be better but I still think he is another year away from reaching his potential.

One of the biggest reasons that the 76ers are starting to excite fans again is the combination of Holiday and Turner. The two young stars have a ton of upside and many hope they can become the best backcourt in the NBA for years to come. They won’t be there yet this season but they should be a lot better. As long as they continue to work hard and grow a little with each game, Holiday and Turner will become what 76ers fans hope they will be.

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This is the latest installment of PBT’s series of “What your team should do when the lockout ends.” Up next is the Philadelphia 76ers. You can also check out our thoughts on other NBA teams here as we work our way through all 30 squads.

After a miserable 09-10 campaign, the 76ers made their way back to respectability last season, earning a playoff berth and putting up a decent fight in the 1st round against the eventual conference champion Heat. Despite #2 overall pick Evan Turner having a disappointing season, the 76ers responded to new coach Doug Collins, and were one of the 10 best defensive teams in the league. Here’s what the 76ers can do to build on last season’s playoff birth:

1. Make a decision on Andre Iguodala

The 76ers owe Iguodala approximately 14 million dollars this season and next season, and Iguodala has a $15 million player option for the season after that. At this point in his career, we know who Iguodala is: a great perimeter defender who’s a terror on the fast break, can contribute without the ball in his hands, can make open threes on occasion, and a player who is not capable of being an efficient #1 option offensively. The 76ers have to decide whether they want to move ahead with Iguodala, which would probably make them better in the short-term, or try to get rid of his contract and go into more of a full rebuild mode — again.

2. Get more out of Evan Turner

One year after an absolute monster campaign at Ohio State, Turner struggled throughout his rookie season. Turner averaged only seven points, four rebounds, and two assists per game last year, and is PER was an ugly 10.87. It’s way, way, way too early to give up on Turner, but he needs to make major strides in his sophomore campaign. Turner needs to get comfortable shooting from beyond the NBA three-point line, figure out how to break down defenses with his passing, and go to the hoop more aggressively when he decides to drive.

3. Continue to believe in the youth movement

Thaddeus Young, Louis Williams, and Jrue Holliday all had promising seasons for the 76ers, and were among the main reasons the team made it into the playoffs. Marreese Speights had a down year in 2010-11, but he had been showing a lot of promise before this season. If those players continue to develop, Turner finds his game, and the 76ers can find a way to seamlessly transition out of the Brand/Iguodala era, they could be a very good team for a while under Doug Collins.