We need to talk about Myles Turner

[pizza guy]

On the season, Myles is giving more or less the same production he gave us last season. 14ppg, 7reb, 2.5bpg. His overall FG% has dropped a little, presumably as a result of taking more 3's this season. His defense, outside of blocking shots, remains an area that needs improvement. And he doesn't look to be any bigger or stronger when fighting down low.

And last night against the Celtics, he put a Hibbert-esque numbers with 2 point and 4 rebounds.

Contrast this with the production and consistency we've seen from Sabonis, and it really feels like Myles is struggling this season. Especially considering the expectation (before acquiring Oladipo) that PG leaving meant this would become Myles' team and he'd take the next step to All-Star level play.

So, with that said - what's going on with our talented big man!? Do you see any way for Myles to pick himself up out of this frustrating funk and better fill his role as "second-best player" on this team? I think we've all seen the potential, but even his biggest fans (that'd be me, for the record) have to be concerned with the inconsistency and lack of progress.

Is this a product of Oladipo becoming "the guy" and the leader of this team? Does Myles need to ride the bench for a few games to push him to improve? What is this team's ceiling with struggling Myles vs strong Myles? Is it a scheme/gameplan/play-calling issue, or is Myles just not executing? How do you feel about his bball IQ and feel for positioning? Is it time to consider trading him and swinging for the fences this season, or do we stay the course and let him develop with Oladipo and Sabonis? Discuss.

[Pacers_Freak]

He has been a bit up and down. Go back and read the 1st sentence, and take a deep breath. Also remember that he is only 21 years old. He has a lot of room for improvement. It would also be asinine to trade him to swing for the fences this year. We don't even have warning track type power. I think some of it has to do with Myles being through the league a couple of times and people taking away the shots that he wants. He also missed a lot of time with the concussion. He is not really a shot creator so he relies on other people to help create his shots in the P&P and P&R. It takes time to learn that with new players on where he should be on the floor. And maybe most importantly as our new guards were learning how to play with the big men he was sidelined with an injury and Domas got most of the run.

[chube]

He also was a game-time decision with a nagging injury. He won't admit it if asked, but that could've played a role. He'd have a really good couple weeks until last night


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[pizza guy]

OK, so what's the next step for him? Obviously being healthy is important to whatever he's going to do. But how do the team, coaching staff, and ball-handling creators need to adjust to maximize his impact? And how does Myles need to adjust to best fill his role?

Maybe it was an unfair expectation to begin with, but I anticipated closer to 20ppg this year, and at least 1-1.5 more rebounds per game. I do think with Oladipo's ability to handle, drive, create, and score from anywhere, a talent like Myles should be able to benefit from that. Does Myles have that kind of production in him? Or is this who he's going to be? I know he's young, and I think he's still got potential to grow, but this season for Myles has been a lot more struggle than growth.

[Wizop]

He also was a game-time decision with a nagging injury. He won't admit it if asked, but that could've played a role. He'd have a really good couple weeks until last night

I don't think there is much doubt that he wasn't healthy last night and his minutes reflected that. he had 0 points for most of the game and then managed 1 of 2 free throws twice. even throwing out the Boston game though (and without looking at statistics), my eye test says of the three combinations of bigs - Turner, Young - Sabonis, Young - Sabonis, Turner - the one we expected to be best is the one that has turned out to be worst and that's Sabonis, Turner. Now I'm a long way from saying trade Turner although I might have reached the point where I'd trade him before Sabonis. The point I've definitely reached though is I do not want to trade Young and if he opts out next summer I'm willing to give him whatever is standard starters' money for 2018 which I assume will be a hefty raise.

[Regulio]

Right now Sabonis is a better player than him
He has better BBIQ, more fire to him. And if we'd raise his minutes to 30mpg, it would be something like 15ppg/10rpg/2.5apg (could be something different, but still he'd outproduce Myles). He is much better PnR player, you can run your offense through him (like father like son ). That's what great BBIQ gives you.

That being said I still think Myles should start and play through his woes. He definitely has some potential, good shooter, not a good defender thus far though, average-below average rebounder. He needs to figure it out.
If he does not improve throughout the season then it's kinda alarming. Still he is very young, it is rare that a big man starts dominating @ 21. We'll see where he is in 2-3 years.

[Wizop]

not a good defender thus far though

he is our best shot blocker though.

[Tofupimp]

The guy has no post up game. He is too predictable. If he has a bad shooting night he is done for the night.
Sabonis is way better than this dude at this point.

[pizza guy]

The guy has no post up game. He is too predictable. If he has a bad shooting night he is done for the night.
Sabonis is way better than this dude at this point.

One thing that's been bothering me lately, (and if someone who regularly attends games can correct this, please do) is that I see Sabonis working on post moves with AlJeff before basically every game. Never see Myles doing this, and it would REALLY open his offensive game if he was at least a respectable threat on the block. But it's a dunk or a jumper for Myles.

In my opinion, Myles and Sabonis are the future, and I mean that as the starting front court duo for the next 5+ years. If Myles could develop the post-game and floor awareness that Sabonis clearly has, those two could both work P&R and P&P with Oladipo and be very dangerous. If they could develop a strong 2-man game where they're both willing and able passers, they'd be impossible to stop. How many teams have two bigs with this much talent, AND an All-Star guard like we have in Dipo?

On the other end, Sabonis will need to develop his defense to have the kind of versatility that makes Thad so valuable on that end, and avoid fouling so often. Study tape on Jeff Foster, who was an incredibly strong defender and rebounder. And the two need a strategy that maximizes Myles' shot-blocking ability and Sabonis' rebounding ability so Domas can be in position when Myles goes for the block.

I'd like to see Myles go train with Oladipo down in Miami this off-season. Vic completely transformed his body and his game and Myles needs to find that next gear that Oladipo found. If he can do that, the trio of Vic/Myles/Domas is going to be a very formidable group.

[granger05]

Watching him move on the court, I just don't have as much optimism on his future as some. He's young and he's a good player who will get better. I just think he's a bit stilted and robotic to ever make the real leap. He seems like a level headed kid and does a lot in the community so I don't have any desire to try and capitalize on others' hopes and ship him out, but my expectations aren't as high as they were after his rookie season.

[basketballwacko2]

Damn the kid has one bad game and you want to do what? Trade him? He won't be 22 until March 24th Cut the guy some slack he was almost scratched from last nights game with a bruised thigh.

[Wizop]

I'd like to see Myles go train with Oladipo down in Miami this off-season. Vic completely transformed his body and his game

I'd like to see our trainers (and the Colts trainers too) make a trip to Miami or better yet bring the Miami people up here and talk about what worked so well for Vic so they can improve our training routines.

[Jake0890]

Myles Turner has been... awful. His performance in the Celtics game last night was deflating and you could tell he was frustrated.

Sabonis, I think, has clearly become the better big man on the team. Hopefully he can fix whatever is holding him back, whether it's his thigh or whatever else.

[Miller4ever]

not a good defender thus far though

he is our best shot blocker though.

He is literally the NBA's best shot blocker at the moment.

[cruwinas]

I think Nate needs to swallow a hard pill and start Turner and Domas together. Thad is a good guy, but Domas is just so efficient. Inserting Domas as PF into the starting lineup would also make life easier for other starters.
This is NBA, it's not a pick-up game with your buddies. If the best big right now is Domas and he is just 21 years old, making him to come from the bench makes no sense.
Yes, it's a good problem to have, but I think that Turners game would greatly improve playing alongside Domas. They just complement each other so well.
We'll see. It's all on the coach. Whatever decision is made - fine with me. But the fact is simple - Turner is not impressing so far.

[George Battaile]

Right now Sabonis is a better player than him
He has better BBIQ, more fire to him. And if we'd raise his minutes to 30mpg, it would be something like 15ppg/10rpg/2.5apg (could be something different, but still he'd outproduce Myles). He is much better PnR player, you can run your offense through him (like father like son ). That's what great BBIQ gives you.

That being said I still think Myles should start and play through his woes. He definitely has some potential, good shooter, not a good defender thus far though, average-below average rebounder. He needs to figure it out.
If he does not improve throughout the season then it's kinda alarming. Still he is very young, it is rare that a big man starts dominating @ 21. We'll see where he is in 2-3 years.

How does it make sense? You have a better player, but you play an inferior one more because he may be better after 2-3 years. Indiana is pretty much rolling. I don't mind Sabonis coming from the bench, but the better should play more. ATM, better is Sabonis.

[George Battaile]

The thing with Sabonis, I barely seen him really struggling this season. Minor holes yes, but if he didn't produce he simply was played too little and wasn't involved. He is consistent. You can't say the same about Miles. When he shoots well it's nice, but it's up and down for him.

[Wizop]

I think Nate needs to swallow a hard pill and start Turner and Domas together. Thad is a good guy, but Domas is just so efficient. Inserting Domas as PF into the starting lineup would also make life easier for other starters.
This is NBA, it's not a pick-up game with your buddies. If the best big right now is Domas and he is just 21 years old, making him to come from the bench makes no sense.
Yes, it's a good problem to have, but I think that Turners game would greatly improve playing alongside Domas. They just complement each other so well.
We'll see. It's all on the coach. Whatever decision is made - fine with me. But the fact is simple - Turner is not impressing so far.

you make a better case for starting Sabonis with Young.

Sent from my phone.

[Tofupimp]

I hope turner can become like JO type of player at least but you need great post moves to do that. Pay the dream $50k and learn something

[Regulio]

not a good defender thus far though

he is our best shot blocker though.

He is literally the NBA's best shot blocker at the moment.

Blocks are not very valuable overall. It does not tell a lot about defensive capabilities of a player.
It is nice to have sure.