What happened to Turner?

[boomershadow]

Myles Turner has not shot the ball well lately. They tried to feed him early on in the second Hornets game, and he ended up going 0-4.

It's kind of been overshadowed by how much more effective he's been at playing more physically, getting more rebounds, and going to the basket more instead of settling for jumpers. What do you think is going on? Is it an injury thing: something related to his missed time earlier in the season . . . or something else that's not serious enough for him to miss time but enough to mess with his shooting? If so, is this continued physical play something you hope he continues? I worry about that a bit. His game had been very finesse-based during his first few years here. Solid shooter from midrange with flashes of 3 point capabilities. Used his height and length to get shots off down low and go for blocks and altered shots. Not a banger though.

Is it the time he missed this year? It could have simply effected the chemistry between on the players on the court. Are they not finding Myles in the same spots and same ways that his former teammates were, and did that chemistry not have time to develop much over the course of the season because of him missing time? His replacement, in Sabonis, is a fairly different player than we saw Turner be his first few years.

[DoubleEagle4]

Honestly I think he has worked on his inside game so much that his jump shot has suffered a bit. It's all between his ears, his confidence is down. He usually makes the shot on the pick and pop and he is literally air-balling them at times now. He needs to start inside and see the ball go through the hoop instead of starting by shooting deep 3s, in my opinion. Would also help if he got to the free throw line more and get himself into a good shooting rhythm.

[Pacers_Freak]

I think he is just simply in a bit of a slump. It happens. And hopefully he busts out soon.

[Pacersike]

I think he could be playing with minor injury to make a point that he isn't soft or to risk losing his starting position to Sabonis as we head into the playoffs and not getting it back.

Or he could just be experiencing the downside of playing against his nature, playing more physical.
When you are trying out new things, it could really damage other aspects of your game.

He will get out of this slump, no doubt about that, but first he will have to find the right balance between playing more physical and protecting his own identity as a finesse player with a fragile body being 7 foot tall.

Perhaps adding a lot of muscle at the right places in the offseason could help prevent him getting those drawbacks.

[basketballwacko2]

Well he's listed at 255 so he's not slight. But he's gonna need muscle to play at center.

[Pacers_Freak]

I think Myles will have a good series. Cleveland doesn't boast an extremely physical counterpart for Myles. Maybe wishful thinking but I hope I'm right.

[Pacersike]

Interesting read about Al Jefferson and Myles.

https://www.wthr.com/article/kravitz-veteran-back-up-al-jefferson-contributes-to-the-pacers-as-a-big-brother-team-leader

“He’s my biggest project,’’ Jeffereson said. “Myles wants to be the best. The thing about this year, I noticed, is teams have taken him out by switching and he didn’t know how to post the little guys. So that’s something we’ve worked on. Game 1, he took his time, he was patient on the block, and the one thing I want to keep seeing from him, his vision is clearer on the court right now. I think he’ll be a superstar in this league. He’s only 22.

“His biggest problem is he gets so down on himself. I’ll tell him, `Man, you’re going to have more bad games in your career. Don’t let this get in your head.’ He gets so down, he doesn't want to disappoint his teammates, so I keep telling him, `Young fella, just keep playing.’ I’ve never seen him a soft or anything. A lot of his problem, as it is for most young guys, is experience. Sometimes you’ve got to go through those growing pains.’’

Him playing in the meaningless last game of the season already eliminated the possibility of him playing hurt but I'm not sure I like this possibility better. I have never been a fan of "superstar" players who get down on themselves, but I guess if Roy Hibbert can turn it into something very positive (for a period of time) I should be openminded about Myles Turner as well.

Thank you Al Jefferson for guiding him towards not getting down on himself.

[Pacers_Freak]

I think Myles will have a good series. Cleveland doesn't boast an extremely physical counterpart for Myles. Maybe wishful thinking but I hope I'm right.

So far so good on this prediction.