G/F Evan "The Villain" Turner (2010 Naismith Winner)

[Buckskin86]

Are the Sixers using Evan Turner the right way?
Published: Monday, November 05, 2012
By Eliot Shorr-Parks, NJ.com

Howard Smith-US PRESSWIRE
Would Evan Turner be better suited as a backup point guard?

Many are quick to throw the bust label on former No. 2 overall pick Evan Turner, but despite numbers that leave much to desired, Turner is a good enough player to help this team win- it must just not be in the role he is playing right now.

Towards the end of a preseason in which he struggled heavily, the Sixers decided to go ahead and pick up the final year on Evan Turner's deal, banking that he would be able to turn things around when the regular season started. Through the first two games of the season, however, things have not gotten better for the 3rd year player out of Ohio State.

Against the New York Knicks on Sunday, Evan Turner was just 2-9 from the field. He finished the game with 10 points, but anybody who watched the game could tell that Turner was struggling- especially his head coach.

"He's not in a great rhythm," Collins said. "He needs a breakout game. He needs the ball to go in and find a good rhythm."

cont...

http://www.nj.com/sixers/index.ssf/2012/11/are_the_sixers_using_evan_turn.html

Sixers Notes: Collins hoping to unlock Turner
November 4, 2012

Evan Turner scored 11 points and grabbed 11 rebounds against New York on Sunday, but he's shooting just 4 of 16 in the Sixers' first two games. (US Presswire)


NEW YORK ? A couple of weeks ago, Sixers coach Doug Collins was watching the movie The Legend of Bagger Vance and it immediately put his mind in motion.

Collins thought, what if he could mentor third-year guard Evan Turner and help him get ?unlocked? the way Will Smith?s character, Bagger Vance, worked with golfer Rannulph Junuh, played by Matt Damon.

Once a great golfer, Junuh returned home to Georgia from World War I only to suffer from post-war stress. Only when Junuh returned to playing golf with Bagger Vance, honing his mental game, could he again regain his personal glory.

Now this isn?t to say Turner is a down-and-out basketball pro in need of Svengali pulling the strings behind the scenes, but going into his third year as an NBA player, the former No. 2 overall pick has only shown glimpses of his potential.

Following two games of the 2012-13 season, some have wondered just how Turner fits into the Sixers? scheme and if Collins can, indeed, get him ?unlocked.?

?I thought Evan rebounded the ball well today,? Collins said. ?But other than getting ?unlocked,? he just needs a breakout game. Just a breakout game where the ball goes in and he?s in a good rhythm. Right now, he?s just not in a great rhythm, but then again, our team is not [in a great rhythm].?

cont...

http://www.csnphilly.com/basketball...hoping-to-unlock-Tu?blockID=797713&feedID=694

 

[Buckskin86]

Evan Turner had 14 points, eight rebounds, three assists and a steal on 7-of-15 shooting in Wednesday's win over the Hornets.
This makes two nice games in a row for ET, but keep in mind that Jason Richardson was out for both of them. Once he's back from the ankle injury, Dorell Wright and JRich could make it tough for Turner to play this well consistently

http://www.rotoworld.com/content/pl...news.asp?sport=NBA&id=1701&line=188652&spln=1

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-kZdNGFmBM"]Postgame - Evan Turner 11-8-12 - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Buckskin86]

Sixers: Evan Turner on fire as 76ers extinguish Celtics
Published: Saturday, November 10, 2012
By CHRISTOPHER A. VITO
[email protected],
@ChrisVito

BOSTON ? Maybe Evan Turner is finally ?unlocked.?

Sixers coach Doug Collins has used that term when referring to Turner, saying the third-year swingman needed a breakout game in which seemingly every shot goes in.

Friday?s was a game the Sixers had to have. Same for Turner.

Turner poured in 25 points to go with 11 rebounds, Jrue Holiday had 21 points and 14 assists and the Sixers outlasted the Boston Celtics, 106-100.

So what turned it around for Turner?

?You?re seeing the ball go in. That definitely helps,? said Turner, who entered the game shooting 35 percent, or 12 percent off his career pace. ?It?s just a big stage, big moment. Just wanted to help the team out the most.?

The Sixers, thanks to Turner and Holiday, have a chance for a 3-0 road trip. They face the Raptors in Toronto tonight.

Turner played more than 40 minutes, shooting 9-for-19 from the floor. He converted a pair of free throws inside the final two minutes of the game and, coupled with a steal and a fastbreak dunk in the last 60 seconds, put the game on ice.

cont...

http://www.delcotimes.com/articles/...509deb2043836094829161.txt?viewmode=fullstory

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ripr-5IGqS0"]Philadelphia 76ers Practice Report Evan Turner Nov 8th 2012 - YouTube[/ame]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mL7R8XrAx08"]76ers vs. Celtics: Evan Turner highlights - 25 points, 11 rebounds (11.09.12) - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Buckskin86]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EaSqE1DInHE"]Evan Turner @ Morning Shoot Around 11-14 -12 - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Buckskin86]

Sixers' Evan Turner fits in, but falls short of plan
BOB COONEY, Daily News Staff Writer [email protected]
Posted: Friday, November 16, 2012

THE LEVEL of frustration reached by 76ers fans for close to the past decade is immeasurable. The 2002-03 season produced 48 wins. But the next 9 years have produced just two winning seasons. During that time there has been the trade - and return - of Allen Iverson, a failed Chris Webber experiment, and seven head coaches.

On May 18, 2010, the ping-pong balls were stirred in Secaucus, N.J., and the Sixers were awarded the second pick in the next month's draft. When John Wall from Kentucky was selected by Washington with the top pick, the Sixers quickly settled on Ohio State's do-everything Evan Turner, the consensus player of the year after producing 20.4 points, 9.2 rebounds and six assists a game as a junior.

Hope was sky-high for Sixers fans as they envisioned a young backcourt of Jrue Holiday and Turner being the cornerstone of the team for many, many years.

Turner is in his third season with the Sixers and fans are still waiting for him to be more productive. He and coach Doug Collins have been trying to figure out his role on the team.

It is unchartered waters for the 24-year-old Turner, who has been a superstar at every level since he was 12.

"I keep telling people I was better at 12 than I am now, but nobody believes me," says the affable Turner, who often is the funniest player in the locker room. "It's all about what's best for the team at the end of the day. Clearly it's not easy, and what's even rougher is what's going on behind me and what's going on in my head. Like people saying that I was the second pick and all that and maybe they expect more, but if coach asks me to do something, that's what I'm going to do.

"I want to get minutes on the court and help the team out. Sometimes people don't think that's something that a guy who was the second pick would do. But here that's what I'm seen as and that's what I'm going to do to the best of my abilities.

"I went from standing out to fitting in, and that's the hardest thing. How do you get good at fitting in? It's tough to fit in. You walk around and try to figure things out sometimes and you might look around at other players and say, 'This person did this and that person did that' but you really have to be comfortable with yourself, you know?"

cont...

http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/sixers/20121116_LATE_EXPECTATIONS.html

 

[LitlBuck]

Evan Turner is in his third season with the Philadelphia 76ers and the former Ohio State star sounds as if he is as frustrated with his production as many of the team?s fans are.
"I keep telling people I was better at 12 than I am now, but nobody believes me," Turner joked, in an interview with Bob Cooney of the Philadelphia Daily News. "It's all about what's best for the team at the end of the day. Clearly it's not easy, and what's even rougher is what's going on behind me and what's going on in my head. Like people saying that I was the second pick and all that and maybe they expect more, but if coach asks me to do something, that's what I'm going to do.?< /div> Turner?s status as the No. 2 overall pick in the 2010 draft is all that?s needed to explain the frustration for him and others.
"I want to get minutes on the court and help the team out,? he said. ?Sometimes people don't think that's something that a guy who was the second pick would do. But here that's what I'm seen as and that's what I'm going to do to the best of my abilities.
"I went from standing out to fitting in, and that's the hardest thing. How do you get good at fitting in? It's tough to fit in. You walk around and try to figure things out sometimes and you might look around at other players and say, 'This person did this and that person did that' but you really have to be comfortable with yourself, you know?"

Rumblings

 

[Buckskin86]

Turner had a team-high 19 points, and both he and Holiday (14 points) had nine assists

http://www.delcotimes.com/articles/2012/11/19/sports/doc50a9ba1c785c7252407815.txt

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLXlMqBJY34"]Sixers Turner win over Cavs - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Buckskin86]

Mental adjustment helping Turner find consistency
November 19, 2012

Evan Turner led the Sixers in scoring on Sunday for a second time this season with 19 points against Cleveland. He also had a season-high nine assists, tying Jrue Holiday for game-high honors.

Now in his third NBA season, the 2010 No. 2 overall pick is concentrating on being reliable night in and night out.

?I am getting better,? Turner said. ?I like consistency. More opportunity, more responsibility will help mold me as a player. More ball-handling responsibility, plays being run, stuff like that is key. And you know, slow and steady.?

?Consistent play is just going out there and playing hard every night, giving whatever you got,? veteran teammate Jason Richardson said. ?With him (Turner), instead of focusing on one area, just let the game come to you. That?s how you become consistent. Don?t force the issue. I am not saying he is forcing the issue with his shots. I think he needs the flow of the game to come to him.

?He is going to perform every night in some area. He has the type of game that is not just scoring. He can rebound and he can pass the ball well so if he lets the game come to him, he?ll be a very consistent player.?

Turner is averaging a career-high 33 minutes a game this season. Since he plays 6.5 more minutes a night than last season, his field goal attempts are up (10.3), his rebounding is up (7.4) and his scoring has increased (11.5).

cont...

http://www.csnphilly.com/basketball...ping-Turner-find-co?blockID=804035&feedID=694

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmzgQ5Moq2E"]Postgame - Evan Turner 11-18-12 - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Buckskin86]

Evan Turner looking for consistency

For Evan Turner, the time is now to start being more consistent in his play ? and no one knows that any better than Turner.

"It?s the key," Turner said at the 76ers? shootaround this morning at Wells Fargo Center before tonight?s game with Toronto (3-7). "I think consistency over greatness is the best thing right now."

Turner wants to put an end to the wide-ranging types of games he?s had and really start to show consistency in his third season.

For instance, after putting up 25 points and grabbing 11 rebounds in a win at Boston on Nov. 9, Turner grabbed 11 boards in a win at Toronto but wasn?t exactly the same offensive force, finishing with just eight points (in a game that in all fairness his offense wasn?t overly required).

This season Turner is averaging 11.5 points, 7.4 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game.

Turner is coming off another solid effort (19 points, a season-high nine assists and six rebounds) in a win over Cleveland this past Sunday. Toronto has struggled on the road !1-4), and they are the type of weak rebounding team that Turner tends to do well against, especially when he?s getting the ball off the glass and able to play a little bit at the point.

"I just want to get into a stream where I?m consistent - where I shoot consistent, I rebound consistent and everything like that," Turner said. "It?s going to take some time. The simple fact of the matter is over the last few years my minutes fluctuated and stuff.

cont...

http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/deep-sixer/180195331.html

 

[Buckskin86]

Sixers Notebook: Evan Turner shrugs off bench talk
Published: Saturday, November 24, 2012
By CHRISTOPHER A. VITO
[email protected], @ChrisVito

PHILADELPHIA ? Counting the 2012 playoffs, Evan Turner has started the 76ers? last 25 games.

For Turner?s sake, he hopes that streak doesn?t end any time soon, even though his coach has hinted at altering the starting lineup.

?It?s happened to me a few times, so it doesn?t really bother me,? said Turner, the Sixers? third-year wing, after Saturday morning?s shootaround. ?Whatever occurs, occurs. What else are you going to do, you know? Whatever?s for the better of the team, (because) that?s what it?s all about.?

Sixers coach Doug Collins has backed off his initial comment, saying Friday that he isn?t leaning toward altering the starting five as much.

If someone was to get shuffled out of a starter?s spot, it?d probably be Turner. It?s not because Turner?s been wildly ineffective, either. It?d probably be because of the Sixers? desire to improve their offense at the opening of games. Adding another shooter to the floor at his position might help the Sixers break a funk that, including Saturday?s game against Oklahoma City, featured deficits heading into the second quarter in 10 of 13 games.

Also, the first quarter statistically is Turner?s worst. He entered the game against the Thunder shooting 26 percent (11-for-42) in the first, as opposed to 57 percent (12-for-21) in the second, 43 percent (16-for-37) in the third, and 43 percent (13-for-30) in the fourth quarters.

cont..

http://delcotimes.com/articles/2012/11/24/sports/doc50b1a393ec7ca812765309.txt?viewmode=fullstory

Evan Turner: Evan Turner goes off in win vs. Thunder
Nov. 24

Evan Turner lit up the Thunder for 26 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals in Saturday's game, hitting 10-of-17 FGs and 6-of-7 FTs.
There was some recent chatter about Turner losing his starting job, but he silenced that talk with a huge game vs. OKC.

http://www.rotoworld.com/content/pl...news.asp?sport=NBA&id=1701&line=190601&spln=1

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9ihxjZoUs0"]Evan Turner Postgame 11- 24- 2012 - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Buckskin86]

Turner, Sixers hold on for win
By Tom Moore Staff writer
Posted on November 28, 2012

PHILADELPHIA ? Evan Turner is making Doug Collins a happy man.

Turner scored a game-high 22 points on 8-for-12 shooting and defended well to help the 76ers hold on for a 100-98 victory over the Dirk Nowitzki-less Mavericks on Tuesday night at the Wells Fargo Center.

Turner reached the 20-point plateau for the second time in three games after doing so only seven times in 65 games last season.

?I love the way Evan?s playing,? Collins said. ?It all comes from Evan?s approach to the game every night. I like where he is emotionally.?

Turner seems to have relaxed considerably after putting a great deal of pressure on himself in his first year as a full-time starter. He even called a fadeaway baseline jumper over a double team his ?Michael Jordan move,? which put a smile on Collins? face.

?I?m keeping calm and looking at everything as glass half full,? Turner said. ?When you make shots, it?s easier.?

cont...

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_N0WhVO8a0"]Sixers Turner Mavericks - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Buckskin86]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWBFwySe85o"]Evan Turner @ Practice 11-28-12 - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Buckskin86]

Turner's comfort zone is growing larger all the time
Bob Cooney, Daily News Staff Writer
Posted: Saturday, December 1, 2012

Now in his third season with the 76ers, swingman Evan Turner appears to be overcoming the major obstacle that has prevented him from being a more consistent professional. That obstacle is Turner himself. Though Sixers fans have been quick to judge whether taking Turner with the second overall pick was the right choice, Turner and coach Doug Collins knew the process would take some time for the former Ohio State star.

Not that Turner has reached his peak as a professional, but where he is now, compared with his first couple of seasons, is as different as the college and pro games. Heading into the weekend, the Sixers had won five of their last seven games. Not coincidentally, Turner has played some of his best basketball during that time.

In that seven-game span, Turner shot 45-for-92 (48.9 percent) from the floor and averaged 16.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 5.0 assists. The numbers, both player and coach insist, are just a byproduct of Turner's being in the right place mentally.

"With Evan, it's never about his physical approach. It's always with him, it's mentally being in a good spot," Collins said. "He's so hard on himself and he's such a perfectionist that you have to make him understand that there are going to be mistakes made, and that's OK, because he wants to play the perfect game. We're kindred souls in a way, because I was very hard on myself as a player. Evan is getting much better at that."

Not many times over the past few years would people equate Collins and Turner as kindred souls. Mortal enemies may have been more believable, as the two often seemed to be at odds. But Collins handed Turner the starting keys and ample playing time in last season's playoffs and Turner responded. He also found the much-needed confidence that had drifted from him since being named the consensus college player of the year after his final season as a Buckeye.

"I think I'm getting more comfortable and calming down a little bit," Turner said. "I'm taking and making good shots and playing hard. I'm just starting to get my feet wet. In preseason, I was so anxious, and now I've calmed myself down, and now I'm focused into my job and doing what I have to do."

cont..

http://www.philly.com/philly/sports...fort_zone_is_growing_larger_all_the_time.html

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0TPZmh1JEk"]Turner, 76er's Top Bobcats - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Buckskin86]

In third season, Evan Turner is blossoming for 76ers
BY MARK POTASH [email protected] December 1, 2012

Sixers guard Evan Turner scored 12 points in over 42 minutes during his team?s loss to the Bulls on Saturday. | Ron Hoskins~Getty Images
Related Stories

Chicagoan Evan Turner returned home as one of the big reasons why the Philadelphia 76ers have started off well despite playing without marquee offseason acquisition Andrew Bynum.

The former St. Joseph and Ohio State star has been a consistent all-around producer. He is averaging 14.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.9 assists. That?s up from 9.4 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists last season.

??He?s settling in. I?ve always said the third year is a huge jump for a player,?? Sixers coach Doug Collins said. ??I see Scottie Pippen walking around here and I think of Horace Grant and a lot of those guys ? that third year, where their career goes, if they?re really going to be good. Evan has done that.??

Collins said that Turner has improved at the mental aspect.

??Evan is such a competitor. He?s looking for perfection, which you?ll never find,?? Collins said. ??What I?m trying to talk to him about is some of the plays that you don?t do as well as you like to, you?ve got to move on. If he drives to the basket and thinks he got fouled and doesn?t [get the call], not letting his body language show he?s disgusted and get back on [defense]. He?s done a much better job.??

Turner?s explanation was more succinct: ??More minutes,?? he said. ??More responsibility. More opportunity to mess up and learn. You?ve got to pay your dues.??

cont...

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/bask...ason-evan-turner-is-blossoming-for-76ers.html

Big leap forward for Turner
St. Joseph product's numbers way up during early going of third season with 76ers
By K.C. Johnson, Chicago Tribune reporter
December 1, 2012

For 76ers swingman Evan Turner, there really is a simple explanation why his scoring average has jumped from 9.4 to 14.3 points and his rebounding average from 5.8 to 7.3.

"Minutes, more responsibility, more opportunity," the St. Joseph product said.

For 76ers coach Doug Collins, reasons behind the improvement for the third-year player and former No. 2 overall pick are a bit more complex.

"A big part, always with him, is when he's in a good place mentally, he plays very well," Collins said. "He might be our best competitor."

Whatever the case, Turner clearly is benefiting from the departure of the traded Andre Iguodala. He entered Saturday off a 25-point outing and had reached double figures in eight straight games.

And though handling his roughly 70 ticket requests for his homecoming game might not be enjoyable, Turner is back to having fun playing basketball.

"The No. 2 pick hung over my head a bit. I started off with pressure and I stopped looking forward to playing," Turner admitted. "It wasn't fun. Whatever I did wasn't really enough.

"But I knew I had to keep learning and keep fighting. I went through tough times and I'm having brighter days. To grow, you need an opportunity to mess up and learn and improve."

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sport...bulls-76ers-chicago--20121202,0,2703711.story

Sixers will have to make decision on Turner
Posted: Sunday, December 2, 2012
By Tom Moore Staff writer
Posted on December 2, 2012

Evan Turner has finally managed to relax on the basketball court in his third NBA season, after putting so much pressure on himself to excel as a starter.

As a result, Turner is in the midst of the best stretch of his professional career.

Turner, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2010 draft, shot 10-for-15 from the field for a game-high 25 points, to go along with 10 rebounds, in Friday night?s 104-98 victory over the Bobcats in Charlotte.

Turner went into Saturday evening?s game in Chicago averaging 18.9 points and shooting 52.1 percent (50-for-96) from the field over the previous seven outings after 10.7 points and 37.4 percent in the first nine games.

Turner already has as many made 3-pointers (11) as he did in all of 2011-12. He?s only attempted 25 shots from beyond the arc (44 percent) this season after taking 49 (30.6 percent) a year ago.

Turner, who is not even on the NBA Eastern Conference all-star ballot, is playing confident basketball. He?s shooting that odd-looking jumper like he expects it go in and not constantly looking over his shoulder at Doug Collins to see if he?s going to be taken out of the game.

Turner is ?showing his personality? on the court is the way Collins explains it. Collins even called a baseline turnaround jumper Turner swished over two defenders Tuesday his ?MJ move,? in honor of Michael Jordan.

?He?s playing in a great rhythm,? Collins told reporters after Friday?s game. ?He knows where his sugar is and he?s getting to his spots. Evan?s playing great. I love what he?s doing.?

Turner is also defending better than he had been early in the season.

Turner has always been a guy who takes time to adjust to a new level of ball. It happened in high school, at Ohio State and again in the NBA.

But after two so-so years with the Sixers and a relatively slow start to this season, folks were beginning to wonder if it was ever going to happen for Turner in the pros.

cont...

http://www.phillyburbs.com/sports/s...cle_d1588053-d52c-524b-9110-8f8cb33c186e.html

 

[BuckeyeLiger87]

He has 26pts and just hit the winning bucket in OT vs Boston tonight.