Remember when the Philadelphia 76ers “won” the second overall pick in the 2010 NBA draft? Then majority of 76ers fans figured the Sixers finally got their break and would be able to select a franchise changing player. The team selected Evan Turner and all eyes were on him from day one.
Unfortunately, he got off to an extremely slow start and was labeled a bust before he had a chance to prove himself.
Well after watching Turner’s progression over the season along with his solid performance against the Miami Heat in Game 4, fans can smile a little. It’s possible that this series is exactly what he needed to prove to himself to the fans that he belongs in the NBA and that he’ll be a good player for the Sixers.
“There was a tough stretch during the season when he wasn’t playing. He was going out there and wasn’t comfortable,” said Sixers forward Thaddeus Young.” I told him everyone goes through those rough stretches…I think this is one of the best games (Game 4) he has played all season long. He’s definitley been a key part of the team for us.”
During the playoffs Turner has stepped up big for the Sixers. In the two games where he has played over 10 minutes, he is averaging 16 points and six rebounds. That’s a huge increase from the 7.2 points and 3.9 rebounds per game he averaged during the regular season. He looks more confident out on the court and seemed to have matured a lot.
“I think back to the Washington (Wizards) game with three something seconds to go, we were up three, he walked to the line and missed them both”, said Sixers head coach Doug Collins. ” It made me smile in a game like this that Evan can walk up there and hit a huge shot on the baseline when we were dead in the water.”
Turner was huge in Game 4. He made a key plays during the waning moments, and also played solid defense on Heat star LeBron James.
“He’s a talented young player, he came ready to play” said Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra. “He got some good opportunities. Some good looks at the basket.”
Turner’s presence in Game 4, along with the series is priceless. He could have easily quit mentally after starting the season off so slow. However he chose to continue to work hard and figure out how he can contribute to the team. After watching him in Game 4, I think he figured it out.
“I was just trying to come out and be ready for the team. I saw Andre (Iguodala) out with a few early fouls, and I just wanted to come
out and compete, and give some spark off the bench,” said Turner.
If the Sixers have any shot of winning Game 5 in Miami, Turner will need to repeat his performance. It’ll be a long shot for the Sixers to host Game 6 in Philadelphia, however if Turner plays like he showed he can, they have a fighter’s chance.
Ok, let’s be real here — while Turner had an ok game and did contribute to the win yesterday, he has been LESS THEN STELLAR in these playoffs.
Lets stop acting like he mounted this team on his back and led us to victory, please, it’s ridiculous.
You want to praise somebody? Praise Jrue Holiday — who has been outstanding in every game.
Jrue is playing well also. But you must give credit where it’s due. Turner has played well when he was allowed to play. And he has done well on both sides of the floor.
@jerv — ehh, he’s been efficient. He’s been getting abused on the defensive side of the ball the first 3 games of the series. He played well yesterday tho.
@Birdbrains, what u gonna fight every1 on the site about turner? Your stuck in the past. The didn’t draft cousins get over it… turner is a 22 yr old rookie that yes will get abused on defense all rookies do… but he rebounds the ball very well and and scores the ball when he gets playing time. He did a great job on bron too… just give it a rest birdo
Great Job on Lebron? Lebron scored 31 yesterday. Lebron bullies Turner EVERYTIME they matchup. So does Wade. Now thats nothing on Turner because they are both top five players — but don’t overhype the work the kid did.
I don’t give a damn what everyone on THIS site says or what their opinions are. I have links to other sites where I find myself having to DEFEND Turner because of they way they attack him. Face it. The kid sucks. And right now, you have nothing to validate that he doesn’t suck. Oh, he’s “developing”….he’s just a “rookie” — thats all fine and dandy…..he should at least have been invited to the Rookie/Sophomore game right? Nope, couldn’t even get that.
The kid is a bum right now. Until he proves otherwise, YOU give it a rest.
@Birdcrap, if you knew anything about ball you’d know that it doesn’t matter how many points someone scores it matters what happens in the guts of the game and turner did a great job and will build off of this, and idc what you supposedly do on other sites, you’ve yet to say anything positive even when its deserved on this site so its most likely a lie, but stay in your bubble and go to sleep
LOL kid please, if there was any possible way to get you on the court, I would show you how much I know about basketball.
Turner doesn’t suck in the basketball sense of the word, he sucks in the NBA sense of the word. Just in case you needed me to clarify. You’ll see in a couple of years when he’s still coming off the bench for us.