Making the Post Game A Priority for Myles Turner

The Indiana Pacers want Myles Turner to add an arsenal of post moves to his game and rely less on his shooting talents.

Myles Turner made his preseason début on Saturday, reminding us of that he can shoot the ball as well almost any center in the NBA and that his post game is still a work in progress.

In the loss to the Chicago Bulls, coach Nate McMillan limited Turner’s time on the court but the second-year center made his presence known.

Turner shot 50% from the field, making 3 of his 6 attempts. Turner ended the night with six points and four rebounds in 15 minutes of play, which is roughly on pace for a double-double had he played regular starting minutes.

It was only one game — and limited minutes at that — but we didn’t see much of the post presence Al Jefferson plans on helping Turner with as the starting center only took two shots from within 8 feet of the rim. Turner made both of his close-range attempts but seemed comfortable in his old ways.

This isn’t to say the project has failed but that we’ve yet to see any evidence of Turner changing either.

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Last season Turner didn’t play out of the post very often and was in the middle of the pack when he did. His long-range shooting stretches the floor — and that’s great — but Turner still needs a post presence to take his game to the next level.

As for the positives on Saturday — or at least not gripes about not playing in the post — Turner fit in well with the team’s uptempo approach. Along with his shooting and rebounding, he had two assists, a good sign for fitting in with McMillan’s ideas for the offense.

The good news is — as far as playing in the post goes — it appears adding that to his game is a priority for him and the team.

In a video posted by the NBA, Turner and trainer Joe Abunassar talked about adding fluidity and physicality while getting Turner out of his comfort zone.

When Turner was hurt last season, he worked on adding bulk and weight to his body, something he’ll need to continue if he wants to bang around with the NBA’s biggest and toughest players.

Next: High Ceilings and Clear Limitations for the Pacers

It is a point we keep harping on, but Turner’s evolution as a player is critical for the Indiana Pacers’ future, which includes trying to keep Paul George around. If he becomes a duel-threat — in and out of the post — he’s destined to become an All-Star and more for the Pacers.