8p9s Roundtable: Will the Pacers Get Home-Court Advantage in the Playoffs?
By Jared Wade
5. Fact or Fiction: Myles Turner will average 16 or more points per game?
Furr: Fiction. Myles Turner is going to be a critical player to this Pacers team, ready or not. That’s not a question. However, he’s going to be sharing the floor with four proven NBA scorers, and there just may not be a ton of opportunities for him. His jumper already looked NBA ready last year, and he’s got a great post play mentor in Al Jefferson. But unless Nate McMillan makes it a point to feature him, he probably won’t break 13-14 points per game.
Neal: Fiction. Turner enters the season with a much different role than his rookie campaign. He is the team’s lone rim protector, according to the projected rotation. I think the responsibility of that role and effort required to execute it could keep him from reaching 16 points per game. I anticipate Turner struggling with foul trouble at times as he bangs with bigger, stronger players and rotates to impede opponents from getting to the rim. I believe his offense may suffer as a result.
Hughes: Fiction. Before seeing this question I actually had him at about a 15-point, 9-rebound average. He’s going to be a really good player someday, but for this season, he may be the Pacers’ fourth or fifth offensive option. He will need to focus more on the defensive end, as he is now the one holding down the fort at the rim, and McMillan might not want to wear him out on the other end. Unless they move Ellis early on in the season for a lower-usage starting two guard, allowing Turner more shots, I think he averages below 16 points a night for this season.
Wade: Fiction: Not this year. But soon enough, young fella. Soon enough
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For more predictions about all things 2016-17 Pacers, check out our staff picks here for win totals, playoff seed, scoring champ, biggest disapointment and more.