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2017-18 Pacers Player Reviews: Myles Turner

By Ryan Eggers

SACRAMENTO, CA - MARCH 29: Myles Turner #33 of the Indiana Pacers looks on during the game against the Sacramento Kings on March 29, 2018 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CA - MARCH 29: Myles Turner #33 of the Indiana Pacers looks on during the game against the Sacramento Kings on March 29, 2018 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Myles Turner of the Indiana Pacers
MIAMI, FL – NOVEMBER 19: Myles Turner #33 of the Indiana Pacers talks with the media after the game against the Miami Heat on November 19, 2017, at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) /

The Good

Expectations for Turner are (and should be) higher than anyone on the team not named Victor Oladipo. Still, though, he was a really impactful player despite not meeting/exceeding those expectations. 13 points and six rebounds aren’t half bad for a player on a rookie deal, and being good for two blocks a game helped the Pacers out immensely this year.

However, those stats aren’t new for Turner. What was new for Turner this year was his increase in 3-point shooting and 3-point draining. Most of the talk centered around his entry into stardom has been getting that shot nailed down. While he put up an okay 34.8% from deep last year, he was only taking 1.4 shots a game. To put it a different way, only 13% of his shots were from beyond the perimeter. For a stretch five, that’s not ideal.

This year, though, Turner made a sizable improvement – and it may have something to do with Oladipo. With the third team All-NBA selection’s explosive feet and eye for the rim, defenses have to stay honest on him on switches. This can cause confusion on pick and pops and leave screen-setters like Turner with open looks.

Take this clip for example:

Marc Gasol sees the incoming screen and backs up towards the paint, anticipating an Oladipo drive. He tries to alert Dillon Brooks to switch and stay on Turner, but the combination of his Turner’s screen and Oladipo’s dribble move scares him enough to trail Oladipo on the drive, leaving Turner wide open for three.

This pair worked well all season, as Oladipo finished ninth in PPG off of pick and rolls as the ball handler this year, and Turner finished 4th in PPG off of pick and rolls as the screen man. One thing should be noted, though: Sabonis was 3rd.

This all adds up to Turner shooting 35.7% from deep on 2.4 shots a game. He put up 24.6% of his shots from beyond the arc, which looks a lot more like stretch five numbers.

And while the playoffs were a small seven-game sample size, Turner impressed from deep: 6-13, hitting a few big shots along the way. His shooting inside the arc wasn’t bad either. Here’s the dumb small sample size stat of the day: Turner’s true shooting percentage in the playoffs this year was .698. 69.8 percent!

While Turner needs to develop a few different skills to become a star big man, shooting is arguably the most important one. If he can continue to improve the way he did this season, his shot could be deadly very soon.

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