Through two games of the NBA Finals, Myles Turner is shooting 22.2% on wide-open three-point attempts. His 4.5 wide-open three-point attempts per game are tied with Alex Caruso for most in the series so far. Caruso is shooting 44.4% on such shots. Given how important Turner is to the Indiana Pacers, especially in this series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, who have the top defense in the NBA, to say this is not good would be an understatement.
One of the Pacers' biggest advantages in this matchup is that they have a guy like Turner, who is one of the best stretch bigs in the league. To be able to make things a bit uncomfortable for the Thunder defensively, more specifically for their big men, the Pacers need Turner to hit his shots. This is especially true considering that Oklahoma City seems to be giving them to him. However, it hasn't happened yet, and it is making an already difficult task even more challenging for the Pacers.
Now that the series is heading to Indiana, the Texas native will have a great opportunity to get things back on track. The Pacers are still considered the underdogs, but they have proven that they can beat the Thunder, which they did in Game 1. In order for them to pull off the upset, some things need to change, and a lot of that starts with Turner.
Myles Turner has had a rocky series so far
Two games into the series, Turner is averaging 15.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1.5 blocks. Additionally, he is shooting 50% from the field and 30% from the three-point line during that span. The 29-year-old is also averaging 4.5 turnovers across the two games, largely due to his six-turnover game in Game 1.
While Turner isn't exactly playing up to his standard, he is still providing some value in the series, particularly on the defensive side. He struggled for most of Game 1 but had some big moments in the fourth quarter and was instrumental to their late-game comeback victory. Game 2 was a bit of a different story, but it's clear that the Pacers are a significantly better team when Turner brings his A-game.
The Pacers are just three wins away from an NBA Finals victory, but they still have a lot of work to do and a lot of problems they need to fix. If there is one thing they have proved in this series so far, it is that the Thunder are beatable. They have shown vulnerabilities and weaknesses, even defensively, and for Indiana, it's all about jumping at those opportunities as well as they can. However, if Turner continues to struggle hitting his shots from the outside, it may not matter.
Turner is one of Indiana's most important players, and he has been for a long time. He provides a unique skillset, and he is a huge reason the Pacers are in the NBA Finals in the first place. Unfortunately for him and the team, he is struggling in the one area he cannot afford to struggle in. For the rest of the series, he will be a key player to monitor. If he can turn things around, the Pacers may realistically be able to win the series. However, if he doesn't, they may not have another answer for Oklahoma City, and an NBA Finals loss may be inevitable.