Forsberg: Turner might be playing his way into starting role

[blink]

Hate to be the spoiler at this party.  But, when Turner's signing came to be news, seems almost every Philly fan dissed Turner to the max.  I haven't seen anything but positive play from him.  Good defense, passing, scoring, good teammate, etc.  I'm beginning to wonder if Turner is the real deal or are we seeing a mirage?

Philly fans haven't seen good basketball since, like, 1983 or something.

Allen Iverson would like to talk to you about 2001

I've seen good basketball.  Good basketball is a friend of mine.  Those Iverson teams did not play good basketball. 

They played good defense, but it was not good basketball.

Iverson and the Defenders.
Michael and the Jordanaires.

Sounds more like bands playing proms than teams playing basketball.

LOL

According to Jay King, Stevens just said this at practice:

Jeff Green will spend some time at the 4 this season. "I think Evan has to play," Stevens said

Writing on the wall.

https://twitter.com/ByJayKing/status/521686644312002560

yeah, I was waiting for the option of moving green to the 4 and sully / ko to the 5.

we might be looking at a:
RR, Avery, Turner, Green, Sully starting lineup
with a strong 2nd unit of smart, thorton, ko, zellar and bass

I believe we will get killed at the boards...don't think Green can actually play the 4...he may be quicker for drives and slashes, but he isn't posting a 4 anytime soon nor can he defend the 4 in my opinion (could be wrong)

Though this does make us a running team with Bradley/Green and Turner running on a break

Yeah, if Green was a good rebounder for his size it would be different, but yeah that small ball lineup gets punched in the mouth every night down low.  I didn't say I liked the lineup haha.  I just said, that might be what we get.

[BudweiserCeltic]

Why omit this qualifier after the "hint for starting" statement?

"With Rondo sidelined, there's a need for an additional ball-handler and Turner has contributed in multiple areas when he's been on the floor."

That insinuates that she's he's earning a starting spot on this team, but the condition of Rondo currently being out.

Also, let's not forget he can play SG as well, and also you can move Green to the PF position, which would mean bringing Kelly or Sully off the bench, hopefully Kelly... though I don't want to play that small.

[nickagneta]

Nothing better for a team than real competition for starting roles and playing time. Hope this lights a fuse under Jeff Green's ass and he realizes he needs to be aggressive and active every minute he is on the floor or else he will lose his spot and his minutes.

[D.o.s.]

I don't see why they'd want to play Turner at the 3, rather than at the SG position.

Rondo, Turner, Green, The Stiffs is a better starting 5 than Rondo Bradley Turner Green and One Stiff, simply by virtue of the fact that you'd be keeping those guys from playing small ball (and I like small ball).

[jr_3421]

From what I've saw and read of Evan Turner is that he hasn't learned how to apply his skills effectively when he doesn't have the ball in his hands and isn't elite enough to warrant being the primary ball handler. I think this situation is perfect because our team is just bad enough where he can be the primary ball handler since no else has those skills. He also isn't hindering anyone else like he did in Indy when they had Lance and PG and Philly when they made him a traditional SF. I think coming off the bench as the primary ball handler is the perfect situation for him.

[blink]

I just wonder about the long term plan for Turner.  I guess it might depend on what happens with Green this year but...I wonder if Turner is another Jordan Crawford, play him a lot to raise his value a WHOLE lot (especially on this contract), and trade up the asset. 

I guess if RR and Green aren't here next year he is someone who could blend with Smart.

Or maybe Stevens just thinks he is one of our best players and that is just how it is playing out.

[kozlodoev]

Another idea:

Turner in the old Quisy role:  swiss army knife off the bench, plays 1-3, team play, always within himself, multi-skilled, great asset to the team, can't keep him off the court.

or...

Turner in the Ricky Davis role:  wants bigger role than he has/has earned, thinks he is a star rather than part, thinks he can be the lead rather than the 2nd-3rd option.

Or...

Philly fans wanted him to be a #1 dominant guy, and he's best in an ensemble cast of very very good players that play well as a team, which is what we might hope for this year to take us to the playoffs.

Or... given that he's been the most consistent offensive player so far, and has looked like better than anyone else on this roster in creating offense for himself, perhaps stop richarding around, let him start, and keep giving him the ball?

I don't think I can take another season of Rondo and Bradley trying to provide "scoring" from the perimeter.

[More Banners]

I don't see why they'd want to play Turner at the 3, rather than at the SG position.

Rondo, Turner, Green, The Stiffs is a better starting 5 than Rondo Bradley Turner Green and One Stiff, simply by virtue of the fact that you'd be keeping those guys from playing small ball (and I like small ball).

I'm more interested in a Turner/Bradley/Thornton competition for minutes at SG than the Turner/Green/Wallace competition at SF.

Rondo/Turner/Green vs. Rondo/Bradley/Green.

And I hate small ball...

Anyways...Smart/Turner/Green is definitely better than Smart/Bradley/Green on opening night.

Is Bradley (and the security of his new contract) still humble enough to take a seat?

My preference, anyway.

[Moranis]

Turner should be the starting SG.  Bring Bradley and Smart off the bench for defense and hustle. 

With everyone healthy

PG - Rondo 30, Smart 18
SG - Turner 24, Bradley 24
SF - Green 35, Turner 10, Thornton 3

Something like that seems to make the most sense to me.

[kozlodoev]

Turner should be the starting SG.  Bring Bradley and Smart off the bench for defense and hustle. 

With everyone healthy

PG - Rondo 30, Smart 18
SG - Turner 24, Bradley 24
SF - Green 35, Turner 10, Thornton 3

Something like that seems to make the most sense to me.

I'd be way more interested to see how the team will look with Thornton and Turner starting. Perhaps someone can give us a legitimate big for Bradley + Green?

[playdream]

Turner should be the starting SG.  Bring Bradley and Smart off the bench for defense and hustle. 

With everyone healthy

PG - Rondo 30, Smart 18
SG - Turner 24, Bradley 24
SF - Green 35, Turner 10, Thornton 3

Something like that seems to make the most sense to me.

It doesn't make sense, for the "everyone healthy" part

[Eddie20]

Wouldn't be surprised if our opening day lineup is:

Sullinger
Green
Olynyk
Turner
Bradley

Granted, Green will have to be practicing soon for that to happen.

[playdream]

Turner should be the starting SG.  Bring Bradley and Smart off the bench for defense and hustle. 

With everyone healthy

PG - Rondo 30, Smart 18
SG - Turner 24, Bradley 24
SF - Green 35, Turner 10, Thornton 3

Something like that seems to make the most sense to me.

I'd be way more interested to see how the team will look with Thornton and Turner starting. Perhaps someone can give us a legitimate big for Bradley + Green?

Rondo+Green for Cousins

[Timdawgg]

And with that speculation...Jeff Green to return to practice today...doesn't want to lose his spot...LOL!!!

[hpantazo]

Another idea:

Turner in the old Quisy role:  swiss army knife off the bench, plays 1-3, team play, always within himself, multi-skilled, great asset to the team, can't keep him off the court.

or...

Turner in the Ricky Davis role:  wants bigger role than he has/has earned, thinks he is a star rather than part, thinks he can be the lead rather than the 2nd-3rd option.

Or...

Philly fans wanted him to be a #1 dominant guy, and he's best in an ensemble cast of very very good players that play well as a team, which is what we might hope for this year to take us to the playoffs.

Or... given that he's been the most consistent offensive player so far, and has looked like better than anyone else on this roster in creating offense for himself, perhaps stop richarding around, let him start, and keep giving him the ball?

I don't think I can take another season of Rondo and Bradley trying to provide "scoring" from the perimeter.

This. TP