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Evan Turner Thankful Celtics Gave Him Big Shot
by bobheckler Thu Apr 30, 2015 2:36 pm
http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/celtics_nba/boston_celtics/2015/04/evan_turner_thankful_celtics_gave_him_big_shot
Evan Turner thankful Celtics gave him big shot
Photo by: Ted Fitzgerald
Evan Turner
Thursday, April 30, 2015
By: Mark Murphy
Even during the hardest parts of his first five seasons in the league, which is to say before he became a Celtic, Evan Turner always saw the best in himself.
“Honestly, man, I look in the mirror and I think I’m going to have a night, regardless. I walk in and think I’m the coolest guy alive,” the Celtics forward said recently. “I don’t know what the respect is, but I just care about the people on the team and the people in the organization. It doesn’t phase me.”
Turner is referring to the Celtics. Unlike Indiana and Philadelphia, the Celtics are the team that decided the uniquely-talented swingman needed the ball in his hands to be effective, and allowed him to function all season as a kind of surrogate point guard.
Turner finished with what was probably the best season of his career. He finished second to Isaiah Thomas in playoff assists (19 in four games), and became the Celts’ regular season assists leader once Rajon Rondo was traded to Dallas.
And then there was that slightly off-kilter offense, the medium range jumpers off the dribble and the occasionally wild turnovers whenever Turner dribbled himself into trouble.
There’s always been a sweet and sour nature to Turner’s game. The difference that seems to have come with playing for Brad Stevens is the coach’s willingness to use Turner where he can be the most effective.
“Personally it’s been the best year in terms of being part of something that’s super special, and making the playoffs,” said Turner, who had also been a part of playoff teams his first two seasons in Philadelphia.
“It was great to be one of the main guys on a team going to the playoffs,” he said. “My first year (in Philadelphia) I helped win games, but it was huge for me as a person to be here. I learned a lot from this, seeing the bigger picture.
“It’s cool. I’ve put up numbers in the past, but winning solidifies everything.”
Turner can relate his own experience to what other players might see this summer when looking at the Celtics as a potential free agency destination. Those Boston winters, and especially the last one, mark everything most NBA free agents don’t want in a new city.
But the organization, and especially the environment under Stevens, make up for the blustery shortcomings, according to Turner.
“Regardless, Boston is always a destination team,” he said. “Somebody will always come, whether we make the playoffs or not. It’s the energy and emotion. I’ve talked to some friends who have come here and played: They see that the crowd is crazy, the fan base is crazy, even when we weren’t in the playoff race at the time. People still show up. It’s about basketball, not other gimmicks.
“There’s certain organizations,” said Turner. “The people who work here are classy people. The city is like that. There aren’t many people walking around parading other sports teams. It’s all Boston, compared to some of the places I’ve played in. It’s been fun.”
Turner may have benefitted in particular from his interaction with Celtics assistant Jay Larranaga, considered by most to be future head coach material in the NBA.
Larranaga is the latest coach to tackle the enigma of Turner’s jump shot.
“He just helped me as a player, growing and preparing. He’s a good coach and a good mentor,” said Turner. “Everything is preparation. My catch and shoot still has a ways to go. But we talk about the overall game. Shooting is just one part.”
Ultimately, though, Turner doesn’t believe he needs a lot of self-affirmation.
“I was just happy to be a part of the playoffs,” he said. “I don’t indulge in myself like that. It doesn’t really matter, I know I can play basketball. This was a fun year. I had fun for the first time in a while, and it was huge.
“A lot of the stuff doesn’t matter when you say it was the best and all of this stuff,” said Turner. “Every time I touch the floor I believe I’m one of the best players on the court. I have a lot of faith in what I can do. I don’t indulge in all that other stuff.”
bob
.
Evan Turner thankful Celtics gave him big shot
Photo by: Ted Fitzgerald
Evan Turner
Thursday, April 30, 2015
By: Mark Murphy
Even during the hardest parts of his first five seasons in the league, which is to say before he became a Celtic, Evan Turner always saw the best in himself.
“Honestly, man, I look in the mirror and I think I’m going to have a night, regardless. I walk in and think I’m the coolest guy alive,” the Celtics forward said recently. “I don’t know what the respect is, but I just care about the people on the team and the people in the organization. It doesn’t phase me.”
Turner is referring to the Celtics. Unlike Indiana and Philadelphia, the Celtics are the team that decided the uniquely-talented swingman needed the ball in his hands to be effective, and allowed him to function all season as a kind of surrogate point guard.
Turner finished with what was probably the best season of his career. He finished second to Isaiah Thomas in playoff assists (19 in four games), and became the Celts’ regular season assists leader once Rajon Rondo was traded to Dallas.
And then there was that slightly off-kilter offense, the medium range jumpers off the dribble and the occasionally wild turnovers whenever Turner dribbled himself into trouble.
There’s always been a sweet and sour nature to Turner’s game. The difference that seems to have come with playing for Brad Stevens is the coach’s willingness to use Turner where he can be the most effective.
“Personally it’s been the best year in terms of being part of something that’s super special, and making the playoffs,” said Turner, who had also been a part of playoff teams his first two seasons in Philadelphia.
“It was great to be one of the main guys on a team going to the playoffs,” he said. “My first year (in Philadelphia) I helped win games, but it was huge for me as a person to be here. I learned a lot from this, seeing the bigger picture.
“It’s cool. I’ve put up numbers in the past, but winning solidifies everything.”
Turner can relate his own experience to what other players might see this summer when looking at the Celtics as a potential free agency destination. Those Boston winters, and especially the last one, mark everything most NBA free agents don’t want in a new city.
But the organization, and especially the environment under Stevens, make up for the blustery shortcomings, according to Turner.
“Regardless, Boston is always a destination team,” he said. “Somebody will always come, whether we make the playoffs or not. It’s the energy and emotion. I’ve talked to some friends who have come here and played: They see that the crowd is crazy, the fan base is crazy, even when we weren’t in the playoff race at the time. People still show up. It’s about basketball, not other gimmicks.
“There’s certain organizations,” said Turner. “The people who work here are classy people. The city is like that. There aren’t many people walking around parading other sports teams. It’s all Boston, compared to some of the places I’ve played in. It’s been fun.”
Turner may have benefitted in particular from his interaction with Celtics assistant Jay Larranaga, considered by most to be future head coach material in the NBA.
Larranaga is the latest coach to tackle the enigma of Turner’s jump shot.
“He just helped me as a player, growing and preparing. He’s a good coach and a good mentor,” said Turner. “Everything is preparation. My catch and shoot still has a ways to go. But we talk about the overall game. Shooting is just one part.”
Ultimately, though, Turner doesn’t believe he needs a lot of self-affirmation.
“I was just happy to be a part of the playoffs,” he said. “I don’t indulge in myself like that. It doesn’t really matter, I know I can play basketball. This was a fun year. I had fun for the first time in a while, and it was huge.
“A lot of the stuff doesn’t matter when you say it was the best and all of this stuff,” said Turner. “Every time I touch the floor I believe I’m one of the best players on the court. I have a lot of faith in what I can do. I don’t indulge in all that other stuff.”
bob
.
bobheckler- Posts : 62619
Join date : 2009-10-28
Re: Evan Turner Thankful Celtics Gave Him Big Shot
by Sam Fri May 01, 2015 5:00 pm
I particularly like Evan's attitude. He seems realistic, even in his self-evaluations. I believe he truly appreciates the space he's been given to develop his abilities best suited to the Celtics' needs. I also like his basic abilities, which are versatile enough to enable him to adapt to a wide variety of roles. I also like his willingness to step up in the clutch.
For someone with these attributes, I have to believe it's mainly a matter of matching the talents and the role. I'm not convinced that being a playmaking forward is the right role. I'm not even sure any kind of forward is the right role. He might be a better SG, although I also like his rebounding instincts.
IF Evan, himself, is not traded, I'll be very interested (in light of other changes to the roster) in how this veritable chameleon can carve out a role in which he will be even more valuable than this past season.
Sam
For someone with these attributes, I have to believe it's mainly a matter of matching the talents and the role. I'm not convinced that being a playmaking forward is the right role. I'm not even sure any kind of forward is the right role. He might be a better SG, although I also like his rebounding instincts.
IF Evan, himself, is not traded, I'll be very interested (in light of other changes to the roster) in how this veritable chameleon can carve out a role in which he will be even more valuable than this past season.
Sam
Sam- Admin
- Posts : 22663
Join date : 2009-10-10 -
Re: Evan Turner Thankful Celtics Gave Him Big Shot
by wide clyde Sat May 02, 2015 11:22 am
I also very much liked Turner this season. He certainly brought more and produced more than I thought when he was added to the roster.
His fearlessness is both a good and bad thing. It is great that he is not afraid to step up into the big situations, but it sometimes leaves him in the position of forcing shots.
With this said, I completely believe that he is young enough to learn to handle these situations when the shot is not there. He seems to be a good guy who is willing to work, and lots of work driving to his left to get him another place to shoot from and learning to pass better when double teamed when driving to the basket on the right side.
His improvement may be one of the most important improvement pieces on the team this summer, in my opinion.
His fearlessness is both a good and bad thing. It is great that he is not afraid to step up into the big situations, but it sometimes leaves him in the position of forcing shots.
With this said, I completely believe that he is young enough to learn to handle these situations when the shot is not there. He seems to be a good guy who is willing to work, and lots of work driving to his left to get him another place to shoot from and learning to pass better when double teamed when driving to the basket on the right side.
His improvement may be one of the most important improvement pieces on the team this summer, in my opinion.
wide clyde- Posts : 815
Join date : 2014-10-22
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