Oladipo stands up for teammate Myles Turner
(Photo by USA Today Sports)
By TYLER SMITH (@TylerSmith_ISL)
ISL Editor
INDIANAPOLIS — Even before Myles Turner landed an extension, he was the most scrutinized player from the Indiana Pacer fan base. He’s clearly loaded with talent, but it hasn’t always translated to the court. Even at 22 years old, a lot of the fan base has grown impatient with Turner’s play.
Victor Oladipo isn’t having any of it.
Oladipo supports Myles Turner- “His upside is huge. And when he figures it out.. watch out.” pic.twitter.com/K6PIwCMA5A
— Tyler Smith (@TylerSmith_ISL) November 8, 2018
Is Oladipo just being a good teammate? Is he just saying all the right things? Or, does he know what Turner can really be?
Back in October of last year, Oladipo gave an endorsement to another young center that hadn’t blossomed yet:
Oladipo- "People talk about the trade like it was me for Paul. But Domantas is the real deal. That kid can play basketball. You'll see."
— Tyler Smith (@TylerSmith_ISL) October 19, 2017
At that time, I’m sure many fans believed he was just saying the right things and being a good teammate. But maybe, just maybe, Oladipo has a good idea of what’s to come.
The biggest difference between Oladipo and Paul George to me- When Oladipo says something, I believe him. Time and time again over the last few seasons, Oladipo has backed up what he has said. He was clearly right on Sabonis, and I think he’ll be right on Myles Turner as well.
Not to mention, Victor Oladipo didn’t explode until the age of 25, so he knows a thing or two about young guys developing later in their career.
I get the criticism of Myles Turner. I get the concern. When you commit a lot of money to a player (still not as much in today’s NBA as some fans think), you want to see the results. But let’s not forget what this kid is capable of. The majority of the league would love to have a 22-year-old with that shooting and shot blocking ability.
What I don’t get, is the constant debate over Sabonis and Turner, as if the Pacers have to trade one. There may come a time down the road where that becomes the case. But for right now and the foreseeable future? This team needs both. It is a huge luxury to always have a solid option at the position. They aren’t the same type of player, and to me, that’s a blessing, not a curse.
Myles Turner is 20th among qualified centers in usage rate. Some of that is on him. Some of that is on the coaching staff. Some of that is because Sabonis takes some of his minutes. But I want to see what Turner could do if he was used more effectively. He needs way more pick-and-pop looks. He needs more sets that result in a low or high post ISO.
An issue has been Turner's struggles in spot-up. He is producing 0.462 PPP on no dribble spot-up jumpers. He ranks 194th out of the 198 players with 10+ attempts.
It will continue to be challenging for him if he will be spotting up and isn't receiving pick-and-pop jumpers.
— Grant Afseth (@GrantAfseth) November 8, 2018
I know it’s hard to be patient with players. I get the frustration. You can only say “Turner is still young” for so long. But it would be a mistake to give up on Myles Turner. If you don’t trust me, trust Victor Oladipo.
