When an NBA team loses a player that averages over 15 points a game to an injury, there’s no excuse in how you fill that void. You need to find a way.
So far, so good, for the Indiana Pacers in the absence of bubble phenom T.J. Warren after it was announced last week he is out indefinitely due to foot surgery.
Doug McDermott and Justin Holiday have been the primary beneficiaries of Warren’s minutes to start. But from a scoring standpoint, Myles Turner has stepped up to the plate.
In last night’s heart pounding overtime win down in New Orleans over the Pelicans, Turner had the last second three-pointer to tie things up. He finished with 17 points and went 7-for-11 from the field along with three blocks. Turner continues to lead the league in blocks and is swatting away more basketballs than anyone in the business right now.
But it’s his scoring has stuck out lately.
Michael Grady thinks it should stay that way. MG called in for his weekly conversation with Jeff Rickard and Big Joe Staysniak on The Fan Morning Show and told the guys he has been impressed with the big man’s play.
“I get asked about Myles a lot,” Grady said. “I certainly want him to embrace physicality as often as he can and be more efficient from the floor. Last night going 7-for-11 from the floor and knocking down that huge three was big.”
A common question that was brought up when Nate Bjorkgren first got hired was how he planned on using Turner and Domantas Sabonis; Whether that would be together or on different units.
So far, Turner looks as comfortable as ever, and Sabonis has a double-double in every game this year.
“There’s no reason that Myles can’t average at least 18 and 10 every night,” Grady added. “There’s no reason. We know he’s great at shot blocking and his timing in that regard is impeccable. But I think he’s absolutely massive for Indiana.”
As the grind of this season carries on, the Blue and Gold will need Turner to step up even more.
Now with a 5-2 record and James Harden and the Houston Rockets coming into town tomorrow, let’s see if Bjorkgren’s team can put together a big streak.
