The Indiana Pacers dug themselves a deep hole at the start of the 2021-22 NBA season, sputtering out of the gate with a 1-6 record. But, they have started turning things around in recent games, winning three of their last four contests.
Getting healthier is a big reason for the turnaround. Malcolm Brogdon and Caris LeVert have just started playing together in the backcourt recently, which will help the team on both ends of the court. The performances by center Myles Turner have also helped win some games.
There were plenty of trade rumors involving Turner throughout the offseason. He is someone the franchise has reportedly been shopping for two years but has yet to find a deal. Indiana has contemplated breaking up their jumbo frontcourt pairing of Turner and Domantas Sabonis, but they have to be happy they didn’t do it yet.
Turner is in the midst of one of the best stretches of his career. In four games in November, Turner is averaging 18 points, 10.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists, three blocks, and one steal in only 29.5 minutes per game.
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He has knocked down 50 percent of his 3-point attempts during that stretch, including a career-high seven makes against the New York Knicks in a wire-to-wire victory.
The scoring punch is something the Pacers certainly could use. With T.J. Warren weeks away from returning to the court after surgery on his left foot in January, Indiana needed more players to step up offensively. Thus far, Turner has answered the call.
He had a 40-point explosion, a career-high, in the second game of the season against the Washington Wizards. The team performs at a higher level when he is on the court this season as well.
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Turner has a net rating of 5.7 thus far this season, recording an offensive rating of 106.1 and a defensive rating of 100.5. Turner’s defensive rating is the best among rotation players on the team.
When he is off the court, the team’s offense gets slightly better with a rating of 107.3. But, the defensive rating craters, as it stands at 115.9 in the 230 minutes without him on the court. The net rating in those minutes is -8.6, equaling a net rating difference of 14.3 with Turner on and off the court.
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That is a significant number and the Indiana Pacers might want to find some more minutes for Myles Turner going forward. Turner is an important piece of the puzzle for the Pacers and his developing game will help them take things to the next level for as long as he remains in Indiana. The former Texas Longhorn is coming into his own and it is showing in his production.
