In scarecrow mode, Myles Turner sends a message to the rest of the NBA

If they bowed for the first time this season, in a back-to-back against Boston on Tuesday night, the Pacers got off to a good start this season with four wins in five games.

One of the reasons for this success is obviously the return of the duo Victor Oladipo – Domantas Sabonis, but we must also add to this recipe the defensive work of Myles Turner.

Turner counter with full force

Currently five blocks per game, plus 11 points and 6 rebounds on average, the Indiana interior is starting its season with a bang, tying its career record of 8 blocks in the opening game against the Knicks.

“I’ve already proven that you can lead the league to blocks and not be in the top five defensemen and not be named the best defenseman of the year. Now it’s time to do more and to impose myself even more on this side of the pitch ”, says Myles Turner on the Pacers website. “It is clearly one of my objectives to start strong in defense and to continue to impose myself, so that the whole League sees it, that they are all warned. I’m super focused on my defense. “

Best blocker in the League in 2018/19 (2.7 per game), and at the foot of the podium last season (2.1), Myles Turner got ahead of the competition from the start. For a long-haul escape?

“Myles isn’t getting enough credit for his defense. He made 8 blocks in one game, it’s absolutely incredible ”, breaths TJ McConnell. “He influences the game in so many different ways, with his circle protection, his ability to shoot at 3-pointers but also to dribble to finish in the circle. He brings a completely different dynamic to Domas which I think can really disrupt other teams. We must obviously take advantage of it. “

Under the leadership of Nate Bjorkgren, the former Texas pivot is used in all sauces, whether in the major five or with the substitutes. In both cases, it works with a +26.6 “Net rating” for the holders, and an insane +45 “Net rating” (on a very small sample of 15 minutes however) when Myles Turner is aligned alongside the seconds Blades, TJ McConnell, Doug McDermott, and brothers Justin and Aaron Holiday.

“People in the NBA know what I bring in defense, with circle protection, but I don’t think they realize how much I can do defensively. I offer a lot more than circle protection, I watch the paint and I can also defend on faster backs when it comes to changing on screens. I think my pick & roll defense has improved year after year. There are several aspects of my defensive game that deserve more respect ” thus repeats the pivot, which clearly aims for the best defender trophy.

Already in his sixth year at just 24

Reassembled like a cuckoo, the great Myles for once set the sights in the last game against Boston, with a 3/6 3-point more in line with his usual standards. Before that, he was 1/12 behind the bow …

“I’ve done a bit of extra work on my shot the last few days. I know I’m a good shooter, but I had to mess around a bit. My teammates, my coach, everyone gives me the green light to shoot. They will end up falling into it, I give myself so completely on my shot that it does not. “

Landed in the Great League at just 19, Myles Turner is already in his sixth campaign, at just 24. At 13 points, 6 rebounds and 2 blocks on average, he is one of the tauliers in Indiana.

“He’s better than I thought he was”, even admits Nate Bjorkgren. “He’s very versatile. He can defend on more than one position, he can change on the screens. I like his protection of the circle. On offense he helps us a lot on the weak side with spacing, and he dribbles when he has to, he cuts when he has to, he shoots at 3-pointers when he has to, and he can too. a little bit handle the ball off. “

Still mentally crumbly, Myles Turner seems more determined than ever this season.

“I have high goals for this year, and it all starts with my defense. It’s good to be able to start the season this way, but the work is just beginning. We still have work to do. “

His 8 blocks against New York

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YoXJGgOkYPQ