Blazers: 5 goals for Evan Turner to achieve in 2018-2019

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PORTLAND, OR – MARCH 20: Evan Turner #1 of the Portland Trail Blazers goes to the basket against the Houston Rockets on March 20, 2018 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Pick and rolls

The most Evan Turner stat ever from Synergy: On pick and rolls in which he was the ball handler, he scored 1.026 points per possession if the defender went over the screen (30.4% of the time). On pick and rolls where the defender went under the screen, his points per possession dropped to 0.562 (25.6% of the time). He went from the 76th percentile to the fourth percentile in pick and rolls based on how the defender handled the pick.

As he’ll run more pick and rolls next year as the primary ball handler, Turner must learn to adapt to his defender’s navigation of the screen.

If they did their scouting report and go under, Turner shouldn’t shoot a three or try to drive. Instead, he should give the ball up to a teammate to let another play run its course.

If the defender goes over, Turner should confidently attack the switch and hit one of his patented midrange jumpers or penetrate for a down-low finish.

Inadvertently, smarter pick-and-roll decisions could help Turner lower his turnover numbers. He’ll find himself in less positions requiring a bailout pass and more positions to score or easily pass for an assist.

Next. 5 goals for Seth Curry in first season back from injury. dark

It appears as though Turner’s contract will be untradable and he’ll play all four years of it in Portland. To live up to his hefty $18 million per year, he must become a smarter overall player.

The areas of improvement to make this happen revolve around his new role as the bench unit’s primary ball handler. To maximize his new teammates’ ability to shoot, Turner must make better passes and therefore turn the ball over less, grab rebounds to run in transition, and handle pick-and-rolls depending on how opponents navigate the pick.