Myles Turner is set to open the 2017-18 NBA season as the face of the Indiana Pacers. After seeing Paul George get traded this past offseason, his expectations have risen for the upcoming season. Indiana is going through a re-tooling phase, but they strongly believe that Turner is capable of being their franchise leader.
If he plays up his full potential, Turner will easily make the Eastern Conference All-Star team. With all of the forwards that left the conference, quite a few spots have opened up. He is likely to take one of those spots.
Last season with the Pacers, Turner ended up averaging 14.5 points per game to go along with 7.3 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game. He shot 51.1 percent from the floor overall and knocked down 34.8 percent of his three-point attempts. Those numbers made him a solid No. 2 behind George, but will have to be improved this season.
Turner has made it clear that he thinks the Pacers will end up being a playoff team. Despite all of the negative media attention after the George trade, Indiana still has quite a bit of talent to work with.
Victor Oladipo, Lance Stephenson, Thaddeus Young, Darren Collison, Cory Joseph, Bojan Bogdanovic, and Domantas Sabonis are some of the players around Turner. They are all more than capable of putting up solid production. Due to the weak Eastern Conference, there is a good chance that Indiana could slip into one of the last playoff spots.
All of that being said, what three goals should be set for Turner this coming season?
Average at Least 20 Points Per Game
First and foremost, Turner will be asked to shoulder a much larger load of the offense. He has worked hard on his post, mid-range, and perimeter shooting and knows that he has to take his game to a new level. Averaging at least 20 points per game would help take the Pacers closer to that goal of making the playoffs.
Become a Much Better Rebounder
Secondly, the Pacers will need to improve their rebounding this season. Turner was an average rebounder last season, but for a 6-foot-11 big man with the athleticism that he possesses, he needs to take that area of his game a step further.
Take on the Leadership Role of Being the Franchise Player
Thirdly and finally, Turner will be asked to take on the leadership role for the Pacers. He has been very vocal this offseason when talking to the media, but he needs to take that and be just as vocal with his teammates. Indiana needs a new leader and that role is Turner’s to take if he wants it.
What kind of season are you expecting from Myles Turner? What other goals would you add to this list for him? Let us know your thoughts in the comment box below!