Rick Carlisle compares Myles Turner to Jermaine O’Neal

” Good night! “Here it is Myles Turner In the closing moments of tonight’s game between the Pacers and the Hornets, Mason Plumlee was mindful of going against him. “ I was ready to go home at that time. […] What time is it there, 8 pm? I still have the evening », the pivot in front of the press smiled.

The Indiana center capped the evening’s defensive performance by covering that final pick-and-roll beautifully. He initially blocked Terry Rozier’s entry into the circle, and despite a delay due to the doubling of passes between the leader and his pivot, he was able to get back to face Mason Plumlee.

” Myles Turner was fantastic in the final. Baskets, a move with a mistake, the number 3 in the corner. Blocked shot to close the match. A very big job “, his trainer Rick Carlisle lists.

Myles Turner had a career best

With 29 points (10/16 shooting), 9 rebounds and 4 blocks, his interior had one of the most perfect games of the season. At the other end of the court, Myles Turner was clearly a man’s game for his team, dominating the racket with 18 points while also serving as a defensive control tower, settling in at the free throw line (8/10).

His performance confirms his current momentum as he is coming off the best season of his career. He’s never had as many rebounds or hit as well since coming to the big leagues.

In January, the 11th pick of the 2015 draft even averaged 19.5 points and 8.5 rebounds per game while shooting 57%. In addition to the statistical impact, this season is distinguished by the attitude of his coach, who is used to praising him. What to do to compare …

” Some guys come on the field and bring presence, energy and confidence to the game. I coached Jermaine O’Neal here for four years and Jermaine was like that. It was something that quietly lifted the spirits of his teammates. Myles is in his prime. He has never played so well. He is a real leader in our dressing room “Judge Rick Carlisle” first came to Indiana as head coach in 2003, when Jermaine O’Neal was already an All-Star (six straight selections between 2002 and 2007).

A leader by deeds

The coach believes that his 26-year-old player, already the oldest and most experienced player in the team, embodies this leadership. correct. He does it not with words, but with deeds, but even when he speaks, people listen. I’m so happy for him, he’s a great guy. And in the end, it was fantastic, wasn’t it? We can never say it enough. »

The coach’s speech is in the words of Andrew Nembhard, with 19 points tonight. At the launch press conference, he describes the pivot next to him as someone “ super hospitable. He is the kind of person who allows everyone to be themselves and grow. When he talked about confidence, I think the whole group understood that it wasn’t about the whole group, it was about thinking less about yourself.»

A group bolstered by that attitude that contributed to the Pacers’ surprise first half of the season. With a very good record of 23 wins and 18 losses, Indiana is ranked 6th in the East.

” I’m just happy for us, happy that we exceeded our goals. We still have a lot to do, we can’t get enough “Judges the pivot before dwelling on elements of internal satisfaction:” Our chemistry, the fact that we come to work together… That’s what it’s all about (in Indiana) and I believe that is what we represent. »