ET experiment playing at the point should continue or stop?

[kozlodoev]

Statistically, it is also true that the majority of Turner's passes go to the more veteran players: 20% to Sully; 13% to KO; 12% to Bradley and Bass; 11% to Zeller

Shockingly, these are the players he spends the most time on the floor with. Can't pass to the bench.

... well, you can, but it's just not a good idea.

[Rick Robeys Return]

Statistically, it is also true that the majority of Turner's passes go to the more veteran players: 20% to Sully; 13% to KO; 12% to Bradley and Bass; 11% to Zeller

Shockingly, these are the players he spends the most time on the floor with. Can't pass to the bench.

... well, you can, but it's just not a good idea.

Which is why, if you had bothered to fully quote the statement, I said you cant deduce much from that stat (other than the number to Smart would hopefully go up if he were on the floor with ET)!

[kozlodoev]

Statistically, it is also true that the majority of Turner's passes go to the more veteran players: 20% to Sully; 13% to KO; 12% to Bradley and Bass; 11% to Zeller

Shockingly, these are the players he spends the most time on the floor with. Can't pass to the bench.

... well, you can, but it's just not a good idea.

Which is why, if you had bothered to fully quote the statement, I said you cant deduce much from that stat (other than the number to Smart would hopefully go up if he were on the floor with ET)!

Sure. I was just addressing the general narrative, and grabbed a convenient post that seemed to have a breakdown of names.

[PickNRoll]

Statistically, it is also true that the majority of Turner's passes go to the more veteran players: 20% to Sully; 13% to KO; 12% to Bradley and Bass; 11% to Zeller

Shockingly, these are the players he spends the most time on the floor with. Can't pass to the bench.

... well, you can, but it's just not a good idea.

Which is why, if you had bothered to fully quote the statement, I said you cant deduce much from that stat (other than the number to Smart would hopefully go up if he were on the floor with ET)!

Sure. I was just addressing the general narrative, and grabbed a convenient post that seemed to have a breakdown of names.

Turner-Olynyk 450 minutes
Turner-Sullinger 612
Turner-Zeller 469
Turner Bradley - 585
Turner-Bass 526
Turner-Smart 249

Passes to Sully: 376 (0.61 passes per minute)
Passes to Smart: 76 (.305 passes per minute)

494% more passes to Sullinger than Smart
245% more minutes with Sullinger than Smart

It’s crazy (and awesome) that stats like this are available.  I still don’t read anything into this disparity.  The ball should naturally flow through Sully more IMO.

[kozlodoev]

Smart plays PG a fair share of the time. Consequently, he's more likely to have the ball in his hands to begin with, thus less opportunity for Turner to pass him the ball.

[littleteapot]

For all the discussion about Smart's "natural" position, I don't see how anyone could look at Turner as a true point guard.

Let's start with just pure ball handling. How many starting point guards have worse handles than Turner? Maybe a few like George Hill but I bet I could name 25 starting PG's who are better ball handlers than Turner.

There are many point guards who suffer from the same turnover and overdribbling issues Turner has, but most of the starting ones like that are guys like Westbrook who more than make up for it with other talent.

Unless he either turns all his biggest weaknesses into strengths, or he learns to play off the ball AND guard bigger guys to be an effective 2, I don't see the case for him really being more than a combo guard off the bench, as someone previously said.

[D.o.s.]

For all the discussion about Smart's "natural" position, I don't see how anyone could look at Turner as a true point guard.

Let's start with just pure ball handling. How many starting point guards have worse handles than Turner? Maybe a few like George Hill but I bet I could name 25 starting PG's who are better ball handlers than Turner.

There are many point guards who suffer from the same turnover and overdribbling issues Turner has, but most of the starting ones like that are guys like Westbrook who more than make up for it with other talent.

Unless he either turns all his biggest weaknesses into strengths, or he learns to play off the ball AND guard bigger guys to be an effective 2, I don't see the case for him really being more than a combo guard off the bench, as someone previously said.

Agreed, but [dang], that's some shade to throw on George Hill.

[Chief]

This is what one person commented  recently (after csnne article) regarding ET expiriment playing the point:

Still don't get why he plays the point...and he never passes to rookies. Always to Sullinger, his buddy.  Limited touches for everyone when he runs the point.  Sit him down and rest him and let Smart grow.  Hate Turner

Agree or disagree?

The numbers definitely back it up, but I never notice him showing bias.  It could be a consequence of the offense, but that's a bigger gap than I would have imagined.

This is a great post. I love the real numbers. TP

[PickNRoll]

For all the discussion about Smart's "natural" position, I don't see how anyone could look at Turner as a true point guard.

Let's start with just pure ball handling. How many starting point guards have worse handles than Turner? Maybe a few like George Hill but I bet I could name 25 starting PG's who are better ball handlers than Turner.

There are many point guards who suffer from the same turnover and overdribbling issues Turner has, but most of the starting ones like that are guys like Westbrook who more than make up for it with other talent.

Unless he either turns all his biggest weaknesses into strengths, or he learns to play off the ball AND guard bigger guys to be an effective 2, I don't see the case for him really being more than a combo guard off the bench, as someone previously said.

Agreed, but [dang], that's some shade to throw on George Hill.

I'd say Dante Exum is the only one.  Not even George Hill.

[Chris22]

I would like to see Smart, Turner, Prince, Bass, and Sullinger.

[Pucaccia]

Turner has done an excellent job as a point guard. This is new position for him and as he develops he keeps getting better. He sets up a lot of players for very easy shots. He has been one of the bright spots on the team. I would like him to look for his shot more because he seems to be able to get his mid range jump shot any time he wants.

[JSD]

DOS check you PM

[Rosco917]

I don't mind Turner playing PG while we develop Smart. I understand Turner is not the PG of the future.
What's nice about Turner is he can play PG, SG, SF and he's only 25 years old. He plays these three positions pretty well. He's comfortable starting or coming off the bench.

Is he part of the future? At the price we pay him, yeah, why not. If we sign a "hot shot" PG, or SG or SF he can come off the bench, and do a pretty good job.

For right now, he righted the ship while the Celtics hopefully think, and plan about the future.   

[Celts Fan 508]

For all the discussion about Smart's "natural" position, I don't see how anyone could look at Turner as a true point guard.

Let's start with just pure ball handling. How many starting point guards have worse handles than Turner? Maybe a few like George Hill but I bet I could name 25 starting PG's who are better ball handlers than Turner.

There are many point guards who suffer from the same turnover and overdribbling issues Turner has, but most of the starting ones like that are guys like Westbrook who more than make up for it with other talent.

Unless he either turns all his biggest weaknesses into strengths, or he learns to play off the ball AND guard bigger guys to be an effective 2, I don't see the case for him really being more than a combo guard off the bench, as someone previously said.

Agreed, but [dang], that's some shade to throw on George Hill.

He did cost the Pacers Leonard

[Asher77]

It could be by design but I have noticed and commented before that Marcus is invisible on offense when playing the off guard next to Turner. I have not liked that pairing. Marcus should be manning the point when in the game. Not concerned with who is starting at this point.