He's averaging 15.9 points, shooting 54 percent from the field and 40.5 percent from the 3-point line, and leads the team in rebounding at 7.4 per game.
And yet, the most impressive and important number on Myles Turner's stat line for this season is 2.3. That's his average for blocked shots, which offers both tangible and intangible benefits to the Pacers' defense, which has been the ignition to their offense.
Turner had four blocks in the Pacers' victory over Houston on Sunday, including one on James Harden in the fourth quarter. That block wasn't particularly consequential to the outcome, but was a crucial part of a bigger picture. His improving rim protection influenced Paul George's perimeter defense on Harden, who scored just 15 points — nearly 15 below his average and 36 below his total in Philadelphia two nights earlier.
“I felt that trust that I had with Roy (Hibbert), with Myles behind me tonight,” George said. “That's really what made it tough for Harden to get going.
“Our past couple of games he's starting to learn, he's starting to get it. In college, you get away with being athletic, get away with being a shot-timing shot-blocker. In this league, you've got to be there early. Guys are so athletic, their launch pad is a lot further than what you're used to. The thing I'm trying to teach him is being in the help position a lot sooner. That allows us to play better on the perimeter.”
Turner's post defense is essential, given the Pacers' “small” lineup. Last year, when Turner started at the “four” position, he and center Ian Mahinmi teamed up for rim protection. This season, with Turner playing center and converted small forward Thad Young playing “four,” it's all on Turner. Consider that Turner has 105 blocks. Then consider that point guard Jeff Teague ranks second with 22, one more than Young. Some of Teague's blocks might be considered deflections when he strips the ball from a shooter in an upward motion, but they are technically blocks.
Regardless of how you define blocks, it's obvious that if Turner doesn't offer rim protection, it's not going to happen.
Perspective: Only three Pacers in franchise history have averaged more than Turner's 2.3 blocks. Jermaine O'Neal, the franchise's all-time leader, averaged 2.8 in the 2000-01 season, his first with the Pacers, and 2.6 in two other seasons. Hibbert averaged 2.6 in the 2012-13 season. Herb Williams averaged 2.4 in 1985-86.
None of those players, however, were 20 years old at the time, as Turner is. And none were 3-point threats, which amplifies the unique nature of his skill set.
Turner's value on defense depends as much on his voice box as any other body part. He's the primary communicator, calling out screens, weakside help and other details. It hasn't always been comfortable for a second-year player not yet old enough to order alcohol, telling older players what to do, but he's getting there.
“You hear him communicating so much more on the floor,” George said. “You hear him talking the whole time, trying to direct traffic. That was his next step. You know he protects the rim, you know he's going to be able to help in multiple spots. He can see everything from where he's at, so him being that anchor and directing traffic … that's been the biggest thing the last few games I've noticed.”
It's not just the quantity of conversation, though. It's the substance of it.
“I'm always talking, but your words have to mean something,” Turner said. “I feel like my communication has gotten better. I've always been able to talk and let my voice be heard, it's a matter of knowing what to say.”
Turner is 6-foot-11 and 250 pounds, with eight percent body fat. He plans to get stronger, although not bulkier. In the meantime, he's plenty big enough to perform most of his chores, but still is 20 or more pounds shy of some opposing centers. He's forced into a street fight in some games, but he prefers that to chasing smaller and quicker players around the perimeter, as he often had to do last season. He doesn't believe he's improved from last season as a defender as much as he's learned a new job description.
“The four and the five are so much different,” he said. “Guarding the perimeter and guarding the paint, it's like comparing apples and oranges. There's not much of a transition to make, from the four to the five as far as seeing how much better you've gotten.”
Turner's low-post defense of centers is a work in progress. He's foul-prone – with 42 more fouls than anyone else on the team – and sometimes goes for shot fakes, but he's gifted with instinctive timing. For references, check with LeBron James, who had an intimate moment at the rim with Turner last season.
It takes time to adjust to that in the NBA. George threw down a monstrous dunk over Rockets center Clint Capela on Sunday, when Capela didn't slide over to give help early enough. Turner is learning how quickly he has to help, too. If you can't get there in time to take a charge, you have to be late enough to avoid a foul and still get a hand on the ball.
“If you're there early, yeah, you can body up or try to take a charge, but some people will finish that anyway,” Turner said. “You've got to try to time it and meet them at the rim. Explosive guys, with a long launching pad, like (Russell) Westbrook and (DeMar) DeRozan, yeah, that's going to be tough to meet them at the rim. It's all anticipation.”
There's a chicken-and-egg element to Turner's game, one that's up for debate. Does he defend better when he's scoring, or does playing good defense inspire his offense?
“He's been an offensive-minded player, so when his offense is going he's tended to play better at the defensive end of the floor,” coach Nate McMillan said. “We're working on changing that mindset.”
Says Turner: “I feel like my defense gets my offense going. Once I feel good on defense, it sparks my offense.”
Ultimately, it doesn't matter. The Pacers are 9-1 this season in games in which Turner blocked four or five shots. What matters is that so long as he's hosting a block party, they're all going home happy.
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