The Milwaukee Bucks have been waiting all season for Myles Turner to flip the switch and force the issue offensively. He finally did that Wednesday night in Miami, leading to a season-high 24 points. It wasn't enough to secure a badly needed win, but perhaps the positive results will push Turner to maintain that aggression going forward. Having him take the initiative more often would go a long way to boosting the offense.
Bucks need Turner to make a habit of hunting his shot
Painfully, Turner had a chance to tie the game from beyond the arc on the Bucks' final possession, but couldn't splash it in over a pair of contesting defenders. Just one-for-five for the game, Turner did not have an efficient night on the perimeter. Instead, he capitalized on mismatches, posting up guards or small forwards and shooting over the top or getting fouled in the process.
He made seven shots in the paint alone, going 9-for-15 overall and 5-for-8 from the free-throw line. In addition to Turner's most points of the season, he also set high water marks in made field goals, shot attempts, and trips to the charity stripe.
The Bucks have not seen that type of aggression enough from Turner this season. Too often, he has settled for outside shots and little else, letting his size and tool kit of post moves go to waste. Early on, Milwaukee missed an opportunity to get Turner the ball matched up with Heat guard Norm Powell in the paint. They did not make that mistake again. Turner made a living all night on soft step-backs and jump hooks.
After he went at Andrew Wiggins for his first basket, off the glass through contact, he gained steam and never looked back. Miami could only let him take advantage of so many one-on-one chances. They had to send help, creating open looks for Bucks shooters thanks to Turner's gravity in the interior. His two assists came on inside-out passes to Gary Trent Jr. in the corner and Ryan Rollins up top, who cashed in from downtown.
Turner won't have the same advantage every night. Miami presented a unique opportunity with its small-ball lineup featuring Andrew Wiggins at power forward. Bam Adebayo and Kel'el Ware were the only bona fide bigs in the rotation. The Bucks forced switches relentlessly to pair Turner with the likes of Powell, Wiggins, Tyler Herro, and Jaime Jacquez, none of whom is taller than Wiggins at 6-foot-7.
Still, he can carry over what he made obvious against Miami: aggression works. He can't just idle out on the perimeter. The fact that he poured in 24 points despite sinking a single three—not the recipe for success many would envision for Turner— only goes to show the bag just begging to be unlocked.
Coming into Wednesday, Turner was scoring only 12.4 points per game. The past three seasons in Indiana, he averaged at least 15.6. On a roster searching for secondary options with and without Giannis Antetokounmpo on the floor, the Bucks need more from Turner. Despite the loss, he found something in Miami. It's a lesson he can't forget moving forward.