Myles Turner's slow start to the season isn't merely a slump anymore. In 31 games, he's now shooting a career-low 41.3 percent from the field. The Milwaukee Bucks' big offseason addition has fallen short of expectations by a country mile, which has certainly factored into their slow start. Getting him back on track will be a key step in rejuvenating this team.
Bucks need more from their starting center
The primary culprit in Turner's poor shooting season is his lack of success from 2-point territory. He is hitting a career-worst 49.1 percent of his twos, lodged behind his rookie season's 50.6 percent mark. The 6-foot-11, 250 lbs big man has always been a much better performer inside than these numbers suggest, but that player hasn't shown up in Milwaukee.
The shot chart tells the whole story.
For the season, Turner is shooting 30-of-51 (58.8 percent) in the restricted area and a vile 14-of-38 (36.8 percent) in the paint non-restricted area. He's simply lost his touch inside. The player who went 130-of-187 (69.5 percent) on his restricted area shots and 64-of-157 (40.8 percent) on his paint non-restricted area shots last season was left behind after leaving the Indiana Pacers.
The Bucks' latest loss to Memphis captured his poor play inside as Turner missed all five of his shots from inside the arc. While the Grizzlies played stellar defense, Turner's decision-making was far from pristine. He often drove into a handful of defenders and tossed up a shot that either wasn't close or was swatted away. It's hard to succeed when that's the case.
Simply put, Myles Turner needs to be better. He currently possesses the fifth-worst success rate in the restricted area among centers who have taken at least 50 shots from that spot this season. That won't get the job done. Whether it's through playing with more physicality, taking smarter shots, or a combination of both, the Milwaukee Bucks big man needs to be better from two.
One area the Bucks should continue trying to unlock is the pick-and-roll. A situation he's thrived in in past situations, Turner is shooting just 23-of-59 (39 percent) on shots as the roll man. Among the top six players in roll man shot attempts this season, in which Turner is featured, that percentage ranks dead last. The next closest is 49.5 percent.
Getting the pick-and-roll clicking could be one solution to Turner finding his footing, but it might take more than that if these pesky struggles persist.
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