Extra practice a big boost for Iguodala, Turner

Share

Sunday, April 24, 2011
Posted: 9:53 p.m.
By Dei Lynam CSNPhilly.com

Through three games, Andre Iguodala had experienced an offensive nightmare.

His shooting percentage was just 28 percent. His scoring average was 6.3 points. But Saturday, he took it upon himself to do something different in an effort to change his fortunes. He enlisted rookie Evan Turner to play him one-on-one until he felt he had taken enough game simulated shots. The extra practice session lasted approximately an hour and a half.

Sunday proved that you reap what you sow.

Its funny, he and I were talking about that, said Iguodala, who scored 16 points in Game 4, the most of any game in this series for him. I said we missed that throughout the year and we cant let that happen again. He said, yes the game felt so much easier.

I had some injuries and couldnt play like I wanted to. But we were talking about it during the game. It helps your confidence as a player. I normally was shooting shots with nobody in front of me but when you can have situations it makes the game a little easier.

As it turns out, Turner benefited from the head to head practice too. He had a playoff career high 17 points, which included two made free throws, his only two of the game, which came with two seconds remaining, the Sixers up 84-82.

Turner claimed he didnt think what his coach thought or those in the media section were thinking when he stepped up to shoot the shots, which was the Washington game revisited from Nov. 23, when the Sixers lost by two in overtime.

There were unfortunate circumstances in that defeat for the rookie.

I was just thinking back to the Washington game, eight seconds left in the game when he walked to the line and missed them both, Collins recalled. And then we foul John Wall shooting a half-court three that got us into overtime. And it just made me smile that a game like this, Evan would walk up there and he had previously made a huge shot for us on the baseline when we were dead in the waterI mean just the growth of our guys.

Turner played 27 minutes in part because Iguodala was plagued by foul trouble, which limited him to 33 minutes, the fewest he has played in this series. With 10:32 to go in the game Iguodala picked up his fifth foul. Collins immediately subbed for him and kept him on the bench until the 5:05 mark when Iguodala reentered the game with the Heat up 76-75.

Iguodalas offensive day was overhe attempted one field goal in the final five minutes and missedbut he had great admiration for what his younger teammates pulled off in the closing 1:35 when the Sixers finished with a 10-0 run.

He then returned the favor with his defense on James with the Sixers up two and LeBron driving the lane trying to tie the game in the final eight seconds.

When he looped around I didnt think he was going to get it and I kind of cheated it and played the wrong way, Iguodala said of the play. In actuality it kind of helped me because I was sitting there waiting for him. If he wanted to go right, in other words, I would be trailing him.

If I would have done it the right way then he would have had an open basket so once he came at me I was like Oh. It kind of surprised me. It happened fast. I figured he wanted to go right. Elton stalled him, and Elton came over and got a great block."

It was interesting because prior to the opening tip, not knowing what the outcome would be, there was a sentiment in Collins media availability that if Sunday was the end of this series the person who would take the greatest heat would be Iguodala because of his lack of scoring and huge payday.

Collins understood the criticism but did his best to deflect it.

It is easy to point fingers when things arent going well, he said. Thats the nature of this business unfortunately. The more money you make the more fingers that get pointed. To me when we lose there is not one person responsible for that. I never felt that way nor will I ever feel that way. I feel good about the role he had in us being a success this year.

Iguodala did sign an 82 million contract in the summer of 2008. He talks as if he is the guy, but his definition of main man is different from that of the majority. He wants the ball in his hands, and he often gets his wish. But what he does with it versus that of most teams stars, is drastically different.

The kind of offense we play, I went back and of the 75 possessions we played he had the ball in his hands 46 times, so the opportunities are there, Collins said of Game 3 and Iguodalas role in it. We're not going to run him down to the post against LeBron; I mean LeBron is 6-9 and 260 pounds.

Where he (Iguodala) is at his best is in when we get him in the open court. He's so unselfish. There were a couple times in the game he had a chance to get to the basket and he passed it. I would like to see him go in there and take that shot but that isnt his personality; me I would have shot it but he passed itthats just sort of the way he is wired.

Collins explanation was not a knock on No. 9; it was just the truth. Iguodalas contributions in Game 4 helped change the sentiment ever so slightly about his playoff performancebut really how much in terms of public perception? Yes he delivered the defensive stop necessary to solidify the victory but people remember baskets and big ones at that. Turner, Jrue Holiday and Lou Williams were responsible for the possessions fans will remember.

Iguodala will continue to have the fingers pointed at him, despite the Sixers well deserved victory that extended this series at least to a Game 5.
E-mail Dei Lynam at dlynam@comcastsportsnet.com

Related: After an erratic season, Sixers' Turner comes up bigSixers' late heroics send series back to Miami

Contact Us