Sixers' Turner exhibiting star power in playoffs

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Remember when the Sixers played Orlando on Jan. 30 at the Wells Fargo Center?

They beat Magic, 74-69, but with 2:52 to play in that game the Sixers were up by 69-51. They allowed Orlando to score 18 points in the waning minutes. When the contest concluded, an angry Doug Collins was seen on TV having a stern word with Evan Turner as Turner walked off the court.

After that sighting, the camera in the hallway caught Turner throwing a towel in disgust as he approached the locker room. Turner was a minus-10 that night; no teammate was close to that number.

Of the nine guys who played that game, six of them had a plus number, which is the goal.

From that scene came Internet and radio conversations that Collins disliked the second-year player, who in 2010 was selected No. 2 overall in the NBA draft. For the next three months, the criticism of Collins and his use of Turner, or lack thereof, was frequent.

Fast forward to the present day and see Turners three performances against the Bulls in the first round of these NBA playoffs. Turner has made 17 of 36 field goal attempts. He is averaging 16 points and six rebounds per game and he has shown a toughness that this team too often lacked during the course of the regular season.

Collins prefers not to discuss the perceived rift between he and the confident, yet sometimes stubborn Ohio State product.

Perception is so different than reality, Collins said. There is a lot of growth in young players and we are trying to develop young players and try and win at the same time. Sometimes learning curves come at different times. I have had a lot of young players and some of them maybe played more early than Evan did, but his growth has been off the charts.

With Turners growth has come a trust between the head coach and the hopeful star player in waiting. With 24 seconds remaining in Game 3 on Friday, the Sixers were guarding a one-point lead. Turner went to the basket and had his shot blocked. In traffic, he recovered the ball and went back up with it. He was fouled in the process. Turner connected on the two free throws. After the game, Collins called it the single most important possession of the Sixers' season.

The last couple of plays, coach put the ball in my hands and I didnt want him to regret that decision, a humble Turner said following the Sixers' 79-74 win on Friday. The first play, I came off and tried to pass the ball to Spencer Hawes because he was hot. The second play, we were up one. I wanted the shot, so I took him to the rack and I wasnt going to give them an opportunity to decide the game, so I kept fighting and fighting and I got the foul and that sealed the game.

He wasnt going to let us lose that game, Elton Brand said. He was getting rebounds, getting to the line, knocking down those shots; knocking down free throws -- it was great to see. He has had his ups and downs, but tonight he was really up.

Turner exudes confidence, if not a cockiness, and yet there is something appealing about his demeanor. Turners teammates smile when asked about his swagger.

It is kind of weird to say this, but we have seen this in Evan from the moment he stepped foot in this locker room, said point guard Jrue Holiday. We saw him do it in college. We see it in practice. Evan has been balling all year whenever he gets a chance to. And it is playoffs now; Evan is a big time player and tonight he came in and did his thing.

When he steps on the court he is talking; hes in your face, hes talking trash to you. Thats who Evan is, Holiday continued. He is going to give you the business the whole time because hes not intimidated by anything.

Lou Williams is the first person to tell you he himself has a ton of swagger. It seemed therefore fitting to ask him what he sees in Turners play and demeanor since the postseason began.

I am extremely proud of him, Williams said of Turners 16-point, nine-rebound performance in Game 3. I told him after the game that is the best I have seen him play. He didnt have 30 or 40 points, but he played with such determination and so much heart. When we were up one and he fought for three rebounds and finish off that play and get fouled. I thought that put the whole game in perspective.

He should be happy about the way he played tonight. And he should be even happier that he has an opportunity to do it again on Sunday.

The same can be said for the Sixers: embrace the opportunity to take a 3-1 series lead for the first time since 2003, when they took a 3-1 lead in round one against the New Orleans Hornets before winning that series in six games.

E-mail Dei Lynam at dlynam@comcastsportsnet.com

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