The dilemma of inside pillar Turner lacks playing time

In the NBA Finals G5, the Oklahoma City Thunder, who returned to home, defeated the Indiana Pacers 120-109. This key battle rewrites the series score, giving the Thunder a 3-2 lead. The Pacers need to win in G6 to force the series into a tiebreak.

Although the Pacers lost the game, the starting center Miles Turner performed relatively stably. He played 24 minutes and 42 seconds, contributing 13 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal, and his three-point shooting percentage was 50%. Not only does Turner perform well on the offensive end, but his inside defense is also reliable. However, he did not gain enough trust and support and limited playing time, resulting in failure to fully support the team. Turner's absence from some games affected the Pacers' inside line and the team's record.

In the regular season this season, Turner averaged 30.2 minutes per game, and performed well; in the playoffs, he also maintained his competitiveness. Turner is in good shape, both in terms of statistics and defensive performance. However, in recent games, his playing time has dropped drastically, with the Pacers more inclined to use substitute Tony Bradley and a small roster. Instead, the Thunder began to reuse big players, a strategy that puts the Pacers in a passivity situation. The Pacers need to reexamine how to maximize Turner's role in order to enhance the overall strength of the team.