WASHINGTON - At the NBA draft in June, a lot of talk centered on the differences between Washington's John Wall, the top overall pick out of Kentucky, and Evan Turner, the college player of the year drafted second overall by the 76ers.
Wall was hailed as an instant impact player who would turn around a Wizards team that needed serious help.
Turner came with fewer expectations.
When the two squared off Tuesday night in the Sixers' 116-115 overtime loss at the Verizon Center, the differences were magnified.
Wall, the chest-bumping guard who displayed dance moves during pregame introductions, was close to a triple-double (29 points, 13 assists, 9 steals) in his home debut. Turner, the mild-mannered swingman, had nine points (all in the fourth quarter), six rebounds and one assist in nearly 28 minutes.
Turner saved his best performance for the fourth quarter, when he played a point forward role and guarded Wall as he tried to set up the Wizards' offense.
"Nobody likes pressure," Turner said. "You saw when you laid off of him, he was definitely going to the rack. So I figured, 'Why not?' Attack him before he attacks me."
Turner, who played all 12 minutes in the fourth, shot 4 for 4 from the field in the quarter.
"Shots landed," Turner said. "Got myself open and got teammates going."
Wall was definitely the show.
During pregame introductions, Wall came out dancing to Cali Swag District's "Teach Me How To Dougie." He blew by the Sixers' Jrue Holiday, Lou Williams, and Turner, either hitting layups or feeding cutting teammates.
"Evan is a different personality," Sixers coach Doug Collins said before the game. "John Wall brings a lot more flash, and I mean that in a very positive way. [With] Evan, look at the stat sheet afterward . . . I think they're two different kinds of players."
When Turner guarded Wall late in the third quarter, Turner took a swipe at the ball and Wall converted the layup. Then there was a play when Wall crossed over Turner - a la Michael Jordan and Bryon Russell, when Jordan pushed off on Russell's back - but Marreese Speights was called for the foul.
In the fourth quarter, Turner forced two turnovers on Wall, who had a game-high eight. Steadily, Turner hit shots and played solid defense, and neither player showed signs of losing his composure in a one-on-one matchup.
"Right now I'm just thinking about the team," Turner said after the loss. "He's in a position to really have one-on-one matchups with people. Me, I'm just trying to contribute and play my role."
And that's the difference.
