Turner flourishing in Boston

BOSTON - It's hard to believe that only 4 years ago, Philadelphia basketball fans were anticipating a 76ers backcourt consisting of Jrue Holiday and Evan Turner for the next 10 years.

How things have changed since then, huh?

In his first big move as general manager, Sam Hinkie traded Holiday to New Orleans on draft night 2013. Turner was dealt last February. Though troubled by some injuries, Holiday's future is pretty set as the starting point guard for the Pelicans, a team rising quickly among the NBA ranks.

Turner, after being dealt to the Indiana Pacers, hasn't had such stability. His playing time diminished to practically nothing in the playoffs. He became a free agent after the season and had a long period of uncertainty before signing with Boston last month.

But Turner, whom the Sixers took with the second overall pick in 2010, didn't sit around and sulk, which Sixers fans saw him do at times during his playing days in Philly. Instead, he said he worked harder than ever. The results are a sound mind and a lighter and stronger body.

"I lost, since last season, close to 20 pounds," said Turner, who started for the Celtics last night against the Sixers in the first preseason game for both. "I've been doing a lot more running, and the way that I eat, I've changed that a lot, and especially when I eat. I'm not eating at 2 or 3 a.m. anymore. I try to avoid eating greasy. All the good stuff that you like, I've cut out.

"I've just kept going back to progressing. I took a few days off [after last season] and I relaxed mentally. All the things that occurred in the past, I decided to just drop it and just worried about focusing on the future and trying to get better. That was the biggest thing. I understood that I was in a new place and a new area and that I had a fresh start and everything in the past I just left alone."

While his style of play understandably drew the ire of fans at times, Turner is a top-notch person. And as someone who has seen firsthand the rebuilding process the Sixers are going through, he truly believes the right man is at the helm.

"Coach [Brett] Brown has a big-picture mentality," Turner said. "He worries about getting better each day. His poise and his mindset are very rare in regards to he's been to the mountaintop. He's seen a lot of great things and he knows what it looks like, as opposed to somebody that's never done it. He's a determined guy where he won't stop. I think his greatest thing as a teacher is how he communicates to people."

Figuring out how Tony Wroten can best serve his team is one of the many challenges Brett Brown faces every day. Last season, Wroten was that spark guy off the bench, either replacing Michael Carter-Williams at point guard or joining him in the backcourt. His role is clearly defined for the moment, with MCW sidelined while his surgically repaired shoulder heals. Wroten will have the ball in his hands as the starting point for now.

"I feel like it's not a big change for me, other than having the ball in my hands more," said Wroten, who turned the ball over three times in his first 8 minutes last night. "I talked to coach and he wants me to be myself and get everyone else involved. We're just working on things.

"I've been starting all my life, so that's something that I'm used to. Coach has given me an opportunity, and I'm very excited, because I feel the things that I do off the bench I can do while starting, and more.

"I'm an all-around point guard. I'm a pass-first point guard. I'd rather have a fancy pass to my teammate. I love the fancy passes."

Coach Brown would like to see those passes completed at a better clip, though.

Jarvis Varnado (strained Achilles') and Jerami Grant (dehydration, sprained ankle) didn't make the trip. Alexey Shved (sore back) and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (ankle) both played. There is still no timetable on when Michael Carter-Williams might be cleared to go all out and practice with contact.

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