Filed under: Suns, NBA Preseason
INDIAN WELLS, Calif. -- Saturday night's preseason game under the stars in Indian Wells was the Suns' third in the last three years, so for players like Steve Nash and Grant Hill, the outdoor gimmick may not have had the same novelty as it did for newer members of the team.Hedo Turkoglu, for example -- arguably the team's most high-profile acquisition of the summer -- definitely took notice of the unique environment.
"It was the first time for me, and it was fun," Turkoglu said. "It was different in the beginning with the shots, looking into the sky, you know? But it was fun."
What hasn't been fun for Turkoglu in his short time in Phoenix is his fit, or lack thereof, in the team's offense. Specifically, Hedo is struggling to make shots at an almost embarrassing clip through his first three exhibition games with the Suns.
Turkoglu's average for minutes played this preseason is at 21.3 per game, only slightly below his career average of 23.4. Yet his scoring and shooting statistics are way off, with Hedo managing to connect on just 4 of his 21 shots from the field, and only one of his eight three-point attempts. If you're more into the percentages than the raw numbers, that's a horrific field goal percentage of 19, and a dismal three-point shooting percentage of just 12.5.
Remember, this is the Phoenix Suns. Turkoglu isn't being asked to create shots on his own, or put the ball on the floor against a defense keyed on stopping him. This is a team built on speed, getting out in transition, and run at the point by one of the very best in the game. Shots should be wide-open and easy to come by on this team, but for some reason, Turkoglu has been unable to find his touch.
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