Evan Turner-Derrick Rose Rivalry Goes Back To High School
(CBS) By now you've probably read what Philadelphia 76ers guard Evan Turner said about a possible matchup against the Bulls.
"We're dodging the tougher team," Turner wrote on Twitter, referring to the Miami Heat as the tougher team. "That's what I think. I think we'll be able to compete well against Chicago, and have an opportunity to win the series."
Later he added:
"bulls fans: please stop tweeting me about the playoffs. I didn't say anything negative. All I said is we match up better with them smh," and "the heat are a tougher team for us to match up with us if you look at our record vs them the past 2 yrs."
Turner's comments should add some spark to a possible matchup against the Bulls (Note: It would take a Knicks loss to the Charlotte Bobcats AND a 76ers win over the Detroit Pistons tonight for the Bulls to host the Knicks Saturday instead of the 76ers), but as it turns out, there's a little more history involved here than you might think.
As Spike Eskin from CBSPhilly.com points out, Evan Turner has a had a rivalry with Bulls point guard Derrick Rose since high school.
Back in 2007, Rose's Simeon team knocked off Turner's St. Joseph's team 74-66 and Turner had this to say to the Chicago Sun-Times:
"I was better than [Rose]. With me guarding him he didn't do much. He knows that and I know that."
Rose then followed up with this:
"We both know who is better. He's just doing this to get a little bit of publicity. We'll see who does more on the next level."
So far it's obvious that Rose has done more in the NBA. And we'll see who does more in the playoffs.
