Friday, February 18, 2011
Posted: 10 p.m.
By Dei Lynam
CSNPhilly.com
LOS ANGELESJrue Holiday is in his element, home in Los Angeles on the grandest of NBA stages, participating in All-Star weekend as a member of the sophomore team in the Rookie Challenge game.
His eyes light up when he talks about being able to play in this event, even if his voice says otherwise.
I am excited its at home and I can play in front of my family and friends, Holiday said matter-of-factly.
When pushed on his low key approach to this honor, Holiday admits to being subduedalways.
Its more inside. I'm not good with showing my emotions, Holiday said. This is the best you guys are going to get out of me, but I am excited.
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This weekend isnt all that Holiday has to be excited about. The Sixers have won 10 of their last 14 games, they are currently the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference and his play has a lot to do with both.
He is a 20-year-old kid hidden in an old-school point guards body. He averages 14 points and six assists per game, but he is the first to tell you those numbers are not the measure of the best point guards in the NBA.
They do everything, score, get in the paint, defend, get teammates open looks, Holiday said of the qualities of great point guards. You're the captain. When you take the court you try to let it come to you. Sometimes thats when I get in trouble, but the reality is if I penetrate and stay aggressive I can score or pass to someone or if thats not working I can just defend and get stops and we can get transition buckets off that.
There have been two major contributions to Holidays development this yearthe coaching staff and the relationship he has with his teammates.
We're all so close. We always find ways to hang out with each other, to laugh, have fun, play, joke around, he said. There's days where we're testy and we can see it and we know each other that well that we know if someone's having a day like that and we still go at them, we still make fun of them. Its kind of like a family.
Because Holidays immediate family lives 3,000 miles away, he finds solace in Jodie Meeks being his next door neighbor and Evan Turner living a couple doors down the hall. It is not unusual for Holiday, when he is home and feeling a little bored, to go knocking on either door just to say, Whats up?
He finds the closeness in age of his teammates to be a huge advantage because they share common interests. Ironically, having a coach that is three times his age is also an advantage, in large part because of Doug Collins communication skills.
I love his energy, his vibe, how he brings that passion to the game and wears all his emotions on his sleeve. Ive never had a coach that out there, Holiday said, meaning out there in a good way.
He tells you what he thinks. He's always got your back and you can always tell if you're a spectator or if you're on the court with him how passionate he is about the game.
That feeling is a two-way street. Thursday morning while waiting in an airport, a text message came across my phone unprovoked from Collins.
So proud of Jrue, Collins said, knowing I was making my way to Los Angeles. The coach had said as much before, but he knew I would soon see his sophomore sensation and would pass along the compliment.
The communication on this team is ongoing and not just with the head man.
Aaron McKie, now an assistant coach but only four years removed from playing in the league, has taken a special interest in helping Holiday reach his full potential.
I thought he had a ways to go when I first saw him as a point guard, McKie said. I think he has the ability that is more as a basketball player. I dont like to hide guys into a certain position because I like them to just be able to play the game. He has the capability to be one of the elite point guards in the league because he can defend, he can shoot the ball, he can penetrate and get to the rim.
That Holiday has skills is undisputed. That he is quiet is also not up for debate. But McKie is helping Holiday become more vocal, which is essential at his position. McKie is the perfect guy to convey that message because it takes quiet to know quiet.
I always talk to him about being more of a voice, McKie said. He is so young and he doesnt think those guys will listen to him, but if you speak loud enough and you know what you are talking about the guys will follow you and listen to you. Thats the development, that and keeping his turnovers down.
I think I've grown a lot because of him from last year to this year, Holiday said of McKie. He's been to the Finals, pretty much done everything that I want to do, even though unfortunately they lost to the Lakers (in 2001).
The Sixers losing to the Lakers 10 years ago made Holiday a very happy 10-year-old Lakers fan.
He knows the game and I try to talk to him as much as possible, Holiday said after a brief moment of gloating about that Lakers title. Obviously, you have those days when you don't want to talk to coaches. They get on your nerves and I do have those days, but I know he's always going to keep it real with me whether I like it or not. What he says is going to be the truth.
Truth be told, Holiday is so refreshing for his age. His maturity coupled with his honesty are a breath of fresh air in an era when cocky and demonstrative seem to be better rewarded. There is only one immediate reward Holiday has in mind and it is coming likely in early spring.
I've heard a lot of things about the playoffs and how different of an atmosphere it is just from the regular season, Holiday said, showing that wide-eyed expression again. I heard how crazy it is, how difficult it is to play a team back-to-back-to-back-to-back and how tough it is to even win two games in a row, so Im excited. Something I've never experienced and I would like to experience.
Holiday wanted to say something he will experience, but that teeters on the presumptuous, another adjective not in this guys vocabulary.
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E-mail Dei Lynam at dlynam@comcastsportsnet.com