Patience is a virtue, and with a 19-year-old point guard trying to learn the Sixers’ offense, it is a virtue the club will have to exhibit indefinitely.
After four games (and four losses) in the Orlando Pro Summer League, Jrue Holiday, the Sixers’ first-round selection in this year’s draft, is experiencing the steep learning curve that comes with handling the ball at the NBA level. In 114 minutes on the floor, the 17th overall pick has made only 11 of 31 shots from the field to go along with an unsatisfactory assist-to-turnover ratio (11 assists, 14 turnovers). The statistical struggles suggest that the young point guard is still trying to figure out how to run the system.
“I really haven’t been that aggressive offensively until the last game,” Holiday said Thursday in a conference call from Orlando. “I was just trying to set up the offense and learn the do’s and don’ts from the coaches.”
Another factor contributing to Holiday’s passiveness is a lack of familiarity with his supporting cast. The Sixers’ summer team, which is combined with the Nets, is comprised of one-year veterans, free agent signees and rookies who have never played alongside one another.
“You know, we are playing with some new guys,” Holiday said. “We’re still feeling each other out. With Terrence Williams and Chris Douglas-Roberts on the floor, I would pass it instead of looking for my own shot. I was just trying to run the plays the coaches called during the game.”
After shooting 29 percent from the field in his first two games, it appears that Holiday is beginning to get the hang of things offensively. On Wednesday, the UCLA product dropped 12 points, burying both of his attempts from three-point range while hitting four out of four shots from the line. On Thursday, Holiday was 3-for-8 from the floor and added another three-pointer in an 83-62 loss to Oklahoma City.
“Shooting is most definitely something I have worked to improve,” Holiday said. “You have to be able to shoot as a point guard, just because you’re going to have guys like Andre Iguodala driving to the basket. My man’s going to collapse on him, and I have to knock down that open shot.”
One key facet to Holiday’s offensive game that has not necessarily been on display in Orlando is his knack for getting to the bucket.
“Holiday is very athletic,” said Pacers assistant coach Jay DeFruscio, who has now seen Holiday in both pre-draft workouts and summer league games. “He is a bigger guard. His athleticism, especially his ability to get to the basket and finish impressed me.”
Regardless of Holiday’s ability to score the basketball on a given night, he has consistently brought his D. The 6-4 floor general has notched seven steals and three blocked shots through Thursday and is fourth on the team in rebounding with 3.3 boards per game.
“Defense is just kind of in my DNA,” said Holiday. “I can have a sorry game on offense but still help the team on the defensive end of the floor, and most times good defense will trigger offense. It’s also important as a point guard to set the tone for your teammates defensively. If I’m really working defensively, they will too.”
Despite his production on the defensive end, it is evident Holiday still has plenty of work to do on his game. But it would be unreasonable to expect a teenager to show up for his first summer league with any clue about how to succeed in the NBA.
“I’m down here to be a student of the game,” he said. “There are a lot of things that I need to learn; there are a lot of things that are being taught, so it’s really just about taking everything in.”
It is no coincidence that the most dominant players in Orlando are about to enter their second year in the league. Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City), Roy Hibbert (Indiana) and Ryan Anderson (Orlando) have clearly benefited from a year’s experience. Westbrook had 19 points and nine assists – both game highs – Thursday against the Sixers/Nets.
As for Holiday’s progress toward becoming a game-changing lead guard, only time will tell.
“It takes any player making the transition from the college game to the pro game some time to adjust to the talent level in the pro game,” said DeFruscio. “I think [Holiday] could be a good NBA guard, but it does not happen overnight.”
After four games (and four losses) in the Orlando Pro Summer League, Jrue Holiday, the Sixers’ first-round selection in this year’s draft, is experiencing the steep learning curve that comes with handling the ball at the NBA level. In 114 minutes on the floor, the 17th overall pick has made only 11 of 31 shots from the field to go along with an unsatisfactory assist-to-turnover ratio (11 assists, 14 turnovers). The statistical struggles suggest that the young point guard is still trying to figure out how to run the system.
“I really haven’t been that aggressive offensively until the last game,” Holiday said Thursday in a conference call from Orlando. “I was just trying to set up the offense and learn the do’s and don’ts from the coaches.”
Another factor contributing to Holiday’s passiveness is a lack of familiarity with his supporting cast. The Sixers’ summer team, which is combined with the Nets, is comprised of one-year veterans, free agent signees and rookies who have never played alongside one another.
“You know, we are playing with some new guys,” Holiday said. “We’re still feeling each other out. With Terrence Williams and Chris Douglas-Roberts on the floor, I would pass it instead of looking for my own shot. I was just trying to run the plays the coaches called during the game.”
After shooting 29 percent from the field in his first two games, it appears that Holiday is beginning to get the hang of things offensively. On Wednesday, the UCLA product dropped 12 points, burying both of his attempts from three-point range while hitting four out of four shots from the line. On Thursday, Holiday was 3-for-8 from the floor and added another three-pointer in an 83-62 loss to Oklahoma City.
“Shooting is most definitely something I have worked to improve,” Holiday said. “You have to be able to shoot as a point guard, just because you’re going to have guys like Andre Iguodala driving to the basket. My man’s going to collapse on him, and I have to knock down that open shot.”
One key facet to Holiday’s offensive game that has not necessarily been on display in Orlando is his knack for getting to the bucket.
“Holiday is very athletic,” said Pacers assistant coach Jay DeFruscio, who has now seen Holiday in both pre-draft workouts and summer league games. “He is a bigger guard. His athleticism, especially his ability to get to the basket and finish impressed me.”
Regardless of Holiday’s ability to score the basketball on a given night, he has consistently brought his D. The 6-4 floor general has notched seven steals and three blocked shots through Thursday and is fourth on the team in rebounding with 3.3 boards per game.
“Defense is just kind of in my DNA,” said Holiday. “I can have a sorry game on offense but still help the team on the defensive end of the floor, and most times good defense will trigger offense. It’s also important as a point guard to set the tone for your teammates defensively. If I’m really working defensively, they will too.”
Despite his production on the defensive end, it is evident Holiday still has plenty of work to do on his game. But it would be unreasonable to expect a teenager to show up for his first summer league with any clue about how to succeed in the NBA.
“I’m down here to be a student of the game,” he said. “There are a lot of things that I need to learn; there are a lot of things that are being taught, so it’s really just about taking everything in.”
It is no coincidence that the most dominant players in Orlando are about to enter their second year in the league. Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City), Roy Hibbert (Indiana) and Ryan Anderson (Orlando) have clearly benefited from a year’s experience. Westbrook had 19 points and nine assists – both game highs – Thursday against the Sixers/Nets.
As for Holiday’s progress toward becoming a game-changing lead guard, only time will tell.
“It takes any player making the transition from the college game to the pro game some time to adjust to the talent level in the pro game,” said DeFruscio. “I think [Holiday] could be a good NBA guard, but it does not happen overnight.”
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