76ers Want an "Early Holiday" As Long As Jrue Has the Ball

It may be to early to give gifts, but the Philadelphia 76ers think that all the pageantry of the blissful and buoyant holiday could be present in a young guard in the back-court, Jrue Holiday.

“Last year we had three or four guys who could handle the ball.” Sixers coach Doug Collins said after team’s practice Friday afternoon at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. “In many instances, Jrue would give up the ball and get off the ball.”

Well that’s no longer going to be the case.

Holiday poured in 27 points ( \3 for 4 from three-point-land, 12 for 14 overall from the field), 4 rebounds, and 3 assists, in the Sixers preseason-opening victory over the Orlando Magic Thursday night at the Amway Center. The Sixers offense seems to work more efficiently if Holiday controls the ball and initiates majority of the offense.

To help in the increase of offense, the set combining former Villanova Wildcat, Maalik Wayns, will be used frequently to substitute speed for size as Coach Collins has been accustomed to doing in previous seasons. This will give Holiday the opportunity to come off the ball and increase the number of shots he takes per game, adding to the offensive output of the Sixers.

Of the remaining six preseason games, five are against Atlantic Division foes. The Sixers play the Brooklyn Nets twice, Boston Celtics twice and the New York Knicks once as they finish out. Even though Coach Collins doesn’t want to play many Atlantic Division foes, it will be good to test this revamped Sixers team against a stronger Division this season coming.

Regardless of who will relieve him in the rotation, as long as he has the ball, you might as well refer to the time of possession as “Holiday Season” from now on.

Tyler R. Tynes is the Featured Columnist for the Philadelphia 76ers with Rant Sports, Lead Writer covering the Philadelphia 76ers for Buzz On Broad, Radio Host of “#SixersTalk” on Buzz On Broad Radio 

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