Sixers search for leaders

A good sign at camp is that the players that Doug Collins has said he would like to step up and assume more of a leadership role are attempting to do so.

Collins addressed the whole leadership thing the other day and, while all coaches want to have leaders on their roster, Collins alluded that last year's roster was not very heavy on vocal leadership. He said that both Andre Iguodala and Elton Brand were pretty quiet, non-vocal types.  And he was absolutely correct in saying that Lou Williams was the guy whose personality must reflected the Sixers.

But Collins wants guys like Jrue Holiday, Evan Turner, Spencer Hawes and Thad Young (and, yes, Lavoy Allen, too) to lead by example.

In watching the team scrimmage in recent days, one thing you notice is that Turner and Evans have become the biggest talkers on the floor (of the returning guys). And it's also good to see that sagely vet Jason Richardson is chirpy and recognizes there is a leadership void to be filled.

But the guy that they want to see really step up and be the leader is Holiday.  Collins and his coaches want to see Holiday to grow more vocal. They want him to get on guys when they break off play and making sure that they are in the right place at the right time.

Holiday has said that he wants to be a max-contract player, something that right now he is not. This is a crucial year for him – he's going to have to balance his personal desires with directing a revamped offense that won't look anything like it did last year (save when they go small).

Holiday needs to step up. Can he? Will he? For the Sixers, his time has to be now.