Sixers coach tells Jrue Holiday to rest up

After Sunday's practice at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, 76ers coach Doug Collins thought Jrue Holiday was planning to play more basketball with his teammates in a pickup game.

Collins persuaded Holiday to take the rest of the day off. The first-year Sixers coach is doing his best to preserve the strength of his second-year point guard.

Though Holiday is only 20, he has shown some signs of fatigue. Collins has said he is trying to monitor Holiday's minutes in games and his activity once practice is over.

"I said, 'Jrue, it's important for you that you rest any time you get a chance,' " Collins said. " 'Take time to get away and relax, because we have a tough 40 games.' "

Actually, the Sixers (18-25) have 39 regular-season games remaining, and who knows about the postseason? They remain in contention for one of the final two Eastern Conference playoff spots.

Last season, Holiday averaged 24 minutes in 73 games, including 51 starts, but much of his playing time came in the second half of the season. He started the final 41 games, beginning Jan. 22. So he was just beginning to get significant playing time at this stage last year.

This season, he has appeared in all 43 games and is averaging 35 minutes.

"Physically, I am not" tired, Holiday said after Sunday's practice, "but mentally it's kind of different because last year I didn't play half as many minutes as I did already" at a similar stage.

For the season, Holiday is averaging 14.5 points, 6.5 assists, and 2.8 turnovers and is shooting 42 percent.

In the last four games, he has averaged 12.0 points, 5.3 assists, and 2.3 turnovers. What has suffered is his shooting. He has shot 18 for 57 (32 percent) in that span.

He struggled offensively in Saturday's 96-85 win over the visiting Utah Jazz, shooting 3 for 12 and scoring nine points. He snapped a streak of 14 games in double figures.

Collins, however, said it was Holiday's best defensive performance of the season. Deron Williams, one of the NBA's elite point guards, scored 20 points but shot 7 for 19, and had 14 assists but committed five turnovers.

"He was tremendous on Deron Williams," Collins said. "He was great, and what happens is that it takes some starch out of your offensive game."

Collins talked about the importance of players' getting that second wind during games 40 through 60.

When asked how he would get a second wind, Holiday was his usual candid self: "I don't know, because this is the first year I had to go through this."

Holiday won't get a breather when the Sixers resume action Monday at the Wells Fargo Center against the Phoenix Suns. Point guard Steve Nash, "with the screen and roll, is very difficult to defend," Holiday said. "The way he passes the ball and sees the floor is amazing."

Nash is a tireless performer, one who knows how to conserve his energy in a long NBA season. Holiday is learning on the job, and if it means no basketball after practice, it's a small price to pay.

Notes. After missing seven games with right Achilles tendinitis and struggling in his first game back, Andre Iguodala has averaged 17.4 points on 60 percent shooting in his last five games. . . . The Sixers had their best offensive output of the season in a 123-110 win at Phoenix on Dec. 29. . . . Phoenix (20-22) had been playing well until dropping a 75-74 decision in Detroit on Saturday. Nash (17 points per game, 10.9 assists per game) had 14 points, eight assists, and five turnovers. The loss snapped Phoenix's five-game win streak. . . . Vince Carter is averaging 16.4 points in 13 games with the Suns since being dealt by Orlando.