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Collins encouraged by play of Turner, Meeks, Holiday, Allen

The lockout-shortened NBA season was expected to hinder the growth of young players and play to the advantage of older teams such as the Boston Celtics.

Jrue Holiday and Evan Turner struggled a bit under the bright lights of a Game 7 in Boston. (Ron Cortes/Staff Photographer)
Jrue Holiday and Evan Turner struggled a bit under the bright lights of a Game 7 in Boston. (Ron Cortes/Staff Photographer)Read more

The lockout-shortened NBA season was expected to hinder the growth of young players and play to the advantage of older teams such as the Boston Celtics.

But with the growth of the young 76ers - particularly the backcourt of Jrue Holiday and Evan Turner, who had a combined three seasons of experience entering the season - Philadelphia fans have reason for optimism, even if the young duo struggled a bit under the bright lights of a Game 7 in Boston.

Turner didn't have a point in the first half of Saturday's eliminating 85-75 loss, and finished with just six points on 3-for-8 shooting. Holiday missed 12 of 17 shots and turned the ball over four times, although he finished with 15 points.

Collins said that Turner has to lose some weight to become more effective.

Turner didn't seem to agree, but he maintained that it will be one of his offseason goals.

"That is what I was told, so I will take it from there," he said Sunday as the team conducted exit interviews. "Just try to get my body better and be a better basketball player."

But Collins was encouraged by what he saw from the backcourt, along with Jodie Meeks.

"Evan, Jrue, and Lavoy [Allen] would be the three guys that were really able to see what this is all about and now have the chance to go into the summer and know the things they have to work on to continue to get better."

With the Celtics' best defender (Avery Bradley) out of Game 7 with a shoulder injury and Ray Allen hampered by a sore ankle, the Sixers guards figured to have a speed advantage that could lead to layup opportunities and kick-out passes.

That didn't happen.

Allen played lackluster defense against Turner, but the guard from Ohio State passed up shots early and never found much space on the offensive end.

In a span of less than two minutes early in the third quarter, Turner completed his scoring. He hit a layup followed by two jumpers in a matter of two minutes.

But immediately afterward, he had a completely different two-minute stretch. During those 120 seconds, his statistics line looked like this: shot blocked, shot blocked, turnover.

It was stretches like those that kept Turner from getting into a rhythm in Game 7. And stretches like those that he'll have to improve on for next season. He has plenty of time, though. Turner didn't even start his first game this season until March 5.

"Again, with a shortened season, we kind of learned on the fly, and playing against a veteran team like this really helped us grow," Holiday said.

The backcourt could be strength for this Sixers squad, but it will need to work on its consistency. It's something that Collins said he will go over with his team.

"I think Jrue had some great moments, and I think Evan did, but they all can grow," the coach said. "We'll lay out a game plan, and for those young players, they have to be the core and the nucleus of the youth that we're building with."