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Doug Collins wants Jrue Holiday to revel in first All-Star appearance

BEFORE HE WAS named to his first All-Star Game, 76ers guard Jrue Holiday talked about the event with guarded optimism, as if he didn't want to jinx his chances by talking about it. Since being named to the Eastern Conference team late last month, Holiday still has tried to hide his giddiness while discussing Sunday night's game, which will be held in Houston. You get the feeling that if he holds it in any longer, he's going to burst. The excitement is practically leaking through his ears.

Since being named to the Eastern Conference team, Jrue Holiday still has tried to hide his giddiness while discussing the All-Star Game. (Yong Kim/Staff Photographer)
Since being named to the Eastern Conference team, Jrue Holiday still has tried to hide his giddiness while discussing the All-Star Game. (Yong Kim/Staff Photographer)Read more

BEFORE HE WAS named to his first All-Star Game, 76ers guard Jrue Holiday talked about the event with guarded optimism, as if he didn't want to jinx his chances by talking about it. Since being named to the Eastern Conference team late last month, Holiday still has tried to hide his giddiness while discussing Sunday night's game, which will be held in Houston. You get the feeling that if he holds it in any longer, he's going to burst. The excitement is practically leaking through his ears.

First, Holiday and his teammates have an important game Wednesday in Milwaukee that can pull them within two games of a playoff position going into the All-Star break. Still, the talk at Tuesday's practice did surround the All-Star Game.

"I hope to get there again, but sometimes it's just a once-in-a-lifetime shot," Holiday said. "[I'm going to] take it all in and have fun, have as much fun as you can."

That is exactly what his coach wants him to do. In 1976, Doug Collins made his first All-Star team. He often talks of walking into the locker room and seeing the jerseys of Walt Frazier, John Havlicek, Dave Cowens, Elvin Hayes, Jo Jo White and Bob McAdoo. Though only 24, Collins was mature enough to seize the moment, to take it all in and embrace the fact that he was considered among the league's elite. As much as he can, he is passing that along to Holiday.

"I hope it will be an experience he will remember forever," Collins said. "Mine was doubly important because it was in Philadelphia and it was 1976 and it was the Bicentennial game. What I'd like for him to do is just take a walk in the locker room and take a look around."

As a reserve for the East in 1976, Collins played 20 minutes, scored 12 points and grabbed six rebounds in his team's 123-109 win over a West team that included Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Rick Barry and Tiny Archibald. In a life filled with many basketball memories, that Feb. 3 game at the Spectrum will always be near the top of the list.

"I always compare it to golf a little bit," Collins said. "Sometimes you could be on the most beautiful golf course in the world and be playing horrible golf and forget that you're on the most beautiful golf course in the world. Enjoy the golf course.

"Look in that locker room. Look who you're sitting with. You're [Holiday] 22 years old. Look around. Look at the men in that locker room with you. Look at your coach. Look at all the championships these men have won, the gold medals they have won, the decoration. Watch how they prepare themselves. Talk to these guys, enjoy the game, enjoy the experience. When you're out just look around and look at all the fans that love the NBA. I want him to take all that in because your first [All-Star Game] is, well, there's no other like it. Like I said, enjoy the golf course, man. You're on Pebble Beach. If you hit eight in the water, the hell with it."

Six shots

Milwaukee has won the first two meetings . . . After the All-Star break, the Sixers will practice here Monday and Tuesday, then head to Minnesota for a game Wednesday.