The Sixers’ Jrue Holiday is playing like the elite point guard that Philadelphia has been waiting on. With Andre Iguodala departing via trade and Andrew Bynum continuing to linger injured on the sideline, Holiday’s role became critical this year.
The former UCLA Bruin has also said that he hope for “serious consideration” for the All Game this year:
“Man, I hope (I deserve serious consideration),” Holiday said. “I don’t really look at the statistics of me and the other guards. I really just try to go out there and play.”
–Via Philly Burbs
With Holiday’s season go as statistically well as it is, it’s hard to disagree. He’s putting up an eye-opening stat line of 18.5 ppg, 9.1 apg, and 3.7 rpg. Holiday’s points and assists are at career highs this year and he’s even putting up a new mark in blocks (0.5 bpg). In 38 minutes of action per game, Holiday has quickly become the Sixers’ initiator and finisher on offense.
He’s developed a more consistent floater, one he’s been using quite a bit when he’s driving hard on a mismatched guard. His mid range and three-point shooting are at about the same rate as last year (45% fg, 40% from three so far this year), but his shot selection has shown noticeable improvement.
As the season has worn on, Holiday has also cut down his turnovers. In his last seven games, he’s at 2.6 per game (a darn good count for someone accounting for the majority of a team’s offensive momentum).
“That’s what good point guards do,” Thaddeus Young said. “He’s almost averaging a double-double. Those are definitely all-star numbers.”
Mohamed Abdihakim is a journalism student at Florida Atlantic University. He is a Phoenix Suns fan, who is not prepared for the possibility of Nash winning a title in a Lakers jersey. Mohamed is also a contributor at “Les Snobs”. Interests include International basketball, Mad Men, and blues music. Nearly all stats are credited to Hoopdata or Basketball-Reference.
Twitter handle: @Abdi_hakim
