76ers upbeat about youthful guard Holiday's upside

MAITLAND, Fla. -- He is, by nearly nine months, the youngest of 77 players here for the NBA Summer League, and 76ers rookie guard Jrue Holiday, who just turned 19 last month, certainly has as much in front of him as anyone in attendance.

On Thursday afternoon, it was a plate of Chik-fil-A nuggets and waffle fries, eaten shortly after he watched a joint team of 76ers and Nets lose for the fourth time in as many days.

"Today was a setback, but every day before that, I grew as a player," said Holiday, wearing a backwards Nationals cap and a black Nike Air Jordan "two3" backpack at courtside. "Just energy. My energy, I'm supposed to bring it. We had spurts and points where we had it, but it wasn't a full game."

Holiday's line Thursday in a 21-point loss to Oklahoma City is what you'd expect from a teenager playing in his first week as a pro -- seven points in 27 minutes, with more turnovers (four) than assists (two), but two steals and a block as well. In four games, he has 14 turnovers against 11 assists, but on a cobbled-together roster in Summer League, 76ers coach Eddie Jordan said the turnovers are to be expected.

"That wasn't a concern," Jordan said. "You're playing against guys from D-league, against some veterans trying to make teams. You're going to have some turnovers and some breakdowns. ... He did a good job directing traffic, defends very well, contains his man. He has a lot of point-guard personality."

He's in a difficult position, with only two true teammates -- second-year center Marreese Speights and undrafted rookie guard Dionte Christmas -- joining a roster of Nets for a combined squad. Still, the 76ers have liked what they've seen in their first look at their point guard of the future.

"What I really like about the kid is he'll defend," said 76ers president Ed Stefanski, watching from the stands this week.

A year ago, Holiday was the highest rated point guard in his high school class, and after the requisite one season at UCLA, he was taken by the 76ers with the 17th pick in last month's draft.

If there was a model for the kind of rookie season Holiday might like to have, it would be in the former UCLA guard lined up across from him Thursday: Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook, who jumped in as a rookie last season and averaged 15.3 points on a team that went 23-59 after a disastrous start.

But Holiday is on a team with postseason expectations, especially with star Elton Brand returning from injury. Philadelphia's season ended against Orlando, losing 4-2 in the opening round of the Playoffs.

How much will be asked of Holiday in his first NBA season? That could change drastically in the next few days. Veteran point guard Andre Miller, the 76ers' starter the past three seasons, is a free agent, and the team is unlikely to pay him the money his agent is publicly seeking.

That leaves Louis Williams, who is still just 22 after four seasons as a backup, preparing to be a starter since the 76ers drafted him out of high school.

Holiday is getting acclimated to being a point guard again after spending last season primarily as a shooting guard, lined up alongside UCLA's Darren Collison, who also went in the first round to New Orleans.

Compared to the other standout rookies in Orlando, Holiday stands out for his youth -- Oklahoma City's James Harden turns 20 next month, New Jersey's Terrence Williams just turned 22, and Indiana's Tyler Hansbrough is 23. What Holiday lacks in experience, he counters with upside, something the 76ers are excited to have this fall.

"He has no fear. He has a lot of confidence, "Jordan said. "We like that he's a very poised young man, on the court and off the court, and that he competes very hard."

The Jazz, down 21 to start the fourth quarter, rallied to force overtime, then shut the Magic out in the extra session, getting 25 points from rookie forward Derrick Brown.

Brown, loaned to the Jazz by the Bobcats, who drafted him but aren't fielding a summer team, hit a 3-point play with 14 seconds left to tie the game.

Utah's Kevin Kruger had 16 points off the bench, including four free throws in overtime, and rookie guard Wes Matthews had 15 points off the bench.

Orlando star Ryan Anderson had 26 points and nine rebounds, while forward Kasib Powell had 13 and 10 for the Magic. Both teams are now 2-2.

Indiana's Roy Hibbert and Tyler Hansbrough continue to be a dominant frontcourt, with Hibbert scoring 28 and Hansbrough 22 to keep the Pacers unbeaten at 4-0.

Boston's Nick Fazekas had two free throws with 7.1 seconds left, trailing 89-88, but he missed both, and Hansbrough hit two free throws at the other end. Fazekas got a shot at redemption, but his 3-pointer fell short in the final second, allowing the Pacers to escape.

Fazekas had 14 points and nine rebounds off the bench, and undrafted rookie guard Chris Lofton of Tennessee went 6-for-8 on 3-pointers to finish with a team-high 21 points.

Indiana can close out a perfect week with a win Friday against host Orlando, while Boston finishes its week against the 0-4 Nets/Sixers.