Jrue Holiday had a good season last year — he was an All-Star who averaged 17.7 points and 8 assists a game. He took on a lot more of the Philadelphia offense and produced some good numbers.
But not efficient ones — he shot 43.1 percent overall, a respectable 36 percent from three but he didn’t get to the line a lot and he turned the ball over more than you would like. The result was at PER of 16.7 (not far above the league average) and a True Shooting Percentage (essentially points per shot attempt counting free throws and threes) of 49.6, again well below the league average.
Holiday is excited about what is being built in New Orleans, where he was traded and pairs up with Anthony Davis, Tyreke Evans, Eric Gordon and other young, talented players. But he knows he needs to be more efficient, he told Hoopsworld’s Alex Kennedy.“I’m excited, man,” Holiday said. “Obviously, I’m in the right place. … I feel we’ll grow together because all of us have three- or four-year contracts and all of us are going to learn with each other, learn each other’s ways and tendencies. From there, big things can happen….
Holiday says that he’s determined to “be more efficient” next year, which is a good goal for the young point guard…
“He had Chris Paul,” Holiday said of (Pelicans coach Monty) Williams, who coached Paul in New Orleans during the 2010-11 season. “So from a coaching standpoint, he can help make me more efficient and better as a point guard. I’m just going to continue learning every day.”
For Holiday to become more efficient, reducing turnovers is the start — 17.3 percent of the possessions he used last season ended in a turnover. He will have the ball a lot, that number has to come down.
The other key is to finish better. Last season Holiday shot 52 percent in the restricted area and 35.5 percent in the rest of the key. He has a nice midrange jumper (particularly on the left side of the court) and you have to respect him from three, but if you drive the lane you have to have the threat of a finish to really make it work. Holiday didn’t do that and it has to change. Finish and a lot of things open up.
It’s going to be a bit of a learning process in New Orleans this year, but they have one of the most intriguing young rosters in the league. If the franchise is patient and waits a couple years for this all to meld — and if it does meld — there could be something special going on in the Big Easy. And part of it melding is Holiday becoming more efficient — that he understands it is a big first step.