"I said, 'Jrue, it's important for you that you rest any time you get a chance,' " Collins said. " 'Take time to get away and relax, because we have a tough 40 games.' "
Actually, the Sixers (18-25) have 39 regular-season games remaining, and who knows about the postseason? They remain in contention for one of the final two Eastern Conference playoff spots.
Last season, Holiday averaged 24 minutes in 73 games, including 51 starts, but much of his playing time came in the second half of the season. He started the final 41 games, beginning Jan. 22. So he was just beginning to get significant playing time at this stage last year.
This season, he has appeared in all 43 games and is averaging 35 minutes.
"Physically, I am not" tired, Holiday said after Sunday's practice, "but mentally it's kind of different because last year I didn't play half as many minutes as I did already" at a similar stage.
For the season, Holiday is averaging 14.5 points, 6.5 assists, and 2.8 turnovers and is shooting 42 percent.
In the last four games, he has averaged 12.0 points, 5.3 assists, and 2.3 turnovers. What has suffered is his shooting. He has shot 18 for 57 (32 percent) in that span.
He struggled offensively in Saturday's 96-85 win over the visiting Utah Jazz, shooting 3 for 12 and scoring nine points. He snapped a streak of 14 games in double figures.
Collins, however, said it was Holiday's best defensive performance of the season. Deron Williams, one of the NBA's elite point guards, scored 20 points but shot 7 for 19, and had 14 assists but committed five turnovers.
"He was tremendous on Deron Williams," Collins said. "He was great, and what happens is that it takes some starch out of your offensive game."
Collins talked about the importance of players' getting that second wind during games 40 through 60.
When asked how he would get a second wind, Holiday was his usual candid self: "I don't know, because this is the first year I had to go through this."
