Surreal Celtics: How Jrue Holiday Transformed Boston into NBA Champions
When the Milwaukee Bucks traded for Damian Lillard last summer, they didn't anticipate Jrue Holiday ending up with their conference rivals, the Boston Celtics. Now, fewer than nine months later, the Celtics have hoisted their 18th championship banner, and Holiday has been a pivotal figure in their success.
Holiday's Transformative Impact
Holiday made the Celtics an entirely different team in ways both tangible and intangible. Known for his defensive prowess, he thrived in a role where he didn't have to be the primary scorer or creator. Instead, he filled all the right gaps and elevated Boston's defense to a suffocating level, an attribute that proved invaluable during their postseason run.
Brad Stevens' tenure with the Celtics has been marked by some incredible trades, including landing Kristaps Porzingis and Derrick White. However, many argue that acquiring Holiday surpassed even those achievements.
Masterclass Defensive Performance
Holiday's defensive capabilities were particularly highlighted during the series against the Dallas Mavericks. He was Boston's most valuable player in that series, capable of shutting down any opponent. Until Jayson Tatum's standout performance in the clincher on Monday, Holiday’s Game 2 performance was the single-game highlight of the series. One must go back to Michael Jordan in 1998 to find another player who scored at least 38 points with zero turnovers in the first two games of an NBA Finals, as Holiday did against Dallas.
The Mavericks' chances in the series dwindled as Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving struggled to generate consistent offensive leverage. Although Jaylen Brown impressed, it was Holiday who had Doncic and Irving in virtual shackles whenever he was on the floor. Such defensive domination led one NBA analyst to state, "I'm sure it happened at some point, but I can't recall Holiday getting truly beat one time in this series. Against Doncic and Irving? That is an insane thing to say."
Consistency and Versatility
Holiday's consistency throughout the series was remarkable. His presence on any contending team almost guarantees a title shot. If placed on the Knicks, Sixers, Clippers, or Lakers, and if any of those teams aren't winning a title, they're at least in the mix.
Holiday is the only player in the league to win two championships over the last four years, having played a crucial role in leading the Bucks to the 2021 championship against the Suns. Known for rendering elite guards ineffective, his defensive acumen is widely respected. Recently, Jalen Brunson hailed Holiday as the best defender in the league, and Holiday's lateral movement, flexibility, strength, and anticipation support this claim. He demoralizes opponents to the point where they hesitate to even want the ball in their hands.
Offensive Contributions
Holiday's contributions extend beyond defense. He consistently makes smart plays, whether it's handling the ball or cutting to the right spot. His ball-hawk instincts also help secure long offensive rebounds, a vital component in extending possessions. He wrapped up the playoffs with impressive shooting splits of 50-40-95, and in the Finals, he averaged just under 15 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists on 53-42-100 shooting splits.
During the clinching game, Holiday scored the first six points for the Celtics, feasting in the dunker's spot as Tatum drew the defense's attention. Doncic and Irving were all too happy to fall asleep as Holiday slipped in behind them. This impeccable display of chemistry and spatial awareness is a testament to his high basketball IQ.
A Season to Remember
Holiday earned himself a little more cash with the $1.2 million bonus worked into his contract for winning the championship, checking off every incentive bonus available to him and totaling an extra $2.8 million. In what has truly been a dream season, Holiday went from discovering he had been traded from the Bucks upon waking from a nap to winning the second championship of what is becoming a Hall of Fame career.
Holiday's impact on the Celtics has been immeasurable. In the world of professional sports, sometimes a single player can indeed make all the difference, and Jrue Holiday has proven to be such a player. His journey over the past year epitomizes the unpredictable and thrilling nature of the NBA, where one offseason move can change the trajectory of an entire franchise.