Donovan Mitchell was stunned. Jrue Holiday had just been served on a raise. A left hand framing, then a “crossover” to return to his right hand and finish at the circle without any help coming to compensate for the moment of absence of the Cavs rear.
On the Cleveland floor, the Celtics playmaker scored one of the first baskets at the heart of a great evening for him, so far on the basis of his smallest career playoff campaign (excluding injury).
“ Jrue is an animal. He dominated on both ends of the court. He scored baskets at the right time. This is the Jrue Holiday we know, love and played against. Tonight, Jrue gave a 'masterclass'. What a match for him “, exclaims Jaylen Brown.
Double its average
Since the start of the season, Jrue Holiday has constantly told Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum and the other Celtics not to worry about him when it comes to shooting opportunities. “ I will do it by myself “, he said. That’s precisely what he did against the Cavs.
Skillful behind the arc (3/4), the playmaker was very incisive in his attacks from the circle, particularly in the first period. To the point of finishing with twice as many points as his playoff average before this match: 18 points (7/10), 8 rebounds and 5 assists, compared to 8 points previously (at only 36%…). The former Bucks player had not scored so much since… February 9.
“ Jrue was incredible tonight. He is, in a way, the glue that holds us all together. It literally does everything you need it to do. He sometimes sacrifices himself, taking fewer than ten shots in two straight games. But on an evening where he can attack advantageous duels, post up the guys, shoot 3-pointers […], it makes us even better », Judge Jayson Tatum.
Aggressive on both ends of the court
Especially in a new evening without Kristaps Porzingis and with clumsy Al Horford and Derrick White (5/20 between them). “ On both ends of the pitch, I think he played very well, he was very solid. When he has such an impact on us, we are a different team. He set the tone tonight with his physique and his defense », continues Joe Mazzulla.
A cocktail that he wanted to apply to the major player opposite, Donovan Mitchell: “ I thought about being aggressive. We know that Donovan will be aggressive on one side of the pitch, but we have to make him work on the other because he defends on me. There are a lot of moments where I can deflect or do something else and I figured by attacking him, he might be even more exhausted in the third or fourth quarter. »
Jrue Holiday even had the luxury of countering his opponent (33 points at 12/22) in the circle after a spin move. “ I think from the start I tried to be aggressive with him in defense and not give him space. Even if he's going to score and he's going to do all that. Then on offense I think you just have to be aggressive, get in the paint and make it work a little bit more », Continues Celtic.
Mission accomplished in this match.
| Jrue Holiday | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2009-10 | PHL | 73 | 24 | 44.2 | 39.0 | 75.6 | 0.8 | 1.9 | 2.6 | 3.8 | 2.1 | 1.1 | 2.1 | 0.3 | 8.0 |
| 2010-11 | PHL | 82 | 35 | 44.6 | 36.5 | 82.3 | 0.8 | 3.2 | 4.1 | 6.5 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 2.7 | 0.4 | 14.0 |
| 2011-12 | PHL | 65 | 34 | 43.2 | 38.0 | 78.3 | 0.9 | 2.4 | 3.3 | 4.5 | 2.1 | 1.6 | 2.1 | 0.3 | 13.5 |
| 2012-13 | PHL | 78 | 38 | 43.1 | 36.8 | 75.2 | 1.1 | 3.1 | 4.2 | 8.0 | 2.2 | 1.6 | 3.7 | 0.4 | 17.7 |
| 2013-14 | NOP | 34 | 34 | 44.7 | 39.0 | 81.0 | 0.8 | 3.4 | 4.2 | 7.9 | 2.7 | 1.7 | 3.1 | 0.4 | 14.3 |
| 2014-15 | NOP | 40 | 33 | 44.6 | 37.8 | 85.5 | 0.8 | 2.6 | 3.4 | 6.9 | 2.8 | 1.6 | 2.3 | 0.6 | 14.8 |
| 2015-16 | NOP | 65 | 28 | 43.9 | 33.6 | 84.3 | 0.4 | 2.6 | 3.0 | 6.0 | 2.3 | 1.4 | 2.6 | 0.3 | 16.8 |
| 2016-17 | NOP | 67 | 33 | 45.4 | 35.6 | 70.8 | 0.7 | 3.3 | 3.9 | 7.3 | 2.0 | 1.5 | 2.9 | 0.7 | 15.4 |
| 2017-18 | NOP | 81 | 36 | 49.4 | 33.7 | 78.6 | 0.8 | 3.7 | 4.5 | 6.0 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 2.6 | 0.8 | 19.0 |
| 2018-19 | NOP | 67 | 36 | 47.2 | 32.5 | 76.8 | 1.1 | 3.9 | 5.0 | 7.7 | 2.2 | 1.6 | 3.1 | 0.8 | 21.2 |
| 2019-20 | NOP | 61 | 35 | 45.5 | 35.3 | 70.9 | 1.3 | 3.5 | 4.8 | 6.7 | 2.4 | 1.6 | 3.0 | 0.8 | 19.1 |
| 2020-21 | MIL | 59 | 32 | 50.3 | 39.2 | 78.7 | 1.2 | 3.3 | 4.5 | 6.1 | 1.7 | 1.6 | 2.2 | 0.6 | 17.7 |
| 2021-22 | MIL | 67 | 33 | 50.1 | 41.1 | 76.1 | 1.0 | 3.5 | 4.5 | 6.8 | 2.0 | 1.6 | 2.7 | 0.4 | 18.3 |
| 2022-23 | MIL | 67 | 33 | 47.9 | 38.4 | 85.9 | 1.2 | 3.9 | 5.1 | 7.4 | 1.7 | 1.2 | 2.9 | 0.4 | 19.3 |
| 2023-24 | BOS | 69 | 33 | 48.0 | 42.9 | 83.3 | 1.2 | 4.2 | 5.4 | 4.8 | 1.6 | 0.9 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 12.5 |
| Total | 975 | 33 | 46.3 | 37.1 | 78.4 | 1.0 | 3.2 | 4.2 | 6.4 | 2.2 | 1.4 | 2.7 | 0.5 | 16.1 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
