The Boston Celtics have been operating without Jrue Holiday since he suffered a hamstring injury in their Game 2 win over the Orlando Magic.
While the severity of that strain is undisclosed information, the Celtics will remain patient, understanding the potential consequences of rushing him back.
The NBA's reigning champions efficiently ending their series vs. the Magic in five games bought Holiday nearly a full week between rounds. Considering how unlikely it was that he would've returned in Round 1, that was probably most beneficial to his teammates, who avoided continuing to shoulder a heavier workload in his absence.
Even with their current approach, stressing patience, returning to the intensity of playoff minutes is a situation that will have the team and fan base holding their collective breath, hoping Holiday remains in the lineup upon rejoining the fold.
As for the prospect of the former All-Star returning for Game 1 of Boston's Eastern Conference Semifinals series vs. the New York Knicks, taking place Monday at TD Garden, here's the update Joe Mazzulla provided on a Friday Zoom call.
"Yeah, day to day," Mazzulla said. "He's getting better every day. [He's] doing everything he can to make sure he puts himself in [a] position to try and come back as fast as he can. He's working hard."
Derrick White sings the praises of the Sportsmanship Award winner
Friday, Holiday earned the Joe Dumars Trophy for winning the 2024-25 NBA Sportsmanship Award. He also received that honor in 2020-21. He's the fifth player in league history to win this award in multiple years.
Friday, fellow backcourtmate Derrick White voiced his admiration for what Holiday brings on the court and, more importantly, the person he is off it.
"He's a great guy," said White. "Someone that you look up to. He just does it all the right way. He doesn't want any of the praise or recognition. He's definitely one of the best people in this game. Obviously, he's a great player, but the person he is, is unbelievable. I've learned so much from him and his family. I've loved having him on this team."
