On New Year’s Eve, Jrue Holiday made his return to the court for the Boston Celtics. He missed three games in a row but got back on the hardwood for their game against the Toronto Raptors, which was a complete and utter blowout. Boston earned a 54-point victory—their second-largest since 2000.
A slow start on the offense end was quickly replaced by a barrage of threes and a high-scoring second half. The Raptors couldn’t find an answer for the Celtics on either end of the floor, as Boston turned up their intensity in all aspects of the game. And it’s no coincidence that Holiday was active.
His impact often flies under the radar.
Jrue Holiday's defense makes a massive difference
After the game, head coach Joe Mazzulla spoke about Holiday’s impact in his return, and every Celtics fan should hear what he had to say.
“Obviously, getting him back healthy is big-time,” Mazzulla said. “I just think he brings stability, especially to our defense. It's another guy that can pressure the ball, it's another guy that could guard different positions, it's another guy that can execute defensively in different ways.
“And then, he didn't get a ton of looks, but he made the ones that he got. So, I think his impact and his presence mean more to us than he probably realizes.”
While Holiday was out, the Celtics went 1-2, and their two losses were two of their worst defensive showings of the season. They got outclassed by the Philadelphia 76ers on Christmas, and the Indiana Pacers rolled through them on Sunday night.
In each of those games, the Celtics just couldn’t find a way to get a stop, and a lot of their problems stemmed from individual defense. Tyrese Maxey and Tyrese Halibutron waltzed to the rim at will.
Though the Raptors are a significantly worse team than either of those squads, Holiday’s presence made a noticeable impact, and Mazzulla did his best to explain it.
As Mazzulla hinted at, Holiday’s defensive versatility gives the Celtics so many more options for their looks on that end of the floor. He allows them to switch match-ups, gives them an extra roamer, and helps glue the team together.
Without him, the Celtics are missing their best defensive leaders. In fact, he’s one of the best defensive glue guys in the entire NBA.
Boston may have blown out the Raptors with or without Holiday, but his defensive impact was painfully clear on Wednesday. Mazzulla knows it, the Celtics know it, and fans should understand it, too.
