The Celtics eked out a 133-128 overtime thriller in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals vs. Indiana on Tuesday. Jayson Tatum led the team in scoring with 36 points and Jaylen Brown hit the biggest shot of the night, a three-pointer with five seconds left in regulation to tie the game. However, it was Jrue Holiday who earned the loudest praise from both locker rooms late on Tuesday night.
Holiday, who was named to the All-Defensive Second Team earlier in the day, filled the box score with 28 points, eight assists, seven rebounds, and three steals in a team-high 48 minutes while serving as the primary defender against Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton. Haliburton had 25 points and 10 assists in the game, but he did his damage against other Celtics players — he was 0-for-3 with zero points, three assists, and two turnovers when Holiday was guarding him, per NBA.com.
“He’s the best defender in the NBA,” Haliburton said of Holiday (Twitter video link). “He has been for a long time.”
“Jrue was fantastic,” Brown said, per Brian Robb of MassLive.com. “Jrue was exceptional. Shout out to Jrue. Jrue came out and balled, man. He’s the reason why we won his game. I think he just was poised, he took advantage of his matchups. He just was so, so elite in that. It’s a lot. And he’s guarding Haliburton, picking him up, chasing him around. That was special from Jrue Holiday.”
Here’s more from around the Atlantic:
- There’s “growing optimism” that Kristaps Porzingis could return to action for the Celtics as soon as Game 4 on Monday, sources tell Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. According to Wojnarowski, Boston wants to take a cautious approach with Porzingis, who has been out since April 30 due to a right calf strain, but he has been ramping up his basketball activities as of late. If the C’s keep winning, it could buy Porzingis some more recovery time, since there would be no urgency to bring him back on Monday if the club had a 3-0 series lead.
- Outlining what the Raptors‘ offseason might look like, Eric Koreen of The Athletic suggests that extending Scottie Barnes, re-signing Immanuel Quickley, and adding backcourt depth are the most important items on the team’s to-do list. Koreen identifies Bobi Klintman and Ryan Dunn as possible targets with the No. 19 and No. 31 picks in the draft and points to Monte Morris as a veteran point guard who might make sense in free agency.
- Gina Mizell of The Philadelphia Inquirer poses 10 general NBA offseason questions that will help shape the Sixers‘ offseason, including whether Paul George will sign an extension with the Clippers and whether the Heat would consider trading Jimmy Butler.
If I were Morey, I would trade Paul Reed and Picks first Mikal Bridges. That would give them about 45M left in cap space to build around Embiid, Maxey, Bridges, and the two-way guys they have under contract currently.
You could retain Oubre, Batum, and Payne on cheap deals, and then fill out the roster in FA.
Back up center, a starting PF and PG.
I wouldn’t hate this
Gobert and Mitchell trades each included 5 first round picks or swaps and actually PLAYABLE NBA talent(Kessler/Beasley, Lauri Markkanen).
Including the 2024 draft, 76ers can only trade or swap 4 picks and Paul Reed isn’t worth anything.
Nets playing in the same division, and reminding the fan base that he was traded away for Zhaire Smith isn’t great.
This is not remotely possible. And mortgaging the future for 2 years of a third option is a terrible idea.
Your best hope is Maxey ascending to super stardom to lead the team past the second round, which genuinely I think is possible. He’s amazing and fun to watch.
If they flame out again next year, what’s going to happen with no Tobias Harris or Doc Rivers or James Harden or Ben Simmons to blame? Will Joel finally get the blame he deserves or is it Morey next?
Your confidence in a guy who is always hurt, blames everyone else and can’t win in the playoffs has to wane eventually… right?
Goober was the most ridiculous massive overpay in nba history. Utah was enamored with b-ball Paul enough to offer him dollars.Maxey is a Star.Stop building a argument based on your envy based hate of joel emvp. Dismissed.
I have envy for championship banners and rings.
How original
If team success isn’t the proper way to judge, what is?
Riiiiight. The Rochester Royals send their regards
Mikal showed he isn’t a No. 1. He’s a No.2 or a very good No. 3 option. He’s not on the level of Mitchell. And the Gobert trade was a massive overpay that no one is going to replicate or use as a benchmark.
I am sure the Nets do not have the same opinion and they are the ones holding his rights.
Bridges will cost 4-5 firsts and/or a great player in return.
You dont have it. Morey has money, that is all.
4-5 FIRSTS?!?! FOR MIKAL BRIDGES? Buddy do us all a favor and never talk trades or player value again. Sillyman and Stankara couldn’t even say something that ridiculous. Well yes they could but still.
Why would the nets give up a young stud player like Bridges? Because the Sixers want him and Morey asks nicely?
No, sorry Philly, you are not getting George or Bridges. You might get Durant, but I doubt it. Trae Young come on to Philly. That is what you are looking at and you will have to outbid the Lakers to get him.
This is why building a team like the Celtics and Minny is the best way to get good. Philly just wants to add stars and hope for the best.
YOUNG STUD?!? Who the hell is CF and what hole did you crawl out of? Every single stat for Mikal was down last year except the amount of shots he was taking. THATS NOT GOOD. Nets aren’t going anywhere with Mikal. THATS NOT GOOD! Why has this site been bombarded by dumbassery in the last week and a half.
The Nets turned down a nice offer for Bridges at the deadline. But I doubt Houston makes the same offer it again.
Bucks taking on Lilliard and dumping Holiday is the gift that keeps on giving.
Really dumb move by the Bucks, will probably costs them in the end. Possibly Giannis.
Yeah, because the Bucks with Holiday did so much better against the Heat during the first round in last season’s playoffs.
Yeah, and the Bucks, who won chip with Holiday, overreacted and blew it up.
The Bucks needed offense so they took a chance thinking they had enough defense with Giannis and a healthy Middleton and Crowder. The healthy Middleton and Crowder thing didn’t happen during the regular season then an injured Giannis and a hobbled Lillard happened in the playoffs.
I get all that. their decision helped the Celtics immensely. No arguing that.
I’m with Chucktoad1. Not fully, since the Bucks did have games where Middleton played 25 or more minutes in the regular season and still got outscored by 10+, but the Bucks weren’t fully healthy for most of the year. Similar story to the Cavs. They succeeded in finishing with a high seed, but ran out of players and opportunities. Knicks too. It happens. It *sucks*, but it happens.
I think the Bucks should perform better next season, especially since they likely won’t be running Malik “Can’t Guard Jack” Beasley as their starting 2-guard, compounding the issues with Dame’s defense. Dame probably also won’t struggle that much with his own efficiency, either. He didn’t look comfortable the whole season, probably because of the nonstop mix-and-match with players and coaches going on.
I’m with chuck toad too. It just doesn’t have anything to do with the original commenter’s point.
He was responding to CF, who called the whole move dumb from their perspective. Which… no?
@Eon Thank you, it’s hard to differentiate who you’re responding too on the website and I usually forget the @ as it’s not necessary on the app.