(Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
For years, the Boston Celtics have had two very good players.
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are all-star-caliber guys and all-NBA players, and one might even say they could and should be perennial MVP candidates.
Nonetheless, as great a player as they are, the Celtics have lacked a leader during their days in the league.
Marcus Smart had that role, but perhaps his leadership style wasn’t what this core of players needed.
Now, they finally have one in Jrue Holiday.
The former Milwaukee Bucks star showed his championship pedigree by making some huge plays on both ends of the floor to ensure his new team avoided a major collapse in Game 1 vs. the Indiana Pacers.
With that in mind, Brown tipped his hat to Holiday, claiming that he was the reason why they were able to weather the storm and get the win (via Celtics on NBC Sports Boston).
“Jrue was fantastic… he’s the reason why we won this game.”
Jaylen Brown on Jrue Holiday’s big game vs. Pacers pic.twitter.com/kD6OdZxxpd
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) May 22, 2024
Holiday had his best game of the playoffs thus far, scoring 28 points to go along with seven rebounds, eight assists, three steals, and four three-pointers on 62% from the floor and 50% from deep.
He played his usual lockdown defense and knocked down some timely shots, all while also setting Jaylen Brown up for the game-tying three.
This is why the Celtics traded for him, and his addition might be the X-Factor this team needed to get over the hump.
Being the best player on a team doesn’t always translate to being the leader of a team or being cut out to deliver in big moments, and every team needs a guy like Jrue Holiday.
The post Jaylen Brown Credits 1 Celtics Veteran As The Reason For Game 1 Win appeared first on The Cold Wire.