Jrue Holiday is a Winner

[ManchesterCelticsFan]

In game 3, Jrue kept driving to the hoop, drawing multiple defenders, passing it out to open Celtics teammates. Even if Jrue didn't get the direct assist himself, subsequent passes led to high percentage shots. He did this all game in addition to his relentless defense. He was running everywhere. He does so much that effects winning that doesn't necessarily show on the box score stat sheet. What a trade by Brad Steven's!

[liam]

In game 3, Jrue kept driving to the hoop, drawing multiple defenders, passing it out to open Celtics teammates. Even if Jrue didn't get the direct assist himself, subsequent passes led to high percentage shots. He did this all game in addition to his relentless defense. He was running everywhere. He does so much that effects winning that doesn't necessarily show on the box score stat sheet. What a trade by Brad Steven's!

Yeah, Jrue would still be my MVP for the finals.

[Kuberski33]

Jrue's a stud. I guess I didn't realize how good he was till this season. And he's taken things to another level since probably early April/late March. Like White, the guy is relentless and just keeps grinding. Plus he's close to automatic with those corner 3's.

[Birdman]

If we had Holiday last 2 seasons, I truly believe we be 3 peat

[jambr380]

If we had Holiday last 2 seasons, I truly believe we be 3 peat

That's a stretch. The Jays just were not yet mature enough and we very easily could have ended up with the infamous 'Playoff Jrue' in one of those runs.

He absolutely came as advertised throughout the season and playoffs, though, and we don't win with an injured Brogdon/Rob. I was really impressed with how he continued to play better and better the deeper we got into the playoffs. I'll also happily take this run to the Finals every year. Pretty stress-free all things considered.

[Bobshot]

I didn't see a thread on here, but I just wanted to salute the Celtics on winning their record 18th NBA Championship. I've seen them all.
This is certainly one of the most dominating of the Celtics teams I've seen--comparable to the great Russell teams of the 50s and 60s.

The co-MVPs of this playoffs are the Starting Five: Tatum, Brown, Holiday, Horford and White. One of the best Celtics starting fives ever.
Porzingis was also a major factor during the season.

We can thank Danny Ainge and Brad Stevens for putting this team together, and the coach Joe Mazzulla and his staff for guiding it.
And Wyc, the owner, for his persistence and financial support.

The Celtics are once again World Champions! How sweet it is for Boston.

[celticinorlando]

Jrue's real value was always going to be seen in the playoffs. What a run.

[Roy H.]

I don't understand what Milwaukee was thinking.  It's like divorcing your loving, supportive wife who is also beautiful, a great mother and a world class chef, in hopes that you can do better.

[trickybilly]

I didn't see a thread on here, but I just wanted to salute the Celtics on winning their record 18th NBA Championship. I've seen them all.
This is certainly one of the most dominating of the Celtics teams I've seen--comparable to the great Russell teams of the 50s and 60s.

The co-MVPs of this playoffs are the Starting Five: Tatum, Brown, Holiday, Horford and White. One of the best Celtics starting fives ever.
Porzingis was also a major factor during the season.

We can thank Danny Ainge and Brad Stevens for putting this team together, and the coach Joe Mazzulla and his staff for guiding it.
And Wyc, the owner, for his persistence and financial support.

The Celtics are once again World Champions! How sweet it is for Boston.

You could actually make the case that each if those five had an MVP game in the finals.

[celticinorlando]

The Bucks trading Jrue gave the Celtics the title. Chasing an aging Dame doomed them.

I like Brogdan...but he can't do anything like Jrue does.

[Kernewek]

I don't understand what Milwaukee was thinking.  It's like divorcing your loving, supportive wife who is also beautiful, a great mother and a world class chef, in hopes that you can do better.

Milwaukee is a good example of a rudderless front office - and I think it's somewhat foolish to look at what they do with any real expectation of good ideas or deep thinking.

However, if we go back to the beginning of last offseason and look at how the Bucks had performed with Holiday in the two years after they won their championship, it does make sense.  In other words, if Milwaukee stands pat, they're probably not winning another ring with Jrue.

The fact that he wound up in Boston, replacing two oft-injured players as a perfect missing piece who wound up having a career year is post hoc, right: How many players, let alone guards, have their best seasons at age 33? Does Milwaukee decline to trade him if they have perfect foresight and know Portland would send him our way? &c.

[Roy H.]

I don't understand what Milwaukee was thinking.  It's like divorcing your loving, supportive wife who is also beautiful, a great mother and a world class chef, in hopes that you can do better.

Milwaukee is a good example of a rudderless front office - and I think it's somewhat foolish to look at what they do with any real expectation of good ideas or deep thinking.

However, if we go back to the beginning of last offseason and look at how the Bucks had performed with Holiday in the two years after they won their championship, it does make sense.  In other words, if Milwaukee stands pat, they're probably not winning another ring with Jrue.

The fact that he wound up in Boston, replacing two oft-injured players as a perfect missing piece who wound up having a career year is post hoc, right: How many players, let alone guards, have their best seasons at age 33? Does Milwaukee decline to trade him if they have perfect foresight and know Portland would send him our way? &c.

I think Milwaukee should have anticipated him landing in Philly, Miami, Boston or with the Clippers.  I also think it was foreseeable that they'd miss his defense.

[BudweiserCeltic]

What a difference a change in circumstances can make, I pretty much had written Jrue off in the past couple of year during which is playoffs performances have been questionable, particularly when we saw it up close vs the Celtics in 2022.

[green_bballers13]

What a warrior. 2x champ and he?s ours for the future. Lets run it back!

[Kernewek]

I don't understand what Milwaukee was thinking.  It's like divorcing your loving, supportive wife who is also beautiful, a great mother and a world class chef, in hopes that you can do better.

Milwaukee is a good example of a rudderless front office - and I think it's somewhat foolish to look at what they do with any real expectation of good ideas or deep thinking.

However, if we go back to the beginning of last offseason and look at how the Bucks had performed with Holiday in the two years after they won their championship, it does make sense.  In other words, if Milwaukee stands pat, they're probably not winning another ring with Jrue.

The fact that he wound up in Boston, replacing two oft-injured players as a perfect missing piece who wound up having a career year is post hoc, right: How many players, let alone guards, have their best seasons at age 33? Does Milwaukee decline to trade him if they have perfect foresight and know Portland would send him our way? &c.

I think Milwaukee should have anticipated him landing in Philly, Miami, Boston or with the Clippers.  I also think it was foreseeable that they'd miss his defense.

I think, for Milwaukee, neither of those things matter to some degree.  If we cast our minds back to late September, it's pretty clear that the Bucks are fairly unlikely to win another ring with Holiday, and at some point you need to trade good players to get good players back. To that end, sending out a guy who isn't likely to help you win another ring with your current roster for a guy who could is par for the course in any given offseason.

Obviously (to our great benefit), it didn't work out for Milwaukee - and, again, they're hardly the model of front-office competence - but it's an understandable move, given that Middleton wasn't really a valuable trade piece and and Giannis is obviously staying put.