Jrue Holiday provides a steadying presence for the Celtics in Games 3 & 4
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown applied the finishing touches to the Boston Celtics’ Game 4 win, but it was Jrue Holiday who provided a steadying presence throughout.
The big story of the Boston Celtics’ 109-102 Game 4 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday night was the stars. Jayson Tatum (33) and Jaylen Brown (28) both scored over 25 points for the second game in a row, lifting the C’s over a Cavaliers team that played with plenty of fight despite being without leading scorer Donovan Mitchell.
However, it was more of a late surge from Tatum and Brown than a consistent effort that got the Celtics over the hump. The two combined for 15 points in the fourth quarter, after scoring just 17 combined over the first 18 minutes of the second half. They were also responsible for nine of the Celtics’ 14 team turnovers.
That’s not to take away from the performances of Tatum and Brown. They took over the game the way many have been waiting for them to do throughout the playoffs. But it did take stretches for them to find their balance. In those stretches the team needed another steadying presence – and got one from guard Jrue Holiday.
It’s really been a strong trip to Cleveland for Holiday overall. In Game 3, when guard Derrick White struggled offensively for the first time this playoffs, it was Holiday who stepped up. He scored 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting, going 3-of-4 from three and adding eight rebounds and five assists.
However, in that game his performance felt more in junction with Tatum (who had 33 that night) and Brown (28). On Monday, there were times where he felt like he was leading the way in holding off a Cavaliers team that was playing inspired basketball without Mitchell.
Just how much did the Celtics lean on Holiday in this one? He played 43 minutes in this one, setting a new playoff season-high and coming a minute short of his overall season-high.
In that time Holiday scored 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting, while going 4-of-8 from three. He had seven rebounds, five assists, and three steals. Highlighting his impact though is his plus-minus of plus-six, which was second on the team for the game (behind only Al Horford, who despite having a rough night at times defensively finished plus-11 in 28 minutes).
Again, this represents a bit of a turnaround for Holiday. He started the playoffs on a slower pace, averaging 8.1 points on 36.1 percent shooting with 4.6 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 35.5 minutes per game over the first seven games. In the two games in Cleveland he’s nearly doubled his scoring average, is shooting over 61 percent from the floor and has made much more of an impact defensively.
So, what has head coach Joe Mazzulla seen that’s led to this turnaround over the last two games?
“Just stability defensively and he’s starting to be more aggressive on the offensive end,” Mazzulla said when asked about Jrue Holiday after Game 4. “When he’s aggressive, both him, Derrick, and our bench – like – [we’re a] different team. So he’s finding his groove offensively with his shot selection and his playmaking. And then defensively, just the versatility. I mean, we must have played five, six different defenses tonight, and he has the ability to communicate those, [and] get the matchup where they need to go. He’s been great.”
“They’re our X-factors,” Brown said after the game when asked about Holiday and White. “I think when one of them is playing well or both of them are playing well, it makes us extremely tough to beat…on offense Jrue had it going last night, Jrue had it going tonight, and that’s the Jrue we need going forward.”
Holiday and the Celtics will try to keep things going when the series returns to Boston on Wednesday for a potential closeout Game 5 at TD Garden.
Keep scrolling for Jrue Holiday highlights…
2024 PGA Championship storylines
It is officially PGA Championship week! The second major championship of the 2024 season gets underway this week in Kentucky! For the fourth time in the history of the tournament, and the first since 2014, the PGA Championship will be held at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky.
The defending champion of the tournament this year is Brooks Koepka, who won his third PGA Championship last year at Oak Hill Country Club. The man who won it last time it was at Valhalla in 2014 is Rory Mcilroy, who hasn’t won a major championship since that victory.
Here are a few storylines to look forward to ahead of the PGA Championship this week!
But before that, here’s some info on the PGA Championship:
Jack Nickalus and Walter Hagen have won the most PGA Championships throughout the tournament’s history. They have each won it 5 times.
The last three winners of the tournament have all won the PGA Championship at least once before. In 2021 Phil Mickelson won his second PGA title (2005), in 2022 Justin Thomas won his second PGA title (2017), and in 2023 Brooks Koepka won his third PGA title (2018, 2019).
Scottie Scheffler will look to become the first golfer to win consecutive majors since 2015 when fellow Texan Jordan Spieth won The Masters and the U.S. Open consecutively.
The 2024 Tournament will be the 106th playing of the PGA Championship. It will be the fourth tournament held at Valhalla Golf Club. It was previously played at Valhalla in 1996, 2000, and 2014.
The PGA Championship has been held in the Month of May since 2019 (with the exception of 2020, which was moved due to COVID). It was previously held in the month of August.
CAN RORY FIND MAJOR GLORY AGAIN AT VALHALLA?
LOUISVILLE, KY – AUGUST 10: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland poses with the Wanamaker trophy after his one-stroke victory during the final round of the 96th PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club on August 10, 2014 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)
Rory McIlroy’s last major championship victory was in August of 2014 and it came at Valhalla. The Northern Irishman held off Phil Mickelson and Rickie Fowler to win his fourth major title and second consecutive major in 2014. However, he hasn’t been able to cross the finish line in a major as a champion since. Can he finally get his fifth major title in the place that he won his last? He enters in terrific form, having just won the Wells Fargo Championship last week.
CAN JORDAN SPIETH COMPLETE THE CAREER GRAND SLAM?
AUGUSTA, GEORGIA – APRIL 12: Jordan Spieth of the United States follows his shot from the fourth tee during the second round of the 2024 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 12, 2024 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
McIlroy missed his shot at the career grand slam last month at Augusta, now Jordan Spieth is on career Grand Slam watch. The three time major champion is on his 7th attempt to win a Wanamaker Trophy. However, he has been dealing with a wrist injury recently and hasn’t been in contention at all recently. Can Spieth battle through the injury and claim the career slam? I can’t see it happening. But the storyline is certainly something to watch for.
SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER….WHAT CAN WE EXPECT?
AUGUSTA, GEORGIA – APRIL 14: Scottie Scheffler of the United States poses with the Masters trophy after winning the 2024 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 14, 2024 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)
What can we expect out of Scottie Scheffler this week? The new dad will be making his first start since the RBC Heritage in April and hasn’t finished lower than T2 since February. Could the pressure of winning back to back majors be too much? Could the pressure of winning his fifth tournament in six starts be too much? Who knows. But it will be interesting to see how Scheffler performs this week with such a big spotlight on him.
CAN JUSTIN THOMAS WIN IN HIS HOME STATE?
TULSA, OKLAHOMA – MAY 22: Justin Thomas of the USA celebrates with the Wanamaker Trophy after the final round of the PGA Championship at Southern Hills Country Club on May 22, 2022 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)
The kid from Kentucky will look to win his third Wanamaker this week at Valhalla. After a very down year in 2023, Thomas has been on an up and down ride in 2024. However, what should be most concerning with JT is his play in the recent majors. Since winning the PGA Championship in 2022, Thomas has played in seven majors and missed the cut in four of them. His best finish in the ones that he’s made the weekend is a T37. Can a return to his home state help him regain some major form and get him his 3rd PGA Championship victory?
CAN BROOKS KOEPKA REPEAT?
ROCHESTER, NEW YORK – MAY 21: Brooks Koepka of the United States celebrates with the Wanamaker Trophy after winning the 2023 PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club on May 21, 2023 in Rochester, New York. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
It’s the PGA Championship, so you have to keep an eye on Brooks Koepka. The reigning champ, and three time winner of the tournament, is coming off a win at his last LIV event in Singapore. Can he be the first guy to repeat as PGA Champion since, well, himself? He successfully defended his 2018 title in 2019, so he knows what it takes to repeat at this tournament.
WILL TALOR GOOCH MAKE GOOD USE OF HIS EXEMPTION?
CADIZ, SPAIN – JULY 2: Talor Gooch of RangeGoats GC poses with the trophy after winning the LIV Golf – Andalucia at Real Club Valderrama on July 2, 2023 in Cadiz, Spain. (Photo by Octavio Passos/Getty Images)
Sticking with LIV golfers, Talor Gooch is a man to keep an eye on. He has been very vocal against the PGA Tour and the majors since he joined the LIV Tour. Gooch, along with a few other LIV golfers, was granted a special exemption into this week’s tournament. Can he prove the PGA right that they gave him an exemption and improve on his career best T14 at a major?
