Milwaukee Bucks hoping ‘underrated’ Jrue Holiday can help unlock a deep playoff run in the Eastern Conference | NBA.com India
Jrue Holiday recently signed a four year extension worth up to $ 160 million and is the point guard of Milwaukee Bucks for the foreseeable future.
With Holiday, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton, the Bucks have tied up over $ 100 million a season as the trio in hopes of bringing the franchise its first NBA title since 1971.
Now in season 12 of his NBA career, Holiday has consistently been dubbed one of the league’s most underrated players. Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer believes he deserves more credit for his play on both ends of the floor, especially on defense, where he’s guarded the most dynamic players in the game from Steph Curry to Kevin Durant.
“Ultimately, I think the two-way guys who are really special on both ends of the pitch are really, really good and really influence the game,” Budenholzer said before a recent game. “I think that part of our sport, the NBA game, is probably not valued as much by others outside of the game in a lot of different situations as it probably should be. Defense in general doesn’t generate as much conversation or appreciation and that is certainly one of his great strengths. “
Milwaukee missed 10 games after signing COVID-19 in February and only went 5-5 that stretch and was actually under .500 (6-7) when the security guard was not on the line-up.
After exposing symptoms of the virus took him along the track, it was a remarkable return to the ground for Holiday, who has had a tear over the past 15 games.
| PPG | role playing game | APG | SPG | 3P% | TS% | |
| The last 15 matches of Holiday | 21.1 | 4.5 | 6.8 | 1.8 | 50.8 | 59.9 |
“He’s so even and strong and dexterous. He never seems in a rush,” Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr said ahead of a recent game against Milwaukee.
“I love his pace as a basketball player. He can turn on the jets because he has speed and explosiveness, but it doesn’t really look like it because he’s so sleek. He goes anywhere he wants, he can every hand for that use around. ” Korb and he can shoot the 3-point shot either as a spot-up type or from dribbling. “
That ruse Kerr is talking about has served Holiday well so far this season. Working with Antetokounmpo and Middleton, the Bucks ran a top 5 offensive in the last few weeks of the regular season. Perhaps the biggest source of optimism for Milwaukee in the playoffs will be the number of big shots the 30-year-old has taken this season, including a game-winning jump shot from the left baseline in Memphis.
Step on the brakes. Game over.
?? @RussDarrowGroup pic.twitter.com/YgHyWMOGnO
– Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) March 5, 2021
Milwaukee’s big three in coupling time
| FGM | FGA | FG% | 3p | 3PA | 3P% | |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | 18th | 29 | 62.1 | 2 | 4th | 50 |
| Jrue Holiday | 12th | 24 | 50.0 | 3 | 7th | 42.9 |
| Khris Middleton | 11 | 32 | 34.4 | 4th | 16 | 25th |
At Holiday, Milwaukee has a third player he can turn to halfway up if he needs a basket, an option he just didn’t have a season ago.
“He’s a great all-round player. That’s the simple answer,” said Dallas Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle of Holiday. “Milwaukee’s takeover from him, I thought, was a key role. The moment Giannis missed a couple of games he becomes a more outstanding guy and in the games they win he’s a huge factor, he makes huge numbers .
“It’s a big job holding him back and the pattern I’ve seen with him over the years is that he’s a great team guy, a great guy just to understand how important it is that other guys are involved, but when his teams I got the main players out, he always took it to a significantly higher level. “
The Bucks will most likely have to navigate a series with the stacked Brooklyn Nets roster en route to the NBA Finals, with Holiday likely to hang out with all three of Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden. A recent dominant performance against Trae Young that reminded the league of his defensive skills.
Trae Young tonight with Jrue Holiday as main defender:
– 1-9 FG (7 of 9 contested shots)
– 5 sales pic.twitter.com/ydcuoauoLr
– ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) April 16, 2021
Recently acquired buck and well known defensive stopper PJ Tucker smiled when asked about the opportunity to play alongside the Veterans Guard.
“I think Jrue may be the best defender in the NBA in a few years,” said Tucker. “Nobody talks about the things he does night after night. He doesn’t boast, he doesn’t talk a lot so it goes under the radar to be out there with him, now I can really see it. It’s unreal.”
As a 2013 All-Star and two-time All-NBA Defensive team member, it could safely be argued that Holiday has earned more individual accolades over the course of his career, but Budenholzer and the Bucks will get on well with their man goes under the radar if it does comes to another long playoff run in the coming months.
“He’s the complete player who is really good at everything and I think his team-mates and coaches across the league just have the ultimate respect for him. That’s all that is really important to most of us,” said Budenholzer.
The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NBA or its clubs.
Comments are closed.