The X-Factor For A Celtics Championship
After making six Eastern Conference appearances in eight years, the Celtics have another opportunity in the NBA Finals to win a championship. This time, loaded with more talent and experience. Here's why Jrue Holiday, their big off-season trade acquisition, could determine the outcome.
Matches On Kyrie And Luka
The Mavericks' elite offense is powered by their guards, Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. Dallas relies heavily on both to contribute over 25 points per game to facilitate the offense and create for others. The duo of Kyrie and Luka has been impossible to stop throughout the playoffs, which makes Jrue Holiday even more crucial.
Holiday is a six-time all-NBA defender and is consistently ranked as one of the best defenders in the league. With the Celtics, he's taken more of a free safety role, allowing him to roam and use his instincts when needed. With two guards with the offensive magnitude of Luka and Kyrie, Holiday's perimeter defense will be crucial.
Kristaps Porzingis is Boston's best rim protector, and he's fresh off an injury. Jrue Holiday's perimeter defense also impacts the Celtics' rim protection. If Kyrie and Luka can easily break down defenses and get to the mid-range, that puts much extra pressure on Porzingis and Al Horford.
Depth Scoring
After the top-scoring duos on both teams of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown for the Celtics and Kyrie and Luka for the Mavs, the depth pieces of each team have become increasingly more important. For the year, Holiday has averaged 13 points on close to 50/40 shooting splits, and his offensive role is crucial to outpowering the Mavs.
Holiday leveled up his game in the playoffs, especially the last two series. Holiday has averaged close to 19 points per game and six assists. If Holiday can tire out his defensive assignment and contribute consistent double-figures every game, Boston's offense becomes even more difficult to stop.
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