Jrue Holiday, a key addition for the Boston Celtics this offseason, is due back from a strained right hamstring. He’ll be with the staff when they open their Eastern Conference finals series against the New York Knicks on Monday night. His millions of fans the world over can’t wait to see his return. He sat out the last three games of Boston’s first-round series victory against the Orlando Magic due to this injury.
During an open practice session on Saturday, Holiday proved that he’d come a long way by focusing on improving multiple facets of his game. Reports indicate that he was able to “work on everything he wanted to work on,” which has raised optimism about his readiness for the upcoming match. As for Brown, he hasn’t appeared on the Celtics’ updated injury report. This raises the optimism that he will be prepared to suit up in Game 1.
Holiday’s contributions to the team are substantial. Widely considered one of the Celtics’ best defenders, his on-ball presence is a linchpin to their drop coverage defensive scheme. Beyond his impact on defense, he’s one of the most important offensive facilitators on the team. In those first two games of the playoff series versus Orlando, he was untouchable. He averaged 10 points, 5.5 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game. Notably, he plays the game equally well on offense and defense. This combined skill set has made him an invaluable asset for the Celtics as they continue to make a run for the NBA playoffs.
The Celtics need to prepare for perhaps their most difficult opponent yet — the New York Knicks. Now that Holiday is back on the court, their potential for victory seems much more robust. His experience and skill set are critical to this effort. Boston wants to take the lead in the best-of-seven Eastern conference finals.
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