Explaining the Unveiled Strong Suit That Helps the Celtics Offense, Jrue Holiday

Explaining the Unveiled Strong Suit That Helps the Celtics Offense, Jrue Holiday

Though his primary reason for joining the Boston Celtics was defense, the 33-year-old Jrue Holiday has contributed to the team in other ways as well.

Boston leads the league in 3-pointers made, averaging 16.1, as well as in victories (46). That’s a cornerstone of head coach Joe Mazzulla’s offensive philosophy, and even though Holiday has adopted a low-key and effective offensive strategy this season, the two-time All-Star has established himself.

In actuality, Holiday is in a class by himself thanks to his not-so-secret offensive specialty. He’s making an NBA-best 63% of his 3-pointers from the corner.

I don’t really take corner threes in other seasons. According to an NBC Sports Boston video, Holiday remarked, “It’s usually like above the break and beyond so this is new for me for so many corner threes, but I guess I’m pretty good at them.” It’s cozy in this spot. Particularly when playing with guys like myself, you eventually make it. Since I get wide-open shots, I suppose my only option is to create them.

Holiday has an easier time finding those uncontested opportunities to connect from the right or left corner when he plays with the likes of Derrick White, Kristaps Porzingis, Jayson Tatum, and Jaylen Brown in the Celtics lineup. That five-man group has paid the front office handsomely, playing with a sacrificing style of play that has kept Boston comfortably atop the Eastern Conference and clicking as if they had all played together for several seasons.

Tatum and Brown have seen a decline in their individual scoring totals from the previous year, but this has come at the expense of dispelling the myth that the Celtics are playing for Banner 18 rather than individual honors. The Celtics kept Brown on a record-breaking $304 million extension rather than parting ways with Boston’s co-stars in the offseason. In exchange, they gave up a few important assets to hone the supporting group, including a brand-new coaching staff led by Mazzulla.

When it performs at its peak, Boston’s offense—which can rely on any player in the starting five—is the most potent in all of basketball. In their 117-99 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday night, the Celtics, who have the best offensive rating in the NBA (121.2), showed that they are more than just a team that looks to score three points. They hit 37 free throws and scored 64 points inside the paint.

Holiday went on, “You have to deal with so many weapons on our team.” They’re probably giving up the greatest opportunity in the game at the moment. It doesn’t bother me in the least.

Holiday leads all starters in 3-point shooting percentage (44.3% total). Holiday’s defensive abilities are already well known; he is second among all guards in rebounds (5.7) claimed. But the real consolation prize comes at the scoring end of the court.