What is it this year on the Celtics that makes things “Different Here”?
Well, for starters, it’s Boston, and being different is one of the things we pride ourselves on.
For the Celtics, a perennial participant in the Eastern Conference Finals and habitual sufferer of “Always a bridesmaid, never an NBA Champion,” the addition of two All-Star caliber players has also made a massive difference.
The additions of Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday have helped propel the Celtics to one of their best seasons in team history. However, Porzingis has had injury issues aplenty, having only appeared in just 57 games this season, and is currently shelved until at least Game 4 of the ECF.
Holiday, who also missed a few games during the regular season (he appeared in 69 games), seems healthy as ever and seems to have found that next postseason level the Celtics brought him to town for, just in time for when it really counts.
Holiday, who averaged 12.5 points and about five boards and assists per game during the regular season, turned it on for Game One of the ECF versus the Indiana Pacers. He played 48 out of a possible 53 minutes (the game went to a single OT), doubling his stat line for the season with 28 points, seven rebounds, eight assists, three steals, and shooting 50% (4-of-8) from three.
That stat line and the efforts of veterans Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown led to a statistical first in Celtics history.
And then, even in the face of logging all those minutes, came that signature effort, the tenacious defense, which led Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton to call Holiday “the best defender in the NBA.” And the praise didn’t end there.
Jaylen Brown, who hit the shot that sent the game to overtime, said of Holiday, “He’s the reason why we won this game.”
Teammate Jayson Tatum, who “woke up” for overtime according to Brown, and notched a double-double, added Holiday was “Unbelievable.”
Holiday, now in his 15th year in the NBA, looks to be playing his best ball to date. His effort, skill, grit, and championship experience (he won the title in 2021 with the Milwaukee Bucks) are what led the Celtics to trade for him last fall when he suddenly became available following Milwaukee’s acquisition of Damian Lillard from the Portland Trailblazers.
Holiday was solid when available all season, but he seems to have found another gear now when the C’s need him most against the Pacers -- the number one offensive team in the league -- and with Porzingis on the shelf for at least two more games.
Holiday has preached being aggressive and continuing to bring that effort and support to his teammates, which will be necessary against the likes of Haliburton, Pascal Siakam, Myles Turner, and company. And as for logging almost a complete game, Holiday said, “I feel pretty good. We haven’t played for a while, so I’ll be alright.”
A steady presence, tenacious defense, Clutch offense, supporting teammates, and maximum effort were just what the Celtics needed from Holiday when it mattered most. If he continues to bring that kind of effort, then come mid-June, maybe things will be “Different Here,” and they’ll finally hoist that elusive Banner 18.
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