Uniquely recognized in the history books as one of just two players with multiple championships in the 2020s, it’s safe to assume that wherever Jrue Holiday is, a winning scenario isn’t too far behind. Fittingly, with the best of his traits on display during Game Two’s final minutes, the Boston Celtics followed by putting themselves in the only scenario that mattered: too far ahead. A nightmare to deal with from the second he crouches into a defensive stance, the two-time All-Star turns into a one-man wrecking crew, discouraging P.J. Washington’s dribble entirely with both hounding defense and a deflection far into the backcourt. Recognizing Luka Dončić’s need to make a swift decision to avoid an eight-second violation, Holiday pressures the Dallas Mavericks star, setting up a teammate for a steal. True to form as one of the game’s premier two-sided stars, Holiday sequences it with a 3-point bucket, elevating Boston’s lead to double-digits. In a performance that perfectly explained his two-titles-in-three-years run, the combo guard proved nearly flawless on June 9, 2024, recording 26 points — on a sensational 11-of-14 shooting — alongside 11 rebounds, three assists, one block, two triples, and zero turnovers, guiding Boston to a 2-0 series advantage. · Jun 10, 2024