Is Jrue Holiday the Best Defender in the NBA?
Over the past two years, Jrue Holiday point guard for the Milwaukee Bucks, has shown game after game in the regular season and during the playoffs that he is an elite defender. In the playoffs, Jrue Holiday has made game saving and winning plays on the defensive end. Such as his steal against Devin Booker during the fourth quarter of Game 5 in the NBA Finals. Which led to the memorable and-1 alley-oop to Giannis Antetokounmpo. To his amazing performance in last night’s Game 5 against the Boston Celtics. During the fourth quarter, Holiday got a game-clenching block with 9.2 seconds left. He also had the steal in the last 3 seconds to close out the game against the Boston Celtics. Intriguingly both of those plays came against the reigning defensive player of the year Marcus Smart.
Aside from these highlight defensive plays, Jrue Holiday is the leader in holding his opponents to the lowest field goal percentage in the 2022 playoffs. Jrue’s strength and quickness are what allows him to beat offensive players to their spot of choice. However his IQ is what separates him from other defensive guards in the NBA. Holiday’s ninja-like gameplay allows him to be smart enough to analyze a play and react quicker than most leaving his opponents one step slower. Or seeming to appearing out of nowhere; as Marcus Smart said last night “didn’t see him” on the play Holiday got the block.
These spectacular plays in game five by Jrue Holiday once again have put the Bucks up 3-2. Leaving Bucks nation hoping for another Bucks in 6 playoff victory as the series heads back to Milwaukee where the ground shaking Deer District and arena rocking Fiserv Forum awaits them.