Despite some declaring that the NBA is boring, the early exit of the Milwaukee Bucks and other teams shows that there's a lot to play for in May and June. Although you don't have the single-game upsets like what you see in March Madness, the needed marathon mentality of a seven-game series leaves zero room for doubt. This is true regardless of what narratives were shattered, stemming from before the first tip-off of the season.
Part of what makes the NBA playoffs exciting is that everything is on the line. It doesn't matter who has the better reputation coming in or who averaged the most points during the regular season. Each round is a mini-season in its own right. And over the course of seven games, star players can go through a rough patch. Conversely, others will step up and prove the instilled trust of their coaches correct.
And speaking of narratives, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are looking to put some postseason criticisms to rest. They had statistically good games in the 133–128 victory of the Boston Celtics over the Indiana Pacers. However, they were fortunate that the game even went into overtime in the first place. Luckily, they had a former Eastern Conference foe show his veteran experience.
Jrue Holiday was acquired by the Boston Celtics for the 2023–2024 season. And for how great he has been in critical moments, he seems content to do whatever is needed to ensure that his team wins. In fact, his mention is more about the clear hole he left behind and how much his former team missed him in their short-lived playoff run.
The UCLA product can play in a system and make an individually great play, especially when the moment calls for it the most. Whether it's pressuring Tyrese Halliburton late to force a turnover or getting into the lane, he has a knack of picking his moments to be spectacular. And this has proven to be especially valuable when you consider some of the concerns for Boston.
Big "What If" For the Milwaukee Bucks
Let's live in a world in which, this past off-season, the Wisconsin-based franchise could operate in a vacuum. This is assuming that things could have worked out long-term and that the money would fit under the cap and not go into the luxury tax. Of course it would have been difficult, but it's hard to picture the Milwaukee Bucks losing early with Holiday and Damian Lillard in the backcourt.
The two-time All-Star continues to show exactly why the Celtics were so eager to acquire him. Furthermore, if you take this a step further, his presence alone is now the missing piece for any potential sustained success after the regular season for a team that he once won a championship with. It's not necessarily about scoring; instead, it's about the mentality and physical imposing of will.
When watching Game 1 in the Eastern Conference Finals, you can't help but picture Holiday easing the pressure off this now-Doc Rivers-led team. His footwork and individual defense would not only limit opposing guards but would crucially help whichever front court he's playing with from needing to see as many mismatches and would potentially save them from getting into foul trouble.
After having been proverbially sent to Cancun, this could be a lesson for all teams that are looking to make that next step. If a franchise gives up a player, they need to make sure of one of two things. Either the incoming strengths are simply so good that they will cover up leftover deficiencies, or a contingency plan needs to be in place. Organizations need to evaluate how to replace the specific affected areas.
While Boston and Indiana are likely to have a competitive series, if it's close, having someone like Holiday can make all the difference. It's easy to analyze past front office moves, but now the team needs to acknowledge their failure to consider everything he'd bring with him to Portland when initially traded. The Milwaukee Bucks are still in a strong position, but finding someone to fill this "role" is critical.
About the Author
Gabriel keeps his curiosity on the pulse of the sports world. Agree or disagree you can reach out to him on Twitter/X @BigTenGabriel, or send an email (gstesparza@gmail.com). He will respond! He's a fan of sports and competition in all forms. His past work includes content on various sites covering college football, college basketball, UFC, boxing, soccer, MLB, and the NFL.