After Jrue Holiday’s recent absence with a mallet finger, he has now missed 15 games for the Celtics. Although their 12-4 record without him is impressive, it doesn’t tell the whole story.
That record is a testament to Boston’s incredible depth and defensive versatility. Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, and Jayson Tatum have all stepped up as elite perimeter defenders, while Al Horford and Kristaps Porziņģis have anchored the interior. The Celtics’ defensive identity remains one of the best in the league, even without Holiday, a six-time All-Defense award winner. However, a deeper dive into those four losses reveals a troubling pattern: opposing guards have repeatedly taken advantage of his absence.
It started on Christmas. With an 11-17 record at the time, the 76ers had no momentum heading into the game. However, with Holiday sidelined, Tyrese Maxey seized the opportunity. He dropped 33 points and dished out 12 assists, spearheading one of the Sixers’ few statement wins of the season.
Four days later, the Celtics faced the Pacers in the latter half of a two-game series. It was a similar story. Tyrese Haliburton took control with 31 points and 7 assists, while Andrew Nembhard and Ben Mathurin combined for another 31, handing the C’s another loss.
A few short weeks later, the Celtics collapsed against the Mavericks with Holiday in street clothes. Dallas’ backcourt erupted, combining for 81 of the team’s 127 points in a relentless offensive barrage.
And finally, everyone remembers Donovan Mitchell’s 41-point explosion that sparked a comeback victory for Cleveland after they were dead in the water early. Darius Garland added 20 points and 7 assists, further exposing the Celtics’ defensive vulnerability without Holiday.
Now, it would be unfair to blame all those losses on Holiday’s absence. The Celtics are still an elite defensive team, and context matters. The Sixers were likely extra motivated on Christmas, the Pacers loss could be chalked up to fatigue, and the Mavericks game may have been a fluke. But the Cavs game? That one should serve as a wake-up call.
With all due respect to Sam Hauser, he struggled immensely on the defensive end against Mitchell and Garland — especially in crunch time. The Cavs hunted Hauser on switches which led to clutch shots that pioneered their 123-116 win over the Celtics. If Holiday was available for that game, those possessions would have played out differently. They would’ve actively avoided Holiday.
Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images
That’s where Jrue’s impact is felt the most—not in his stats, but in the way he commands the Celtics’ defense. Even with Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, and Jayson Tatum ranking among the league’s top perimeter defenders, Jrue’s savvy veteran presence is the glue that holds everything together. Like a quarterback commanding the offense, Holiday orchestrates the Celtics’ perimeter defense to perfection. With his incredible basketball IQ, he diagnoses coverages, switches seamlessly, and makes life miserable for opposing guards. Holiday’s defensive toolbox simply can’t be replaced.
With the Celtics staring down a gauntlet of dominant Eastern Conference guards in the playoffs, Holiday’s health is paramount. Tyrese Haliburton, Damian Lillard, and the Cleveland duo could all be standing in the way of Boston’s championship aspirations.
And if history has shown anything, it’s that Holiday isn’t just a great defender—he’s a postseason difference-maker. His clutch steal in Game 3 of last year’s Eastern Conference Finals against Indiana was a perfect example of his ability to change a game with his defense alone. Even when he wasn’t making a highlight play, his prowess helped shut down Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Tyrese Haliburton, Kyrie Irving, and Luka Doncic through that championship run. If the Celtics want to survive the playoffs’ relentless backcourt challenges, ensuring Holiday is at full strength isn’t just important—it’s non-negotiable.
Boston is built to win a championship, but Holiday is the piece that elevates their defense from great to historic. To hoist Banner 19, they need their defensive maestro healthy and leading the charge.
