According to Will Hardy, Jrue Holiday is ‘the best defender in the gym’
After Boston stifled Utah's chances at a comeback, Will Hardy called out Holiday's elite on-ball defense.
“Anybody but Jrue.”
That’s what Jazz coach Will Hardy told Collin Sexton Tuesday night after the guard called for a screen that allowed Jrue Holiday to switch and become the on-ball defender.
The play occurred deep in the fourth quarter following a Celtics run that left the Jazz lagging 113-93 with just five minutes on the clock. Sexton, who was matched up against Xavier Tillman, was meant to find a lane and drive to the basket, taking advantage of his speed.
Sexton, however, paused at the top of the arc and called on John Collins for a screen that unleashed a dogged Holiday on the ball.
“The Celtics do so much switching in those moments,” Hardy said about Holiday’s defense. “We’re basically putting the best defender in the gym on Collin.”
Realizing his mistake, Sexton calls for another screen. By the time Tillman switches again, however, there’s seven seconds left on the shot clock and the 6-foot-3 guard is forced to shoot a three over a much taller Celtic.
“A lot of times against the Celtics, there’s not a lot of great choices, but there are better choices,” Hardy said. “I felt like in the fourth quarter some of our stagnation was we just weren’t all seeing the matchups the same and recognizing where the weak points in the defense might be.”
The Celtics played strong defense in Tuesday’s 123-107 win over the Jazz. Holiday had five rebounds, one block, and one steal in the matchup. He also chipped in 16 points and eight assists during his 38 minutes.
Boston gears up for another night of action Thursday versus the Phoenix Suns. The home matchup tips off at 7:30 p.m. at TD Garden.
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