Jrue Holiday just flexed his defensive chops of the reigning Defensive Player of the Year. The Milwaukee Bucks point guard made the game-sealing plays to end the game as they escape with the Game 5 win on the road.
First, Jrue Holiday completely ate up Marcus Smart's go-ahead basket attempt on the baseline. Not only that, but he had the wherewithal to throw the ball off of him as he was falling out of bounds. Bucks ball.
Then, the Bucks star made sure to take Smart's lunch again with the game-ending steal to make sure the Celtics wouldn't even have a shot to tie the game.
Jrue Holiday comes up with BACK-TO-BACK stops to close out GAME 4 😤 pic.twitter.com/Oxzn1JlXQo
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) May 12, 2022
In the world of wrestling, Jrue Holiday should now be the official DPOY after those plays. But alas, NBA rules don't work the same way. He'll take the come-from-behind Bucks win instead.
While it's great that perimeter defenders got some serious love in the DPOY voting this year, with Smart winning the award and Phoenix Suns wing stopper Mikal Bridges also being named a finalist, Jrue Holiday remains one of the league's most underrated defenders from the guard spot.
The Bucks point guard has long built his reputation as one of the most feared defenders. Who could forget the 2017-18 first-round series against the Portland Trail Blazers when he completely locked down Damian Lillard in a clean 4-0 sweep.
But his abilities are not just limited to defending opposing guards. He's cut his teeth against bigger perimeter players as well, locking horns with guys several inches taller than him.
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