TJ McConnell sings Jrue Holiday’s praise by claiming he made him feel like a middle schooler by stealing the ball from him many times.
Regardless of what someone may say about Jrue Holiday and his slightly above average performances in these 2021 Playoffs, it’s obvious that he’s a major step-up from Eric Bledsoe. As great as Bledsoe was on defense, he was still quite undersized and was not known to be a great player on the offensive end of the floor.
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Jrue Holiday, of course, has made a name for himself on the defensive end of the floor throughout his career, while simultaneously building up his offensive game as well. Everything from his lateral movement, ability to backpedal, and the fact that he’s got active hands in passing lanes makes for a feisty defender.
A side note for the upcoming Bucks-Hawks series but Holiday is perhaps the best in the world at navigating on-ball screens against small guards, which will most certainly be a problem for Trae Young.
TJ McConnell gives Jrue Holiday his flowers for being as good as he is on the defensive end of the floor.
In a recent installment of JJ Redick’s podcast, The Old Man and the Three, TJ McConnell opened up about having to face off against Jrue Holiday on defense. It’s safe to say that he’s experienced what most guards in this league have when going face-to-face with the Bucks guard.
“I don’t necessarily have Kyrie’s handles but guys just don’t take the ball from me ever. Jrue Holiday has done it at least 4-5 times this year. I feel like middle schooler when I’m playing against him.”
Jrue Holiday, in a way, plays defense the same way Patrick Beverley plays defense. Both get into the opposing player’s face and try to dictate the direction in which that player goes in. The only difference would be that Pat Bev reaches in far more often than Holiday and other guards on defense.
In the deepest postseason run of his career, Jrue Holiday is currently averaging 15.2 points, 7.5 assists, and 1.4 steals a game.
