Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers had a staggering contest recently. Celtics’ Guard Jrue Holiday showed great skill and aggressiveness on Tuesday night when he single-handedly led his team to beat the Philadelphia 76ers  in an important match. The stage was set, and within just the first two minutes of the game, Holiday got himself in a man-to-man duel with Tyrese Maxey, an engagement that spelled the direction of the whole encounter.

The Celtics did not treat this contest like any other match. Rather, it was a test or a challenge proposed by Joe Mazzulla, who is the coach in the absence of Kristaps Porzingis and Jaylen Brown, that drew out a more interesting aspect of the game.

Freeing the Aggression; Mazzulla’s Suggestion for Holiday

It was clear that Celtics Coach, Mazzulla wanted Jrue Holiday to be more aggressive as the course of the game progressed. It was not just any of the usual requests. Joe Mazzula had noticed that Holiday had taken control when he was with the Milwaukee Bucks team. Being aware of the energy and determination that the game would be transformed once again if the aggressive mindset was channeled, Mazzulla sought to put this to use.

In a conversation with the Athletic, Holiday revealed what was said to him by the coach, “Gotta be aggressive.” He further added, “Gotta go out there and take my shots. Really just be aggressive and be me. I know on this team we have so much talent that, especially offensively, I can defer to other people. So having that conversation, he wants me to go out there and be aggressive.”

Before the game, Mazzulla told the guard Holiday that he could take control of games in the case of challenges for his team. Jrue Holiday stepped up to the plate to be the one who made the Celtics win following Mazzulla’s call-out.

Read More: Jrue Holiday’s Late Defensive Heroics for Bucks Against Celtics Leaves NBA Fans off Their Seats

His understanding of Holiday’s winning days in the Bucks made a significant contribution to the impressive first-quarter presentation. It was clear that the guard’s stat line of 10 points, three rebounds, one assist, and one steal displayed not just his offense, but his defense as well.

More to the Aggressive side of Jrue Holiday

There was more to Holiday’s aggressive approach than an attempt to make up for the missing stars. This was a manifestation of his multi-dimensional skills as a player. Mazzulla was able to identify and fully exploit the untapped capabilities among his players. This enabled the Celtics to dominate the game in its opening stages.

The night was a manifestation of the quality coaching, he had exhibited in coaching his players throughout the season. Mazzulla leveraged the past of Jrue Holiday in his mind as he strategically unlocked an untapped resource that drove the Celtics to triumph. Holiday’s aggressive and versatile variant proved to be a great replacement for missing teammates and revealed how deep the Celtics’ bench was.

The relationship between Mazzulla and Holiday might be pivotal to the Celtics winning as they approach the end of the season. His awareness of player chemistry and Holiday’s versatility may generate a potency that propels the team beyond expectations. The 76ers presented a formidable challenge but it proved to be an opportunity for the Celtics to find a new side of their potential, which could significantly decide the whole season.

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