Boston Celtics Jrue Holiday helps deliver Boston a banner

Boston traded for Jrue Vacation the evening earlier than coaching camp began. Months after the Celtics traded fan-favorite Marcus Sensible, the Celtics received their new defensive ace and chief in Vacation.

In his introductory press convention, Brad Stevens admitted that Boston wished Jrue Vacation for “a very long time.” Vacation talked about how Joe Mazzulla instantly received in touch with him after the commerce went by means of. “Proper once I received traded, Joe was the primary particular person sending me clips. What to do on pick-and-roll protection or tips on how to run the offense,” Vacation mentioned.

These early conversations appeared to have paid off as Vacation all postseason was as much as the problem of guarding the opposition’s finest gamers, whether or not it was Tyler Herro, Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Tyrese Haliburton, Luka Doncic, or Kyrie Irving. Vacation confirmed as soon as once more why he’s thought of probably the greatest defenders within the league.

But it surely wasn’t simply his protection that made Vacation shine within the playoffs and particularly within the NBA Finals — it was his offense. Mazzulla and the teaching workers discovered a weak point within the Dallas Mavericks protection and Vacation exploited it time and time once more. CelticsBlog’s Adam Taylor did a deep dive on the Celtics utilizing the dunker spot to get open appears for Vacation and his teammates.

Within the Recreation 4 loss, Vacation missed a ton of layups which led to transition factors for the Mavericks and the misses didn’t permit the Celtics to get into an offensive rhythm. In Recreation 5, nevertheless, Vacation was making it look simple going from the dunker spot to the free throw line drawing out the defenders and both making a play on his personal or discovering his teammates for open appears.

Vacation scored 15 factors (7-of-14 from the ground), grabbed 11 rebounds (4 offensive), and dished out 4 assists within the closeout sport. The last word staff participant doing what was wanted and infrequently forcing the problem.

Vacation turned the one participant to win a championship in his first season with two separate franchises.

After the sport, when NBC Sports activities Boston’s Brian Scalabrine and Eddie Home had been speaking to Brad Stevens, Vacation went up and thanked Brad Stevens for bringing him to Boston.

Not solely did Stevens convey Vacation to Titletown, however he additionally prolonged him conserving Vacation within the Inexperienced and White for the foreseeable future.

Vacation throughout his postgame presser, talked about how he desires this staff to be remembered. “I hope that when individuals watch us play, they see the enjoyment that we play with, that we love enjoying collectively, and we received it accomplished collectively,” Vacation mentioned.

All through the 82-game common season and the 19 postseason video games, it was clear that this staff liked enjoying with each other and wouldn’t let the media or followers divide them.

When requested about successful a championship with Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, Vacation talked about how this title may raise the “burden off of their shoulders.”

“They get scrutinized a lot. They get a lot strain on them for not successful or attending to the Jap Convention Finals… Persons are lastly seeing the connection that they’ve. They see that from the start they all the time did it collectively,” Vacation mentioned. “… It’s been an ideal factor to expertise.”

Jrue achieved what he was introduced right here to do and now turns into an honorary member of these Jays.