NBA
Jrue Holiday clears up Jaylen Brown vs Jayson Tatum confusion
Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum both struggled to get in the zone at the start of Game 2 but Holiday defended both of them: “I do not prefer one or the other. I prefer both”.
Jrue Holiday was keen to clear up some confusion after comments about two of his team mates were misconstrued. The saga started in the run-up to Game 2 when Mavericks coach Jason Kidd provocatively cited Jaylen Brown as Boston’s best player. When quizzed about Kidd’s comment in an interview with SiriusXM on Saturday, Holiday replied, “It’s the first time I’ve heard that but I don’t think he’s lying. I think JB has been aggressive in every single way, getting to the paint, getting to the free-throw line. Also making plays for other people”.
Both Tatum and Brown struggled to find their feet at the start of Game 2 but while the Mavs put all of their attention on containing the pair, it opened up space for others - especially Holiday, who finished with 26 points and 11 rebounds. Tatum meanwhile ended on 18 points and nine rebounds with Brown contributing 21 points and pulling down four rebounds.
After the game, the first thing on Holiday’s mind was clearing up any misunderstanding about how he views his team mates.
Jrue Holiday hails superstars Tatum and Brown
“The comment that was made yesterday... I felt like people took that out of context and I’ve been hearing that I prefer JB over JT. That’s not was that was. I like to praise my team mates. I like to praise my team mates when they’re playing well ans I felt that’s what I did my best to do. When I got here, JT was the first person to text me. Both of them know how I feel about them as players. To compare them is something I would never do because they are two completely different players. As well as being on the same team and the things they have done in this organization - the things they have done against me, as an opponent.
“I feel that, how they play together and how they work together is something that is sacred and something that can’t be broken. Just to address the comment yesterday, I do not prefer one or the other. I prefer both. Both of them are superstars, and it’s being shown out here on the biggest stage in the world,” Holiday explained.
He continued, “I don’t think I’m shredding the defense. I think it’s more so JT and JB. Especially tonight, JT was getting into the paint and being double-teamed and making the right plays out of it and just finding me. Just either being at the dunker, being in the corner. He has that vision as a playmaker, so I would give that to them”.
The finals head to Dallas for Game 3. The Celtics have the chance to go 3-0 up in the series at the American Airlines Center. The game tips off at 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday 12 June.