I'm a cynical bastard, but the stuff about his wife was pretty intense/touching.
Took him a few games but seems like he is the guy who is really stepping up without KP and now that DW has cooled off. It’s very different from his regular season role, but he is still a force when called upon.
Indeed. When the 5th best starter averages 19/6/6 on 61% shooting and excellent defense over 4 straight playoff games, it will cover up a lot of issues.
This is why Brad Stevens brought him in, for games like this. He played some ferocious D along with the offense tonight. Tremendous all around game.
That layup in OT was not as easy as it looked too. He had to get that shot off quickly against, I think, Turner or Siakam. He really is this team’s DJ. Just has a calming presence.
Particularly because "will they put Halliburton on Jrue to neutralize DWhite screening?" was a pre-game talking point. Jrue has quickly made that non-viable.
Jrue is kind of like Rondo with a jump shot.
...And legs like tree trunks. I think there was a possession where he was on Turner squared up, and Turner tried a few times to bump him off his spot, failed, and then just shot over him. Probably Siakam too, IIRC. Having a guard who can't be bullied by wings or stretch bigs... that's a very short list of players (and obviously includes Mahcus).
It was interesting to see all the other C's back and Jrue would just shadow Haliburton the entire length of the court, even if Hali wasn't bringing the ball up. He was just dogging him most of the 4th and OT.
I noticed this as well. I felt at the time that Jrue simply said “TH will not be the reason we lose.”
This is perfect. Captures my feelings -- the sentimental side of things. And captures, too, my more rational appreciation for the difference Jrue makes. Two players with different vibes, no doubt. Jrue is so professional, so poised, so intentional. Steadier than Marcus. Plays with the heart of a lion, as Marcus does. But rock solid. In big games, Jrue flashes this apex predator potential. But meanwhile, always, plays within the schemes and flow of what the Celtics are trying to do. We are blessed, truly, as Celtics fans this year.
Yeah, a few different commentators wondered aloud whether Jrue's even-keeled personality was more of a fit with BOS than Marcus's fiery demeanor.
Defending Marcus a bit -- with DW and KP as additional dependable options, it is quite possible that Marcus wouldn't feel as strong a need to Do Something (such as take ill advised 3s in crunch time)
I dont think we watched the same Marcus. The Celtics were his team. He needed to make the big plays and take the big shots. Just ask him.
I'm curious to see how he plays things next year with Memphis. Does he think of himself playing that role, as Ja continues to ahem mature...
Yeah, I wish I could agree and I loved Marcus' fire and teamwork. But the next time I see him believe someone else could do something better than he can would be the first, and he was nowhere near the best player on the team for several years here...
No doubt.
Incredible turnaround from the first 7 games of these playoffs. Lest anyone forget, Jrue was shooting 36.1% from the field, 32.1% from 3, 8.1 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 3.9 APG through game 2 of the Cleveland series.
If BOS goes on to win this, we'll have fun discussing whether Jrue or KP was the more important addition to the team.
Such a great comp.
According to my observations of Sosh memes you’re supposed to phrase this as. “I was told that …”
