Despite sitting comfortably at the 2nd seed in the East, the Celtics’ season hasn’t exactly gone as planned. With inconsistencies haunting them at every turn, the only bright spot for head coach Joe Mazzulla seemed to be their defense. And standing strong in that role was the veteran Jrue Holiday. But when Holiday was sidelined with an injury, things started looking a little dicey for both the team and its fans. Luckily, there’s a glimmer of hope on the horizon, as recent updates on the guard could bring some much-needed hope to the Celtics’ camp.

Insider Bobby Manning has shared some exciting updates, revealing that both Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis are back on the practice floor. While there hasn’t been any confirmation yet about Porzingis’ availability on Wednesday, the insider hinted that there’s a strong possibility we could see Holiday back in action for the upcoming game against the Trail Blazers. If that’s the case, it would be a huge boost for the Celtics, who have been relying on his skills. Isn’t that great news?

Holiday had been sidelined for the past two games because of a right-hand mallet finger injury, which caused the tip of his finger to droop. During his absence, Sam Hauser and Payton Pritchard shared the backcourt duties. But if the 34-year-old returns, they might have to step back to the bench.

Jrue Holiday has appeared in 47 games for the Celtics this season, averaging 10.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and a steal per game. However, these numbers don’t fully justify the immense impact he has on the court.

Besides the news of Holiday’s return, there’s more for the Celtics to look forward to as they welcome a new addition to the team regarding whom Mazzulla shared his thoughts.

Joe Mazzulla reveals reason behind Celtics’ new signing

The Celtics signed G League forward Miles Norris to a two-way contract. Norris, who had no idea Boston was in his future, got the surprise of a lifetime while traveling back with his Memphis Hustle team from a road trip in Santa Cruz. The 24-year-old received the news from his agent and quickly found himself joining the Celtics.

The reason for signing him? Mazzulla explained, “His length, his athleticism, short and decent ability to shoot the basketball.” But there was another factor that played a role in Norris’ signing. “He played with Payton one year in Oregon, so we kind of know about him,” Mazzulla revealed.

Then he further added, “You know guys that know other guys and they can vouch for them how they are, especially on the locker room where they are outside of the court, what they can do and kind of help.”

The newbie has averaged 17.1 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.1 steals with the Hustle this season and is confident about his shots from the deep. Apart from that, the Celtics will certainly “help him grow,” as Mazzulla mentioned. What do you think about the signing? Let us know your thoughts!