Joe Mazzulla Reveals How Jrue Holiday and Derrick White Inspire Celtics to Be Better

When the Boston Celtics acquired Jrue Holiday, it overshadowed the whole Damian Lillard trade. No one expected them to get him, but in a surprising turn of events, Tatum and co. got one of the most versatile and hardened NBA generals in Holiday. And now, the Celtics are 11 games into the season and have won nine out of them.

Throughout the preseason and practice drills, everybody has been speculating on how Derrick White would fit in with Holiday. Coach Mazzulla is convinced more than ever of the answer.

Jrue Holiday and Derrick White seem to be an inspiration for Boston

Holiday and White have created an on-court chemistry unlike anything else. The last person to be thought of as to be in this position, Derrick seems to play so much better and harder since Holiday arrived. And Joe Mazzulla couldn’t agree more.

“He and Derrick [White] have a special gift of when they’re playing really hard, they inspire others to play harder,” he said. One of the youngest coaches in the NBA, Mazzulla has a non-traditional approach to his team. Just five days before, he practically said as much during the coach’s challenge he issued in the Raptors game. The Celtics’ management brought the right man to take on the mantle of Udoka.

Additionally, the 34-year-old coach’s handling of things has Holiday’s nod of approval. “I feel like Joe and the coaching staff have empowered me to see through a different lens. Before I didn’t have to worry about that … But I think with him doing that, it really empowers us … be in tune with the game,“ he said. And why wouldn’t Joe Mazzulla do that?

He knows exactly what Jrue Holiday brings to the team. One of the best defensive backcourts in the league and an impactful offensive player, Holiday is the best of both worlds. Having played against pretty much every player and coach in the NBA, Jrue has a keen eye for the finer details that ultimately win the battle. And when Mazzulla has the finest pairing of backcourt duo, “The Stock Exchange”, in his arsenal, what else would he need?

Holiday and White on the court are beautiful to watch every single time

The nickname mentioned above is the courtesy of Derrick White‘s father, Richard. But it certainly stuck. Many were concerned with how Holiday would be able to fit in with the high-powered Celtics. They were in sore need of a calm and collected veteran to slow their roll. And Jrue just so happens to be the best fit for the role.

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With him taking care of the defensive end with White, the Celtics are surrendering just 102.7 points per 100 possessions. Their elite-level playmaking has many NBA players rethinking for a moment. With “The Stock Exchange” on-court, the Celtics have a 98.5 defensive rating, with a +28.7 efficiency differential. Another aspect of why Holiday works so well with Beantown is that he’s not one to whine about not having enough time with the ball.

Talking to media after the Celtics’ October 26 win over the Heat, White said of Holiday, “he probably doesn’t see the ball for 10 minutes and won’t complain, will just do what he needs to do and make a big shot down the stretch.” 

With such a well-balanced team, can the Celtics win their long-awaited 18th title?

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