The Boston Celtics are up 2-0 after defeating the Dallas Mavericks 105-98 in Game 2 of the 2024 NBA Finals. With the win, they move ever closed to grabbing an 18th title in franchise history.
The Mavericks are a unique opponent, with twin All-Star guards to quarterback the scoring. Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving are two of the most prolific offensive players in the entire NBA, and their combined scoring prowess has been the engine behind Dallas’ path to the finals. But Boston has its own dynamic backcourt duo in Derrick White and Jrue Holiday. In their first season as teammates, White and Holiday have each shined on offense while playing some of the best defense in the entire league. Their chemistry is key for the Celtics and a crucial foundation for Boston in the final round of the postseason.
After Sunday’s Game 2 victory, White and Holiday outlined their mutual respect for one another and how they have each supported each other’s growth this season.
“I can’t begin to talk about how thankful and grateful I am for Jrue,” White said of his teammate. “Just kind of allowing me to kind of take that next step.”
Holiday join the Celtics this offseason by way of trade. He is a multi-time All-Star and won a title as a member of the 2021 Milwaukee Bucks. White joked about Holiday’s resume and how his now-teammate could have leveraged that experience.
“He could easily have came in and be, like, ‘I’m Jrue Holiday’,” White joked. “And I’m like, ‘You are Jrue Holiday, 100%,”
Instead, White explained Holiday was an instant support, quickly adapting to a different role. White beamed when talking about his experience being Holiday’s teammate.
Holiday, 33, has long been one of the NBA’s top defensive guards. But since joining the Celtics, White has also earned that title. They both were named to the 2024 NBA All-Defensive Second Team.
Holiday spoke later in the press conference, and was asked specifically about White’s comments, but also about how he experiences Boston’s existing chemistry when he was first traded to the Celtics.
“I think it’s natural,” Holiday said of that connectedness. “I think that they had chemistry and some things I had to figure out. But that just goes to show how great of teammates I have.
“There’s been times when I’ve struggled kind of figuring out my place or what I need to do to help the team win,” he added. “And Derrick has been the person who has talked me through it.”
Holiday went on to explain that White is the point guard of the team, and that he sees himself not just as a shooting guard, but as a “utility player.”
Regardless of role, the mutual respect between White, Holiday, and the Celtics has been on full display during the finals. They’ve logged two convincing wins, with two more to go.
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