Inside The Celtics

Jrue Holiday Sees Value in Celtics' Loss to Hawks: 'I'd Rather Do It Now'

Bobby Krivitsky

Mar 28, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Dejounte Murray (5) watches his game-winner vs. Celtics.
Mar 28, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Dejounte Murray (5) watches his game-winner vs. Celtics. / Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
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The Boston Celtics entered the second half of their mini-series vs. the Atlanta Hawks with their starting lineup intact for the first time since Mar. 7. 

That was supposed to translate to a victory. C's fans were hoping for a blowout after seeing a 30-point lead slip through their hands in Monday's 120-118 loss.

Instead, minimal resistance on drives in the first half led to the hosts producing 40 points in the paint in the first 24 minutes. They finished with 60.

Boston did a better job of combatting that after intermission, but with the Hawks relentlessly crashing the glass against a switch-heavy defense, the Celtics struggled to keep them off the boards.

They surrendered 17 offensive rebounds and 28 second-chance points. That includes De'Andre Hunter elevating over Derrick White to snag a Dejounte Murray missed three before kicking the ball out to an open Bogdan Bogdanovic, who buried a triple that tied the game at 112 with 27 seconds left in regulation.

That shot forced overtime, where Murray, who unabashedly scored a game-high 44 points on 44 shots, pulled up for a look 21 feet from the basket, with Jrue Holiday draped on his shooting arm, that splashed through the net, propelling Atlanta to a 123-122 win. 

Crunch time, defined as the final five minutes of matchups within five points, was a mixed bag for the visitors.

There was a HORNS set, meaning two players set up at the elbows, where multiple players touched the ball. There was activity from those who didn't have the rock, and the Celtics worked inside out, going from Jaylen Brown nearly getting two points at the rim but deciding not to force it to a Derrick White three.

And in overtime, after the Hawks forced Kristaps Porzingis to catch an entry pass further from the basket than he wanted and blew up Boston's attempt to get the ball to a cutting Jayson Tatum for a layup, Brown made himself an available outlet, squared up, and swished a shot from 17 feet.

That put the C's ahead 122-121 with 6.2 seconds left. It was the 40th lead change of the game. Unfortunately for them, thanks to Murray's response at the other end, it wasn't the last.

There were also some cringeworthy moments for the Celtics in crunch time. That most notably includes when Tatum dribbled the air out of the ball at the end of regulation while his teammates watched before Wesley Matthews fouled him with 6.1 seconds remaining.

He followed that up with an off-balance three over two defenders, a low-percentage look that failed to find the mark.

That's the result possessions of that nature tend to produce for the Celtics in crunch time, and while it becomes safest to put the ball in the hands of their best player and avoid a potential turnover by not forcing the issue, when Tatum's settling and everyone else is stagnant, putting points on the board is rarely the outcome.

After the game, Holiday, who missed Boston's last five contests due to a right AC joint sprain, discussed his return to the lineup and the value in gaining more reps in the clutch.

"It felt good to play with my dawgs," expressed the two-time All-Star. "It was cool to be out there, especially to close the game."

As for the latter subject: "A lot of games, they've kind of been blowouts, or we knew we were gonna win," started the former UCLA Bruin. "But these are definitely learning experiences where when it comes down to crunch time and make plays and just see what we're made of. So, I'd rather do it now and get it out the way now than when we get into the playoffs." 

Further Reading

Jaylen Brown Shares What's Fueling Career Year: 'Nothing in This World Gonna Break My Spirit'

Jaylen Brown's Evolution Crucial to Celtics' Desire to Win with More Than Talent

Celtics Embracing Challenge to Go Beyond Most Talented

Jayson Tatum Opens Up About Sacrificing in Celtics' Title Pursuit: 'It's a Process'

Brad Stevens Discusses Celtics' Plan for Final Roster Spot

Marcus Smart Shares How Boston Shaped Him, His Message to Celtics Fans

Celtics Maturation Molded by Experience: 'It Builds, Like, an Armor'

Jaylen Brown Quieting Doubters, Validating What He Always Believed: 'Earn Everybody's Trust'

Joe Mazzulla Discusses Identity, Evolution of Celtics' Offense: 'Balance of Pace and Execution'

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Bobby Krivitsky
BOBBY KRIVITSKY

Bobby Krivitsky's experiences include covering the NBA as a credentialed reporter for Basketball Insiders. He's also a national sports talk host for SportsMap Radio, a network airing on 96 radio stations throughout the country. Additionally, he was a major-market host, update anchor, and producer for IMG Audio, and he worked for Bleacher Report as an NFL and NBA columnist.

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