Even when ‘Playoff Jrue’ is a factor, it shouldn’t matter for the Celtics

When the Boston Celtics traded for Jrue Vacation final fall, the reception was largely constructive. Followers had been excited so as to add a veteran presence with championship expertise to an already-talented staff. Any negativity surrounding the transfer got here from those that weren’t satisfied that Vacation can be impactful within the postseason.

The 33-year-old doesn’t have a implausible monitor file when the stakes get increased within the spring. His numbers since 2021, particularly his effectivity, aren’t the best. In his three postseason appearances with the Milwaukee Bucks, Vacation by no means shot increased than 41% from the sphere (40.6% in 2021, 37.9% in 2022, and 40.0% in 2023). His three-point proportion was an analogous story, as he capped out at 31.6% from lengthy vary, throughout that span (30.3% in 2021, 31.6% in 2022, and 28.6% in 2023).

For reference, Vacation shot 49.4% general and 39.5% from deep in 193 regular-season appearances for the Bucks.

His debut common season marketing campaign with the Celtics had an analogous capturing commonplace to these in Milwaukee. Vacation sank 48.0% of his makes an attempt from the sphere and a career-high 42.9% of these from distance.

By way of 4 video games, his postseason profession in Boston has gone about the identical because the final three seasons. Vacation’s capturing splits have dropped right down to 31.4%/33.3% and he’s averaging simply 7.3 factors per recreation.

Whereas every thing that’s written above is, for certain, lower than supreme, I’m nonetheless not solely satisfied that this may proceed or that it’ll matter if it does.

The beauty of Vacation is that he brings a lot to the staff, no matter whether or not or not his photographs are falling.

On this opening collection towards the Miami Warmth, his influence has been felt on the defensive aspect of the ball the place he’s been tasked with slowing down Tyler Herro. Herro was tied with Jimmy Butler because the Warmth’s main scorer this season, averaging 20.8 factors per recreation on 44.1%/39.6% splits. Within the first 4 video games towards Vacation and the Cs, his scoring common has dropped three factors and his area purpose proportion has dipped to 40.7%.

Vacation has spent 107 “partial possessions” as Herro’s major defender on this collection. When being guarded by Boston’s No. 4, Herro has made simply six of his 16 area purpose makes an attempt. It may possibly’t be understated how spectacular it’s that the veteran has held Miami’s main scorer to so few makes an attempt.

His presence on protection was one thing that Jayson Tatum spoke about after Boston’s Sport 1 win over the Warmth on April 21.

“Yeah, he was very strong,” Tatum defined (h/t CLNS Media). “Jrue’s means to only keep on with a recreation plan however on the similar time, use his instincts is large for us. And so, he did an important job on that all through the sport, staying with him, and making it tough. And we’d like him to proceed to try this. So, [we] received off to an important begin defensively together with his effort.”

On prime of his means as a defender, Vacation can also be a implausible teammate by all accounts. “The Ringer’s” Mirin Fader detailed the veteran’s first apply together with his Celtics teammates, after becoming a member of the staff final October.

He instructed the staff that he was “right here to assist in any approach.”

Vacation’s instant willingness to bend and sacrifice for the Cs was one thing that Al Horford feels helped this group fairly a bit.

“For a man of his stature to return in right here and be so prepared and genuinely care about successful, I really feel like that’s contagious,” Horford instructed Fader. “It places us all on discover, and he’s anyone that we respect and that we glance as much as.”

Horford went on to debate Vacation’s winning-first strategy, which he observed within the Celtics’ Opening Night time win over the New York Knicks.

“He was doing quite a lot of issues that aren’t going to return on the stats sheet, which are good for the staff: making an additional go when an additional go must be made or protecting for us on the defensive finish, which he does always. … On the finish of the day, we received, and that’s all he cares about.”

A participant who’s prepared to place the staff above themselves is nearly all the time going to be a constructive when the playoffs roll round.

It was clear that Vacation is a type of guys when he didn’t even try a shot within the first half of Saturday’s Sport 3 win in Miami. Regardless of ending the sport with simply three factors, he blocked two photographs, captured a steal, and dished six assists on his option to a team-high +23 within the victory.

This model of the Celtics is about up so everybody can eat. The sheer quantity of expertise that they’re capable of put out onto the court docket will (hopefully) make it simple for Vacation to seek out his stroke because the playoffs roll alongside. He isn’t being requested to take tough photographs however is as an alternative capable of play to his strengths. Shifting ahead, his offensive portfolio will possible include catch-and-shoot threes, chopping layups, and the occasional floater.

Regardless, Vacation’s different strengths ought to outweigh any form of offensive struggles all of us see this spring. His championship expertise and willingness to do what’s proper for the staff can’t be valued sufficient.