The Boston Celtics have the best record in the Eastern Conference, and newcomer Jrue Holiday has fit in well with his new team.
However, Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla does want to see Holiday be more aggressive on offense moving forward.
“Gotta be aggressive,” Holiday said when relaying the conversation he had with Mazzulla to Jay King of The Athletic. “Gotta go out there and take my shots. Really just be aggressive and be me. I know on this team we have so much talent that, especially offensively, I can defer to other people. So having that conversation, he wants me to go out there and be aggressive.”
Holiday is averaging 13.4 points, 7.6 rebounds and 5.3 assists for the Celtics this season while shooting 44.1% from the field, 35.1% from beyond the arc and 83.3% from the free-throw line.
“There really hasn’t been a challenge (fitting in),” Holiday said. “I think it’s just more of a mindset. Being able to pick up where we lack. If it’s rebounding, then I’ll do that. If it’s paint touches to pass out and get good shots, I’ll do that. If it’s guarding the best player one through five, I’ll do that. But kind of what Joe was talking about was doing a lot of everything: being a scorer, being aggressive, as well as kind of being a dog on defense.”
Holiday has always been a pass-first player. The NBA champion said coaches have asked him to shoot more often.
“I guess it’s not really about trying,” Holiday said. “You just do it. I’m kind of a versatile player. So there’s things I can do to affect the game without having the ball. So if it’s offensive rebounding, if it’s rebounding in general, if it’s getting steals and deflections, making big plays, whatever it is. Again, just being a guy that sometimes I’ll get touches, sometimes I won’t. Some days I’ll get 15 shots, some days I’ll get four. I think just initially having the mindset of being aggressive, getting to the basket, playing through the paint is something that he wants.”
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