Cam Thomas on why Jrue Holiday gives him trouble with his defense

“We played Boston at home. Jrue was solid, he didn’t really go for my pump fakes so I had to shoot him over a little bit. So just try to stay as poised as I can,” Cam said on JJ Redick’s The Old Man and the Three podcast. “He’s a solid defender, so you don’t want to overdo it and force it because that’s where you get in trouble with his quick hands that force a lot of turnovers.”

Jrue has given all kinds of players trouble

The LSU product is not the only player who has been having trouble with Jrue on the defensive end. The Celtics guard has been around the league since 2009 and his defensive ability has only improved through the years.

Holiday's ability to stay in front of his man is superb and that’s what a lot of players, including Cam, struggle with. The Nets guard loves using pump fakes to get his opponents to jump or get off-balanced, but Jrue doesn't fall for it.

Encounters with elite defenders like Holiday contribute to players' improvement, exemplified by stars like Damian Lillard. After facing challenges against Jrue, the Milwaukee Bucks guard enhanced his game by expanding his three-point shooting range to counter defensive pressures.

Cam will learn from being defended like that

In the NBA, it's usually the offense that steals the spotlight, and for Cam, that's his strong suit. Being among the league's top scorers, he keeps getting better, adding new moves and tricks to outsmart the ever-evolving defensive challenges.

Being guarded by Jrue is one of the most humbling yet useful experiences for any NBA guard. Thankfully, the Nets always learns from what he’s faced in the NBA and he will only improve as an offensive player with the experience he got from being defended by an elite talent around the Association.