Joel Embiid roasts the Bucks as Celtics on verge of NBA title

Embiid — who has engaged in many playoff battles with the Celtics and Bucks in recent years — recognizes the value Holiday brings to a team.  

In the three finals games against the Mavericks thus far, Holiday is averaging 15.7 points, 7.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists while shooting an incredible 59.4 percent from the field. He has yet to commit a turnover.

For the Bucks, the turn of events feels even more regrettable since Holiday expressed his desire to finish his career in Milwaukee barely days before he was shipped out. To make matters worse, their first Holiday-less season ended in a first-round exit. No Holiday? Early holiday. 

The debacle reinforces the old saying that defense wins championships. Sure, Lillard has been a walking bucket his entire career. But does he possess the winning intangibles and defensive ferocity of Holiday? The Bucks are finding out now, painfully to the benefit of a conference rival. 

Even Jayson Tatum acknowledged Milwaukee's blunder after the Game 3 win.