Jrue Holiday is one of the most feared defenders in the NBA. His flawless defensive instincts and impeccable timing earn him a stellar reputation and compel opposing players to reconsider their decisions on the court. New Orleans Pelicans forward Trey Murphy III learned this firsthand after facing off versus the six-time All-Defense team member this past season.
With the ball in his hands late in the shot clock, the third-year pro realized Holiday was on him and had to decide whether to drive past Jrue or shoot a 30-foot shot over him. Trey's decision on that play spoke volumes about Jrue's elite defensive prowess.
A pitbull on defense
Standing 6-foot-4 and weighing 205 pounds, the 15-year veteran may not have the most intimidating frame in the league, but his ferocity and tenacity on defense are unmatched. Holiday's quick hands, foot speed, and physicality make him a nightmare for any opponent trying to score. Trey experienced this when he saw the Boston Celtics guard was on him late in the shot clock.
"I just remember one time last year, I had the ball at the top of the key, probably at like 30 feet. I look up at the shot clock; it's five seconds. I look at who's guarding me—it's Jrue. I was like, 'Do I really want to try to iso him, or am I just going to shoot this from 30 feet?' I decided to just shoot the 30-footer," Murphy said of what transpired on that play.
What's crazy about that sequence is that Trey and Paul George agreed it was the right play to make. Rather than try to force the issue and get closer to the basket in the hope of scoring or drawing a foul, the Pelicans forward took a contested long-range shot that missed.
"I thought it was a good business decision because trying to iso him, and then he takes the ball and goes to lay it up, especially at the end of the shot clock—I didn't want to deal with that. It's crazy that you have to make that kind of decision on the fly," Murphy stated.
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PG knows Jrue all too well
PG-13, a six-time All-NBA team member, knows how tough it is to be defended by Holiday. When Boston is on deck, Paul knows better than to try and get fancy with his ballhandling, as Jrue can easily rip the ball away on every possession.
"I make those decisions all the time, like, 'Today is not going to be a dance day, P. Today is not the day,'" the new Sixer emphasized.
Murphy chimed in on the discussion, sharing what he thought was Holiday's best move on defense. While some of the league's elite stoppers consistently slide their feet laterally to get in front of an offensive player, Trey said Jrue does something different, which catches players off guard and leaves them intrigued.
"One of the special things about his defense is how he backpedals and stops attackers instead of fully sliding. Jrue is probably one of the best at that. He'll backpedal, chest you, and then literally take the ball because you're trying to get low and change direction. He's waiting for that," the promising two-way player revealed.
Trey aspires to become one of the league's better defenders, and he's steadily making strides toward that goal. But if he genuinely wants to reach the top, watching Jrue's technique and adapting it to his own game could help him get there.
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