James O’Dwyer (@ODwyer1010)
Jrue Holiday is perhaps the most underrated player in the NBA, but as long as he remains healthy, that is quickly about to change when the basketball world tunes into every New Orleans Pelicans game to watch projected superstar Zion Williamson throw down some insane dunks. Newly appointed General Manager David Griffin already stated that the Pels are ‘Jrue Holiday’s team’ and that he is the leader, so this season may put even more pressure on Jrue than when he had to play alongside Anthony Davis. So just how good is Holiday, and can he take this young and inexperienced Pelicans team to the playoffs in a stacked Western Conference?
Despite not being selected as an All-Star last year, Holiday had his best year, averaging 21.2 points, 5 rebounds and 7.7 assists per game on 54% shooting. Jrue did however get acknowledged for his elite defence, getting the nod for 2nd Team All-Defence alongside NBA stars Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, Kawhi Leonard and Joel Embiid. You can check out some of his great defensive plays below:
Holiday is a silent assassin that earned the name ‘Kung Fu Jrue’ after starting the headband craze last year, but it is also relevant to his style of play. He is a deceptively quick and crafty guard that can make tough finishes look easy and can hit teammates in perfect positions for easy buckets. Jrue’s style of play meshed well with Anthony Davis, but the rest of the team could never remain healthy in the years they played together. Jrue has shot 35.5% from three from his career, which isn’t amazing but certainly demands respect from defences, and he will make you pay if you leave him open. Holiday is a versatile combo guard that can run the point or play shooting guard, and practically guard positions one through to four. At 6’4, he struggles against dominant centers in a mismatch situation, but he has been able to contain power-forwards in the past.
This off-season saw a massive shake-up to the Pelicans roster, and many thought before New Orleans landed the no.1 pick that Jrue was going to be on the move. But luck was in their favour, and the future of the franchise looks bright once again after acquiring Zion. The haul that David Griffin was able to bring in for the frustrated Anthony Davis has arguably improved the roster, but questions of fit and playstyle still remain a mystery. The acquisitions of J.J Redick and Derrick Favors add reliable veterans to the young team, but many are convinced they won’t be enough to help the Pelicans reach the post-season. The 2019-20 season will be Holiday’s 11th, putting him head and shoulders above the younger Pelicans in terms of experience, so they will (hopefully) look to him for guidance, as no one on the current roster besides E’Twaun Moore, J.J Redick and Derrick Favors have even played playoff minutes.
The starting line-up for New Orleans on day one, assuming everyone is healthy as there is still concerns about Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball’s conditions, should be Holiday, Redick, Ingram/Zion, Favors and Jaxson Hayes. The center position is a mystery, as Jahlil Okafor may get those minutes, or maybe even Christian Wood, or maybe Favors slides down and Zion starts at PF. But assuming the Pelicans want to get their young core in sync as soon as possible, the aforementioned line-up is what they’ll most likely be rolling with. If you take Jrue out, there is only five years of NBA experience between Ball, Ingram, Zion and Hayes. That’s not a positive sign if you’re expecting playoffs.
Shooting is an immediate concern when looking up and down the Pelicans roster. Jrue, Ball and Ingram all shot 33% from three last season, Zion shot 34% from the college line and Hayes didn’t even attempt a three. That’s bad. Like really bad. Redick is the only glimmer of hope that the Pels have, as he made 39.7% of his three-point attempts. As soon as it becomes a slow, half court, five on five game, the Pelicans will struggle with the minimal amount of room to maneuver on the floor unless their starters outside of J.J develop into three point weapons. The spacing is going to be a nightmare, but with the defensive potential that Ball has shown, and the defensive talent that Jrue has proven, there will be a lot of opportunities for the Pelicans to take flight (pun absolutely intended). If New Orleans try and adopt a similar model to last years Sacramento Kings, where they push the pace every single chance they get, I can see them upsetting a few teams who rely heavily on isolation basketball, or throw predictable passes. Ball and Holiday could cause chaos in the passing lanes, and if Ingram applies himself he could use his length to disrupt the flow of opposing offences. Jrue and Lonzo have the court vision to find their teammates for lobs or outlet passes, so they could be hard to contain if this team lives up to their defensive potential. Everyone knows what Zion is capable of on the break, and you should check out our recent column on Jaxson Hayes if this is the first time you’re hearing his name, because chances are lob city could soon be re-locating down South.
Making the playoffs will be quite a task for Jrue’s team though. He won’t have Anthony Davis next to him to shutdown and dominate other power forwards and centers, and if they make the playoffs there is a possibility they could even end up playing Davis. When AD became a diva last season and decided to sit out and demand a trade, Jrue was able to lift up his level of play, but the team was just lacking talent, which, if the young ex-Lakers pan out, they may have found. Say that the Lakers, Clippers, Nuggets, Rockets, Jazz, Warriors and Blazers are all locks for the playoffs, that really only leaves one spot up for grabs. The Kings will be hungry after tasting success last year, and Popovich’s Spurs will always put up a fight, so scraping into that final spot will be an all out war. But I think the Pelicans can do it. Favors is experienced and will be a good influence for Hayes and Zion, and Redick has been to the playoffs before and knows what it takes to get back. Jrue’s style of play also encourages the improvement of those around him. His defensive efforts are contagious and can lead to game-changing runs, and his playmaking and slashing should open up lanes for Favors, Zion and Hayes to hammer home some ferocious dunks.
People who will be logging onto League Pass to watch Zion play next season will quickly realise just how good Holiday is, and the winning impact that he has on his teammates. I predict he will get talked about a lot more next season, especially if Zion meets expectations, and hopefully Jrue can lead his team to the playoffs and get that second All-Star nod that he definitely deserves.
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