PRESS CONFERENCE: Jrue Holiday on Celtics’ bounce-back win vs. Pelicans

PRESS CONFERENCE: Jrue Holiday on Celtics’ bounce-back win vs. Pelicans

Defensive defensively after the first quarter you guys really locked down what was what was the uh the difference there um I think we were just responding uh they came out very strong in that first quarter um very physical playing great defense and and kind of getting out in

Transition had us turning the ball over so um just wanted to elevate our play and kind of masch the energy reminders like that you can take it to another level I think sometimes you need to get punched in the mouth um you know it playing these games and

Sometimes you it it just happens right um but a game like this with with a team like that where they early they can get it going hard to stop and transition um High Flyers a lot of three-point shooting it could have gotten out of control but I’m glad we we got it under

Control third quarter your defense really took over and you had a lot of success funneling CJ to like where you pick up the ball and then KP would be right there to stop him what kind of like chemistry did you and KP have going tonight to get those stops um you know I

Think it’s really just playing together all season um being able to kind of play behind at times with then when I’m when I’m on the ball kp’s talking to me telling me I got it and I just funnel it to him and then and go to his man so uh

A lot of communication that that we’ve been going over for a while talk before the game but what kind of job did Jaylen do with Zion and really I think he made it difficult for him um I know in that fourth quarter he started going to the

Free throw line but before that it’s like he couldn’t he didn’t have a light of day um really physical uh you could say that they were fighting and banging out there so um I think being physical with him is the best chance for us to

Try to keep him off the free throw line and then kind of get their team under control speak Zion you were here for his first year just what kind of growth have you seen from him from that point when he was a rookie with you and then now

Where he’s at now yeah um I think it’s that leadership um you can see it out there on the court you can see that he wants more responsibility um more playmaking um you can see uh him playing point guard in different positions uh

Even if he has to go to the for um but out there you can you can see him pointing to go to different places and and things like that so I think his leadership is is something that I’ve seen as grow that’s the mental challenge you guys know that you got it pretty

Much sewn up you still have a few weeks left to go what’s the mental challenge of like getting up for games I think it’s taking it every game at a time um and doing our best not to not to disrespect our opponents um these are great players and we are in

The NBA so even though we feel like we might have a team who might not be making the playoffs um we can’t really slack mentally thinking like all well they might not come out and play today um I think that that helps us lead into the playoffs having that toughness that

Mental toughness to be able to respond and beat anybody if it’s the 15th team or um I guess the second so you guys probably don’t think about this way but like on the outside this a game like this kind of serves like a good reminder like oh this is how good

The Celtics defense can be do you guys think about it like that at all and and and do you think it sends any kind of message at all um I don’t know if we’re here to send a message um so I I haven’t really thought about it that way I think

It’s about preparing for what’s to come and knowing that we have different looks that we can give we can play different lineups and one through 15 anybody go out there and give it their all and we’ll play well together is is what I think is important offensively you guys

Went with the ball in derk’s hands a lot in the fourth quarter it’s a little bit different than you guys normally do what what was the kind of like the plan there and and and just how much does that kind of put the Trust In just kind of anybody

To run that offense late yeah um I think I think it was a little bit of a matchup and again we know dere what Derrick is capable of um obviously a shooting threat getting into the plaint with a floater um but I think making the right

Play is the biggest part so giving him the ball him and KP going screen and roll and making a play out of it is uh it’s something that we trust trust D with Dre you spent the most of your years your NBA career here in New Orleans does ever feel weird coming back

Here no I didn’t feel weird it feels it feels like home um a lot of people that I love a lot of people that I love to see a lot of good food spots that I try to go to um not here long enough but it’s it’s always good to come

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After the Celtics’ 104-92 win over the Pelicans, Jrue Holiday talks to the media about the C’s defensive performance and their mentality through the last few weeks of the regular season.

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