Tag: Jrue Holiday

Ex-UCLA Bruins were in action on Christmas Day

Some former Bruins played on Xmas day.

Many will fill their Christmas by spending time with family, opening gifts or focusing on being merry, but us sports fans will have a busy day ahead of ourselves, with five NBA games on tap along with a pair of NFL games, so here’s a look at which former UCLA Bruins will be in action on Wednesday.

Starting off in the association, former Bruin Jaylen Clark hasn’t appeared in a game this season for the Minnesota Timberwolves after tearing his achilles last year during his rookie season. Clark has averaged 12.9 points per game in the G-League with the Iowa Wolves in 16 games. 

There will be Bruins on both sides in the 76ers-Celtics game, with Jrue Holiday for Boston and Adem Bona for Philadelphia. Holiday, 2x NBA Champ is named appropriately for Christmas day action while Bona is 15 games into his rookie season backing up the oft-absent Joel Embiid. 

Kyle Anderson will play on Christmas for the first time with his new team, signing with the Golden State Warriors in the offseason. Anderson, in year 10 as a pro, is averaging 5.0 points per game while playing 14.5 minutes per game. 

The final two UCLA NBA players to play on Christmas are both Denver Nuggets, with future Hall of Famer Russell Westbrook and the underrated Peyton Watson as they face the Phoenix Suns. Watson is enjoying a career year, averaging 8.7 points per game, having already set a career-high in starts with 12.

Kansas City Chief running back Carson Steele will be the only Bruin on the field during the NFL’s early game, as Steele will face the Pittsburgh Steelers. Steele remains atop the AFC Pro Bowl ballot for fullback.

There’s just one former Bruin in the afternoon game as well, with Texans’ kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn facing the Baltimore Ravens. Fairbairn isn’t far behind Steele, as he sits second in the AFC Pro Bowl voting behind the Steelers’ Chris Boswell.

Celtics cap issues could correct itself within two years

The Boston Celtics cap issues could correct themselves over the next two years.

The Boston Celtics are a second-apron luxury tax team. Since taking over as the team’s president of basketball operations, Brad Stevens has assembled one of the most talented and deepest rosters in the NBA. However, that level of talent and depth has come with a significant cost. Stevens has also spent the summer securing the long-term future of the core rotation.

According to The Athletic’s Jared Weiss, Boston’s current status as a second apron team could course correct itself within the next two years, as the apron could grow on a yearly basis. Due to the Celtics having all of their talent locked down, it’s possible their payroll will grow at a slower rate than the second apron and eventually see them duck under it completely.

“The second apron could grow year-to-year at a rate that would allow Boston to get under it for the 2026-27 season without even sacrificing a starter,” Weiss wrote. “The Celtics plausibly could stay out of the second apron from there on and fix their draft-pick issues. That would allow them to start trading core players to get younger and extend the window to win with Jayson Tatum and/or Brown.”

Eventually, the Celtics will need to make some roster moves. Jrue Holiday is nearing his mid-30s, and Al Horford is firmly in the final stage of his career. Ducking under the second apron would allow Stevens to re-tool the roster and keep the Celtics at the top of the Eastern Conference for years to come.

Whether Boston can duck the second apron will remain to be seen, but it would certainly help them establish a dynasty if they could.

Subscribe to the “Celtics Chronicle” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3SGM4MK

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4dBiNuJ

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3QnlPcS

Substack: https://bit.ly/3WoA0Cf

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=590969557 tag=648387929]

Jrue Holiday finishes unforgettable summer of 2024

ANOTHER GOLD!

It has been an incredible summer of basketball for former UCLA Bruins guard Jrue Holiday. Holiday helped his Boston Celtics win the 2024 NBA Finals over the Dallas Mavericks. That was in June. After spending July getting ready, and starting the Olympics, now Jrue Holiday is an Olympic Champion.

Team USA led from start to finish to win the game over France 98-87. The Americans outscored France 26-21 in the fourth quarter. It was the Steph Curry show late in the game. He finished the game with 24 points in the game. He was 8 for 13 from downtown.

LeBron James was named the Olympics MVP and finished the final game with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Jrue Holiday did not start in the game but played 19 minutes and scored 6 points and 4 assists.

Holiday and the Boston Celtics will once again be the big favorites to win the NBA title in 2024. Holiday is 34 years old, and has played in the league since 2009.

Can Boston’s Olympians go from Olympic gold to a second championship?

Can the Boston Celtics gold medal-winning trio help bring back-to-back championships to the Celtics?

The Boston Celtics had three players on Team USA’s gold-medal-winning team at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Jrue Holiday, Derrick White and Jayson Tatum were all part of their country’s success this summer, allowing them to continue playing elite-level basketball after winning an NBA championship with the Celtics just a few months earlier.

Now, Boston’s Olympic trio must turn their attention back toward the upcoming season. The Celtics will have a target on their backs and will aim to win a second-straight championship to prove last season wasn’t an anomaly. A second straight championship would also disprove the narrative that their journey to the NBA Finals was an easy one.

During a recent episode of the “First To The Floor” podcast, hosts Jake Issenberg and Wayne Spooney discussed Boston’s upcoming season and why it’s important for their Olympic trio to share their current momentum in the locker room as the Celtics embark on what could be a memorable season.

You can watch the full episode by clicking on the embedded video above.

Subscribe to the “Celtics Chronicle” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3SGM4MK

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4dBiNuJ

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3QnlPcS

Substack: https://bit.ly/3WoA0Cf

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=590969568 tag=648387929]

How did the Celtics Olympic trio hold up in the gold medal game?

How did each member of the Boston Celtics Olympians perform during the 2024 Paris Olympics?

The Boston Celtics had three members of their roster on Team USA’s gold-medal-winning Olympic team. Jayson Tatum, Jrue Holiday and Derrick White all played a part in Steve Kerr’s team securing a gold medal. During the United States 98-87 win over France, both Tatum and Holiday were part of the rotation. White received a DNP-CD.

During the tournament, some controversy surrounded Tatum being benched for both games against Serbia, one to open the tournament and one in the semi-finals. Nevertheless, all three members of Boston’s championship-winning rotation had a role to play in the USA’s unbeaten run to another gold medal at the Olympic games.

Shortly after Team USA had secured their victory, Bobby Manning and Noa Dalzell went live in a special episode of CLNS Media’s “The Garden Report” to share their thoughts on the game, the impact Boston’s trio had on the tournament, and which players on the USA roster stood out.

You can watch the full episode by clicking on the embedded video above.

Subscribe to the “Celtics Chronicle” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3SGM4MK

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4dBiNuJ

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3QnlPcS

Substack: https://bit.ly/3WoA0Cf

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=590969568 tag=648387929]

What roles did Boston’s Olympic trio play for Team USA?

What roles did each of the Boston Celtics stars play for Team USA en route to a gold medal?

Team USA secured a gold medal in the 2024 Paris Olympics with a 98-87 victory over France on Saturday. The Boston Celtics had three players on Steve Kerr’s roster. Jayson Tatum and Jrue Holiday both participated in the contest, while Derrick White received a DNP-CD despite being an important part of the rotation throughout the rest of the tournament.

During a recent episode of the “You Got Boston” podcast, host Noa Dalzell discussed the different roles Boston’s trio of Olympians comprised for Kerr’s team. She also looked at how each of the three stars contributed to the team’s success throughout their journey to overcome the French national team.

Dalzell also discussed the controversy surrounding Tatum’s benching for both games against Serbia and his overall role within the United States system, which often saw him relegated to standing in the corner as a floor spacer.

You can watch the full episode to hear Dalzell’s thoughts by clicking on the embedded video above.

Subscribe to the “Celtics Chronicle” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3SGM4MK

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4dBiNuJ

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3QnlPcS

Substack: https://bit.ly/3WoA0Cf

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=590969568 tag=648387929]

Jrue Holiday going for gold in 2024 Olympics

Going for the gold!

It certainly was not easy,  but Jrue Holiday and Team USA came away with a 95-91 win over Serbia on Thursday. Holiday started the game, scoring 3 points on 1 for 2 shooting. He added 7 assists in the game.

The United States trailed 54-43 at halftime and 76-63 after three. The American team went on a 32-15 fourth-quarter run to win the game.

The big story for the Americans was Steph Curry. who scored a game-high 36 points. Big man Joel Embiid was also strong for the USA with 19 points, while LeBron James had 16 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists in the game.

For Serbia, Nikola Jokic scored 17 points, while Bogdan Bogdanovic led the team with 20.

Holiday and Team USA will now play for the Gold Medal on Saturday. The Americans will face off against the host country, France. These two teams met up in the Summer Olympics of 2020. The game is slated for 12:30 pm PST. Earlier in the day Germany will take on Serbia for the Bronze medal.

Jrue Holiday plays 15 minutes off bench in Team USA blowout win

Another solid run by Jrue.

It was another dominating performance from start to finish for Team USA as they blew away South Sudan in their second game of the Olympics.

After starting in the first game of the Olympics against Serbia, Jrue Holiday came off the bench for this game. The former UCLA Bruins star played 15 minutes and scored 5 points in the win.

Team USA had six guys score double digits, with Bam Adebayo leading the way with 18 points. LeBron James led all starters with 12 in the game. Joel Embiid did not play for the Americans in the game.

Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton did not play in the first game. Tatum started this game and played 17 minutes. Haliburton had 8 minutes off the bench.

The win guaranteed Team USA into the quarterfinals. They will look to lock up Group C unbeaten when they take on Puerto Rico on Saturday. South Sudan and Serbia will battle on Saturday for the second spot from Group C.

Team USA cracking jokes about Boston Celtics champions

Certain members of Team USA have been cracking jokes about the Boston Celtics championship winning trio.

Team USA has three members of the Boston Celtics championship-winning roster. Jrue Holiday, Derrick White and Jayson Tatum are all part of Steve Kerr’s roster for the 2024 Paris Olympics. All three of them played a significant part in helping Joe Mazzulla’s team hoist banner 18 at the end of last season.

However, having three newly crowned champions on one roster has likely led to some bragging or light-hearted joking within the roster. Steph Curry and Kevin Durant recently cracked some jokes at their teammate’s expense during a news conference. They noted how Jayson Tatum had been walking into a room and declaring that “the champ is here.”

During a recent episode of the “How ‘Bout Them Celtics” podcast, hosts Jack Simone and Sam LaFrance discussed the team chemistry on display during Team USA’s news conferences and how the trio of Celtics players have likely played a role.

You can watch the full episode by clicking on the embedded link above.

Subscribe to the “Celtics Chronicle” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3UAVYRg

Spotify:  https://spoti.fi/3y0H4Lh

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3QnlPcS

Substack: https://bit.ly/3WoA0Cf

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=590969568 tag=648387929]

Jrue Holiday’s big day helps Team USA down Serbia

Team USA gets the w.

Team USA passed their first test in Men’s Basketball on Sunday. In Paris, Team USA downed Serbia 110-84. Former UCLA Bruins star guard Jrue Holiday’s big game helped lead the way.

Holiday, who won an NBA title with the Celtics in June scored 15 points, ripped down 3 rebounds, dished out 3 assists, and had 2 steals in the win.

Holiday was one of six players for Team USA scoring double digits in the game. Kevin Durant anchored the charge with 21 points, while LeBron James scored 21.

For Serbia, Nikola Kokic was the top scorer, with 20.

The next game for Team USA is slated for 12 pm PST on Wednesday. The Americans will take on South Sudan in the group stage. South Sudan beat Puerto Rico in their first Olympic game. Team USA struggled against South Sudan in the exhibition stage. The final game of the group stage is slated for August 3rd. The quarterfinals would start on August 6th.