Boston Celtics: 3 key opening night matchups to monitor
By Mark Nilon
Boston Celtics v. Milwaukee Bucks matchup No. 2) Marcus Smart v. Jrue Holiday
Next up, we have a little third-fiddle action between Marcus Smart and Jrue Holiday.
Coming into tonight’s battle, both are viewed on their respective teams as the third option within the rotation.
For Jrue Holiday, he is viewed as the prized pig for the Bucks. After losing out on Bogdan Bogdanovic this offseason, the team’s front office went out and got perhaps the most underrated player in the NBA in Holiday from the New Orleans Pelicans.
With the hopes of being the third piece in Milaukee’s big-3, the guard will be bringing his impressive mix of All-Defensive skills and his offensive intangibles to this title contending squad.
On the flip side, we’ll be seeing him go up against fellow All-Defensive team guard, Marcus Smart, who likely will be filling in at the one in place of the injured Kemba Walker.
After putting up a career season in 2019-20 where 12.9 points, 4.9 assists, 3.8 rebounds, 1.7 steals, and half a block per game on 35 percent shooting from deep, the lifeblood of Celtics basketball will look to come into this debut matchup exuding the same energy and efficiency as he did all of last season.
He’ll have a touch matchup right off the bat with Holiday.