Jayson Tatum lauds Boston Celtics teammate's 'flu game' after Game 3 comeback

Jayson Tatum praised Jrue Holiday's magnificent performance during Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals despite not being in the best state health-wise. The former Milwaukee Buck still accumulated 14 points, nine rebounds, three assists, and three steals. But it was his final steal of the game that stole (no pun intended) the victory away from the Indiana Pacers, who had the Boston Celtics playing from behind at one point.

In other words, you could say that Holiday had his version of arguably the NBA's greatest player of all time, Michael Jordan's "flu game," which occurred in Game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals between the Chicago Bulls and the Utah Jazz. Yes, Holiday may have not scored 38 points like Jordan but the vibes are similar in that sense.

“Can’t speak highly enough about Jrue,” Jayson Tatum said (h/t MassLive). “The ultimate teammate, competitor, obviously a champion. Wasn’t at shootaround today, he was sick. Dealing with chills and stuff like that. And we’ve all been there, how tough that is, to fight through it and for him to come out there and lay it all on the line for us, make the game winning play essentially, especially on the defensive end.”

Holiday knows exactly what it takes to win an NBA championship, and that should not be overlooked by anyone, whether it's the fans, players, or especially the media.

How important is Jrue Holiday's presence for the Boston Celtics?

Leadership and experience are vital aspects of Holiday's being inside the Celtics locker room. He brings his unique journey that can be shared with the rest of the stars he's sharing the floor with; specifically Tatum and Jaylen Brown, the two mainstays of the organization.

Plus, he puts more fear and pressure on the Indiana Pacers and a determined Coach Rick Carlisle, who feels confident claiming a win in the series, avoiding a possible 4-0 sweep.