Jrue Holiday, who has flown under the radar for years, is finally having his moment. At the core of his surprise performance is strength that makes him difficult to slow and stop.
Watch a possession at random from the Pelicans' first-round series against the Trail Blazers and you'll likely feel the grip of Jrue Holiday, who has managed to make the matchup his own. Even when checking Damian Lillard or C.J. McCollum, it is Holiday who dictates terms, cutting off angles and blotting out passing lanes to put Portland's stars in lockdown. To even get the ball to one of those guards with Holiday lurking about takes a concerted effort, a theme that runs through every phase of his coverage. Good…
