PORTLAND – To teammates and fans, Jrue Holiday has developed a reputation for being mild-mannered, both on and off the court. That version of Holiday was fairly unrecognizable to everyone during Tuesday’s Game 2 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers.
While scoring 33 points and playing lockdown defense against one of the NBA’s best backcourts, a man often described as quiet and lowkey took the opportunity to return trash-talk with Trail Blazers fans seated near the hardwood. After a few of his best plays and biggest shots, Holiday pounded on his chest, or gestured to spectators, who for once were silenced in an otherwise raucous Moda Center.