During the 2023-24 NBA season, we will be delving into the league’s key storylines every week to determine if the trends are based more in fact or fiction. This week’s on the radar is whether the Bucks came out on top in the Damian Lillard-Jrue Holiday trade.
In a Thanksgiving eve showdown between the two Eastern Conference favorite teams, the Celtics managed to scoop a 10-0 lead against the Bucks. The game highlighted the substantial changes in both teams since their last meeting, and it was evident that the changes did not favor the Milwaukee squad. Despite a late Milwaukee 12-2 rally, the team struggled to hold the Celtics, compelling them to reassess their strategy.
The duo of Jrue Holiday and Derrick White has significantly strengthened the Celtics’ defense, making them a formidable force. On the other hand, the Bucks are grappling with defensive struggles, particularly against sharpshooters from the three-point line.
The trade of Holiday to the Celtics has inadvertently bolstered their lineup and now has placed them in a favorable position than the Bucks. Holiday’s transfer to the Celtics and Damian Lillard’s move to the Bucks have somewhat shifted the dynamics within the league, setting the stage for a potentially epic showdown between the two teams come playoff time.
With the Celtics refining their lineup to include Holiday and Porzingis, their improved performance showcases that the Lillard-Holiday trade inadvertently strengthened the Celtics over the Bucks. Therefore, this trade appears to be more fiction than fact.
