Joel Embiid posted a question on social media after the Boston Celtics took a 3-0 lead in the 2024 NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks.

“Did the Bucks give them the championship?” Embiid said referring to the offseason move that led to Damian Lillard coming to Milwaukee and sending Jrue Holiday to the Portland Trail Blazers, who later traded Holiday to the Boston Celtics. The Celtics acquired Holiday in exchange for Malcolm Brogdon, Robert Williams, and two-first round picks.

Even though the actual deal that brought Holiday to Boston went through Portland, Embiid squarely put the blame on the Bucks for letting Holiday, one of the main contributors to Milwaukee’s 2021 NBA title, walk away and allow chief conference rival Boston to snag him and be a difference-maker in its championship run. Holiday was a two-way standout in the Celtics’ convincing 4-1 series win over the Mavericks in the 2024 NBA Finals.

Holiday’s role with the Celtics was far different than his role with the Bucks. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are Boston’s two primary scorers and the ball is in their hands the majority of the time. Holiday adjusted to his new role, playing off the ball more and playing in the dunker spot more than he’s ever had his entire career. What Holiday didn’t change was his lockdown defense.

The six-time All-NBA defensive player put on an absolute clinic on how to play on-ball defense, especially in the NBA Finals against Kyrie Irving. Irving entered the Finals smoking hot as he averaged 27 points per game in Western Conference finals. With Holiday as the primary defender on him, Irving struggled mightily against the Celtics. Irving was held to 12, 16, and 15 points in three of the five games, and he was unable to shake free from Holiday’s grip.

Holiday was the catalyst of a smothering Boston defense that held the Mavericks under 100 points four times — all Celtics victories.

On Draymond Green’s podcast, “The Draymond Green Show,” the Golden State Warriors forward said the Celtics were gifted a title thanks to the Bucks’ lack of foresight, the Blazers’ tanking, and the creative mind of general manager Brad Stevens.

Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis were the two big acquisitions by Stevens during the offseason. Both were instrumental in helping the Celtics produce a league-best 64 wins and the No. 1 overall seed in the postseason. They were significant upgrades from Robert Williams and Marcus Smart. Both were members of Boston’s 2022 Finals runner-up team.

“We knew we need to make some changes. Brad [Stevens] brought in Jrue and KP, and we were able to raise banner No. 18,” Celtics majority owner Wyc Grousbeck said while accepting the 18th championship trophy in franchise history.

Smart won NBA defensive player of the year in 2022, but he was more of a terrific help defender than a straight-up shutdown defender. He is also a world-class flopper, which hurt his team more than it helped. Holiday, by contrast, is arguably the best one-on-one defender in basketball and flopping is not in his vocabulary. A true lockdown perimeter guard who can be left on an island and be able to shut down his man with little help.

Holiday’s impact wasn’t just felt on the defensive end. His leadership and voice in the huddle were immeasurable, helping Tatum and Brown navigate through tense moments in the postseason. Holiday’s calming voice — something Smart couldn’t provide because he wore his emotions on his sleeve — was exactly what the Celtics needed to get over the hump after multiple trips to the conference finals and falling one game short of a title in 2022.

“I think there’s some other things Milwaukee could have done to keep Jrue. But yes, they did [give Boston the championship] … Joel Embiid’s question that he knew the answer to is absolutely correct,” Draymond said on his podcast. “It did give them the championship and Boston has done the job of putting it together. You got to give those guys credit … but he gave it to them.”

Even Tatum couldn’t believe the Celtics were able to acquire Holiday.

“I don’t know how they let us get him, but I’m so happy we got Jrue on our team and we’re so fortunate,” Tatum said after Game 3 in an interview with NBA TV.

The Celtics certainly wouldn’t have beaten the Mavericks in the NBA Finals without Holiday, now a two-time NBA champion.

“I’m just about winning, and I want to win, whatever it takes,” Holiday told Fox Sports. “It doesn’t matter if I score. Honestly, it doesn’t matter if I’m on the court. If I’m handing people water bottles and towels, and if that’s helping us build our confidence and good chemistry and getting us wins, then I’ll do it.”

To make sure Holiday is not going anywhere, the Celtics signed him to a four-year extension worth $135 million. The contract will keep Holiday in Boston through the 2027-28 season.

Celtics are not making the same mistake the Bucks made.

Former Philadelphia 76ers star Doug Collins (second from right) has the Sixers off to their best start in 10 years. (US PRESSWIRE)

Philadelphia has been a tortured city when it comes to its sports teams. The Flyers lost in the Stanley Cup final in 2010 and have not won since 1975; a loaded Phillies squad was a heavy favorite to win the 2011 World Series but got eliminated in the first round; and the “Dream Team” Eagles and all its expensive free-agent acquisitions finished a disappointing 8-8 in the NFL.

But have no fear Philly fans because the 76ers are about to embark on a very special season. The Sixers are off to their best start in 10 years, which was also the last time the team went to the NBA Finals. Winning a championship may be a bit far-fetched at this point, but the 2011-12 Sixers are at least showing signs that they are on the rise and ready to fill the huge void after Allen Iverson left town.

There are several reasons for the Sixers’ fast start, but the No. 1 reason has been their defense.

The team has bought into Doug Collins’ defense-first philosophy. Philadelphia is currently holding its opponents to under 86 points per game and 39% from the field. Defense has created more opportunities on offense as the Sixers are averaging 101 points per game and six players are averaging double figures in scoring. And the team’s leading scorer, Lou Williams, doesn’t even start.

Before Collins took over two seasons ago, the Sixers were an underachieving team that didn’t have an identity. They relied on a lot of isolations and forced shots on offense and gave up too many easy shots on defense. But 60-year-old Collins, who was the Sixers’ first overall selection in the 1973 draft, has managed to bridge the generation gap between his old-school ways and his new-school players that the foundation of a championship run starts with a solid defense and balance on offense.

“To me, it doesn’t matter if it’s Andre [Iguodala], Thad [Young] or Spencer [Hawes] stepping up, we’re a team,” said veteran forward Elton Brand, who is only averaging nine points a game but has bought into Collins’ balanced approach. Brand has benefited from the recent play of center Spencer Hawes, who could challenge for Most Improved Player of the Year in 2012. Hawes, who allows Brand a respite on defense, leads the team in rebounds (9.1) and blocks (1.8).

Another player who has bought into Collins’ concept is Andre Iguodala, arguably the Sixers’ best all-around player. Iguodala has accepted the role of defensive stopper, a position he embraced while on the 2010 U.S. national team that won the gold medal at the FIBA World Championship in Turkey.

With Iguodala, Jrue Holiday and Thaddeus Young, the Sixers have three players who are averaging close to two steals per game, and creating turnovers plays a big role in triggering fast-break opportunities especially for a team loaded with greyhounds who thrive in the open court.

Young is part of a very active Sixers bench, which also includes leading scorer Williams, sharp-shooter Jodie Meeks and last year’s first-round pick Evan Turner, that have given teams fits because there is not a lot of dropoff between the starters and the bench, and the reserves often are the ones building the leads.

“Their bench is their strength and gave them a huge lift,” said Sacramento Kings coach Keith Smart, whose team lost 112-85 to the Sixers on Jan. 10. Kings guard Tyreke Evans concurred: “They have a great bench. They just put a whipping on us.”

Miami remains the team to beat in the Eastern Conference, but Philadelphia is a team that could make waves in the Atlanta Division and become a huge threat in the playoffs.

Joel Huerto is the editor and publisher of OneManFastbreak.net. Follow him on Twitter @onemanfastbreak.