5 breakout stars from the first round of the NBA Playoffs

3. Jrue Holiday, PG, New Orleans Pelicans

Jrue Holiday is a bad man. Jrue Holiday can make stars disappear. Jrue Holiday can sweep a No. 3 seed as a No. 6 seed.

Holiday has arguably been the best guard in this year’s playoffs. He plays both sides of the ball with a high intensity, and was a key factor in the Pelicans upsetting the higher seeded Portland Trail Blazers.

Holiday was unguardable in the series. He torched defenders with an averages of of 24.4 points, and 6.0 assists per game, and shot a staggering 57 percent from the field. Holiday got to the rim at will and created for his teammates.

But what stood out most was his defensive effort and success on All-Star point guard Damian Lillard. The Pelicans had a game plan to take out Portland’s guards and they executed it beautifully. Lillard struggled all series — after averaging 26.9 points per game on the season his average dropped in this series to 18.5; his field goal percentage from 43 to 35 percent.

Holiday has a tall challenge against the Warriors backcourt, but it’s great to see him getting the recognition he deserves.