Will Hardy calls Jrue Holiday ‘the best defender in the gym’

Celtics

After Boston snuffed out Utah’s comeback chances, Will Hardy called on Holiday’s elite defense.

“Anyone but Jrue.”

That’s what Jazz coach Will Hardy said Collin Sexton Tuesday evening, after the guard asked for a screen that allowed Jrue Vacations to change and become the defender of the ball.

The play went deep in the fourth quarter after a Celtics run that left the Jazz trailing 113-93 with just five minutes on the clock. Sexton, who was facing Xavier Tillman, was supposed to find a lane and drive to the basket, taking advantage of his speed.

Sexton, however, stopped at the top of the arc and brought in John Collins for a screen that set off a tenacious Holiday on the ball.

“THE Celtics making so many changes in those moments,” Hardy said of Holiday’s defense. “We’re basically putting the best defender in the gym on Collin.”

Aware of his mistake, Sexton calls for another screen. However, by the time Tillman switches again, there are seven seconds left on the shot clock and the 6-foot-3 guard is forced to shoot a three on a much taller Celtic.

“A lot of times against the Celtics there aren’t a lot of good picks, but there are better picks,” Hardy said. “I felt like in the fourth quarter, part of our stagnation was because we weren’t seeing every game the same way and recognizing where the defense’s weak spots might be .”

The Celtics played solid defense in Tuesday’s 123-107 win over the Jazz. Vacation had five rebounds, one block and one steal in the game. He also had 16 points and eight assists in his 38 minutes.

Boston prepares for another night of action on Thursday against the Phoenix Suns. The home game will begin at 7:30 p.m. at TD Garden.