2. Clutch Factor
The word, “Clutch,” is often confused with only meaning a player hits game-winning or game-tying shots. That’s how Carmelo Anthony earned the label, but it’s not the only application of the word—and it’s far from the only application that matters.
Being clutch includes making plays in big moments throughout the entirety of the game, and Justin Holiday has shown a natural proclivity for doing so.
Throughout the 2016-17 season, Justin Holiday seemed to find himself in the right place at the right time. Whether it was a long rebound, a defensive stop, or a big shot in a big moment, the Knicks could trust Holiday in the fourth quarter.
Holiday may not have been a starter, but head coach Jeff Hornacek trusted him to play at a starting-caliber level during the 2016-17 season.
With the clutch gene seemingly present, Holiday has the potential to be a glue guy for a championship-level team. Re-signing him may not push the Knicks into the playoffs, but he’d fit the need for the ideal role players.
Players who make the right play in the right moment are tough to come by, and Holiday is one of the select few who’s capable of exactly that.