NFL
By: Stephen Garner
It’s taken absolutely no time for Derrick White to ingratiate himself with the Boston faithful.
Already a fan of his from a distance, I knew he’d be an asset upon arrival there.
Love the early acceptance most Boston fans have of Derrick White. Knew he'd quickly ingratiate himself up there. Bro got game frfr
— Stephen PridGeon ☯️🏁 (@StayTrueSDot3) February 12, 2022
As we all know, Celtics fans are as prideful and traditional of a bunch as the NBA has to offer. In that, they’re inclined for the reactionary and openly judgemental assessments of any players that don their beloved green and white.
Take a look at this season alone, it’s been a whirlwind as newly hired head coach Ime Udoka could attest. The teams had highs and lows as they’ve endured the riggers of having a head coach change and, in the inevitable experimental stages of that, they saw mixed returns which their fans weren’t shy about sharing their disapproval of the on-court product. Even receiving boo’s for multiple stretches over the first few months.
The face change in acceptance they’ve shown to this rendition of the Celtics has been stark, as they’ve amassed the fourth-best win percentage since the change of the year, going 17-7 in this window and now own the 2nd best efficiency differential (+10.7) in that as well. This includes the best defense at 102.9 points per 100 possessions and a league-average offense at 113.6, via cleaning the glass.
They’re also matching a 9th ranked half-court offense with the best half-court defense, which both bode well down the home stretch and beyond.
After the aforementioned trial period where coach Udoka got a feel for the assemblage of talent at his hands, they’ve now hit their stride and seem to be a completely different team both in their on-court product, but also in press conferences and their overall interactions within the roster.
They have healthy looking numbers to match the claim above and have an upward trajectory as they ascend the ranks of the Eastern Conference.
Adding to that, the deadline was a fruitful one for them as newly instated and previous head coach, Brad Stevens, did some proverbial house cleaning, including three separate trades executed on deadline day.
He added the likes of Daniel Thies and Derrick White in player compensation, with the latter being the focus of this piece.
He’d check in in his first game at TD Garden to a warm and welcoming round of applause, then proceed to show them just why he is a fit for this rendition of their team.
Then do so over, and over, and over in his first four games before the All-Star break.
The 27-year old homegrown Colorado product (who spent his first three years of college playing D2 ball) is presently averaging 12.3ppg, 3.8apg, 4.3rpg, 1.8spg, 1.0bpg in 30.3mpg.
His shooting numbers (37.8/23.1/75.0) have yet to register inefficiency as he feels out his role, but there are other entities of the game where he’s been a godsend of sorts in functional and overall IQ for the Celtics, which is where we’re headed next.
In White, the Celtics have a 4th year “do-it-all and do it well” swiss army knife of sorts. He’s averaging career-highs in points, rebounds, and assists in the season.
He’s of the ilk of players that I consider a premium role player, and his effect transcends box score counting stats.
He does the little things that are conducive to winning basketball, and getting this in a 6-4 190 pound frame is an advantage, evident by his cumulative +15.5 amassed in the honeymoon phase of this new situation.
Offense
On the glamorous end, he still has a propensity for the dirty work in being a willing screener (!), being active in the offensive glass, cutting in a timely and sensical manner, creating passing angles, and being patient second-side.
He’s both opportunistic and assertive, in a positive balance which is perfect when pairing any player with the likes of Tatum and Brown.
The perfect word for White, however, is versatility.
He functions best when attacking after a defense has been forced into their rotations. Whether that’s him catching on the move, attacking a closeout, or via aforementioned cuts from snoozing or out of position weakside defenders.
With that in mind, he is also adept with the ball in playmaking. Now he’s not a table-setter in the traditional sense where he’ll direct traffic or dictate pace, but he can initiate sets to get the ball to the J’s.
Like here:
Or here:
However, his playmaking typically comes after initial actions, as he serves as a great connector. Making the pass that scores, the hockey assist pass, or leading guys open as they cut behind the defense.
Playing as the second option in initial action or second side in actions independent of play, or even as a spot-up guy, allow for his skillset to be maximized.
Notice the pace on his passes and the location at which the recipients catch it, always in an advantageous spot for them to make the next play, with good timing.
Aside from his passing, he also has IQ in scoring too. He typically puts himself in situations where he can succeed. Notice how he relocates on this play after the drive and kick to Tatum. If he stans there he clogs the lane and (as Boston fans grew fond of early on) the rhythm of the entire play would be done after one action. Instead…
Here, he’s fundamental on the catch in assessing his close out and exploiting the top foot of Bogdanovic who’s all sorts of out of position.
And is adept with the usage of his floater on drives to the rim.
He’s very well-rounded and multifaceted on offense with or without the rock,, and is the rare breed that excels both on and off it defensively.
Defense
Derrick White's averaging 1.8 SPG & 1 BPG in his now 4 games in Boston. I've always seen him as the calibur defender type that could average 1+ in both. Proving his worth early in Beantown
— Stephen PridGeon ☯️🏁 (@StayTrueSDot3) February 17, 2022
One of the first things that comes to mind with him is that he’s just solid in understanding his principles and what not to do. He’s a smart helper in trusting the pieces around him, hardly ever over-helping and freeing up his man.
He’s also adept with using his hands without fouling, tallying rip aways that count as blocks as players gather for shot attempts near the rim.
Speaking to his ability in connecting defensively, he also does an excellent job being versatile and switching both out on the perimeter and also in the post in disadvantageous situations.
His being able to do so allows the Celtics to switch nearly 1-5 at almost all times.
The place my mind immediately traveled to upon receiving the news that he had been traded to Boston was the random terror lineups he would present for the C’s when paired with Smart.
That’s a lot of toughness, grit, and activity covering up that they’ll do, allowing Brown and Tatum much less strenuous matchups, and less pressure on their frontcourt pieces in rim protection as they can both stay in front of their men.
These two have compiled 86 possessions together, and, to no surprise, have excelled defensively.
Those lineups allow just 104.7 points per 100 possessions and allow an eFG% of just 47.4%. Exemplifying just how dynamic a defensive duo these two are and can be long-term. Having two interchangeable point-of-attack defenders who can viably double as a chaser, helper, or wing stopper while the other takes on-ball duties completely unlocks a defense.
I estimate their defensive marriage to have a similar effect to that Ball and Caruso’s for the Chicago Bulls. Where their tandem on-ball and help defensive prowesses allow for the offensive stars (ironically positioned similarly, there are many parallels between these rosters) to be in advantageous situations on defense, and helps to “mask” their traditional rim protectors with strong help and weakside rim protection skill of their own.
In all, White is a great piece to the puzzle in this potent Celtics reclamation that’s well underway.
How high they can climb up the ranks of the Eastern Conference will be a point of focus for me down the home stretch, as the perception of just what their ceiling may be this season has become a fluid watching.
As it stands, they’re 6th at 34-26, 4.5 games back of first.
Keep a close eye on this team and especially Derrick White as the connector for them on both ends of the floor, while they continue piecing together their parts while building chemistry for the playoffs.
