Derrick White throughout his Boston Celtics tenure has made a plethora of big-time plays on both sides of the court. I would consider him one of the most reliable players. He’s a player I don’t worry about if he misses his first eight shots, because when he needs to make one, he will.
When we traded Marcus Smart to the Memphis Grizzlies to bring Kristaps Porzingis in, it hurt not because I don’t like KP, but because what Smart brought was something I wasn’t sure was replicable. What I loved most about Smart was his mentality to never quit on a play, even if there’s a 1% chance of him getting a loose ball or a block. He would go all out for it and make some incredible plays. I have the same feeling about White now. It probably dates back to his game-winner in Game 6 of the 2022 NBA Playoffs against the Heat, but now it seems like he makes one or two big-time plays to get us back into a game, kill momentum, or ice the game.
A lot of players are afraid to get dunked on, especially in the world today where clips go up instantly on social media. Well, Derrick White got posterized by Dereck Lively II, but it didn’t phase him and he kept going and when it mattered most. With Dallas creeping back in the game late, White came out of nowhere to contest PJ Washington at the rim and got the block to preserve the lead.
After the game White was asked about his “relentlessness” going for blocks and his “arrogance” in doing so and White responded with, “that’s why I got dunked on earlier.”
White’s not afraid to get dunked on and he’s always just trying to make a play.
“It’s part of the game [getting dunked on], [it’s about] not being afraid to get dunked on. It allows me to get some that maybe someone wouldn’t have gotten,” White said. “I’m just trying to make a play, believe in my abilities and what I can do.”
“Derrick has been All-Defensive all season long… Derrick White sprints back, I see they have an advantage, I sprint back and we were able to make a play there,” Jaylen Brown said. “Those are the types of plays that help you win games. It was just effort, that’s what it comes down to.”
Joe Mazzulla praised White for his ability to do whatever is needed.
“I think it comes back to he’s not defined by one thing, he’s just a little bit of everything. He can handle in pick-and-roll, he can score in pick-and-roll, he can stay spaced. He’s not defined by scoring,” Mazzulla said. “… He’s another guy that’s selfless and wants to impact the game in any way he can.”
It’s not just on defense where he makes an impact. On offense, he finds a way to hit shots that he has no business making. They’re the type of shots where opponents feel dejected because he just bailed out the team. With the shot clock running down, White hoisted a deep three from and buried it to give Boston its double-digit lead back after a great defensive series from the Mavs.
He won’t lead the team in scoring every night. Some games, he’ll have a poor shooting night, but when it matters most and he gets an opportunity, he’s going to take it.
