With Kristaps Porzingis missing Thursday’s game, Al Horford missing Friday’s game and Jaylen Brown missing both, the Celtics needed guys to step up and deliver. There was a bunch of players who did: Jayson Tatum was spectacular on Thursday and Payton Pritchard was great on Friday.
However, it was Derrick White who stole the show by stepping up in a big way both nights when the Celtics needed him.
White had been in a bit of a rut before these last two games. In the month of December, he averaged 14.7 points per game on 41% from the field and 35% from beyond the arc in 13 games played.
After Thursday’s win in Minnesota, Joe Mazzulla was asked about what he says to White about his struggles. He said, “just remind him of his greatness. He has the ability to impact the game in different ways, I just thought he was great. Obviously, the shot making but just his getting us into our offense, making sure the start of the 2nd and 4th go the way they should go. And then defensively, his ability to guard different guys.”
When Derrick White is in a rut, Joe Mazzulla’s approach is to “remind him of his greatness.”
It worked tonight, as White logged his highest-scoring effort (26 points) in over a month and a half. pic.twitter.com/S6kHIgvrDt
— Taylor Snow (@taylorcsnow) January 3, 2025
In Thursday’s 118-115 win over the Timberwolves, White scored 26 points and had 2 blocks on 10/20 from the field and 5/10 from three-point range.
He also had a huge bank three to put the Celtics up for good.
In Friday’s dominant 109-86 win over the Houston Rockets, White had 23 points, 4 rebounds and 2 blocks on 8/16 from the field and 6/12 from three.
He was hitting important pull ups throughout each game.
He gets a screen from Neemias Queta and creates a switch with Randle, who goes to for the steal and White uses that to create space and drain the jumper to put the Celtics up 7.
This one is just Alperin Sengun giving him space and Derrick having enough confidence to take and make the pull-up jumper.
Derrick White is one of the knockdown shooters in the sport so when he has an open look, he needs to take it. Shooters go through slumps and while in earlier days during his Celtics tenure, this would have hurt his confidence, White doesn’t allow slumps to bother him as much anymore.
The Celtics need White to have the confidence to take and make shots like this because his shooting has become such an integral part to their success.
White’s defense has also been stellar over these last 2 games. He is the best shot blocking guard in the NBA.
Dillon Brooks has a full head to steam heading downhill and White is backtracking. Not only does he block Brooks’ shot like he is a center waiting at the rim — he does it after turning his whole body to block the shot on the other side of the rim.
He is just insane at blocking shots considering he is 6 foot 4 inches tall. White is 19th in the NBA in blocks per game ahead of guys like Nic Claxton, Jarrett Allen and Jalen Duren.
The Celtics have started their toughest four-game road trip of the season with a back-to-back without Jaylen Brown. They needed someone to step up and Derrick White did, delivering two big performances in two big Celtic wins.
