With Kristaps Porzingis lacking Thursday’s recreation, Al Horford lacking Friday’s recreation and Jaylen Brown lacking each, the Celtics wanted guys to step up and ship. There was a bunch of gamers who did: Jayson Tatum was spectacular on Thursday and Payton Pritchard was nice on Friday.
Nonetheless, it was Derrick White who stole the present by stepping up in an enormous approach each nights when the Celtics wanted him.
White had been in a little bit of a rut earlier than these final two video games. Within the month of December, he averaged 14.7 factors per recreation on 41% from the sector and 35% from past the arc in 13 video games performed.
After Thursday’s win in Minnesota, Joe Mazzulla was requested about what he says to White about his struggles. He stated, “simply remind him of his greatness. He has the flexibility to influence the sport in several methods, I simply thought he was nice. Clearly, the shot making however simply his getting us into our offense, ensuring the beginning of the 2nd and 4th go the way in which they need to go. After which defensively, his means to protect totally different guys.”
When Derrick White is in a rut, Joe Mazzulla’s strategy is to “remind him of his greatness.”
It labored tonight, as White logged his highest-scoring effort (26 factors) 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 factors and had 2 blocks on 10/20 from the sector and 5/10 from three-point vary.
He additionally had an enormous financial institution three to place the Celtics up for good.
In Friday’s dominant 109-86 win over the Houston Rockets, White had 23 factors, 4 rebounds and a couple of blocks on 8/16 from the sector and 6/12 from three.
He was hitting essential pull ups all through every recreation.
He will get a display from Neemias Queta and creates a swap with Randle, who goes to for the steal and White makes use of that to create house and drain the jumper to place the Celtics up 7.
This one is simply Alperin Sengun giving him house and Derrick having sufficient confidence to take and make the pull-up jumper.
Derrick White is likely one of the knockdown shooters within the sport so when he has an open look, he must take it. Shooters undergo slumps and whereas in earlier days throughout his Celtics tenure, this may have harm his confidence, White would not enable slumps to trouble him as a lot anymore.
The Celtics want White to have the arrogance to take and make pictures like this as a result of his taking pictures has turn into such an integral half to their success.
White’s protection has additionally been stellar over these final 2 video games. He’s the very best shot blocking guard within the NBA.
Dillon Brooks has a full head to steam heading downhill and White is backtracking. Not solely does he block Brooks’ shot like he’s a middle ready on the rim — he does it after turning his complete physique to dam the shot on the opposite facet of the rim.
He’s simply insane at blocking pictures contemplating he’s 6 foot 4 inches tall. White is nineteenth within the NBA in blocks per recreation forward of fellows like Nic Claxton, Jarrett Allen and Jalen Duren.
The Celtics have began their hardest four-game highway journey of the season with a back-to-back with out Jaylen Brown. They wanted somebody to step up and Derrick White did, delivering two large performances in two large Celtic wins.
