It’s onerous to take a lot out of the preseason, however I feel Thursday evening’s beatdown of the Charlotte Hornets confirmed the Celtics’ plan to hold their collective hat on protection. And I’m going to show it with two performs.
The primary was a quintessential Derrick White second early within the third quarter. What regarded like a reasonably routine block was truly the proper instance of why White is such an asset defensively. He has freaky-long arms able to creating excessive angles on the rim, in flip eradicating LaMelo Ball’s normally artful ending skill.
Loads of blocks are both merchandise of elite assist facet protection—like when Jaren Jackson Jr. or Robert Williams III come flying in like velociraptors from whoever they have been guarding within the nook. That’s nice stuff, however White is doing one thing much more refined.
White’s protection was an elite show of staying on high of a drive from the purpose of assault right through the end. White maintained his stance and legally stayed in entrance of Ball all through his drive and finally swallowed his layup regardless of his three-inch top drawback.
He was at all times an excellent defender, however legitimately elite protection was not one thing the Celtics have been banking on after they nabbed him from San Antonio. The flexibility to destroy handy arm angles on the rim is the hallmark of the most effective defenders within the league, and an absolute premium on the guard place. Assume Victor Wembanyama if he was a foot shorter.
What White is doing is actually the skillset of an NFL cornerback, making an attempt to seal off catch angles whereas blanketing the receivers total physique. Ball is a really proficient offensive participant, however had no clue what hit when White tracked his transfer from level A to level Z.
Our second and third performs present how to not contest photographs. Enter the Hornets, a enjoyable younger group with abysmal defensive mechanics. The very subsequent play after getting blocked, Ball discovered himself guarding White within the nook, and provided what regarded like a high-quality contest to White’s three-point shot (0:55 mark under).
The shot went in, and so far as I can inform White had no actual problem getting it off regardless of Ball not being notably out of place. The issue right here is how Ball provides the thought of a contest, however doesn’t create any precise elevation to disrupt White’s movement.
The concept of protection was exactly what received the Celtics into bother final 12 months. Presumably restricted by accidents, Marcus Good traded a few of his physicality for symbolic protection, routinely attempting to wave his hand in shooters’ faces somewhat than truly disrupting the mechanics of a shot.
In Recreation 1 of the 76ers collection, I observed Good making an attempt this blinding approach on James Harden. Outcomes might shock you: Harden dropped 45 factors and single handedly received the sport for Philly. I don’t actually know what Good was doing, as a result of Harden might most likely make threes together with his eyes closed.
Ball basically supplied a distraction for White, however didn’t play any precise protection. Positive, if White couldn’t resist the sight of an outstretched palm vaguely approaching him, that will be good protection. However most dudes can ignore that.
It’s onerous to take a lot out of the preseason, but it surely’s superior to see White’s elite mechanics and dedication shared by the remainder of the group. If everybody can observe his lead and lock in, the Celtics ought to be capable to lock anybody down.
