Boston picked up Derrick White back in 2021, from the San Antonio Spurs. When playing in San Antonio, he was putting up 12ppg and 34% from 3p range and then when he became a Celtic, he eventually got himself into the starting lineup with great defensive play and showing team appreciation and a knack for the game. Over 7 years in the NBA, he has a career average of 12ppg, 45% FG and 36% 3p FG, and his average in Boston is 13ppg, 46% FG and 38% 3p FG. White has definitely found his home, where the fans have embraced him and his tough play.
With a really good 2.5 to 1 assist to turnover ratio, he’s not sloppy, he’s in control on the court, White doesn’t make bad decisions, and he tends to find the right guy on offense. Quite frankly, every team wants players that do all of these things, that he does. Over the season Derrick only had 13 games with 3 or more turnovers. Compared to 60 games with 2 turnovers or less. Boston finds success when White controls the game. When he was in charge as the general on the court, they were 22-6 during the year when he had 6 or more assists in a game.
He averages an astonishing 1.2 blocks per game for a PG which puts him at the top of the list across the NBA. He also averages 1.0 steals per game, he plays smart, and plays in control. Whether it’s face to face or double teaming and helping out on the wing, he’s an excellent defensive player to pair up with their other excellent defensive minded guard in Jrue Holiday.
Another thing that comes into play with the 29 yr old G is his ability to generate offense with his scoring ability. When he actually gets shots up they’re typically good shots, smart shots, and Boston has also reaped the rewards when he is thinking about his own offense as well. When he scores 22 or more points, the Cs are winning 80% of their games. He has also had a good season with shooting, knocking down 46% of his shots from the field including 39.6% from downtown. He’s always been a good shooter – but this year he has elevated it to the next level. He doesn’t force shots, he puts up shots in the rhythm of the game.
Over the history of the NBA, teams that have a superstar player, expectedly use that superstar player as their cog in the team’s success. They also tend to look to their superstar player when it’s crunch time, when it’s time to either try to make a comeback late in the game, or have that player be the one to close out a game they’re winning. Although I fully understand the concept of going to “your guy” – I tend to think that Boston might want to give a chance to another player on the team. A player who isn’t the “scoring option 1” and may not garnish quite the defensive attention that Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown would get, but yet certainly has the ability and the skills to be able to take care of business when needed.
And that guy is Derrick White.
Jayson Tatum has taken his share of criticism for his ability to make a big shot when the chips are down. He also isn’t the greatest ball handler, he’s good for his position, but when double teams start coming at him, and the clock is running down and there’s only 8 seconds left at the 4th quarter he gets sloppy. By nature, guards are typically going to be your best ball handlers and generally have more control. I know that the Celtics desperately want Tatum to be the guy to get the shot, or to at least create the offense in a tight game, but the 6-8 former Blue Devil hasn’t had the late game success.
Derrick always seems to come up with the right play at the right time and the betting odds are in his favor. He has a knack for igniting the Celtics whether it’s a timely deep ball, a nice block, or cutting off a passing lane and picking off a pass to find Tatum streaking down the court for a dunk. Don’t get me wrong Jayson Tatum is an exceptional ball player with his smooth scoring ability and explosive face up game, but from what we’ve seen in his career he hasn’t been the most trustworthy in tight situations. Maybe it’s time to try out another direction, someone who has a little more handle on the ball and maybe a guy who would get a better look. I think Boston needs to let the 6-4 G be the late game dictator and not Jayson Tatum.
If the Celtics intend on making a strong run at #18 – they have to figure out who their late game closer is.