After struggling by means of the start of the month shedding three straight video games off blown double-digit leads and shedding 4 out of 5, the Boston Celtics pulled off a convincing 115-93 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night time at TD Backyard. At halftime, the Celtics had amassed a 60-45 lead they usually didn’t simply maintain it — they constructed on it. By the point the fourth quarter rolled round, the Celtics have been in a position to get their starters some relaxation because the bench closed the sport out.
“It’s sort of human nature,” mentioned Derrick White on the Celtics slowing down in video games after constructing leads. “You wish to do it each time once you’re up 20, make it 30. However even once you’re down 20, it simply takes one play, you make a run off of that. It’s a sport of runs… Simply hold making the appropriate play.”
In a much-needed get-right sport, Derrick White was Boston’s second-leading scorer behind Jayson Tatum, scoring 21 factors on 8-of-12 capturing, 4-of-4 from the charity stripe, 5 rebounds, and a team-high 7 assists in nearly 36 minutes of flooring time. He led the Celtics in minutes in opposition to the Path Blazers, and was very important within the group’s win.
When requested about his perspective on not taking part in down the stretch late in shut video games, White remained humble and unbothered. “I’m taking part in basketball. I’m blessed,” mentioned White with a smile. “I’m probably not attempting to only have the appropriate perspective on issues, however simply perceive it’s a group sport. There’ll be occasions the place I want to shut, there’s gonna be occasions when Malcolm (Brogdon) and (Marcus) Sensible (might want to shut). It’s exhausting to take them out of the sport as nicely. So anytime I’m on the market, I simply attempt to do issues to assist us win video games, and even when I’m off the court docket, simply be a very good teammate and belief that the individuals on the market are gonna assist us win.”
On the entire, Derrick White has been one of the necessary Celtics this season, and has arguably been Boston’s greatest guard out of their three-headed monster of a backcourt. Each Sensible and Brodgon have handled accidents, whereas White has been Boston’s true iron man taking part in in all 67 video games; he didn’t even miss a sport after his scary neck harm suffered in opposition to Charlotte.
Per NBA Stats, White can also be tied with Robert Williams for Boston’s highest net rating (9.9), albeit Williams has solely performed 28 sport this season; for a greater body of reference, Jayson Tatum has a web score of 8.1 over 62 video games performed. Per Cleaning the Glass, Derrick White has the best effectivity differential on the Celtics with a score of 8.4, and is within the 91st percentile out of all guards; by comparability, Jayson Tatum has an effectivity differential of 6.9 and falls within the 87th percentile.
The soft-spoken guard doesn’t simply cross the attention check. The numbers again up what we’ve seen all season lengthy: Derrick White is likely one of the most impactful gamers on the ground for Boston, and his dependability and significance to the Celtics success can’t be understated. All of Boston’s statistically-best lineups with the best differentials all have Derrick White one way or the other within the combine both slotted in because the lone level guard on the ground or in some mixture with Marcus Sensible.
He’s one of many most-balanced complimentary gamers that the Celtics can placed on the ground, and he’s continued to show that he belongs on the ground extra. White has additionally been massively impactful within the clutch, and leads all Celtics (minimal 10 clutch video games) with a whopping 18.2 web score.
With Robert Williams injured once more, it could be time for head coach Joe Mazzulla to make a everlasting change with the beginning lineup, and hold Derrick White on the market alongside Brown, Horford, Sensible and Tatum. That’s not Rob’s fault or an indictment on his influence, however following two knee operations, it’s unfair to fit him again into the beginning lineup and count on the identical influence. It’s unrealistic, and if the Celtics do wish to see if he can get again to the place he was bodily, wouldn’t it’s simpler with a lighter workload and going in opposition to weaker second models?
Sensible mentioned he re-tweaked his ankle harm final night time and has picked up a number of different knocks within the final week.
“I’m feelin it, however all the things is sweet.”
— Jared Weiss (@JaredWeissNBA) March 9, 2023
Protecting Derrick White within the beginning 5 is the very best of each worlds for the Celtics, and after Mazzulla’s recent comments on White playing late in games, you may’t assist however surprise if it’s a change that’s being closely thought-about. With White on the ground, Boston has one other high-IQ ballhandler able to playmaking, taking part in off-ball, offering spacing, and robust protection. At this level, between Rob, Sensible and Brogdon nursing accidents and Horford resting on back-to-backs, it seems like extra flooring time for White is inevitable.
Whether or not he’d ask to or not, Derrick White must be seeing the ground extra, and with Boston navigating some accidents, now could be the golden alternative to take action.
