Celtics’ Derrick White’s Ascent Puts Hawks On Notice

(CTN News) – Celtics guard Derrick White got “MVP” chant from the TD Garden crowd as he scored 25 and 26 points.

“Does that feel like that?” White asked Tatum after they won 119-106.

It’s true,” said Tatum, whose Celtics lead 2-0 in the first round. Yeah, I guess.”

In his first full season with the Celtics, White discovered he belongs.

Unlike anyone else in the NBA, Tatum’s journey has been unique. He was barely 6 feet and 155 pounds in high school, so he settled for a stipend at Division II Colorado Colorado Springs.

As a result of a late growth spurt, I transferred to DI Boulder after three years. One of the few invites to a showcase for graduating seniors before the draft combine led to White getting drafted 29th overall by the Spurs.

Dejounte Murray, Patty Mills, and Tony Parker were ahead of White on the depth chart. As a result of Murray’s ACL injury, Parker’s exit and Mills’ success as a sparkplug, White was rewarded by Spurs coach Gregg Popovich.

During last month’s annual Spurs visit to Boston, Popovich said that Derrick is a really special case of finding his place over time. …

He just got better and better because he put so much time in, and then we just had to convince him that he belonged so that his confidence would grow.”

When White was traded to the Celtics in 2022, he brought the scouting report with him. The Boston Celtics got to the Finals with him, and he had 21 points in Game 1 against the Golden State Warriors. On and off the court, White had a baby while in the Eastern Conference finals. Again, it came down to belonging.

White was encouraged to double-team the Boston All-Stars by Tatum and Jaylen Brown this season, his first as a Celtic.

White would hear Brown tell him during timeouts, “C’mon, D, be aggressive.”.

Asserting himself and being aggressive makes us a more dynamic team, Tatum said after scoring 29 points in Tuesday’s win. The last few games, being aggressive, making the right play, attacking the rim, not necessarily waiting just make us that much better of a team.” “We’ve talked about him being too passive and looking for guys too much. He’s like too good a guy.”

That’s awesome to hear, White said, “and they motivate me to play my game.”

It was a revelation for the Celtics this season. White has been playing a lot in the backcourt with Marcus Smart since Boston opted to play small ball without Robert Williams III.

He deserves to make his first All-Defensive team after shooting 65.6% at the rim and 38.1% from 3-point range. The Celtics’ next-best player, who had a +6.7 net rating during the regular season, has an on/off rating of +9.3.

Mazzulla described his increase in confidence, comfort, and identity as “just better.”. He said, “When you join a team late, especially one with high expectations, it’s hard to find out how to be effective. That comes with time.”.

He can handle for us, he can play off the ball, and he’s really adapted to our defensive schemes, both in terms of our switching and our matchups, as well as our coverages. There’s a clear-cut identity to him, whether he’s on-ball, off-ball or at the rim.”

Why Boston is called Celtics?

SEE ALSO:

In Game 2, The Cavs Stifle The Knicks Thanks To Jalen Brunson’s Blitz