Inside The Celtics

Derrick White and Jrue Holiday Named to NBA All-Defensive Second Team

Bobby Krivitsky

Oct 30, 2023; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Wizards guard Jordan Poole (13) is guarded by the Boston Celtics' backcourt of Derrick White and Jrue Holiday.
Oct 30, 2023; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Wizards guard Jordan Poole (13) is guarded by the Boston Celtics' backcourt of Derrick White and Jrue Holiday. / Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
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The Boston Celtics built as versatile a defense as you'll find, capable of wreaking havoc with Jrue Holiday in the middle of a 2-1-2 zone and perimeter defenders that can switch assignments and make life difficult for whichever guards or wings they draw.

Opponents also have to deal with a versatile veteran in Al Horford, who can effectively switch onto perimeter players, and when Kristaps Porzingis is in the lineup, a seven-foot-three center protecting the rim.

At the tip of the spear is the best defensive backcourt in the league. Jrue Holiday and Derrick White afford Boston the luxury of not having to put two defenders on the ball and concede a numbers advantage. 

While that's not the only method Joe Mazzulla opts for to combat pick-and-rolls, it helped the Celtics rank second in defensive rating, yielding only 110.6 points per 100 possessions. They also finished the regular season in the top five in points allowed per game, limiting opponents to 109.2 on average.

The role Boston's backcourt played in that success has earned them a place on the NBA's All-Defensive Second Team.

The First Team featured four players functioning as power forwards and centers and Pelicans forward and defensive Swiss army knife Herb Jones.

For White, it's his second straight All-Defensive Second Team selection. The former Colorado Buffalo ranked in the 91st percentile in estimated defensive plus-minus, per dunksandthrees.com.

He also finished the regular season 15th in defensive win shares and second in blocks per game by a guard, trailing only six-foot-seven Scottie Barnes, who swatted 1.5 shots per contest. White averaged 1.2. He also swiped a steal per game.

As for Holiday, he quarterbacked Boston's defense, took on assignments ranging from Darius Garland to Joel Embiid and Julius Randle, and averaged nearly a block and a steal per contest. His impact landed him in the 87th percentile in estimated defensive plus-minus, per dunksandthrees.com.

It's the sixth time Holiday has earned a spot on an NBA All-Defensive team. That includes three First Team selections.

Further Reading

Aaron Nesmith Left Lasting Impression with Celtics Before Finding a Home with Pacers

Trivializing Celtics' Success in Tatum-Brown Era a Take Not Measured Properly: 'Doing

Past Hardships Brought Out Best in Al Horford in Career Night: 'You Saw His Gift'

Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown Still Shaking Off Criticism While Growing as Leaders

Jrue Holiday Delivers 'Masterclass' in Game 3 Win vs. Cavs

Jayson Tatum Breaks Out of Scoring Slump That Never Defined Him: 'Underappreciated'

Derrick White Discusses Joining Elite Company in Game 1 Win vs. Cavaliers

Kristaps Porzingis Discusses Target Date to Rejoin Celtics' Playoff Run: 'Doing Everything I Can'

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Bobby Krivitsky
BOBBY KRIVITSKY

Bobby Krivitsky's experiences include covering the NBA as a credentialed reporter for Basketball Insiders. He's also a national sports talk host for SportsMap Radio, a network airing on 96 radio stations throughout the country. Additionally, he was a major-market host, update anchor, and producer for IMG Audio, and he worked for Bleacher Report as an NFL and NBA columnist.

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