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[Film Room] Derrick White's Assertiveness Leads to 26 Points, MVP Chants as Celtics Take 2-0 Lead
With 4:25 left in the Celtics' 119-106 Game 2 win over the Hawks, Derrick White stepped to the free-throw line with Boston leading 109-97. As he did, a serenade of "MVP" chants echoed throughout TD Garden.
White earned it with a 26-point performance in which he was stellar at both ends of the floor, including matching Al Horford for a game-high three blocks, a testament to excellent on and off-ball defense.
At the offensive end, the former Colorado Buffalo scored utilizing a multitude of methods featuring a common theme, assertion.
White produced a game-high 18 points in the paint, relentlessly attacking downhill, whether on or off the ball.
In the play below, the paint's clogged when he catches the ball. White has multiple options, including trying to launch a three over John Collins and dribbling over to deliver an entry pass to Jayson Tatum in the low post.
Instead, he opts for aggression. White sells an up-fake to Collins, who closes his hips, giving the veteran guard a path to the paint, which occurs as Trae Young's leaving and Robert Williams is pulling Onyeka Okongwu from the rim. Bogdan Bogdanovic's swipe comes up empty, and Collins tries to do so too early. White then displays a soft touch as he goes off two feet and capitalizes on a clean look from in close.
There was also this nifty reverse layup, completing a play worthy of a Tommy Point.
White also manufactured points with his off-ball movement, most notably, cutting backdoor for a layup when he caught Young ball-watching.
His assertiveness doesn't just apply to attacking downhill, either. Just like in the regular season, White's not hesitating to let it fly, confidently stepping into shots on and off the dribble. The Colorado native is averaging six three-point attempts through the Celtics' first two playoff games and converting them at a 50 percent clip.
When White arrived at the trade deadline last season, he had to learn everything from new teammates to another playbook and a different city, all while he and his wife were preparing to welcome their first child. Then came the intense, energy-draining, time-consuming run to the NBA Finals, coinciding with him becoming a father.
Now, that whirlwind's behind him. He's more settled on and off the court, something he and the Celtics are benefitting from exponentially.
In the regular season, White registered the second-highest plus-minus rating on the team (6.0) and second-highest net rating (11), per NBA.com.
Before Game 2, Joe Mazzulla said of White, "I think he’s just more confident, more comfortable...I think now he has a clear identity."
White then went out and reinforced that statement, as he has throughout the campaign. The defending Eastern Conference champions need him to continue playing that way and stay assertive if they're to win the one round this year they didn't last postseason. Just ask Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
Further Reading
What the Celtics Say They're Focused on as Series Moves to Atlanta
The Celtics Give Their Evaluation of Battle on the Boards in Game 1 Win vs. Hawks
The Celtics Discuss Their Game 1 Win vs. the Hawks: 'We Can't Take Our Foot Off the Gas'
