Derrick White is still him
Let it be known again, Derrick White is the guy in clutch situations. When asked last year who I trusted most to bury a big shot when it was needed for the Celtics, my answer was Derrick White. It still is.
Most stories out of the Celtics win over the Bucks will be about Peyton Pritchard. For good reason. 28 electric points off the bench including a patten buzzer beater. Pritchard mostly carried the team offensively in the 1st half and picked up late in the 3rd quarter to join the onslaught of offensive potency that is the 2024 Celtics.
The other story could be that walking toolbox Tony Brothers and his crew trying to make another NBA game about the whistles allowing the game to fall into “chaos”. As Joe Mazzula put it, but I digress.
Speaking of said 3rd quarter onslaught, Derrick White was the launch pad. With two minutes left in the third we had a tight game on our hands. The Bucks had a one point lead and the Celtics offense had yet to really find a rhythm. After a failed Tatum three pointer the Celtics secured and offensive rebound and Derrick White buried a 3 directly in the eye of the Greek Freak to give the Celtics an 82-80 lead. A lead they would never give up. He followed that up with another deep three straight way to extend the lead for the Celtics and immediately at the other end of the court met Giannis at the rim for a demoralizing block sending the Garden into a frenzy.
Payton Pritchard caps off the end of quarter attack with the buzzer beating highlight making it a 90-82 lead. It was night night for the Bucks after that. No Dame Time in Boston.
In games where Tatum is clearly frustrated by officiating he can be forced into over thinking. It leads to his shot not falling and like in this game becoming somewhat of an offensive clog. When the game slows down and the Celtics need a bucket at times he stops playing and starts thinking too much.
Derrick White tends to be just the opposite. He makes quick decisions with confidence and lets his skill take over.
I’m not saying the ball needs to be in White's hand at the end of games. Jayson Tatum is the best play maker and player on the team. Jaylen Brown when put in a good spot will hit big shots. I'm just saying I'll trust D-White if the ball ends up with him.
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