The Boston Celtics could have themselves a new Big Three
By John Canady
The Boston Celtics are a legendary franchise that has had the luxury of having some of the best players in NBA history suit up in Celtics green and leave it all on the floor. Throughout its rich history, the city of Boston has seen some of the best teams and trios in history.
From trios like Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish in the 80s and 90s to Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and Kevin Garnett in the late 2000s, the Celtics have seen the success of trios firsthand. However, it’s been quite a long time since the franchise has had success with a Big Three of their own.
Is the wait over?
Is there a new Boston Celtics Big Three?
While some may argue that the Celtics’ Big Three consists of Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Marcus Smart/Al Horford, others will argue that the Celtics team doesn’t have a Big Three — just a star-studded duo and a deep roster with depth behind them.
However, it’s hard to overlook what Derrick White has done this season. The 28-year-old has played some of the best basketball of his career this season, and it hasn’t gone unnoticed. White has played in all 75 games this season (the most by any Celtics player). Through these 75 games, the Colorado alum is averaging 12.4 points per game, 4.0 assists, and 3.5 rebounds per game. Although these stats aren’t flashy, it’s hard to deny the fact that the Celtics have found success all season long, even while battling injuries. White and his ability to step up on countless occasions are a large part of the team’s success.
When Brad Stevens took over as President of Basketball Operations, he pledged to fill the roster with players who made his best players even better. White has done just that in his time with Boston. Consistently making winning plays offensively and defensively, it’s a no-brainer as to why Stevens made the move to acquire the former Spur at the trade deadline last season. White has arguably complimented the Jays better than any other player.
The Rise of Derrick White
In his first full season as a Celtic, White has the second-highest assists-to-turnover ratio at 3.8, behind only Horford’s 5.0. The six-foot-four guard also has the second-highest +/- this season with 6.1, just trailing Tatum’s +/- of 6.2. These numbers come as no surprise with how White has played this season.
White has especially stepped up his game as of late. In his last 10 games, White is averaging 15.3 points per game, 5.2 assists per game, and 4.8 rebounds per game, shooting 51.5% from the floor and 45.5% from 3-point range. In their last 10 games, the Celtics are 7-3.
Head coach Joe Mazzulla has also seemed to take notice of White’s recent play. The guards minutes have seen an increase, and White has found his way back into the closing lineup for some of the most vital minutes of the games.
Outside of the stat box, it’s hard to watch the Celtics play and recognize the importance of Derrick White to this team. If White can continue his impressive play, it won’t be surprising to see him keep his spot in the starting lineup and continue to boost the play of the Jays.