Derrick White is at his best when he's playing with joy. In the Boston Celtics' 119-80 blowout win, the cameras caught him flashing an infectious ear-to-ear smile multiple times.
It's not easy to find levity in the heat of battle, but when the nine-year veteran plays freely and with less encumbrance, it elevates his impact. The other key to that is aggression.
In Friday night's NBA Cup contest, White stayed in attack mode. It was on display early. Starting at the 9:02 mark in the first frame, he generated nine straight points while the Charlotte Hornets mustered only two.
That included rejecting a Neemias Queta screen, charging downhill, and finishing a floater through contact from Coby White. The next time down the floor, Jayson Tatum got him the ball before the star forward even crossed half court. White sent Brandon Miller flying past him with a pump fake, then calmly buried a 3 as Miller fouled him from behind. He played with that delicate balance of tranquility and assertiveness all night long.
Derrick White at his best in Celtics' win vs. Hornets
The former Colorado Buffalo finished Friday's win in the Queen City with 18 points, the second-most on the team. He made 6/10 field goal attempts. He hoisted six shots from beyond the arc and knocked down four.
He also dished out five assists, grabbed four rebounds, including two on offense, and swiped a steal. And he only had two turnovers.
Context matters: the hosts entered the game without starters Kon Knueppel [hamstring] and Moussa Diabate [quadriceps]. They lost Miller to injury in the first half.
However, this was about an elite role player operating with a mentality and demeanor that enabled him to showcase his entire skill set. That's the version of him that Boston needs.
Don't take Derrick White for granted
Yes, he's struggling with his pull-up 3s to start the season. The 32-year-old guard is taking 1.2 per contest and converting on just 9.1 percent, per NBA.com. That hit rate is partially a product of taking them at a low volume. It's also only nine games into the new campaign. And he's making 1.7 catch-and-shoot 3s, the third-most on the Celtics. He's doing so at a 41.7 success rate.
However, White has also been playmaking at an even higher level this year. He is creating more points at the basket. The same goes for getting his teammates quality opportunities from beyond the arc.
He is also a three-time All-Defensive Team selection. His screen navigation remains exemplary. He does a tremendous job of staying attached to even the toughest assignments and pestering them. He's challenging shots, producing 1.3 steals per tilt, and contributing on the defensive glass.
White is a Swiss Army knife. And not everything he does is glamorous. But the Celtics' guard has an incredibly high floor. He's among the most influential players on the court, in a good way for Boston, even when his pull-up 3s aren't falling. And when White's playing with that potent cocktail that's equal parts joy and aggression, those tend to tickle the twine more, and he tends to play at his peak.
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