Derrick White can take many forms. Offensively, his bag has slowly expanded since joining the Boston Celtics. From catch-and-shoot three-point threat to multi-tool offensive initiator, White’s transformation has been impressive. He showed it off against the LA Clippers on Saturday night. But defensively, he’s on another planet.
On the Celtics’ current road trip, White has tallied 13 blocks, including a seven-block performance against the Utah Jazz. That’s an average of 2.6 blocks per contest. He is 6-foot-4. No matter the position White is put in on the defensive end, he almost always ends up on top, especially when he’s in the paint.
In the same way that Rudy Gobert anchored the Jazz’s defense for years, Victor Wembanyama leads the San Antonio Spurs, and Evan Mobley backlines the Cleveland Cavaliers, White is spearheading the Celtics’ defensive attack.
Derrick White is leading the Celtics defense like few players can
There is no ignoring White. On the ball, off the ball, strong side, weak side, he’s always there. He’s always capable of forcing himself into the play.
Boston has been sending multiple bodies into the paint on drives this season, and White has been at the forefront of that operation. When James Harden decided to drive against them on Saturday, he was almost always met with a help-over play by White.
In fact, whenever any player decides to drive into the paint, White is there. He’s one of, if not the best, corner-help defenders in the entire NBA. That’s the source of his best shot-blocking material.
The deception of seeing a 6-foot-4 guard in the dunker spot is enough to make ball-handlers feel comfortable going up for shots. But White isn’t a typical 6-foot-4 guard.
But while it may be his most unique asset, White’s shot-blocking isn’t the end-all, be-all of his defensive bag of tricks.
White’s uncanny ability to sniff out steals also shines on a nightly basis. Time and time again, teams try to pass over White, and time and time again, he backs up, jumps at the perfect moment, and deflects their passes.
He’s constantly jumping passing lanes, surprising ball-handlers from behind, and stripping drivers. Wherever White is standing on the floor is unsafe territory for the opposing team.
Even when White doesn’t get credited for a steal or block, he’s completely disrupting opponents by contesting shots at the rim, bodying defenders on drives, and finding the perfect chance to double, get out, and rotate.
White is at the center of everything the Celtics want to do on the defensive end, and Joe Mazzulla has placed him in the perfect system to succeed.