BOSTON — It hasn’t been the smoothest start to the season for Derrick White. With a new role and new responsibilities staring him in the face, his efficiency splits have trailed off through the first seven games of the season, shooting just 30.8% from the field and 25.0% from beyond the arc.
White’s shot profile has been altered. That was always going to happen with the subtraction of Jayson Tatum (and Jrue Holiday, and Kristaps Porzingis, and Al Horford) from the lineup.
But Joe Mazzulla doesn’t care about those numbers.
“[I tell] all these guys, I don't really care about the numbers… You're defined by so much more than that, and what we need you to do goes beyond a percentage, or shots, or whatever the case may be,” Mazzulla said pre-game on Monday night. “And he's a guy that's defined by his competitiveness and making plays for us on both ends.”
The Celtics aren't worried about Derrick White
Despite his inefficiencies, White is still a +9 on the season in the plus/minus column. His 28 assists rank third on the team, and he’s only turned the ball over seven times. Plus, his 17 stocks (blocks and steals combined) is first on the Celtics.
Boston needs White to turn things around offensively. But impact stretches beyond the numbers. And that’s something Mazzulla and the coaching staff keep a careful eye on.
“He's played well,” said Mazzulla. “You take a look at what he's asked to do, his defensive effort, his ability to create for himself and for others, I think it's just, again, just him continuing to grow and get better. [It’s up to us], his coaches, [to] work with him and put him in good spots. But he's a competitor, and he wants to do a lot.”
Payton Pritchard has endured a similar slump from beyond the three-point arc. He’s shot just 9-of-50 (18.0%) from distance, making him and White a combined 26-of-118 (22.0%) from long range.
The Celtics need White (and Pritchard) to turn things around from distance. If they want to sustain a healthy level of offensive success throughout the course of the season, White’s shooting needs to come around.
Jaylen Brown’s red-hot start and Boston’s success on the offensive glass have helped hold the tide for the first seven games, but they need White.
Yet for as much as White’s efficiency has hurt the Celtics’ overall offense, Mazzulla isn’t worried.