The Boston Celtics are three games into their 2026 playoff run. So far, not too shabby, as they took a 2-1 over the Philadelphia 76ers, but how they've gotten as far as they have has been problematic. Over the last two games, the Sixers have forced the Celtics to grind it out, and this without Joel Embiid seems problematic.
While it's nice to see that at the very bottom of the Celtics' issues has been the duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, they have done enough for the Jays to either stay in the game they lost or enough to barely get them over the hump. Boston can't consistently depend on that if they are serious about Banner 19.
That's how the biggest X-Factor has become clear as day even with the playoffs still young: the play of Derrick White.
White has gotten plenty of praise this season. Praise that he rightfully deserved, as he is one of the NBA's very best defensive players. But, oh boy, his shooting numbers are a problem.
Three games into this series, he's shooting 29.4% from the field, including 20% from three. His shooting hasn't just been bad. It's cratered completely. And Boston can't survive if those numbers don't go up. They have some cushion for now, but their backs will be put up against the wall at one point.
The Jays are awesome and will continue to be, but the Celtics can't rely on them alone to play at their best. White really is the difference maker. His defense is still awesome for sure, but at his peak, he's one of the best two-way guards in the league because of his sharpshooting that sadly is nowhere to be seen, and as a result, Boston is having trouble beating a team that, despite how impressive they've been, shouldn't be this hard to overcome.
They could still beat the Sixers whether Joel Embiid returns or not, but White needs to return to form regardless of how many games it would take to beat Philadelphia.
If White's numbers go up, the Celtics become a freight train again
Boston should not lose faith in White despite the season he has had. They have seen some of their valuable players go on cold streaks then find their rhythm again in a playoff run (think Ray Allen in 2008).
White doesn't even necessarily have to knock down threes at the same rate he has for the past two seasons. He just has to not look like Tony Allen going forward. Boston has persevered through his shooting struggles, but only once out of the last two games.
If White can rediscover his stroke, it's not that the Celtics would be back in business, it's that they would be the bar to clear for everyone in the Eastern Conference.
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