Ranking the Top 10 players in the Celtics-Heat first round series
By Ben Grunert
No. 5: Derrick White
Derrick White may have shown more improvement than any other Celtic this season. White’s teammates empowered him to play more aggressively all season long, and his increased aggression paid dividends.
The fan-favorite averaged career-highs in assists, rebounds, blocks, steals, 3-pointers made, field goals made, two-point percentage, and free throw percentage. He also averaged a career-high 32.6 minutes per contest.
Derrick White
— Boston Sports Info (@bostonsportsinf) December 29, 2023
Players, over ANY 10 game span, in the 3-point era, with…
PTS ≥ 200
AST ≥ 50
TRB ≥ 30
BLK ≥ 20
STL ≥ 10
FG% ≥ .500
3P% ≥ .450
FT% ≥ .900
Derrick White
END OF LIST
Yup, just one player
crazy streak of doing it allpic.twitter.com/FKsb9UwFkc
After earning his first-ever All-Defensive selection last year, White put forth an even better defensive campaign this season. The two-way stud led all guards with 1.2 blocks per game – good for 87 total rejections. Standing at 6-foot-4, White averaged more blocks than the likes of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jarrett Allen.
I watched all 87 Derrick White blocks and compiled my favourite ones. 87 blocks was good for 16th in the league among all players.
— Jake Issenberg (@jakeissenberg) April 20, 2024
I honestly don't understand how he does it. D White is a defensive sorcerer. pic.twitter.com/pRrQrFOzzO
From his insane defensive abilities to his underrated efficiency as a pick-and-roll ball handler, White impacts the Celtics in every way imaginable. His 2.7 threes per game on 39.6% shooting also made him one of the league’s most prolific floor-spacers. White unsurprisingly ranked No. 3 in net rating and No. 4 in offensive rating among all players this season.
The 4th-most single-season blocks (87) in NBA history for a player under 6-foot-5.
— Celtics Stats (@celtics_stats) April 12, 2024
Derrick White for All-Defense ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/ZHw92564YP