The arrival of All-Star, All-Defensive, and one-time champion, Jrue Holiday, in the offseason has cast a tiny shade over All-Defensive, Derrick White, but his preseason performances have provided him an argument for why he should be a Boston Celtics starter next season.
Why does White deserve to start for the Boston Celtics?
There have been many stand-out performers during the preseason for the Boston Celtics with Payton Pritchard showcasing his contract extension worth, new arrival Kristaps Porzingis throwing down dunks and shooting consistently from beyond the arc, and Dalano Banton showing his aggression when driving to the rim, but one name hasn’t been talked about enough.
White has looked incredible on both ends of the court during his two preseason appearances against the Philadelphia 76ers, most notably his defensive contributions in their second meeting. During that game, White put up an impressive stat line of 11 points, three rebounds, four assists, three blocks, and one steal, all from only 17 minutes on the court. This performance showcases why White made the All-Defensive second team following his incredible 2022-23 season, as well as making a strong argument as to why he deserves a starting role.
The most notable stat was the three blocks that White managed throughout the game, but after last season, that shouldn’t come as much of a surprise as the guard ended the 2022-23 season as the joint 23rd-highest in total blocks — and as a six-foot-four guard, that is insanely impressive.
NBA analysts seem to be divided when it comes to how good White is as ESPN has left him out of their top 100 list, while Bleacher Report has him ranked at No. 68 on their top 100 list. After how good White was last season, it’s surprising to see him left out of ESPN’s rankings as he averaged 12.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 0.7 steals, and 0.9 blocks, displaying his offensive and defensive capabilities whilst also participating in some unforgettable moments; most notable being his late winner against the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Do the Boston Celtics sit Jrue Holiday or Al Horford if Derrick White starts?
Since the summer acquisition of fellow All-Defensive guard, Holiday, the argument has been varied as to who should start for the Celtics next season. There is a strong case for Holiday to get the starting spot but, if White is to make the starting five, a question then arises, “Should Holiday or Al Horford get dropped to the bench?”
Of course, this is depending on the opponent, as some would require a double-big lineup with Horford and Porzingis, while others will require a small-ball combination with both Holiday and White. No Celtics fan wants to see Holiday benched on a regular basis, especially because he is a new acquisition and a one-time champion, so the possibility of an All-Defensive backcourt combo is appealing.
