Derrick White. An Appreciation Post
This guy man. What a dude, guy. Derek White recorded his first triple double last night vs the Detroit Pistons. It feels like he’s flirting with it every night. The triple double has become one of the most overrated stats in sports because of how Adam Silver and Steph Curry ruined basketball, but I digress.
Derek White is a guy I trust. In 32 minutes a night he is averaging 15 pts, 4 reb, 5 asst, 1 steal, 1.5 blocks. He shots 40% behind the arc and has a +/- of +703 which is 2nd only to Tatum at +756.
He has the perfect humble/ confident demeanor for Boston. He was shorter than Dr. Big Mac in high school. No one recruited him. He walked on in D2. Finally grew a little and was noticed by Colorado. The Spurs took him 29th over all. He’s just worked for everything. He’s the consummate professional. It’s and easy and fun story to root for.
We tend to inflate our role players (please see Mr. Heart and Soul, DPOY Marcus Smart), but we may actually be under appreciative of Mr. White. I know of course his abilities are elevated due to the fact that he playing with 4 other All-Stars. It is very rare that Derek is even the 2nd offensive option on the floor at any given time. I don’t care. I trust Derek White’s smooth operating play style so much I’d prefer to see these last second shots in his hands over Tatum. - There is a cavet to this statement. The shot needs to come with in the offense.
Again, I’m not saying Derek White is as talented as Jayson Tatum. If White were asked to dribble out the final 19 seconds and take as shitty fade away to lose the game, I’m sure he could not do it as well as Tatum. What I am saying is given the same situation if Joey Mazz would get off his ass. Call a time out and then a play that ended up in the hands of Derek White for a pattened runner or something behind the arc, I trust him completely. Remind me, who was it that made the game winner in gmae 6 last year in Miami? After somehow, someway, miraculously Marcus Smart found himself with the ball in his hands, and somehow unbelievable throw up a prayer of a shot that never had a chance? Oh right. Derek White. Dude actually makes winning plays.
This is turning into a bag job on Tatum and Smart and it’s not meant to be. Well, maybe a little on Smart. All I’m saying is Derek White is awesome. He is vital to this team’s success. He’s the type of player that should be in Boston a really long time holding down the culture and supplamenting the “Superstars” with all the little things he does so quietly. We salute you Mr. White.
P.S. His dad is awesome too.