Boston Celtics guard Derrick White Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

NBA insider credits Celtics' dominance to one unlikely player

By Adam Taylor | Last updated 5/2/24

The Boston Celtics are a heavy favorite to win the Eastern Conference. Outside of the Denver Nuggets, they're also seen as the most likely franchise to raise a banner into the rafters after the NBA Finals. Joe Mazzulla's team overcame the Miami Heat in five games, holding them to under 100 points in four of those outings.

ESPN's Tim Legler believes Derrick White holds the keys to Boston's success.

"I do think that whoever comes out of the Orlando/Cleveland series, that's a team that you're going to have to work to play those teams," Legler said. "Whoever is left standing is going to challenge Boston...The one caveat to it, if Derrick White keeps shooting like this, I don't think they're going to be challenged by anybody...They're not going to be challenged, no matter how we define it, if Derrick White continues to stay in this kind of offensive rhythm."

"If Derrick White keeps shooting like this, I don't think they are going to get challenged by anybody."

—@LegsESPN on a potential Celtics' title run pic.twitter.com/gkuu79KfV9
— First Take (@FirstTake) May 2, 2024

White produced two stellar scoring performances for the Celtics to end the series against Miami. His ability to scale his performance based on the team's needs. He ended the series against Miami averaging 22.4 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.2 assists while shooting 74.1% from two-point range and 47.7% from deep.

Between White and Jrue Holiday, the Celtics have the most diverse backcourt in the league, pairing two elite perimeter defenders, both of whom high-level offensive decision makers. White is a more consistent threat when playing on-ball and Holiday can spread the defense with his catch-and-shoot threat.

If White can continue to perform at the level we saw over the final two games against the Heat, the Celtics will undoubtedly be difficult to beat. If Kristaps Porzingis returns and is near full health, they will be almost impossible to overcome. The Celtics came into the season with the dream of being crowned champions. That dream is starting to look more realistic by the day.

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