The Boston Celtics are headed home with a 3-1 lead over the Philadelphia 76ers after two emphatic wins in the City of Brotherly Love. The vintage Celtics road performances have given the fans plenty of hope for a deep playoff run as they look to close out the series on Tuesday.
However, it has not been all rosy for the Celtics this postseason. While many have focused attention on the struggles in the center positions, one big issue has gone under the radar. Derrick White's offensive regression has spilled over to the playoffs and is now hurting Boston.
Derrick White's Offensive Regression Should Worry the Celtics
The 31-year-old was largely excellent throughout the regular season. He was one of the best perimeter defenders in the league and will undoubtedly make an All-Defense team after averaging 1.1 steals and 1.3 blocks per game. Offensively, he's still impactful as a playmaker, offensive rebounder, and in transition. His ability to create shots for himself and others without turning the ball over has been impressive once again.
At the same time, his shot has abandoned him this season. White shot 32.7 percent from downtown and 48.7 percent from two-point range, marking his worst shooting season since joining the Celtics. As a result, he had the least efficient season of his career with 52.9 percent True Shooting.
Some wondered whether this was due to an increase in offensive workload. In Jayson Tatum's absence, White was forced to create his own shot more than he has at any other point in Boston. His 22 percent usage rate for the regular season was his highest as a Celtic, and a career-high 28.2 percent of his 3-point attempts were unassisted. So, some regression in his efficiency was understandable.
The problem is that this has persisted even after Tatum returned and has now spilled over into the playoffs. Since Tatum's return in March, White shot 30.9 percent from beyond the arc in the regular season. Through four games into the Sixers series, White is shooting 24.1 percent from the perimeter. He is shooting 12/39 from the field, 7/29 on 3-point attempts, and has shot just five free throws. This puts his True Shooting percentage for the playoffs at a horrendous 42.5 percent.
White's usage rate dipped to 15.6 percent in the playoffs, the lowest of his Celtics tenure. The veteran guard has largely become an afterthought on offense. He remains an amazing defender, and he still does enough on offense that he is not a liability.
Against better competition, White needs to do more offensively. Otherwise, the Celtics may struggle to score against elite defenses, potentially capping their ceiling as a team.
More Boston Celtics news and rumors:
Add us as a preferred source on Google