Original source (on modern site)
This series was never going to be artistic or picturesque; the Heat play too hard and are too physical to allow that. But the Celtics prevailed, 102-88, because they played tougher, executed on defense, and rode the shot-making of White, by far the best player on the floor. Get Garden Party A seasonal pop-up newsletter covering everything you need to know about the Celtics' and Bruins' postseasons. His 38 points were sorely needed, and the Celtics again punched first, took an early lead, and spent the evening fighting off the Heat, finally using a White finger roll to stave off one final run when a 28-point lead was sliced to 13. The Celtics shouldn't be disappointed they are not detonating the shorthanded Heat. This is the playoffs. Games are going to be grueling. Teams are going to make runs. Elite coaches, such as Erik Spoelstra, are going to devise defensive game plans to stymie Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Yet, Spoelstra could do nothing with White, who was empowered (a key word here) to score at will because he was in a rhythm and his teammates knew it. He scored 16 points and knocked down four 3-pointers in the opening quarter as the Celtics seized a 10-point lead. They have punched first in all three of their wins and defensively have disrupted Miami's shooters, turning the Heat into an inept offensive team. Offensively, the Celtics have been streaky at best, but White's prowess allowed them to own a comfortable lead and essentially cruise. White was 15-for-26 shooting and 8 of 15 from the 3-point line. His teammates were 21 of 60 and 6 of 22. White was unquestionably the savior, a humble, team-first player who has been unleashed on the rest of the NBA because the organization has put faith in him. "I got a couple of good looks early and they did a great job of just finding me, empowering me to stay aggressive," he said. "A lot of credit goes to those guys: [Tatum], [Brown]. I couldn't do it without any of them, allowing me to get going and get the space I needed." The aww shucks comments are classic White. He's a former Division 2 player who cherishes his NBA tenure like he never truly expected to be here. He's living a dream and he's capitalizing on his opportunity to play for an elite franchise by improving vastly since he arrived in Boston 26 months ago. Having to talk slower than usual because of a fat lip thanks to Bam Adebayo's swinging arm in Game 3, White expressed gratitude for his success. He doesn't carry any braggadocio or boastfulness. He is the perfect complementary player with the ability to step into a primary role when required. "It started with Joe [Mazzulla]," White said. "Ever since he took over, he's given me the most confidence and I can talk to him and he can talk to me and that relationship is just getting better and better each day and it's amazing to play for him and I love it. We've got such great players on the team but they allow me to do what I do and believe in me." In the first four games of this series, White is averaging 21.8 points and shooting a stellar 56.9 percent from the field and 47.1 percent from the 3-point line. He's been Boston's best player, and with its depth, that's OK. The Celtics aren't going to win a championship on the backs of Tatum and Brown. They're going to need help. Boston was able to hold on to the lead in the second half without Porzingis, who left Kaseya Center in a walking boot and is likely to have an MRI on Tuesday. The encouraging aspect of this series is the Celtics are unquestionably the better team, even without Tatum and Brown playing their best. The Heat have no answer. "Derrick White was very good, obviously," Spoelstra said. "It was the threes that got them going at the beginning and in those moments during the course of the game, he was just very efficient, very good. Any time the slightest momentum change on our part, it seemed like he had a big basket." The Celtics took care of their business here in South Florida, winning both games, taking much of the suspense out of this series, and playing with a fortitude and focus that is necessary in these moments. White led the way, scoring effortlessly in rhythm and ensuring the Celtics return to Boston with control of this series. "It's great to be on a team like this that's deep and talented," Tatum said. "And on any given night have a guy like that erupt when it's a playoff game. When he's being aggressive, it just opens everything up, whatever they're trying to take away." Gary Washburn is a Globe columnist. He can be reached at gary.washburn@globe.com. Follow him @GwashburnGlobe.