Derrick White is showing the world how good he is for Team USA

Derrick White is showing the world how good he is for Team USA originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

As Derrick White was offering an international audience a glimpse of exactly what has made him so invaluable to the world champion Boston Celtics, the one thing that kept running through our mind was this: Thank goodness he signed that extension before the rest of the planet — including all his current All-NBA teammates — got another big-stage glimpse at how good he is.

Yes, the Year of the Buffalo simply will not stop. Over the past 365 days, White has (deep breath) …

Did we start drafting a story with a headline entitled, “How Derrick White’s late addition delivered Team USA to gold”? You’ll have to wait until August 10 to find out for sure. Not that we could wait that long to gush about White, anyhow.

White has now blocked people at the rim on multiple continents over the past six weeks. He had a couple brilliant hustle plays to generate extra possessions for Team USA during a 103-86 triumph over South Sudan in Game 2 of pool play in Paris. He finished with 10 points on 3-of-3 shooting with 3 steals and a block (he should have gotten a second).

At one point he took a double axe-handle to the back — supposedly a screen attempt by a physical South Sudan squad — and was clearly in pain despite the lack of a whistle. White scraped himself off the hardwood and, moments later, went diving right back on it trying to corral a loose ball. That’s just the Derrick White Experience.

We know we’re preaching to the choir in these parts. Y’all just watched White work his wizardry throughout the postseason and play a key role in securing Banner 18. No one around here needs a reminder of how White impacts winning (though we can’t help but wonder how all those Division 1 coaches who scoffed at the idea of recruiting him 12 years ago are feeling about now).

White is now a plus-29 in 33 minutes of pool play, maintaining the trend of good things happening when he touches the floor. Whenever Team USA needed to settle itself, it felt like it was White and/or Celtics backcourt partner Jrue Holiday on the court making a…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/derrick-white-showing-world-good-130824331.html

Author : NBC Sports Boston

Publish date : 2024-08-01 13:08:24

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