White and Holiday have a habit of tag-teaming based on what a particular game seems to be calling for. In Sunday’s Game 1 win over the Orlando Magic, White went off for 30 points, hitting 7 of 12 3-point attempts. Holiday scored just 9 points, but his three steals set the tone on defense in the 103-86 victory.
“I just think it comes naturally,” Holiday said. “There isn’t really much to be said. We go out there and fit and it’s kind of a feel. It’s like a yin and yang.
“Knowing I might fight and do something — I think one of the last plays I was fighting Jonathan Isaac on a rebound and Derrick just came out of nowhere and got the rebound. That’s kind of just how it goes, feeding off each other and reading each other. Derrick makes the game a lot easier for everybody.”
White accounted for seven of the Celtics’ 16 3-pointers. He credited his teammates for getting him open looks.
“Just a lot of dribble penetration,” White said. ”I think my teammates do a good job of driving, and when they commit I usually am the one that’s open. Just trying to be available when I can, and if I get a good look just let it fly.”
White was the Celtics’ leading scorer as Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown struggled to find their rhythm from outside. Tatum and Brown went a combined 1 for 10 from 3-point range, scoring 33 points.
“That’s something that we harped on coming in,” Magic forward Paolo Banchero said. “They do have two main guys, but it really is the other guys that kill you. We have to do a better job of getting those guys off the line because they really kill you from three. [Payton] Pritchard, four threes. Derrick White, seven threes. Jrue Holiday, three threes. That’s the game right there.”
White, who was fourth on the Celtics behind Tatum, Brown, and Kristaps Porzingis in field goal attempts per game during the regular season, said he’s ready to adjust his game if needed.
“I wish every night I’d be the guy and drop 30. That would be pretty cool,” White said. “But, just trying to read the game and see where I can put my stamp on the game, I guess.
“I think every game is different. The next game, it might be anybody else on the team, so just don’t go to the game expecting to get 18 shots or get two shots. Just be ready for whatever and be ready for when the opportunity comes.”
White also had his moments on defense. The 6-foot-4-inch, 190-pound guard swatted 6-10, 250-pound Banchero’s shot twice, both on driving layup attempts. White recorded his only steal while double-teaming Banchero with Holiday.
Holiday switched to Banchero off a screen and held his ground while Banchero attempted to back him down. When Banchero lost control of his dribble, White flew in from the other side to poke the ball away while Banchero had his back turned.
“I think it all kind of started from Jrue, just his ball pressure and just things he does,” White said. “Just trying to make a play, pretty much. It really goes back to Jrue and just having a lot of faith and trust that he’s going to do what he does the best in the league at. So after that, just make a play.”
White and Holiday’s defensive styles are different. Holiday’s physicality gives him the versatility to guard a wider range of players, Celtics forward Jayson Tatum said. White is leaner, but his wingspan, body control, and timing give him an advantage as a shot blocker. shotblocker.
White and Holiday’s games complement each other, and it’s part of what makes the Celtics so dangerous in the postseason.
“Two great defenders. I think they do it in different ways,” Tatum said. ”Jrue is a little more physical, he can guard 1 through 5. Their instincts on ball, off ball, they feed off of each other, especially on the offensive end. They’ve built a great chemistry. Just two selfless, high-IQ guys that can just make plays on both ends, and they really make our team go.”
Khari Thompson can be reached at [email protected].
