From the moment Derrick White joined the Celtics, his chemistry with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown was undeniable. Right from his debut, where his first two plays led to easy buckets for the Jays, it was evident he would seamlessly support Boston’s stars.
White does the little things at an All-Star level, all while being on one of the league's most team-friendly contracts. His ability to adjust his role based on the lineup's needs has left many teams in the NBA yearning for their own version of him.
But Boston may have already cracked the code.
Instead of searching for the next Derrick White, the Celtics have quietly started using him as a model to develop others.
Over the years, White’s role has grown, and he’s become more of a creator. While he remains a connective player, his influence on Boston’s offense is now more pronounced.
As White takes on more responsibility in creating opportunities, others must extend them. Luckily for the Celtics, their emerging group of Derrick Whites is ready.
Boston’s latest wave of role players-Baylor Scheierman, Hugo Gonzalez, Jordan Walsh, and Ron Harper Jr.-aren’t tasked with generating offense alone. That job belongs to Boston’s stars.
Instead, they’re asked to do something more focused: attack openings and keep the ball moving. The guiding principle is simple: when the ball reaches you, make a decision quickly-shoot, drive, or pass. Just don’t let it stagnate.
This is the essence of “.5 offense,” where decisions are made within half a second of catching the ball. It’s become a defining trait of Boston’s role players this season.
White brought this philosophy from San Antonio, and it’s been a key part of his career success. He always knows how to exploit a defense in rotation.
Now Boston is encouraging its young role players to do the same. When teams are scrambling, quick decisions lead to defensive breakdowns and open shots.
Direct comparisons are rare, and it’s not about making these players identical to White. But they’re drawing from his skill set that makes him a perfect fit in any lineup.
The results are often seen in subtle moments, but this quick processing is a major reason why the Celtics have maintained a top-two offense in what was expected to be a challenging year.
Take a possession where Payton Pritchard beats a closeout, gets into the paint, and kicks it out to Gonzalez. Hugo and Harper Jr. find themselves in a 2-on-1 situation as Brandon Podziemski tries to cover both until help arrives.
Hugo’s quick pass sends Podziemski to the corner, but Harper Jr. immediately sends it back. Kristaps Porzingis is the closest defender, but Gonzalez decides right away to attack while they’re off balance.
The NBA is all about margins. If Harper Jr. or Hugo hesitate, the advantage slips away.
Being decisive is key to a potent offense. With Tatum, Brown, White, and Pritchard leading the charge, there’s no need for more isolation plays.
In another scenario, Brown draws multiple defenders and kicks out, forcing a defensive rotation. Keon Ellis tries to cover two players, ready to react. Scheierman, spotting this, uses a glance and ball fake to keep Ellis in limbo before taking the open shot.
With such an edge, hesitation is the only misstep.
In a clutch situation against the Knicks, Miles McBride makes a similar rotation. Jordan Walsh has a brief chance to shoot, but McBride closes out fast. Walsh quickly moves the ball to White, keeping the advantage alive and trusting the next decision.
The right play can vary, but it’s about how swiftly you can read and attack a defense under pressure. In Mazzulla’s offense, there’s rarely a bad time to shoot, though passing should keep the rhythm going.
There’s beauty in executing well, and it can wreak havoc on defenses when it leads to repeated breakdowns.
Whenever a Celtics role player shines, the question arises: How do they keep finding these guys?
For years, Derrick White has been the Celtics’ go-to advantage extender, punishing defenses already in rotation. Now, that same approach is evident throughout the roster.
Baylor Scheierman, Hugo Gonzalez, Jordan Walsh, and Ron Harper Jr. aren’t being asked to become Derrick White. But they’re learning the aspects of his game that make him invaluable. Fast, confident decisions will carry them far.
According to Sports Info Solutions, the Celtics rank 1st in the NBA in Advantages Reduced per 100 possessions. This essentially measures how often a team’s edge is lost through hesitation or poor decisions. While their creators ignite the initial scramble, the young role players ensure that an advantage is rarely squandered.