It’s exhausting to take a lot out of the preseason, however I feel Thursday evening’s beatdown of the Charlotte Hornets confirmed the Celtics’ plan to hold their collective hat on protection. And I’m going to show it with two performs.

The primary was a quintessential Derrick White second early within the third quarter. What regarded like a fairly routine block was truly the proper instance of why White is such an asset defensively. He has freaky-long arms able to creating excessive angles on the rim, in flip eradicating LaMelo Ball’s normally artful ending skill.

A number of blocks are both merchandise of elite assist aspect protection—like when Jaren Jackson Jr. or Robert Williams III come flying in like velociraptors from whoever they had been guarding within the nook. That’s nice stuff, however White is doing one thing much more subtle.

White’s protection was an elite show of staying on prime of a drive from the purpose of assault right through the end. White maintained his stance and legally stayed in entrance of Ball all through his drive and finally swallowed his layup regardless of his three-inch top drawback.

He was at all times a superb defender, however legitimately elite protection was not one thing the Celtics had been banking on after they nabbed him from San Antonio. The flexibility to destroy handy arm angles on the rim is the hallmark of the very best defenders within the league, and an absolute premium on the guard place. Suppose Victor Wembanyama if he was a foot shorter.

What White is doing is basically the skillset of an NFL cornerback, making an attempt to seal off catch angles whereas blanketing the receivers total physique. Ball is a really gifted offensive participant, however had no clue what hit when White tracked his transfer from level A to level Z.

Our second and third performs present how to not contest photographs. Enter the Hornets, a enjoyable younger crew with abysmal defensive mechanics. The very subsequent play after getting blocked, Ball discovered himself guarding White within the nook, and supplied what regarded like a effective contest to White’s three-point shot (0:55 mark beneath).

The shot went in, and so far as I can inform White had no actual problem getting it off regardless of Ball not being significantly out of place. The issue right here is how Ball presents the concept of a contest, however doesn’t create any precise elevation to disrupt White’s movement.

The thought of protection was exactly what obtained the Celtics into hassle final yr. Presumably restricted by accidents, Marcus Good traded a few of his physicality for symbolic protection, routinely making an attempt to wave his hand in shooters’ faces moderately than truly disrupting the mechanics of a shot.

In Recreation 1 of the 76ers sequence, I seen Good making an attempt this blinding approach on James Harden. Outcomes might shock you: Harden dropped 45 factors and single handedly received the sport for Philly. I don’t actually know what Good was doing, as a result of Harden might in all probability make threes along with his eyes closed.

Ball primarily supplied a distraction for White, however didn’t play any precise protection. Certain, if White couldn’t resist the sight of an outstretched palm vaguely approaching him, that may be good protection. However most dudes can ignore that.

It’s exhausting to take a lot out of the preseason, but it surely’s superior to see White’s elite mechanics and dedication shared by the remainder of the crew. If everybody can observe his lead and lock in, the Celtics ought to have the ability to lock anybody down.