1. The Boston Celtics have won four games in a row. In a familiar situation to last year, Boston is rolling heading into the final couple of games ahead of the All-Star break. Last year, that featured a big game at an Eastern Conference rival and then a home game against the Detroit Pistons.
This year, the Celtics are headed into a big game at the Milwaukee Bucks, followed by a pre-break home game against…the Detroit Pistons.
To stay on this roll, Boston had to win without some key players. Marcus Smart remains out, and Jaylen Brown missed another game due to his facial fracture. In addition, Malcolm Brogdon was a late downgrade from probable to out due to Achilles soreness.
No matter, multiple Celtics stepped up. The depth that Brad Stevens and Joe Mazzulla have worked together to cultivate is starting to shine here in the dog days before the break. That’s why Boston just keeps rolling along.
2. Derrick White has started the last 10 games in place of Marcus Smart, while the starting point guard recovers from a badly sprained ankle. In that stretch White has played his best basketball since joining the Celtics roughly a year ago.
White has averaged 19.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.1 blocks. He’s also shooting 50.4% from the field over that stretch, including 47% on three pointers.
In the last couple of games, White’s playmaking has shown up for Boston. He’s had back-to-back games of 10 assists. Here are some of his best dimes against the Grizzlies.
White beats Luke Kennard off the bounce here, which draws the help defense from the corner. Despite being on the spin move, White knows exactly where Al Horford is:
The Grizzlies defense gets a little scrambled here. White attacks Xavier Tillman off the dribble, which draws Jaren Jackson Jr. in help defense again. That left Rob Williams open for the lob:
On this play, White attacks before Memphis can set their defense. He draws the corner man in help defense at the rim, but this time Kennard rotates to take the corner away. No worries for White, because he knows he has Payton Pritchard open on the wing:
This one pretty much capped it off. Boston is chewing up the clock here and with Memphis cross-matched all over, White attacks the paint again before hitting the lob to Rob:
3. Sam Hauser had a great start to the season, then he had a rough couple of months. Now, Hauser appears to have found his shot again. He’s started three of the last four games, and Hauser got…
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