Tag: 2024 nba all-star game

Can Boston’s Derrick White snag an All-Star spot?

White deserves serious consideration for an All-Star nod, but faces an uphill battle.

The Boston Celtics have raced out to the best record in the NBA, but will their success translate to multiple 2024 All-Star selections? On the latest episode of the NBC Sports Boston “Celtics Talk” podcast, host Chris Forsberg took a deep dive into starting Celtics point guard Derrick White‘s chances of making his first All-Star team with Boston this season.

While White leads the league in net rating differential, his modest scoring numbers may make it tough for some less savvy coaches to vote him in as a reserve if they focus too much on counting stats over the Colorado native’s impact on the game.

Forsberg believes that White deserves serious consideration for an All-Star nod, but faces an uphill battle against bigger name guards like Atlanta Hawks point guard Trae Young, among others.

Check out the clip embedded above to hear Forsberg’s thoughts on White’s All-Star odds this season.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Why Boston’s Derrick White should be an All-Star, per JJ Redick

Derrick White’s impact on the Boston Celtics so far this season has been nothing less than instrumental to the ball club’s success.

Derrick White’s impact on the Boston Celtics so far this season has been nothing less than instrumental to the ball club’s success and rise to the top of the league standings, transforming the Celtics into a formidable force in the Association. White’s contributions to Boston have some very wise basketball minds advocating for the Colorado native’s case for consideration in the NBA’s 2024 All-Star Game.

White’s role has evolved since the team has traded for star Latvian big man Kristaps Porzingis, allowing him more offensive responsibility, especially as a playmaker in pick-and-roll situations.

One of those wise basketball minds is former NBAer and host of the popular “Old Man and the 3” podcast JJ Redick.

Hear his case for White in the 2024 All-Star Game in the clip embedded above.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Boston’s Derrick White not sweating his All-Star buzz

The additional attention doesn’t seem to be getting to his head, however. If anything, quite the opposite.

“When you watch the game, people who understand really appreciate what he’s doing on the court,” said star Boston Celtics big man Kristaps Porzingis of his teammate Derrick White via the Boston Globe’s Adam Himmelsbach, who has picked up in the chatter of who might make All-Star in the East in recent weeks.

And while White’s counting stats might not have the traditional profile of an All-Star, his contributions on the court certainly impact winning like one, with some of the game’s savvier connoisseurs going out of their way to make the case for the Colorado native getting a nod for that reason.

The additional attention doesn’t seem to be getting to his head, however. If anything, quite the opposite, with White sounding as humble and unpresupposing as ever.

“I probably have a better case than I have ever in the last six years,” admitted the Colorado alum. “So honestly that would be cool if I got voted (in).”

“But I’m not really focusing too much on that. Just got to continue to play the right way.”

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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New Bleacher Report assessment sees only Jayson Tatum making the 2024 NBA All-Star team

If any Celtics player were to make this year’s All-Star squad, it’s probably going to be Jayson Tatum.

The Boston Celtics are a very, very good NBA team, and in some estimations, so good they could conceivably have as many as four players from their roster on the NBA’s 2024 Eastern Conference All-Star team.

And while such an outcome is very much an unlikely possibility, it is almost as unlikely that the best team in the NBA would have just one player in the league’s annual testament to mediocre basketball and a near-total absence of basketball. But the sacrifices the individual Celtics players are making may be playing a role in depressing the typically gaudy numbers that have put most players into the All-Star game.

If any Celtics player were to make this year’s All-Star squad, it’s probably going to be Jayson Tatum — and that is the only Boston player on Bleacher Report’s recent projections of who will be on this year’s All-Star team.

Three Boston Celtics make 2024 All-Star (and one more makes alternate) in new assessment

In any accounting, to have three (and perhaps four pending injury) All-Stars is a rare feat.

In a recent assessment by NBA Math using the Rolling Player Rating (RPR) stat, the Boston Celtics ended up fielding a total of three of their players on the 2024 NBA All-Star team. It of course should be noted that the players RPR deems most worthy of a nod may not align with the players chosen via the combination of fan, media, and player voting for the starters, or who the coaches select for the reserves.

But in any accounting, to have three (and perhaps four pending injury) All-Stars is a rare feat that has only been accomplished a handful of times in league history in the latter case.

Per NBA Math, Jayson Tatum makes the starters along with Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Tyrese Halliburton.

Kristaps Porzingis and Derrick White make the reserves with Trae Young, Damian Lillard, Julius Randle, Scottie Barnes, and Jalen Brunson.

Jaylen Brown makes the cut as an alternate along with Donovan Mitchell, Mikal Bridges, Bam Adebayo, and Jimmy Butler.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Making the All-Star case for the Boston Celtics’ other four non-Tatum starters

While the likelihood of all five Celtics starters making it to the All-Star Weekend may be very slim, the individual cases for Brown, White, Porzingis, and Holiday are compelling.

The Boston Celtics are on a hot streak of late, and amid the best individual performances of Boston’s best players, there’s a compelling argument for each of the non-Jayson Tatum starters to make a real case for a 2024 NBA All-Star spot.

The play of Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, Kristaps Porzingis, and Jrue Holiday could realistically vault them into at least the reserve conversation on the merits of their play if not the fan vote. Brown has evolved into a wing with considerable playmaking skills, and Holiday’s ability to defend a variety of positions has exceeded expectations. The Celtics perform much better with White on the floor, and Porzingis provides a reliable scoring option when the offense is struggling.

While the likelihood of all five Celtics starters making it to the All-Star Weekend may be very slim, the individual cases for Brown, White, Porzingis, and Holiday are compelling.

NBC Sports Boston’s Chris Forsberg laid out his best case for each on a recent episode of “Celtics Post Up;” check it out above!

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Eddie House thinks it’ll be extremely hard for Boston’s Derrick White to make the 2024 All-Star team

Does White have a realistic path to getting a spot on this year’s All-Star team?

The question of whether starting Boston Celtics point guard Derrick White deserves a nod for the NBA’s 2024 All-Star Game is a hot topic of late, with contrasting opinions on the validity of the Colorado native’s candidacy given his body of work this season.

Despite being a fan favorite for his all-around contributions to the Celtics’ 20-6 record, there are significant logistical challenges ahead for White to secure a spot among the NBA’s elite. Among them is the uphill battle White faces due to fierce competition in the league, with names like Trey Young, Donovan Mitchell, Damian Lillard, Tyrese Maxey, and Jalen Brunson also being in the Eastern Conference All-Star guard mix.

Does White have a realistic path to getting a spot on this year’s All-Star team? Or is this your usual midseason daydreaming?

Former Celtics sharpshooter and current Boston broadcaster Eddie House recently weighed in on the question; check out his reply above.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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In the debate on if Boston’s Derrick White is an All-Star, Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla has an unambiguous answer

“I’m just trying to win games,” says White. “That’s what I’m focusing on right now.”

If you ask Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla if Celtics floor general Derrick White is an All-Star, you won’t get much hesitation in his reply. In fact, he didn’t even let a reporter finish his question to that effect before blurting out “He’s an All-Star,” per The Athletic’s Jared Weiss.

“He’s my coach, that’s what he’s supposed to say, right?” said White when informed what his coach had said about the question, but it’s becoming increasingly hard to deny that the Colorado native is playing like one of late. “I’m just trying to win games,” added White. “That’s what I’m focusing on right now. Just do whatever I can to help us win.”

And that is exactly what he has been doing as the team’s leading rebounder (5.1 per game), and pickpocket (1.3 steals per game), while being the team’s second-best rim protector (1.2 per game), fourth-highest scorer (16.5 per game), and second-best shot from beyond the arc (42.9% from deep).

The logistical challenges of the fan vote make a starting spot out of the question, but with this sort of play becoming a staple for White, a sustained effort like this might actually get the Colorado alum in for his first All-Star nod from the coaches to come off the bench.

And it certainly wouldn’t be a gimmick if he were to, given the receipts.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Here’s why Boston’s Derrick White deserves to be an All-Star this season

White has showed off his excellence on both ends of the court this season.

Derrick White’s outstanding play for the Boston Celtics this season has positioned him as a strong candidate for an All-Star selection in the eyes of some NBA analysts.

In fact, NBC Sports Boston’s Chris Forsberg recently came up with four key metrics that highlight White’s impact on the team and make a compelling case for his candidacy to make the league’s 2023 All-Star Game. From his exceptional net rating to a career-best true shooting percentage, defensive prowess in stocks (what are those?), and playmaking ability, White has showed off his excellence on both ends of the court this season.

On a recent episode of his regular “Forsberg’s Four” segment, the NBC Sports analyst joins cohost Amina Smith on “Celtics Post Up” to make the case for White as an All-Star this season.

Take a look at the clip embedded above to hear what he had to say!

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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On why the Boston Celtics’ Derrick White should be an All-Star

Rumbles have started to percolate suggesting that the Colorado alum is worthy of an All-Star nod this season.

Fans of the Boston Celtics were understandably nonplussed earlier in the NBA’s 2023-24 season when a certain prominent NBA news outlet left starting Celtics floor general Derrick White off their top 100 NBA players list for the season despite his excellent play to close out the team’s deep run in the 2023 playoffs.

Since then, the Colorado native has been elevating his game even further, with both stat heads and the eye test singing the praises of White’s game alongside new Boston combo guard Jrue Holiday in the backcourt dubbed the “Stock Exchange” by White’s father, Richard. Rumbles have started to percolate suggesting that the Colorado alum is even worthy of an All-Star nod this season.

Count Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley among them, who writes on how White is on the radar of other league analysts in such a regard.