Tag: All-Star Game

Will Celtics’ Derrick White make the NBA’s 2024 All-Star Game?

The Colorado alum has the ideal blend of skill, smarts and experience to complement Boston’s stars.

Can Boston Celtics point guard Derrick White make the NBA’s 2024 All-Star team in a crowded Eastern Conference? After coming over in a trade from the San Antonio Spurs last February, White has gone from a luxury reserve player to an indispensable starter in Boston.

With his two-way excellence and central role on the NBA-best Celtics this season, the Colorado native makes a strong case as one of the top guards in the league this season. White is the NBA’s best defensive guard right now, and has also become a key cog on offense. He’s an efficient scorer, underrated playmaker and provides much-needed floor spacing.

The Colorado alum has the ideal blend of skill, smarts and experience to complement Boston’s stars.

The hosts of the CLNS Media “Celtics Beat” podcast linked up with Spotrac’s Keith Smith to break down his All-Star case. 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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Is Derrick White the Boston Celtics’ third All-Star?

According to Bob Ryan, White deserves All-Star consideration despite facing stiff competition.

On a recent episode of their eponymous CLNS Media podcast, Bob Ryan and Jeff Goodman had high praise for Boston Celtics guard Derrick White, calling him an invaluable addition to the team.

The pair were extremely complimentary of White, who Ryan said has become “absolutely invaluable,” questioning how the Celtics were able to trade for him from the San Antonio Spurs. He also praised White’s versatility, saying he contributes in many ways like defense, 3-point shooting, and transition offense. He compared White to Celtics legend Dennis Johnson, recalling how DJ blocked 14 shots in the 1979 finals as a guard.

According to Ryan, White deserves All-Star consideration despite facing stiff competition.

Check the clip above to hear their case!

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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First round of 2024 All-Star fan voting returns in, Boston Celtics likely poised to have at least two nods

There is a realistic if somewhat unlikely path to as many as four.

The first round of fan voting results for the NBA’s 2024 All-Star Game have been tabulated and released by the league, and the Boston Celtics have a strong showing in the East returns. All-NBA forward Jayson Tatum came in third overall in the frontcourt fan vote with 1.7 million votes, behind Giannis Antetokounmpo (2.1 million) and Joel Embiid (1.8 million) and well ahead of Jimmy Butler (767,913).

Star forward Jaylen Brown came in a solid fifth with 426,589 votes, with Bam Adebayo far behind with 238, 485 votes. Kristaps Porzingis came in eighth with 197,234 votes, just behind Mikal Bridges (203,009) and a little ahead of Kyle Kuzma (178,563) to round out frontcourt players.

In the backcourt, Boston fared worse, but still registered the Stock Exchange at positions Nos. 8 and 10, with Derrick White garnering 175,940 for the former, and Jrue Holiday 145,144 votes for the latter.

It seems almost certain Tatum will make it in as a starter, and Brown as a coaches choice among the frontcourt East nods. Porzingis has a solid shot that route as well, with Derrick White perhaps having a shot as an injury replacement.

Holiday is likely going to miss this year’s All-Star game given early returns, but it is early in the fan voting and coaches may be swayed by on-court production yet, so much is still up in the air, but it seems very likely Boston will have at minimum two All-Stars.

And could realistically end up with as many as four.

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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Rockets’ Alperen Sengun at No. 7 in fan voting for All-Star frontcourt

Rising Rockets star Alperen Sengun currently ranks No. 7 in All-Star fan voting among Western Conference frontcourt players, according to the NBA.

Among frontcourt players in the Western Conference, Rockets center Alperen Sengun ranks seventh in All-Star fan voting, according to Thursday’s voting update released by the NBA.

Sengun is the only Houston player in the top 10 for frontcourt and backcourt players. Sengun leads Spurs rookie and French phenom Victor Wembanyama, who is eighth, by more than 100,000 votes.

The only frontcourt players ahead of Sengun are future Hall of Famers: LeBron James and Anthony Davis of the Los Angeles Lakers; Kawhi Leonard and Paul George of the Clippers; Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets; and Kevin Durant of the Phoenix Suns.

The fan vote accounts for half of the voting that determines All-Star starters. Players make up 25%, as does a panel of media members. Since only three frontcourt players start, Sengun is a longshot to earn that honor. He already trails Jokic — currently third in frontcourt fan voting — by well over a million votes.

However, Sengun could still qualify as a reserve. All 30 NBA head coaches are given a ballot to select three frontcourt players, two backcourt players, and two wild-card picks from each conference.

If selected, a reserve could become a starter this year, should one of the starters be injured or choose not to participate. The 2024 NBA All-Star Game will be held on Feb. 18 in Indianapolis.

Just 21 years old and in his third NBA season, Sengun is averaging 21.5 points (54.7% FG), 9.0 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 1.2 steals in 32 minutes. As a team, Houston (17-15) is overachieving relative to its win-loss record expectations, and that could further bolster the All-Star case for its best player during a breakout season.

Fan voting for 2024 NBA All-Stars continues through Saturday, Jan. 20. Details on how to vote online are available here.

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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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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.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver on fixing the All-Star Game

Silver also talks about the specific changes made to the All-Star Game, including returning to the traditional East vs. West format and addressing player concerns about the fanfare surrounding the event.

In an interview with former NBAer and current host of the “Old Man and the 3” podcast JJ Redick, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver discussed the importance of prioritizing the growth of basketball and spent some time talking about how the league can improve the All-Star Game in particular.

He mentions how everything positive that happens around the game benefits the NBA and emphasizes the need to focus on the quality of play on the court. Silver also talks about the specific changes made to the All-Star Game, including returning to the traditional East vs. West format and addressing player concerns about the fanfare surrounding the event. Silver believes that basketball should be the center of attention and that players should be able to go through their normal routines before games.

Take a look at the clip embedded below to hear their talk in full.

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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Can Kristaps Porzingis make All-Star with the Boston Celtics?

In a weaker East, is it possible?

The Boston Celtics’ tall presence in the post, star big man Kristaps Porzingis, is off to a promising start in the city of Boston, and he is relishing the opportunity with the Celtics. Over the initial three preseason games, Porzingis had maintained an impressive average of 16.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, and a block, all while shooting a remarkable 61.5% from beyond the arc.

The Latvian big man’s impressive performance during the preseason has many considering him as a potential All-Star in 2023-24, and his consistent shooting and impact on the game are drawing comparisons to legendary players like Hall of Fame Celtics center Kevin Garnett in some circles.

Following Boston’s 123-110 victory over the New York Knicks earlier in the week, the CLNS Media “Garden Report Postgame Show” podcast went live to discuss and react to Porzingis’ seamless integration into the Boston team.

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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