The Boston Celtics are up 2-0 in their first-round series against the Atlanta Hawks, and Derrick White has been one of their standout performers so far.
Despite his great play, White ended up being on the receiving end of some jokes from Charles Barkley over his receding hairline.
“Is that Derrick White or Stephen A.? Damn, Derrick,” Barkley hilariously said on Inside the NBA. “We love you Stephen A. Damn, Stephen A.! Stephen A. play for the Celtics! He do First Take in the morning and play for the Celtics, that dude’s going to be tired!’”
(starts at 3:35 mark):
It was a hilarious segment, and once Stephen A. Smith heard about it, he joked that Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal wouldn’t get away with it.
“Love all of my brothers on @NBAonTNT. But I’m gonna get @SHAQ and Chuck for comparing me with Derrick White. Y’all are gonna pay for that “
Love all of my brothers on @NBAonTNT. But I’m gonna get @SHAQ and Chuck for comparing me with Derrick White. Y’all are gonna pay for that 😀😀😀
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) April 19, 2023
Being compared to White isn’t an insult by any means right now. Over the first two games of this series, he is averaging 25.0 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 4.5 APG, and 2.5 BPG while shooting 62.1% from the field. He has helped the Celtics breeze past the Hawks so far, with both games not even being close.
Their two superstars are playing well, too, with Jayson Tatum averaging 27.0 PPG, 10.5 RPG, and 4.0 APG, while Jaylen Brown is putting up 23.5 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 2.5 APG, 2.0 SPG, and 1.0 BPG. The Celtics just look like the much better team, and it is hard to see the Hawks win more than one game here.
Will The Celtics Get Back To The NBA Finals?
The Celtics have been viewed as one of the favorites to get to the NBA Finals for much of this season, but recent history isn’t on their side. The last team to get to the Finals the very next year after losing in it was the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2018. With the way the playoffs have gone so far, though, you’d have to say the Celtics have a very good chance right now of making it back there.
They are playing well, as mentioned earlier, while there are some concerns regarding the other two serious contenders in the East. The Milwaukee Bucks have had Giannis Antetokounmpo go down with a back injury, and they lost Game 1 against the Miami Heat after he exited the contest. His status for Game 2 is up in the air, and Giannis might be a bit compromised when he does get back.
As for the Philadelphia 76ers, they are up 2-0 on the Brooklyn Nets but aren’t exactly dominating them at the moment, like the Celtics are with the Hawks. They have had their struggles, and if they don’t up their game in a potential second-round series between these sides, then they won’t stand much of a chance against Boston.
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