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Evaluating the All-Defensive Chances of Key Celtics Players

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Derrick White and Jayson Tatum are two the Celtics best defenders.

With the NBA regular season nearing an end, award conversations are heating up. For the Boston Celtics, Jayson Tatum will finish top-five maybe top-three in MVP voting and Payton Pritchard is the frontrunner for Sixth Man of the Year. The Celtics have built their championship core around two-way balance including elite defense. Notably, they have the fifth-best defense this season. With that in mind, let’s explore if any Celtics deserve to make an All-Defensive team.

Evaluating the All-Defensive Chances of Key Celtics Players

Derrick White

Celtics guard Derrick White has the best All-Defensive case. The two-time All-Defensive player is hoping to make his third consecutive appearance. White’s combination of elite on-ball defense and versatile help defense makes him one of the most impactful defenders in the league. White posts an impressive defensive field goal percentage of 44 and ranks within the 90th percentile in estimated defensive plus-minus. Notably, White has locked up All-Star-level players this season including Darius Garland (26.7 percent from the field), Jalen Brunson (36.4), Ja Morant (35.7), and Tyrese Haliburton (35.7); these numbers highlight his elite on-ball defense.

White’s versatility and off-ball defense are what he’s most known for. Impressively his 80 total blocks lead all guards and ranks within the top 25 for total blocks. White has more blocks than elite defenders including Jarrett Allen, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Draymond Green. While most of his blocks come from wreaking havoc off-ball, at times the Celtics have used him as a primary rim protector. Regardless, White offers elite-level rim protection, data from Sportrader and Todd shows that White ranks ninth in defending the paint. Furthermore, White ranks fourth in defending at the point of attack, making him the only player to appear in the top 10 of both lists. He is also active in the passing lanes, averaging .9 steals. Overall, White’s presence is key to the Celtics’ versatile defensive scheme. In a loaded field, White is on the bubble, however, he deserves to make it due to his unmatched versatility.

Jayson Tatum

Tatum has an outside chance of making an All-Defensive team but remains a highly impactful and versatile defender. Tatum has the strength to guard opposing bigs and the speed to defend opposing guards his size is especially difficult for guards. Throughout the season, Tatum has shut down Damian Lillard (33.3 percent from the field), Anthony Edwards (25), and Darius Garland (37.5). Additionally, Tatum has guarded each position group at least 15 percent of the time. Incredibly Tatum ranks in the 97th percentile for defensive versatility via CraftedNBA. Tatum ranks in the 90th percentile for estimated defensive plus-minus. He posts a DFG of 47.5 percent including a 33.9 percent on three-pointers. Ultimately Tatum’s versatility and high-level on-ball defense at least warrant All-Defensive team consideration.

Holiday, Brown, and Porziņģis

The Celtics’ entire starting five is All-Defensive caliber. Unfortunately, Jrue Holiday, Jaylen Brown, and Kristaps Porziņģis are all eliminated for awards contention per minimum game rules. Holiday and Brown narrowly missed the 65-game threshold, and Porziņģis missed it by a significant margin, playing in just 41 games.

Much like White, Holiday offers both elite versatility and on-ball defense as a guard. Had Holiday played in more games he would have a clear case to make his seventh consecutive All-Defensive team. Brown narrowly missed the All-Defensive team last season. His elite on-ball defense would have given a solid case this year, however, games played aside Brown was more dominant last season and likely wouldn’t have made the cut. Porziņģis is an elite rim protector with impressive versatility if he was healthy throughout the season the 7-foot-2 big man would have had a rock-solid case.

The Last Word

Ultimately, White has the best chance of making an All-Defensive team, while Tatum has a solid case and an outside chance the competition will likely be too steep. Here’s a quick breakdown of the competition, players guaranteed a spot: Evan Mobley, Draymond Green, Dyson Daniels, Jaren Jackson Jr., Lu Dort, and Amen Thompson, players battling for the last four spots: White, Tatum, Ivica Zubac, Toumani Camara, Jalen Williams, OG Anunoby, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bam Adebayo, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Andrew Nembhard, and Jaden McDaniels. Needless to say, the field is loaded with excellent defenders. If it was still based on positions White would be guaranteed a spot perhaps he would even be first-team. Similarly, if they added a third team Tatum’s chances would skyrocket. If I had a vote White alongside Zubac, Williams, and Giannis would round out the All-Defensive squad.

 

Photo credit: © Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images

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