Celtics’ Derrick White Pinpoints Key Reason Behind Celtics Winning Stretch

Following the 121-113 win over the Toronto Raptors on Sunday, Dec. 8, the Boston Celtics have won eight of their last 10 games. Since incorporating a small-ball lineup into the rotation, the Celtics have emerged as one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference.

Another key aspect of Boston’s recent surge has been the play of Derrick White and Payton Pritchard. Both guards started the season in new roles and had to navigate some teething issues. Yet, in recent weeks, they’ve found their level and are playing some elite basketball.

When speaking to the media on Sunday, White looked to share the praise.

“We’re getting contributions from everybody,” White said. “Every person who checks into the game is really helping us, and we’re all going for the same goal. So we continue to all play the right way, celebrate each other’s successes, and just be there for one another — we’ll do a lot of special things.”

Against the Raptors, Mazzulla used a 10-man rotation. Playing small allows the Celtics to lean on all of their wing talents. Hugo Gonzalez, Jordan Walsh and Josh Minott are all fighting for minutes, and their production continues to rise as a result. Anfernee Simons is slowly adjusting to his role as the sixth man, and Boston’s starters are finding their rhythm.

Mazzulla has found a winning combination. There will be times when he needs to lean on some of the bench bigs, especially when facing teams that run double-big lineups. Yet, for the most part, the consistent production off the bench is giving the Celtics a platform to build on.

The Celtics have a light schedule this week. They won’t play again until Thursday, Dec. 11, when they face the Milwaukee Bucks. That should give Mazzulla some extra time to dive into the data on his lineups, substitution patterns and roster combinations. However, given how well the team is currently playing, it’s unlikely we’ll see any major changes.