By Mike Finger, Columnist | San Antonio Express-News, 2024-06-11 16:41:22
由生成式人工智能翻译，译文内容可能不准确或不完整，以原文为准。
达拉斯独行侠前锋P.J.华盛顿(P.J. Washington，25号)在2024年6月9日星期日波士顿举行的NBA总决赛第二场比赛下半场中，被波士顿凯尔特人队的德里克·怀特(Derrick White，9号)和杰伦·布朗(Jaylen Brown，7号)封盖。(美联社照片/史蒂文·森恩)
达拉斯——直到今天，德里克·怀特(Derrick White)还能听到那个声音。那是一声响亮而清晰的沙哑声音，让他想起自己在菜鸟时期听到的严厉指令。
“尊重比赛，”那个声音说，“尊重篮球之神。”
随着时间的推移，怀特越来越欣赏这句话的智慧。在他第一次听到格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)重复这句话的时候，他并没有真正为了巨大的赌注而战。但这正是老教练的用意，不是吗？
如果你尊重比赛，你就不会放过任何一次进攻机会，无论是在十月底还是六月初。
如果你尊重篮球之神，你就不会放弃任何一次进攻，无论球离你有多远，无论努力看起来多么无用。
而如果在NBA总决赛的一场比赛最后时刻，你发现自己站在球场的角落里，当队友在内线被封盖时，尊重比赛意味着要冲刺90英尺跑到另一端。这意味着在球到达的时候跳向对面的篮筐。这意味着伸出你的右手，尽可能地伸远，知道这可能是徒劳的，并接受可能会成为病毒式传播的精彩时刻。
“我不害怕被扣篮，”怀特说，“这是比赛的一部分。”
在波士顿球馆里，怀特戏剧性地封盖了P.J.华盛顿的快攻投篮，帮助凯尔特人以105-98战胜独行侠。波波维奇无疑会赞赏他的前控卫的努力，更不用说他的解释了。
随着凯尔特人在周三的美国航空中心进行第三场比赛，他们距离NBA总冠军只有两场胜利，怀特脑海中那响亮而沙哑的声音是他们有可能夺冠的原因之一。
这位前马刺球员不是波士顿最好的球员。根据比赛情况，他可能排不到前四。但是怀特作为联盟中最有天赋的球队之一的粘合剂，以及他坚定地坚持永远不要给篮球之神任何惩罚他的理由，让他成为了不可或缺的一部分。
“这就是篮球的魅力，”怀特说，“你想扣篮，你想做这做那，但很多小事都能奏效。最简单的进攻方式往往是最正确的。这是我从(波波维奇)那里学到的，这对我的职业生涯很有帮助。”
对于所有观看怀特在圣安东尼奥的四年半比赛的人来说，他在周日对华盛顿的追身封盖听起来非常熟悉。从2017年在科罗拉多大学被选中的第29顺位新秀，到2021年成为马刺队的领袖之一，像这样的拼搏表现一直是他的标志之一。
凯尔特人，值得称赞的是，认识到了这一点。这也是他们在2022年2月用首轮选秀权（后来变成了布雷克·韦斯利）、2028年的首轮选秀权互换以及一些马刺队用来换取多个次轮选秀权的球员换来怀特的主要原因。
波士顿凯尔特人队的控球后卫德里克·怀特在2024年6月9日星期日波士顿举行的NBA总决赛第二场比赛下半场中，在投进三分球后庆祝。(美联社照片/史蒂文·森恩)
当时，这笔交易在波士顿并没有得到很好的反响。一些人想知道为什么凯尔特人会为了一个看起来最多只是一个角色球员的人付出这么大的代价。
现在呢？
可以说，如果凯尔特人没有达成这笔交易，他们就不会如此接近夺得球队的第18座总冠军奖杯。
不仅仅是因为怀特在本赛季场均得到15.2分、5.2个篮板、4.2次助攻和1.2次盖帽。这个数据确实不容小觑。但这低估了怀特的影响力。
“他能在很多方面感受比赛，(并且提供)球队需要的帮助，这真是太特别了，”队友佩顿·普理查德(Payton Pritchard)说。
这并没有立即发生。在波士顿的第一个季后赛中，凯尔特人打进了总决赛，对手是金州勇士队，但他不确定自己是否融入球队了。尽管他明白马刺队正在试图重建，但从他喜爱的地方被交易让他感到很痛苦。
“当时我真的不想离开，”怀特说，“这有点让人震惊。”
然而，到了在波士顿的第二个赛季中期，一切都变得明朗。他成为了首发阵容的常客，凯尔特人的球星杰森·塔图姆(Jayson Tatum)和杰伦·布朗(Jaylen Brown)意识到，怀特在场上的时候，比赛的整体流畅性要好得多。
这可不是一个普通的角色球员。
“始终如一地帮助球队赢得比赛会让你充满信心，”怀特说。“当我刚来的时候，我觉得我只是球队的一部分。而现在，我成为了其中的一员。”
他从塔图姆和布朗那里得到的赞扬意义重大。凯尔特人主教练乔·马祖拉(Joe Mazzulla)给予他的鼓励和信任也同样重要。
如果他们最终一起欢呼并举起奖杯？怀特肯定会沉浸在他们的欢呼声中。
当然，他也不会忘记脑海中那个沙哑的声音。
波士顿，马萨诸塞州——6月9日：波士顿凯尔特人队的德里克·怀特(9号)在2024年6月9日星期日波士顿TD花园举行的2024年NBA总决赛第二场比赛第四节中封盖了达拉斯独行侠队的P.J.华盛顿(25号)的投篮。
波士顿，马萨诸塞州——6月9日：波士顿凯尔特人队的德里克·怀特(9号)在2024年6月9日星期日波士顿TD花园举行的2024年NBA总决赛第二场比赛第四节中，在替补席前做出反应。
达拉斯独行侠队的控球后卫卢卡·东契奇(Luka Doncic，77号)试图突破波士顿凯尔特人队的控球后卫德里克·怀特(9号)的防守，比赛是2024年6月9日星期日波士顿举行的NBA总决赛第二场比赛。(美联社照片/史蒂文·森恩)
达拉斯独行侠队的控球后卫凯里·欧文(Kyrie Irving，中)在2024年6月9日星期日波士顿举行的NBA总决赛第二场比赛中，被波士顿凯尔特人队的前锋萨姆·豪泽(Sam Hauser，左)和控球后卫德里克·怀特(Derrick White，右)围堵。(美联社照片/史蒂文·森恩)
波士顿凯尔特人队的前锋杰森·塔图姆(Jayson Tatum，右)试图突破达拉斯独行侠队的前锋P.J.华盛顿(P.J. Washington，中)的防守，控球后卫德里克·怀特(Derrick White，左)在一旁观战，比赛是2024年6月9日星期日波士顿举行的NBA总决赛第二场比赛。(美联社照片/史蒂文·森恩)
波士顿凯尔特人队的控球后卫德里克·怀特(9号)在2024年6月9日星期日波士顿举行的NBA总决赛第二场比赛中，在达拉斯独行侠队前锋P.J.华盛顿(25号)的防守下投篮。(美联社照片/史蒂文·森恩)
达拉斯独行侠队的前锋德里克·琼斯(Derrick Jones Jr.，右)在2024年6月9日星期日波士顿举行的NBA总决赛第二场比赛下半场中传球，波士顿凯尔特人队的控球后卫德里克·怀特(Derrick White，左)对他进行逼抢。(美联社照片/史蒂文·森恩)
波士顿凯尔特人队的控球后卫德里克·怀特(9号)在2024年6月9日星期日波士顿举行的NBA总决赛第二场比赛下半场中，在准备传球时，用身体挡住达拉斯独行侠队的控球后卫凯里·欧文(Kyrie Irving)。(美联社照片/史蒂文·森恩)
圣安东尼奥马刺队主教练格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)在2023年1月7日星期六在AT&T中心比赛结束时与波士顿凯尔特人队的德里克·怀特(9号)打招呼。波士顿凯尔特人队以121-116战胜了圣安东尼奥马刺队。
波士顿凯尔特人队的德里克·怀特(9号)在2023年1月7日星期六在AT&T中心比赛结束后与圣安东尼奥马刺队的雅各布·珀尔特尔(Jakob Poeltl，25号)打招呼，格雷格·波波维奇(Gregg Popovich)在一旁观看。波士顿凯尔特人队以121-116战胜了圣安东尼奥马刺队。
点击查看原文：Derrick White soars in NBA Finals, as Spurs wisdom still rings true
Derrick White soars in NBA Finals, as Spurs wisdom still rings true
Dallas Mavericks forward P.J. Washington (25) is blocked by Boston Celtics’ Derrick White (9) and Jaylen Brown (7) during the second half of Game 2 of the NBA Finals basketball series, Sunday, June 9, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
DALLAS – To this day, there still are times when Derrick White can hear it. That loud, unmistakably gruff voice, reminding him of the same blunt orders it barked at him when he was a rookie.
“Respect the game,” the voice says. “Respect the basketball gods.”
Over time, White grew to better appreciate the wisdom in that directive. The first hundred or so times he listened to Gregg Popovich repeat it, he wasn’t exactly playing for huge stakes. But that was the old coach’s point, wasn’t it?
If you respect the game, you’re not going to take a possession off, whether it’s late October or early June.
If you respect the basketball gods, you’re not going to give up on a play, no matter how far ahead of you the ball might be, and no matter how pointless effort might seem.
And if, in the final minute of an NBA Finals game in danger of slipping away, you find yourself standing in the far corner of the floor as a teammate gets blocked in the lane, respecting the game means sprinting 90 feet the other way. It means leaping toward the opposite rim just as the ball arrives. And it means stretching your right hand as far as it will go, knowing full well it might be for naught, and accepting it might land you on the wrong end of a viral highlight.
“I don’t really have a fear of getting dunked on,” White says. “That’s kind of part of it.”
Far, far away from the arena in Boston where White’s dramatic rejection of a P.J. Washington fast-break shot attempt helped seal a 105-98 victory for the Celtics over the Mavericks on Sunday night, Popovich no doubt approved of his former point guard’s effort, not to mention his explanation.
And as the Celtics head into Game 3 at American Airlines Center on Wednesday two victories away from an NBA championship, that loud, gruff voice in White’s head is part of the reason they might pull it off.
The former Spur is not the best player Boston has. Depending on the night, he might not crack the top four. But White’s knack for serving as the connective tissue holding one of the league’s most talented teams together – and his steadfast insistence on never giving the basketball gods any reason to smite him – has made him indispensable.
“That’s really the cool thing about basketball,” White says. “You want to slam dunk, and this and that, but a bunch of little things always work. The simple play always is the right play. That’s something I took from (Popovich), and it’s been great for my career.”
To anyone who watched White during his 4 ½ seasons in San Antonio, his chase-down block of Washington on Sunday rang awfully familiar. During his ascent from the No. 29 overall draft pick out of Colorado in 2017 to one of the Spurs’ team leaders in 2021, effort plays like that were one of his calling cards.
The Celtics, to their credit, recognized that about him. It’s a big reason why they traded a first-round pick (which became Blake Wesley), a 2028 first-round pick swap, and players who the Spurs flipped for multiple second-rounders to acquire White in February 2022.
Boston Celtics guard Derrick White celebrates after hitting a 3-pointer against the Dallas Mavericks during the second half of Game 2 of the NBA Finals basketball series, Sunday, June 9, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
At the time, the deal did not go over well in Boston. Some there wondered why the Celtics would have parted with that big of a package for a guy who looked like a role player at best.
Now?
It could be argued that the Celtics would not be closing in on the franchise’s 18th championship if they hadn’t made the deal.
It’s not just that White averaged 15.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.2 blocks per game this season. That stat line is nothing to sneeze at. But it also undersells White’s impact.
“His ability to feel the game in a lot of different areas, (and provide) what the team needs, is really special,” teammate Payton Pritchard says.
It didn’t happen right away. That first postseason in Boston, the Celtics made the Finals against Golden State, but he wasn’t sure he fit yet. Although he understood that the Spurs were trying to rebuild, getting traded from a place he loved stung.
“At the time I really didn’t want to leave,” White says. “It was a little bit of a shock.”
By the middle of his second season in Boston, though, it all clicked. He became a regular in the starting lineup, and Celtics stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown recognized how much better everything flowed with White on the floor.
This was no mere role player.
“Just kind of consistently helping the team win gives you confidence,” says White, who was named to the NBA all-defensive second team this season and could be in line for a significant contract extension this summer. “When I first got here, I felt like I was just part of the team. And now I’m one of the guys.”
The praise he’s received from Tatum and Brown means a lot. So does the encouragement and trust bestowed upon him by Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla.
And if they all wind up cheering while hoisting a trophy together soon? White, surely, will revel in the sound of their voices.
While not forgetting the unmistakably gruff one still in his head.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JUNE 09: Derrick White #9 of the Boston Celtics blocks the shot attempt by P.J. Washington #25 of the Dallas Mavericks during the fourth quarter in Game Two of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden on June 09, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JUNE 09: Derrick White #9 of the Boston Celtics reacts in front of his bench during the fourth quarter against the Dallas Mavericks in Game Two of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden on June 09, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts.
Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) tries to drive past Boston Celtics guard Derrick White (9) during Game 2 of the NBA Basketball Finals, Sunday, June 9, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving, center, drives under pressure from Boston Celtics forward Sam Hauser, left, and guard Derrick White, right, during Game 2 of the NBA Basketball Finals, Sunday, June 9, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, right, drives past Dallas Mavericks forward P.J. Washington, center, as guard Derrick White, left, looks on during Game 2 of the NBA Basketball Finals, Sunday, June 9, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Boston Celtics guard Derrick White (9) shoots in front of Dallas Mavericks forward P.J. Washington (25) during Game 2 of the NBA Basketball Finals, Sunday, June 9, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Dallas Mavericks forward Derrick Jones Jr., right, passes the ball while pressured by Boston Celtics guard Derrick White, left, during the second half of Game 2 of the NBA Finals basketball series, Sunday, June 9, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Boston Celtics guard Derrick White (9) holds back Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving while looking to pass during the second half of Game 2 of the NBA Finals basketball series, Sunday, June 9, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich greets Boston Celtics Derrick White (9) at the end of the game on Saturday, Jan. 7 2023 at the AT&T Center. Boston Celtics defeated the San Antonio Spurs 121-116.
Boston Celtics Derrick White (9) greets San Antonio Spurs Jakob Poeltl (25) as Gregg Popovich looks on Saturday, Jan. 7 2023 at the AT&T Center. Boston Celtics defeated the San Antonio Spurs 121-116.
By Mike Finger, Columnist, via San Antonio Express-News