Derrick White: Celtics Braced for Tough Knicks Series from the Start

Derrick White's Standout Night Matches Celtics' Gritty Mindset

No one inside TD Garden needed reminding that playoff basketball rarely follows the script. The Knicks and Celtics have turned their second-round clash into a brawl of wills, with every possession feeling like a mini-war. After Game 2 on May 7, Derrick White wasn't gloating over his superb stat line or the Celtics' regular-season swagger. Instead, he laid it bare: this was never going to be a walk in the park.

White, the Celtics' do-everything guard, dropped 20 points, grabbed 9 boards, and handed out 5 assists against a Knicks team that's made a habit of throwing a wrench into even the best-laid plans. What mattered to him wasn't the numbers—but that none of it came easy. “We never expected an easy series,” he said, almost as if warning anyone thinking otherwise.

That attitude sums up the feeling in Boston’s locker room. Last season’s heartbreak, mixed with the grind of an 82-game campaign, taught them nothing is guaranteed when it comes to the NBA Playoffs. White pointed directly to the Knicks' toughness. Despite being underdogs on paper, their reputation for scrappy defense and relentless energy hasn't just lingered—it's completely taken root this postseason.

Playoff Intensity Defines Celtics-Knicks Showdown

The opening two games have been nip and tuck—no chance for either team to get comfortable. White’s physical play, especially on the defensive end, helped set the tone, but he wasn’t alone. The Celtics have had to find answers to everything New York threw at them, from Jalen Brunson’s shifty drives to Josh Hart’s relentless hustle.

Every loose ball is watched by players and fans alike with a kind of collective anxiety. A single extra rebound, a timely three, anything can swing the momentum. The Knicks' defensive schemes have forced Boston into awkward spots, while the Celtics have had to rely on quick adjustments just to get good looks—underscoring White’s point that this is no routine second-round matchup.

• White’s 20 points weren’t just points—they were hard-earned and often momentum-stretching.
• His 9 rebounds provided second-chance opportunities Boston desperately needed during cold stretches.
• Those 5 assists? They kept teammates involved when Knicks pressure threatened to narrow the floor.

White’s assessment came with the kind of honesty that fans appreciate but don’t always hear. The Celtics, for all their flair and regular-season success, entered the series bracing for a slugfest. Watching these games, it’s obvious: respect for the Knicks isn’t just locker-room talk. It’s a survival strategy.

This matchup has everything that turns a playoff series into must-watch TV—star power, defensive battles, buzzer-beating runs, and, above all, players like Derrick White openly admitting just how tough it is. With both teams trading blows, the message is clear—there are no shortcuts left. Each side, every night, has to earn every inch.