NBA FINALS: CELTICS VS. WARRIORS

June 2, 2022

Derrick White

Marcus Smart

Boston Celtics

Game 1: Postgame

Celtics 120, Warriors 108

Q. Derrick, Ime mentioned in the fourth quarter you guys started switching more often, pre-switching. Do you enjoy a particular defensive coverage more than another? What's it like for you when you are switching those matchups? Why do you think it worked so well in the fourth?

DERRICK WHITE: Yeah, it's been fun ever since I been here, just all the defensive coverages we do, the way we can mix and match and make changes throughout the game.

Just having everybody out there that can guard multiple positions, it's a lot of fun. That's what we hang our hat on.

Q. For both of you. You have had games throughout these Playoffs where the struggles kind of continued throughout the game. Today in the fourth quarter you turned things around, make that big run when you were down. How do you do that Game 1 of the Finals? How do you find that within you to get that turnaround?

MARCUS SMART: You just believe in what you've been doing all year. It hasn't been our first time being down in that position, nor in this game, let alone all season.

We came in with a game plan. For us it was just to stick with it, believe in ourselves. Kept doing that. As you see, everybody starts to catch fire, get hot, things start to go our way.

Q. Derrick, what does it do for you, I guess how do you stay focused almost when a team is playing you like that? Then when you get on a roll, forcing them to change, adjust, what does it do elsewhere, too?

DERRICK WHITE: I mean, I kind of figured they would guard me like that going into the series. They guarded me like that last time we played them.

I missed my first two, but they felt great so I just stayed confident. Teammates and coaches have always told me to stay confident. It's good to see that one go down, and just got on a roll from there.

Q. Derrick, for you, how would you describe that fourth quarter? Then for both of you, what was it like being on this stage, stepping up in this Game 1 of the Finals tonight?

DERRICK WHITE: Yeah, they got off in that third quarter. We had to come together and slow them down. We changed defense up a little bit, made them work, then got the stops and got out and ran.

It was a lot of fun. We got to watch film, learn from the mistakes we made and get better for Game 2.

Q. For somebody like Al Horford, who obviously waited 15 years to get to his first Finals, then had the type performance he had tonight, what did it feel like for you guys? How happy were you for him?

MARCUS SMART: We were ecstatic for him. Al is the OG, man. He puts in the work. Don't nobody deserve to be here more than him. The way that he carries himself professionally, the professionalism he comes to this game with every day, we knew it was only a matter of time for him to have a big game, and continue to have a big game.

That's what he does. That's what he's been doing. He's been that catalyst for us this whole year.

Q. A lot has been made about Celtics having a lack of experience coming in here. For Game 1, what were you able to do to stay with the routine, especially with it being an early start at 6 p.m.?

DERRICK WHITE: We've had early games I feel like this whole postseason. We weren't really too worried about that.

A lot of guys have played a lot of big basketball throughout their careers. May not be the Finals, but the thing about this group is we love to hoop, so we're ready to go.

Q. Marcus, in the Miami series you guys had some games where you played really well, then the next game weren't the same. How do you carry this over and keep yourselves from letting up to try to keep this going?

MARCUS SMART: We just got to go watch the film. We got to focus on the things we did right. We can't get too high and we can't get too low.

Tonight was one of those games where we can't get too high. We played very well, but we have to match that energy the next game, and we understand that.

We all know this game is a game of runs. You don't go into the game planning to play bad. Things happen. You just got to find a way. Sometimes it doesn't work that way.

Q. JT, they took him out a lot of what he was trying to find scoring-wise. He was moving the ball as much as possible. What conversations throughout the game were you having with him to try to allow him to find you guys open?

MARCUS SMART: All year leading up to this we've been kind of grooming and preparing Jayson for these moments where teams are going to key in on you so much that they try to take you out of the game. You have to be able to make plays and affect the game in different ways. Tonight he had 13 assists. We've preached that all year. He's had a lot of practice at it.

For us, it's just to make sure he stays confident and know that even though they're doing a good job on you, you still who you are and we got your back. That's what we are here for, to help you when times like that, to help you get going.

The pick-and-pop, just being able to make reads. Jayson does a really good job of setting a screen. We're good at making reads. We're basketball players and we take what the defense gives us.

Q. So much was said about the lack of fourth-quarter execution in Game 7 against Miami, letting them come back. What did it say about you guys to come back and take this game in the fourth quarter? Marcus, you were 0-5 from three, you don't hesitate, took two threes, hit them both in the fourth quarter. What does that say about the resiliency of the team and then you guys personally?

MARCUS SMART: It just says what we've been doing all year. We've been counted out all year. Rightfully so. We've had moments. But we continue to fight. That's who we are.

I think over the last couple months, that's our identity. I think it stuck with us for a reason.

For me, we have great players around us. Just got to stay confident, like Derrick said. We're always telling each other to stay confident. There's a game or two where we're going to need to help our team win. They're going to do a good job on Jaylen and Jayson and everybody else. We came prepared, and that's what it came down to.

Q. What's the dynamic for you guys to play so well on the road? I believe you have a better road record than home record. The Warriors hadn't lost a game at all in the post-season until tonight.

DERRICK WHITE: The road is the time where it's just us. We come together as a group. We know it's just us versus them in their arena.

We enjoy playing on the road. It's a tough place to play and a big Game 1. We just got to be a little greedy and try to get this Game 2.

Q. Marcus, what you met Derrick in Team USA, did you see this from him, his ability to kind of step up and be a key player for you guys? Derrick, Marcus Smart's development, how did you help him with his development to get where he's at right now?

MARCUS SMART: First thing Derrick said was, My name is Derrick, and that's it when I first met him.

No, we definitely saw it. Derrick, he played for a great organization. He played under a great coach. We knew that Derrick understood the game, the way he plays.

Watching him play before we got to USA reminded myself a little bit of me. So just instantly off the bat I loved the way he played. Coming into that when we would practice, he was never backing down no matter what. When you got a guy like that, and me, a guy like Derrick, it's always going to be some battles.

But it's nothing but respect there. That's what it's kind of been showing. Every day he's done something new to make you go, That's why he's here.