NBA FINALS: CELTICS VS. WARRIORS

June 4, 2022

Derrick White

Boston Celtics

Practice Day

Q. Derrick, you guys went to that small lineup in the fourth quarter of Game 1. Obviously you guys have been switching all year, but when Ime says, hey, we're going to start switching right now, is it the end of conversation or do you have to talk specifically about how you're going to switch against the Warriors?

DERRICK WHITE: Yeah, obviously we discussed the things we were going to do prior to Game 1, obviously make some adjustments on it as the series goes on, but sometimes he'll come in and ask us what are we thinking? Because we're out there playing, how we're feeling. It's good to have a coach that trusts the players, and then it's up to us to go out there and execute.

Q. There's been a lot of talk about dad strength since Hendrix was born. Is there something to -- and I'm still workshopping this, but dad drains, as your shooting has much improved? Over the last few games, is there something that's different? How are you doing it, I know you're here without him, but on less sleep?

DERRICK WHITE: I just, I don't know what happened, whether it's Hendrix or -- I was feeling good. I just wasn't making shots for a little bit there, but I just kept staying confident. Everybody stayed confident in me and started getting some to go down. Just understand that whatever defense throws at me, just be able to read and react and have that confidence.

Q. [Inaudible].

DERRICK WHITE: It felt good. Obviously it's great when you're making shots. I knew going into this series they would probably shift off me. So I decided to stay confident and rise up and knock them down when I got the opportunity.

Q. In Game 1 they gave you guys some pretty good space and you've responded really well. Do you anticipate any kind of an adjustment to that, or do they seem like a team that's committed to the plan they have?

DERRICK WHITE: I mean, we've got Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, so they're going to be the primary focus no matter what. I figure they'll probably still be doing similar things. They might make some adjustments, but just read, react, and make the right read and right play, whatever they throw at us.

Q. Derrick, when you start the series on the road, obviously you want to win both games, but you ideally want to get at least one. What's the key to maintain that hunger to try to get two when really you've already sort of tilted the series in your favor as far as home-court advantage is concerned?

DERRICK WHITE: We can't really think about that. Game 2 is going to be huge. The great thing about the playoffs is one game can change everything. We've got to have that right mindset that this is a big game for us, and we've got to go out there and compete and not try to hang our hat on Game 1 but be a little greedy and go get this Game 2.

Q. On Draymond's latest podcast he was saying that he's kind of surprised that you, Al, and Marcus went 15-of-23. Did you guys hear that and take it as motivation at all, him kind of doubting you guys like that?

DERRICK WHITE: I mean, we knew what their game plan was going in, so it's just up to us to make shots. I mean, it is what it is. He said what he said. Just going into Game 2, just have the right mindset and whatever it takes to help us win games.

Q. Game 1, I heard your locker room blasting with very good music. I heard Jay-Z blasting quite a bit. What gets you guys going? If you had a sample playlist to get you guys going, what would you pick?

DERRICK WHITE: I think someone heard that Jay-Z was going to be there, so we listened to a lot of Jay-Z yesterday or after Game 1. I think our guy Zay, Zay is in charge of the deejay most of the time, and he just puts on whatever he wants to put on, and it usually gets us going. We'll see what we get for Game 2.

Q. Derrick, you guys have been great at times and not so great at times throughout these playoffs. What has to happen for you guys to get off that roller coaster?

DERRICK WHITE: Just come with the right mindset. I think some games we get caught surprised by the adjustments or the physicality or whatever it might be. So just having that right mindset, coming in ready to go, making adjustments throughout the game, and knowing that this is a big game for us.