We were waiting for news from Marcus Smart et Al Horford for Game 2 between Boston and Miami. Unfortunately for Celtics fans, it was another absence that landed in their newsfeed just hours before kickoff. Derrick Whitean important member of the rotation off the bench since his trade from San Antonio, is forfeited for the second round on the side of South Beach.
Personal reasons are mentioned and it seems that the American international, present at the 2019 World Cup with Team USA, left the group to be able to attend the birth of his child. This is obviously an additional headache for Ime Udoka, who will have to find solutions to compensate for this absence, especially if Horford and Smart are again unavailable or diminished. For White, it’s a happy event, especially if it has the same effect on him as Fred VanVleet did three years ago.
Derrick White hasn’t broken the house statistically since wearing the Boston jersey, but his defense is top-notch, like what the Celtics have been offering since the start of the year. On the Miami side, where we are also awaiting an update around the Kyle Lowry case, we still have to rub our hands at the moment.
As a reminder, the Heat lead the series 1-0 after winning at home earlier in the week.
Marcus Smart and Al Horford, absences that hurt the Celtics