Green With Envy: “Fourth Quarter Derrick White is BACK! + Giving Thanks to Each Member of the Celtics”

Podcast: Green With Envy (Blue Wire)
Date: November 27, 2025
Host: Greg Menakis (solo episode)
Notable Contributors (referenced & quoted): Will (podcast co-host, via text), Mark Jones (broadcast), Bill Simmons (referenced)

Episode Overview

This episode is a live, post-game solo podcast from Greg Menakis reflecting on the Boston Celtics’ nail-biting 117-114 NBA Cup victory over the Detroit Pistons. With co-host Will attending the game in person, Greg holds the fort—breaking down the match, offering candid insights into Joe Mazzulla’s late-game strategy, and launching into a unique Thanksgiving segment: giving thanks for each member of the Celtics roster. The discussion is deeply fan-driven, analytical, and reflective of the tone and culture of modern NBA discourse.

Key Discussion Points

1. Celtics Survive the Pistons, Cup Hopes Still Alive (01:52–04:50)

• Game context:
  • Celtics defeat first-place Detroit Pistons, 117-114, keeping faint NBA Cup hopes alive—dependent on upcoming Miami and NYK losses.
  • “Celtics still have some hope for making it through to the next round of the NBA cup, but they're going to need some help from some other teams.” (01:57)
• Late Game Drama:
  • Celtics up three, attempt to foul Cade Cunningham is called as a three-shot foul after review—Cunningham misses key free throw.
  • Jalen Brown executes a pivotal box-out vs. Isaiah “Beef Stew” Stewart, preventing a game-tying rebound.
  • “Jalen and Beef Stew are like defensive versus offensive linemen. Pretty much like a tush push” (03:50)
  • “Jaylen boxes out Beef Stew and is able to keep him out of that rebound. One of the best rebounders in the league.” (04:12)

2. Celtics’ Lineup Choices: Praise, Critique, and Joe Mazzulla’s Chessboard (02:38–05:30, 15:33–17:44)

• Mazzulla’s Approach:
  • Heavy scrutiny on Mazzulla’s end-game defensive substitutions (e.g., benching Ugo Gonzalez, over-trusting Josh Minot and Baylor Shireman).
  • Contrasted positive: maximizing the impact of rookie center Amari Williams against Detroit's Jalen Duren.
  • “I still...I'm just questioning a lot of the stuff that Joe ends up doing, mainly his all defensive lineup at the end of the game...if that's the way you see it, fine, Joe, maybe he trusts them not to foul.” (02:52)

3. Player Deep Dives: Performances, Surprises, and Development Arcs (05:40–22:40)

a) Jalen Brown: Grit Over Efficiency

• Struggled early, shot 1-for-8 in Q1, finished with 33 points on 12-for-32, but affected the game on both ends:
  • 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks
  • Huge box-out late, leadership on defense despite "inefficient stat line."
  • “Jalen was great tonight despite the inefficient stat line.” (04:33)
  • “It's moments like that that prove why Jaylen Brown is kind of redefining his ceiling once again.” (03:58)
  • Will’s in-game text: “I don't know how many turnovers he has, but he's awesome. He's the best player on the court.” (14:18)

b) Baylor Shireman: From Skepticism to Spark Plug

• “Carried the team in the first quarter,” scoring 13 points, 5-for-7 FG, 3-for-5 from three, and vital defense.
  • Surprised host with NBA-caliber full-court defense and quick decision-making.
  • Praised for “quarterback” style inbounds pass to Derrick White under pressure.
  • “Joe clearly trusts him...He's proven that he's a better defender than I ever could have hoped.” (07:17)
  • “We don’t win that game without him.” (08:02)
• Role projection: “TJ McConnell style” backup who can pick up full court and shoot—well-suited for a “94-ft” NBA.

c) Derrick White: The Return of Fourth-Quarter Heroics

• 25 points (7-for-13 FG, 6-for-11 3P, all in 2nd half), 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, vital late defense on Cade Cunningham.
  • “Hopefully this gets him going!” (17:45)
  • “This was his breakout game...the fourth quarter ice-in-his-veins guy instead of whatever we've seen this season where he just looks completely lost.” (17:50)

d) Amari Williams: Rookie Rises

• Unexpected major minutes with Nemi Esqueda injured. Matched up well against Jalen Duren—blocked shots and held his own physically.
  • “Putting all that trust in, you know, a rookie who hasn't played. And they gave Amari Williams an opportunity and I thought he actually did really well.” (06:26)
  • Exciting comp: James Wiseman coming out of college; “has the potential to be a decent rotation big.” (11:22)

e) Peyton Pritchard & Anthony Simons: The Guard Rotation Dilemma

• Pritchard: Played 34 minutes, solid but limited by Detroit’s defense.
  • 5-for-10 FG, 4-for-7 from three.
• Simons: Only 11 minutes, “jerking him around” by Mazzulla has hurt his rhythm, value, and fit.
  • 1-for-7 FG, 4 assists, but “Joe just gotta stop jerking him around.” (19:45)
  • Critical quote: “You're lowering his trade value and you're not allowing him to get into a rhythm to be the guy that he was in Portland for the Celtics team.” (20:43)

f) Notes on Opponent Stars

• Cade Cunningham: “Great game...shows why he's, you know, top five MVP candidate so far this season.” (14:01)
  • 42 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, but foiled in two late-game moments by Boston’s defense.

4. Celtics’ Standings & East Landscape: Hope Amidst Modest Expectations (22:45–24:38)

• Boston now 10–8, eighth in the East—hosted as a good position given pre-season expectations and injuries.
  • “There's a world in which the Celtics exceed my expectations for this season. I had them as a play-in team, but...the teams that I thought were going to be clearly better than the Celtics, I don't think are clearly better.” (23:45)
  • Host asserts: “...two games over .500. I was really down on the team after they lost to the Nets the other day...they bounced back.” (23:55)

Thanksgiving Segment: “Giving Thanks” for Every Celtic

(25:42–36:41)

Each player, coach, and even team figure receives a personalized “thank you” for their contributions, quirks, and storylines this season.

Sample Highlights:

• Jalen Brown:
  “Thankful for Jalen Brown...his return to the mid-range this year, which has been well documented at this point...playing basketball as a sport and not as a math problem.” (25:42)
• Derrick White:
  “One thing that I continue to love about Derrick White is his full speed sprint to knock the ball away from somebody in transition.” (27:43)
• Peyton Pritchard:
  “Thankful that he’s leaning into his Jalen Brunson bag...Kyle Lowry to it...those undersized guards that play off of two feet.” (28:32)
• Nemi Esqueda:
  “Inspiring others like Bill Simmons to see the DeAndre Ayton in him.” (29:06)
• Jordan Walsh:
  “Thankful that Jordan Walsh is realizing his Andre Iguodala potential on the defensive end.” (29:54)
• Sam Hauser:
  “Sam Hauser’s no dip and rip. The catch in your shooting pocket and just let that thing go.” (30:43)
• Anthony Simons:
  “Thankful that you are showing enough signs to make me want to see you play with Tatum and the rest of the guys...” (31:19)
• Luca Garza:
  “Thankful that you inspired my guy Will to get out and do some cardio...” (32:09)
• Josh Minot:
  “Thankful...for pushing Ugo and Jordan Walsh to play harder and to learn things like the corner crash and the baseline cut playing out of the dunker spot...” (32:18)
• Baylor Shireman:
  “Thank you for being a better defender than I gave you credit for.” (33:36)
• Joe Mazzulla:
  “Thankful for your Joe Mazzulla-ness, your willingness to try more lineups...” (34:12)
• Jason Tatum:
  “Thank you...for posting the videos that you’re posting to continue to give all of Celtics nation hope...” (34:40)

Overarching Sentiment:

“Celtics fans want championships just like Celtics players and the Celtics organization wants championship. The team as currently constructed isn't winning a championship. If Jason Tatum comes back into the fold, there's a chance that we can fool ourselves into thinking we have enough to to get there this year.” (35:26)

Standout Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Jalen Brown’s Leadership:
  "Jalen was great tonight despite the inefficient stat line.” (04:33)
• On Derrick White’s Return:
  “This was his breakout game...the fourth quarter ice-in-his-veins guy instead of whatever we've seen this season where he just looks completely lost.” (17:50)
• On Celtics’ Overachievement:
  “There's a world in which the Celtics exceed my expectations for this season...the teams I thought were going to be clearly better than the Celtics, I don't think are clearly better.” (23:45)
• On the Roster’s Grit and Growth:
  “It’s really fun seeing Jaylen Brown being a number one guy and a top 10 guy. It’s really fun seeing Peyton Pritchard as a starter...But Celtics fans want championships…” (35:20)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• (01:52) — Show open, game context
• (03:30–05:00) — Crunch-time breakdown & Jalen’s leadership
• (07:00–08:20) — Baylor Shireman’s emergence
• (13:01–14:10) — First half recap, Pistons’ performance, Cade Cunningham’s MVP case
• (15:33–20:45) — In-depth box score analysis: Jalen Brown, Pritchard, White, Simons
• (22:45–24:38) — East standings & Celtics’ outlook
• (25:42–35:41) — Thanksgiving “thankful for every Celtic” segment

Closing Notes

Greg wraps with gratitude for the Celtics community, a personal note on family, and encouragement for listeners to share their own “thankful for” Celtics moments.

Bottom line:
This episode is an honest, fan-driven reflection on a gutsy win and a season of surprises, development, and, above all, hope—even if rough edges remain. Greg’s blend of analysis and sentiment offers both practical insights for diehard Celtics followers and heart for anyone seeking joy in a team’s imperfect—but endearing—journey.