Locked On Celtics – Derrick White DELIVERS Defensive MASTERCLASS | Celtics BENCH has BIG night

Host: John Karalis
Date: December 31, 2025

Overview

This episode recaps the Boston Celtics' 129–119 victory, spotlighting Derrick White’s extraordinary defensive performance and the critical bench contributions that salvaged a rough start. Host John Karalis breaks down the rollercoaster game, delves into rotation changes, dissects individual performances—including Jalen Brown’s streak ending—and reflects on key trends and tactical decisions impacting the Celtics’ season.

Game Flow & Early Struggles

[02:19 – 05:21]

• The Celtics started poorly, trailing the Utah Jazz, who came out strong with hot shooting and high effort.
• Notable early mishaps included two botched Celtics possessions that forced Joe Mazzulla to call two quick timeouts—a sign of disorganization and low energy.
• “Are you kidding me? Are the Celtics really going to be going out like this right away in Utah?” (John Karalis, [03:49])
• The Celtics' starters looked particularly flat, raising questions about the sustainability of their recent energy and success.

Bench Turnaround:

• When the bench entered, they shifted the game’s energy, making up ground and stabilizing the team.
• “The energy changed when the bench came in... they completely flipped the game.” (John Karalis, [04:23])
• First two quarters featured dismal plus/minus for starters, but Simons, Hauser, and Garza were positive contributors in limited minutes.

Bench Performance & Key Stats

[05:21 – 06:45]

• At the end of the first quarter, key bench players outperformed the starters in plus/minus.
  • Simons, Hauser, and Garza: +3 in just over 4 minutes.
  • Starters like Derrick White: -14, Jordan Walsh: -10.
• Even as the second quarter continued the ugly trend for most, “the only positive in the second quarter was Derrick White.” (John Karalis, [05:51])

Second Half Turnaround & Derrick White's Masterclass

[06:45 – 13:30]

• The third quarter became a wild shootout (Boston outscored Utah 40–32), and the Celtics dominated the second half, winning it 70–55.
• The comeback was fueled by Derrick White’s resurgent play:
  • “Derrick White's second half was spectacular. 13 points in the fourth quarter, 22 points in the second half.” (John Karalis, [07:36])
  • Despite poor shooting early, White’s patience and aggression inside the arc reset the Celtics’ offense.
• Defensive brilliance: White finished with 7 blocks, a rare feat for a guard.
  • “Blocking seven shots is amazing... A lot of his blocks look like steals...but that goes down as a block.” (John Karalis, [13:30])
  • White's rim protection—in both standard and off-ball help situations—was cited as game-changing.

Memorable Quote:

• “Derrick, defensive menace, just absolute defensive superstar.” (John Karalis, [14:09])

Offensive Adjustments & Rotation Insights

[12:08 – 15:33]

• The Celtics’ offense improved when they drove more and moved away from quick pull-up jumpers, particularly with Derrick White getting into the lane.
• Luca Garza was praised for his screens and unexpected finishing skill:
  • “He finished some plays like at weird angles... I don’t even know how he did it.” (John Karalis, [12:50])
• Pick-and-roll action targeted Jazz big man Nurkic on defense; although Nurkic scored 26 on 10-11 shooting, he was exploited defensively in crunch time.

On Jalen Brown’s Role:

• Some ongoing tension exists between letting Brown “do his thing” and making sure White gets adequate opportunities—a “push, pull” in the offense.
  • “Trying to figure each other out... to get each guy the opportunity that he needs to succeed.” (John Karalis, [08:27])

Individual Performances & Notable Bench Contributions

[21:00 – 23:40]

• Anthony Simons:
  • “Probably had the best game of his Celtics career here. 20 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists... plus 27 to lead the Celtics.” (John Karalis, [22:03])
  • Joe Mazzulla postgame: “We get that version of him, we're a different team.”
• Peyton Pritchard:
  • Scored 18 with 6 assists, sparking runs in the third quarter.
• Luca Garza/Ugo Gonzalez:
  • Garza: 18.5 minutes and valuable interior presence.
  • Gonzalez: +7 in important bench minutes.
• Sam Hauser:
  • One of seven from three; “just the inconsistency... getting a little frustrating.” (John Karalis, [23:15])

Jalen Brown’s Streak Ends, But Maturity Shines

[24:20 – 26:30]

• Brown's streak of 30+ point games ended, but he notched 23 points and 10 assists.
• In the closing moments, Brown passed up a contested three—despite opportunity to extend the streak—opting instead for the right basketball play.
  • “What I loved about Jalen is, fourth quarter...he didn’t give into any of that stuff. And I like that.” (John Karalis, [25:33])
• Karalis praised Brown for prioritizing team play over personal milestones:
  • “It matters to be in the same conversation as Larry Bird. But it didn’t matter so much that he was going to play the wrong way.” ([26:05])

Rotation Watch: The Minot/Walsh Dilemma

[27:00 – 29:55]

• Josh Minot has had three straight DNPs, while Jordan Walsh’s production and impact have tapered off.
• Ugo Gonzalez has been filling those minutes effectively.
• “It just makes me wonder... once you say Josh Minot is out of the rotation, then he's probably going to start the next game... If you pay attention to Joe [Mazzulla], once you think you know what he's thinking, he does something different.” (John Karalis, [28:18])
• Walsh’s defense (notably his steals) has cooled. Karalis is watching for a potential shift in the depth chart, possibly favoring Minot.

The Big Picture & Closing Reflections

• The Celtics’ third of the season is in the books. Karalis notes the typical “slippage” in performance but is optimistic about development, especially if bench players like Simons solidify their roles.
• Emphasis on the importance of “letting your shot come to you” instead of shot-hunting—especially for White and Pritchard.
• As always, Karalis teases potential surprises in Joe Mazzulla’s lineups:
  • “Once you think you know something with Joe, he'll do the opposite or do something completely different.” ([29:43])

Key Quotes

• On Derrick White:
  • “Defensive menace, just absolute defensive superstar.” ([14:09])
• On Jalen Brown’s selfless play:
  • “It didn’t matter so much that he was going to play the wrong way.” ([26:05])
• On Anthony Simons’ breakout:
  • “We get that version of him, we're a different team.” (Joe Mazzulla, paraphrased by Karalis, [22:08])
• On team dynamics:
  • “Everybody's adjusting all the time.” ([14:57])

Timestamps for Major Segments

• [02:19] Game flow, Celtics’ bad start & bench rescue
• [06:45] Second half turnaround: White’s offensive/defensive impact
• [12:08] Offensive adjustments, bench role clarity
• [21:00] Individual performances: Simons, Pritchard, Garza, Hauser
• [24:20] Jalen Brown’s streak—ending and unselfish play
• [27:00] Rotation forecasts—Minot, Walsh, Gonzalez, and upcoming tweaks

Tone & Style

Karalis is measured, insightful, occasionally wry, and focused on team processes over sensational headlines. He blends stat-heavy breakdowns with a strong sense of game rhythm and player dynamics, offering both fan-level excitement and beat reporter perspective.

Summary prepared for fans who want a comprehensive look at the key moments, strategies, and personalities that shaped this Celtics win—no ad breaks, no filler, just basketball analysis true to John Karalis’ voice.