The Boston Celtics are sitting pretty at the top of the NBA with a 33-12 record and are 4.5 games ahead in the Eastern Conference and two games ahead of the entire league.

As great as Boston’s offense has been all year, the defense has finally caught up to it, as they have a top offensive and defensive rating this season: 118.8 ORTG (1st), 112.3 DRTG (9th).

The Celtics are the only team in the East to have two of the best shot-blocking guards in the league this season in Derrick White and Jaylen Brown.

Derrick White has 41 blocked shots this season. No other East guard even has 30.

Top shot-blocking guards in the East:
1. Derrick White – 41 BLK
2. Kyrie Irving – 27 BLK
3. Alex Caruso – 25 BLK
4. Jaylen Brown – 21 BLK 👀
Jevon Carter – 21 BLK
De'Anthony Melton – 21 BLK pic.twitter.com/QJKxuCwYTz

— Taylor Snow (@taylorcsnow) January 17, 2023

White has put together an All-NBA Defensive type of season this year. His 112.7 defensive rating ranks 13th in the league for guards and is the fourth lowest on the Celtics this season.

It’d be great to see White get the recognition he’s earned this season. We’ll have to see if he can continue playing elite defense throughout the second half of the season.

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