How Derrick White became the Boston Celtics unsung hero

Derrick White has endured a difficult season. His shooting numbers are down across the board, and he's found himself earning criticism from the fanbase to start the postseason. However, when you look at the roles that he's been asked to play this year, those struggles become a little less alarming.

For the majority of the season, White was Boston's de facto ball-handler, leading the team in touches and dribbles per game. He went from being a scoring threat off the catch to initiating the offense and reshaping how and where he was going to get his shots. It was a bumpy ride, but for stretches, White appeared to figure things out.

However, with the return of Jayson Tatum, White has been moved back into a more off-ball role, with his offense once again built around making decisions off the catch. Of course, there's an adjustment that comes with that role change, even if he's stepping back into more familiar territory. Nevertheless, White's value has been apparent all season.

He's still defended at a high level, and has performed admirably, regardless of what's been asked of him on the court. With that in mind, the "Hoops Ledger" YouTube channel recently put out a breakdown of why White has become so important to the Celtics roster and how the team has leaned on him for stretches of the season. The video even goes as far as calling him the "exact player Boston needed.