Celtics Ice the Heat with series-clinching Game 5 win

Boston moves on to the second round of the playoffs and awaits the winner of the Cleveland-Orlando series.

Boston is moving on to the second round of the playoffs. And this guy, Derrick White, is one of the main reasons why. Photo by Danielle Parhizkaran/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

BOSTON — When the Boston Celtics traded for Derrick White in February of 2022, no one was happier for the deal than former Boston assistant Will Hardy.

The two had worked together in San Antonio, with Hardy serving as the Spurs assistant coach who worked primarily with White.

“Perfect fit” was how Hardy, now the head coach of the Utah Jazz, described White as a member of the Celtics.

“He can do so many things that’ll make the jobs of everyone else, a lot easier,” Hardy told me at the time. “And he’s a better scorer than people think, too.”

It is that latter point that, more than anything else we’ve seen from White, that stands out today.

Because of the unexpected offensive jolt Boston has received lately from White. the Celtics are on to the second round of the playoffs following a resounding 118-84 Game 5 win over the Miami Heat.