Even the soft-spoken Derrick White felt the need to clap back at a previous critique after the Boston Celtics earned their long-awaited Banner 18.

While speaking to reporters after Boston's 106-88 victory at TD Garden on Monday night, White reflected on the narrative the Celtics weren't "battle tested."

The notion the Celtics didn't know how to win close games was a popular talking point entering the NBA playoffs, and ahead of the NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks.

"They were trying to say we weren't battled tested; I'm like, What do you think the last two years was? Did that not mean nothing?" White told reporters, per ASAP Sports.

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White's reference obviously was to Boston's shortcomings in the NBA Finals two seasons prior and loss to the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference finals last year.

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Unfortunately for those who criticized the C's, the storyline fell flat all postseason. The Celtics defeated the Mavericks in a gentleman's sweep after doing the same to the Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers. Boston swept the Indiana Pacers in the conference finals.

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Perhaps the Celtics should have made it harder on themselves. After all, they didn't play many close games en route to a 16-3 postseason record and 80-21 overall mark.

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Sean T. McGuire

Editorial Writer

I write about sports. NESN byline since 2020. Bill Belichick once told me I asked a "good question," and I think he meant it. Also walked 18 holes with Scottie Scheffler.

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