Derrick White Revisits Criticism Of Celtics After NBA Finals Win

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.

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.

More Celtics

Andy Bailey Describes What Celtics Will Look Like Once Jayson Tatum Returns

Celtics’ Jaylen Brown Defends Busy Personal Life

Celtics’ Jaylen Brown Explains Why He Asked To Guard Kawhi Leonard

Celtics’ Jaylen Brown Backing Up Bold Claims With Jaw-Dropping Stats

Celtics’ Jaylen Brown Gives Funny Explanation For 50-Point Game

Kevin O’Connor Explains Clearly Why Celtics’ Jaylen Brown Deserves In MVP Conversation

Celtics’ Jaylen Brown Doubles Down On Claim About His Standing Among NBA’s Best Players

Celtics’ Jordan Walsh Makes Stance Clear On Being Removed From Starting Lineup

Celtics’ Jordan Walsh In Awe of Jaylen Brown’s “Wild” Performance

Joe Mazzulla Explains Jaylen Brown’s Request That Set Tone vs Clippers

Jaylen Brown Makes Celtics History With 50-Point Explosion Vs. Clippers

Jaylen Brown Drops 50 Points As Celtics Obliterate Clippers

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.

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.