Not each sport within the NBA has a marquee matchup as some groups don’t have a bona fide star. I’m fascinated about Magic vs. Chook, Kobe vs. LeBron, Shaq vs. Yao Ming, Wilt vs. Russell, KD vs. LeBron, and so forth.
Right here’s a brand new rivalry that’s brewing: Derrick White vs. Cade Cunningham.
Let’s take it again to the place it began earlier this season. In October, the Detroit Pistons hosted the Boston Celtics and early within the sport, Cunningham tried to place White on a poster, however White managed to get the block.
It appeared like Cunningham wished revenge on the block and early within the second half, Cade bought his revenge. Cunningham dunked on White and the dunk fueled the Pistons into making what seemed like a blowout right into a tense sport after they outscored Boston 31-21 within the third quarter.
In the identical sport in October, late within the sport with below a minute left, Cunningham went for an additional posterizing dunk. Nonetheless, this time White had higher timing and met Cunningham on the rim, and got here up with an enormous block on the previous Oklahoma State star.
“He dunked on me earlier within the sport, so [I] felt like I needed to get some revenge on that one,” White stated postgame.
Each Celtics fan is aware of White is the very best shot-blocking guard within the NBA. This 12 months, White is averaging one block per sport. Derrick has been dunked on many instances in his NBA profession which might be why he continues to contest pictures on the rim as a result of he’s not embarrassed to be placed on a poster like different NBA gamers are. Due to White’s fearlessness, he will get rewarded extra instances than not with a sensational block.
White was main the rivalry 2-1 after two rejections to only one poster after their first assembly.
Quick ahead to early December when Boston welcomed Detroit to the Backyard. It didn’t take lengthy for Cunningham to equal the rating. With just below 5 minutes left within the first quarter, Cunningham picked up the free ball, and dribbled between two Celtics within the transition earlier than bodying White on the rim.
At that second in time, Detroit had all of the momentum and a poster at all times appeared extra emphatic if a workforce known as a timeout straightaway. It provides the workforce extra time to have a good time the dunk and the printed will replay the dunk numerous instances through the intermission.
Though Derrick White did get one other block on Cunningham later within the first half, Cunningham’s shot wasn’t on the rim so it didn’t depend in the direction of the rivalry factors. It was nonetheless an awesome block by Derrick White although so it needed to be talked about.
Each White and Cunningham are each tremendous enjoyable gamers to look at and once they go toe-to-toe, it’s nice basketball. In a battle between White’s defensive IQ and Cunningham’s artful offensive bag and explosiveness, it makes it might’t miss TV.
Regardless of Cunningham having the final snicker, the rating is tied at two apiece. Derrick White can be seeking to retake the lead tonight in Boston when the 2 once more sq. off head-to-head.
