Derrick White perfectly sums up Celtics’ situation entering Game 7

Forsberg: If it was easy, it wouldn’t be the Celtics originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

It should have been The Derrick White game. Instead, White plopped down at the podium a short while after the Boston Celtics let Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals slip away, forcing a decisive Game 7 in Miami on Sunday, and had to explain how Boston will dust itself off.

“We’re frustrated but, if it was easy, it wouldn’t be us,” said White.

Truer words have never been spoken. White’s declaration feels like it should be on a rally towel.

And, remember, that’s coming from a guy who arrived in February and missed most of the harrowing twists, turns, and loop de loops on Boston’s 2021-22 roller coaster ride.

But we love White’s suggestion. And on a day we could — and will briefly — fret everything that went wrong, the Celtics need to lean heavy into the resiliency that has been their calling card on an improbable march to the doorstep of the NBA Finals,

Boston needed a last-second layup from Jayson Tatum to steal Game 1 against the Nets that lit their fuse for a first-round sweep that still required them to sweat out a bunch of crunch-time moments. A seven-game war with the defending champion Bucks followed with Tatum needing to deliver the finest playoff performance of his career and outduel Giannis Antetokounmpo in Game 6 on the road to help Boston rally out of its own 3-2 hole.

Tatum, Brown must be more aggressive offensively for Celtics to win Game 7

Boston could have made its life easy on Friday night. It didn’t. Now it’s time to grind again.

Boston is literally limping to the finish line in an ultra-physical series against Miami in which there has not been more than a day’s rest between games. Having spoiled a chance to both punch their Finals ticket at home — and get some much-needed rest before a potential Finals voyage — the Celtics must once again show their grit by winning a Game 7 on the road against a team that’s gushing confidence after what…