Payton Pritchard can thrive in a sixth man position. He had one of the best season of his profession and simply gained sixth Man of the 12 months. Pritchard averaged 14.3 factors, 3.8 rebounds and three.5 assists per recreation whereas capturing 47% from the sphere and 41% from three with a real capturing proportion of 63%. He averaged profession highs in factors, assists, rebounds, subject objective proportion and true capturing.
Pritchard has performed in 347 profession common season video games and he solely began seventeen occasions. In 69 profession playoff video games, he has zero begins. Nonetheless, this season has created a chance for the Celtics to attempt issues out and beginning Pritchard could be the very first thing I might attempt.
Let’s be trustworthy: Anfernee Simons will probably not be in Boston for a very long time. I don’t suppose the Celtics could be in any rush to re-sign him as a free agent this summer season. They’ve been making an attempt to commerce him since buying him from the Blazers. Thus, why would the Celtics begin Simons at level guard when Pritchard might be the long-term choice on the place anyway?
Another excuse to begin Pritchard is that he’s a greater participant than Simons is. Simons isn’t pretty much as good of a shooter than Payton is and he’s a worse defender than Pritchard is.
There are variety of folks that consider with an even bigger position, Pritchard may grow to be an All-Star, with Celticsblog’s personal Not Dalzell being the primary.
I’m not bought on the matter that Pritchard can grow to be an All-Star or Isaiah Thomas-lite, however I feel the Celtics ought to need to discover out if it’s a risk. Boston wants to permit Pritchard to unfold his wings and see what can occur if given actual runway to do greater than he ever has all through his Celtics profession.
With Jayson Tatum set to overlook probably all of subsequent season, Pritchard might be the third finest participant on the Celtics behind Jaylen Brown and Derrick White and he’s more likely to have the ball in his palms greater than anybody, apart from Brown.
Perhaps they’ll discover out that he isn’t adequate to be the start line guard on a real contender. Perhaps he’ll unfold his wings too large and put an excessive amount of on his plate and he struggles as a full-time starter. Brad Stevens and Joe Mazzulla ought to need to discover out what Pritchard will be at his fullest potential.
He’s going to want to grow to be extra of a creator on offense and shoot extra photographs off of the bounce than he ever has and it’s important that the Celtics be taught if he’s succesful to do this stuff. Payton Pritchard is an efficient participant, a extremely good participant. It’s time for the Celtics to find simply how good he will be.
