Payton Pritchard can thrive in a sixth man position. He had the most effective season of his profession and simply gained sixth Man of the Yr. Pritchard averaged 14.3 factors, 3.8 rebounds and three.5 assists per sport whereas taking pictures 47% from the sphere and 41% from three with a real taking pictures share of 63%. He averaged profession highs in factors, assists, rebounds, subject aim share and true taking pictures.
Pritchard has performed in 347 profession common season video games and he solely began seventeen instances. In 69 profession playoff video games, he has zero begins. Nevertheless, this season has created a possibility for the Celtics to attempt issues out and beginning Pritchard can be the very first thing I might attempt.
Let’s be trustworthy: Anfernee Simons will possible not be in Boston for a very long time. I don’t suppose the Celtics can be in any rush to re-sign him as a free agent this summer time. 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 may very well 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 nearly as good of a shooter than Payton is and he’s a worse defender than Pritchard is.
There are a very good variety of those who imagine with a much bigger position, Pritchard may grow to be an All-Star, with Celticsblog’s personal Not Dalzell being the primary.
I’m not offered on the matter that Pritchard can grow to be an All-Star or Isaiah Thomas-lite, however I believe 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 greatest 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, other than Brown.
Possibly they’ll discover out that he isn’t ok to be the start line guard on a real contender. Possibly he’ll unfold his wings too extensive 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 may be at his fullest potential.
He’s going to wish 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 effective participant, a extremely good participant. It’s time for the Celtics to find simply how good he may be.
