Payton Pritchard on working to be the Celtics’ best defender, quitting alcohol, and why he never flops

Payton Pritchard has his meal regiment on lock.

Oatmeal, bacon, and a protein shake within the morning. Noodles with rooster — in olive oil — for his pregame meal.

And, zero alcohol through the NBA season: “That’s been straightforward.”

All of it was a part of an intentional determination made by the backup guard to be as impactful as doable forward of the NBA season, because the Celtics ready for his or her title protection.

“For me, it’s like – I really feel like I’m gonna have an excellent alternative this 12 months to assist the crew develop a bit bit,” Pritchard informed CelticsBlog final week. “So, how can I maximize all the pieces?”

He didn’t know he was going to be the frontrunner within the Sixth Man of the 12 months race. The truth is, successful the award that he now seems to be a shoo-in for wasn’t even a aim. And, he had no clue he’d break the NBA document for many three-pointers off the bench in a season — a document he set on Saturday evening towards the Brooklyn Nets, with 14 video games nonetheless left to play this 12 months.

All of his aspirations had been self-driven — expertise he knew would positively influence the Celtics’ possibilities of successful.

“Can I enhance taking pictures off the dribble? Can I enhance my playmaking? Can I get extra steals?” Pritchard stated. “Stuff like that, I can personally have an effect on.”

The outcomes have been simple.

The 6’1 guard is averaging 14.1 factors per sport this season, up from 9.6 final 12 months. He has the second-highest TS% on the Celtics, and the second-highest efficient area aim share (trailing solely Luke Kornet, who shoots 97% of his photographs from lower than 10 toes).

As his scoring has elevated, his playmaking has continued to be as dependable as ever. Amongst gamers averaging at the least 25 minutes, solely Chris Paul, Tyrese Haliburton, Jimmy Butler III, and Fred Van Fleet have a greater assist-to-turnover ratio.

Pritchard is much from happy, always discovering new methods to enhance his sport.

That’s what’s gotten him the place he’s at the moment.

“His aggressive nature and work ethic is unreal,” head coach Joe Mazzulla stated.

Within the background, Pritchard is engaged on enhancing his floater, a shot that he has not displayed in his arsenal: “It’s not essentially wanted for what we’d like proper now, however when the time comes… I’ll be able to take these photographs.”

Quest to turn out to be the Celtics’ greatest defender

Above all, there’s the defensive aspirations. As soon as considered as a legal responsibility, Pritchard is ready on not simply being an elite defender for the Celtics’ — however changing into the Celtics’ high defender.

“Finally, I wish to get to [be] anyone that — I guard the opposite crew’s greatest gamers,” he stated.

When the Celtics confronted the Thunder final week, the large defensive query centered round slowing down Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Jaylen Brown acquired the first defensive project on the MVP candidate, however couldn’t discover a option to comprise him. Jrue Vacation has admittedly struggled towards the shifty guard as nicely.

However, when SGA hunted Pritchard defensively, Pritchard was in a position to maintain his personal.

He’s guarded the Thunder celebrity for simply over 5 minutes this season, holding him to six factors on 2-5 taking pictures, and forcing 3 turnovers.

It’s a small pattern dimension, however the analytics recommend he did an excellent job. And, most significantly, when he does change onto a star, it’s one thing he embraces as an amazing alternative, quite than a second he shies away from.

“His means to wish to tackle nice matchups has been huge for us,” Mazzulla stated.

The truth is, Pritchard has relentlessly studied opposing gamers’ tendencies, diving into what slows down basketball’s biggest scorers.

“You’re by no means gonna cease an amazing participant,” he stated. “If anyone’s guarding me, I by no means really feel like anyone’s gonna simply shut me down. It’s simply extra about, how will you pressure them into harder photographs, and possibly pressure a few turnovers right here and there. However, the explanation they’re that nice is as a result of they’re able to scoring at a excessive degree.”

Pritchard is aware of that defensive questions have surrounded him all through his skilled profession. However, he insists that the doubts round his means to defend might be attributed to his look greater than something.

“Folks wish to say that generally — possibly not as a lot anymore — however that I was a defensive legal responsibility,” he stated. “However I really feel like that was possibly as a result of they appeared on the top, and possibly the colour of my pores and skin a bit bit. In order that they assume I’m a goal.”

Pritchard will usually hound opposing groups’ guards full-court. He’s embraced all of the troublesome match-ups, and famous Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell as one he enjoys being tasked with.

“I simply attempt to make issues robust,” he stated. “And I really feel like defensively, on ball, I believe I’m excellent… I can transfer my toes nicely, and take bumps and I’m simply gonna maintain getting higher and higher and higher at it.

Joe Mazzulla has praised Pritchard’s development on the defensive finish, and, specifically, how a lot he’s improved as an off-ball defender — one thing that’s laborious to quantify analytically. That development has allowed him to remain on the courtroom even when his shot’s not falling, although he’s confronted only a few taking pictures struggles this season.

“As a lot versatility as he has within the offensive finish, he actually takes pleasure in growing on the defensive finish,” stated the Celtics head coach.

Once I spoke to Pritchard, I requested him simply how a lot he valued the prospect to protect superstars briefly stints, realizing that he’s not the first man the teaching employees assigns to these gamers from the soar.

“I do wish to get to that time the place I’m that man,” he stated firmly. “That could be a aim.”

Payton Pritchard doesn’t know easy methods to flop

There’s one other space of potential private development that Pritchard has recognized: flopping.

He smiled when requested about his self-proclaimed lack of ability to flop.

“I simply don’t,” he stated.

An enormous a part of why he hardly ever makes an attempt to attract fouls or oversell contact is a recognition that in his present position, his alternatives to drive to the basket are few and much between.

“When you’ve the ball in your fingers extra, and while you’re driving much more, and you’ve got much more of these makes an attempt, then you definitely begin to study when to attract a foul higher,” he defined.

Proper now, Pritchard makes an attempt lower than two photographs a sport on the rim, and he’s taking pictures 75.3% on these makes an attempt — 9% above league common.

“I’m not gonna take an opportunity to flop and never get a name. However you probably have the ball loads, you should utilize these and determine the correct time [to flop], if anyone’s fingers are in there.”

He pointed to Gilgeous-Alexander, who drew a game-high 11 free throws towards the Celtics and has established a fame as one of many league’s high free-throw getters. In final week’s sport, SGA appeared to attract a foul on a turnaround fadeaway within the fourth quarter with Pritchard guarding him, however didn’t get the decision.

For Pritchard, these kinds of performs function a reminder of why he doesn’t at the moment prioritize searching for out contact.

“Take a look at Shai. Like, he acquired some calls, however then he additionally didn’t get some calls. He tried to flop proper? In case you’re a job participant and also you do this, that don’t look too good. It’s like, you don’t get a name on that…” he trailed off.

The Sixth Man of the 12 months award

Proper now, the Celtics guard is by far the frontrunner for the award, with the Pistons’ Malik Beasley and the Cavaliers’ De’Andre Hunter lagging in all betting odds.

Nonetheless, he’s made a concerted effort to not fear about the place he stands within the ever-changing race.

“As a result of then it might eat you up,” he stated. “Like, dangerous sport, you’re occupied with it. Good sport, you’re like ohhh. So I don’t ever strive to consider it. For me, it’s at all times taking a look at self-improvement: how can I maintain getting higher and higher?”

A part of what’s made Pritchard’s position troublesome is how a lot his alternatives have fluctuated relying on who’s within the lineup on that given evening. Earlier this month, towards the Path Blazers, he exploded for a career-high 43 factors. Three nights later, he tried simply 5 photographs in a Celtics win towards the Lakers.

In December, with the Celtics down a number of gamers, he averaged 12.3 photographs per sport. The following month, with Kristaps Porzingis and others again within the lineup, his shot makes an attempt had been slashed to eight.1 an evening.

He’s embraced the ever-changing alternative.

“It takes a particular individual to satisfy that position,” Mazzulla stated. “And he takes pleasure and does it daily.”

This 12 months, Pritchard has scored 20+ factors this season in 20 video games, coming off the bench for each single one. He’s averaging a career-high in rebounds, assists, steals, area aim share, and three-point share.

His teammates have routinely lobbied for him to win the award: “He’s acquired to be Sixth Man of the 12 months,” Jayson Tatum stated on TNT after Pritchard his 8 three-pointers in a February win over the 76ers.

Pritchard is concentrated on the larger image: persevering with to enhance as defender, diversifying his shot profile, serving to the Celtics win one other title.

“We’re all human. I’m not gonna say I wouldn’t be grateful to win it,” he stated. “I don’t wish to not win it.”

“It’s out of my management. I do know my play. I can management that.”