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Joe Mazzulla Weighs in On Payton Pritchard's Growth
Before the Boston Celtics' 114-106 victory in their preseason opener against the Philadelphia 76ers, when asked about Payton Pritchard's four-year, $30 million contract extension, Joe Mazzulla didn't hide how happy he is for the 25-year-old combo guard who had to spend most of the 2022-23 campaign on the bench, averaging only 13.4 minutes per game.
"Payton's one of my favorite people. Most guys in his position, the league breaks them," before praising his toughness and finishing with, "I'm happy to coach him."
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After generating 16 of his 26 points in the final frame of Boston's first exhibition contest, propelling the Celtics to a come-from-behind victory, the former Oregon Duck conveyed the following about why last season didn't break him.
"Really, just the love of love of the game. Obviously, I had good people in my corner that kept my head on right. And at the end of the day, I love to play basketball, and that's why I showed up every day to keep getting better and better because this is what I want to do. I don't want to do anything else. So, I won't let it ever break me because I'm trying to play as long as possible."
While Pritchard's sharpshooting stole the show in the fourth quarter of his team's first preseason game, throughout Boston's exhibition slate, he's showcased his growth orchestrating the pick-and-roll, and he appears more explosive, demonstrating a burst and ability to get to the rim more consistently than in his first three years in the NBA; granted, the sample size is small and from exhibition games.
The opportunity above is a transition attack where he has ample space to build momentum coming downhill, but it also makes it easy to recognize his burst to the basket. He's put in the work to add a gear he didn't have before.
The West Linn, Oregon, native's not just a one-way player, either. He applies airtight pressure as an on-ball defender and is strong enough to hold up at the point of attack. His offense stands out, but he's also looked sharp defensively through three preseason matchups.
While discussing Pritchard's ability to impact the game beyond what he's capable of as a shooter with Inside The Celtics, Mazzulla pointed to a specific sequence from Wednesday's 112-101 win against the Sixers.
In the final 2:03 of the first frame, Pritchard scored seven points, including snaking off a Luke Kornet screen into a step-back three; he facilitated a Svi Mykhailiuk make from beyond the arc and came up with a steal.
"He executed a perfect end-of-quarter situation on both offense and defense, and his ability to see how he can make his teammates better and the mindset and the intensity that he brings, and so he's just developing as a player every day. And, like I said before, most people in his position don't make it to the next contract (and) don't make it to where he's at now. So, it just says a lot about who he is."
Further Reading
Al Horford Shares Where Kristaps Porzingis Has Impressed Him Most
NBA Insider Explains Why Celtics Might Utilize Jrue Holiday as Sixth Man
Here's What Stood Out in Celtics' Win vs. 76ers: Regulars Shine, Roster Battles Intensify
Oshae Brissett's Value to the Celtics on Full Display in Preseason
[Film Room] Lamar Stevens States Case for Celtics' Roster Spot
Under Joe Mazzulla, Celtics Rebuilding Brotherhood Between Past and Present
