Joe Mazzulla Explains Playing Payton Pritchard but Not Grant Williams in Game 1 of Eastern Conference Finals

Joe Mazzulla called the sparsely used Payton Pritchard's number twice in Game 1 against the Heat. Conversely, Grant Williams stayed glued to the bench.

It's been a trying season for Payton Pritchard, who's found himself outside the Celtics' rotation, regularly racking up "did not play - coach's decisions."

Even with fellow backcourt mate Derrick White starting 70 regular-season games, with Boston pivoting from its double-big lineup until its back was against the wall in Game 6 against the Sixers, playing time was sparse for the former Oregon Duck.

But in the Eastern Conference Finals opener, head coach Joe Mazzulla deployed a three-guard lineup featuring Pritchard, White, and Malcolm Brogdon. The trio shared the floor with Jayson Tatum and Robert Williams for 5:19, stretching from late in the first frame to early in the second.

While they worked well together and played up-tempo, a key to the Celtics' success, the three-guard lineup was outscored 13-10.

And with the hosts needing a spark, trailing 91-85 with 2:32 left in a third quarter that they got outscored 46-25, Mazzulla gave the trio of Pritchard, Brogdon, and White a second chance.

Again, the three-guard lineup, which split time working alongside Tatum and Al Horford, then Jaylen Brown and Williams, were competitive but were slightly outscored. In the 6:26 those three shared the backcourt, Boston put 15 points on the board to the Heat's 17, resulting in a 108-100 deficit with 8:06 left.

Pritchard finished the Celtics' 123-116 loss with no points on 0/2 shooting, with those attempts coming behind the arc, an assist, and a minus-3 plus-minus rating.

While his performance wasn't as impactful as his head coach hoped when he called Pritchard's number, it was encouraging enough to warrant sticking with him.

But with rotations shrinking in the playoffs, Pritchard's opportunities in Game 1 meant Grant Williams stayed glued to the pine in the series opener.

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The former Tennessee Volunteer knows Miami center Bam Adebayo dating back to their friendly but highly competitive high school rivalry. Williams tends to do well when guarding the latter, utilizing his strength, mobility, and basketball IQ. He's also a floor spacer who knocked down 41.1 percent of the 3.4 threes he hoisted last season and 39.5 percent of the 3.7 he took this campaign.

Thursday, after practice at the Auerbach Center, Mazzulla explained his decision to play Pritchard but not Williams.

"I thought Payton gave us an opportunity with his shooting," the first-year bench boss conveyed. "With his playmaking. And his pick-and-roll defense. Like we've said before, Grant is always gonna be ready. And we've built a lot of versatility and depth in our lineup to where we can go in a lot of different ways, and we trust that anybody we call on will be ready."

Further Reading

Joe Mazzulla Reflects on Celtics' Latest Third-Quarter Letdown: 'We Have to Have the Understanding You Just Can't Relax'

Marcus Smart Defends Joe Mazzulla's Strategy After Game 1 Loss to Miami Heat

Celtics Discuss Heat Outscoring Them 46-25 in Third Quarter of Game 1: 'We Allowed Them to Do What They Wanted'

Celtics Address 'Letting Go of the Rope' After Game 1 Loss to Heat

Here's What Stood Out in Celtics' Game 1 Loss: Heat's Third-Quarter Haymaker Propels Them to 1-0 Lead

Malcolm Brogdon Opens Up About Sacrificing as Celtics' Sixth Man: 'It’s Not Easy; It Really Isn’t'

NBA Draft Lottery Yields Unfavorable Result for Celtics

With Defense Key to Celtics Staying a Step Ahead of Heat, Joe Mazzulla Confirms Robert Williams Sticking in Starting Lineup

The Celtics are Motivated to Win a Championship for Al Horford, 'The Guy We've Followed All Season'

Jaylen Brown Discusses Whether Making an All-NBA Team Provides Clarity About His Future