Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Payton Pritchard, Eager to Help Celtics Seize Banner 18, Senses Teammates 'Urgency to Do Something Special'
The Celtics' trading for Malcolm Brogdon last summer resulted in Payton Pritchard's minutes reducing from 14.1 to 13.4 in the regular season. While the third-year guard was typically out of the rotation, there were games where he capitalized on his opportunity to showcase his value at both ends of the court.
In an early season win against the Thunder, Pritchard and Derrick White's defensive pressure, including a pair of steals from the former, turned the game around, providing the spark that propelled Boston to victory.
The former Oregon Duck also registered a 30-point, 14-rebound, 11-assist triple-double in the C's win over the Hawks in their regular-season finale, a matchup where most rotation players on both sides rested for the playoffs.
That placed Pritchard in elite company, joining Larry Bird and John Havlicek as the only players in franchise history with a triple-double of at least 30 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists.
And while the 25-year-old combo guard knows better than to assume a role is about to get handed to him, the Celtics trading Marcus Smart means there's no longer a logjam in the backcourt.
In a conversation with the Boston Globe's Adam Himmelsbach, Pritchard shared that he's spoken regularly with head coach Joe Mazzulla this offseason, with conversations typically centered on him impacting games in a multitude of ways.
"Obviously, I have the ability to shoot and space the floor," expressed Pritchard, but also this year, being able to take pressure off, and if I have to handle and bring it up and showcase more of the passing side of things, I can do that.
"But I've talked to Joe, and it's going to be a lot of different things. Defensively, it's my intensity getting into the ball, pressuring, getting my hands active, and just finding ways to affect the game every time."
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Pritchard also conveyed that he's been working out in Boston for nearly four weeks and has never seen this many teammates at the Auerbach Center this early.
With Jayson Tatum entering his prime, Jaylen Brown already there, and the acquisition of Kristaps Porzingis, while much easier said than done, the Celtics recognize it's time for them to level up from perennial contenders to champions.
"I feel like guys are really motivated," stated Pritchard. "There's a sense of urgency to do something special, and when you feel it, when you get that chance to win at this level, you've got to have a sense of urgency and work toward it."
Further Reading
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Celtics Reportedly Show Interest in Signing Free-Agent Forward
Boston Celtics Lead CBS Sports' 2023-2024 NBA Top 100 Players List
Jayson Tatum 'Prepared to Commit' to Team USA for 2024 Olympics
Brad Stevens Discusses Differences in Joe Mazzulla Entering Year 2 as Celtics' Head Coach
Kristaps Porzingis Speaks on Recovery from Foot Injury: 'I Couldn't Get Rid of the Inflammation'
Here's What to Know About Celtics' 2023-24 Schedule
Examining How Celtics' Starting Lineup Might Shapeshift This Season
Why Celtics Should Enter 2023-24 Season Optimistic About Most Important Area of Improvement
