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2 players that could get axed from the Boston Celtics playoff rotation

By Andrew Hughes

With the Boston Celtics having clinched a postseason spot, these 2 players need to worry about their roles being axed from the playoff rotation Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
With the Boston Celtics having clinched a postseason spot, these 2 players need to worry about their roles being axed from the playoff rotation Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports /
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Boston Celtics
Payton Pritchard could’ve played his final meaningful minutes for the Boston Celtics Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports /

Boston Celtics player who could get axed from playoff rotation No. 1: Payton Pritchard

Payton Pritchard has been behind Marcus Smart, Derrick White, and Malcolm Brogdon in the Celtics’ backcourt rotation all season, and that isn’t likely to change once he returns from a heel injury that has kept him out since March 6 ahead or during the 2023 postseason. Ahead of Pritchard’s injury, he was getting roughly 12 minutes per game, making him a sparsely used player as is.

Due to Pritchard’s comments following the trade deadline saying he hoped he’d be traded, it doesn’t seem likely that Mazzulla would turn to the point guard during the most important moments of Boston’s season — even if Pritchard did acknowledge there’s plenty of good things about staying with the Cs.

“I definitely was expecting and hoping (for a trade),” Pritchard told the Boston Globe’s Gary Washburn on February 11. “But you know, I [have to] look at the good things. We’re the best team in the NBA right now and we have a great team with really great players, so for me it’s an opportunity to learn and to keep growing. …It was an emotional day, but you know I’m here and I quickly changed my mind and I’m here to do a job to the best of my ability. For me, my mindset is just to come in every day and keep getting better. The only thing I can do is focus on that.”

Despite Pritchard’s positive 2022 postseason production, which included five points, two rebounds, and 1.6 assists in 13 minutes per game, he’s likely to play his next meaningful playoff minutes in a different uniform.

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