Against the odds Celtics' guard earns under-the-radar recognition

The NBA announced on Monday that Jayson Tatum earned Eastern Conference Player of the Week. It's remarkable to see someone earn that honor three weeks after returning from a torn Achilles. Tatum looks more impressive by the game, breathing life into the Boston Celtics' championship aspirations.

For the six-time All-Star, it's his 13th career weekly honor, the third-most in franchise history. Paul Pierce has done so 17 times. Larry Bird has received this recognition 15 times.

Among those who earned consideration for this award was one of Tatum's teammates.

Payton Pritchard earns Conference Player of the Week nomination

That recognition is a testament to an individual who never let moving back into a sixth-man role faze him. Payton Pritchard proved he's a starting-caliber guard and continues to produce like one while coming off the bench.

The former Oregon Duck helped the Celtics go 3-0 last week, registering wins over the Oklahoma City Thunder, Atlanta Hawks, and Charlotte Hornets.

Pritchard produced the second-most points per game in that stretch, putting 26 on the board per contest. He generated a game-high 36 points, his second-most this season, in Boston's victory vs. the Atlanta Hawks. For an encore, he scored 28 against the Hornets on Sunday.

Across those three tilts, the reigning Sixth Man of the Year shot 53.8 percent from the field. That includes knocking down 52.2 percent of the 7.7 three-point attempts he launched.

Pritchard also dished out 3.7 assists and grabbed 5.0 rebounds per game last week. His impact on the glass, most notably, at the offensive end in the final frame against the Hawks, exemplifies the aggressive mindset he operates with.

"Aggressive mindset just means you're just -- you're outcompeting your opponent," said Pritchard about his mentality after Boston's victory vs. Atlanta. "So, that can mean defensively, offensively, on the rebounds, it's a lot of different ways to affect the game."

Pritchard's ability to do so helped steer the Celtics into second in the Eastern Conference before Jayson Tatum returned. He's averaging 17.0 points, 5.2 assists, and 4.1 rebounds per game this season. His 72 appearances are a testament to his dependability.

Now, he has helped his team secure 50 wins for the fifth consecutive campaign. Boston has also extended its playoff streak to 12 straight years.

The Celtics will finish no worse than fourth in the East. With the New York Knicks losing to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday, the former franchise now has a three-game advantage in the loss column over its geographical rival.