BOSTON — As the Boston Celtics’ game tipped off against the Toronto Raptors, Payton Pritchard and Anfernee Simons were working at the top of the key. Neemias Queta sprinted across the floor, setting screens for each of the Celtics guards, putting the Raptors' defense in a pretzel.
Though they were cold from three in that initial stretch, the process was clear—Use their spacing to force Toronto’s defense into tough decisions. If Queta set a screen for Pritchard to get downhill, Simons could probably shift over to find his own open space. And vice versa. Two elite three-point shooters are learning how to play off of each other.
It’s a relationship the Celtics will surely leverage throughout the season.
“Payton can get downhill, create his own shot, and so you got to give him the space that he needs,” Simons said. “And also, it helps put the defense in a bind. He's going one-on-one at the top of the key or on a wing, and I'm on the other wing, and it forces the help defender to make a choice and choose.”
But one they’ll have to continuously work on.
“You're just like learning where people like it, how can we help each other, and that kind of stuff like that,” said Pritchard. “But he's a great player, and he'll figure it out, and we'll all figure it out, and how are we going to benefit from each other?”
Payton Pritchard and Anfernee Simons' offensive relationship will be crucial for Celtics
Pritchard played with Derrick White last season, but it was a bit of a different relationship. They were commonly off-ball movers, playing off of Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown. This season, Pritchard, Simons, and White should see a lot more time in two-guard lineups where they have to be the primary scorer.
When Pritchard and White combined to score 84 last season against the Portland Trail Blazers, it was a glimpse of how two guards can work off of each other in Joe Mazzulla’s offense.
And Simons has plenty of experience playing in that type of system, too.
“I played with Dame and CJ, and so, I was able to learn how to be able to space pretty well and give those guys some room to work,” he said. “And so, it's just the same thing with Payton.”
Defenses will have to account for both Celtics guards beyond the arc. Not only are they incredible marksmen from long range, but they can get downhill in an instant.
Simons will burst through the defense, soaring up at the rim for a monster dunk, while Pritchard will methodically work his way through contact, bumping defenders as he muscles his way for a layup.
All the while, the other’s floor spacing keeps the defense away.
“I think it's just, how can I make the guy next to me better, and at the same time, I'm really good at what I do, so we got to figure out a way to do it together,” said Joe Mazzulla.
But Pritchard and Simons’ place in the offense only works if they have big men who know how to set them up correctly.
“It's twofold,” said Xavier Tillman. “I got to understand what kind of guy is guarding me. So, if I have a guy who likes to switch as well, set the proper screen so that I can get them open. Or if I just got a normal, big man who's little bit slower, set a really good screen, and hopefully he can switch onto Payton and Anfernee and let them go to work.
“But it's fantastic for both of them, because they're both pressure-relievers. So, if a team wants to full-court press us, you can give it to either one of them and kind of let them flow, and they can run the offense, so it's pretty good.”
Boston’s offense will rely heavily on its guard talent this year, with Pritchard and Simons sitting at the forefront of that group.
And though they just became teammates a few months ago, they’ve had plenty of time to learn the other’s game.
“He was drafted by Portland when I was still in college, so we used to play open gyms together and back at home, my home,” Pritchard said. “So, I knew he was a great scorer, can really score it, can really shoot it. Definitely a very explosive athlete. So, he'll definitely help us a lot.”
“When everybody first was getting back, they were really going at each other on the opposite teams for a while, so it was pretty cool to see them and how they gel together,” said Tillman.
Starting versus coming off the bench doesn’t matter. The two point guards will inevitably play a ton of minutes together, and if the Celtics want to be at their best offensively, that will be a necessity.
The offense will certainly look different, but Pritchard and Simons’ chemistry seems to be coming along just fine.
“It's been great,” said Pritchard. “Obviously, that was our first game together, but his first game on the Celtics. So, it's just a growing process, and we'll get better and better each game.”