The Boston Celtics have too much talent. It’s why they won the NBA Championship last year, but it’s also why they were able to beat a Scottie Barnes-led Toronto Raptors squad in the preseason without any of their starters being active. They nearly choked the game away in the fourth quarter on Sunday, but a group of Jordan Walsh, Neemias Queta, and Lonnie Walker IV got the job done. Well, them and Payton Pritchard.
During the NBA Finals, Pritchard’s half-court heaves shifted him into the spotlight despite a significant dip in playing time. In fact, his only non-fourth-quarter minutes in Game 5 were at the end of the half, when he nailed the shot heard ‘round the city.
But Pritchard is so much more than that.
Payton Pritchard is good enough to be a star, but he wants to win as a Celtic
Whenever Boston’s starters are out, Pritchard turns into a monster. Whether it be at the end of the season once the Celtics have clinched the playoffs or in a meaningless preseason game, heavy-minutes Pritchard is a demon.
On Sunday against the Raptors, he had 19 points, five rebounds, and nine assists, all in the first half. He was the best player on a court that housed Barnes, Jakob Poeltl, and some other potential Raptors rotation players.
Games like Sunday’s seem to mean more to Pritchard. Part of the reason is his undying love for the game of basketball. But it’s also his desire to stay ready at all times.
“Well, injuries happen, and opportunities can arise, and I take advantage of times like this, so when a moment like that does come, not saying I hope it does, but if it does, I hope to not take a step back. Like, our team doesn't take a step back,” Pritchard explained. “Some of us can carry the torch with that. Obviously, we're a very deep team, and that's what makes us very, very good.
“So, I think all of us need to take advantage of these situations because this is how you keep growing your game and showing you know the world that a lot of us are capable of taking that next step and doing that, but also accepting the role that our team needs, and doing the best at that to help us.”
Boston has a ton of mouths to feed. When the team added Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday last summer, they gained two more. Almost everyone on the team had to take fewer shots, but it was all in pursuit of winning.
Pritchard’s role actually increased last season, yet every time he gets the chance to take the reins of the team, he makes the Celtics seem silly for not giving him the ball more.
Obviously, context is crucial. When Pritchard has these huge games, Boston is usually playing worse competition, but it’s not as if the guard is only scoring well because of his volume. His playmaking shines, he’s unbelievably efficient, and his defensive intensity never slacks off, either.
The Celtics guard is talented enough to play 25-30 minutes a night, but that’s not in the cards in Boston.
“Like you said, I'm probably not gonna get 20 shots a night. It could be five. It could be seven. Maybe 10. But it's being efficient in those,” Pritchard said. “The stat line could look like eight, five, and five, and that really could affect the game. So, doing that on a nightly basis.
“But at the end of the day, just being part of winning, and if I can look at the game and just know I impacted that game and I made a difference, then that's greatness.”
Pritchard’s hunger is clear as day. It’s evident in the way he works. The way he competes. The way his emotions pour out onto the hardwood when he checks in the game.
He has more confidence than most people on the planet, yet most nights, he’s shelved. Forced to play a reserve role on a team full of All-Stars and ball-dominant players.
It would be easy for Pritchard to sulk. To demand a trade or ask for the ball more. He’s proven capable of dominating basketball games, so why should he be content sitting idly by while others play over him?
Perspective. That’s why.
“I feel like it's very easy,” Pritchard said. “I have big dreams for myself, and people want to put limits, and I put no limit on myself. But I also have an understanding of what's in front of me and that we have a tremendous team that could win another championship. And at the end of the day, I'm a winner, and I want to do whatever it takes to help the team win.
“So, I'm not going to sit up here and say, 'Oh, I deserve more.' We just won a championship. I'm going to go and do my role the best I can. And, like I said, if there's an injury or anything, I want to be able to step up in those moments and help the team win another one.”