Payton Pritchard opens up about the mental funk he had to shake out of

Before Wednesday's 131-95 win over the Memphis Grizzlies, Payton Pritchard's play disgusted the reigning Sixth Man of the Year. It was a far cry from what it looks like when he's at his best.

Instead, he shot a combined 2/11 from the field, including converting on only 4/17 three-point attempts. While it's more about his approach than his individual numbers, he put only 10 points on the board in those two tilts. In fairness, he also had five assists in the Boston Celtics' 111-107 victory vs. the Orlando Magic.

Still, for an individual whose fire and passion for the game is a part of what defines him, those performances didn't sit well.

"I was very disappointed in myself these last two games. Kind of down in the dumps a little bit," shared Pritchard after looking more like himself in Wednesday's win. "Just overthinking the last two games. Every play, [I] didn't feel like myself at all. So, going home last night, woke up this morning, just hungry to attack this game and just get back into the flow, get back in the rhythm. But just playing with instincts and pushing the pace. But yeah, it was good to bounce back from those two because I definitely wasn't myself, so it felt more like me tonight."

The sixth-year guard didn't just snap out of his funk, he produced 24 points and nine assists, pacing all participants in both categories. Pritchard also snagged six rebounds. He knocked down eight of the 15 shots he hoisted and buried 5/10 attempts from behind the arc.

How Payton Pritchard dealt with his mental funk

While his rough patch bothered him greatly, the 27-year-old guard deserves credit for halting his skid after two games. To help achieve that, he turned to one of life's simple pleasures.

"I was just kind of in a funk mentally, like just didn't play with the same juice, same energy, no pace. But honestly, it just went back to, I got a haircut this morning," conveyed Pritchard. "Sometimes you've got to go back to those things. Did my routine this morning, woke up, and just have the mindset that I was going to come in and [it] wasn't about scoring, but it was about when I got the ball, I'm gonna push it as fast as possible, attacking, and playing that way. And I feel like that's -- when I'm playing that way, I'm at my best."

Expounding on the difference and what it looks like when he's in a mental funk, he explained: "It was just a lot of like, overthinking. It was like, 'Is this the right shot? Is this the right pass? Is this the right time to drive?' Instead of just playing with instinct, and I'm sure -- like -- everybody saw it. People that I know that are close to me, obviously, were telling me about it. Just that I didn't look like myself, and I didn't feel like myself. So, like I said, just was motivated to come out here tonight."

And while no one wants to experience a state that disrupts one's inner peace, it's an unavoidable part of life. Having past experiences of that nature to draw on helped Pritchard to pull out of his most recent struggles.

"I don’t know if you guys remember, but my fourth year, when I started playing again after I just signed a new contract, I think I went through a five-game stretch I didn't hit a three or even have a bucket. I went five games straight without scoring, and people started questioning whether I was worth the contract or should I even be playing? And I was really down at that time. But then, getting through it -- once I got through it -- I started to get better and better and better. So, there's gonna be low points, and it's just — don't let it break you and you just grow from it."

That resilience has defined Pritchard's career. It has propelled him from being on the outside of the Celtics' rotation to the Sixth Man of the Year, and now starting in Boston's backcourt. It's a primary reason for his ability to maximize his talent and right the ship when it goes off course.