Payton Pritchard's candid admission is at the core of why Celtics trust him

No player is immune to shooting slumps. Results matter, and at some point, an individual has to break through them when they arrive. What drives that paramount part of the cycle is perspective and work ethic.

Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard, finally getting his chance to become a fixture in their starting lineup, began his big opportunity with a rough patch from beyond the arc.

In the team's first 12 tilts, he shot a frigid 25.6 percent on 7.2 three-point attempts. Understandably, that ate away at him.

"I was very disappointed in myself these last two games. Kind of down in the dumps a little bit," shared a candid Pritchard after a recent victory vs. the Memphis Grizzlies. "I was just kind of in a funk mentally, like just didn't play with the same juice, same energy, no pace," he voiced, adding, "Just overthinking the last two games. Every play, [I] didn't feel like myself at all."

However, Pritchard's a prime example of Joe Mazzulla's message to his team that one trait doesn't define them. Despite his early-season shooting struggles, his assist-to-turnover ratio, 3.57, ranks in the top 10, per NBA.com. He's also making an impact at the other end of the floor, especially as an on-ball defender. He continues to improve annually in that capacity. That growth has earned him trust against top assignments.

Furthermore, the sixth-year guard's ability to break out of that shooting slump quickly says far more about him than having to deal with it in the first place. That and his level of care about his craft are why the Celtics know that Pritchard pushing past any adversity that arrives is inevitable -- and likely to happen in short order.

"I think it's just part of who he is," Mazzulla told Hardwood Houdini after Boston's 121-118 victory vs. the Los Angeles Clippers. "He's very hard on himself and wants to be great all the time. And that's just -- it's a compliment to who he is, and that's why you trust him completely.

"If he has a bad game, a bad quarter, even if it's a bad five games, it doesn't matter; he's always going to come back to who he is because of his work ethic, and that's it. So, the last two games, I think he's playing the same way. He's just — the game's coming to him a little bit easier, he's competing on the defensive end. But you know you can always count on him."

Payton Pritchard prepared for when adversity returns

The 27-year-old guard has made his shooting slump a thing of the past. In the Celtics' last three games, he's averaging 25.3 points while launching 11.7 three-point attempts and converting them at a 51.4 percent clip. That he didn't shy away from shots is also a part of why his team trusts him.

"I just went through a little rut there," Pritchard told Hardwood Houdini after Boston's 113-99 win over the Brooklyn Nets. "Sometimes, with great shooters, you start to overcomplicate your shot. I want to, like, tuck my wrist more. How do I get it to be even more consistent, rather than just going to the basics, and just like, 'One motion, one motion, one motion.' But I'm still going to go through little ruts. I mean, I think I didn't even hit a three in the second half, but it's part of the game."

When those ruts return, expect Pritchard to lean on the routine and mentality he knows will get him through it. And while he combats future shooting struggles, don't lose sight of his impact in other areas that contribute to winning.