Makes sense for Boston Celtics to de-prioritize struggling Boston Celtics PG to play Derrick White more: Analyst
ClutchPoints' Christopher Smith believes it'd make sense for Derrick White to get more playing time for the Boston Celtics amidst a potentially All-Star-caliber hot streak at the expense of Payton Pritchard.
"Derrick White continues to prove why he is arguably the best role player in the NBA," Smith prefaced before saying, "His performance on both ends of the floor speaks for itself. As a result, it makes sense to decrease Payton Pritchard's minutes in favor of White. Nevertheless, there is an elephant in the room that needs to be addressed."
Smith doesn't believe that all Celtics point guards should have their playing time slashed by head coach Joe Mazzulla, though. The ClutchPoints writer fees that Jrue Holiday needs to continue seeing big minutes alongside White in what has been a one-two punch of knockout power in the backcourt.
"Having two guards who are elite on defense is a great problem to have," Smith prefaced before saying, "It should only increase the Celtics' resistance to opposing offenses. As a result, Holiday needs to continue to get plenty of minutes alongside White to keep Boston at the top of the league in defensive rating."
Payton Pritchard could be playing his way off the Boston Celtics
Brad Stevens has been given the green-light from Cs owner Wyc Grousbeck to spend whatever it takes to produce a championship team in Boston. Ipso facto, if there's a player who isn't contributing to winning a championship, that player could be coupled with picks to bring in someone who will.
He's overcome a gruesome 3/20 start to the 2023-24 season from beyond the arc to shoot at typical career conversion rates, but Pritchard represents one of the only tradeable pieces outside of the team's top six players due to his $8 million salary -- and for the record, that top six should all be considered untouchable at this point considering the team's league-best record at the New Year's benchmark.
Unfortunately, because he hasn't been perfect, Pritchard may have played his way off the team if Stevens sees one big move left to be made to raise Banner 18.