It’s simple that Payton Pritchard has been cooking with one thing a little bit stronger than canola oil. His minutes and effectivity are each up, his scoring is approach up, and the vibes are so up they’re blowing a gap via the ceiling and attaining escape velocity. Is all of this actual, and whether it is, what ought to we do with it?
Saturday evening’s conflict with the Charlotte Hornets gave us some extra knowledge to work with. He dropped 22 factors in 29 minutes, bought sizzling within the first half and cooled off within the second. It’s his fifth 15+ level efficiency of the season, and by numerous counting stats, he must be the favourite to win Sixth Man of the 12 months. Betting markets certain assume so.
However has Pritchard really develop into a dynamic off-the-bench spark plug who may bail the Celtics out of sketchy conditions in large video games? After principally enjoying particular groups within the NBA Finals, has he executed sufficient for a constant position come playoff time? It will not be such a easy “sure.”
Whereas it’s true that Pritchard is scoring so much, he’s nonetheless a one-dimensional offensive participant. He’s feisty off the ball, however as soon as he will get it, he’s nonetheless a pure three-point specialist that has gotten criminally sizzling 4 instances in seven video games. Out of 78 whole photographs this season, 66 of them have threes. That’s not a very fascinating shot food regimen, but it surely’s nearly actually what the Celtics need him doing in Joe Mazzulla’s system.
And he’s knocking them down. Of all NBA gamers with no less than 50 three-point makes an attempt this season, he’s first in capturing share at 44.9%. Any crew would kill for that quantity off the bench, particularly at first rate quantity. With the Celtics asking different groups to protect 4 totally different good-to-great creators, rolling out a sniper to go with them is the maraschino cherry on the award-winning ice cream sundae from the Del Frisco’s dessert menu.
The outcomes have been there, however Pritchard’s drawback might be reproducing them when the Celtics really need it. He hasn’t achieved this superb 45% via a bunch of stable nights, however via being both scalding sizzling or frigid from past the arc, with no in-between. Listed here are his first seven splits in chronological order:
11.1%
50.0%
71.4%
66.7%
36.4%
0.0%
50.0%
Taking pictures is a fickle artwork. With what number of of his photographs are threes, Pritchard might be extra inclined to the swings of variance than most different gamers in his tier. There’s a purpose you reside by the three and die by the three. There isn’t a both/or in that enterprise.
Basically, Pritchard lacks the additive expertise wanted to remain on the court docket if his shot isn’t falling for anybody evening. He’s not a detrimental or disinterested defender, however lacks the bodily instruments to hold with most elite shot creators who will search and destroy Pritchard time and again.
Many iterations of this Celtics crew have wanted Pritchard’s capturing on paper, however have been unable to maintain him on the market in the true world. With pick-and-roll destroyers like Jimmy Butler and Donovan Mitchell lurking within the Jap Convention and loads of assassins within the West, Pritchard’s limitations can solely be masked by a nuclear offensive outburst. Would the Celtics guess on that in a playoff collection?
I’m undecided they might. With everybody wholesome, Sam Hauser will possible stay the Celtics’ seventh man in most matchups, with a defensive means Pritchard merely lacks. If the Celtics lose somebody to damage, Pritchard is an efficient “break glass in case of emergency” creator who could make one thing occur off the dribble, his principal leg up on Hauser. However when the off-the-dribble obligations are lined, Pritchard’s position could also be smaller than some will need.
Pritchard has proven a capability to enhance yr over yr, as since falling out of the rotation in 2022 he has carved out extra minutes, photographs and factors for himself whereas securing a brand new contract. That’s no small feat, and the Celtics will proceed to sculpt methods for him to make an impression; half-court photographs are solely the start.
Relying on how optimistic you might be, that is both the subsequent step in Pritchard’s growth as an elite scoring sixth man or a wonderful aberration fueled by unsustainable three-point luck. However questioning if Pritchard goes to be a useful sixth man within the playoffs is an efficient drawback to have, and extra indicative of the Celtics’ embarrassment of riches than one thing Boston ought to really lose sleep over.
If he can play, nice. If he doesn’t have it, they’ll be advantageous. The problem might be determining which recreation is which, and the Celtics have six months to learn the way. Positive, Pritchard’s begin to the season could be a mirage, however one you possibly can take info from and use it to get higher. Not a foul deal. Not unhealthy in any respect.
