Payton Pritchard’s season has been a roller coaster, but the Celtics may finally be seeing signs that he’s settling in. For Boston, that matters. A lot.
Pritchard has already shown both sides of the coin through 10 games. He’s gone for 28 points or more twice, but he’s also landed in single digits four times. He had one explosive night against the Chicago Bulls, when he hit 7-for-10 from beyond the arc, and then followed that with a rough stretch against the Orlando Magic and Houston Rockets, going a combined 0-for-12 from deep.
That kind of swing has defined his start. But over his last three games, there’s at least been a hint of stability.
In that span, Pritchard has averaged 11.3 points, 4 rebounds, and 4.7 assists while shooting 41.4/47.1/100%. It’s not a breakout, but it is movement in the right direction.
Boston is counting on him to be more than a streaky scorer this season. The Oregon native appears locked in as the team’s sixth man again, and that role comes with a clear job description: bring offense, create shots, and give the second unit a jolt. If he does that, it eases the burden on Jayson Tatum, Paul George, and Derrick White.
Pritchard isn’t the centerpiece of what Boston is trying to do, but a step forward from him would matter. The Celtics want to re-establish themselves as legitimate title contenders, and they’ve opened the year well at 8-2, good for the No. 2 seed in the East behind the 9-2 Philadelphia 76ers. Still, there’s plenty of season left.
And the bigger questions around Boston were never really about the regular season anyway. They’re about what happens later.
Can George and Mitchell Robinson stay healthy? Can the Celtics hang with the league’s best while Tatum carries such a heavy load?
A player like Pritchard, who can catch fire from anywhere on the floor, gives them another weapon when it matters most.
The Celtics don’t have enough evidence yet to feel fully comfortable, but Pritchard’s recent play has at least pointed them in the right direction.
In Other News...
Jaylen Brown Trade Debate Just Got Real For Celtics Fans
Jaylen Browns move to Philadelphia has quickly become one of those deals Celtics fans cant help but revisit, especially with both sides getting what they hoped for early on. Brown has settled in well with the 76ers, putting up strong production that is right in line with, and in some areas a touch above, what he had been doing in Boston, while Paul George has also looked comfortable in his new setting after the swap.
What makes the debate linger is that neither player has looked like a clear loser in the exchange. Brown has been handling a heavier workload, and George has brought the kind of defensive impact that can change a game without dominating the scoring column. For Celtics fans, the trade is no longer just a hypothetical front-office exercise. It is a live comparison, and one that still feels like it could tilt in either direction as the season unfolds. [Read more 🡒]
Neemias Queta Is Giving The Celtics A Weapon Few Fans Saw Coming
Neemias Queta has quietly become one of the more useful moving parts in Bostons offense this season, even if his minutes have not always reflected it. His value has come less from traditional box-score production and more from the little things that keep possessions alive, especially the flare screens and off-ball movement that help open space for teammates. For a Celtics group that leans so heavily on spacing and timing, Queta has given the attack a different look without needing the ball in his hands for long.
What makes the development more interesting is how much his own game has grown alongside that role. Queta has shown more willingness to step out and shoot from deep, while also finishing better around the rim, which gives Boston a more versatile option when it wants to play through size without sacrificing movement. The sample is still relatively small, but the Celtics have clearly found a frontcourt wrinkle that changes the feel of their offense whenever he is on the floor. [Read more 🡒]
Sixers-Celtics Just Got More Personal With The East Already At Stake
The Celtics next trip to Philadelphia already had plenty riding on it, with two Eastern Conference contenders meeting Tuesday night and the standings picture making every game feel a little sharper this time of year. Add Kyrie Irving into the mix, and the matchup gets another layer of history, since he spent time in Boston alongside Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown before moving on to Dallas.
What makes this one stand out from the usual early-season measuring stick is the personal thread running through it. Irving sounded eager to watch it unfold, and the game will also bring Tatum and Brown into a new kind of spotlight as they face a former teammate in a setting that carries real conference weight. For a Celtics team trying to keep pace at the top of the East, it is the kind of night that feels bigger than the schedule line suggests. [Read more 🡒]