Payton Pritchard’s season has already given the Celtics a glimpse of what he can be - and a reminder of how much more they need from him.
Through six games, the guard has delivered two huge nights, both against the Chicago Bulls, but the rest has been far less convincing. That’s a letdown after a big offseason and a contract extension, especially with plenty of people expecting a real leap and even a 20-point-per-game kind of season from the 28-year-old.
Instead, Boston has mostly seen the same version of Pritchard it had last year: a bench spark who plays more minutes than most reserves and often finishes games, but still disappears too often when the offense is flowing through other people.
The Celtics have gotten away with it so far. They’re 5-1, Jayson Tatum is playing like an MVP candidate, Paul George has found the fountain of youth, and the depth has shown up in different ways on different nights. But if Boston wants to hit its ceiling as a championship contender, Pritchard has to be more than a hot hand every few games.
The raw numbers don’t look disastrous. He’s averaging 15 points and 3.5 assists, which is solid production for a sixth man.
The issue is the unevenness. He’s had a 30-point game and a 28-point game, but he’s also turned in two four-point outings and a seven-point performance Sunday against the Magic, when he went 0-for-7 from beyond the arc and couldn’t get anything to fall.
That kind of night happens. What can’t keep happening is the lack of volume.
Three times in six games, Pritchard has taken fewer than 10 field goal attempts, and that’s not enough for a player Boston needs to lean on. His scoring, playmaking, and shooting threat matter too much for him to fade into the background.
Even when the threes aren’t dropping, he still gives the Celtics real value as a floor-spacer and spot-up option. He’s also one of the best on the roster at getting downhill, putting pressure on the rim, and drawing free throws. Those are things Boston needs, and it doesn’t have many reliable alternatives for them elsewhere.
The Celtics can patch things together on certain nights with different contributors. But there’s no good reason Pritchard shouldn’t be a nightly fixture in the offense, with everyone else building around him.
Whether that means more plays called for him, a bigger role in the starting group, or something else entirely, Boston needs to find a way to get him rolling. His career numbers tell part of the story: the Celtics are 12-0 when he scores 30 or more. That doesn’t mean he needs to live at 30, but it does underline the point - he needs to be a bigger, steadier part of the attack.
When Boston is really clicking, it’s Tatum, George, Derrick White, and Pritchard setting the tone. The bigs will contribute, the wings will create chaos and knock down shots, and the rest of the roster can fill in the gaps.
But with Jaylen Brown gone, there isn’t another star waiting to cover the difference. That makes consistency from the main guys essential, and Pritchard is now one of them.
In Other News...
Celtics Face A Brutal Energy Test On The Road Tonight
The Celtics head to Toyota Center tonight looking to keep their early-season momentum rolling after a win over the Orlando Magic, with a chance to move to 6-1. Even with Boston dealing with absences, this is the kind of road spot that asks plenty of a teams legs and focus, especially against a Houston group that has had its own injury and G League-related turnover.
Houston has still found production from its top end, with Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun giving the Rockets a sturdy foundation despite the missing pieces around them. For Boston, the challenge is less about the opponents availability and more about matching the energy level from the opening tip, because a night like this can turn quickly if the Celtics are even a step slow. [Read more 🡒]
Luka Garza Just Gave Celtics Fans A Real Rotation Debate
Luka Garza gave the Celtics something they did not always have in a rough offensive night: a frontcourt option who could space the floor. He scored 14 points and knocked down four 3-pointers, which stood out in a game where Boston had trouble getting much going and Houston dictated the action with its work inside and in transition.
For a team still sorting out its big-man mix, Garzas shooting touch adds a wrinkle the coaching staff has to weigh as the rotation gets revisited. The loss left Boston with more questions than answers, but it also offered a reminder that there may be another way to use the frontcourt if the Celtics want more perimeter punch from that group. [Read more 🡒]
Celtics Let A Winnable Game Slip Away In Another Brutal Rockets Matchup
The Celtics had a chance to turn a familiar matchup with Houston into a useful road win, but instead they let it slip in a 109-93 loss that felt winnable for long stretches. Boston could not cash in when the game was there for the taking, and the offense never found enough rhythm to overcome a night when Jayson Tatum and others struggled to get shots to fall.
Houston kept leaning on Alperen Sengun, who dictated the game from the middle of the floor and made Boston pay for every missed opportunity. Mitchell Robinson drew the tough defensive assignment of trying to handle Sengun, and the physical battle only added to an already difficult night for the Celtics, who now have another frustrating Rockets game to sort through. [Read more 🡒]