Inside The Celtics

Joe Mazzulla Weighs in On Payton Pritchard's Growth

Payton Pritchard has shined in the Celtics' first three preseason games, showcasing more than his shooting.

Bobby Krivitsky

Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports
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Before the Boston Celtics' 114-106 victory in their preseason opener against the Philadelphia 76ers, when asked about Payton Pritchard's four-year, $30 million contract extension, Joe Mazzulla didn't hide how happy he is for the 25-year-old combo guard who had to spend most of the 2022-23 campaign on the bench, averaging only 13.4 minutes per game.

"Payton's one of my favorite people. Most guys in his position, the league breaks them," before praising his toughness and finishing with, "I'm happy to coach him."

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Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports

Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard (11) reacts to game play against the Philadelphia 76ers during the second half at TD Garden.

After generating 16 of his 26 points in the final frame of Boston's first exhibition contest, propelling the Celtics to a come-from-behind victory, the former Oregon Duck conveyed the following about why last season didn't break him.

"Really, just the love of love of the game. Obviously, I had good people in my corner that kept my head on right. And at the end of the day, I love to play basketball, and that's why I showed up every day to keep getting better and better because this is what I want to do. I don't want to do anything else. So, I won't let it ever break me because I'm trying to play as long as possible."

While Pritchard's sharpshooting stole the show in the fourth quarter of his team's first preseason game, throughout Boston's exhibition slate, he's showcased his growth orchestrating the pick-and-roll, and he appears more explosive, demonstrating a burst and ability to get to the rim more consistently than in his first three years in the NBA; granted, the sample size is small and from exhibition games.

The opportunity above is a transition attack where he has ample space to build momentum coming downhill, but it also makes it easy to recognize his burst to the basket. He's put in the work to add a gear he didn't have before.

The West Linn, Oregon, native's not just a one-way player, either. He applies airtight pressure as an on-ball defender and is strong enough to hold up at the point of attack. His offense stands out, but he's also looked sharp defensively through three preseason matchups.

While discussing Pritchard's ability to impact the game beyond what he's capable of as a shooter with Inside The Celtics, Mazzulla pointed to a specific sequence from Wednesday's 112-101 win against the Sixers.

In the final 2:03 of the first frame, Pritchard scored seven points, including snaking off a Luke Kornet screen into a step-back three; he facilitated a Svi Mykhailiuk make from beyond the arc and came up with a steal.

"He executed a perfect end-of-quarter situation on both offense and defense, and his ability to see how he can make his teammates better and the mindset and the intensity that he brings, and so he's just developing as a player every day. And, like I said before, most people in his position don't make it to the next contract (and) don't make it to where he's at now. So, it just says a lot about who he is."

Further Reading

Al Horford Shares Where Kristaps Porzingis Has Impressed Him Most

NBA Insider Explains Why Celtics Might Utilize Jrue Holiday as Sixth Man

Here's What Stood Out in Celtics' Win vs. 76ers: Regulars Shine, Roster Battles Intensify

Oshae Brissett's Value to the Celtics on Full Display in Preseason

[Film Room] Lamar Stevens States Case for Celtics' Roster Spot

From Envisioning Being a Buck for Life to Joining Top Rival, Jrue Holiday's Ready to Help Celtics Get Where He's Already Been

Under Joe Mazzulla, Celtics Rebuilding Brotherhood Between Past and Present

Determined to Deliver Banner 18, Jayson Tatum's 'Looking Forward to Doing More, And So Should Everybody Else"

Candace Parker on Celtics Trading Marcus Smart, Maximizing Tatum-Brown Tandem, Pat Summitt, and the Sports Matter Initiative

Here's What to Know About Celtics' 2023-24 Schedule

Dwyane Wade Discusses Jayson Tatum's Next Step, Him and Jaylen Brown's Challenge, Heat Culture, Pat Riley, Damian Lillard, and Life After Basketball

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Bobby Krivitsky
BOBBY KRIVITSKY

Bobby Krivitsky's experiences include covering the NBA as a credentialed reporter for Basketball Insiders. He's also a national sports talk host for SportsMap Radio, a network airing on 96 radio stations throughout the country. Additionally, he was a major-market host, update anchor, and producer for IMG Audio, and he worked for Bleacher Report as an NFL and NBA columnist.

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