Payton Pritchard was playing a career-low 13.4 minutes in just 48 games less than a year ago. Pritchard, resigned to a dismal future in
Boston, asked for a trade due to his limited postseason minutes.
But in the off-season, something surprising happened. A leap of trust for the talented guard, the then-25-year-old signed a 4-year, $30
million contract extension.
Pritchard has now shown he is deserving of minutes in the last minutes after months of patience.
Pritchard scored 19 points off the bench and shot 7 of 11 from the field, including 5 of 8 from three, with six rebounds, three assists,
and a too-close-for-comfort victory over the Bucks on Wednesday, 122-119.
On ESPN’s “NBA Today” on Thursday, former Celtic Kendrick Perkins said, “Layton Pritchard put the world on notice last night.”
“They don’t win that basketball game last night without this guy, who wasn’t in the rotation last postseason.”
In Wednesday’s conference game, Pritchard—who is averaging a career-high 8.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.9 assists—was more than
simply an offensive threat. The 6-foot-1 guard enthralled the crowd, relentlessly covered the ball while challenging bigger opponents.
A standing ovation for Pritchard a year ago would have been, well, strange. It makes sense in light of the performance on Wednesday.
What he contributed in terms of perseverance. energizing the assembly and obtaining buckets. Ever since he started attending Oregon,
this young man has been receiving buckets. This
Currently leading the Eastern Conference and sporting a league-best 55-14 record, Boston has just 13 games left in the regular season.
Pritchard may be the Celtics’ covert “stay ready” team member as they surge into the postseason once more.
On Friday at 7 p.m., the Pistons and Celtics play in Detroit.
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