Payton Pritchard’s role within the Boston Celtics rotation has been a topic of discussion for much of the season. The sharpshooting guard is a capable off-ball threat, a willing screener, and has an uncanny nose for coming up with offensive rebounds among even the tallest of trees.
Last season, Pritchard had a role on a team that went all the way to the NBA Finals, yet this season, his role was to ensure his seat on the bench never got cold. It’s not that Pritchard is a bad player, but rather that the addition of Malcolm Brogdon consumed the minutes that were previously afforded to him. Yet, as the Celtics gear up for their second-round matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers, there should at least be a discussion about finding some minutes for the man known as ‘Fast PP.’
You see, the Sixers play a slow brand of basketball. I mean, we’re talking sloth slow. The ‘I can’t find where I left my dentures’ type of slow. Ranking 27th in the regular season and dead last in the playoffs for pace, the Sixers run a methodical offense that is designed to limit transition opportunities for their opponents.
How do you counter that? Run. You run on every inbound; you flow into early offensive actions that catch perimeter defenders sleeping and pressure weak side helpers into making a tough decision. Most of all, you imprint your tempo onto the game and control the narrative.
The Celtics have the player personnel to thrive in a slow offense, a fast offense, and anything in between. However, if you’re truly looking for someone to push the tempo and impact the flow of the game, then Pritchard is your guy.
Marcus Smart likes to set things up via screens, cuts, and post-entry passes. Derrick White is at his best when making decisions off the catch. Malcolm Brogdon thrives when given time to pound the rock and probe a defense.
Pritchard, however, is tailor-made to be a swing factor when you’re looking to hit the NOS button. With an exceptionally tight handle, jets that leave most airlines jealous, and a shooting range that rivals the Trae Youngs and Steph Currys of the world, Pritchard can create havoc against a defense that is full of aging, plodding veterans.
Moreover, Pritchard’s ability to vary his pace of play, find gaps in the defense, and utilize screeners to create opportunities, could help unlock some additional shooting pockets for Tatum and Brown. Regardless of his limitations, defenses have to respect his shooting ability and…
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