After dropping Recreation 2, I keep in mind wanting on the field rating and noticing that not solely did Payton Pritchard not rating, however he didn’t try a shot.
Celtics followers know Pritchard isn’t afraid to search for his shot, and it’s his confidence in his means that makes him an incredible scoring possibility from the bench. Seeing him not try a shot in 20 minutes of sport time was stunning.
“Payton is without doubt one of the most assured guys I’ve ever been round … He walks on the market like he’s the most effective participant, and to have that confidence is particular. And we’d like him to be like that,” Tatum mentioned. “He’s being aggressive on each ends, with the ability to assault closeouts and create his personal pictures [and] create for others. To have that off the bench is particular.”
In Recreation 3, Pritchard solely scored seven factors, however it was his aggressiveness with the ball and his vitality that helped the Celtics construct a double-digit lead at halftime.
Pritchard scored all seven of his factors within the 14 minutes he performed within the first half. He was attacking the lane and searching for his spots, which is one thing Boston wants when most of Miami’s defensive sport plan is to include guys like Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Kristaps Porzingis. Payton shot 3-5 for the half, however it was the vitality he introduced that helped the Celtics preserve their momentum.
Within the first half, Pritchard skied to seize an offensive rebound that he had no enterprise profitable. After grabbing the board between three Miami Warmth gamers, Pritchard scored the layup.
You possibly can see after the layup, Pritchard is yelling to the bench expressing himself and you’ll inform how a lot the bench loves the trouble and vitality.
Within the second half, though he didn’t rating, Pritchard additionally stood up for his teammate Sam Hauser. After Hauser fouled Tyler Herro, Herro shoved the ball again at Hauser which resulted in a technical foul. Hauser and Herro continued to jaw at each other and Pritchard got here in to step up for Hauser.
Right here is the complete look: Sam Hauser met Tyler Herro on the prime of the important thing, slight shove knocked him down. Herro threw the ball at Hauser’s toes, inflicting a technical foul issued to him. What I favored afterwards is Payton Pritchard sticking up for his man, figuring out he doesn’t get in… pic.twitter.com/vJN1TeBlXu
— The Celtics Recordsdata (@CelticsFiles) April 27, 2024
These are the little issues I wish to see from gamers. It exhibits they may struggle for each other and can step up when wanted.
When a crew loses, you wish to see gamers step up within the subsequent sport and that’s what Pritchard did. It wasn’t the flashiest sport in his profession, however he did what Boston wanted him to do: rating factors, preserve and supply vitality and hustle performs, and play protection. When a assured Pritchard is doing that, it provides the Celtics one other weapon on the offensive aspect of the ball.
Miami goes to attempt to reply to keep away from taking place 3-1 and Pritchard might want to deliver the identical vitality he did in Recreation 3 to offer his crew likelihood of returning to Boston needing yet another win to advance.
