It was a pair weeks earlier than the commerce deadline when Invoice Simmons declared on his podcast (and I’m paraphrasing) that Payton Pritchard was too small to be an efficient NBA participant, that Celtics wanted to improve his rotation spot. Whereas it might need been a knee-jerk response, there was some fact to the simplicity of the assertion.
It wasn’t solely that the 6’2” Pritchard is small for an NBA participant, however he performed small. Jalen Brunson, TJ McConnell, and Terry Rozier are roughly the identical top, however their longer wingspans and stronger frames mitigate the obstacles of enjoying in opposition to guys who’re, let’s say, extra vertically privileged. For a majority of the season, Pritchard was tentative about driving to the ring and routinely seemed overmatched in opposition to taller, longer, and extra athletic gamers.
To his credit score, he carried out admirably in his “designated three-point shooter” position. From October by February, 68 % of his pictures got here from past the arc, and he related on a stable 37.9 %. However taking a look at his shot charts from the final two video games of the season, he’s a totally totally different participant:
Pritchard adopted his 31-point, 11-assist, 64 FG% recreation in opposition to the Hornets with 38 factors, 12 assists, and 71 FG% versus the Wizards. And sure, it’s in opposition to the 60-loss Hornets and Wizards, however enjoying with largely minimum-salary guys, Pritchard showcased his multi-level scoring, one thing we didn’t see earlier within the season.
The ultimate two video games have been the exclamation level to a exceptional in-season enchancment as a penetrator. In my thoughts, Pritchard’s turning level got here throughout a March third recreation in opposition to the Warriors. To refresh your reminiscence, this was a Sunday matinee recreation at dwelling. Golden State had gained 11 of 13, seemingly overcoming their early-season Draymond Inexperienced-induced drama. However that afternoon was an annihilation, with the Celtics profitable 140-88, main by as many as 56, and Pritchard shined, scoring 19 factors on 9/12 capturing.
Earlier than I present you his highlights from that recreation, listed here are some examples of Pritchard as an ineffective penetrator, the place his drives didn’t result in scores:
Regardless of the alternatives to complete on the rim, too typically, Pritchard opted to move or dribble it out to the perimeter. He was entering into the paint however hesitant to aim a shot over the larger our bodies. However in that March third recreation in opposition to the Warriors, a change flipped, and he began attacking the rim with a decisiveness that we hadn’t seen all season:
Possibly the Celtics having a large lead allowed Pritchard to play extra freely, with out worry of constructing a mistake. Possibly with Golden State’s lack of measurement, he entered the sport with an aggressive mindset. No matter it was, Pritchard seemed like a distinct man. He had a (on the time) season-high 10 factors within the paint, and this initiated a 22-game stretch the place Pritchard morphed right into a dependable multi-level scorer, graduating from his earlier position as an undersized designated three-point shooter.
Earlier than this recreation, he’d typically get swatted into oblivion:
As an alternative of attacking the massive man’s chest, he’s making an attempt to finesse a shot earlier than the defender can get to him, solely to get emphatically rejected. He additionally struggled in transition:
He doesn’t use his physique to defend the ball from the defender, leading to a pair of return to senders. However after March third, he began driving with better goal:
One thing shifted in Pritchard’s mindset. In December, he averaged 6.4 drives per 36 minutes. That quantity jumped to 11.0 in March, then 17.6 in April, an astounding late-season enchancment. However it’s much less shocking contemplating his elevated physicality on drives. Regardless of his diminutive stature, he’s gotten snug initiating contact to create area:
In eight April common season video games, he had 115 drives, which is greater than he had in 29 mixed November and December video games. The bodily mindset has prolonged to areas away from the rim. He’s reducing his shoulder to dislodge defenders and open up area for pull-up midrange makes an attempt:
Earlier than the March third Warriors recreation, solely 9 % of his pictures have been pull up 2’s, however that quantity ballooned to twenty % within the twenty-two video games since, and he’s connecting at an absurd 58 %. Clearly, this isn’t a sustainable price, however his assertiveness attending to the lane is giving him the liberty and confidence to develop his offensive arsenal past spot-up threes.
Seventy-one % of his discipline targets are unassisted for the reason that Warriors blowout, up from 41 % earlier than. Nonetheless, his discipline purpose share has elevated from 43.6% earlier than March third to 51.8% after. Backside line: he’s taking harder pictures, however scoring extra effectively, and that’s due to his prowess as a downhill participant.
I didn’t even point out how he’s practically doubled his per recreation help totals as a result of I don’t need to inundate you with extra video clips and stats. However on probably the most primary degree, as defenses more and more respect him as a driver, it creates alternatives to seek out open teammates. I additionally should acknowledge that he’s the one Celtic to have earned a spot within the extremely unique Membership 82.
When Payton Pritchard signed his four-year $30 million extension earlier than the season, it appeared like he’s actually outplay that wage. Throughout the primary three quarters of the season, whereas he might need matched the worth of the contract, it felt like his ahead trajectory had stagnated. His lack of measurement and indecisive off-the-dribble recreation made you wonder if he may survive a playoff sequence.
His development as a penetrator has been a refreshing growth in an everyday season that received boring over the previous few weeks as a result of the Celtics have been to this point forward within the standings. After final Friday’s recreation, Pritchard spoke about his elevated consolation degree with constant enjoying time. Now he’s gearing as much as be a key rotation participant on Boston’s quest for Banner 18.
