Payton Pritchard. A name that may not mean much to you today, but you’ll have to get used to hearing it. The Celtics rookie, selected in 26th position in the 2020 Draft, is already making his contribution to a Boston team in need, so much so that he has just received the praise of a certain Jaylen Brown. The GOAT is him!
The Pacers have come to know Payton Pritchard. Two games, 13 points – 2 assists – 2 interceptions at 5/5 shooting (including 3/3 from far) in the first, 10 points – 5 rebounds – 5 assists last night in the second. Clearly, the winner of the last Bob Cousy Award – the trophy which rewards the best university leader – is shown at the start of the season, taking advantage in particular of the absence of Kemba Walker. If the first confrontation with Indiana ended in defeat, Tuesday’s ended with a victory for Boston, which was able to break its streak of two consecutive losses. Yet led 88-71 in the last minutes of the third quarter, the Greens managed a superb comeback by winning 33-17 in the last, all with a Pritchard who made the difference off the bench. The former Oregon, who took the number 11 from Kyrie Irving, notably showed in the first minutes of the final period, using his high speed to score two baskets on penetration, including one and one in the mouth of Domantas Sabonis. The type of streak that gives an extra boost to a lagging team. From 94-87 for Indiana, the score dropped to 94-92. The Celtics then moved on under the leadership of leaders Jayson Tatum, Marcus Smart and Jaylen Brown, but the latter did not forget to highlight Pritchard’s contribution (via NBC Boston).
“Payton is the GOAT. He arrived with confidence. We really needed a spark off the bench and Payton was all we could hope for. We’re gonna need other guys who step-up, but Payton did a great job. “
Small in height (1m85) but big in heart, Pritchard has the potential to quickly become the darling of all Boston. The kind of guy who fights on all the balls, who always tries to make up for his mistakes, but who also has a real talent. Despite his status as a rookie, he already makes a solid contribution, he who is able to score, shoot, and make others play. What a real leader. This is exactly what we saw in these two games against the Pacers, and it is exactly what it takes for a Boston team lacking offensive solutions behind Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, Kemba Walker being at the l infirmary and Gordon Hayward having left Beantown without any real consideration. Thanks to his complete university course, PP demonstrates a maturity that many newbies do not have, he who is now 22 years old. This allows him to have significant playing time averaging 22 minutes over Boston’s first four meetings, topping 27 last night. So obviously not everything is perfect, he learns, he makes mistakes, he gets tough too, but overall Payton Pritchard is having a very attractive start and without him Boston would probably be in the negative currently.
“He’s a good player. And he will be a good player for a long time. “
– Brad Stevens, Celtics coach
Responsible, mature and determined to give everything as soon as he returns to the floor, Payton Pritchard represents one of the great stories of the start of the season. And if he continues like this, the Boston public will be chanting his name soon when it is possible again.
Source texte : NBC Sports Boston
Payton Pritchard continues to shine for us after delivering another solid performance in our 116-111 victory over the Pacers. pic.twitter.com/iWA449BT3W
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) December 30, 2020
This is fun! pic.twitter.com/j8WE7QyAyn
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) December 30, 2020
