Payton Pritchard had an amazing game on Monday night, scoring 25 points off the bench.
High Praise from Opposing Coach:
Even the other teamโs coach couldnโt help but praise him. Erik Spoelstra said, “Everybody wants instant gratification. This guy has been grinding and working year after year, and each year heโs gotten betterโฆ All of a sudden, heโs getting to this level where heโs in Sixth Man of the Year conversations.”
Erik Spoesltra had high praise for Payton Pritchard:
โEverybody wants instant gratification. This guy has been grinding and working year after year, and each year heโs gotten betterโฆ All of a sudden, heโs getting to this level where heโs in Sixth Man of the Year conversations.โ
— Justin Turpin (@JustinmTurpin)
Improving Skills and Stats:
Spoelstra admired how Pritchard’s hard work made him a key player for the Celtics. This season, his scoring jumped from 9.6 to 16.4 points per game. Plus, he’s hitting more three-pointers than ever before with a career-high shooting percentage of 43.1%.
On Monday night, during their 108-89 victory, Pritchard showed off his new skills by making an impressive move in the paint right at the end of the third quarter.
Payton Pritchard can hit all types of buzzer-beaters
— Taylor Snow (@taylorcsnow)
Consistent Performance Despite Team Challenges:
Pritchard has scored over 20 points in four consecutive games now, averaging 24.5 points while shooting at an impressive 55 percent rate. The Celtics were missing Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis, and Al Horford that night but still managed a strong lead by halftime.
Fans are thrilled to see such consistent performance!
Award Contender Discussions:
Right now, Pritchard is favored to win Sixth Man of the Year (-230), but some think he deserves consideration for Most Improved Player too! While Franz Wagner and Jalen Williams have great odds due to their past success as lottery picks, Pritchard’s journey is differentโhe worked hard to get here without being a top pick.
Until then, he’ll keep shining as one of NBA’s best bench players this season while enjoying Boston’s fantastic record of 17-4!
