Payton Pritchard will never forget this Sunday, October 8. The Celtics replacement leader celebrated his contract extension with a 26-point game against the Sixers! At 6 of 11 from 3-point range, Pritchard allowed the Celtics to win 114-106 for their first preseason game.
A meeting marked by numerous absences, but also the chants of “MVP” launched by the Boston public against Pritchard in the 4th quarter. “It’s really a great feeling” he reacts about this new four-year contract. “It’s being safe, guaranteed, and being part of a big franchise, a big city. »
And to think that in February, then at the beginning of the summer, he wanted to leave, tired of being the 3rd or 4th leader of the team. His patience was rewarded.
Remain the group’s energizer
“Obviously I have good people in my corner who have helped me keep my sanity. But other than that, I love playing basketball. That’s why I showed up every day to get better and better. Because that’s what I want to do. I don’t want to do anything else. So I won’t let it get me down because I’m trying to play as long as possible.”
Now reassured and much richer, Pritchard can concentrate on the season to come. What will he bring to help the Celtics win this title that has eluded them for 15 years?
“I can stretch the court, make 3-pointers and other things like that,” Pritchard replies. “But I really try to focus on the actions that boost the group and on the little things like that that change a match. Obviously we have incredible players, so we don’t necessarily need to score. So I have to find ways to impact the game.”
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
