Payton Pritchard has been a flamethrower off the bench for the defending NBA champions all season. He has scored 898 points off the bench so far in 2024-25, exactly 100 more points than second-place Malik Beasley of the Detroit Pistons! Whenever the Celtics have scuffled out of the gates at the start of a game, Pritchard is an immediate spark plug who can change the energy.
Pritchard has hit 5+ three-pointers in a game 20 times this season, 4th in the entire NBA in that stat behind players like Steph Curry, Anthony Edwards, and Malik Beasley. Pritchard thrives in his role off the bench because he knows he will be leaned on for his floor spacing and shooting ability.
Perhaps the biggest difference between this Celtics squad and last year’s championship roster is the emergence of their 6th man of the year favorite. While he has always struck fear into opposing defenses with his shooting ability, Pritchard can hurt you in a myriad of ways. He is adept at finding teammates, setting them up for easy buckets, running the pick and roll, and spacing out to three-point land.
Pritchard has also been more efficient than he was a year ago. He has seen an increase in playing time of about 6 minutes more per game, and has shot 42% from deep (compared to 39% last season) as a result. Pritchard’s emergence into yet another player on this Celtics roster that an opponent can’t ignore makes them even harder to defend. When he and Sam Hauser check in from the bench for Boston, the defense doesn’t get a break, because of the elite shooting on the floor.
Not many teams have the defensive tools to stop Boston’s drive-and-kick offense. The Celtics have gone 10-2 in their last 12 games, only dropping a couple of games to the East-leading Cavaliers and the Detroit Pistons.
Boston’s talent and matchups still put them a tier above other contenders, even though it could be argued that Cleveland has just as talented a squad. The Cavaliers are having their own historic season but still would lack the defenders to go up against Tatum and Brown. Even with the addition of lengthy wing Deandre Hunter at the trade deadline, they would be stretched thin at the forward position defending the Jays.
Boston is as stacked a team as any in the NBA when it comes to three-point shooting. 7 of their 8 top rotation players shoot at least 34% from deep. They were able to convert 15+ threes as a team in February for 13 consecutive games, setting an NBA record. For the season, the Celtics are 39-13 when reaching that mark.
The ability for the Celtics to space the floor most of the game with elite three-point shooters puts an incredible amount of stress on a defense. They also have two incredibly athletic forwards who can drive a team to death. Opponents have to choose if they would rather send help Brown and Tatum’s way as they attack the hoop or leave them to their individual defenders.
Either way, the Celtics offense can generate points off of these drives most of the time, because teams routinely are forced to show help on defense. Once the Celtics have the defense in rotation, they are going to find the best shot. If opponents choose not to help, Boston’s superstar duo will feast by driving to the basket and getting to the free-throw line.
The Celtics’ two franchise cornerstones, Brown and Tatum, are still leading the way most nights. One of the two has been the leading scorer in 56 out of Boston’s 64 total games.
Tatum is averaging the second-most points he ever has, at 27.2 per game, while also setting career highs in assists (5.8) and rebounds (8.9). He has made the most out of his opportunities when teams send multiple defenders at him, finding teammates for open looks.
Brown is finding his teammates at a career rate as well, averaging 4.8 assists per game. That would blow his previous high of 3.6 assists per game out of the water, which was set just a season ago.
Boston has so many talented players around their two stars, but the Jays will always be at the forefront of what makes Boston click. The attention that Tatum garners from a defense frees up his teammates for open looks. Brown’s drives to the basket apply so much pressure on a defense that is already stretched thin trying to guard the Celtics’ elite shooting on the perimeter.
Brown and Tatum are in it for the long run once again this season as Boston sets its sights on a title defense. They’ve gotten the job done before, and the Celtics are ready to run it back once again.
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