Pritchmas season is upon us

Payton torched the Heat for his 4th straight 20-ball.

Another game, another Payton Pritchard 20-piece.

Monday’s win over the Miami Heat saw the Boston Celtics guard record his fourth straight 20+-point game off the bench. It was the eighth time this season that the former Oregon Duck surpassed that mark.

To add some perspective, in Pritchard’s first four years in Boston, he scored 20+ just 18 times. That number drops to just seven if you remove last season from the equation.

PP’s current run has been a blast to watch. He followed up a pair of high-scoring fourth quarters against the Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers, with a game-sealing third quarter against the Heat.

His game has taken a major leap this year, as he’s displayed a widened scoring ability. Celtics fans have always known they can rely on the 26-year-old to knock down long-range shots. Now, they understand that the ball will probably find the bottom of the net, no matter where the shot is coming from.

Pritchard has been given the freedom to be more creative with the ball, which has led to an increase in attempts from inside the paint and the occasional mid-range jumper.

The revelation of his “bag” has been must-see TV, especially in the last week when he’s been red hot.

“When he’s got it going, I think it makes it easier for us and is better for us as a team,” praised Jaylen Brown. “So, I’m here for it.”

Here are a few examples from his 25-point outburst against the Heat (it’s a real shame that we have to include Tyler Herro in these clips).

Pritchard averaged a career-high 9.6 points per game last season, but he wasn’t satisfied. He told reporters before this season started that he wanted to continue growing all facets of his game.

“Getting more consistent off the dribble with the three-ball,” Pritchard said of his offseason goals back in October (h/t NBC Sports Boston). “I thought my finishing and mid-range game last year took a big jump, so I thought that was really good. Obviously, I’m always working on that stuff. But, if I can be more efficient shooting off the dribble from there, as well as the catch-and-shoot, then that completes my game. Then defensively, just finding ways to be better at taking charges, getting more hands on balls, steals and stuff like that. So, if I can make a jump then I’ll keep improving as a player.”

You’d have to imagine that there are some big fat checkmarks next to those goals already. Pritchard has added over six points to his scoring average this year and has, more importantly, become a key cog in the offensive machine that is the Celtics.

“He’s a gym rat,” Brown said of Pritchard. “He’s always in the gym working on his game…He’s earned the right to do the things he’s been doing all season long…On nights when he has it going, I take my butt to the corner and let him run the show.”

There’s no doubt that he’s put in the work, but opportunity has also been a factor here.

Pritchard’s minutes are up significantly this season. At 27.8 per game, he’s playing over five minutes more than the 22.3 he averaged in the 2023-24 campaign.

“The hardest thing for young guys is to make it through their first contract when there’s a lot of unknowns,” said Joe Mazzulla of his sixth man after Monday’s win. “And you look at his first year, he played a lot, then Kemba (Walker) came back and he didn’t play — and seems like his first couple years, every year there was just wings ahead of him, he’s just continued to work. And that’s hard to do for a young man.”

If you combine the added playing time, opportunity for creativity, and sheer hard work that Pritchard has put in, then you end up with this eye-opening stretch. A stretch where many are glued to their screens waiting to see what’s next for the frontrunner for the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award.