Jason Tatum’s damage has considerably modified the Boston Celtics’ trajectory.
The Boston Celtics have moved from a championship candidate to a reconstruction group centered on creating younger expertise.
The Celtics traded Julu Holidays with key starters Christaps Porzingis and misplaced rotation gamers Al Horford and Luke Cornett.
The roster options Anfenny Simons as a possible rising star together with function gamers Nimeas Keta, Chris Boucher and Luca Garza.
The vast majority of the duty falls on superstars Jalen Brown and Derrick White as they’re anticipated to carry the Celtics into the playoffs.
However longtime Celtics insider Bob Ryan believes one other participant is going through a rise in scrutiny.
Payton Pritchard, now within the sixth Man of the Yr, may see his function develop considerably.
Ryan means that Pritchard’s excellent help function final season might evolve into one thing extra demanding.
“We’re again 100% from 2026-27 and witnessing him in 2025-26 is a bonus,” Ryan stated.
“It may be a further strain on Pritchard, for instance. He flourished in an ideal function for him final yr and now he has to maneuver ahead with the meals chain.”
Ryan puzzled if Pritchard may entice consideration and keep his manufacturing.
“When he focuses extra, we’ll see if he can keep that degree of play,” he added.
Pritchard averaged 28.4 minutes in 80 video games final season, beginning simply three contests.
These numbers may enhance considerably, particularly when Joe Mazzulla implements a smallball lineup with Pritchard as a place to begin guard.
The guard recorded stable statistics with 14.3 factors, 3.5 assists and three.8 rebounds per sport, capturing 40.7% from the 3-point vary.
The Celtics want Pritchard to keep up or enhance its manufacturing as a way to stay aggressive in playoff positioning, regardless of decrease championship expectations.
