Welcome to Boston, Payton Pritchard!!!

[RodyTur10]

Draft steal? He’s looking better than a lot of lotto picks

He also kinda should. Pritchard is more experienced than most lottery picks.
I expect him to have a top 15 rookie season.

But he did look good and if everything of his college game translates to the NBA then we really have something.
Pritchard has the complete package of a modern point guard, only question is if he has the athletism to breakdown defenses which would open his whole game to a very high level.

[Darth_Yoda]

Pritchard highlights vs 76ers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-GQ5_h4UPQ

Kid looks great.

That 1 sequence at 1:14 is such a Kyle Lowry move.


edit to add:
Nesmith looked great in his minutes last night too. Very quick on the floor, decisive, strong, defensive.

[RockinRyA]

I dont think Pritchard is going to any all-star game or be a candidate for any award in his career. But he most likely will have a long successful career. Very composed and smart, doesnt have any otherworldy athleticism but also doesnt seem very limited. Going to be great rotation player.

[Who]

Pritchard is going to be a 10 year starter in this league.

Hell of a pick late on in the draft.

[dannyboy35]

  I fall in love with real point guards with amazing handle that don’t waste dribbles. Mostly because it’s a skill that just wasn’t good enough for myself growing up to reach a level I desired.
    No interest in seeing some guy shake and bake for over 5 seconds to get his guy off balance. It’s just show off ugly basketball to me. For what Pritchard may lack in elite athleticism, he can make up being a deadeye shooter with very long range that needs to be respected.
   But is he a potential all star player some day or a suped up Dan Dickau  or somewhere in between I have no idea. Too much green blood here to know.  But at least in a few minutes on a cruddy preseason game he created whatever space he needed. Good sign there.

[Donoghus]

Very happy what I saw out of the kid last night. 

He's gonna be a pain in the butt and I mean that in the best way possible.

[Birdman]

Kendrick Perkins said he be steal of the draft before the draft

[Somebody]

  I fall in love with real point guards with amazing handle that don’t waste dribbles. Mostly because it’s a skill that just wasn’t good enough for myself growing up to reach a level I desired.
    No interest in seeing some guy shake and bake for over 5 seconds to get his guy off balance. It’s just show off ugly basketball to me. For what Pritchard may lack in elite athleticism, he can make up being a deadeye shooter with very long range that needs to be respected.
   But is he a potential all star player some day or a suped up Dan Dickau  or somewhere in between I have no idea. Too much green blood here to know.  But at least in a few minutes on a cruddy preseason game he created whatever space he needed. Good sign there.

The level you desire must be crazy high lol, obviously it's difficult to develop good ballhandling skills, but I've seen people become really good dribblers (for non-pros at least) when they had brick hands to begin with through hard work and intelligent training (eg. knowing what to work on, when to work on something, which drills are effective, etc).

[dannyboy35]

  I fall in love with real point guards with amazing handle that don’t waste dribbles. Mostly because it’s a skill that just wasn’t good enough for myself growing up to reach a level I desired.
    No interest in seeing some guy shake and bake for over 5 seconds to get his guy off balance. It’s just show off ugly basketball to me. For what Pritchard may lack in elite athleticism, he can make up being a deadeye shooter with very long range that needs to be respected.
   But is he a potential all star player some day or a suped up Dan Dickau  or somewhere in between I have no idea. Too much green blood here to know.  But at least in a few minutes on a cruddy preseason game he created whatever space he needed. Good sign there.

The level you desire must be crazy high lol, obviously it's difficult to develop good ballhandling skills, but I've seen people become really good dribblers (for non-pros at least) when they had brick hands to begin with through hard work and intelligent training (eg. knowing what to work on, when to work on something, which drills are effective, etc).

   
  Oh not at all. Ha. I’m an older guy and wasn’t aware it was a weakness until it was a little late. When I really dedicated myself I started having bad back problems snd just couldn’t keep it up. Just as you say it’s hard work. Where shooting a ball over and over I could get away with and almost all hoopsters like shooting. I don’t think most sports fans in general have any idea how many hours these guys put in on one skill like this. I just respect it so much.

[PAOBoston]

Seems like most polished rookie they have drafted in while. Seems like a dude who might be able to stick around in the league for a while as a solid bench contributor.

[Tr1boy]

Didnt start watching basketball until the 90s

Is there any Ainge to Pritchard similarities?

[Somebody]

  I fall in love with real point guards with amazing handle that don’t waste dribbles. Mostly because it’s a skill that just wasn’t good enough for myself growing up to reach a level I desired.
    No interest in seeing some guy shake and bake for over 5 seconds to get his guy off balance. It’s just show off ugly basketball to me. For what Pritchard may lack in elite athleticism, he can make up being a deadeye shooter with very long range that needs to be respected.
   But is he a potential all star player some day or a suped up Dan Dickau  or somewhere in between I have no idea. Too much green blood here to know.  But at least in a few minutes on a cruddy preseason game he created whatever space he needed. Good sign there.

The level you desire must be crazy high lol, obviously it's difficult to develop good ballhandling skills, but I've seen people become really good dribblers (for non-pros at least) when they had brick hands to begin with through hard work and intelligent training (eg. knowing what to work on, when to work on something, which drills are effective, etc).

Oh not at all. Ha. I’m an older guy and wasn’t aware it was a weakness until it was a little late. When I really dedicated myself I started having bad back problems and just couldn’t keep it up. Just as you say it’s hard work. Where shooting a ball over and over I could get away with and almost all hoopsters like shooting. I don’t think most sports fans in general have any idea how many hours these guys put in on one skill like this. I just respect it so much.

Ah okay. And yeah it's nuts how much time you need to hone a skill or two, much less a complete offensive/defensive arsenal. Btw here's a clip that might help you train your dribbling without a lot of back pain: https://youtu.be/nCsWMQ14vbA

[liam]

Didnt start watching basketball until the 90s

Is there any Ainge to Pritchard similarities?

They’re both tough and can shoot.

[liam]

I dont think Pritchard is going to any all-star game or be a candidate for any award in his career. But he most likely will have a long successful career. Very composed and smart, doesnt have any otherworldy athleticism but also doesnt seem very limited. Going to be great rotation player.

No sixth man of the year?

[Muzzy66]

I feel like Pritchard is a poor man's Chauncey Billups.  Tough guy who is not overly big or athletic, but has enough of both to get by.  Makes up for lack of standout physical gifts with excellent BBIQ and by simply playing hard on both ends of the court.   Quality ball handler and playmaker, with a dangerous outside shot. 

Not trying to suggest that Pritchard will ever be as good as Chauncey was, but his skill set, personality and play style reminds me a lot of him.  The things he brings are things the Celtics really need.