Welcome to Boston, Payton Pritchard!!!

[Tr1boy]

Is he a lefty?  He drove to a left handed layup a couple of times.

https://youtu.be/lQvDAsBZLUY

This is the answer. His morning/weekly dribbling routine ritual.

[NKY fan]

I already like Pritchard a lot.  I have been comparing him to a couple of past great point guards and he actually compares very favorably stat wise.  Let me preface this from the start that I am not saying he will be as good as the 2 point guards I am going to compare him to, but I do want to use them as examples of his possible ceiling.

One of the things I believe we can be guilty of in today's NBA is thinking that since a player played 4 years of college that they are pretty close to their ceiling.  The 2 point guards I want to compare him to both played 4 years of college and both had a very modest NBA beginning. They are John Stockton and Steve Nash.  Again hang on before you freak out.

John Stockton was a 6'1 point guard who played 4 years at Gonzaga and had very similar college stats to Pritchard. 

As a freshman 3.1 points; sophomore 11.2; junior 13.9 and senior 20.9

Steve Nash was a 6'3 point guard who played 4 years at Santa Clara and also had very similar college stats to Pritchard. 

As a freshman 8.1 points; sophomore 14.6; junior 20.9 and senior 17.0

Compare these to Pritchard's 4 years at Oregon:

Freshman 7.4; sophomore 14.5; junior 12.9 and senior 20.5

Next, if you look at Stockton's and Nash's first few seasons in the NBA they were very modest.

Stockton:
Year 1   5.6 points 5.1 assists
Year 2   7.7 points 7.4 assists
Year 3   7.9 points 8.2 assists
Year 4   14.7 points and 13.8 assists:  This is the first year Stockton was a starter the whole year

Nash:
Year 1   3.3 points 2.1 assists
Year 2   9.1 points 3.4 assists
Year 3   7.9 points 5.5 assists
Year 4   8.6 points 4.9 assists
Year 5   15.6 points 7.3 assists: This is the first year Nash was a starter the whole year

My point is that both of these players played 4 years of college and took another 4 years to really start showing what they were capable of.  They both had great vision, great knowledge of the game, great quickness, etc, but it took some time for that to come out, and both of their ceilings ended up being far greater than anyone imagined. 

Again, disclaimer, I am not saying Pritchard will become as good as either Stockton or Nash, but I do think they are interesting comparisons and I would argue they can be used as an example of the type of ceiling Pritchard could end up at.  Not saying he will for sure, but interesting to dream about!

Nice comparison. Do you know how PP shooting %, assists and steals stack up against college Stockton and college Nash?

[bdm860]

PP's good start might lay credence to staying in school.  I know the players want the money, but he's a four year college player at a very good program.  His development occured then and now his rookie year, he's 22, three years older than Jason Tatum. 

Eh? They are the same age

Otherwise good point

The running joke is Jayson Tatum is constantly referred to as being only 19.

https://nesn.com/2020/03/celtics-jayson-tatum-finally-addresses-hes-only-19-jokes-on-twitter/

[mspring]

Here are the college comparisons including shooting %, assists, steals

Stockton: (Note they did not have 3 pointers in college when Stockton played)
Freshman: FG% .578 Assists 1.4 steals 0.7
Sophomore: FG% .576 Assists 5.0 steals 2.5
Junior: FG% .518 Assists 6.8 Steals 2.5
Senior: FG% .577 Assists 7.2 Steals 3.9

Nash:
Freshman: FG% .424   3pt % .408  Assists 2.2 steals 0.8
Sophomore: FG% .414  3pt % .399 Assists 3.7 steals 1.3
Junior: FG% .444  3pt% .454 Assists 6.4 Steals 1.8
Senior: FG% .430  3pt% .344  Assists 6.0 Steals 1.3

Pritchard:

Freshman: FG% .393   3pt % .350  Assists 3.6 steals 1.2
Sophomore: FG% .447  3pt % .413 Assists 4.8 steals 1.4
Junior: FG% .418  3pt% .328 Assists 4.6 Steals 1.8
Senior: FG% .468  3pt% .415  Assists 5.5 Steals 1.5
 

[mspring]

I already like Pritchard a lot.  I have been comparing him to a couple of past great point guards and he actually compares very favorably stat wise.  Let me preface this from the start that I am not saying he will be as good as the 2 point guards I am going to compare him to, but I do want to use them as examples of his possible ceiling.

One of the things I believe we can be guilty of in today's NBA is thinking that since a player played 4 years of college that they are pretty close to their ceiling.  The 2 point guards I want to compare him to both played 4 years of college and both had a very modest NBA beginning. They are John Stockton and Steve Nash.  Again hang on before you freak out.

John Stockton was a 6'1 point guard who played 4 years at Gonzaga and had very similar college stats to Pritchard. 

As a freshman 3.1 points; sophomore 11.2; junior 13.9 and senior 20.9

Steve Nash was a 6'3 point guard who played 4 years at Santa Clara and also had very similar college stats to Pritchard. 

As a freshman 8.1 points; sophomore 14.6; junior 20.9 and senior 17.0

Compare these to Pritchard's 4 years at Oregon:

Freshman 7.4; sophomore 14.5; junior 12.9 and senior 20.5

Next, if you look at Stockton's and Nash's first few seasons in the NBA they were very modest.

Stockton:
Year 1   5.6 points 5.1 assists
Year 2   7.7 points 7.4 assists
Year 3   7.9 points 8.2 assists
Year 4   14.7 points and 13.8 assists:  This is the first year Stockton was a starter the whole year

Nash:
Year 1   3.3 points 2.1 assists
Year 2   9.1 points 3.4 assists
Year 3   7.9 points 5.5 assists
Year 4   8.6 points 4.9 assists
Year 5   15.6 points 7.3 assists: This is the first year Nash was a starter the whole year

My point is that both of these players played 4 years of college and took another 4 years to really start showing what they were capable of.  They both had great vision, great knowledge of the game, great quickness, etc, but it took some time for that to come out, and both of their ceilings ended up being far greater than anyone imagined. 

Again, disclaimer, I am not saying Pritchard will become as good as either Stockton or Nash, but I do think they are interesting comparisons and I would argue they can be used as an example of the type of ceiling Pritchard could end up at.  Not saying he will for sure, but interesting to dream about!

Nice comparison. Do you know how PP shooting %, assists and steals stack up against college Stockton and college Nash?

Here are the college comparisons including shooting %, assists, steals

Stockton: (Note they did not have 3 pointers in college when Stockton played)
Freshman: FG% .578 Assists 1.4 steals 0.7
Sophomore: FG% .576 Assists 5.0 steals 2.5
Junior: FG% .518 Assists 6.8 Steals 2.5
Senior: FG% .577 Assists 7.2 Steals 3.9

Nash:
Freshman: FG% .424   3pt % .408  Assists 2.2 steals 0.8
Sophomore: FG% .414  3pt % .399 Assists 3.7 steals 1.3
Junior: FG% .444  3pt% .454 Assists 6.4 Steals 1.8
Senior: FG% .430  3pt% .344  Assists 6.0 Steals 1.3

Pritchard:

Freshman: FG% .393   3pt % .350  Assists 3.6 steals 1.2
Sophomore: FG% .447  3pt % .413 Assists 4.8 steals 1.4
Junior: FG% .418  3pt% .328 Assists 4.6 Steals 1.8
Senior: FG% .468  3pt% .415  Assists 5.5 Steals 1.5
 

[boscel33]

PP's good start might lay credence to staying in school.  I know the players want the money, but he's a four year college player at a very good program.  His development occured then and now his rookie year, he's 22, three years older than Jason Tatum. 

Eh? They are the same age

Otherwise good point

The running joke is Jayson Tatum is constantly referred to as being only 19.

https://nesn.com/2020/03/celtics-jayson-tatum-finally-addresses-hes-only-19-jokes-on-twitter/

Thanks for clarifying.  I thought everyone knew the joke.

[boscel33]

I'll admit when the C's drafted PP I was a bit perplexed.  I didn't know who he was.  So I did what I always do and googled the kid.  Go to youtube and type in Payton Pritchard's Stationary Ball-Handling Routine if you have not seen this yet.  I started watching game video of the kid after this.  His handles are legit.  I would not say he's Kyrie level because Kyrie is a much better athlete then PP.  But after seeing the video and game footage you could tell this kid can play.  Great vision and he never picks up his dribble.  To many guys get trapped in the lane or under the hoop but PP's handles are so good he doesn't.  This to me is why he is going to be in the NBA a long time.  He can shoot, pass and surprisingly finish in the lane.  That shocked me the most yesterday.  He had Saboner on him and not only hit the shot but drew the foul.  That play right there is what separates him from a guy like Edwards.  Edwards can't finish and doesn't know how to use his body like PP.  Edwards is stronger and it's something you'd hope he can learn but without PP's handles Edwards gets eaten alive in the lane.  PP's also has a confidence that is surprising.  You can tell he thinks he's hitting every shot and isn't afraid to shoot it.  If he's open he's taking the shot and I love that.  When you have guys like tatum and Brown you can be hesitant because you know it's their team and they need their shots.  The fact that this kid is not faced by it I love it.

One other play that stood out that will help his relationship with the Vets is the Smart 3pt shot.  Marcus gave the ball up in transition to PP and PP gave it right back to Marcus when he was set at the 3pt line and delivered a chest high pass that let Marcus get right into his shot in rhythm.  After Smart made the shot he gave the rookie props for identifying marcus wide open and getting the ball right back to him at the right time in the right spot.  The guys will trust this kid more and more allowing him to do his thing and dribble circles around players while they float in the paint or on the perimeter getting the open look.  He had some stout defenders on him so I think this is going to be his game.  He's a way better TJ Mcconnell.  Mcconnell doesn't have the confidence to shoot but has a good handle, plays hard and finds open teammates.

I've seen some of the vids.  It kind of reminds me of seeing some of the videos of Jason Kidd as a youngster.

[tarheelsxxiii]

I remember when we used to refer to Paul Pierce as PP.

Out with the old, in with the GOAT.

[Wretch]

Here are the college comparisons including shooting %, assists, steals

Stockton: (Note they did not have 3 pointers in college when Stockton played)
Freshman: FG% .578 Assists 1.4 steals 0.7
Sophomore: FG% .576 Assists 5.0 steals 2.5
Junior: FG% .518 Assists 6.8 Steals 2.5
Senior: FG% .577 Assists 7.2 Steals 3.9

Nash:
Freshman: FG% .424   3pt % .408  Assists 2.2 steals 0.8
Sophomore: FG% .414  3pt % .399 Assists 3.7 steals 1.3
Junior: FG% .444  3pt% .454 Assists 6.4 Steals 1.8
Senior: FG% .430  3pt% .344  Assists 6.0 Steals 1.3

Pritchard:

Freshman: FG% .393   3pt % .350  Assists 3.6 steals 1.2
Sophomore: FG% .447  3pt % .413 Assists 4.8 steals 1.4
Junior: FG% .418  3pt% .328 Assists 4.6 Steals 1.8
Senior: FG% .468  3pt% .415  Assists 5.5 Steals 1.5

First, so far I am a big fan of the pick and player and I think there is too much emphasis in the 1st rd. of the draft on draft age and "potential." There are plenty examples of players drafted after they have played 3+ years in college being great pros.

That said one of the factors that needs to be considered when looking at college players that stayed longer is how much of their stat advantage stems from being a mature/experienced "adult" playing against physically immature and/or inexperienced "kids."

Stockton and Nash played against other "adults" and Pritchard's stats may be a bit inflated by taking advantage of less physically developed or inexperienced "kids." 

This is probably less of an issue with guards versus wings/bigs but Pritchard's stats do need to be examined with that context.

[Tr1boy]

Highlight from tonight game

https://youtu.be/Oy_kfj0EenM

[Tr1boy]

PP reminds me also of Dragic.

Just saaavy. Knows how to expose matchup adv/pnr

[RockinRyA]

No one knows him in the NBA yet and that helps him.  Nonetheless, made some really nice plays tonight going to the hole (especially drawing an +1 using his body to ward off Sabonis. Certainly, looks like he can be a rotation player in year one and when has CBS given raw rookies as much PT?

Marcus Smart and Jayson Tatum comes to mind.

[Boris Badenov]

No one knows him in the NBA yet and that helps him.  Nonetheless, made some really nice plays tonight going to the hole (especially drawing an +1 using his body to ward off Sabonis. Certainly, looks like he can be a rotation player in year one and when has CBS given raw rookies as much PT?

Marcus Smart and Jayson Tatum comes to mind.

Pritchard: 22mpg so far. That number would be significantly lower if Kemba were playing.

Grant Williams: 15mpg rookie
Semi Ojeleye: 16mpg rookie
Jaylen Brown: 17mpg rookie

That's in addition to Tatum and Smart.

[Birdman]

Kendrick Perkins said before the draft that he was the sleeper of the draft

[moiso]

PP reminds me also of Dragic.

Just saaavy. Knows how to expose matchup adv/pnr

You realize Dragic is a great athlete, right?  This is the second time I've noticed you kind of implying that he gets by on savvy.