Celtics Regular Season News

[Celtics2021]

Jared Weiss: Marcus Smart asked for a timetable on returning from what he said was an ankle bone bruise: “None. I’m hoping for a week or two, but who knows? I (don’t) want to go out there and rush back and then we’re in the same predicament a couple months from now, a couple days from now.” 15 hours ago – via Twitter JaredWeissNBA

Feels like we’ll see him again after the All-Star break, because might as well let him use that to get back to 100%.  It looked really bad when he went down, so if he misses three weeks of games, I’ll count that as a win.  Lets us showcase Pritchard a bit ahead of the trade deadline also.  I never like to see an injury, but the timing could be a lot worse.

[radiohead]

The Boston Celtics are in the market for a big, league sources tell Bleacher Report. The defending Eastern Conference champs are seeking to add injury insurance behind Robert Williams III and Al Horford, two players they have to carefully manage during the regular season. – via Chris Haynes @ Bleacher Report

They should have done that from the beginning with Thomas Bryant. Guess Blake Griffin and/or Noah Vonleh were better options at the time

What makes you think they weren't in on Thomas Bryant?  I suspect they were but the Lakers was a better opportunity for him.

But yeah, Bryant would have been a nice add.  Just what we need.

The reports coming out during that time said Bryant had narrowed down his choice between the Celtics and the Lakers. He eventually signed with LA for whatever reason. But the Celtics were definitely in his radar.

[SparzWizard]

The Boston Celtics are in the market for a big, league sources tell Bleacher Report. The defending Eastern Conference champs are seeking to add injury insurance behind Robert Williams III and Al Horford, two players they have to carefully manage during the regular season. – via Chris Haynes @ Bleacher Report

They should have done that from the beginning with Thomas Bryant. Guess Blake Griffin and/or Noah Vonleh were better options at the time

What makes you think they weren't in on Thomas Bryant?  I suspect they were but the Lakers was a better opportunity for him.

But yeah, Bryant would have been a nice add.  Just what we need.

The reports coming out during that time said Bryant had narrowed down his choice between the Celtics and the Lakers. He eventually signed with LA for whatever reason. But the Celtics were definitely in his radar.

Yes, you both are right. But yeah, Bryant would've been a great acquisition for this team. Who would've thunk AD would be out for extended period of time and Bryant putting up some healthy AD-like numbers for some reason.

[Goldstar88]

Coach Mazz doesn’t play around… watch out.

https://m.youtube.com/shorts/zEWrS_23p1w

[Phantom255x]

We're in some trouble now. Sixers and Bucks are now just 2.5 and 3.0 games back of us respectively in the standings. And next up, we play the Lakers who are trending in the right direction and now have Lebron + a healthy Anthony Davis...

[Phantom255x]

C's next 8 games before the ASB are:

BKN
PHX
@DET
PHI
CHA
MEM
@MIL
DET

Not exactly easy. 3 of those teams are contenders who are competing with us for the 1 seed, another is the 2nd best in the West, and even Phoenix have looked better lately

Still, I'd be fine if we go 5-3 in that span, and ecstatic if we do better. But worse than 5-3 could really make things tricky, because assuming we lose some of those games to our direct competition (PHI, MIL) that could hurt us in the standings.

Winning last night was massive. At least we're still 2.5+ ahead of everyone else for now instead of 1.5 if we had lost last night

[Birdman]

C's next 8 games before the ASB are:

BKN
PHX
@DET
PHI
CHA
MEM
@MIL
DET

Not exactly easy. 3 of those teams are contenders who are competing with us for the 1 seed, another is the 2nd best in the West, and even Phoenix have looked better lately

Still, I'd be fine if we go 5-3 in that span, and ecstatic if we do better. But worse than 5-3 could really make things tricky, because assuming we lose some of those games to our direct competition (PHI, MIL) that could hurt us in the standings.

Winning last night was massive. At least we're still 2.5+ ahead of everyone else for now instead of 1.5 if we had lost last night

As long we don’t play Orlando we be good lol

[Goldstar88]

Pritchard opened up a bit about his situation in Boston on the Point Forward podcast with Andre Iguodala and Evan Turner this past week and got candid about his situation and uncertain future with the Celtics beyond this year. Andre Iguodala: “Walk me through the next 5 or 10 years for yourself.” Payton Pritchard: “Obviously after I’m done here, after this year, I’d like to look — be a part of a bigger role a little bit.”

Payton Pritchard: “I definitely do. It’s obviously what I work for. I think that’s what Brad and them know, too. We’ve had that discussion but — a bigger role. I want to be part of a winning culture but I want to also help that, be a really big piece of that. I’m not saying it’s the best player on the team but I don’t know what my future holds unless I can take that next step. I don’t know what it is in five or 10 years but I just want to look back and know that I put my best foot forward. I put all the work in so whatever happens I can live with as long as I did it my way. That’s the most important thing for me.” – via Brian Robb @ Booth Newspapers

[Roy H.]

Pritchard opened up a bit about his situation in Boston on the Point Forward podcast with Andre Iguodala and Evan Turner this past week and got candid about his situation and uncertain future with the Celtics beyond this year. Andre Iguodala: “Walk me through the next 5 or 10 years for yourself.” Payton Pritchard: “Obviously after I’m done here, after this year, I’d like to look — be a part of a bigger role a little bit.”

Payton Pritchard: “I definitely do. It’s obviously what I work for. I think that’s what Brad and them know, too. We’ve had that discussion but — a bigger role. I want to be part of a winning culture but I want to also help that, be a really big piece of that. I’m not saying it’s the best player on the team but I don’t know what my future holds unless I can take that next step. I don’t know what it is in five or 10 years but I just want to look back and know that I put my best foot forward. I put all the work in so whatever happens I can live with as long as I did it my way. That’s the most important thing for me.” – via Brian Robb @ Booth Newspapers

Seems like the writing is on the wall. 

[Celtics2021]

Pritchard opened up a bit about his situation in Boston on the Point Forward podcast with Andre Iguodala and Evan Turner this past week and got candid about his situation and uncertain future with the Celtics beyond this year. Andre Iguodala: “Walk me through the next 5 or 10 years for yourself.” Payton Pritchard: “Obviously after I’m done here, after this year, I’d like to look — be a part of a bigger role a little bit.”

Payton Pritchard: “I definitely do. It’s obviously what I work for. I think that’s what Brad and them know, too. We’ve had that discussion but — a bigger role. I want to be part of a winning culture but I want to also help that, be a really big piece of that. I’m not saying it’s the best player on the team but I don’t know what my future holds unless I can take that next step. I don’t know what it is in five or 10 years but I just want to look back and know that I put my best foot forward. I put all the work in so whatever happens I can live with as long as I did it my way. That’s the most important thing for me.” – via Brian Robb @ Booth Newspapers

Seems like the writing is on the wall.

Yes, although the writing sounds like they've promised to find him a new place this summer, although obviously he’s available now for the right deal.

[Goldstar88]

Pritchard opened up a bit about his situation in Boston on the Point Forward podcast with Andre Iguodala and Evan Turner this past week and got candid about his situation and uncertain future with the Celtics beyond this year. Andre Iguodala: “Walk me through the next 5 or 10 years for yourself.” Payton Pritchard: “Obviously after I’m done here, after this year, I’d like to look — be a part of a bigger role a little bit.”

Payton Pritchard: “I definitely do. It’s obviously what I work for. I think that’s what Brad and them know, too. We’ve had that discussion but — a bigger role. I want to be part of a winning culture but I want to also help that, be a really big piece of that. I’m not saying it’s the best player on the team but I don’t know what my future holds unless I can take that next step. I don’t know what it is in five or 10 years but I just want to look back and know that I put my best foot forward. I put all the work in so whatever happens I can live with as long as I did it my way. That’s the most important thing for me.” – via Brian Robb @ Booth Newspapers

Seems like the writing is on the wall.

I really like Pritchard and would miss having him on the team, but It’s hard to blame Payton for wanting a bigger role. He has a player option coming up for $4M and I’m not sure the C’s would even pick it up considering the current depth at PG. Also have to remember that this was a DA draft pick, not someone that Brad chose. Seems like Stevens does not prefer rostering smaller guards. Brad has mentioned on multiple occasions in the past that when evaluating players, he looks at how versatile they are in terms of playing and guarding multiple positions. Definitely not a strength of Payton’s. Wouldn’t be surprised if Danny tried to get him over to Utah. I think that would be a good story.

[Vermont Green]

Pritchard opened up a bit about his situation in Boston on the Point Forward podcast with Andre Iguodala and Evan Turner this past week and got candid about his situation and uncertain future with the Celtics beyond this year. Andre Iguodala: “Walk me through the next 5 or 10 years for yourself.” Payton Pritchard: “Obviously after I’m done here, after this year, I’d like to look — be a part of a bigger role a little bit.”

Payton Pritchard: “I definitely do. It’s obviously what I work for. I think that’s what Brad and them know, too. We’ve had that discussion but — a bigger role. I want to be part of a winning culture but I want to also help that, be a really big piece of that. I’m not saying it’s the best player on the team but I don’t know what my future holds unless I can take that next step. I don’t know what it is in five or 10 years but I just want to look back and know that I put my best foot forward. I put all the work in so whatever happens I can live with as long as I did it my way. That’s the most important thing for me.” – via Brian Robb @ Booth Newspapers

Seems like the writing is on the wall.

Yes, although the writing sounds like they've promised to find him a new place this summer, although obviously he’s available now for the right deal.

Not surprising he feels that way.  Surprising he would say it out loud though.  And this, "Obviously after I’m done here, after this year", he isn't done after this year, he is under contract for next season.  Things change.  White could get traded for a Power Forward or a Wing and then Pritchard would be in the rotation..

We have some excess at combo guard (Smart, White, Brogdon, and Pritchard), plus Davison in development, Begarin over seas.  Yam Nadar too.  It makes sense to trade a combo guard for and upgrade at PF or Wing.

[Celtics2021]

Pritchard opened up a bit about his situation in Boston on the Point Forward podcast with Andre Iguodala and Evan Turner this past week and got candid about his situation and uncertain future with the Celtics beyond this year. Andre Iguodala: “Walk me through the next 5 or 10 years for yourself.” Payton Pritchard: “Obviously after I’m done here, after this year, I’d like to look — be a part of a bigger role a little bit.”

Payton Pritchard: “I definitely do. It’s obviously what I work for. I think that’s what Brad and them know, too. We’ve had that discussion but — a bigger role. I want to be part of a winning culture but I want to also help that, be a really big piece of that. I’m not saying it’s the best player on the team but I don’t know what my future holds unless I can take that next step. I don’t know what it is in five or 10 years but I just want to look back and know that I put my best foot forward. I put all the work in so whatever happens I can live with as long as I did it my way. That’s the most important thing for me.” – via Brian Robb @ Booth Newspapers

Seems like the writing is on the wall.

Yes, although the writing sounds like they've promised to find him a new place this summer, although obviously he’s available now for the right deal.

Not surprising he feels that way.  Surprising he would say it out loud though.  And this, "Obviously after I’m done here, after this year", he isn't done after this year, he is under contract for next season.  Things change.  White could get traded for a Power Forward or a Wing and then Pritchard would be in the rotation..

We have some excess at combo guard (Smart, White, Brogdon, and Pritchard), plus Davison in development, Begarin over seas.  Yam Nadar too.  It makes sense to trade a combo guard for and upgrade at PF or Wing.

I don’t think it’s a big secret.  I know Tatum has talked about how Pritchard is a great teammate but they want to see him get a chance somewhere else to show what he can do.  I’m sure he and his agent have had talks with Brad about finding a better opportunity, and I would expect Brad has said they’ll make an effort.  In the meantime Pritchard gives it his best when his name is called, which is best for both parties.

[Vermont Green]

Pritchard opened up a bit about his situation in Boston on the Point Forward podcast with Andre Iguodala and Evan Turner this past week and got candid about his situation and uncertain future with the Celtics beyond this year. Andre Iguodala: “Walk me through the next 5 or 10 years for yourself.” Payton Pritchard: “Obviously after I’m done here, after this year, I’d like to look — be a part of a bigger role a little bit.”

Payton Pritchard: “I definitely do. It’s obviously what I work for. I think that’s what Brad and them know, too. We’ve had that discussion but — a bigger role. I want to be part of a winning culture but I want to also help that, be a really big piece of that. I’m not saying it’s the best player on the team but I don’t know what my future holds unless I can take that next step. I don’t know what it is in five or 10 years but I just want to look back and know that I put my best foot forward. I put all the work in so whatever happens I can live with as long as I did it my way. That’s the most important thing for me.” – via Brian Robb @ Booth Newspapers

Seems like the writing is on the wall.

Yes, although the writing sounds like they've promised to find him a new place this summer, although obviously he’s available now for the right deal.

Not surprising he feels that way.  Surprising he would say it out loud though.  And this, "Obviously after I’m done here, after this year", he isn't done after this year, he is under contract for next season.  Things change.  White could get traded for a Power Forward or a Wing and then Pritchard would be in the rotation..

We have some excess at combo guard (Smart, White, Brogdon, and Pritchard), plus Davison in development, Begarin over seas.  Yam Nadar too.  It makes sense to trade a combo guard for and upgrade at PF or Wing.

I don’t think it’s a big secret.  I know Tatum has talked about how Pritchard is a great teammate but they want to see him get a chance somewhere else to show what he can do.  I’m sure he and his agent have had talks with Brad about finding a better opportunity, and I would expect Brad has said they’ll make an effort.  In the meantime Pritchard gives it his best when his name is called, which is best for both parties.

Probably not a secret, but I don't think it helps Brad's bargaining position to have Pritchard say this out loud.  I am sure all the other GM's assumed this anyway so I am not suggesting it is a big deal.  Just that it was unnecessary to say this.

[Celtics2021]

Pritchard opened up a bit about his situation in Boston on the Point Forward podcast with Andre Iguodala and Evan Turner this past week and got candid about his situation and uncertain future with the Celtics beyond this year. Andre Iguodala: “Walk me through the next 5 or 10 years for yourself.” Payton Pritchard: “Obviously after I’m done here, after this year, I’d like to look — be a part of a bigger role a little bit.”

Payton Pritchard: “I definitely do. It’s obviously what I work for. I think that’s what Brad and them know, too. We’ve had that discussion but — a bigger role. I want to be part of a winning culture but I want to also help that, be a really big piece of that. I’m not saying it’s the best player on the team but I don’t know what my future holds unless I can take that next step. I don’t know what it is in five or 10 years but I just want to look back and know that I put my best foot forward. I put all the work in so whatever happens I can live with as long as I did it my way. That’s the most important thing for me.” – via Brian Robb @ Booth Newspapers

Seems like the writing is on the wall.

Yes, although the writing sounds like they've promised to find him a new place this summer, although obviously he’s available now for the right deal.

Not surprising he feels that way.  Surprising he would say it out loud though.  And this, "Obviously after I’m done here, after this year", he isn't done after this year, he is under contract for next season.  Things change.  White could get traded for a Power Forward or a Wing and then Pritchard would be in the rotation..

We have some excess at combo guard (Smart, White, Brogdon, and Pritchard), plus Davison in development, Begarin over seas.  Yam Nadar too.  It makes sense to trade a combo guard for and upgrade at PF or Wing.

I don’t think it’s a big secret.  I know Tatum has talked about how Pritchard is a great teammate but they want to see him get a chance somewhere else to show what he can do.  I’m sure he and his agent have had talks with Brad about finding a better opportunity, and I would expect Brad has said they’ll make an effort.  In the meantime Pritchard gives it his best when his name is called, which is best for both parties.

Probably not a secret, but I don't think it helps Brad's bargaining position to have Pritchard say this out loud.  I am sure all the other GM's assumed this anyway so I am not suggesting it is a big deal.  Just that it was unnecessary to say this.

I don’t think it mattered at all.  He didn’t say he was getting traded this week.  All he said was that in the future he hopes to show more of what he can do, but in the mean time he’s happy to play his role on a winning team.  That’s not going to undercut his value like a whining Jae Crowder does to Phoenix.