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The Boston Celtics have plenty to be optimistic and even excited about this season, as they have brought in big man Kristaps Porzingis and veteran guard Jrue Holiday, two borderline All-Star players who get it done on both ends of the floor.
The one concern with the Celtics, however — and it could be a pretty big one — is their lack of depth on the bench.
One player who will have to step up to alleviate this concern is guard Payton Pritchard, and head coach Joe Mazzulla says he has been executing the offense well while improving his navigation of pick-and-rolls, via Celtics on NBC Sports Boston.
“Most people in his position don’t make it to the next contract… just says a lot about who he is.”
Joe Mazzulla talks Payton Pritchard’s performance so far in preseason, and his contract extension
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Pritchard, who is going into his fourth NBA season, has proven to be a fine 3-point shooter, but it remains to be seen if he is capable of running Boston’s offense off the bench.
The other main reserve guard the team currently has is Derrick White, who started 70 games last season and averaged 12.4 points and 3.9 assists a game while shooting 38.1 percent from 3-point range.
With Porzingis and Holiday on board, the Celtics are being picked by some to come out of the Eastern Conference and even win the world championship this season.
They certainly have the personnel to match up with just about anyone in the league, given the fact that Holiday may be the best defensive point guard around and Porzingis is an excellent rim protector.
But Boston will have lots of competition in the form of the Milwaukee Bucks, Denver Nuggets, Phoenix Suns, and their arch-rival Los Angeles Lakers as they continue to seek banner No. 18.
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