NBA Notebook: One-on-one drills powered Payton Pritchard's breakout Celtics season

Brooks DeBisschop returned to Oregon from playing basketball in Europe in May while the Celtics began the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals. When the series turned to Miami, he met his former high school teammate Payton Pritchard there and watched Boston fall behind 0-3 in the series. The Celtics forced a Game 5 in Boston, and while the team's rotation players recovered to attempt the first comeback from that deficit in NBA history, Pritchard had logged only one minute in Game 4. When DeBisschop flew to Boston, Pritchard reached out with a request. 

"He was like, 'Hey, we’re gonna go and we’re gonna get some shots up, do you want to come and guard?'" DeBisschop remembered. "There were a few of us in the gym, but at that time, he wasn’t playing a lot of minutes in the role that he had, so he was like, 'Hey, my body’s fresh. I want to get some work in and be sharp.'" 

Those workouts, which expanded and traveled across the following two summers, helped Pritchard stay engaged and prepare for a return to the Celtics' rotation in 2023-24 before his breakout start to this season. Pritchard called DeBisschop five days after Boston lost to Miami in Game 7 and offered to pay for him to return to Massachusetts and take turns defending him alongside other friends and overseas players. That routine continued in 2024, ranging from Oregon to Cape Cod in July, during the limited free time between Pritchard's participation with the Team USA Select Team in Las Vegas and his wedding in August. Other players came and went, but DeBisschop, a 6-9 big, spent each day trying to push Pritchard as hard as possible. 

They started on the low block, DeBisschop guarding one-on-one for five possessions before someone else rotates in. Pritchard sometimes repeats the cycle at that spot, then they move to the opposite one, doing the same at the elbow, wing, corner and slot. They finished with a live dribble drive downhill from half court. During roughly 90 minutes, they cover 13 spots on the floor and if one defender can garner three stops or more across their five repetitions, Pritchard placed down $25 for when they move to the free throw line. If anyone can defeat him shooting 10 free throws at the end, they took all the money dropped throughout the day. 

"I don’t know if anybody ever beats him at the free throws. He’s usually 10 out of 10," DeBisschop said. “I didn’t. I think one guy got paid one day, but for the most part, Payton usually clears that. I think there was one day we were in the Celtics' practice facility, they tied on free throws, 10 out of 10, then they went to half court for overtime. Payton won the half-court shots.” 

Pritchard focused on his pull-up shooting entering 2024-25 alongside strides he made from the mid-range and finishing at the basket. He and friends didn't sense anything extraordinary coming at the beginning training camp, Pritchard telling Boston Sports Journal that he believes every season will become special. The first four years of his career didn't actualize into a consistent enough role to show what he's capable of with more minutes and shots. It flashed when other players rested or missed games with injuries, Pritchard averaging 19.6 points and 5.9 assists per game last year in 12 appearances where he logged 30-39 minutes. Now, he's averaging 28.7 MPG, up from 22.3 in 2023-24, and posting 16.4 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 3.3 APG and 1.0 SPG. He's shooting 48.2% from the field and 43.4% from three as one of the NBA's most improved players through 27 games, and is the heavy favorite to win Sixth Man of the Year. 

Joe Mazzulla, a believer in Pritchard going back to his role as his player development and Summer League coach in 2021, wanted to utilize him in a larger role this year to give the Celtics a different dynamic while returning the same core. His minutes diminished as the postseason progressed following a strong regular season, but Mazzulla found pockets to involve him. During 2022-23, in a March game against Cleveland, Mazzulla watched Pritchard beat the Cavs' entire team down the floor for a last-second layup. It sparked the idea later that night that Pritchard should have the ball in last-second scenarios to utilize his speed. Pritchard drove past everyone downhill again at the end of regulation, but missed a game-winner before Grant Williams went to the free throw line after grabbing Pritchard's miss -- setting up the infamous Imma make both misses in the loss. That became the foundation of Pritchard's famous half-court heaves that fell twice in the Finals win over the Mavericks. 

"When we were in high school, we used to do, at the end of every practice, end of game situations and it would be one team’s up two (points with) 10 seconds left, or whatever, we’d switch it up," DeBisschop said. "(Pritchard) would make ridiculously tough (shots). We all knew he was gonna shoot the ball, so guys would send a double team at him and all sorts of stuff and it seemed like he made it 85% of the time. It was inevitable." 

The Celtics also began integrating Pritchard's one-on-one abilities into their practices. Last postseason, Boston began practice with a drill formulated by the assistant coaches where five players took turns defending Pritchard. Mazzulla said the drill gave Pritchard the opportunity to analyze how to attack different defenders, while his limitless stamina warmed up the Celtics' rotation guards. Even all-defensive team teammates Derrick White and Jrue Holiday dreaded the workout. Sam Hauser remembered Pritchard getting buckets. Luke Kornet said Pritchard scored on roughly 15 straight before someone stopped him. The Celtics repeated it with Jaden Springer and JD Davison this fall. 

DeBisschop, who played Division I basketball at Northern Arizona in the Big Sky conference, Andrew Andrews, a Portland guard who played four seasons at Washington from 2012-16 before turning pro overseas, Brian McGill, who played high school basketball in Oregon and others have taken part in Pritchard's similar offseason sessions. They aren't Holiday and White, but Pritchard trusts they'll match his work ethic and intensity. When Pritchard's having a sluggish day or missing shots, DeBisschop knows how to fire up his competitive friend with trash talk. 

"Hey, Payton doesn’t have it today," DeBisschop will say. "We’re gonna get him." 

"He hates that kind of stuff, so it fires him up and usually pretty quickly he flips the switch and gets into his mode and starts hitting shots, but for me, it’s not talking s*** just for fun, it’s about trying to press buttons to make sure that he never has a bad day, because I think it’s easy if you’re fatigued or you’re a little off, to be like, 'I’m off today,' but when we get real competitive, that’s when he’s at his best." 

The group will foul him, rarely stopping to call them, trying to match the physicality NBA defenders will throw at Pritchard. The sessions allowed Pritchard to hunt different shots he wanted to utilize at a more consistent rate. Pritchard attempted 77.8% of his shots behind the line so far, which ranked ninth among NBA qualifiers, but when he went inside, he converted 70.3% on 37 shots inside five feet, hit 11-of-16 paint looks outside of the restricted zone and finished 52.9% on 17 mid-rangers. He said those options leave defenders more off-balance. 

The added offense in the Celtics' rotation now feels indispensable. Pritchard closed games against Indiana and Memphis over Holiday as the latter's shot regressed. Hauser missed his sixth game on Thursday with a nagging back injury, placing most of the team's bench scoring burden on Pritchard. As Jaylen Brown prophesied on NBC Sports Boston during Media Day, Pritchard could score 30 points against Detroit while the rest of the Celtics rested, and Boston would still win. Brown undersold it. Pritchard's 27 points beat the Pistons earlier this month. He also did it every other night -- scoring 19 or more points in seven of his last eight games prior to this week. 

"There's a really good quote from Zay (Covington), one of the trainers," Pritchard's long-time friend and photographer Chase McCann said. "(Pritchard) acts like he's a rookie, he just has something to prove, and this is year five ... (he's) paying more attention to or doing things that are gonna allow him to play longer in the league, whether that's locking in the treatment or being mindful of what you're eating at certain times, or I know this first half of the year, he hasn't drank all year, and that was something that clearly, it's doing something, but it was definitely something that is an example of him trying to put himself in the best position." 

On Sunday, sitting at the podium after shooting 5-of-10 from three with 15 points, 11 rebounds and six assists at Washington, Pritchard complained that some people still view him as a defensive liability. He wanted to be known as a two-way player, he said after picking up Jordan Poole full-court, forcing a back court violation on him at one point. It resembled other moments where Pritchard increased his aggressiveness on that end. 

Pritchard didn't ask for permission, and remembered the coaching staff telling him to do it again after the first time he tried it. He admitted he can improve at taking charges, figuring out the art of selling the call and falling down. 

"I had a dream of it coming into the year. I had something that I knew that I was capable and if the opportunity came I was gonna take it and run with it," Pritchard told BSJ. "So I had it in the back of my mind, but it’s not something where you’re sitting there, you don’t know if it’s gonna happen, but I’m ready for the moment, whether it was this year or next year. I was always gonna be ready ... obviously, a lot of people were surprised, but I never surprise myself." 

It's startling to imagine this emergence could've happened for the San Antonio Spurs, and the potential effects that deal, reported at the time and confirmed by BSJ, could've had on the Celtics. Brad Stevens prepared to trade Pritchard, Danilo Gallinari and a draft pick for Jakob Poeltl at the 2023 deadline with Pritchard notably frustrated with his lack of playing time. He believed he could provide more, and whether in Boston or elsewhere, he wanted to play. Looking back at that time, he never held resentment toward the organization or city, Pritchard told BSJ, and affirmed that by signing a four-year, $30 million extension that'll keep him with the Celtics through 2028. 

The experience taught him to look at the game differently from the sideline, do the work and make the most of whatever limited minutes he received. He became an offensive rebounding specialist that year, improved his defense and torched opponents in garbage time and during the last two regular season games while Boston rested its starters. McCann remembered silent car rides home when he didn't play, sensing when Pritchard didn't want to talk. Instead, at one point while they lived together in Boston, McCann jotted down something on the whiteboard where they usually placed their to-do list: Never too high, never too low. It remained. 

"He always said to me, 'I don’t fear the moment,'" DeBisschop said. "I think some people, you get in those situations, and you’re like oh. He just blocks out everything and he’s like, let’s just do it. Let it fly.” 

Here's what else happened around the NBA this week...

Atlanta (14-14): Lost to the Bucks in a thrilling NBA Cup semi-final, 110-102, despite Trae Young scoring 35 points with seven rebounds and 10 assists. He added 16 more assists in an overtime loss to the Spurs, Atlanta's inconsistency continuing even with De'Andre Hunter stabilizing the front court alongside Jalen Johnson. The team would like to trade Clint Capela, according to Jake Fischer, and finally transition Onyeka Okongwu to the starting lineup full time. Capela and Okongwu have split time evenly so far this year. They also have four trade exceptions they could use to supplement Young and Dyson Daniels in the back court. Guard Kobe Bufkin, who played only 27 games over his first two NBA seasons after going to Atlanta No. 15 overall in 2023, will undergo season-ending shoulder surgery. Okongwu will miss at least four games with left knee inflammation. 

Boston (21-6): Lost their cool in a 117-108 loss to the Bulls, a tough matchup in two games so far due to Chicago's three-point shooting. The Celtics and Bulls meet again at 8 EST on Saturday after Joe Mazzulla, Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum all received technical fouls while the Bulls, ahead by three points with five minutes left, closed them out on an 18-9 run. Mazzulla charged Tony Brothers and the officiating crew after the game, held back by security and Celtics assistant coaches. The NBA later fined him $35,000. 

Sam Hauser (back spasms) missed his sixth game with lingering injuries this year and is questionable again for the second half of the home-and-home in Chicago. Jaden Springer received his first significant minutes this season in the loss and missed both shot attempts in 13 minutes. Burglars targeted Brown's mother's house and Boston assistant coach Amile Jefferson, who reportedly had his championship ring stolen. Nobody was harmed in either incident, which were considered connected to a string of robberies targeting athletes across the country. 

"It's been a tough week," Brown said on Thursday. "Obviously, my mother's security is of the upmost security to me, and it's been compromised."

Brooklyn (11-16): Traded Dennis Schröder to the Warriors for De'Anthony Melton's expiring contract, Melton out for the season with a torn ACL, Reece Beekman and three second-round picks. Schröder had averaged 18.4 PPG and 6.6 APG into his second season with the Nets, who acquired him in a trade deadline deal with Toronto last year. Brooklyn remained in the east's playoff picture as the 10 seed through the end of his tenure, largely behind his productivity. Brooklyn and Golden State reportedly discussed a larger deal that would've involved Nets shooter Cam Johnson and Warriors wing Jonathan Kuminga trading places, but the Warriors hesitated to include Kuminga in a trade. The interest by Brooklyn in moving off veteran contributors underscores a clear rebuild direction they prioritized this season. Ben Simmons became a starter in Schröder's absence. 

Chicago (13-15): Winners of three straight and looked as good as they have all season beating the Celtics while attempting 50 threes and receiving 36 points from Zach LaVine. The Bulls have taken the second-most threes in the league behind Boston, increasing their volume from 32.1 per game to 44.0 since last season. LaVine is now averaging 22.3 PPG, 4.5 RPG and 4.2 APG on 50.5% shooting while converting 43.5% of his threes. Another team bent on rebuilding, the Bulls-LaVine trade that felt inevitable before his season-ending injury late last year could come at any moment, though the three years remaining on his contract at over $40 million per season could still be a hurdle. The Denver Nuggets reportedly have some interest in adding LaVine. Head coach Billy Donovan, who won back-to-back national championships at Florida with Al Horford and Bulls legend Joakim Noah, is a finalist for the Basketball Hall of Fame. Josh Giddey (ankle), who missed Thursday's game, is questionable again on Saturday after avoiding a major injury. 

Cleveland (24-4): Max Strus returned from a nine-week ankle injury in training camp to make his season debut with nine points off the bench in a blowout win for the Cavs over the Bucks. His return coincided with Isaac Okoro (shoulder) going down for several weeks with a right AC joint sprain. The Cavs will evaluate him in two weeks, they said. Dean Wade moved into the starting lineup with 15 points against Milwaukee, shooting 4-of-5 from three. While they've remained above the Celtics in the standings for the entire season, Chris Fedor expects some activity from them ahead of the trade deadline to consolidate the roster and move below the luxury tax line, if possible. 

“Nine weeks is a very long time,” Strus said. “It’s been hard. There’s been definitely dark days. But this is the best team. Best vibes ever been around. These guys have made it easy and kept me involved and kept me around and made sure to reach out at times when I needed it. I’m itching to get back.”

Dallas (17-10): Luka Dončić trailed Jayson Tatum, 267-123, finishing in fifth place in ESPN's first MVP straw poll despite averaging 28.9 PPG, 8.6 RPG and 8.2 APG on 45.9% shooting to begin the 2024-25 season. A flurry of steals also vaulted Dončić into the NBA lead this month with 20 before Shai Gilgeous-Alexander passed him with 21 late this week while Dončić missed Dallas' loss to the Clippers on Thursday with heel pain. He'll remain out for Saturday's rematch with Quentin Grimes starting in his place. 

Denver (14-11): Nikola Jokić, having the best season of his legendary career, is the early favorite to win his fourth NBA MVP award, according to ESPN's straw poll of likely voters. Jokić received 57 first-place votes, beating out Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (24) and Giannis Antetokounmpo (19). Jokić's 827 points dominated the vote despite Antetokounmpo making up ground late with his NBA Cup victory, Jokić keeping the Nuggets afloat following Kentavious Caldwell-Pope's departure and Jamal Murray's injury issues continuing into the season. He's averaging 31.0 PPG, 13.0 RPG and 9.8 APG with 1.8 SPG on 56.4% shooting while hitting 50% of his threes. The Nuggets are assessing ways to support him, namely Zach LaVine, while Denver appears generally open to trading Michael Porter Jr. alongside Zeke Nnaji, who's on a four-year, $32 million deal Chicago was reportedly hesitant to take on in a hypothetical LaVine trade. The Nuggets suffered another crushing loss to Anfernee Simons and Portland at the buzzer on Thursday night. 

Detroit (11-17): Officials ejected Pistons rookie Ron Holland II and Jordan Clarkson in a rare square-up between NBA players. Teammates separated the two before punches could fly, and Detroit lost a rough game to Utah, 126-119, after falling behind 48-19 in the first quarter. Re-signed Paul Reed after waiving him for cap purposes this week.

Golden State (14-12): Losers of three straight and only 0.5 games ahead of the Spurs in the 10th and final postseason spot after a promising start. The Grizzlies throttled the Warriors, 144-93, on Thursday while Steph Curry only mustered two points in 24 minutes. Draymond Green posted 0 points, 0 rebounds and 0 assists in 19, while Dennis Schröder scored five points in his first Warriors game. Green and Steve Kerr expressed excitement about adding Schröder despite his imperfect fit to relieve Curry on the ball, while Golden State expects to experiment more with its starting lineup. Reports have also pointed toward Schröder potentially being involved in a larger deal for someone like Jimmy Butler down the line if the Warriors decide to move in that direction. With their season fading and hungry to supplement Curry with a star, that could end up happening.

Indiana (13-15): Won three straight this week before they'll travel to Boston for a mini series next weekend. Tyrese Haliburton's double-doubles and Pascal Siakam's 20-point scoring powered the victories over Philadelphia, New Orleans and Phoenix, with the Pacers now up to 14th in offense for the season and a +0.6 net rating for December. It's small progress for a team still far behind schedule compared to where they finished last season, but they have time and some room for error in the east standings. 

"The practice time the last two weeks has helped us. It's helped us regain an edge defensively," Rick Carlisle said after the Suns win. "Our full-court defense is more of a factor. We just need teams to feel us. Even if we're not the most physically bruising team, they need to feel our persistence at both ends. I thought we really picked it up tonight."

Clippers (16-12): Kawhi Leonard joined the Clippers on their three-game road trip beginning in Dallas on Thursday, but is not expected to return in any of the games as his practice activity ramps up. Leonard returned to practice last week after reports indicated he could make his season debut before Christmas. That doesn't appear to be in the cards if he doesn't play on this trip, but the team's home date on Dec. 27 against the Warriors could provide a high profile matchup for his first game back from nagging knee inflammation. 

“It’s a scary look, man. Him defensively alone, he’s one of them ones. … It’s just a scary look," Kris Dunn said on Wednesday. "We’re excited to hopefully see that soon.”

Milwaukee (14-12): ESPN reporter Tim Bontemps noted that nearly 1/3 of the likely MVP voters he polled for the first time this season changed their vote to Giannis Antetokounmpo this week after the Bucks star led Milwaukee to a dominant NBA Cup championship win over the Thunder with 26 points, 19 rebounds and 10 assists on Tuesday. Damian Lillard added 23 points and assistant coach Darvin Ham remained undefeated in mid-season tournament play going back to his championship with the Lakers last year. Ham reflected on the accomplishment, urging Doc Rivers and the Bucks to forgo the locker room celebration after that his Lakers embraced in 2023. LA later lost in the first round of the playoffs, leading to Ham's firing. Ham said his body of work with the Lakers would've earned him an extension, instead, elsewhere. Antetokounmpo averaged 32.7 PPG, 11.5 RPG and 6.5 APG while the Bucks responded to a 2-8 start by winning 12-of-15, though Tuesday's win didn't count toward the standings or anyone's season statistics. 

“I’m not talking about feelings. I’m talking actual facts," Ham told Andscape. "They go from not making it to the playoffs to the final four in the NBA, the conference finals. And then you win the in-season tournament, navigate through all the injuries and win both of your play-in games to get to the playoffs. People always talk about us losing to Denver, but they never talk about how we got to Denver. We beat a kick-ass young squad in Memphis and we beat Golden State.”

Minnesota (14-12)/New York (17-10): Thursday's return to Minnesota for Karl-Anthony Towns saw the Timberwolves legend pour 32 points, 20 rebounds and six assists over his former team in a blowout Knicks win that left Anthony Edwards and the Wolves soul-searching again after. The trade has sent both teams in opposite directions, Minnesota regressing from its all-time defensive season and west finals run in 2024 while the surprise trade before the season invigorated Towns, who finished seventh in ESPN's MVP straw poll, and filled the team's hole at center with Isaiah Hartenstein gone and Mitchell Robinson injured. Minnesota fans gave Towns a standing ovation after a video tribute. 

New Orleans (5-23): Probably headed toward selectively selling before the trade deadline as losers of 9-of-10. Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram and Jose Alvarado remain out while CJ McCollum, Herb Jones and other returns have done little to stop the suffering this season. Jake Fischer reported that they're open to trading anyone except Jones, Yves Missi and Trey Murphy III, which opens another interesting debate on Williamson and Ingram's future, if there's even interest in them on the market given their recent injury history.

Oklahoma City (22-5): Rough looking NBA Cup final loss where Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shot 8-of-24 from the field and the Thunder finished 15.6% from three didn't throw them off. Gilgeous-Alexander poured 35 points on the Magic's tough defense two nights later before Jalen Williams downed the Heat with 33 points on Friday. They've won seven straight and Gilgeous-Alexander stood within striking distance of Nikola Jokić in ESPN's MVP straw poll. Their offensive struggles against the Bucks showed how a team like the Celtics could use their three-point volume advantage to manipulate the math against the Thunder's inside and mid-range attack. They shoot only 39.1 threes per game (T-10th). The Thunder are among the teams that could add to their shooting by trading for Nets wing Cam Johnson. 

Orlando (17-12): Will host the Celtics for their first meeting this season on Monday without Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. They're 14-10 since Banchero's injury while Wagner's absence led to losses in their last three games. They probably don't have the offensive firepower to beat Boston, but their defense's ability to bother the Celtics with their three-point efficiency down to begin the year will make the game an interesting watch, especially if Boston looks ahead to its Christmas Day game. Cole Anthony could become available as the Magic assess their roster closer to the trade deadline. Jalen Suggs (38.4% FG) is taking 18.3 shots per game without Banchero and Wagner. Moe Wagner has stepped up with 16.3 PPG on 63.9% shooting over that stretch. Banchero hasn't progressed to contact yet, making his return this month unlikely. 

Philadelphia (9-16): Joel Embiid returned from his sinus fracture wearing a mask in the 76ers' 108-98 win over the Hornets. Embiid scored 34 points in 31 minutes and barring injury can now play in Boston for Wednesday's Christmas Day meeting with the Celtics at 5 p.m. Paul George only managed five points while KJ Martin started at the four, underscoring issues for the Sixers beyond Embiid's sparse availability this year. The Sixers will remain active ahead of the trade deadline, ESPN reported, despite their slow start. Philadelphia approved a plan to keep the 76ers in the city with a new downtown arena despite significant opposition from locals. The $1.3 billion arena will open in 2031. 

Phoenix (14-12): Bradley Beal, who owns a no-trade clause, addressed reports that Jimmy Butler could land with the Suns if the Heat move on from the star. Moving Beal would be the only feasible way to complete the unlikely deal from the Suns' standpoint. Beal hasn't given the rumor any thought, he told reporters this week, and compared it to years of trade speculation he faced in Washington that typically didn't pan out. Devin Booker is out on Saturday against Detroit with groin tightness, continuing the team's injury woes. 

San Antonio (14-13): Gregg Popovich released his first statement since suffering a stroke on Nov. 2 and leaving the Spurs' sideline to recover since. He expressed a desire to return to the bench, but remains without a timeline to do so. 

“This has certainly been an unexpected six weeks for my family and me,” Popovich said. “As we work together on my recovery, I want to take a moment to share that the outpouring of support we’ve received during this time has been truly overwhelming in the best possible way."

Victor Wembanyama scored 42 points in 37 minutes on Thursday to beat the Hawks as his massive scoring nights become more consistent. They've won 3-of-4, Jeremy Sochan scoring double-figures in six of his seven games back from injury. They're 0.5 games back of the playoff picture, but probably need a deadline boost to break through.

Toronto (7-21): Scottie Barnes (ankle) returned without restrictions this week and scored 16 points on 5-of-11 shooting as the Raptors lost their sixth straight game against Brooklyn. Barnes had been sidelined since Dec. 9, while Bruce Brown and Immanuel Quickley remained out.