Peyton Prichard and Jaylen Brown are pre-game sparring partners, pushing each other into one-on-one pre-game workouts.
Brown is aware of his young partner's persistent minute struggles, as the frustration and drive he brings to the workouts.
"Peyton got that mindset where it's like if you don't take for answers, he'll never give up," Brown said after the Celtics' 113-104 win in Detroit on Sunday. "Those are the people I like to be around. These are the people who have high confidence in themselves and their confidence in themselves, and so is mine. It's almost like if you don't believe in yourself, So no one else will.
"And Peyton is one of those people he's never going to give up on, he always believes in himself no matter what the situation. It doesn't matter what cards are stacked against him, Peyton on himself He's the type of person to bet. I love to roll with these kind of people."
With Marcus Smart in a foul problem, and newcomer Derrick White struggling to find a rhythm, Pritchard got his chance against the Pistons, giving the Celtics a stretch with 19 points, three big 3-pointers and six assists .
Although Brad Stevens expressed supreme confidence in Peyton's backup abilities after Dennis Schroder was traded to Houston, his second year's point guard's playing time still fluctuated.
"For me, this whole year, has just been about trying not to get down," Pritchard said. "It's frustrating but to stick with my job and I see it as a way that I can get better, off-days, on game days. Just keep working hard and then your moment will finally come."
"It's definitely a good feeling to contribute like this, just to get a win," he said. “For me, the role I am in and some people coming off the bench, you have to find different ways to influence the game. It's not always going to happen with scoring, you have to stop. For me, it's just finding small ways in which I can contribute."
Brown and the rest of his teammates can now see the benefits of that approach.
"It's been a little tough for him. I talk to Peyton all the time. This is a guy who's talented and he wants to prove himself," Brown said. "He's got a lot of chips on his shoulder, This is how I remembered myself. So it was tough on him in stretches where he didn't play that much and stuff like that. But Peyton's got a great work ethic, so I guess it's more than everything. And he as a great psychic, and if he does justice - he is a half war man. As you have the right mindset, you will get your opportunity. And it looks like now Peyton is getting his chance. He's starting to make the right plays and really add to the win, and that's what's most important to us. ,
Back from the land of giants
Jason Tatum's love of All-Star Weekend is easily understandable. As evidenced by her impromptu photo op with Paul Pierce, Kevin McHale, Robert Parrish and Kevin Garnett, this is Tatum's chance to hang out with the greats. Ime Udoka couldn't be happier for him.
The Celtics coach said, "It's big, it's huge for people in their position, young people are coming in, you know that's what aspire to be." "Obviously look at the people within the organization who have had that success, but also be around greatness in general and so whenever you're in the All-Star Game you're among the elites in the game, but when You take it to that level, to the top 75, I'm sure he's rubbing shoulders and sharing stories with so many great people and getting them to recognize who he is and what he's doing and like you did. Said, "AI and some people talk to him all the time and it builds confidence in him and what he's doing and where he's going. It's good for him to be around a young player."
Detroit a challenge
Perhaps the best thing about Detroit, which is already blessed with young stars like Cade Cunningham and Saddique Bay, is that they will end up with a decent lottery pick due to their struggles earlier this season.
Then they will be even more difficult for the Celtics.
“They are a physical group, first of all. That is their identity. Win or lose they play the same way,” Udoka said. “Credit to Dwayne and what he is doing with them. His people have bought into it. So that first part is the physical, which we have no objection to. If they want to let us play from both sides then we also want to be physical.
“Then they are changing and mixing things up a lot at times, and we are good when we make quick decisions against their Switch – we have advantages there. Did the last game as well, but when we go slower And they become stable because of their switching, it doesn't suit us that much. They have length and shape and they are a physical team. Credit to them. Their record is not indicative of their way of playing. Make it tough on a lot of teams."