Doubts increased about the Celtics’ backup players when Jrue Holiday was traded for in September, giving away Malcolm Brogdon, the reigning Sixth Man of the Year, and Robert Williams. Despite having the best top six in the NBA and Al Horford moving to the bench, doubts remained about who the Celtics could rely on behind them, making them championship favorites.
Grant Williams also left, moving to Dallas in a sign-and-trade, so the Celtics had to depend on players like Payton Pritchard, Sam Hauser, and others. There was doubt, even in the Celtics locker room, and Pritchard took it personally.
“I definitely did,” Pritchard said last week. “I think it’s just a chip on our shoulder that we always carry. It’s just the media and all that. They question because we haven’t really played. So I’m just glad that we’re able to show ’em.”
The Celtics’ backup players have effectively put those doubts to rest this season, especially over the last two months, with Pritchard leading the way.
Pritchard had expressed his desire for a bigger role last season while being behind Marcus Smart, Derrick White, and Brogdon in the guard pecking order. Despite this, the Celtics retained him, traded Brogdon, and extended his contract, showing their trust in him. He has responded with consistent performance, currently playing his best basketball. In the last five games, all Celtics wins, Pritchard has averaged 18.2 points and 8.0 assists per game, even making two starts.
His standout performance was in last Wednesday’s win over the Bucks, dominating the second quarter with 15 consecutive points and numerous hustle plays, including outrebounding the 7-foot-1 Brook Lopez and drawing a foul, earning a standing ovation from the TD Garden crowd. His impact has been felt across the board, including on defense, where coach Joe Mazzulla has consistently praised him for his toughness, describing it recently as underrated.
“I feel like my responsibility on this team is different every night,” Pritchard said. “I heard Joe talk about it, but it’s mostly energy and that can be offensively, defensively, rebounding. So for me, it’s just creating my game to be well rounded.”
It hasn’t just been Pritchard, though. Sam Hauser, who had a brief ankle injury that interrupted a remarkable shooting performance last week, seamlessly continued upon his return this weekend. He went 7-for-8 from 3-point range in Saturday’s win over the Bulls, becoming the second player in the NBA this season to make at least 20 triples over a three-game stretch. The other? Steph Curry.
Hauser, who struggled to stay in the lineup last season, has been a reliable contributor off the bench this season. Mazzulla has also praised him as an underrated defender, combined with his accuracy from beyond the arc at 43.9 percent this season, making it difficult to keep him off the court.
Mazzulla told reporters in Chicago that the comfort of knowing his teammates are looking for him is important to Hauser. He thinks most of Hauser's 3s come from good and timely passes, so it's the comfort level that he knows he'll get open and his teammates will see him.
Hauser has the second highest net rating in the NBA with 13.7, while Pritchard closely follows with a 13.2 net rating.
They have helped lead a bench unit that has always been there for the Celtics this season. Horford has stepped up in spot starts or coming off the bench, as he showed again with 23 points and eight rebounds on Saturday. Luke Kornet continued his excellent play with 13 rebounds, including five offensive boards. Oshae Brissett has provided energy almost every time he's played, and did so again on Saturday.
The Celtics' win on Saturday was a great example of how reliable the bench has become. They were missing three starters, playing on the second night of a back-to-back, but still managed to overcome a 57.3 percent shooting performance from the Bulls thanks to their depth. They achieved this by winning in areas that Mazzulla always emphasizes – beating the Bulls on the shot margin, second-chance points and the free throw line.
The Celtics have an 8-0 record when Jaylen Brown is out of the lineup, and they're 4-1 without Jayson Tatum. During their current nine-game winning streak, the Celtics have had eight different starting lineups. They continue to find ways to win games regardless of who's on the floor.
The Celtics will need their stars to play like themselves to win a championship. But as they secure the No. 1 seed and coast to the regular season's finish line, their bench is helping preserve them for the long run while also proving that they can be trusted this spring whenever they're needed.
Mazzulla said that every time someone goes into the game, they know their minutes matter and they play the role they need to in order to give the team the best chance to win. It looks different every night, so it's a credit to them.
