{"id":86721,"date":"2021-08-13T16:08:51","date_gmt":"2021-08-13T16:08:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.clnsmedia.com\/?p=86721"},"modified":"2021-10-11T07:12:40","modified_gmt":"2021-10-11T07:12:40","slug":"payton-pritchard-departs-celtics-nba-summer-league-early-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.clnsmedia.com\/payton-pritchard-departs-celtics-nba-summer-league-early-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Payton Pritchard Departs Celtics NBA Summer League Early"},"content":{"rendered":"

LAS VEGAS \u2014 Payton Pritchard did his job, showcasing a vastly improved all-around game that separated him from the pack at NBA Summer League<\/a> before he left Las Vegas. Most NBA veterans who do go to Summer League end up sitting early, though Boston\u2019s summer head coach Joe Mazzulla announced they planned for Pritchard to leave the event early this year from the beginning.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were able to talk as a team and an organization and Payton won\u2019t be with us the rest of the way,\u201d Mazzulla said. \u201cThat\u2019s just a decision, a prior engagement that he had months ago and that\u2019s something that we honored and we\u2019ll be moving forward.\u201d<\/p>\n

Aaron Nesmith and Romeo Langford will play on Saturday against the 76ers<\/a>, Mazzulla confirmed. Carsen Edwards will too. He received stitches and left Thursday\u2019s win over Orlando early with a right ear laceration following a collision with Cole Anthony.<\/p>\n

Pritchard averaged 20.3 points, 8.7 assists, 4.7 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 1.3 turnover per game on 51.4 percent shooting on 37 shots. He hit 57.7G% of his 26 three-point attempts, flashing expanded range, and 8-of-9 at the free throw line. His 1.38 points per possession led every player in summer league.<\/p>\n

Aaron Nesmith and Romeo Langford will play on Saturday against the 76ers<\/a>, Mazzulla confirmed. Carsen Edwards will too. He received stitches and left Thursday\u2019s win over Orlando early with a right ear laceration following a collision with Cole Anthony.<\/p>\n

Pritchard averaged 20.3 points, 8.7 assists, 4.7 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 1.3 turnover per game on 51.4 percent shooting on 37 shots. He hit 57.7G% of his 26 three-point attempts, flashing expanded range, and 8-of-9 at the free throw line. His 1.38 points per possession led every player in summer league.<\/p>\n

Mazzulla and the Celtics<\/a> had development plans for each player in Vegas, with Pritchard\u2019s revolving around the pick-and-roll, passing and being a floor general for Boston. He found teammates, including hitting Langford for a game-winner in transition in the opener against Atlanta and flashed a two-man game early in contests with Bruno Fernando once he arrived. His activity at point guard made Boston the highest-scoring team in Vegas.<\/p>\n

Boston is balancing player health, those goals along with getting everyone on the roster minutes and coaching. Mazzulla sat Langford in Thursday\u2019s game as part of a plan, he said, and hasn\u2019t paid much attention to the standings or where the Celtics are lined up in the championship race.<\/p>\n