The Boston Celtics have moved into the No. 2 spot in the Eastern Conference thanks to their strong recent play–most notably a run of 11 wins in 15 games going back to December 19. But despite that progress they remain comfortably behind the Detroit Pistons, the top team in the conference, which established an East lead thanks to a 15-2 start and has held firm since. The Pistons had gone through a dip in performance but won five of their last six. The Celtics need a full complement of players, and that includes Payton Pritchard.
Last time out for the Celtics, Pritchard was sidelined with an ankle injury and missed Boston’s win over Atlanta. But going into Detroit, Boston will be facing a hefty favorite.
It is a surprise, of course, that the Celtics (with Jayson Tatum rehabbing from an Achilles tendon tear) have gotten as far as they have in the East, but beating the Pistons and making headway on the No. 1 seed in the conference would represent a step forward in what has been a surprise season.
Celtics Will Have Payton Pritchard
Pritchard, it turns out, will be on the floor. He was listed as questionable coming into the day, but the Celtics altered their injury report to move him to “available.”
Here’s the official injury list from the Celtics for Monday:
“Injury Report Update:
Chris Boucher – Low Back Spasms – PROBABLE
Josh Minott – Left Ankle Sprain – OUT
Payton Pritchard – AVAILABLE
Jayson Tatum – Right Achilles Repair – OUT”
Pritchard has continued to improve here in his fifth season, with 16.6 points, 5.4 assists and 4.5 rebounds this year. His shooting has dipped considerably, to 44.7% from the field and 33.8 from the free-throw line. He had undergone a rough stretch in December, but in the 12 games before he was injured, Pritchard had averaged 18.3 points on 47.5% shooting and 36.0% 3-point shooting.
Pistons Will Try to ‘Control Chaos’
When it comes to great stories in the Eastern Conference, where bad news has been the norm (ask the Pacers, Knicks and Bucks), the Pistons might be the only tale that can rival that of the Celtics this year. Detroit showed promise last year in its first season under BJ Bickerstaff, but no one saw the Pistons controlling the conference the way they have.
Bickerstaff credits the team’s motto, one that would suit the Celtics this year, too: “Control the chaos.”
Explained Bickerstaff: “You know something is coming. I think that was the most important thing is figuring out, how do we prepare for whatever it is that’s coming? Coming into the season, we expected the outside noise of higher expectations, guys in contract years, we had new guys, you know at some point in time, an injury is gonna happen. And we wanted to be in position where we were prepared when those moments happen, that we could handle them.
“That’s where the motto came from and that’s where our mindset still is.”
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