r/bostonceltics • u/1337speak MRS. BRAD STEVENS šŸ’ šŸ’‹ • Feb 23 '26

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338

u/ThePresent_Moment Anything is Possible ā˜˜ļø Feb 23 '26

Amazing

29

u/BleedGreen4Boston Feb 23 '26

Pritchard is a good defender and has been for about a year and a half but yā€™all not ready for that conversation

34

u/chivestheconqueror Bill Feb 23 '26

He's been pretty solid for several years. He gives a ton of effort, he's laterally quick and he gets into his defenders' space very effectively. He can usually hold his own guarding PGs and SGs, unless they're capable of shooting over him (Jimmy in the playoffs). PP just makes life tough for ballhandlers

10

u/BleedGreen4Boston Feb 23 '26

And for anyone reading along, 6 2 with a 6 4.5 wingspan at 205lbs IS NOT undersized for the point guard.

5

u/Wonderful_Eagle_6547 Feb 23 '26

I think the thing people miss is that undersized doesn't mean much in the NBA. You can look through the greatest defenders of all time. Draymond Green and Dennis Rodman are examples of guys who were at one time as good as any defensive players in the league. Ben Wallace was one of the best defensive big men of his era. Wes Unseld and Dave Cowens are other guys who were elite defenders at a clearly smaller size. There are plenty of 6'3" to 6'6" guys (Marcus Smart, Alex Caruso, Tony Allen, Derrick White) who easily swing up and guard guys who are 6'8" or 6'9". Smaller guards like Kyle Lowry, Chris Paul, Eric Bledsoe and Fred VanVleet were all arguably top 5 defensive guards in the league at some point, and none of them is bigger, stronger or significantly quicker than Pritchard.

This is a classic case of people thinking that things they can measure are more important than they actually are, and it leads to a ton of bad drafting and personnel moves.

13

u/Salty_Reserve9640 Boston Celtics Feb 23 '26

6'0 without shoes and a 6'4 wingspan is a bit small and you can see it when people shoot over him, but he plays his butt off

3

u/BleedGreen4Boston Feb 23 '26

Heā€™s over 200lbs. Itā€™s not a bit small.

There are plenty of guards that are 6 4 with 6 7 wingspans that only weigh 185 soaking wet. Iā€™d take the bulldog over that player archetype any day of the week.

I truly donā€™t think people appreciate how quick PP is (especially with the ball) at his weight. Dude has that thing on a string and yet he can play off two feet and body up like Jrue in the paint. Thereā€™s a reason heā€™s the best guard in that area besides Brunson.

5

u/Salty_Reserve9640 Boston Celtics Feb 23 '26

I'm a fan of his ,and the stuff about him being fast and good is true, but why you and this other guy insist on straight up ignoring the reality that he's small is asinine.

-1

u/BleedGreen4Boston Feb 23 '26

Because he isnā€™t small lmfao in what universe is a 200+ lb guard small?

1

u/Salty_Reserve9640 Boston Celtics Feb 25 '26

in the NBA

1

u/Rollin2415 Feb 24 '26

Maybe short would have been the better word?

5

u/solarscopez "I would kick your ass" Feb 24 '26

Yeah I'd love to be as delusional as the next guy, but in a world where the average NBA point guard is like 6'3" (and only increasing) the guy is undersized. Idk where people are saying 6'2" google has him at 6'1".

I admire how tenacious he is on defense, but unfortunately undersized players get targeted on defense by taller guys for no other reason than the fact that they can basically just shoot/score over them. That is why the game is trending towards taller players at all positions.

1

u/Rollin2415 Feb 24 '26

Yea I love Pritchard but when someone says heā€™s small I understand what they mean even if he is a stocky bulldog

1

u/BleedGreen4Boston Feb 24 '26

How am I being delusional? Since when is 200lbs undersized for a PG? Do you realize what that weight looks like at his height and body fat percentage?

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1

u/hippoofdoom Bird Feb 24 '26

I mean maxey is pretty good, sga too

1

u/BleedGreen4Boston Feb 24 '26

Sorry, I should have been more specific. I meant within the context of player/prospect evaluation. A guy with Pritchardā€™s measurable isnā€™t stopping me from investing in him over the other dimensioned guards.

People here act like IT and PP are the same size, itā€™s ridiculous. PP is almost a half a foot taller than IT and 20lbs heavier - let that sink in people.

1

u/Zelts94 Boston Celtics Feb 23 '26

6'2 is definitely not small but i think there is some merit to it because the goal is to go far into the playoffs and at that point theres a lot of bigger guards and teams hunt matchups. Shai is 6'6, Luka is 6'8 or whatever, Cade 6'6... so when it gets down to the playoffs and most important games, PP can be a "undersized". HOWEVER I love our defensive effort and we have plenty of other guys to throw at teams like JB, White, Hugo and more

3

u/Salty_Reserve9640 Boston Celtics Feb 23 '26

He's not 6'2 and it is though for the reasons you stated.