Payton Pritchard pulled back the curtain on his offseason grind, and what he focused on could be a game-changer for the Boston Celtics. The guard revealed his mission was to learn how to draw more free throws, a skill he developed through experimentation, not cheap foul-baiting. He’s not trying to trick anyone, he’s just finding natural ways to put defenders at a disadvantage and get to the line. Pritchard told NBC Sports Boston he didn’t study one specific player, instead focusing on “live settings” and figuring out how to naturally draw fouls based on defensive situations. This isn’t just some small tweak; it’s a calculated move to evolve his game.
Pritchard’s Offensive Evolution
This isn’t some side project for Pritchard, either. He’s become one of Boston’s most important offensive players, yet his free-throw attempts have always been a glaring hole. Last season, he averaged 1.7 free-throw attempts per game, which was a career high, but that number is just too low for someone scoring nearly 20 points per game. Think about it, how many high-volume scorers live on so few charity stripe trips? His free-throw rate, which measures attempts per field-goal attempt, sat at 0.125. That’s right there with guys like Donte DiVincenzo, Jared McCain, Lu Dort, and Jose Alvarado. If Pritchard can start getting to the line more consistently, even just a little, he’s going to instantly become a more efficient scorer, which is exactly what Boston needs.
The Celtics’ Glaring Free Throw Problem
And let’s be real, the Celtics desperately need *someone* to get to the free-throw line. Last season, this team ranked dead last in free-throw attempts per game. Dead last! It’s a fundamental part of the game that they just weren’t getting. The biggest problem? Jaylen Brown, who is no longer on the team, led Boston with a whopping 7.5 free-throw attempts per game. That wasn’t just leading, it was crushing the competition. Jayson Tatum was second on the squad at 4.9 attempts, and Derrick White was a distant third at 2.6. Even a healthy Tatum, who averages 5.4 free-throw attempts for his career, isn’t someone who lives at the line, and Paul George only averaged 2.7 attempts over two seasons in Philadelphia. With Brown gone, that leaves a huge void. If Pritchard’s newfound skill can help bridge that gap, it gives the Celtics another reliable source of efficient offense and helps replace a significant piece they lost.
We’ll be watching closely to see if Pritchard’s offseason work pays off when the season kicks off. Can he translate those “live settings” experiments into tangible results on the court? Boston desperately needs more trips to the line, and if Pritchard can deliver, it’ll make this Celtics offense even tougher to stop.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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