Celtics

Payton Pritchard is within the thick of the race for NBA Sixth Man of the Year honors, and statistical success can only help him.

On Friday night, he was just two rebounds shy of his second profession triple-double. He had 18 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds.

Pritchard was in good position for a possible ninth rebound with 5:36 left within the fourth quarter. Indiana's James Johnson fired a 3-point shot from the highest of the important thing, and Pritchard was within the paint when it bounced off the back of the rim.

Pritchard was on one side of the basket and 6-foot-6 forward Jordan Walsh was on the opposite side. The taller, younger Walsh jumped to the rebound and grabbed it.

After the sport, Pritchard said he knew how close he was to a triple-double and explained why he didn't mind Walsh grabbing the board. It wasn't that he didn't do a triple-double. It's just that he didn't imagine in pursuing statistics just to perform the feat.

“I didn't tell him but after hearing the reaction from the fans it's very easy to see at the top of the scoreboard – you can hear the gasps,” Pritchard said. “But I’ve said this before, I don’t want to chase it because it doesn’t feel like a real achievement. You want to achieve it naturally in the flow of the game. Hopefully I’ll get another opportunity and get it.”

What got here more naturally to Pritchard was his encouragement of teammate Jaylen Brown's defense. Brown scored a season-high 44 points in that game, but additionally made 4 steals.

Pritchard chimed in with unprompted praise after Brown answered a matter concerning the thefts.

“To be honest with what he's capable of at his size, you don't see a lot of guys standing all over the court like that, guarding the best guards in the world,” Pritchard said. “Normally someone his size would be guarding a wing, but he takes on the best point guards in the world all over the court and then scores 25 (points). People really don’t understand how difficult this really is.”

“They overestimate what it will take,” he added. “He should definitely be in the All-Defensive team category because we give him the toughest assignments. It's a tiring thing and he creates havoc every night and makes it difficult. You definitely need to pay attention.”

Pritchard nodded as he finished his comments, and Brown turned to him with a large grin.

“Man, appreciate you bro,” Brown said because the pair clapped their hands.

At the beginning of the conversation, Brown and Pritchard were asked about their goals for the brand new 12 months. Brown said his two goals are to proceed his leadership on defense and proceed to empower teammates like Pritchard.

“I’m just going to come out and make sure our guys are ready to go,” Brown said. “Strengthening the boys and continuing to give our team confidence. I think we are only as strong as each limb. So we’re giving the boys the opportunity to continue their great play.”

“It would mean a lot to the team to help Payton win Sixth Man of the Year,” he added. “So, I continue to empower everyone on our team, give them confidence and also lead us on defense by getting guys all over the court, whatever I need to do, getting steals, being active. When our team is at its best, our boys are at their best and can give their all in defense.”