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3 Dark Horse Celtics Who Can Decide the NBA Finals

Luka Doncic's Dallas Mavericks are the only thing standing between the Boston Celtics and a league-record 18th NBA championship. We know what to expect from Boston's stars, but who are some unsung heroes who can step up and bring the trophy back home?

By Jacob Phillips

May 23, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA;Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard (11) dribbles the ball past Indiana Pacers guard T.J. McConnell (9) in the first half during game two of the eastern conference finals for the 2024 NBA playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
May 23, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA;Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard (11) dribbles the ball past Indiana Pacers guard T.J. McConnell (9) in the first half during game two of the eastern conference finals for the 2024 NBA playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports / David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
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Payton Pritchard

Pretend, for a second, you didn’t read the title at the top of the page. Who, if you had to guess, is leading this year’s Celtics in playoff three-point percentage?

Is it superstar Jayson Tatum? Could it be Jaylen Brown, the man with the largest contract in NBA history? Maybe Derrick White or Jrue Holiday, the two-headed monster making up one of the most well-rounded backcourts in NBA history? Hell, why not Al Horford; maybe his latest AARP renewal included a shooting boost.

None of those choices would be correct; the answer is fourth-year guard Payton Pritchard, who’s quietly enjoyed a career year in the shadow of a 64-win team. Pritchard, who shot very well in the regular season, has continued to impress in the Playoffs, averaging 8/2/2 on preposterous 48/46/92 splits. For the first time in his career, he’s looked the part of a legitimate backup guard, excelling even while going toe-to-toe with daunting playoff matchups.

I’m not expecting Pritchard to go supernova in the Finals; I’m simply suggesting he could give Boston valuable minutes, probably matched up against Dallas reserves such as Tim Hardaway Jr. or Dante Exum. His quickness and agility on the perimeter make him a tough cover for either one of those guys, let alone someone like Maxi Kleber; when you add in his recent shooting prowess, the Oregon native ought to give Dallas somewhat of a headache.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, he’ll serve as an integral ball handler when Tatum and/or Holiday need a break. Brown has yet to consistently flash that ability, and White is better served as a number-two type of guard, so the onus will be on Pritchard to run the offense and hold things down for certain stretches. If he can hit a couple of shots, that’ll be a bonus; if he can outplay Exum and Hardaway, that just gives Boston yet another area in which they outclass Dallas. 

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