What is going on with Celtics guard Payton Pritchard?

COMMENTARY

The Celtics are only two games into a long season, but they’re encountering a problem they haven’t faced in quite some time: Payton Pritchard has been practically a non-factor to start the season.

The former NBA sixth man of the year earned a contract extension prior to this season, and many just assumed he’d be a starting guard alongside Derrick White all year. He started 50 of 79 games last season, so it’s not like the logic didn’t line up.

But, in Tuesday’s season opener, Joe Mazzulla went with Jordan Walsh over Pritchard in the backcourt. And then he did so again on Friday, even against the Knicks, who have a similarly sized and similar-style point guard in Jalen Brunson.

Pritchard taking a backseat in order to give Boston energy off the bench is one thing. But he hasn’t done that, either.

He did score 17 points on Tuesday, but his 3-pointer wasn’t all there like it has been, and many of those points came at the free-throw line, as the Pistons couldn’t find defense for him down low without fouling. And Pritchard followed that up-and-down performance Tuesday with very little involvement on Friday.

He scored just four points against New York, draining just a single shot before hitting a timely free throw in the final 15 seconds during the Knicks’ desperate attempt to preserve the clock.

It’s early, but Pritchard’s lack of offensive identity isn’t nothing.

Is Pritchard’s role in the offense diminishing?

It’s safe to say Paul George has been better than advertised through two games, and Jayson Tatum is always going to be Jayson Tatum. He showcased that on Friday night with a cool, calm, and clutch 36-point, nine-rebound, seven-assist night in the win over the defending champions.

But are those two stars alone really to blame for Pritchard not having enough chances?

The answer is unclear. Obviously, Pritchard has already played alongside both Tatum and Jaylen Brown for a number of years. So star power alone isn’t likely the issue.

What’s happening early in the season seems to be a bit of ambiguity as to how Boston’s rotation shapes up underneath the usual suspects.

The Celtics have 11 guys they’re willing to play on any given night. That’s far more than what Mazzulla has rotated in the past. And until a few bench players start distinguishing themselves from the rest of the group, it seems like that deep rotation isn’t going to change.

There are spots for Walsh, Sam Hauser, Baylor Scheierman, Neemias Queta, Hugo Gonzalez, and Luka Garza. Pritchard is getting a bit lost in that shuffle. He was always the first man off the bench that Mazzulla looked to when he needed to rest a starter or two. But he’s got so many combinations now for different situations.

And part of Pritchard’s struggles could be attributed to growing pains as teams get to know him better and prepare for him.

Pritchard was getting picked up aggressively at half-court in each of the last two games. He’s not the unassuming talented player that flew under the radar. More and more, guys like Hauser are finding themselves in those spots with open looks, while Pritchard is being taken as more of a serious threat.

So, there are a number of things that could be attributed to Pritchard’s unclear role. But there’s also plenty of time to work through those kinks.

But it’s also true that whatever is going on with him needs to be solved sooner rather than later. Boston’s hopes to remain a force in the East rely on just about everybody in the lineup meeting or exceeding expectations this year.

Pritchard has proven capable of being a starting guard in the NBA. But he’ll have to fight through more adversity this season, and have sustained success doing so.