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USA Today
14-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Payton Pritchard on how ancient philosophy helps his offense with the Boston Celtics
Backup Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard might not strike you as a bookworm. But if you guard him on the court, you might find yourself being stricken in the chest with his shoulder to create space for his offense, inflected by what he read in an all-time classic tome. Speaking in a recent interview with the Celtics Chronicle's Adam Taylor, the Celtics guard opened up about his increased use of aggressive contact to create space for his game -- and how a reading suggestion helped him execute it at an elite level. "That's something I've worked a lot on," said Pritchard. "Being a smaller guard, you've got to find ways to create separation." "I studied guys who are great at using their body and not avoiding contact but using it to your advantage," added the Oregon native. "It's become a part of my game that I lean on more and more." As to where he turned for inspiration for the newfound bellicose style of play for Pritchard, the University of Oregon alum offered up a surprising source. "One of my coaches also recommended I read The Art of War, which got me into the mindset," he explained. The book in question, dating from the fifth century B.P. and written in ancient China by renowned military strategist and philosopher Sun Tzu, is not light reading nor vaguely related to the sport of basketball, which it predates by roughly the same amount of time as the start of the Roman Empire in the west. Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle But it is held as an example of timeless strategy in any sort of conflict that has been bent to everything from actual battlefields to corporate boardrooms, and Pritchard's deployment of it to his own improvement of a player is nothing short of intriguing. If he is looking for a new read to prime him for a challenging season ahead with Boston while Jayson Tatum nurses his torn Achilles back to health, we recommend "Letters from a Stoic" by Seneca.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Are the Boston Celtics on a collision course with the New York Knicks?
Are the Boston Celtics on a collision course with the New York Knicks? The Boston Celtics appear to be on a collision course with the New York Knicks. Tom Thibodeau's team strengthened its rotation during the summer, adding Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns, while also re-signing OG Anunoby. Those additions have helped New York secure the third seed in the Eastern Conference. Still, it's worth noting, the Knicks haven't beaten a top-three team in the NBA all season. As things currently stand, the Celtics will face the Knicks in the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs, assuming New York overcomes the Detroit Pistons and that Boston makes it out of the opening round, too. That matchup will dictate who makes it through to the conference finals and will likely be a cannon event in what could become a legitimate rivalry between the two teams in the coming years. Advertisement During a recent episode of the 'Big 3' podcast, hosts A. Sherrod Blakely and Gary Washburn discussed how the Celtics and Knicks will match up during the postseason. They also touched on potential matchups and how Jalen Brunson will be a significant factor in New York's chances of success. Boston will face the Knicks for the last time in the 2024-25 regular season on Tuesday, April 8. You can watch the full podcast episode by clicking on the embedded video above. Watch the "Celtics Chronicle" podcast on: YouTube: Substack: This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Are the Celtics on a collision course with the Knicks?
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Boston Celtics fans should still be worried about Jaylen Brown's knee
Jaylen Brown is dealing with a bone bruise that has limited some of his mobility, while also sapping the burst out of his first step. The Boston Celtics star has also been dealing with knee tendinopathy for the past few years. However, despite Brown's recent injury struggles, he has been suiting up for the Celtics and finding ways to impact games. Brown's mid-range shooting has become a key factor in his ability to remain impactful. While his knee issues will undoubtedly limit his explosiveness around the rim, he can play under more control when hunting space in the mid-range. Once the playoffs begin, Brown will have plenty of room to operate, as most teams shift toward a drop coverage due to the half-court nature of the postseason. Advertisement Nevertheless, Felger and Mazz recently shared their concerns regarding Brown's knee issues on 98.5 The Sport's Hub. They discussed whether Brown will be anywhere near 100% healthy once the playoffs arrive, and whether he can sustain the physicality of the postseason on what will likely be another deep run. You can watch the full discussion between Felger and Mazz by clicking on the embedded video above. Watch the "Celtics Chronicle" podcast on: YouTube: Substack: This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Celtics fans should still be worried about Jaylen Brown's knee
USA Today
08-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Are the Boston Celtics on a collision course with the New York Knicks?
Are the Boston Celtics on a collision course with the New York Knicks? The Boston Celtics appear to be on a collision course with the New York Knicks. Tom Thibodeau's team strengthened its rotation during the summer, adding Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns, while also re-signing OG Anunoby. Those additions have helped New York secure the third seed in the Eastern Conference. Still, it's worth noting, the Knicks haven't beaten a top-three team in the NBA all season. As things currently stand, the Celtics will face the Knicks in the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs, assuming New York overcomes the Detroit Pistons and that Boston makes it out of the opening round, too. That matchup will dictate who makes it through to the conference finals and will likely be a cannon event in what could become a legitimate rivalry between the two teams in the coming years. During a recent episode of the 'Big 3' podcast, hosts A. Sherrod Blakely and Gary Washburn discussed how the Celtics and Knicks will match up during the postseason. They also touched on potential matchups and how Jalen Brunson will be a significant factor in New York's chances of success. Boston will face the Knicks for the last time in the 2024-25 regular season on Tuesday, April 8. You can watch the full podcast episode by clicking on the embedded video above. Watch the "Celtics Chronicle" podcast on: YouTube: Substack:
USA Today
08-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Boston Celtics' Joe Mazzulla reveals secret to record-setting success from 3-point range
Boston Celtics' Joe Mazzulla reveals secret to record-setting success from 3-point range The Boston Celtics set a new NBA record on Friday, April 4, becoming the team to score the most 3-point shots in a single season. Under Joe Mazzulla, the Celtics have become the best perimeter-shooting team in the NBA, both in terms of volume and 3-point percentage. The Celtics have attempted 3770 3-point shots this season, knocking down 1394 of them. When you couple their scoring prowess with their ability to pressure the rim and counter a defense in the mid-range, it's easy to see why they're the reigning champions. When speaking to the media after Boston's 123-103 win, Mazzulla credited his team's success on the perimeter. The third-year head coach noted how the key to the Celtics' 3-point shooting is finding the best shot possible on every possession. Boston will often swing the ball around the horn until they find a gap in the defense. You can watch Mazzulla's full news conference by clicking on the embedded video above. Watch the "Celtics Chronicle" podcast on: YouTube: Substack:
