Like switching from fluorescent tubes to an LED ring light, winning a championship puts everything in gentler relief. Flaws tend to be waved away (“Well, they won last year, didn’t they?”) and strengths more notably appreciated. The warm glow gives everyone involved a boost.
One player whose game should gain more notoriety is Payton Pritchard. After watching him evolve last season, I’m more convinced than ever that he has a chance to win Sixth Man of the Year this season.
Let’s get the caveat out of the way first. No, Pritchard might not even be the Celtics’ sixth man.