For the first time in four years, the Boston Celtics will not enter the season as title contenders when opening night rolls around in the fall. Their roster looks considerably different after offloading Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis in a pair of cost-cutting trades, losing Luke Kornet, and presumably Al Horford in free agency, and having to play without Jayson Tatum as he rehabs his ruptured right Achilles tendon.
Despite all of that, Payton Pritchard’s mentality hasn’t changed as he and his teammates gear up for their newest challenge.
“We’re definitely trying to be a playoff team,” Pritchard told NBC Sports Boston’s Chris Forsberg during an appearance on the “Celtics Talk” podcast.