Celtics Are Counting on Pritchard, Simons’ Defense

Despite the offseason departure of Jrue Holiday, the Boston Celtics remain in good hands at point guard.

Payton Pritchard and Anfernee Simons bring plenty of offensive firepower to the position. Pritchard averaged 14.3 points per game last season, while Simons put up 19.3 with the Trail Blazers. Simons previously compiled a pair of 20 PPG seasons earlier in his Portland tenure.

However, despite the scoring punch, questions remain about the duo’s defensive capabilities heading into the 2025-26 season.

It will be the first time Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla won’t have a proven, elite defensive point guard. After years with Holiday and Marcus Smart anchoring the perimeter defense, Pritchard and Simons have big shoes to fill.

Pritchard’s Defensive Growth

Pritchard had a career year in 2025, capped off by winning Sixth Man of the Year honors. 

An underrated part of his improvement came on defense. He set a career high in steals per game (0.9), and, for the second time in his career, posted a positive defensive box plus/minus (0.2), per Basketball Reference. 

Due to his 6-foot-1, 195-pound frame, Pritchard was frequently attacked in screen situations during the playoffs, which dropped his defensive box plus/minus to -0.6.

“I definitely need to be more active with my hands. I feel like I do a good job of keeping people in front, making them shoot tough shots,” Pritchard said about his defensive skills. “How can I get more steals? How can I create transition opportunities to get easy baskets and come out and run?”