NBA FINALS: CELTICS VS. WARRIORS

June 15, 2022

Payton Pritchard

Boston Celtics

Practice Day

Q. How important is it for you to make the open shots you'll take tomorrow?

PAYTON PRITCHARD: Very important. Definitely we need us bench guys to come in and give them a boost. It's going to be really important.

Q. You've been able to relax a little bit since the last game? Tell me what were your thoughts?

PAYTON PRITCHARD: Obviously we're disappointed after the loss, but it's a seven-game series so you got to turn over a new leaf and get ready for the next one.

Q. What will be important in turning over that new leaf?

PAYTON PRITCHARD: Just trying to fix the things that we can improve on. It's just a new day. It's not like the NCAA tournament where it's a one-game elimination. You’ve got seven games. You’ve got to move on quickly and get ready.

Q. How do you deal personally with the pressure when the stakes are this high?

PAYTON PRITCHARD: Try not to think about it too much. I mean, when you step away from the game, the court, you try just to be a normal person a little bit, take your mind away.

When you're preparing, you prepare how you always do. You got to find separation.

Q. Is it a matter of making any adjustments at this point or is it just a matter of execution?

PAYTON PRITCHARD: I think every game allows certain adjustments. You got to make the right adjustments at the right time. For the most part it's about getting stops and making shots.

Q. We noticed the music was a little bit different in the house today, chill vibe. Was that intentional?

PAYTON PRITCHARD: Probably. We're just trying -- basketball is fun. At the end of the day we got to come out here and enjoy it, take it all in, be ready to play.

Q. Are you feeling any pressure for this do-or-die game?

PAYTON PRITCHARD: I don't think it's pressure. I just think we're looking forward to the challenge. Our backs have been against the wall many times now. We're used to it. It's just going to be a good opportunity again.

Q. You mentioned your backs have been against the wall. How much confidence does that give you going into tomorrow?

PAYTON PRITCHARD: I think our confidence never wavered. It's always going to be the same going into every game. I think we're just going to be mentally and physically prepared to go at it tomorrow.

Q. How do you go about cleaning up mistakes, like turnovers specifically?

PAYTON PRITCHARD: Just being smarter a little bit. There's going to be turnovers in the game. We know that. We're not going to be perfect. It's just finding little ways to clean it up and make the right play.

Q. You will be the third team in NBA history to play three Game 7s if you forced it to seven: The '88 Lakers, the '94 Knicks. What does that say about the resilience of this team?

PAYTON PRITCHARD: It shows our path has been pretty tough. It's hard-fought, it writes to our story.