The Boston Celtics have an 11-game lead in the Eastern Conference and a 6.5 game lead in the entire NBA. The C’s are currently on an eight-game winning streak and already clinched the division.

The Celtics are dealing with their fair share of injuries throughout the roster but the bench or the stay ready group, as they’re called around here, has really stepped up recently which has allowed Boston to manage their players ahead of the playoffs.

Payton Pritchard

Payton Pritchard is the only player to play in every game for the Celtics this season and the game has slowed down for him now in his fourth-year with Boston. He’s averaging 8.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3.0 assists in 21.3 minutes per game this season.

Boston outscores opponents by 12.8 points per 100 possessions when Pritchard is on the floor and he has a 121.4 offensive rating, which is third on the Celtics this season behind Derrick White (122.8) and Jayson Tatum (122.4).

In his last four game, Pritchard has 32 assists and only five turnovers. He’s also averaging 19 points per game in that span, as well. He has carved a role for himself and the Celtics are clearly benefiting from it when he’s on the court.

Jaylen Brown

Jaylen Brown is averaging 28.8 points on 54.3 percent shooting, 6.1 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game since the All-Star break. He is one of the top scorers in the league since the break, ranking fourth in the NBA.

Brown has also kept his promise to himself about making an All-NBA Defensive team, as he’s really showcased himself on that end of the court this season. He’s taken the responsibility of defending the best players on the opposing team and thrives while doing so.

He’s playing the best basketball of his career this season and should be on an All-NBA team and a Defnesive team, in my opinion.

Jrue Holiday

Jrue Holiday took a hit to his shoulder on Mar. 17 against the Wizards, which resulted in him missing the last four games with an AC joint sprain. He’s been on the sidelines for these last four games and he isn’t in a sling or anything, but if he continues to miss more time, it’ll start to be more concerning of an injury.

Holiday referred to it as “dead arm” which translates similarly to a stinger. If he misses more time than expected, things will look different for Boston coming fast around the corner.

Other notes and takeaways:

• Kristaps Porzingis returned the court after managing a hamstring injury. He confirmed imaging saw something and the extended time off was more of a precautionary route from the team.
• Sam Hauser returned to action after a first half ankle injury in Washington kept him from breaking the franchise record for most 3-pointers made in a game, held by Marcus Smart (11), Hauser had 10.
• Derrick White is close to reaching his 3-point contract incentive.
• Jaylen Brown is observing Ramadan once again this season.
• Joe Mazzulla is experimenting with his lineups, using double-big rotations and variations.

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Photo Credit: Danielle Parhizkaran, The Boston Globe via Getty Images