Celtics Nation, as we hit mid-season on January 6, 2026, the Boston Celtics are exceeding expectations at 22-12 (third in the East), thriving without superstar Jayson Tatum – who’s been sidelined all year recovering from that torn Achilles. Jaylen Brown has stepped into the spotlight as a legit MVP candidate, Derrick White’s anchoring the defense, and Payton Pritchard has exploded into a full-time starter, earning his stripes after the offseason trade that sent Jrue Holiday to Portland for Anfernee Simons.
But here’s the “good problem” Joe Mazzulla faces: When (or if) Tatum makes his comeback late this season, someone’s gotta shift – and MassLive’s Brian Robb predicts Pritchard could slide back to the bench, especially if Boston holds onto sixth-man sparkplug Simons past the February 5 trade deadline. “Whether Pritchard remains in the starting five is a tough call upon Tatum’s return… If [Simons] is not [traded], moving Pritchard back to 6th man makes sense for better offensive balance,” Robb noted.
Pritchard’s earned every minute this year. After winning Sixth Man of the Year last season (record 246 bench threes), he’s seized the opportunity post-Holiday trade: Solid double-digit scoring (around 16 PPG in December with shaky 31% from three, but 6 reb/5 ast lines showing growth), and his regression to the mean from deep could unlock even more. He’s proven he can initiate, space the floor, and energize – thriving staggered with Brown in second units too.
If benched? No sweat – Pritchard’s the ultimate pro. He’d reclaim that elite sixth-man role (instant offense off the pine), letting Tatum/White handle primary creation while Brown dominates iso. Simons (high-volume scorer, potential trade chip) adds bench firepower, keeping spacing lethal. Mazzulla’s rotations are flexible; staggering stars ensures everyone’s cooking.
Tatum’s return timeline? Mazzulla’s hands-off: “It’s all up to him… health is the most important thing.” JT’s ramping rehab (one-on-one drills), but no rush – this team’s proving they can compete now, buying time for a healthy comeback.
Bottom line: Mazzulla won’t overthink it. Whatever maximizes wins – Pritchard starting or super-sub – he’ll adapt. With this depth, Banner 19 talk isn’t dead yet.
Celtics fans, keep Pritchard starting even with Tatum back? Trade Simons for upgrades? How huge has PP been this year?