Pritchard stays. One fewer thing to worry about.

The extension is done. Ten days ago I flagged Payton Pritchard's contract situation as the quiet decision Boston couldn't afford to let drift — and now it's settled. He's back, the backcourt is intact, and the front office can turn its full attention to the playoff bracket without that particular loose thread hanging over everything.

The case for keeping him was straightforward. Pritchard has been the team's second-leading scorer this season, averaging 17.1 points on 46.2% shooting across 84 games, logging over 32 minutes a night alongside Derrick White. That backcourt pairing has been the engine of Boston's offensive surge — the Celtics are scoring 124.1 points per game over their last 10 contests, and those two have been the primary reason. Letting that come apart over a contract dispute would have been a strange way to reward a season like that.

What the extension doesn't fix is the defensive side of things, which remains the actual problem heading into the playoffs. Boston is still giving up 110.2 points per game over the last 10 games, and a 10-10 record in close contests is not a number that inspires confidence against Philadelphia's roster. Pritchard staying helps the offense stay whole. The defense has to figure itself out some other way.