Joe Mazzulla’s coaching philosophies aren’t that simple. With Jrue Holiday out, he’s reportedly willing to trust Payton Pritchard, the reigning Sixth Man of the Year, to take care of playmaking. The Shamrocks added Anfernee Simons from the Trail Blazers to add some depth to their second unit. But Mazzulla doesn’t expect Simons to play like Pritchard.

According to Jay King, the Celtics head coach, “did not like that a question about Payton Pritchard also included a mention of Anfernee Simons,”. There is a correlation. Both Pritchard and Simons are explosive scorers who can shoot the ball. But just because they follow a common profile, Mazzulla doesn’t want to club them together.

“I see what you did there, build that correlation between Payton and Anfernee, which I’m sure you’ll try to do the entire season. [I’ll] nip that in the bud immediately. Those two don’t go hand in hand. They’re completely different,” Mazzulla told the reporter.

There could be a battle for the starting role once the season rolls out. Payton Pritchard is very much capable of handling the ball, but is a key part of the Celtics’ strong bench unit. Furthermore, Anfernee Simons’ stint with the franchise is bound to be uncertain. Since the initial trade, the former Trail Blazers guard has been engulfed in trade rumors.

The Celtics, who could miss Jayson Tatum for the entire season, are focusing on shedding as much salary as possible. That began with them trading Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis early in the offseason. Anfernee Simons also carries a $27 million hit, which the Celtics may still look to offload depending on his performances during the season.

If Simons impresses, he could garner interest from around the league as an unrestricted free agent next summer. But how do the Celtics utilize him?

Anfernee Simons can’t replicate Payton Pritchard’s role

With Jayson Tatum healthy, the Celtics had an identity to shoot three-pointers. The system emphasized Payton Pritchard’s shooting abilities. Notably, over 70% of his field goal attempts came from beyond the arc. But the Celtics don’t look the same anymore. Hence, for Mazzulla to say Pritchard and Simons don’t go hand in hand isn’t entirely wrong.

The Celtics lost Horford, a center who could shoot the ball, allowing for spacing. This season, they don’t have such versatility at their disposal. So there’s a good chance the way the Celtics play changes entirely. It might still rely on threes, but it could be Derrick White or Jaylen Brown handling the ball with the starters.

Anfernee Simons, for one, has shown he can put the ball on the floor. The 26-year-old averaged 4.8 assists last season in just over 30 minutes. Simons has experience operating as a scoring guard who makes plays for others. Pritchard did pass, but was more focused on being an offensive pivot for the Shamrocks last season.

Additionally, what Simons can’t do like his backcourt counterpart is defend. Pritchard’s intensity masked his undersized stature. Defensively, he can stick to guards and create possessions for the Celtics. Anfernee Simons is yet to be a focal contributor. But to be a consistent player for Mazzulla, he will have to compete on both ends of the floor.

How do you see Simons’ role with the Celtics? Let us know in the comments below.