Hayward Out 4 Weeks (Per Shams)

[Linwood]

If I want to look for a little silver lining in all this, it's Gordon Hayward, can't help but feel bad for the dude.

Came to Boston to win with Stevens, only to miss the whole thing and have to watch the team almost do it without him.  (While also watching the team he left do pretty well too).

Came back and was a shell of his former self, and the team under performed with him.

This year he's playing like his old self, only to miss practically the whole playoffs (to date).  Plus all year, even when healthy, I feel like Gordon was at nest 4th and possibly 5th in media recognition of importance to the team.

If the C's were up 2-0 right now, how does Hayward feel?  Maybe like the team doesn't even need him.

But now with the team down 0-2, when they turn it around on Saturday and go on to win the series in 6, and then the championship, now he'll and everyone else will know he's an important member of the team.  He ain't Kevin Durant on the Warriors, an unnecessary appendage, he's a key contributor.

That's my silver lining outlook.

Nice storyline if that comes to fruition.

[SparzWizard]

https://twitter.com/JaredWeissNBA/status/1306794818958495747?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet

Gordon Hayward is progressing toward returning for Game 3 of Celtics-Heat after feeling good in Wednesday’s post-practice workout, a source with knowledge of the situation told
@TheAthleticNBA. He expects to get more on-court work Friday with the hope of playing Saturday.

Even if Hayward is simply standing in the corner and hitting 3s while only playing 10 minutes total, that's 1000% better than having Ojeyele on the court, period.

He NEEDS to play on Saturday. He does not have a choice. Even if he's 50% ready to go, he needs to suit up. Or else this team is dead lol. He is literally the Celtics' last hope.

[cman88]

this is big, and could be what is needed to turn the series around. the anti-gordon crowd here forgets how well he played with the celtics just his poise, playmaking and ability to attack the zone will do wonders for this team.

[Jvalin]

I'm not expecting him to be 100% ready tomorrow. Chances are he'll need some time to feel like his old self. Having said that, I'm hopeful that he'll change the momentum of the series. I mean, both games were super close. It's not like we need a huge boost to beat them.

[LilRip]

If Hayward can shoot, I’d play him. Semi Ojeleye is built like a brick house, which reflects the way he shoots ans reflects his agility on the court too.

[cman88]

I'm not expecting him to be 100% ready tomorrow. Chances are he'll need some time to feel like his old self. Having said that, I'm hopeful that he'll change the momentum of the series. I mean, both games were super close. It's not like we need a huge boost to beat them.

even at 80%. if he can handle the ball and get the team into good plays it makes the team better.

not to mention it keeps a stiff like Semi off the court. Or a Grant williams in the final minutes of a close game.

[Linwood]

Gordon Hayward has been upgraded to questionable for Game 3.

[Linwood]

For the first time in his career as a Celtic, Gordon Hayward has the opportunity to come back to a team losing, and in desperate need of his help.

[mobilija]

Gordon Hayward has been upgraded to questionable for Game 3.

That’s weird....because to a lot of posters on this board he’s been questionable for about 3 years (insert rim shot)!

[Phantom255x]

Like I said, a 60% Hayward who can hit a few shots and play like 10 minutes is way better than Ojeyele on the court, period.

[86MaxwellSmart]

If Hayward can shoot, I’d play him. Semi Ojeleye is built like a brick house, which reflects the way he shoots ans reflects his agility on the court too.

Semi is the Weakest Strong Man I've ever seen.

[droopdog7]

I know every injury is different but gosh darn this is frustrating.  Luka twists his ankle in a very similar looking way, comes back the same game, and then plays the next game in hobbled form.

My issue isn’t that Hayward’s injury isn’t worse, but why the hell we waiting for him to be like 1000%?  Take your hobbled self out there and give it a go any way you can already.

[Roy H.]

I know every injury is different but gosh darn this is frustrating.  Luka twists his ankle in a very similar looking way, comes back the same game, and then plays the next game in hobbled form.

My issue isn’t that Hayward’s injury isn’t worse, but why the hell we waiting for him to be like 1000%?  Take your hobbled self out there and give it a go any way you can already.

He had tendon and nerve damage.  My guess is that team doctors think there’s a risk to coming back too soon.

[Stig]

Hayward isn't going to save us. He hasn't played basketball for more than a month. The first 3 games he play will be very rusty, he might be back to 80% after 3-4 games, but there's no throw away games to let him warm up, we must win the next 4 games straight, or 4 of the next 5.

[gouki88]

Hayward isn't going to save us. He hasn't played basketball for more than a month. The first 3 games he play will be very rusty, he might be back to 80% after 3-4 games, but there's no throw away games to let him warm up, we must win the next 4 games straight, or 4 of the next 5.

50% Hayward, which he'll be better than anyway, is still a vast improvement over the likes of Ojeleye