Simply Amazed Last two Games

[rollie mass]

When Hayward was with Utah the Celtics played them a couple times a year and Gordon didn't even register I was watching Thomas. So now I am seeing Hayward for the first time and he makes it look so easy that  the defence looks suspect.
He navigates the paint as if it were slow motion using his height, strength and angles. I assume Luka Doncic plays like this but at only 20.
Was the level of talent that poor or am I seeing something special.

Also the team looked like Celts of old running the court or making sharp backdoor cuts.

[Ogaju]

The way he gets to his spots  is simply amazing...reminds me of PP. No way can he play this style with a player like the malcontent who hogs the ball for 80% of the shot clock before either jacking up a shot or passing it for someone to bail him out with the shot clock running out.  It has been really revealing to see Hayward operate without a pouting  malcontent primadonna hogging the ball

[SHAQATTACK]

Hayward is making it look easy , carving up the defense .  He truely is playing like the guy DA signed from Utah. 

His confidence is at all,time high IMO.  He doesn't look stressed at this level .kinda the way Bird toyed with defenses.  Rebounding , cutting , passing , defense....hes doing it all. SMH amazing.

[Somebody]

Seems like an All-NBA player right now with his two way play! Heck, he might be a top 15 player in the league if he keeps this up, his scoring+playmaking offensive profile is more valuable than a pure volume scorer or passer, and he's a plus on defense.

[Ogaju]

Seems like an All-NBA player right now with his two way play! Heck, he might be a top 15 player in the league if he keeps this up, his scoring+playmaking offensive profile is more valuable than a pure volume scorer or passer, and he's a plus on defense.

Does he remind you of PP. I am waiting for Somebody to tell me he is not playing like PP.

[Birdman]

Great see him playing like this but its against Cavs and Charlotte..wamt to see him do this against top teams

[Ogaju]

Great see him playing like this but its against Cavs and Charlotte..wamt to see him do this against top teams

There is no but here..he has played the teams put in front of him. If he had not played well folks would be all over him. He has done what you want him to do.

[cman88]

Gordon is back. Cant help but think that besides the injury, kyrie was holding these guys back last year.

Right now we have 3 players averaging over 20ppg

[td450]

There was a lot of concern that we weren't starting a real power forward and that we would get beat up, but the other side of the coin is that covering 3 big fast wings that can all score in bunches is a major problem.

It's only 7 games, but this is starting to look like a best case scenario for these three. All three look like they've taken significant steps forward, and they appear to be feeding on each other's presence. Peak Hayward is pretty impressive, and this team is perfectly constructed to give him the space to work his way into the lane and operate.

[footey]

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Great see him playing like this but its against Cavs and Charlotte..wamt to see him do this against top teams

He looked quite good vs Bucks, especially in the 2nd half comeback.

[Greengang5]

Great see him playing like this but its against Cavs and Charlotte..wamt to see him do this against top teams

Did you miss the Philly, Toronto, and Milwaukee games? 

[Rosco917]

His ball handling off the dribble is like watching Pac man. He weaves around defenders turning on a dime getting to his spots. He looks like old Hayward from the Jazz day.

This team has a nice 4 headed attack. It's nice to spread minutes according to who actually playing well between 4 players. Players get minutes to rest and come back fresh to put pressure on the opposing defense. 

[Somebody]

Seems like an All-NBA player right now with his two way play! Heck, he might be a top 15 player in the league if he keeps this up, his scoring+playmaking offensive profile is more valuable than a pure volume scorer or passer, and he's a plus on defense.

Does he remind you of PP. I am waiting for Somebody to tell me he is not playing like PP.

I will do that . I think he's more of a finesse player than Pierce, he's not as good at drawing fouls (his FTAs are way down compared to Utah Hayward, and even the latter pales in comparison to Pierce in terms of FTA). I also think that Pierce was a better self creator - his mid post game was incredibly reliable when it comes to making tough baskets.

What Hayward has an advantage in is passing - Pierce was a good playmaker at his peak, but he never made the reads that Hayward is doing now. Hayward needs to ramp up his FT rate and continue to improve on defense if he wants to be a top 15 lock, although I'm confident that he'll keep on making strides as the season progresses.

[gpap]

Yeah, Gordon looks like a new man these last 2 games.

It's almost like something went off in his head since the 2nd half of the Milwaukee game a couple weeks back.

It's not just the points, but the way he's scoring them and the way he's facilitating.

He's running up and down the court in ways he never did last year. He can also run the offense and play like a point guard which may be the most impressive thing about him.

I do like the Paul Pierce comparison that's been brought up.

I do also think it's the "Kemba effect." Hayward seems to have a FAR better relationship with Kemba than he did with Kyrie, which I'm sure doesn't hurt.

If you're two best and most experienced players aren't on the same page, that's trouble.

[gpap]

Great see him playing like this but its against Cavs and Charlotte..wamt to see him do this against top teams

Fair point. I think tomorrow's game in San Antone will be a good test. I also still think we need a big man when we match up vs the bigger teams in the league but I'm sure that's something that Ainge has taken note of (or at least I hope.)

I've gotta say, though he still needs work, Rob Williams has definitely take a big step forward from last year.