Hayward Out 4 Weeks (Per Shams)

[footey]

Hayward return likely to be "sooner rather than later...."

Don't know what that means, but I like the sound of it!!

https://www.boston.com/sports/boston-celtics/2020/09/12/gordon-hayward-eastern-conference-finals

[gift]

Hayward seems like very much of a rhythm players. I expect some rust when he does return, so hopefully he can return early in the Miami series (game 2??) and be in a groove by the finals.

[No Nickname]

Stupid ESPN.  Their article on Smart’s block just claimed Hayward’s wife already gave birth. Sheesh.

“The Celtics should be a different team against the Heat, as well. Injured forward Gordon Hayward, who has been out since the first game of Boston's first-round series against the Philadelphia 76ers after suffering a Grade 3 right ankle sprain, is now out of quarantine after returning home for the birth of his fourth child and was working out on the court before the game.

Stevens said he expected Hayward to return at some point against Miami but doesn't know when. Monday will mark four weeks since Hayward's injury -- which was the original time frame for his return. Boston's series against Miami begins Tuesday night.”

[jambr380]

Honestly, he looked pretty good in shoot-around last night. I know there isn't much to go on there, but he was shooting in rhythm and going side to side. We have to remember that even though he is injured,  there was no surgery needed. Once he is feeling 'good', he should be ready to go. You can tape a sprained ankle and give a cortisone shot for the pain and inflammation.

I am hoping by game 2 on Thursday, but maybe I'm crazy for thinking that.

[AshyLarry]

So no matter when Gordo comes back, he should come off the bench, right?

Smart has shown (understatement) to fit that starting role with those minutes very well, not to mention he just blatantly earned it.

That said, if Hayward needs those reps or if coming off the bench would likely mess with his confidence, what’s the move, here?

We need his firepower to go all the way, but I feel it should be regulated given the success the team’s had without him.

[footey]

So no matter when Gordo comes back, he should come off the bench, right?

Smart has shown (understatement) to fit that starting role with those minutes very well, not to mention he just blatantly earned it.

That said, if Hayward needs those reps or if coming off the bench would likely mess with his confidence, what’s the move, here?

We need his firepower to go all the way, but I feel it should be regulated given the success the team’s had without him.

Would be shocked to see him start until the Finals, if at all.  Only if Brad wanted to shake things up.  Smart not only has "earned" to keep that starting role, having Hayward come off the bench will be far less disruptive to team flow.

I think once Gordon gets his full strength back and rust off, he will be quite valuable in finishing games, where we may need to sit Kemba for defensive purposes.

[SparzWizard]

Just having Hayward on the court facilitating will help things out for the playoffs. He doesn't need to be the go-to scorer- leave that to Tatum/Brown/Smart/Walker.

Gonna have to keep him healthy for opening night in December if he's still in Celtics green all said and done.

[Greengang5]

So no matter when Gordo comes back, he should come off the bench, right?

Smart has shown (understatement) to fit that starting role with those minutes very well, not to mention he just blatantly earned it.

That said, if Hayward needs those reps or if coming off the bench would likely mess with his confidence, what’s the move, here?

We need his firepower to go all the way, but I feel it should be regulated given the success the team’s had without him.

I think at this point all the guys are willing to do whatever it takes to get to the finals. Hayward will be ready to contribute where needed.  If Hayward is healthy enough then the top 5 will get all the minutes they can handle. Butler is going to get wings in some foul trouble as well. If Smart can guard Adebayo then that would be awesome.

[Phantom255x]

So no matter when Gordo comes back, he should come off the bench, right?

Smart has shown (understatement) to fit that starting role with those minutes very well, not to mention he just blatantly earned it.

That said, if Hayward needs those reps or if coming off the bench would likely mess with his confidence, what’s the move, here?

We need his firepower to go all the way, but I feel it should be regulated given the success the team’s had without him.

I think the best strategy is having Hayward off the bench. He can help keep us afloat with scoring while the starters rest for a bit during games. Sometimes our bench scoring dries up and Hayward definitely is an improvement there over the likes of Ojeyele.

And remember, even if coming off the bench, that doesn't stop him from playing the last few minutes of games with the other starters.

Start with what we've been doing recently with Kemba/Smart/Jaylen/Tatum/Theis, finish with Kemba/Jaylen/Tatum/Hayward with Theis and Smart rotating depending on possession and if we need a stop (or if they go smallball entirely)

Honestly I'm expecting Hayward to be on minute restrictions anyways, so maybe he can play like 18-20 MPG, with the maximum being around 25 maybe if they are fortunate enough to reach the Finals and once we get there.

[LilRip]

For all the alleged “hate” I’ve given him, it’s plain to see that we need him in this series and the next. I’d advocate for him to come off the bench given how well we’ve started games. We also have a bad bench highlighted by travel monster, Semi Ojeleye

[gouki88]

For all the alleged “hate” I’ve given him, it’s plain to see that we need him in this series and the next. I’d advocate for him to come off the bench given how well we’ve started games. We also have a bad bench highlighted by travel monster, Semi Ojeleye

I think him off the bench initially is the way to go. Having Hayward as the first non-big off the bench instead of Ojeleye or Wanamaker is huge. Even just getting 2018-19 Hayward production for the playoffs would be such a crazy improvement over Semi

[keevsnick]

Honestly, he looked pretty good in shoot-around last night. I know there isn't much to go on there, but he was shooting in rhythm and going side to side. We have to remember that even though he is injured,  there was no surgery needed. Once he is feeling 'good', he should be ready to go. You can tape a sprained ankle and give a cortisone shot for the pain and inflammation.

I am hoping by game 2 on Thursday, but maybe I'm crazy for thinking that.

Not gonna lie I had the exact opposite reaction watching shoot around. When he was just walking his gait looked different, not quite smooth.

Thing about ankles is if they dont feel right it effects your whole game, if you can't push off hard you can become real useless real fast. Its gonna be interesting to see how effective he coming back from this one, he was kind of finding a groove a little in the bubble pre injury.

[ScoobyDoo]

I'll go on record to say I think it wold be absolute idiocy to do anything other than bring Hayward off the bench. If it weren't for "the shot" from Aunoby the Celts may have well closed out Toronto in four or five games. Don't mess it up. Bring Hayward off the bench.  It wouldn't even be a consideration to start him if I were coaching.

There are other things at play as well, long term plays. I liek Smart as our starting point guard long term. He establish a tough team mentality on the defensive end, he can't get abused on switches and on the offensive end while he's not flashy he's a great floor general who consistently makes the right fundamental plays.

I love him as our long term point guard from this point forward - period.


Taking it another step.
* If Robert Williams can take another leap next year
* We can find our legit, properly sized, long term PF with the 14th or a combination of our draft picks and we start Smart at the one? Could be a ridiculous run. Tiem Lord and Smart with great D on the bookends and a a lot of firepower in between with Tatum, Brown and "X" player at PF.     

[cman88]

I think hayward off the bench to start is good...BUT, we clearly can use him against Miami. Brad played our starters into the ground. Having someone like hayward who averages 17ppg and can distribute takes pressure off those guys.

We saw, in games where Kemba or brown or tatum struggles we had no other guy to really pick up the scoring. thats something hayward could do.

[wiley]

For all the alleged “hate” I’ve given him, it’s plain to see that we need him in this series and the next. I’d advocate for him to come off the bench given how well we’ve started games. We also have a bad bench highlighted by travel monster, Semi Ojeleye

Semi is the travel monster?  Did you mean Wannamaker? (who thank god has traveled less since a couple really bad ones earlier against Toronto...)