Is Hayward's injury even more painful now?

[droopdog7]

So prior to the season beginning my hope was for the Celts to make the finals.  I know many had already chalked this season up to more learning but I thought we had a serious chance to get past the Cavs (about 25%), should we meet them in the conference finals. 

Obviously, not many of us could have not only predicted the kind of start we had, but how the Celts are winning these games.  It all sort of makes sense in hindsight that added length would help the defense and rebounding but prior to the season many those to parts of the game were still a large concern.

Anyway, I'm not putting them in the finals just yet but I (and many others) probably underestimated our chances at the beginning of the season.  If Hayward were not injured, I would expect this team to make the finals.  And not just that, I would expect this team to make a run at the warriors in an epic series. 

As it is, the finals is still the goal, and if we make it, I don't give us much of a chance at all to even give them a fight.  That sucks.

[nickagneta]

Hayward's injury sucks but it has allowed for a fast development of Brown and Tatum as Hayward's time and shots have gone their way. What happens this year happens. Its about development of youth, creating cohesion in a new group of players, and getting valuable playoff experience for everyone as a team.

Next year's starting team of Horford, Tatum, Hayward, Brown and Kyrie is going to be an excellent offensive unit with scoring coming from all five guys. Its going to be a joy to watch.

[SparzWizard]

Pre-Hayward injury and the addition of Kyrie = this team making it to the Finals 10/10.

Post-Hayward injury, addition of Kyrie, and surprising development from depth (including Tatum/Baynes/Rozier/Smart) = this team fighting its way to the Finals. But ofc, the Cavs will get their crap together by regular season's end.

[CelticsElite]

I agree that the development of Tatum and brown has been helped by the extra minutes and probably extra coaching attention to them. Hayward knows he made the right decision to come here. Kyrie too

[DefenseWinsChamps]

Rational me knows that it is unlikely that Hayward comes back and is effective this season.

Celtic fan me knows for sure that the Celtics organization expects him back in early March, but are keeping it under wraps.

[Surferdad]

You would have to ask Hayward.     

[GreenEnvy]

Rational me knows that it is unlikely that Hayward comes back and is effective this season.

Celtic fan me knows for sure that the Celtics organization expects him back in early March, but are keeping it under wraps.

Didn’t Hayward post on instagram that he was not returning this season? I know I saw it somewhere...

I too hoped he would return end of March but I don’t believe that’s happening.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

Rational me knows that it is unlikely that Hayward comes back and is effective this season.

Celtic fan me knows for sure that the Celtics organization expects him back in early March, but are keeping it under wraps.

Didn’t Hayward post on instagram that he was not returning this season? I know I saw it somewhere...

I too hoped he would return end of March but I don’t believe that’s happening.

He basically affirmed it in passing when asked in a interview, but Celtic Fan me says that he was just being a conversationalist, not directly giving his time-table to return.

[sdceltsfan]

I don't think the thought process of "we are playing like the top team in the east, imagine if Gordon weren't out," is not a complete context to the current play of the team. The obvious factors are Kyrie ballin out of his mind, Horford thriving off of having a shoot first PG that can consistently switch that shooting instinct off to get his big man tbe ball, Baynes showing up far beyond expectations (I called that  he would be starting for us pre-season), and basically every other new player/rookie being solid and consistent contributors. But the biggest impact, and the one that makes this team a contender for potentially the next decade, is the leap that Jaylen Brown has made to flirting with all-star type of play, and Tatum getting thrown in to the fire and rising to the occasion.

If Gordon is here, Tatums development surely would have been stunted just simply by having far less minutes in the rotation. Does Brown get the confidence to take the shots he has been with a proven wing like Hayward on the court with him? Would that even be in the gameplan? My guess is no. Brown would be a 4th option at best in most offensive situations.

So we have to look at it this way. Even with Hayward, if we did make it past Cleveland to the finals, we would likey lose to Golden State, with not much of a series. But now that we have bonafide, tried, and proven 3rd and 4th offensive options in Brown/Tatum, we have a great chance at actually contending in a seven-game series with any team in the league.

[nickagneta]

Rational me knows that it is unlikely that Hayward comes back and is effective this season.

Celtic fan me knows for sure that the Celtics organization expects him back in early March, but are keeping it under wraps.

Didn’t Hayward post on instagram that he was not returning this season? I know I saw it somewhere...

I too hoped he would return end of March but I don’t believe that’s happening.

You are not mistaken, he wrote it on Facebook

https://www.google.com/amp/amp.si.com/nba/2017/11/01/gordon-hayward-will-not-return-season-celtics

[jambr380]

If Hayward’s recovery goes as planned, I absolutely expect him back this season. He said that he has ‘no expectations’ of pushing himself to get back this season and that is the right mindset (one day at a time kind-of thing), but if the Cs are still killing it this spring and Hayward is ready, I see no reason why he can’t come back on a minutes restriction as a very effective back-up.

[Surferdad]

I don't think the thought process of "we are playing like the top team in the east, imagine if Gordon weren't out," is not a complete context to the current play of the team. The obvious factors are Kyrie ballin out of his mind, Horford thriving off of having a shoot first PG that can consistently switch that shooting instinct off to get his big man tbe ball, Baynes showing up far beyond expectations (I called that  he would be starting for us pre-season), and basically every other new player/rookie being solid and consistent contributors. But the biggest impact, and the one that makes this team a contender for potentially the next decade, is the leap that Jaylen Brown has made to flirting with all-star type of play, and Tatum getting thrown in to the fire and rising to the occasion.

If Gordon is here, Tatums development surely would have been stunted just simply by having far less minutes in the rotation. Does Brown get the confidence to take the shots he has been with a proven wing like Hayward on the court with him? Would that even be in the gameplan? My guess is no. Brown would be a 4th option at best in most offensive situations.

So we have to look at it this way. Even with Hayward, if we did make it past Cleveland to the finals, we would likey lose to Golden State, with not much of a series. But now that we have bonafide, tried, and proven 3rd and 4th offensive options in Brown/Tatum, we have a great chance at actually contending in a seven-game series with any team in the league.

That's the beauty of this season:  Best record in the league while developing top young players.  Though not intended or wished by anyone, the team may actually be even better in the long run.

[chiken Green]

Tatum and Brown are truly the keys... KI and AL are giving you what is expected but those young wings defending and coming up big in Big moments will be what is needed to Dethrone CLE...   
Hayward not being there sucks but it has put this team on the fast track - To beat CLE and the WARRIORS you will need at least 4 guys.. Next year we can/will have 5.....  And the expectations will be through the roof but this winning streak is showing you that the young boys will be ready..

[blink]

I have to say it was incredibly disappointing how the injury happened on the 1st game of the year, but after the team got over the shock of what happened, I think they have adjusted well. 

Since Gordon didn't have a developed game history with the team this year, I think it hurts less than it would have if he had been injured in say game 30.  It might have lifted a bit of pressure from the team since expectations dropped so sharply after he was injured.

I don't consider it any more painful now that they have the win streak together.  Who knows how the team would have gelled with Gordon?  Maybe they would be 15-0, or maybe they would be 10-5.  I am glad our team has just focused on playing hard and improving.

[SparzWizard]

I have to say it was incredibly disappointing how the injury happened on the 1st game of the year, but after the team got over the shock of what happened, I think they have adjusted well. 

Since Gordon didn't have a developed game history with the team this year, I think it hurts less than it would have if he had been injured in say game 30.  It might have lifted a bit of pressure from the team since expectations dropped so sharply after he was injured.

I don't consider it any more painful now that they have the win streak together.  Who knows how the team would have gelled with Gordon?  Maybe they would be 15-0, or maybe they would be 10-5.  I am glad our team has just focused on playing hard and improving.

Tatum and Brown wouldn't get as much minutes as we've thought. The chemistry would have been pretty different. But the talent level is still there with your Big 3.

This is similar to the 2008-2009 season with KG out. But we're deep. Move over Cavs, because the Bucks are gonna be the biggest challenge in the East.