is Hayward our secret weapon in the playoffs?

[Finkelskyhook]

Hardly a secret.

[IDreamCeltics]

Welp.  Now would be a good time for that "Utah Gordon Hayward" that everyone keeps talking about to show up for three games.

[Big333223]

Welp.  Now would be a good time for that "Utah Gordon Hayward" that everyone keeps talking about to show up for three games.

He was nonexistent last night. Couldn't get past anyone. Didn't seem like he could make anything happen.

[IDreamCeltics]

I think he's just breaking down with the increased workload.  He's back to struggling to get around Brook Lopez....

This is (unfortunately) a clip of Hayward with a clear lane to the basket and a full head of steam being chased down and stuffed by Irsan Ilyasova - one of the slowest defenders in the NBA.

https://youtu.be/tMCEut0KenA

[ozgod]

Well, Gordon looks to have gone back into his shell in the past 2 games. In the earlier games even when he struggled to score he was trying to drive the lane and make plays, in this game he's just gone back to standing in the corner or coming out to handle the ball for 3 sec and pass it to someone else.

Obviously the team as a whole has played poorly but more than almost anyone on the team other than Horford or Kyrie, Gordon is like a barometer for this team. If he plays well the team plays well, if he doesn't then the team looks disjointed. Here's his performance in the playoffs vs his post-ASB performance:

Code: [Select]

Metrics Pre ASB Post ASB Vs Indy vs Mil

Mins 26 25.5 31.1 30.0

Per 36
PPG 15.5 17.2 14.2 9.0
RPG 6.4 4.8 5.8 4.2
APG 4.8 4.4 2.0 3.9
FGA 12.5 11.6 10.1 7.8
FTA 3.3 4.4 3.2 2.4

Efficiency
FG% 43.8% 55.1% 48.6% 34.6%
3FG% 33.7% 31.7% 38.1% 33.3%
eFG% 51.2% 59.3% 49.2% 42.3%
%PITP 31.1% 47.4% 35.4% 20%
Usage % 18.3% 17.3% 14.2% 12.4%

Everything is down...usage, FGA, percentages. We knew to make a deep playoff run we needed the best version of Gordon and we haven't gotten it.

[bopna]

For my sanity... Can someone name me a max player payed around 30 million who is ave less than 8ppg in a Playoff series who is 28 yrs old... Just one player will suffice.

Can't think of one...

Gordon has been such a dissapointment of a player..never mind being paid max money... He should be ashamed of himself and return about 20 million of those this Yr.... Utter Garbage.

Yes, I already knew our season hinges on GH.. Not Kyrie, not the kids but Hayward... If Hayward plays like even half of he was in Utah then we win this series... Unfortunately the Gordon we are seeing now is worst than Pierce when he was 35.

[celticinorlando]

I think this goes beyond the injury. He simply has no idea where and how he fits in on this team. He literally just drives and throws it out. I like Hayward and hope he can be something to build with next season...but he has been dreadful for a lot of the year.

He is still playing with no confidence.

[Silky]

I think Hayward gets moved this offseason. Felt it all along.

He was a great get, but then Danny was able to snatch up Kyrie. Problem is it has taken 2 years to figure out that Gordon and Kyrie dont work together.

And between the 2 of them, Kyrie is the better player.

[RJ87]

I think this goes beyond the injury. He simply has no idea where and how he fits in on this team. He literally just drives and throws it out. I like Hayward and hope he can be something to build with next season...but he has been dreadful for a lot of the year.

He is still playing with no confidence.

So many guys on this team have struggled with their roles all season. I get that Brad wants a free flow, read & react offense but some guys need structure and definition.

[gouki88]

I think this goes beyond the injury. He simply has no idea where and how he fits in on this team. He literally just drives and throws it out. I like Hayward and hope he can be something to build with next season...but he has been dreadful for a lot of the year.

He is still playing with no confidence.

So many guys on this team have struggled with their roles all season. I get that Brad wants a free flow, read & react offense but some guys need structure and definition.

100%! The "everybody eats" philosophy is absurd. Mook and Rozier would routinely shoot more than Brown and Hayward and they faced no discipline. The best teams in the league all have clear offensive roles and we do not

[spikelovetheCelts]

I think Hayward gets moved this offseason. Felt it all along.

He was a great get, but then Danny was able to snatch up Kyrie. Problem is it has taken 2 years to figure out that Gordon and Kyrie dont work together.

And between the 2 of them, Kyrie is the better player.

Heyward goes in the NO trade. He will take one for Brad. This being said no one really passes to him. I don't think the team trusts him.

[footey]

I think Hayward gets moved this offseason. Felt it all along.

He was a great get, but then Danny was able to snatch up Kyrie. Problem is it has taken 2 years to figure out that Gordon and Kyrie dont work together.

And between the 2 of them, Kyrie is the better player.

Heyward goes in the NO trade. He will take one for Brad. This being said no one really passes to him. I don't think the team trusts him.

Hayward wears his lack of confidence on his sleeve, by burying himself in the corner.  It's pathetic how under utilized he has become, as much his own fault as anyone else. 

[nickagneta]

I think Hayward gets moved this offseason. Felt it all along.

He was a great get, but then Danny was able to snatch up Kyrie. Problem is it has taken 2 years to figure out that Gordon and Kyrie dont work together.

And between the 2 of them, Kyrie is the better player.

Heyward goes in the NO trade. He will take one for Brad. This being said no one really passes to him. I don't think the team trusts him.

There us a better chance of Boston coming back, winning this series and going on to win the title this year than there is New Orleans wanting any part of this version of Hayward and the $69 million still left on his contract.

This post season performance by Hayward has all but guaranteed he will be a Celtic next season.

[GreenCoffeeBean]

Narrator: He was not.

[Big333223]

I think Hayward gets moved this offseason. Felt it all along.

He was a great get, but then Danny was able to snatch up Kyrie. Problem is it has taken 2 years to figure out that Gordon and Kyrie dont work together.

And between the 2 of them, Kyrie is the better player.

Heyward goes in the NO trade. He will take one for Brad. This being said no one really passes to him. I don't think the team trusts him.

There us a better chance of Boston coming back, winning this series and going on to win the title this year than there is New Orleans wanting any part of this version of Hayward and the $69 million still left on his contract.

This post season performance by Hayward has all but guaranteed he will be a Celtic next season.

I've always said the cleanest version of an AD trade involves sending out Hayward. You're right about NO not wanting him but I bet there's a third team out there willing to throw a pick and dead contracts to the Pelicans to take a flier on a former all star who will have a full year of healthy basketball between him and his injury.

Lots of teams will have cap space and some of them will not get their targets in free agency.