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Brad Stevens said that Gordon Hayward will return to the Boston Celtics lineup in their upcoming series against the Miami Heat, but he didn't have exact details.

“I think he’ll be back at some point in that series, but I don’t know when,” said Stevens after the Celtics' game 7 win over the Raptors.

Hayward, who returned to the bubble earlier this week, cleared quarantine. 

Hayward was initially ruled out for four weeks with a sprained ankle, with September 15th marking the end of that timetable.

Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals is scheduled to tip off that evening. 

Via Nicole Yang/Boston.com

Their defense is much, much better with smart in the lineup.

I thought he is expected to leave the bubble for the birth of his 10th(?) child

kenwood3333 wrote:I thought he is expected to leave the bubble for the birth of his 10th(?) child

Is he competing with Philip Rivers?

GordanFreeman wrote:Their defense is much, much better with smart in the lineup.

Smart is a 1st team all defender, so obviously it's better. But their offense is worse too.

The Boston/Toronto series was full of great defense on both sides, but also bad offense on both sides. Part of that is that Smart, while a good passer, can't finish around the basket well. So when Toronto used that box-and-one on Kemba and doubled Tatum, Boston couldn't really make them pay for it. Smart can only drive to pass and then look to retreat if he doesn't have a passing angle, or throw up a wild shot attempt.

It’s his 4th child.

24istheLAW wrote:

GordanFreeman wrote:Their defense is much, much better with smart in the lineup.

Smart is a 1st team all defender, so obviously it's better. But their offense is worse too.

The Boston/Toronto series was full of great defense on both sides, but also bad offense on both sides. Part of that is that Smart, while a good passer, can't finish around the basket well. So when Toronto used that box-and-one on Kemba and doubled Tatum, Boston couldn't really make them pay for it. Smart can only drive to pass and then look to retreat if he doesn't have a passing angle, or throw up a wild shot attempt.

Both smart and GH could be on the court at the same time in crunch time. Smart will cover BAM or the 5 for MIA.
The real opportunity for GH is to give the other wings (and smart) a break. Instead of playing Semi and Grant, minutes for to GH.