GuyClinch wrote:zoyathedestroya wrote:If Tatum or Brown were shooting above average from every spot on the floor, had 50/40/90 shooting splits for the past month, and near the top at efficiency on every offensive play type, we'd be declaring them an All-NBA type player already. Just facts.
Instead, his selfless play is being touted as not being aggressive enough while in the same breath saying he's holding back the development of his young teammates.
Agree for the most part. Problem with Hayward is that on some nights he doesn't seem to have 'it' - that extra little bit of athleticism and skill that makes you the best player on the court. I think he is still diminished by his injury on those nights. But then sometimes he seems to have got it - and plays chill out mode anyway..
We need to see more super star like performances out of him.. That has been his let down.. Is the extra gear still there? It's not quite a Len Bias disaster - but the injury was still horrendous.
Now you might say oh Tatum and Brown are the same - but not really. With both of them we have faith the raw physicality is there - even if they are playing like ****. Brown went through an awful stretch but every fan thinks that's okay he will straighten it out. The guy is strong as an ox and can jump out of the gym..
Hayward its like "eh...that was pretty athletic but he still missed.." So for Hayward its not clear the athletic potential is still there. That's in part why he suffers on the boards. The injury ruined his upside in the eyes of most fans..
Hayward plays a clean smart game - he makes great decision. He shoots decently can pass and rebound. His defense has been respectable IMHO. But his "this guy is taking over' moments have not really happened enough. And that matters in the NBA. The refs have to believe that a player is superior so he can get the reputation calls.
When Hayward gets hacked and misses a layup - refs are like - well its Hayward - he is old and injured..
I think the thought was that Hayward was an emerging superstar and that playing with Brad would take him to that next level. Apart from his last playoff run in Utah, I feel like we are seeing the same guy he was in Utah. I used to see the love for him here on this thread but when Cs played Utah I thought he was okay but athletically nothing that special. To steal a guy that good as a free agent was a coup but he is basically the same guy....the injury perhaps robbed him of chance to take it to the level of superstar. However, in the preseason as a Celtic before his injury he didn’t look any different than he does now, honestly. A one time all star is still a pretty good NBA player and that is what he is. He just isn’t the perennial all star we believed he might be that you can rely upon to step up when Kemba or Tatum aren’t there. Instead, it can sometimes mean Marcus or Jaylen trying to play hero ball and that can be a mixed bag. Right now Gordon is a glue guy and a role player. If the team is rolling he can augment that. If the team is struggling he can help get other guys going but if they don’t, don’t expect him to put the team on his shoulders - like Jaylen did last night. I’m not saying he can’t on occasion....you just can’t expect it because some days he can’t and some days he won’t even try.
