Gordon Hayward Thread

[cloverleaf]

If the C's want to win a championship this year - Hayward has to progress to be better then he was in Utah. Or we have to move assets for a guy like Davis. So it only makes sense to sink or swim with Hayward. I don't see him being benched despite mediocre play..

What concerns me is how deliberate he looks out there - just doesn't seem to have that 'second gear'. Hayward needs to start shooting lights out if we want to make it deep in he playoffs again..

Would have him coming off the bench for 20 minutes a game while he continues his recovery really slow his return to form?

[Tai]

If the C's want to win a championship this year - Hayward has to progress to be better then he was in Utah. Or we have to move assets for a guy like Davis. So it only makes sense to sink or swim with Hayward. I don't see him being benched despite mediocre play..

What concerns me is how deliberate he looks out there - just doesn't seem to have that 'second gear'. Hayward needs to start shooting lights out if we want to make it deep in he playoffs again..

Would have him coming off the bench for 20 minutes a game while he continues his recovery really slow his return to form?

Not necessarily, but I will say I'm surprised that out of the million suggestions, Baynes seems to be the least mentioned even though he was the guy who ended up starting last season. I'm not feeling starting someone like Morris who very well could be benefiting from coming off the bench like people claim Hayward would. Honestly, Rozier/Smart/Morris/Hayward/Theis is a very solid 2nd unit.

[2Mas]

gordon's running the floor fine im happy with 15/5 on a player recovering from major foot injury - ppl worried about one of the best shooters in the league finding his shot? haha!!

He is playing like he is in slow motion. Like a few others have said, Hayward is playing like it’s warm ups.

There was nothing wrong with bringing him back slowly off the bench. Hayward’s weakness's wouldn’t look as bad if he has strong starters with him.

Brown is playing poorly. Horford is not shooting well. Irving and Tatum are the only ones playing decent out there from the starting unit.

Our starting 5 right now is weak. You have two hungry guys in Morris and Rozier who should be starting for now until Hayward starts playing closer to his level. Brown is another story right now.

I agree with you re: Tatum and Irving. Would leave Horford in there too despite his struggles. And Morris and Rozier are deserving, but for filling out the starting lineup, I'd go with Smart and Theis.

I think next to Hayward, Rozier has played 2nd worst to start the year tbh. He was supposed to come in & light up bench units. He looked like he was playing 3-3 for fun with his boys. He hit shots last night, so hopefully that gets him going. He's just forcing the issue bad.

I'd start Smart. He don't need shots. Kyrie-Smart-Brown-Tatum-Al. Rozier-Hayward-Morris-Theis.

Bottom line is Hayward is not physically ready to compete against elite starters. Which is fine, i'm not saying he should be further along or anything, I just think he's better off working out the kinks against Blakeney & Hutchinson types instead of LaVine & Parker types. Even to start the game last night we go down 8 early. He had a turnover, got 3'd on the help, missed that fastbreak layup & they hit another 3. Idk what exact order, but it was just a telling few sequences for hayward. Take your time man no rush, but against lesser comp, i think it'd benefit him.

[titlebound1]

If the C's want to win a championship this year - Hayward has to progress to be better then he was in Utah. Or we have to move assets for a guy like Davis. So it only makes sense to sink or swim with Hayward. I don't see him being benched despite mediocre play..

What concerns me is how deliberate he looks out there - just doesn't seem to have that 'second gear'. Hayward needs to start shooting lights out if we want to make it deep in he playoffs again..

Would have him coming off the bench for 20 minutes a game while he continues his recovery really slow his return to form?

Not necessarily, but I will say I'm surprised that out of the million suggestions, Baynes seems to be the least mentioned even though he was the guy who ended up starting last season. I'm not feeling starting someone like Morris who very well could be benefiting from coming off the bench like people claim Hayward would. Honestly, Rozier/Smart/Morris/Hayward/Theis is a very solid 2nd unit.

Solid point about Morris. I agree that it may be best to keep him matched up against second unit guys. I think Baynes and probably smart should be starting

Kyrie
Smart
Tatum
Horford
Baynes

[ConstableGeneva]

Read on Twitter

[brackdan70]

I think I still like Gordon in the starting lineup and then rotate him with parts of the bench the rest of the game. I think he and Morris play well together on offense. He will come around and start hitting more shots. He is a good rebounder passer and is pretty versatile.

[K For Three]

Tonight was the first time all season I was begging the tv screen to see more Gordon Hayward in a game. He's not going to light up the stats and he's still got a ways to go.

But this guy is smart. And he makes everyone around him much much better.

It's starting to finally click.......

[Soulcatcher33]

Hayward looked good tonight. It's good to see the minute restriction go.

[robdog_5]

He makes the right play more often than not. Much more so than Brown and Tatum. Doesn't have the athelticosm of those guys but I trust him with the ball.

[Tai]

I dunno if this is a turning point game or anything like that, but yea, it seems he's figuring it out. Pretty sure he also played the most minutes on the team tonight?

[GuyClinch]

Tonight was the first time all season I was begging the tv screen to see more Gordon Hayward in a game. He's not going to light up the stats and he's still got a ways to go.

But this guy is smart. And he makes everyone around him much much better.

It's starting to finally click.......

Same. When noticing him out - I was like damn when are they going to put him back in.. Cool thing about Gordon is he plays the right way. Very fundamentally sound player - he doesn't dilly dally - its just drive/dish/or pass..

[K For Three]

First time this year I am posting legit Gordon Hayward highlights.

Watch on YouTube

[djFan71]

First time this year I am posting legit Gordon Hayward highlights.

Watch on YouTube

Some great passes tonight. And he looked a lot faster, esp as the game went on.
Too bad both Utah games are 2nd night of back to backs early in the season for him. Would be great to see him bounce back with another good game tomorrow (today, I guess...)

[GuyClinch]

He did look good out there. I think he will be starting for the rest of the season and into the playoffs - absolutely. What everyone has noticed out there with Hayward is his smart basketball sense. Hayward plays in a very professional manner. He understands its a team game and plays smart.

If its a smaller guy he will look to post him. A bigger slower guy he looks to get past him. If he notices a match up or a defensive issue he looks to get the ball to the correct player. He doesn't need to be 'coached' to do this - its just how he plays.

I know Gordon is a big time tennis player - and so am I - albeit I am not as good as Gordon but you can see some of that in his game. Gordon's smart play is automatic. He doesn't have to think about hey let me be unselfish. It's just situation x do y. Tennis is filled with this automatic decision making - you get a short ball you hit an approach. Guy shaded to far to the side - you hit down the middle etc etc.

This kind of organized play makes him a coaching favorite. Now the C's have other intellectually smart players - guys like Brown. But they aren't necessarily as smart on the basketball court. So putting Gordon on the court is I think going to make everyone better - provided he hasn't become so athletically inferior.. The good news is I don't think he has..

[aim2please]

I wanted to see him show some pride tonight and have a huge game against his former team. Instead, another passive, playing it safe game from him.

If Rozier and Brown are gonna take more shots than him every night, this team is in trouble.

[return2glory]

I wanted to see him show some pride tonight and have a huge game against his former team. Instead, another passive, playing it safe game from him.

If Rozier and Brown are gonna take more shots than him every night, this team is in trouble.

It’s hard to show pride when his body isn’t doing what he wants to do. This was a back to back and I was expecting him to have a bad game.

Watching Hayward play right now is sad. It’s liks watching a really good player that’s his the final year of his 17th year career and he doesn’t have much left to give.

Hayward is about 40% of the player he was. That why I’m not sure why he is starting. Bring he back slow Brad within sacrificing wins.

I expect Hayward to be back to about 80% of his old self by January or February.

[cloverleaf]

I wanted to see him show some pride tonight and have a huge game against his former team. Instead, another passive, playing it safe game from him.

If Rozier and Brown are gonna take more shots than him every night, this team is in trouble.

It’s hard to show pride when his body isn’t doing what he wants to do. This was a back to back and I was expecting him to have a bad game.

Watching Hayward play right now is sad. It’s liks watching a really good player that’s his the final year of his 17th year career and he doesn’t have much left to give.

Hayward is about 40% of the player he was. That why I’m not sure why he is starting. Bring he back slow Brad within sacrificing wins.

I expect Hayward to be back to about 80% of his old self by January or February.

We just saw a great, 39-minute OT game from Gordon the night before. To me it is not surprising that he didn't have it the next night. Look, most of the young bucks not dealing with what he has didn't have it the next night.

And it is IMO a good and unselfish thing that he has limited his shooting out there while he is still limited in that regard as well.

Yeah, his pal the coach had to include him in the humiliating benching, but really it's not been lack of consistent effort and focus on his part. I would say the same for AH, in that IMO Stevens has asked too much of him to start him at the t and play him big minutes at this point. But this isn't his thread.

[cl2117]

I understand why Gordon is playing passively and not looking for his shot, but I feel like it sets a bad precedent. You can see when he turns the corner off a screen or has the ball in transition that he's looking to move the ball instead of trying to get a shot. He's too talented to not be thinking of scoring first (at least more often).

I'm not worried about him bricking wide open looks, those will come. I think it's important for Gordon to be more selfish out there though when the ball is in his hands just to get in the habit. Not all the time and I get how his current passiveness and the resulting focus on distribution has its' benefits. Just two or three more shots a game though I think would make a big difference. I know he's not getting the same kind of clean looks that he's used to, but I'd still take him trying to manufacture something or Smart or Baynes. I just want to see more aggressiveness.

[cloverleaf]

He is playing like he is in slow motion. Like a few others have said, Hayward is playing like it’s warm ups.

There was nothing wrong with bringing him back slowly off the bench. Hayward’s weakness's wouldn’t look as bad if he has strong starters with him.

Brown is playing poorly. Horford is not shooting well. Irving and Tatum are the only ones playing decent out there from the starting unit.

Our starting 5 right now is weak. You have two hungry guys in Morris and Rozier who should be starting for now until Hayward starts playing closer to his level. Brown is another story right now.

I agree with you re: Tatum and Irving. Would leave Horford in there too despite his struggles. And Morris and Rozier are deserving, but for filling out the starting lineup, I'd go with Smart and Theis.

I think next to Hayward, Rozier has played 2nd worst to start the year tbh. He was supposed to come in & light up bench units. He looked like he was playing 3-3 for fun with his boys. He hit shots last night, so hopefully that gets him going. He's just forcing the issue bad.

I'd start Smart. He don't need shots. Kyrie-Smart-Brown-Tatum-Al. Rozier-Hayward-Morris-Theis.

Bottom line is Hayward is not physically ready to compete against elite starters. Which is fine, i'm not saying he should be further along or anything, I just think he's better off working out the kinks against Blakeney & Hutchinson types instead of LaVine & Parker types. Even to start the game last night we go down 8 early. He had a turnover, got 3'd on the help, missed that fastbreak layup & they hit another 3. Idk what exact order, but it was just a telling few sequences for hayward. Take your time man no rush, but against lesser comp, i think it'd benefit him.

Brown's gotta get the prize for having played the worst so far this year. Just look at his stats--ouch!

[captain green]

When some are excited to see 15 5 and 5 but totally mess the offensive flow then we have a problem. Bench the dude we get wins start the guy and who ever he is guarding get easy buckets. He isn't anything special anymore the injury was awful but his good days are behind him now. The sooner the team realizes this the better.