If Gordon Hayward is an All-Star-level player this year then...

[MagicBagley18]

This is what the other posters are missing - Cs don't need Hayward as much as they need interior help. If he's truly playing well, other teams WILL want him.

What you’re missing is that if you take away his playmaking for a big, a big reason of the team’s success will turn back into last years problem, guys go iso and my turn your turn shots. Hayward allows for another ball handler on the court when kemba isn’t and another creator.

Tatum isn’t that and brown isn’t either. While your point about wings being our strength and abundance- you’re completely disregarding his importance to the flow of the entire team he has and his connection to Stevens who won’t want him traded.

Sorry, I doubt Ainge cares about the Brad/Gordon bromance.

Yea, but you’re clueless so....

[IgorK]

What you’re missing is that if you take away his playmaking for a big, a big reason of the team’s success will turn back into last years problem, guys go iso and my turn your turn shots. Hayward allows for another ball handler on the court when kemba isn’t and another creator.

Tatum isn’t that and brown isn’t either. While your point about wings being our strength and abundance- you’re completely disregarding his importance to the flow of the entire team he has and his connection to Stevens who won’t want him traded.

Sorry, I doubt Ainge cares about the Brad/Gordon bromance.

Yea, but you’re clueless so....

Good chirp bud, got any more?

[MTJazzv3]

Some posters are saying that they should trade Hayward because he is older than the other starters. First of all, he's not that old, in fact he's at pretty much the prime age for a player. Secondly, a team needs good "veterans" who can help guide them. You really couldn't ask for a much better veteran player to have on your team than a healthy Hayward. He plays extremely smart ball (not solely depending on athletic ability which is something you can't teach) and this is a huge plus for teaching a young team like the C's. Horford, for example, is a great guy, and a great teammate, but you never really hear much about him being a great tutor for younger players (he's more stand-offish). From what I've seen so far, Hayward has become a really good mentor for the younger guys. You don't just get rid of a player like that.

For better for him or worse, Hayward isn't much of a locker room guy so that "vet leadership" thing isn't going to happen. Nice to see he is balling again, though. He kills at e-sports.

[robbie84]

In the playoffs, what do you do when Middleton switches on Kemba? Who is guarding Embiid? Those questions don’t have answers

While the Celtics don't have anyone on paper who can match-up with Embiid the route to beating the 76ers isn't going to be "Shut Down Embiid". The 76ers are a flawed team in that they don't really have anyone who can create their own shot in space. Embiid is solid offensively but expecting him to average something like 30/15/5 with all-time defense simply isn't possible for 30+ minutes per game for Embiid. So far the 76ers have struggled to get the offense going in the half-court and maximize Horford/Embiid together.

Everything said above, the 76ers are an extremely talented team and a defensive juggernaut. I can see the Celtics struggling to score more than 75-80 points against this 76ers in a playoff series.

Lol 75 to 80 points?
The Celtics are going to play very small vs the 76ers and attempt a lot more shots. They have gone from the 25th ranked 'driving' team in the NBA, tongue 4th most driving team.
There is no way the 76ers will be able to move those big bodies when the Celtics drive and kick/move the ball.

It's going to be much closer than you think.

[MyBoyBlu]

If the celtics somehow make it to the finals which is highly unlikely....They are getting absolutely curbstomped

[FlatearthZorro]

Celtics will make a trade for a Center by the deadline.

There is an underrated guy who plays for the bulls that would fit Celtics real well.

Celtics should try to swing a trade for Wendall Carter jr. 3 way deal so the bulls can also unload otto porter and maybe get some draft picks.

Not gonna happen, but WCJ would be a great fit there.

Brown for Carter might be fair for both teams. Brown has been really good so far when he's played(the infection kept him out).

[robbie84]

If the celtics somehow make it to the finals which is highly unlikely....They are getting absolutely curbstomped

If they some how made it to the finals and got past Philly and Milwaulkee then they'll be a legit chance to beat anyone out of the West. They'll actually have the bodies to throw at Kawahi Or LeBron, Harden, Westbrook etc. Your logic is simply awful, hater.

[Higgs Boston]

If the celtics somehow make it to the finals which is highly unlikely....They are getting absolutely curbstomped

Your logic makes no sense. If celtics go to the finals that likely means they are clearly better than now, more specifically something like this:

1. Celtics got a decent defensive big in the deadline.
2. 1 of Kanter (like in portland), Theis or RW is playing like a starting caliber Center.
3. 3-4 of Kemba, Brown, Tatum and Hayward are playing like all-stars consistently, and the one of that group who isn't playing like an all-star is playing like an elite role player.
4. Smart playing like an elite role player.

No one is going to destroy a team with that level, the West team can win but not destroy it.

[FlatearthZorro]

No sir, not with Enes Kanter/Robert Williams starting at C. Somehow they've already played the Knicks twice, the Cavs and now the Hornets.

Solid start to the year though, with much credit to Hayward re-blossoming into his old self.

Edit) When I replied "no sir" I swear it said the Celtics would represent the East in the Finals! That or I misread it...

Hornets were 4-3, bud and aren't playing bad basketball, tbh. Knicks are also aggressive, I like both teams' direction as of right now. Hornets had a better record than the Nets before playing us, now they have the exact same.


On topic, Gordon has been great, his speed changes and PnR are crazy. He always makes the right play and doesn't hold the ball for too long, either attacks or passes.

[Colbinii]

In the playoffs, what do you do when Middleton switches on Kemba? Who is guarding Embiid? Those questions don’t have answers

While the Celtics don't have anyone on paper who can match-up with Embiid the route to beating the 76ers isn't going to be "Shut Down Embiid". The 76ers are a flawed team in that they don't really have anyone who can create their own shot in space. Embiid is solid offensively but expecting him to average something like 30/15/5 with all-time defense simply isn't possible for 30+ minutes per game for Embiid. So far the 76ers have struggled to get the offense going in the half-court and maximize Horford/Embiid together.

Everything said above, the 76ers are an extremely talented team and a defensive juggernaut. I can see the Celtics struggling to score more than 75-80 points against this 76ers in a playoff series.

Lol 75 to 80 points?
The Celtics are going to play very small vs the 76ers and attempt a lot more shots. They have gone from the 25th ranked 'driving' team in the NBA, tongue 4th most driving team.
There is no way the 76ers will be able to move those big bodies when the Celtics drive and kick/move the ball.

It's going to be much closer than you think.

It will be very difficult for Boston to drive against Simmons/Richardson with Horford/Embiid backing them up.

I think it will be very close. I never said otherwise.

[GeorgeMarcus]

No sir, not with Enes Kanter/Robert Williams starting at C. Somehow they've already played the Knicks twice, the Cavs and now the Hornets.

Solid start to the year though, with much credit to Hayward re-blossoming into his old self.

Edit) When I replied "no sir" I swear it said the Celtics would represent the East in the Finals! That or I misread it...

Hornets were 4-3, bud and aren't playing bad basketball, tbh. Knicks are also aggressive, I like both teams' direction as of right now. Hornets had a better record than the Nets before playing us, now they have the exact same.

On topic, Gordon has been great, his speed changes and PnR are crazy. He always makes the right play and doesn't hold the ball for too long, either attacks or passes.

The Hornets are not a good team. If they lose to the Pels tonight, they will be sub .500 for the remainder of the season.

[RB34]

If the celtics somehow make it to the finals which is highly unlikely....They are getting absolutely curbstomped

Shuuuuuuttttupppppp