Gordon Hayward Thread - Congratulations on Birth of Son!!! (09-23-20)

[SLCceltic]

am I the only one that believes our young guys will step up while he is out ?? whats more, kemba and Smart BOTH are overdue for some dynamic shooting games, LONG overdue !!
grant and rob flashed big last night ... Jays are ready to lead, I remain quite hopeful for a very deep playoff run

[zoyathedestroya]

am I the only one that believes our young guys will step up while he is out ?? whats more, kemba and Smart BOTH are overdue for some dynamic shooting games, LONG overdue !!
grant and rob flashed big last night ... Jays are ready to lead, I remain quite hopeful for a very deep playoff run

Still in shock and disbelief of our bad luck. Give me another day and I will get right where you are. Our play against the Sixers tomorrow will help in convincing me.

[John-S]

Celtics perimeter defence might actually improve without Hayward. I don’t think Philly can hide Hordford now in the starting lineup anywhere. This is why it is extremely important to have young pieces off the bench with potential and athleticism even if they are not likely to see the court.

[return2glory]

am I the only one that believes our young guys will step up while he is out ?? whats more, kemba and Smart BOTH are overdue for some dynamic shooting games, LONG overdue !!
grant and rob flashed big last night ... Jays are ready to lead, I remain quite hopeful for a very deep playoff run

You are definitely in the minority. GH was a really good 3rd or 4th best player on this team. He could score, pass and his rebounding was very solid. He was too passive for me for the amount of money he is making.

I don’t think any of the other guys like Semi, Romeo, Green or Grant are capable of being effective for long runs.

Grant Williams is the guy I’m pulling for. But Smart will get a little more minutes and I think Wanamaker will too.

[SichtingLives]

While Gordon does make the team better or at least more versatile, there are some guys on the roster who never wanted to play with him and it's pretty clear his chemistry with the core of the team has always been off. I mean it was a not so quiet story for an entire season that guys took issue with him even being on the court and getting touches and he took a lot of blame for what happened there, fair or not. You have to consider that noise came from his own teammates. Would be a little naive to think those things totally went away just because he started playing better this year. I don't think his style of play really fits the identity of the team, which is odd because I think his style is better basketball than the team as a whole plays. But from a cohesion standpoint, I'll take greater chemistry over talent on paper, if indeed that is the case.

I don't really care which end of the bench guys absorb the minutes, those aren't the guys who are going put the stamp on it. Tatum, Jaylen, Kemba and Smart are all in a spot in their careers that they should be able to collectively step up and negate the absence of Hayward. At least enough to beat the scabby sixers and put up a real fight against the dinosaurs. I don't like our odds vs the bucks either way but lets peel one potato at a time.

[zoyathedestroya]

While Gordon does make the team better or at least more versatile, there are some guys on the roster who never wanted to play with him and it's pretty clear his chemistry with the core of the team has always been off. I mean it was a not so quiet story for an entire season that guys took issue with him even being on the court and getting touches and he took a lot of blame for what happened there, fair or not. You have to consider that noise came from his own teammates. Would be a little naive to think those things totally went away just because he started playing better this year. I don't think his style of play really fits the identity of the team, which is odd because I think his style is better basketball than the team as a whole plays. But from a cohesion standpoint, I'll take greater chemistry over talent on paper, if indeed that is the case.

And-1 for succinctly stating something people have avoided saying. This is a huge factor if the team's play is elevated. I dunno if it will be enough to compensate for the loss of talent on the floor, but they sure will leave everything on the floor. Back to grit-and-balls Celtics from here on out.

[djFan71]

While Gordon does make the team better or at least more versatile, there are some guys on the roster who never wanted to play with him and it's pretty clear his chemistry with the core of the team has always been off. I mean it was a not so quiet story for an entire season that guys took issue with him even being on the court and getting touches and he took a lot of blame for what happened there, fair or not. You have to consider that noise came from his own teammates. Would be a little naive to think those things totally went away just because he started playing better this year. I don't think his style of play really fits the identity of the team, which is odd because I think his style is better basketball than the team as a whole plays. But from a cohesion standpoint, I'll take greater chemistry over talent on paper, if indeed that is the case.

And-1 for succinctly stating something people have avoided saying. This is a huge factor if the team's play is elevated. I dunno if it will be enough to compensate for the loss of talent on the floor, but they sure will leave everything on the floor. Back to grit-and-balls Celtics from here on out.

I know he’s not your favorite, but a Rozier type guys being unleashed after being stuck behind Kyrie would be awesome right now. Irrational swagger, grit, some skill to back it up. Not sure I see that, though. Grant? javonte?

[zoyathedestroya]

While Gordon does make the team better or at least more versatile, there are some guys on the roster who never wanted to play with him and it's pretty clear his chemistry with the core of the team has always been off. I mean it was a not so quiet story for an entire season that guys took issue with him even being on the court and getting touches and he took a lot of blame for what happened there, fair or not. You have to consider that noise came from his own teammates. Would be a little naive to think those things totally went away just because he started playing better this year. I don't think his style of play really fits the identity of the team, which is odd because I think his style is better basketball than the team as a whole plays. But from a cohesion standpoint, I'll take greater chemistry over talent on paper, if indeed that is the case.

And-1 for succinctly stating something people have avoided saying. This is a huge factor if the team's play is elevated. I dunno if it will be enough to compensate for the loss of talent on the floor, but they sure will leave everything on the floor. Back to grit-and-balls Celtics from here on out.

I know he’s not your favorite, but a Rozier type guys being unleashed after being stuck behind Kyrie would be awesome right now. Irrational swagger, grit, some skill to back it up. Not sure I see that, though. Grant? javonte?

Never really had a problem with Rozier, the player. It was more him not accepting his role once he was demoted back to the bench. As a starter in the playoffs, he was a positive for us for the traits you mention. We unleash Smart and pray? You wanna wish it's Edwards but I don't see it. Stevens should roll the dice with more Timelord, the offensive rating god. Just run a ton of PnR with him and Kemba/Smart. If we need ballhandling, I trust Langford the most for some reason. Javonte and Semi can't make it past two dribbles lol.

[djFan71]

And-1 for succinctly stating something people have avoided saying. This is a huge factor if the team's play is elevated. I dunno if it will be enough to compensate for the loss of talent on the floor, but they sure will leave everything on the floor. Back to grit-and-balls Celtics from here on out.

I know he’s not your favorite, but a Rozier type guys being unleashed after being stuck behind Kyrie would be awesome right now. Irrational swagger, grit, some skill to back it up. Not sure I see that, though. Grant? javonte?

Never really had a problem with Rozier, the player. It was more him not accepting his role once he was demoted back to the bench. As a starter in the playoffs, he was a positive for us for the traits you mention. We unleash Smart and pray? You wanna wish it's Edwards but I don't see it. Stevens should roll the dice with more Timelord, the offensive rating god. Just run a ton of PnR with him and Kemba/Smart. If we need ballhandling, I trust Langford the most for some reason. Javonte and Semi can't make it past two dribbles lol.

Yeah, fair on Terry. I like Romeo best too, but he doesn’t exactly exude fire, swagger. Ditto Timelord. Edwards or even Tremont may actually be closer to that. Dude’s have just had to beat odds their entire life due to their size. I think they all get a shot. Hopefully one pans out.

[Bleeding Green]

Between the rehab and the baby, we may not see him until the end of the ECF or Finals.

Nah he's finished for the season unless there is another pandemic that delays the season for a few extra weeks.

[LarryBirdsFingr]

Real talk: even if he did somehow return to the lineup these playoffs, he's not going to be in the right condition to really be back at 100% (not that he even really was).

So what you're getting is someone who has even less dynamic lateral movement on defense than he already had lost, not to mention endurance, rythm on offense, etc

He may be more of a liability than a contributor.

[Fencer reregistered]

I feel like I jinxed him because I had just said I was finally becoming a fan of his game.

Was fun while it lasted. See you and yo contract again next year! Feel like we’re either drafting his replacement this year and/or looking forward to seeing more of what we have in Romeo.

Romeo is from Indiana, is said to have an excellent general understanding of the game, and has been injured for much of his college and pro career.

[big-shot-ROB]

He may be done for the season, but it's an ankle sprain. There's nothing preventing him from coming back full strength next season.

Anyway, this was not going to be our season. We have 0 bench depth and are very fresh experience wise. Walker hasn't been playing to well either.

Next season was always our best shot given 2 years of meshing of Walker-Brown-Hayward-Tatum, the Jays with more experience, Hayward regaining more and more form.

This injury might be a blessing in disguise, putting the Jays in a more difficult situations. Both have shown they rise in front of adversity.

[Fencer reregistered]

Celtics perimeter defence might actually improve without Hayward. I don’t think Philly can hide Hordford now in the starting lineup anywhere. This is why it is extremely important to have young pieces off the bench with potential and athleticism even if they are not likely to see the court.

Hayward was swooping around the court in Game 1, disrupting Philly's offense, in what may have been his best big-game defense as a Celtic. Whoever the younger replacement is won't do that any better. Grant's or Semi's stronger bodies may help in the interior, however.

[Floody100]

It does suck but I can’t be the only one that’s excited too see how the two Jay’s go with the added responsibility regardless of how far we get ?

[Red2]

Gordon lives under a black cloud .

[ParticleMan]

I wonder if we can play Theis and TL together. obviously our shooting suffers but with JT, JB, and kemba maybe it's not too bad. the pick and roll athleticism would be crazy. i think TL could match up with horford, as long as he stops biting on every pump fake.

[Red2]

Gordon and Marcus are our two best play makers . Going into next year Danny def needs to find someone who can create for others . All of our “ point guards” lately have been scoring guards . We need a true point guard , a shooter and a big

[TheSheriff]

Gordon and Marcus are our two best play makers . Going into next year Danny def needs to find someone who can create for others . All of our “ point guards” lately have been scoring guards . We need a true point guard , a shooter and a big

I don’t think you necessarily want a traditional true point guard in 2020.

[Slax]

And-1 for succinctly stating something people have avoided saying. This is a huge factor if the team's play is elevated. I dunno if it will be enough to compensate for the loss of talent on the floor, but they sure will leave everything on the floor. Back to grit-and-balls Celtics from here on out.

I know he’s not your favorite, but a Rozier type guys being unleashed after being stuck behind Kyrie would be awesome right now. Irrational swagger, grit, some skill to back it up. Not sure I see that, though. Grant? javonte?

Never really had a problem with Rozier, the player. It was more him not accepting his role once he was demoted back to the bench. As a starter in the playoffs, he was a positive for us for the traits you mention. We unleash Smart and pray? You wanna wish it's Edwards but I don't see it. Stevens should roll the dice with more Timelord, the offensive rating god. Just run a ton of PnR with him and Kemba/Smart. If we need ballhandling, I trust Langford the most for some reason. Javonte and Semi can't make it past two dribbles lol.

Man this encapsulates a lot of my feelings about Rozier. He did a great job for us when he was starting and we needed a guard who could score, and he is playing well in that role in Charlotte too. But he was huge a problem for us both on and off the court when Kyrie and Gordon were taking his minutes and shots. Same with Marcus Morris - decent player in the right role, but we couldn't provide that role for him at the same time we were trying to get Gordon back to health at the same time we needed to develop Jaylen and Jayson.

I know he isn't popular, but after struggling early in game 1, Kanter gave us some good rebounding and passing in the fourth quarter when we were catching up to Philly. Maybe he will get a few of Gordon's minutes in the hopes he can recapture some of that.