Gordon Hayward is back! Absent from the courts for almost five weeks, the Celtics winger made his comeback in Game 3 against the Heat last night. A comeback that did good in Boston, Brad Stevens’ men reducing the score in the series.
Almost a month to the day after his nasty ankle injury against the Sixers at the start of the Playoffs, Gordon Hayward pushed back the floors. That’s it, he is there, to the delight of a Boston team that needed to revive. Led 2-0 by the Heat in the Eastern Conference Final, the Celtics were indeed back to the wall, and were particularly frustrated by the turn of events. Two games lost when they led quite well in the score, and especially an inability to respond to the Miami zone defense, which posed a lot of problems for Beantown’s attack. Saturday, the scenario was therefore different. The C’s responded by winning Game 3 117-106, with a valuable Hayward off the bench. In the space of 31 minutes (!), Hayward contributed 6 points (2/7 shooting), 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals and 1 block. In TTFL, it does not weigh very heavily but for the Celtics, his return is a game-changer. And it’s Brad Stevens, the Boston coach, who perhaps sums up the guy’s contribution best (via ESPN).
“Gordon was great. It was very important to us to have an extra guy who can make a difference. He has made some important moves in this game, and he will continue to gain strength. “
For an attack that liquefied against the opponent’s area early in the series, due to a lack of aggressiveness and a tendency to rely too much on outside shots, Hayward’s return is doing the most good. Because we are talking about an intelligent player, who is able to score (17.5 points this season at 50% shooting, 38.3% from distance and 85.5% on free throws) and to be effective with or without the ball. Plus, while the Celtics are very talented on the outside, a dude like Hayward gives Brad Stevens some extra creative and playmaking solutions. A profile that the Celtics need in this series against the Heat, not only to avoid offensive air holes but also to respond to the opposing offensive and defensive versatility, until playing without real pivot. Hayward brings an additional option in the green rotation, which is no luxury. Because despite the great dose of talent that exists in Boston, it may be a little short behind the quartet Jayson Tatum, Marcus Smart, Kemba Walker and Jaylen Brown, which is obviously at the heart of the Celtics system. So yes, clearly Hayward’s return can make a difference in this thrilling series. And good news for the Greens, Gordon should ultimately not leave the bubble to attend the birth of his son at the end of September. It was originally planned, but the plan has visibly changed, which will allow Boston to be full for the rest of the Playoffs. As a reminder, the Celtics winger had already left Mickey’s world to be treated following his ankle injury.
Gordon Hayward is back, the Celtics are back in the series, you can smile in the green camp today. But the hardest part remains to be done. The Heat will come back vengeful on Wednesday for Game 4, and it will be up to Boston to do the work to follow up and thus come back to equality, with Hayward.
Text source: ESPN
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