The Boston Celtics may have lost Gordon Hayward in the first game of the season, but the team hasn't missed a beat.
The Celtics are the top team in the Eastern Conference, and there is buzz around the league that Boston can beat the Cleveland Cavaliers in the playoffs and represent the East in the NBA Finals.
Someone who is not at all surprised about Boston's performance without Hayward is Jaylen Brown, per Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated.
“I’m not surprised at all. Not one bit,” Brown said of the Celtics play sans Hayward. “I think we have a lot of talent. I don’t know if people see it that way. But we have a very talented group with a lot of young guys that can really play. With a good coaching scheme and a balance, I think that’s why we are doing so well. Everybody stepped up.”
So many around the league thought the Celtics were screwed when Hayward went down. But the Celtics have the best defense in the NBA and, like Brown said, every player has stepped up so far this season.
The scarier notion is what happens to this team when Hayward comes back next season. With so many of Boston's players gaining confidence in their abilities, they're going to thrive once Hayward comes back because he will just make the rest of the team that much better. And Brown is definitely one of them.
There are those who want Hayward to return this year, but the team that's out there every night right now is fascinating. Fans should want to see it go as far as it can.
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