After an up-and-down 2018-19 campaign in which Boston Celtics wing Gordon Hayward was trying to find his way back after a devastating injury the year before, the star was looking primed for an incredible bounce-back season early in 2019-20.
He was averaging 18.9 points, 7.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists over 31.1 minutes per game while shooting 55.5 percent from the floor, 43.3 percent from 3-point range and 84.2 percent from the free-throw line before suffering a fractured hand during the first half of a win over the San Antonio Spurs earlier this month.
It was a crushing blow for the Celtics, as Hayward was arguably the club's best player early on. But thanks to contributions from other players on the roster, Boston has been able to manage in his absence.
One player in particular who has stepped up is Jaylen Brown.
Fresh off signing a four-year, $115 million contract extension, Brown is registering 19.4 points and 7.4 boards a night, and he understood as soon as Hayward went down that he had to increase his production:
“We have a next-man-up mentality around here,” Brown told NBC Sports Boston. “When someone goes down, it's an opportunity for someone else to step up. Some nights, it's gonna be me. Other nights, it might be someone else. The thing is, you just have to make sure you stay ready and when your time comes, make the most of it. That's basically what I'm trying to do when I'm out there; do whatever I can to help the team win.”
The Celtics are no strangers to injuries.
Two years ago, Boston made it all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals and were minutes away from advancing to the NBA Finals without Hayward and Kyrie Irving, so Brown and Co. have plenty of experience in dealing with these types of circumstances.
The C's are 13-4 on the year.
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