The Boston Celtics started off the year slow, losing to teams that they easily should have beaten. This season marked the first time that the Celtics full lineup was able to play together after injury struck Gordon Hayward and Kyrie Irving last season. The Celtics were supposed to be the powerhouse team in the Eastern Conference, but that has not been the case so far – at least not yet.
A Slow Start
The initial problem seemed to be that there was too much talent on the court. With Irving and Hayward having to share the ball with Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Al Horford, it was like there was not enough of the ball to go around.
Hayward started off the season extremely slow, which was expected due to the gruesome injury he suffered in game one of the 2017-18 NBA season. Based on the lackluster performance and the Celtics failing to meet expectations, head coach Brad Stevens knew he needed to make a change in the starting lineup. Hayward stepped up and volunteered himself to come in off the bench.
Most former NBA All-Stars would accept nothing less than a starting role, but Hayward has been more than fine with the decision to change his role. This shows his maturity, what kind of teammate he is, and his desire to win.
So far, the lineup change has been working.
Excelling in His Bench Role
In the past four games that Hayward has come off the bench, the Celtics won – and by a lot. In the Celtics' most recent game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Hayward became the first player in franchise history to come off the bench scoring more than 30 points, obtaining more than nine rebounds, and being responsible for more than eight assists. It was also his season high in points, assists, and rebounds. Hayward and the bench unit he now leads were responsible for the Celtics claiming the win.
So far this season, Hayward is averaging 11.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game. His rebounding and assists numbers are above his career average.
In the 15 games he started this season, he averaged 10.1 points per game. In the six games that he has come off the bench, he has averaged 13.8 points per game, shooting 45.6 percent. He is still playing a very comparable amount of minutes to what he was as a starter, he is just not starting the game.
What the Role Change Means
Having Hayward come off the bench allows players like Irving and Tatum to dominate the game during their time on the court as the starting line up. This also allows Hayward to dominate the game as part of the bench unit, playing alongside players like Terry Rozier and Marcus Smart.
This added strength to the bench lineup is exactly what the Celtics needed. With a loaded starting lineup and a deep bench, the Celtics are ready to compete for a title.
Currently, on a three-game win streak, the Celtics are sitting sixth in the Eastern Conference with a record of 13-10. With Kawhi Leonard and the Toronto Raptors sitting comfortably in first with a record of 20-4, it will take some time for the Celtics to take over the conference again, but with Gordon Hayward's re-emergence, it is absolutely possible.
Hayward's Bench Role Makes the Celtics Title Contenders
In the seasons prior to Hayward's injury, before signing in Boston, he was an elite player. In his last three seasons with the Utah Jazz, Hayward was averaging 20.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.8 assists. Numbers like those suggest he was just entering his prime at the age of 26.
Although the injury set him back, he is slowly starting to show signs of improvement to return to the player he once was. At the beginning of this season, Hayward played extremely hesitant, almost as if he was scared. Rather than driving an open lane, Hayward would kick it out instead. His play showed that he was afraid of contact, which is understandable due to his injury.
Hayward is finally showing flashes of his former self. He is driving the lane without hesitation, he will take contact going to the basket, and is overall playing a lot more confident. In due time, Hayward has the potential to surpass his former self and retake the title of NBA All-Star. If he can keep up his good performance, or even continue to improve, the Celtics will once again be in talks to be a title contender.
Gordon Hayward is back, and it is time for the NBA to take notice.
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