Subscribe
Follow Us
When the Boston Celtics signed Gordon Hayward to a four-year, $128 million contract in July 2017, they believed they were adding a legitimate star to a roster that had just made the Eastern Conference Finals.
Just one month later, the Celtics traded Isaiah Thomas for Kyrie Irving to form one of the most captivating rosters in the Eastern Conference. LeBron James was still in the East, but the Celtics looked like legitimate contenders to challenge for the conference title.
Of course, Hayward sustained a gruesome leg injury in the first game of the year, ending his season.
When he returned to action last fall, he looked like a shell of his former self. Hayward was extremely passive and tentative in attacking the rim, and he struggled to fit in with Irving on the court.
However, the hype train picked up steam this summer. Hayward expressed that his love for basketball had been reinvigorated, and teammates like Enes Kanter professed that Hayward was “back.”
Celtics head coach Brad Stevens tried to mediate expectations, but Boston's fan base had reason to be excited when Hayward displayed explosive athleticism during the preseason.
Indeed, Hayward looked impressive in the Celtics' opener against the Philadelphia 76ers. He scored 25 points on 8-of-15 shooting and added five rebounds in 35 minutes of action.
Is Hayward on the verge of a major comeback? Can he string together another big game against the Toronto Raptors on Friday night?
More assertive
Perhaps the biggest takeaway from Hayward's performance on Wednesday was his attacking mentality. Hayward got to the free-throw line at will, knocking down 9-of-11 shots from the charity stripe. He also got to the rim and did not settle for contested mid-range jumpers late in the shot clock.
Article Continues Below
The Celtics need Hayward to be aggressive on the offensive end. They were 6-0 when he scored at least 20 points last season, and his ability to score from anywhere on the floor is invaluable.
Hayward can also be more of a playmaker when he attacks off the bounce. The Celtics do not want to get stuck in nearly as many isolation possessions, but they can also rely on Hayward to make a play by getting to the rim and either drawing a foul or setting up his teammates.
Not to mention, Hayward can open up the floor for Kemba Walker and Jayson Tatum if he is more of a consistent offensive threat.
The Raptors don't boast the elite stable of wing defenders like last season thanks to the departures of Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green, but Pascal Siakam, OG Anunoby and Norman Powell are still around. Hayward could find some tough sledding, but the fact that he was able to have so much success against an elite Sixers defense was a promising sign for his success against Toronto and beyond.
Has Hayward improved as a shooter?
During Hayward's breakout 2016-17 season, he shot close to 40 percent from beyond the arc. Last year, he shot just 33 percent from deep.
Hayward did not take a single triple on Wednesday, but his efficiency is something to watch moving forward. He is just one of a number of Celtics — including Tatum and Jaylen Brown — who need to be more efficient from the perimeter.
The Raptors have smart interior defenders in Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka, so this could be an interesting matchup for Hayward to test out his shooting stroke. Look for Hayward to let loose from long distance and put together another strong performance as he rounds back into All-Star form.
