Gordon Hayward's season for the Boston Celtics has been a paradox to say the least. On one hand, he's been frustrating. He's only averaging 11 points per game and accumulated many game nights where he has been a non-factor. On the other hand, he has shown glimpses of the form that made him a star pre-injury.
Such as Tuesday nights performance against the Golden State Warriors, scoring 30 points on 12-16 shooting. But Hayward's play this season has come to shape Boston's identity this season: inconsistent when the talent is there not to be. With the Celtics desperately searching for answers before the playoffs, they first must decide what to do with Hayward in the future to get back on track.
To do that, the Celtics must explore all scenarios and angles of what Hayward means to the team and its chemistry. Hayward's performance against the Warriors highlighted a big microcosm: the Celtics are elite when he's scoring and efficient. They hoist a 18-2 record when Hayward nails at least 50% of his attempts. Their record when he doesn't? 17-22.
This isn't to say Hayward makes the Celtics go. But it does highlight how critical his play is to the team's success. This is Kyrie Irving's team, so the Celtics will roll as he rolls. Hayward's performances when he's efficient as he was Tuesday night is just another worthy component to the Celtics potential when things are clicking.
But with Hayward things are “not clicking” far too often to the Celtics liking. A 17-22 record when he shoots below 50% is detailing his importance to the Celtics success. The Celtics, like the Warriors emphasize ball movement, cutting and efficient shot making.
Hayward's shooting percentages aren't bad (44% from the floor, just under 34% from three) but not the numbers that will make him a more effective weapon on the floor. This of course has led to frustrations among the team on their overall play.
To be fair, head coach Brad Stevens had a tall task attempting to properly utilize his talented roster. For Hayward, strangely he appears to be the odd man out. Then when he's on, he's the right fit. But he hasn't shown he's on frequent enough.
Lastly, the Celtics must consider that Hayward is still rebounding from a near-career ending injury. Those type of injuries simply take time physically and mentally, although more so on the latter. Hayward has had to battle through self-doubt and find his place after the Celtics did well without him last season.
At least for DeMarcus Cousins, he has the luxury of knowing he's the fifth wheel in the Warriors hierarchy. For Hayward, it's still not clear who the second wheel is for the Celtics and everyone is trying to establish ground. So while Hayward has displayed ups and downs, this piece in his evaluation is critical. He signed on to become one of the faces of the Celtics. Instead, he's simply a face in the crowd.
To conclude, the Celtics perhaps must realize that at this moment, Hayward will be what he has displayed. But the positive in this scenario is that Hayward still has time and space to become the NBA player he once was. He has shown the potential to be that, just so difficult to do so on the crowed Celtics roster. But excuses don't live very long in the NBA: it's a produce or be forgotten league.
Now it's up to the Celtics on whether they are willing to exercise patience for Hayward moving into next season.
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