The Boston Celtics are one of the teams which has most benefited from the rest built into the coronavirus hiatus, but there are at least some lingering concerns about player availability in the 2020 NBA Playoffs.
The biggest hit the team will take will be when veteran forward Gordon Hayward and rookie center Vincent Poirier — both expecting a new child in September — leave the Disney bubble for much of a week to be present.
With the postseason kicking off on August 17th, the Celtics could be in the second or third round of the playoffs when that happens, and while Poirier has not been a critical part of Boston’s rotation, Hayward has been no small part of the Celtics’ 2019-20 success.
And while certainly nothing to be especially alarmed about, the Butler product related during the team’s daily media availability session Friday that his often-sore foot hurt at the start of his Celtics tenure was still bothering him a little.
“I wish that I had an answer to why it is a little sore,” Hayward explained.
“I think a lot of it relates to just the injury that I had. I’ve been training pretty much this whole time — not full go obviously, since I haven’t had a court the whole time, but I have been trying to stay fit. I’ve been resting but at the same time not resting, kind of like a maintenance type thing.”
Downplaying the lingering irritation, the Butler product made it clear there has been improvement nonetheless. “Everything is definitely a lot better, there is no doubt about that. For sure, I’m feeling great, it’s just the foot still is a little sore.”
Gordon Hayward, Vincent Poirier to leave Disney for birth of children https://t.co/nIIDv2vh28 via @thecelticswire
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) July 3, 2020
“It is what it is,” he added with a turn of phrase that could very well be the mantra of this team, the NBA, and for that matter the world as we all try and right our collective ships in the wake of the pandemic.
While Kemba Walker’s knee has seemingly healed for the most part, Hayward’s health — and presence — may prove critical to what the team can hope to accomplish in the postseason.
But — as it should, mid-pandemic or on a very normal day some time in September, some things are bigger than basketball.
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